Book Review: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Pages: 416

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 14, 2022

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Golden Girl, Winter Street,  

Winter Stroll, 28 Summers, Summer of '69,  

Beautiful Day, The Island,
The Perfect Couple and Winter in Paradise 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "After a tragic fire in 1922 that killed 19-year-old chambermaid, Grace Hadley, The Hotel Nantucket descended from a gilded age gem to a mediocre budget-friendly lodge to inevitably an abandoned eyesore — until it's purchased and renovated top to bottom by London billionaire, Xavier Darling.  Xavier hires Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton as his general manager, and Lizbet, in turn, pulls together a charismatic, if inexperienced, staff who share the vision of turning the fate of the hotel around. They face challenges in getting along with one another (and with the guests), in overcoming the hotel's bad reputation, and in surviving the (mostly) harmless shenanigans of Grace Hadley herself — who won't stop haunting the hotel until her murder is acknowledged. Filled with the emotional tension and multiple points of view that characterize Elin's books (The Blue Bistro, Golden Girl) as well as an added touch of historical reality, Hotel Nantucket offers something for everyone in this summer drama for the ages."

 

Xavier Darling, a London billionaire, decides to buy a run-down hotel on the idyllic island of Nantucket. He turns the desolate hotel into the grand Hotel Nantucket, which he hopes will attract amazing guests, including travel blogger, Shelly Carpenter. If Shelley features it on her blog and gives it the highest rating, The Hotel Nantucket will be sure to succeed.  Managing the hotel is Lizbet Keaton, who is looking to start over at this prestigious job and make a name for herself without her ex-boyfriend's help as they previously ran The Deck.  He cheated on her, so Lizbet can't wait to turn this hotel around by hiring all the best in customer service. She puts together a team of extraordinary employees, each complete with their own backstory and some with hefty baggage.  Some notable secondary characters are Chad, a rich kid working as a maid this summer.....what's he hiding? Then there's Alessandra, the icy front desk manager; Zeke, the charismatic bellman; Mario, the gorgeous and illustrious chef; and let's not forget Grace, the ghost.  Grace is such a captivating character as she died back at the hotel in 1922 in a suspicious fire. This casts of characters come together with such a fun setting in The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand; this novel proves to be her most lighthearted beach read yet.

I normally don't like novels that include too many characters' points of view, but Hilderbrand makes it work. Each plot line is juicier than the other, which definitely kept me flipping the pages. I will say I was rooting for Lizbet the most as she is the underdog manager trying to overcome her past and jerk ex-boyfriend. I really enjoyed her coming into her own in The Hotel Nantucket and watching her transform the hotel.  I also was drawn to Alessandra's plot line, even though I didn't agree with her. It made for a very entertaining read as she is a femme fatale and pretty much uses guys to get what she wants. Sometimes it backfires on her though, but boy, was I really interested in her story and where it was going. I am glad she redeems herself by the novel's end.  I also liked Magda, head of housekeeping, and there were so many more captivating subplots that came together that made for an interesting (and very soapy!) hotel. The entire time I was keeping an eye out for the elusive Shelly Carpenter, the blogger who they were hoping would review The Hotel Nantucket, as she often is incognito.  I was also wondering what Grace's next move would be as she was hoping someone would find out the truth as to what happened at the hotel fire in 1922. 

Fans of Hilderbrand can expect her usual romantic plot lines, descriptions of mouthwatering dinners, and gorgeous Nantucket locations. Nobody does Nantucket better than Hilderbrand and what's even better is Hilderbrand's own "Blue Book" at the end of the novel featuring all her favorite Nantucket haunts and how they relate to her novels. It really had me dreaming of a trip to Nantucket and a visit to The Chicken Box.

What I liked most about The Hotel Nantucket is Hilderbrand's tone throughout the novel. While I loved 28 Summers and Golden Girl, it could be heavy at times. The Hotel Nantucket wasn't this way in the least. It was so much damn fun and it was lighthearted throughout. That is just what I needed this summer, am I right? 

So, are you a fan of Elin Hilderbrand? Have you read The Hotel Nantucket? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Hotel Nantucket

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating! 

 

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

Pub. Date: June 14, 2022

 

 

Goodreads says, "After a tragic fire in 1922 that killed 19-year-old chambermaid, Grace Hadley, The Hotel Nantucket descended from a gilded age gem to a mediocre budget-friendly lodge to inevitably an abandoned eyesore — until it's purchased and renovated top to bottom by London billionaire, Xavier Darling.  Xavier hires Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton as his general manager, and Lizbet, in turn, pulls together a charismatic, if inexperienced, staff who share the vision of turning the fate of the hotel around. They face challenges in getting along with one another (and with the guests), in overcoming the hotel's bad reputation, and in surviving the (mostly) harmless shenanigans of Grace Hadley herself — who won't stop haunting the hotel until her murder is acknowledged.  Filled with the emotional tension and multiple points of view that characterize Elin's books (The Blue Bistro, Golden Girl) as well as an added touch of historical reality, Hotel Nantucket offers something for everyone in this summer drama for the ages."

 

It's not summer without a novel from Elin Hilderbrand, who has become an auto-buy author for me.  I am really looking forward to this one. What do you guys think?

 

Book Review: Summer Love by Nancy Thayer

 

Pages: 304

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 3, 2022

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Nantucket Sisters,  Family Reunion,

Secrets in Summer, Island Girls, Surfside Sisters

 Let It Snow, Girls of Summer, and The Guest Cottage

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Old secrets come to light when four friends gather on Nantucket for a life-changing reunion in this heartwarming novel of love and self-discovery by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer. When four strangers rent bargain-basement rooms in an old hotel near the beach, they embark on the summer of their lives. First there's Ariel Spencer, who has big dreams of becoming a writer and is looking for inspiration in Nantucket's high society. Her new friend Sheila Murphy is a good Catholic girl from Ohio whose desire for adventure is often shadowed by her apprehension. Then there's small-town Missourian Wyatt Smith, who's immediately taken with Ariel. The last of the four, Nick Volkov, is looking to make a name for himself and have a blast along the way. Despite their differences, the four bond over trips to the beach, Wednesday-night dinners, and everything that Nantucket has to offer. But venturing out on their own for the first time, with all its adventure and risks, could change the course of their lives. Twenty-six years after that amazing summer, Ariel, Sheila, Wyatt, and Nick reunite at the hotel where they first met. Now it's called The Lighthouse and Nick owns the entire operation with his wife and daughter. Ariel and Wyatt, married for decades, arrive with their son, and Sheila's back too, with her daughter by her side. Life hasn't exactly worked out the way they had all hoped. Ariel's dreams have since faded and been pushed aside, but she's determined to rediscover the passion she once had. Nick has the money and reputation of a successful businessman, but is it everything he had hoped for? And Sheila has never been able to shake the secret she's kept since that summer. Being back together again will mean confronting the past and finding themselves. Meanwhile, the next generation discovers Nantucket: Their children explore the island together, experiencing love and heartbreak and forging lifelong bonds, just as their parents did all those years ago. It's sure to be one unforgettable reunion.This delightful novel from beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer explores the potential of dreams and the beauty of friendship."

 

Four strangers have one thing in common: they are all renting a cheap room at an old hotel near the beach on the beautiful island of Nantucket. There's Ariel, who has high hopes for herself as she plans to become a writer, and there's Sheila, from Ohio, who hopes to make some money, and find some adventure this summer before settling down. Then there's Nick, who is here to make connections with the wealthy, and Wyatt, who is trying to branch out a bit by working on the island this summer. Wyatt immediately has a connection with Ariel. All four are very different, but living together has brought them closer, especially those Wednesday night dinners, escapades on the beach, and dealing with the ins and outs of dating on the island. There's nothing quite like college aged adults living on the island for one magical summer. Fast forward almost thirty years and it's the same group of people returning to the island, but this time with their families in tow. Nick opened a hotel on the island and invited the old gang to stay. However, have things turned out the way they planned? Nick is successful, but is he happy? Ariel isn't a writer, so what went wrong? She did end up with Wyatt after all.  Sheila brings her daughter and readers can't help but wonder if she is happy, especially when she thinks back to that one fateful summer on the island and the secret she has been keeping for years. Nancy Thayer's Summer Love is a quiet type of beach read; it's one that is perfect for vacation and promises romance, friendship, and a gorgeous setting.

I really liked all four characters that Thayer put together in the basement of The Sand Palace, an old hotel on Nantucket. While they are all different, they have came together and supported one another when needed in Summer Love. I found each character equally compelling and since Thayer jumps from "That Summer" in the past to "This Summer" many years later, it was interesting to see how the adults got to this particular point in their lives.  

One thing Thayer always does well is describe Nantucket beautifully. I felt like I was there when reading Summer Love. From the dinners at amazing restaurants, or just a six pack of beer on the beach, it was a nice escape that made me dream of one day visiting Nantucket. Regarding the time period, I did prefer "That Summer" to "This Summer" in that I found that the characters presented in the past were more compelling then they are in the future, even when the point of view was from their children. That was my only issue with the novel in that I was leaning more towards the historical timeline story than the present day.

What I like about Summer Love is the fact that it's a quintessential beach read. There's romance, a gorgeous setting, some mild drama, but nothing horrific happens and it's comforting in that it's mostly predictable. You know how things end for the characters, but it's the journey to get there that's delightful. You can count on Summer Love to be a solid beach read that is much like watching your favorite comforting TV show...the kind you curl up with at the end of a long day.

Are you a fan of Nancy Thayer? Have you read Summer Love? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Book Review: Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: 28 Summers, Golden Girl,  

The Hotel Nantucket, and The Five-Star Weekend

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "After thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island of Nantucket, Ed Kapenash's heart can no longer take the stress. But his plans to retire are thwarted when, with only three days left to serve, he receives a phone call. A 22-million-dollar summer home, recently purchased by the flashy new couple in town, the Richardsons, has burned to the ground. The Richardsons are far from hurt—in fact, they're out on the water, throwing a lavish party on their yacht—but when news of the fire reaches them, they discover that their personal assistant has vanished. The Chief is well-acquainted with the Richardsons, and his daughter is best friends with the now-missing girl, leaving him no choice but to postpone his retirement and take on the double case.

On a small island like Nantucket, the Richardsons shook things up from the second they stepped on to the scene, throwing luxurious parties and doing whatever they could to gain admittance to the coveted lunches at the Field & Oar Club (with increasing desperation). They instantly captured the attention of local real estate agent Fast Eddie, and the town gossip Blond Sharon, both dealing with their own personal dramas. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce, and in order to avoid becoming a cliché, she's enrolled in a creative writing class, putting her natural affinity for scandal towards a more noble purpose. To solve the case of the fire and track down his daughter's best friend, the Chief will have to string together the pieces of the lives of all of these characters and more, rallying his strength for his final act of service to the tight-knit community he knows and loves.

The last of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Nantucket novels, Swan Song is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most beloved characters, including, most importantly, the beautiful and timeless island of Nantucket itself.

Ed Kapenash, the police chief of Nantucket, hopes to retire very soon, especially after his recent health issues. Just before his impending retirement, a house goes up in flames under questionable circumstances, and his daughter's friend, Coco, goes missing. This won't be the relaxing weekend he had planned. The house that burned down was Leslee and Bull Richardson's home, the wealthy newcomers. The couple moved here and caused an upset on the island of Nantucket. Their lavish parties and hardcore partying have made everyone vie for an invite as well as upset the apple cart on the island. Coco, the Richardson's concierge, is new to the island as well. By the time the house goes up in flames, she is missing, which also sends the island into a tizzy. Elin Hilderbrand's final Nantucket novel, Swan Song, includes everything Hilderbrand fans have come to love about her summer novels. There are Easter eggs galore, rich people behaving badly, delectable dinner parties, romance, and a mystery, too that will keep her readers flipping the pages.

Swan Song is told from various perspectives, but I felt myself drawn to Coco's the most. She met the Richardsons while bartending in the Virgin Islands, and accepted their job as their personal concierge. Bull Richardson produces movies and Coco has a screenplay she is working on, so Coco feels she has an opportunity here once she has proven a valuable asset. Coco is new to the island, but thankfully has befriended the chief's daughter, who is home from California to escape her own problems. Which leads me to the Chief. I have always enjoyed his character throughout the Nantucket novels, and his impending retirement is not going smoothly. With a house fire under questionable circumstances and then a missing person whom he knows personally, this won't be an easy way to end his career.

Hilderbrand also includes chapters from Blonde Sharon's point of view, which I have actually come to enjoy. Sharon is working on the second act of her life after her husband cheated on her and I found myself rooting for her despite the fact that she loves to stir up some gossip. There are other characters from The Rumor and The Castaways, so I am glad I read those novels before diving into Swan Song.

Hilderbrand is known for her glorious descriptions of the food, parties, drinks, restaurants, and the idyllic life on Nantucket. I really enjoyed being back on the island and a part of it all. Nantucket has become a character throughout her novels and I will certainly miss it. Her fans won't be disappointed with all the beautiful descriptions, the juicy gossip and rich people antics that will definitely keep the reader absorbed.

While Swan Song isn't my favorite of Hilderbrand's novels, it is a solid ending to what feels like an era. Will summers be the same without a Hilderbrand novel? It doesn't feel like it, but what a ride it has been. I will most definitely miss visiting Nantucket each summer through her novels, so I plan on reading some of her backlist novels I've missed to hopefully fill the void.
 
Have you read Swan Song? Are you a fan of Hilderbrand? What's your favorite  of her novels? Mine are 28 Summers and Golden Girl. Let me know your  thoughts in the comments below.

 

Mini Reviews: Backlist Beach Reads

 

Every summer, I like to pick up some of the beach reads collecting dust on my shelves. I always seem to gravitate toward Elin Hilderbrand’s backlist of novels I haven’t read yet. I also picked up a summery romance that filled the Bridgerton void.

 

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Pages:

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: November 8, 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author:  The Five-Star Weekend,

Golden Girl,  The Hotel Nantucket, Swan Song,

Winter Street, 28 Summers,  Summer of '69,   

Beautiful Day, The Island, The Blue Bistro,

The Perfect Couple, The Castaways, and Winter in Paradise 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.

Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness."

 

 

 

 

Meredith Delinn is living in the lap of luxury at her Park Avenue apartment along with her husband and two sons. Her husband, Freddy, is a self-made businessman, but one fateful day her world is turned upside down. Freddy is arrested as he is the creator of a Ponzi scheme; it's a financial disaster for her family, not to mention all the families he swindled money from. She flees her Park Ave apartment for her best friend's beach house on Nantucket. Things with her best friend, Connie, have been shaky for the last few years, but Connie knows her friend needs her, so she opens her house to her. Plus, Connie has been dealing with her own problems; her husband has died of cancer, she is all alone now, and her daughter isn't speaking to her. These two women need each other, and Nantucket is the perfect spot to hide from the world. Elin Hilderbrand's Silver Girl is a beach read that tackles heavy topics, but keeps it light overall and keeps the focus on strong female friendship as well as the chance to start over after tragedy.
 
Meredith is now living as an outcast in New York City, where people recognize her and give her grief; she can’t even visit her hairdresser. Once she arrives in Nantucket, she hopes to fly under the radar, but soon people start to notice her there as well. Her husband has embezzled so much money that she has become a national figure, leading to her recognition on Nantucket, which adds stress to Connie. Also, the story alternates between the perspectives of Meredith and Connie as both women navigate difficult issues during the summer. It also includes flashbacks to their childhood and adolescence on Philadelphia's Main Line. As someone who is very familiar with the Main Line, I got a kick out of all the references to local landmarks included in the story.  To complicate matters further, Toby, Connie's brother and Meredith’s first love, is also coming to Nantucket for the summer. It becomes a season for new beginnings, second chances, forgiveness, and rebuilding their lives step by step. While Silver Girl wasn’t my favorite of Hilderbrand’s beach reads, it was still a solid tale set in a memorable location.

 

 

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Pages: 384

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: October 26, 2004

Publisher: Avon

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Four young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find husbands . . . no matter what it takes.

Proud and beautiful Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors—if only she had a dowry. Her family is on the brink of disaster, and the only way Annabelle can save them is to marry a wealthy man. Unfortunately her most persistent admirer is the brash Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who wants her as his mistress.

Annabelle is determined to resist Simon's wicked propositions, but she can't deny her attraction to the boldly seductive rogue, any more than he can resist the challenge she presents. As they try to outmaneuver each other, they find themselves surrendering to a love more powerful than they could have ever imagined. But fate may have other plans—and it will take all of Annabelle's courage to face a peril that could destroy everything she holds dear."

 

 

 

Annabelle Peyton is tired of being looked over. Her family, once extremely wealthy and part of the aristocracy, is going through difficult times. This is making it hard to find an advantageous match. She, along with three of her friends, are referred to as The Wallflowers as they are always left aside towards the wall of the ballroom. The Wallflowers decide they will work together to help one another find a successful match. Annabelle has her sights set on a wealthy aristocrat, but she is constantly distracted by Simon Hunt, a brash entrepreneur not entirely accepted by society. At first, he wants to make Annabelle his mistress, but soon, he is getting more serious with his propositions, and it gets Annabelle thinking about what she wants, not what society dictates. Lisa Kleypas tackles the Regency period as well as the issues in society during this time in Secrets of a Summer Night, the first installment of her Wallflowers series.  
 
I am a huge fan of the Bridgerton series, and I thought that Kleypas's Wallflower series might fill that void. And while I don't find it as compelling as Bridgerton, it was still very similar and enjoyable. In Secrets of a Summer Night, I enjoyed Annabelle and had high hopes for her quest to find a match as she is without a dowry. Also, I enjoyed her friendship with the other wallflowers, Dasy, Lillian, and Evie; they are all unique and each character gets their own book going forward in the series. This was my first novel by Kleypas, and I enjoyed it, especially the audiobook, which I occasionally listened to as it is narrated by the fantastic Rosayln Landor, who also narrates the Bridgerton series. 

 

Have you read either of these backlist books? Let me know in the comments below. 

Book Review: The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: 6/13/2023

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Golden Girl,  The Hotel Nantucket,

Winter Street,  Winter Stroll, 28 Summers,  

Summer of '69,  Beautiful Day, The Island,
The Perfect Couple and Winter in Paradise 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Hollis Shaw’s life seems picture-perfect. She’s the creator of the popular food blog Hungry with Hollis and is married to Matthew, a dreamy heart surgeon. But after she and Matthew get into a heated argument one snowy morning, he leaves for the airport and is killed in a car accident. The cracks in Hollis’s perfect life—her strained marriage and her complicated relationship with her daughter, Caroline—grow deeper. So when Hollis hears about something called a “Five-Star Weekend”—one woman organizes a trip for her best friend from each phase of her her teenage years, her twenties, her thirties, and midlife—she decides to host her own Five-Star Weekend on Nantucket. But the weekend doesn’t turn out to be a joyful Hallmark movie. The husband of Hollis’s childhood friend Tatum arranges for Hollis’s first love, Jack Finigan, to spend time with them, stirring up old feelings. Meanwhile, Tatum is forced to play nice with abrasive and elitist Dru-Ann, Hollis’s best friend from UNC Chapel Hill. Dru-Ann’s career as a prominent Chicago sports agent is on the line after her comments about a client’s mental health issues are misconstrued online. Brooke, Hollis’s friend from their thirties, has just discovered that her husband is having an inappropriate relationship with a woman at work. Again! And then there’s Gigi, a stranger to everyone (including Hollis) who reached out to Hollis through her blog. Gigi embodies an unusual grace and, as it happens, has many secrets. The Five-Star Weekend is a surprising and captivating story about friendship, love, and self-discovery set on Nantucket. It will be a weekend like no other."

 

 

Hollis Shaw has it all at first glance. She lives in beautiful Wellesley and has a gorgeous vacation home on Nantucket. Her husband is a doctor, her college-age daughter is an aspiring filmmaker, and Hollis is the face behind the wildly popular website Hungry with Hollis complete with a community of food lovers. But peel back the layers of perfection and you can see the cracks that are starting to form. Things with Hollis and her husband are on the rocks, her daughter is angry most of the time, and her family resents her for spending so much time on the internet with her "followers." When her husband decides to not attend their annual Christmas party and go to a work conference instead, Hollis is upset. They have words before he leaves and en route to the airport, he gets into a car crash and dies. Now Hollis's daughter, Caroline, is even more angry and things will never be the same for Hollis. She leaves Wellesley behind for Nantucket, which is her hometown, and comes up with the brilliant idea to boost her mood--host a "five-star" weekend featuring four of her best friends from the various stages of life. There's Tatum, her childhood best friend, and Dru-Ann, her college bestie. Then there's Brooke, her friend from when the children were little, and lastly, Gigi, her internet friend whom she has never met from Hungry with Hollis. She will combine them for a weekend of fun at her house on Nantucket. What could possibly go wrong? Elin Hilderbrand's The Five-Star Weekend is a story about female friendships, the ups and downs of life, and figuring it all out.

I must be honest that I had a hard time connecting with Hollis in The Five-Star Weekend. I am not sure if it's because she was older than me, but I really couldn't connect with her like I usually do with Hilderbrand's protagonists. Nonetheless, I was rooting for her to find some happiness during her weekend with her friends; however, we know that is much more complicated than it appears at first glance. Getting together girlfriends from various stages of a person's life is a recipe for disaster, especially as personalities collide. Tatum, the Nantucket native, hasn't talked to Hollis in years and is dealing with her own very heavy medical issues. Brooke is facing another disaster with her husband and Dru-Ann, a very successful sports agent, is being canceled on social media. Then there's the mystery around Gigi. Who is she really? Throw in Caroline, as Hollis has paid her to film the weekend, and you've got yourself a houseful of drama. Plus, Hollis's first love, Jack, is back in town. Cue major drama between the fancy food, the tequila, color-coordinating dinners, and nights out at the Chicken Box.

One thing that Hilderbrand does so well in The Five-Star Weekend is to bring Nantucket to life. Readers can expect that from her by now. The fancy dinners, the Nantucket restaurants, the details surrounding the island, the descriptions of mouth watering food, the cold Sancerre.....you name it. The details are all there and every foodie will be dreaming of a delicious meal by the time they finish the novel. Also, Hilderbrand tackles some tough topics very well --- cancel culture, a possible cancer diagnosis, infidelity, sexual harassment, and more, but somehow keeps the book well-balanced, which is why her beach reads work so well. They have substance, but it isn't too overbearing and dark for summertime.

While The Five-Star Weekend wasn't my favorite of Hilderbrand's novels, it is still a fantastic beach read that I know will be in many beach bags this summer. Have you picked up a copy of The Five-Star Weekend yet? Is it on your TBR list? What's your favorite of Hilderbrand's novels? Let me know in the comments below.

Book Review: Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

 

Pages: 448

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Weekenders,

The Newcomer, Sunset Beach, The High Tide Club, 

The Homewreckers, and Hello, Summer

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart."

Traci has inherited the St. Cecilia Resort from her late husband and she hopes to pull it out of bankruptcy. As a child, she has always looked at this resort from afar and dreamed of all the luxury. Now she is in charge, but things aren't easy. Her late husband's family is fighting for control of the hotel, not to mention there's a new resort in town is giving the Saint some competition. Then things go from worse to even worse when there is a murder that occurs at the hotel. Traci desperately tries to do damage control along with all the other workers at the Saint, including the landscaper, who is a former private investigator. This occurrence sheds light on another terrible event that happened at the Saint years before involving a drowning. If you enjoy your beach reads with a side of mystery and murder, Mary Kay Andrews has got you covered with Summers at the Saint.

Poor Traci has a lot going on in Summers at the Saint. Running a luxurious hotel isn't easy and add in new workers, her late husband's family breathing down her neck, bankruptcy and now a murder.... a disaster, really. But things aren't all doom and gloom at the Saint. The beautiful setting of coastal Georgia was done well as well as all the details of a glamorous resort. It reminded me of Hilderbrand's The Hotel Nantucket in that it takes you behind the scenes of a summer resort, but to be honest, it didn't hit the spot like that novel.

I thought Summers at the Saint was just ok as far as beach reads go and not my favorite from Andrews. It was quite long as far as beach reads go and I thought the dialogue was a bit too hokey for me. Additionally, the murder and its aftermath were taken too lightly. The romance was barely present and instead, the mystery took center stage. On the other hand, Andrews did a good job really examining how a small beach town's townies interact with the visitors who come for the summer, and  how the politics of all that plays out, especially at a five-star resort. So, if you like your beach reads with a strong mystery, but one that won't keep you up at night, Summers at the Saint is a good fit. But, if you are like me and want a little more depth and quite honestly are getting tired of Andrews's formulaic mystery beach reads with cringy dialogue, you might want to pick up another novel instead. 

So, are you a fan of Mary Kay Andrews? Is Summers at the Saint on your summer TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Mini Reviews: More Beach Reads

 

August is here, but it's still beach read season. Keep those pumpkin spice lattes away from me! I'll be reading all things summery till Labor Day Weekend. How about you? 

Today I'm sharing two more beach reads - one that is a new release and another that is an "oldie but goodie" that I'm so glad I brought with me on vacation.

Kismet by Becky Chalsen

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: April 18, 2023

Publisher: Dutton

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A sun-soaked debut about love, sisterhood, and destiny, set in the glorious beach town of Kismet, Fire Island . . . Can Amy's marriage survive Jo's wedding? For as long as anyone can remember, it has been Amy, Jo, and Ben. Amy and Jo, the inseparable Sharp twins who couldn't be more different; and Ben, Amy's childhood sweetheart turned husband. But as this year's Fourth of July weekend approaches, something feels off. Jo's whirlwind engagement and wedding ceremony now eclipses the twins' long-awaited thirtieth birthday. Recent arguments between Amy and Ben have left their marriage feeling more like make-believe than ever-after. And as the family beach town transforms for Jo's wedding weekend, Amy's trusted trio will be tested by the most unexpected hurdle yet: the arrival of a handsome, mysterious newcomer in a best man suit. One with a strikingly familiar face. A face that Amy had planned to never see again. This holiday weekend, even the strongest SPF won't protect the Sharp twins from all the secrets about to take center stage."

 

 

Amy and Jo are twins and have always been thicker than thieves even when Amy started dating Ben in high school. Ben fit into their world completely and even became good friends with Jo. They have always been close until recently as they are adults now and sometimes things in life can get distracting. Amy and Ben are married now and are attending Jo and Dave's wedding on the 4th of July at their family's beach house on Fire Island. Tensions are high as the family gathers for this event, especially when they notice Dave's family really isn't warming up to Jo's. Plus, Amy and Ben, even if they seem perfect from the outside, are dealing with a lot in their marriage. When Dave's best man, Emmett, arrives this shocks Amy to her core. She has only dated two people: Ben and Emmett. She dated Emmett in college; what is he doing here? With her family....on Fire Island...at her twin's wedding. Cue the drama! The entrance of Emmett sends Amy into an existential crisis about what she wants out of life, especially when dealing with the recent issues in her marriage. What could possibly go wrong with a family wedding with this much drama on the 4th of July? Becky Chalsen's debut, Kismet, is at its heart a delightful beach read, but there are some problems with the storyline that weigh it down.

I loved the setting of Fire Island and the preparations for the wedding; they were two of the best parts of Kismet for me. However, Amy is a bit insufferable and self-absorbed. She goes through some trauma (TW: miscarriage, infidelity), but instead of working through her trauma, she uses it as a reason to behave irrationally and quite badly. This didn't really work for me. Since this was one of the driving forces of the novel, I had a hard time with it. When the story focused on family, forgiveness, and the gorgeous setting of Fire Island, I was sold. So, if you like emotional beach reads that tackle women's issues, this one is for you. 

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand

Pub. Date: June 1, 2005

Genre: Adult Fiction

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Five-Star Weekend, Golden Girl,   

The Hotel Nantucket,Winter Street, Winter Stroll,  

28 Summers,  Summer of '69,  Beautiful Day,  

The Island, The Perfect Couple and Winter in Paradise 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Adrienne Dealey has spent the past six years working for hotels in exotic resort towns. This summer she has decided to make Nantucket home. Left flat broke by her ex-boyfriend, she is desperate to earn some fast money. When the desirable Thatcher Smith, owner of Nantucket's hottest restaurant, is the only one to offer her a job, she wonders if she can get by with no restaurant experience. Thatcher gives Adrienne a crash course in the business...and they share an instant attraction. But there is a mystery about their situation: what is it about Fiona, the Blue Bistro's chef, that captures Thatcher's attention again and again? And why does such a successful restaurant seem to be in its final season before closing its doors for good? Despite her uncertainty, Adrienne must decide whether to open her heart for the first time, or move on, as she always does. Infused with intimate Nantucket detail and filled with the warmth of passion and the breeze of doubt, The Blue Bistro is perfect summer reading."

 

 

 

 

Adrienne Dealy arrives from Aspen to the gorgeous island of Nantucket looking to start over and find a lucrative job. She has worked in hotels all her life, but once Thatcher Smith, owner of The Blue Bistro, offers her a job as assistant manager, she takes it. After a wardrobe makeover and a few tips from Thatcher, Adrienne is proving to be a valuable asset to The Blue Bistro; after all, it is their last season and they want to go out with a bang. Adrienne gets to know all the staff at the restaurant, their stories, and their background, but it takes time for her to get to know Fiona Kemp, the successful chef of the restaurant and Thatcher's longtime friend. Fiona gives no interviews and mostly hides in the kitchen. But why? She could be a cooking show star if she wanted to. Thatcher and Fiona eat dinner together every night and maintain a very close friendship; one Adrienne can't really wrap her head around. As the summer continues, sparks fly between Thatcher and Adrienne, but Fiona is someone that always seems to be in the way even though Thatcher says they aren't in a romantic relationship. Hilderbrand's mouthwatering descriptions of food, the romance, plus the beautiful setting of Nantucket make The Blue Bistro a beach read that shouldn't be missed.
 
Hilderbrand brings the world of seasonal restaurants to life, unlike any author I've read before. The descriptions of the food and what goes into the day-to-day of running a restaurant are truly captivating. I loved to be lost at The Blue Bistro, whether it was Adrienne's drama or the drama from one of the guests, I was hooked. The mystery surrounding Fiona was done well as it is a tough topic and even though it can be heavy at times, it didn't sink the overall story into sadness. I've heard about The Blue Bistro for years and I am so glad I read it this summer. It's a gem of a beach read and I look forward to it coming to Hulu. *fingers crossed*

 

 

 

Have you read Kismet or The Blue Bistro? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.