I wish I had a life out of an Elin Hilderbrand novel

[Anonymous]

Which book should I start with? I’m ready for a good read that is fluff but not infuriatingly so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which book should I start with? I’m ready for a good read that is fluff but not infuriatingly so.

The Castaways was my gateway Hildebrand, so it's a sentimental favorite of mine. Don't start with the St. John books; they are not her best. I like A Summer Affair, The Identicals, The Blue Bistro.

[Anonymous]

I loved the Castaways which was the first book of hers that I read. Fascinating to me how the 8 friends who are so different get along.
I met her at a book signing. She is one of those compulsively friendly people. She had cancer 3 years ago and sadly since then the depth in her writing has declined. Of course Nantucket would be a different kind of place if you lived there in summer and St John in winter. Best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

All her book covers look the same so I can’t remember which ones I have read until I have finished a chapter or 2.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy her books and look forward to a new one every summer. I don’t care for her winter series. I can’t relate to her characters at all.. never been to Nantucket or MV, immigrant, Asian, but still, I love her books!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read them. I love them. The constant beach trips, the descriptions of food, and the sense of having a home away from home are all lovely, but I think they are making you overlook the problems her characters face; the infidelity, the substance abuse, the white collar crime, out of control teens, and so on.

I like to read about them, but I don't want to experience them.

Yes there is soooo much infidelity in her books. And she's strangely nonchalant about it. Her characters constantly cheat on long term spouses like it's no big deal.

Like with her newest book - a modern twist on Same Time Next Year. I just couldn't get over the set up. We're supposed to root for this guy who is cheating on his girlfriend who, by the way, is pretty great? Nah man.

Clearly you didn’t read the book. Ursula is a bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol, I was google image-ing the Chicken Box today since she references it so dang much.

She is hit or miss. I read The Matchmaker this week and The Island in May. Barefoot, Blue Bistro and the Castaways are the most readable. Everything else is funky.

But yes the food descriptions are pure escapism.

Pure beach reads. I’m reading “The Perfect Couple” now and one character writes a series of mystery novels but is losing her touch. Maybe Elin is on to something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, my sister hangs with her crowd on Nantucket. Yes, Nantucket is a great place to escape. Full days are spend on the beach, nights at beautiful houses for full service dinner parties, etc. but, it’s a very small island when it comes to living there year round. Take that for what you will.

Ooh tell us more. I assume this crowd is fabulously wealthy and beautiful?

I would NOT assume beautiful.

[Anonymous]

A pic of the people in this thread

[Anonymous]

Just finished “Summer of ‘69”.

Light fun pandemic read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A pic of the people in this thread

OMG. I’m the one in the white blouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A pic of the people in this thread

OMG. I’m the one in the white blouse.

I'm the one smiling!

[Anonymous]

I have read all of her books over the past 20(?) years and really liked the earlier ones like Blue Bistro.

The st John stories are not really worth reading, or at least wai t until the 3rd installment comes out so it is like reading one full length book. The newest one, 28 summers is pretty lame.
Ursula is an awful person, Jake has no spine and Mallory needs to move on.
This one was lacking in the great food, clothes and detail about the island.
It was not thoroughly fleshed out or something.