For a short period of time in the early ought’s, Cassie and Zoe Griffin (real name Grossberg, but Griffin sold better) were part of one of the most popular rock bands in the country. The Griffin Sisters had a gold album, multiple number one hits, and a sold out tour. But tragedy struck, the band broke up, and the sisters went their separate ways. 20 years later Zoe is a housewife, and Cassie is so far off the grid only a few people even know how to get in touch with her. Until now. Cherry, Zoe’s teenage daughter and aspiring rock star herself, has made it onto an American Idol-esque TV show, and the twist this year is that each contestant will be paired with an industry mentor. Cherry knows that there’s only one person she wants as her mentor: the aunt she’s never met, the main lyricist behind The Griffin Sisters’ hit songs, the one and only Cassie Griffin.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is a story told in two main timelines: the 2020s, focusing on Cherry’s journey and Zoe’s attempts to find her wayward daughter, and the 2000s, when Zoe and Cassie first form the band. It jumps back and forth as you start to understand what might have happened to cause the dissolution of a formerly close relationship, why Zoe refused to let Cherry pursue her dreams of stardom, and why Cassie has been so determined to disappear. It’s definitely a compelling read. You want to find out what went wrong and how it happened. But it’s also a frustrating one. Zoe is one of our three protagonists, and she sucks in both timelines. Once you learn the full extent of Zoe’s past actions, it’s hard to feel any sympathy for her at all. Weiner tries to get us back on her side, but had already made her so awful that while I felt sympathy for her, I still didn’t like her. And Cassie just made me sad. Very few people in her life treated her well, and she deserved better.
I would recommend The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, because it gives similar vibes. I’d also recommend it for women who were teenagers in the early 2000s. Weiner does a great job of really immersing you in the pop culture of the past timeline, from the fashion to the beauty standards to media. I wouldn’t call this book my favorite, but it’s a solid read that I found mostly enjoyable.