17 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books [Ranked for 2024]

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  • Best Elin Hilderbrand Books
  • Best Overall: Summer of ‘69
  • Best Contemporary Romance: 28 Summers
  • Best Mystery Romance: The Perfect Couple
  • Best Thriller: Summer People

Elin Hilderbrand, the award-winning American author, published her first book in 2000 and has since published thirty-six books.

Elin Hilderbrand may be well-known for her romance novel, which is generally set on Nantucket Island, but this author has explored several genres in her novels. A few of these genres include thriller, mystery, and even holiday fiction novels.

As mentioned above, Elin Hilderbrand has published quite a few books which is why it was quite difficult to pick her best novels. Despite the challenge, we have listed the best Elin Hilderbrand books, including the best overall book and the best in a few genres.

Table of Contents

1. Summer of ‘69 – Best Overall

2. 28 summers – best contemporary romance, 3. the perfect couple – best mystery romance, 4. summer people – best thriller, 5. winter street – best christmas story, 6. the blue bistro, 7. barefoot, 8. winter in paradise, 9. the identicals, 10. silver girl, 11. a summer affair, 12. here’s to us, 13. the beach club, 14. the love season, 15. golden girl, 16. the island, 17. winter storms, what is elin hilderbrand best selling book, what should i read if i like elin hilderbrand, who are elin hilderbrand’s favorite authors, final thought.

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“Summer of ’69” is one of Elin Hilderbran’s most well-known books and ranks as her best book overall. Published in 2019, the book has gained quite a big following and has even made the number one spot on the New York Times Bestselling list.

The genre of the novel falls into the historical and domestic fiction categories. There are quite a few themes explored in the Summer of ’69; however, the main theme is family relationships.

“Summer of ’69” follows the Levin family, specifically the four children of the family—Blair, Kirby, Tiger, and Jessie. The novel transports the reader back in time as it is set in 1969 in Nantucket to their grandmother’s historic home. Similar to America’s big changes during this time, the Levin family was experiencing their big changes.

The eldest daughter, Blair, is stuck in Boston about to give birth to twins, whereas Kirby is currently taking part in a protest. The youngest sister, Jessie, feels like the only child and feels quite alone while spending time with her grandmother.

The only son of the family has been deployed to Vietnam as an infantry soldier. The novel goes on to follow all four children and the unique summer they are about to experience.

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“28 Summers” ranks as Elin Hilderbran’s best contemporary romance novel. If you are someone who enjoys being transported back in romance novels, this is the perfect book for you.

Published in 2020, the novel has quickly become a favorite for many of Elin Hilderbran’s readers. The book focuses on a wide range of themes, making it quite a riveting read. A few of these themes include family, marriage, love, loss, and infidelity.

The book starts with Link finding instructions from his mother, Mallory, who is on her deathbed. The instructions are to call a number that leads him to get in touch with Jake McCloud. This surprises Link as he wonders how his mother knows Jacke McCloud, the husband of the frontrunner up for the next Presential election.

The story then takes you back to the love story of Jake and Mallory that happened in the summer of 1993, which was the time when Mallory and Jake met in Nantucket when Jacke was in town from college. The relationship that they form only lasts that summer up until Jake discovers Mallory is dying.

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If your favorite genres are mystery and romance, then you will love “The Perfect Couple.” Ranked as Elin Hilderbrand’s best mystery romance novel, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. There are quite a few complex themes explored in this book, including family relationships, justice, love, and more.

The story follows the looming wedding of the Otis and Winbury families in Nantucket. The wedding is set to happen on Madaket Beach; however, just before the wedding begins, a body is found.

Ed Kapenash is the Chief of Police who believes everyone attending the wedding is a suspect. Ed Kapenash begins his investigation by interviewing the members of the wedding party and discovers the wedding is looming with trouble.

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“Summer People” is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s first novels, which was published in 2003. Despite this, the novel stills hold the spot as the author’s best novel in the thriller genre.

The novel is filled with suspense and even includes some romance, which keeps the reader intrigued. The themes focus on in this book include family, love, betrayal, and forgiveness.

In “Summer People,” the Newton family escaped the city to their home in Nantucket for three months. During this time, tragedy strikes their family when Beth Newton’s husband dies in a plane crash when he is on the way back from a business trip.

Beth tries to keep it together for her family and decides to invite one of Marcus’ clients to spend time in Nantucket with them. The family is unhappy with this decision, and when more shocking revelations about Beth’s past come to light, the family is in for a tumultuous time.

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“Winter Street” is filled with everything that makes it Elin Hilderbrand’s best Christmas story. This is the first book of the author’s Winter series, which includes a total of four books.

Whether you enjoy reading a good Christmas novel during the festive season or even any time of the year, this is the Christmas story you need to add to your TBR ( to be read ).

Published in 2014, this book covers a wide range of themes, including family, romance, crime, and more.

“Winter Street” is set in Nantucket and follows the lives of the member of the Quinn family who visits tony for the holiday. Little do they know their holiday will be filled with nothing but surprises. The story goes on to follow Kelley, Patrick, and Ava, who will all be getting together to spend quality time in the inn.

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By far, “The Blue Bistro” is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s best novels and was close to being placed as the author’s best overall book. Published in 2005, this book still holds up as a riveting read that makes you never want to put it down.

The novel falls into the contemporary romance genre and will tug on your heartstrings. There are quite a few complex themes tacked om this novel, including abuse, addiction, love, and more.

The novel follows Adrienne Dealey, who is escaping to Nantucket as her new home after spending six years in the hotel industry. Dealey needs a new source of income as her ex-boyfriend has left her broke.

This is when she manages to get hired by Tatcher Smith. He is the owner of the Blue Bistro and the only one willing to offer her a position. The story follows what Dealey experiences at the restaurant, including the relationship between her new boss and the head chef.

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“Barefoot” falls into the contemporary romance genre, and like all of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels in this genre, it will keep you feeling intrigued throughout the entire read. Published in 2007, the book covers several themes, including motherhood, marriage, identity, and dealing with illness.

Set in Nantucket, this story follows three women who are trying to cope with the troubles that they are experiencing.

This includes Vicki, who has just discovered that she has a serious illness and is trying to come up with this news. Brenda, who is Vicki’s sister, has just been fired from her job after she was caught having a relationship with one of her students. On the other hand, their friend Melanie is pregnant and has just discovered her husband is having an affair.

The story goes on to follow how the three women cope with these troubles and handle the surprises they are about to experience.

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“Winter in Paradise” is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s that we had to include on the best novel lists because this book tugs on your heartstrings. The book is the first of the author’s series, “ The Paradise .” 

Published in 2018, “Winter in Paradise” falls into the contemporary romance and domestic fiction genre. The themes explored in this novel include family, relationships, love, and loss. 

The story follows Irene Steele, who has just received the news that her husband was found dead on St. John Island, an island in the Caribbean that is well-known as a tropical paradise. 

After discovering this tragic news, Irene travels to St. John, and when she does, she finds her husband has a second family. The story continues with Irene dealing with this revelation and trying to uncover how her husband died.

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“The Identicals” is a New York Times best-selling novel and a USA Today Bestseller, making it a definite must-read of Elin Hilderbrand. Published in 2017, the novel fits into the domestic fiction genre.

One of the major themes highlighted in this novel is the impact of loss and grief and how it can destroy oneself and others.

The story follows two identical twin sisters who have spent years apart and lead two completely different lives. The sisters reunite after a family crisis, bringing the two together and leading them to discover their special bond. This story is filled with the fun and difficulties that come with sibling relationships and is a heartwarming read.

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Published in 2011, “Silver Girl” is a contemporary romance novel filled with suspense making it an interesting read. A few themes explored in this book include friendship, love, forgiveness, and more.

It follows the protagonist Meredith Martin Delin who is experiencing the biggest life change after she has lost everything. This was because her husband scammed investors, which led to Meredith losing her home, friends, and social position.

Now that Meredith has nothing and is about to be homeless, she gets in touch with Constance Flute, an old friend of hers. After contacting Connie, the two escape to Nantucket to get away from their problems and heal.

A few unexpected events happen once they are in Nantucket, including Meredith reuniting with an old boyfriend who happens to be Connie’s brother.

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Published in 2008, this novel falls into the contemporary romance genre. This book tackles quite complex themes that will tug on your heartstrings, including love, loss, romance, and relationships.

Claire Danner Crispin is the novel’s protagonist; she has four children and is an accomplished glassblower. Claire decides to take on another project by co-chairing the Nantucket Children Summer Gala, a large benefit concert.

Claire seems to have a handle on everything, including providing a glass piece to auction at the gala and having her famous e-boyfriend perform. While organizing this gala, Claire faces some competition with the co-chair, who is a Manhattan socialite. Claire has to make some difficult choices to manage everything she has on her plate.

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“Here’s to Us” is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels that has a darker narrative compared to her other novels. Published in 2016, this is a contemporary romance and domestic fiction novel. The themes that are highlighted in this story include love, family, and grief.

The story follows the death of Decon Thorpe, who was well-known to be a man that had a zest for life. Decon passed away in Nantucket, his favorite place in the world. His death leads to his family reuniting to have a farewell for him.

While this may sound simple, it is anything but that, as Decon’s family includes his three wives, who do not get along, his children, and his best friend. After reuniting, the family discovers secrets and remembers the good times they have shared.

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Published in 2000, “The Beach Club” is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s more popularly known books. Like most of the author’s novels, it is a part of the contemporary romance genre set in Nantucket. A few of the themes highlighted in this novel are love, friendship, and family, making it a great romantic read.

“The Beach Club” follows a series of personal dramas that occur at Nantucket Beach Club during the summer. These are the personal drama experienced by the staff at the beach club, including Mack Peterson, Vance, Love O’Donnell, and Jem Crandall. The story is packed with drama and unexpected events, making it quite a steamy read.

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Published in 2006, this psychological fiction novel tells the story of one day which lasts decades. The themes highlighted in this novel include friendship, love, betrayal, and forgiveness.

The story follows Marguerite Beale, a famous former chef who has been living away from the public eye for more than a decade. This all changes when Renata Knox, Marguerite’s goddaughter, gets in touch with her after her mother dies despite her grandfather’s wishes.

Renata wants to learn more about her mother’s life and discover the truth about her death.

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If you are a lover of fantasy fiction and ghost novels, then “Golden Girl” is a must-read for you. Published in 2021, it is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s newer books and falls into the fantasy fiction genre. The book highlights a wide range of themes, including loss, grief, secrets, and family.

The story is based in Nantucket and follows an author, Vivian Howe, a mother of three who had been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. After dying, Vivian ascends to the “Beyond,” where she can see what happens on Earth for one final summer.

Vivian is gifted with three chances to alter the events that happen on Earth, but she is extremely cautious about how she plans to use these chances.

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“The Island” is quite a riveting novel filled with drama that will keep you compelled. Published in 2010, this novel is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s well-known contemporary romance novels. A few major themes highlighted in the novel include family, love, heartbreak, and more.

The story follows Birdie Cousins, whose daughter is a bride-to-be in quite a lavish wedding in Connecticut. Birdie has been planning for her daughter Chess’s special day and handling all the ups and downs of planning a wedding.

This all changes when Birdie receives a call from her daughter that she has canceled her engagement. To help her daughter cope during this difficult time, Birdie decides to escape to Nantucket with Chess and two of her other daughters.

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Published in 2016, “Winter Storms” is the third book in Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter series. This book is a Christmas story and falls into the domestic fiction genre. A few themes highlighted in this novel include betrayal, love, relationships, family, and more.

The story continues to follow the Quinn family, who has experienced quite a few stormy seasons over the past few years. In this novel, the Quinns plan to reunite in Nantucket, but a blizzard gets in the way.

A lot has changed with the beloved characters, such as Kelley, who has just survived her illness; Ava is having trouble picking between the two people she is in love with. Jennifer, on the other hand, is struggling to stop her addiction to drugs while the person she relies on for support, Patrick, is in jail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Elin Hilderbrand’s best-selling book is “ Summer of ’69 ;” this is a must-read if you are just starting with the author’s books. The number one New York Times bestselling book falls into the historical and domestic fiction genre.

If you are an Elin Hilderbrand fan and you are looking for books similar to this author, here are a few books you might enjoy reading:

1. “ Evvie Drake Starts Over ” by Linda Holmes 2. “ You Me Everything ” by Catherine Isaac 3. “ The Bookish Life of Nina Hill ” by Abbi Waxman

Elin Hilderbrand has recommended a few of her favorite authors and the books that she loves by these authors, this includes:

1. “ The Summer Sail ” by Wendy Francis  2. “ Mystic Summer ” by Hannah McKinnon 3. “ The Bright Hour ” by Nina Riggs

Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling author with a special talent for setting her stories in Nantucket but delivering a different experience throughout each novel. The storyteller delivers novels featuring a wide range of genres; however, the majority include contemporary romance and domestic fiction.

Despite this, Elin Hilderbrand has quite a few must-read books that are a part of the thriller, mystery, fantasy, and Christmas stories genres.

Whether you are a contemporary romance lover or are looking for a thriller, Elin Hilderbrand has a book for you. Now that you know precisely which are the best Elin Hilderbrand books, you can pick the one that appeals to you the most to add to your TBR.

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The Editors

10 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books (2023)

Having won several awards for her books, Elin has established her reputation as a great writer who focuses mostly on writing romance novels filled with lots of emotion, drama, and thrill. Once you start reading a few of Elin Hilderbrand’s best books you will come to the conclusion that most of her books are based in Nantucket Island which is where she lives along with her three children.

Drawing inspiration from the drama that is going on in her life, there are over twenty amazing novels written by Hilderbrand that tell very exciting stories of romance, affairs, and a few murders. Ready for the answer to the question of what is the best Elin Hilderbrand book to read first?

Best Elin Hilderbrand Books

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, Hilderbrand had to go under a double mastectomy and that did have a bit of an impact on her stories. Don’t get me wrong, it did not affect her writing badly, it just allowed her to add more drama to the already exciting stories.

When we consider how many books Hilderbrand has written, it was not an easy task to pick the best ones. Also, we feel the urge to mention that we won’t list Hilderbrand’s books in order, chronological or any other. Let’s now find out how thrilling the tales she writes are for yourself from our top picks for the best books by Hilderbrand. 

One Summer Night

It’s the summer of 1993 and Mallory Blessing has just inherited a beachfront cottage in Nantucket, left to her by her aunt. Mallory agrees that it is the perfect place to host her brother’s bachelor party. This is the fateful night that Mallory and Jake McCloud meet and form a bond that will last a lifetime.

Mallory and Jake’s bond persevered over the years, through marriages, children, and Jake’s wife Ursula’s political rise. There seems to be nothing that can break this bond between Jake and Mallory – until Mallory finds out that she is dying. What happens next will change not only their lives, but also the lives of the people they love.

28 Summers Later

It’s summer in 2020 and Mallory’s son, Link, gets deathbed instructions from his mother. She tells him to call the number on a slip of paper, and Link doesn’t know what – or who – to expect. The last person he expected to answer the phone was Jake McCloud, whose wife is now the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election! Link thinks there must be a mistake, but he is about to find out exactly how his mother and Jake know each other.

Elin Hildebrand is best known for her emotional romance books and this one is no different. It’s the perfect summer beach read , filled with both happy and sad moments. Jake and Mallory’s story spans 28 summers and we get to see this couple find love on their own terms.

Golden Girl

The great beyond.

It’s a perfect June day in Nantucket and Vivian Howe, well-known author and mother of three, is out jogging when she is killed in a hit-and-run. Vivian ascends to the Beyond, where she finds herself assigned to a person named Martha. Martha allows Vivi to spend one last summer watching what happens down below.

Vivi is also granted three “nudges”, which she can use to change the outcome of events down on earth. She has to think very carefully about how to use her nudges, because there’s a few things down there she would like to change. Her daughter Willa is on her third miscarriage, her son Carson parties too much, and her other son Leo has an on-again off-again high maintenance girlfriend.

Let Them Grow

Vivi watches over her family from the Beyond, but she also keeps an eye on the officer investigating her death. Despite all of this, Vivi’s greatest worry is her final book, containing a secret from her youth that could ruin her reputation. When the secret comes out anyways, Vivi’s family has to figure things out (with or without a nudge from their mother), and Vivi has to learn to let them grow without her.

I really enjoyed this best novel from Elin Hilderbrand, it was such a sweet and heartfelt story. I liked the idea of being able to watch over your family after you die, a concept that could have been super sad and depressing but isn’t. Hilderbrand did a great job of making this book heartwarming and sometimes even comical .

The Hotel Nantucket

Former glory.

The Hotel Nantucket was a gilded age gem – until the tragic fire in 1922 that killed Grace Hadley, a 19-year-old chambermaid. The hotel went from upscale to mediocre, now a budget-friendly lodge. It’s on its way to becoming an abandoned eyesore, but then London billionaire, Xavier Darling, decides to purchase the hotel and bring it back to life.

Xavier gets help from Lizbet, a Nantucket sweetheart who becomes the general manager responsible for putting together the new charismatic (albeit inexperienced) staff. They all share the same vision of returning the Hotel Nantucket to its former glory. Of course, an undertaking like this will not be easy.

The Haunted Hotel

Trying to get along with each other, let alone the guests, is proving to be a challenge. It’s also not easy trying to overcome the hotel’s bad reputation! But the greatest challenge of all? The shenanigans of Grace Hadley. She’s mostly harmless, just doing your typical haunting things. However, it is clear that she is not going anywhere until someone acknowledges that she was murdered – and figures out who did it.

Okay, so I really enjoyed this highly ranked book from Elin Hilderbrand, because it has the ghost story intertwined but is also like a murder mystery . It’s the perfect summer drama read, it’s super entertaining and told from multiple point of views, so you end up falling in love with the characters! If the Hotel Nantucket was real, I’d be there in a heartbeat!

Paradise Series

Another life.

This best series from Elin Hilderbrand consists of three books, and she ventures away from her usual summer books to one that is set in winter. Don’t worry, this series is still perfect for your summer beach reads because the books are set in the Caribbean – and who wouldn’t want to be there, even in winter?

The first book is called ‘Winter in Paradise’ and follows Irene Steele, whose perfect life is shattered by a late-night phone call. Her husband has been found dead, but the circumstances surrounding his death prevent Irene from grieving. He was found on St. John island in the Caribbean and when Irene gets there, she makes a shocking discovery: her husband had a second family.

Back In Paradise

Book number two is called ‘What Happens in Paradise’ and Irene is back on St. John island, except this time her son is with her. They are determined to find out the truth behind the mysterious death of her husband, but also about his secret life. The last book is called ‘Troubles in Paradise’ and with a visit from the FBI, poor Irene just can’t catch a break!

I enjoyed these books so much, I immediately jumped into the next one as soon as the first one was finished! And thank goodness, because it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. But don’t worry, everything is tied up neatly at the end. This is just such a fun and drama-filled series!

Winter Street Series

Caught kissing santa claus.

All the best books by Elin Hilderbrand follow a seasonal theme and this time around that theme is Christmas! There are four books in the ‘Winter Street’ series, the first one being, you guessed it, ‘Winter Street’. It’s about a family that has gathered in Nantucket for the holidays, not knowing that there will be plenty of surprises.

Kelley Quinn owns the Winter Street Inn and is a proud father of four grown children, each one living in their own state of disarray. Kelley is looking forward to getting the family back together for Christmas, but then he walks in on Mitzi, his wife, kissing Santa Claus. Someone took the nursey rhyme a little too seriously…

A (Somewhat) Joyous Christmas

The second and third books are called ‘Winter Stroll’ and ‘Winter Storms’, both still following the Quinn family and all their drama and adventures. My personal favorite was the last book, ‘Winter Solstice’, as it just felt like such a wholesome ending to this series of characters that I grew to love so much (faults and all).

This time around, the Quinn family is expecting their Christmas to be more joyous, with everyone’s life seeming to be on the right track. But it wouldn’t be a Quinn family gathering without a little bit of drama. This is the perfect series for curling up next to the fireplace and just getting lost into a story! Make sure you keep the tissues close because you’ll be sad to say goodbye to this family when it all comes to an end.

The Perfect Couple

A bit of crime.

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

The Perfect Couple is a story that is mostly happening at a summer wedding in Nantucket with a few flashbacks from previous days that explain certain moments of the story.

Ed Kapenash

Everything is looking good, the happy couple in love is eager to get married and start their new life together until the Chief of Police, Ed Kapenash, receives a call that a lifeless body has been found floating in the ocean. It was the maid of honor from the same wedding.

The story gets super juicy here when everyone at the wedding becomes a suspect. Interviews start, evidence gathers and everything starts to tangle up. You might just seem like you have solved the case of who did it, but Elin has done such a great job of not making it obvious, while at the same time making you think that it’s very clear.

Makes You Think

It’s a story that will definitely have you thinking and trying to figure out who and why could have done this and it proves that Hilderbrand can write a hell of a summer mystery story . So if you are into this genre, this is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s mystery books for you.

Summer of ‘69

Levin family.

One of the latest books by Hilderbrand and also the last novel in our Hilderbrand book reviews is the Summer of ’69. Elin, known as the queen of writing summer novels , does it again in her new novel that has a bit of exciting history. She introduces us to a bunch of unique characters in this exciting story that is happening in the summer of 1969.

We read about the Levin family who spends all of their summers in downtown Nantucket at their grandmother’s historic home. We meet Blair, the oldest sister of the grandchildren who, in the past, couldn’t wait to spend their summers with their grandmother. If we made this list of best Hilderbrand books ranked, this novel would be among the top Hilderbrand books without a single doubt.

Disappointing

This year, however, everything changes as Blair is the first who couldn’t make it due to her pregnancy with twins which leaves her unable to travel. Then, we find out that the middle sister Kirby also won’t be attending because she is too busy being involved in some thrilling protests relating to civil rights which she has the biggest of passions for.

Another disappointment reaches their grandmother as she finds out that her grandson Tiger, who is an infantry soldier, has been deployed to Vietnam is also not coming. The only one left is her thirteen-year-old granddaughter Jesse who has been feeling like an only child due to not seeing her siblings for a while.

Exciting and Dramatic

Elin has made sure to spice up the story as the summer keeps moving, exciting things are happening to everyone. Some good, some bad, nonetheless, exciting and dramatic. Jesse finds out some secrets that her grandmother has been hiding and things spice up for her as well when she slowly grows into her own body and mind. Besides the fact, that this gem is our last Hilderbrand book recommendation, it is also one of Hilderbrand’s best-selling books, so we believe our opinion is justified.

The Identicals

Same, yet different.

In another one of the best Hilderbrand novels, The Identicals, the author introduces us to two indistinguishable sisters. Even though they can’t be told apart regarding their looks, they are actually two very different and separate characters.

Their story of living together ended after their parents’ divorce when one of them moved to Martha’s Vineyard with her father and the other lives in Nantucket Island with her mother.

Decade Apart

They have been apart for more than a decade and weren’t very keen on getting to be together when they were forced to band together for a family crisis. Due to their very similar appearance, people start to mistake the one for the other and chaos begins to reign.

Drama starts to pile up at an alarming rate as people start talking, gossiping, the sisters begin to find out more about each other’s lives and everything leads to a mess. Elin tells a story of what happens when the sisters experience how it is to live in each other’s shoes after not being in contact for so long.

Regaining Love

You can find out for yourself if they look past all of their differences and regain the love for each other. It is Elin Hilderbrand’s best book about twins and the story inside is an exciting one that holds a lot of thrilling drama for the readers who can’t wait to see how it all turns out at the end.

Unexpected Twists

Elin has presented another great and exciting beach-read with The Island. As she always does, Elin starts the story happily, with great plans between people and overall happiness and joy. And just as things might start seeming boring she brings out the unexpected twists that spin a web of relating problems for the characters to solve that just make the novel one of the top Elin Hilderbrand books.

Birdie Cousins

This time, it’s a story that starts out with Birdie Cousins and her busy schedule from planning her daughter’s wedding. Chess, her daughter, was getting an exciting September wedding at their family house on a privately owned island called Tuckernuck which is very close to Nantucket Island.

Everything is going according to the plan regarding the wedding when at the last moment Chess decides to cancel the whole engagement. What a twist, huh? Yep, Chess tilts the whole story and the real excitement for the readers is yet to come. Doesn’t it sound like the best of Elin Hilderbrand?

Birdie, Chess, Tate – Birdie’s other daughter who happens to be a big computer nerd, and India – Birdie’s widowed sister all decide to go to Tuckernuck after all, to unwind and escape their troubles. They and their hunky handyman Barret Lee all get involved in some crazy drama that will definitely be enough for the readers who enjoy Elin’s work.

A series of conversations, sneaky happenings, old love encounters, new love meetings, dramatic truth uncovering, and so much more are sure to make this book fun for everyone. It is one of Hilderbrand’s most popular books among the fans and also top-rated Hilderbrand books by critics and, as we know, it is not always like that. So it’s the thumbs up for The Island.

Getting Away

Hilderbrand’s first book on our list is none other than Barefoot. Elin sees Nantucket Island as a very peaceful place where people go to clear their minds and escape from their troubles for a bit which is why she is basing the story in Barefoot in the same place. This is one of the best-rated Elin Hilderbrand books where she writes about three women who go to Nantucket Island with the hopes of just getting away from their problems regarding illness, marriage problems, tragedy, motherhood.

Emotional Dilemmas

They leave for Nantucket on a hot June day all bearing emotional dilemmas. Vicky is figuring out a way to tell her sister and their friend that she has been diagnosed with a terrible illness. Brenda, Vicky’s sister, is trying to cope with the loss of her job after being caught having an affair with one of her students.

Their friend Melanie was the only one who had kind of good news regarding her being pregnant after a few failed in vitro attempts only to tell them that her world has fallen apart when she finds out that her husband is having an affair.

They all needed this vacation so much and just as they were finally relaxing under the hot weather, the twenty-two-year-old Josh Flynn enters into their world. Elin has done a wonderful job of describing these four people’s lives in her book. It is easy for readers to get emotionally involved in this book which makes it the best Elin Hilderbrand novel for many of her fans. The story is truly memorable and bittersweet, the kind that you won’t forget quickly.

Final Thoughts

Hilderbrand is a bestselling author who knows what her readers are looking for and that they are constantly waiting for new, exciting, dramatic, and mysterious content from her. She definitely knows how to write summer novels, in fact, they are her specialty. If you have a desire for juicy stories, suspenseful mysteries, heartbreaking affairs, and stories to relax with on hot summer days then feel free to choose one from our best Elin Hilderbrand books list.

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Alissa Wynn

Alissa is an avid reader, blogger, and wannabe writer. (She's a much better cook than a writer actually). Alissa is married, has one human, one feline, and two canine kids. She always looks a mess and never meets a deadline.

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15 Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand: Pick Up Your Next Beach Read Today!

Our collection of the best books by Elin Hilderbrand will keep you turning page after page as the author immerses you in historical and modern romance stories.

American romance author Elin Hilderbrand is known for writing spicy beach reads that allow readers to immerse themselves in the worlds of her characters. Growing up, the author spent her summers on Cape Cod, which inspired her writing. When she was sixteen, her father passed away, and her summers on the Cape were no more. After spending a summer working in a factory, she promised herself that for the rest of her life, her goal would be to have a real summer – and she made it happen by writing about oceanside love stories.

Coined “ the queen of beach reads ” by New York Magazine in 2019, Hilderbrand’s novels are perfect for kicking back while listening to the waves. You’ll want to toss the books in this guide into your beach bag before you hit the shore this summer. As one of the best-known authors , Hilderbrand is a writer everyone will love!

1. Summer of ‘69

2. the island, 3. a summer affair, 4. the beach club, 5. the blue bistro, 6. the perfect couple, 7. winter street, 8. winter in paradise, 9. summerland, 10. the matchmaker, 11. nantucket nights, 12. golden girl, 13. the castaways, 14. the identicals, 15. here’s to us, what should i read if i like elin hilderbrand, what is the order of the elin hilderbrand books, what is elin hilderbrand’s best-selling book, should you read elin hilderbrand’s books in order.

Summer of ‘69

Summer ‘69 follows the Levin family through an unforgettable summer. A mother of four, Kate struggles with her marriage and managing her children’s lives. Her children struggle in their personal lives, and Kate tries to navigate these ups and downs throughout the novel. Her youngest daughter can’t wait to get out of Nantucket, much to the dismay of her mother and grandmother.

On top of everything else happening in her life, Kate knows she’s drinking too much and trying to control it alone. You’ll love this engrossing escape from the real world as you start to see each of the Levins as real people with real problems. You might also be interested in our list of authors like Nancy Thayer .

“Kirby has learned that no one can judge a relationship except for the two people in it.” Elin Hilderbrand, Summer of ’69

Summer of '69

  • Audible Audiobook
  • Elin Hilderbrand (Author) - Erin Bennett (Narrator)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 06/18/2019 (Publication Date) - Hachette Audio (Publisher)

The Island

In The Island , a canceled summer wedding throws the Cousins family into a tailspin as they work to navigate the details of an upheaval they never expected in this 2010 novel. As protagonist Birdie works to figure out why her daughter, Chess, unexpectedly called off her wedding, she’s also faced with her own personal issues. Birdie’s 30-year marriage is no more, and she’s sad to break from her first shot at love following her divorce.

Together, Birdie and Chess join two other female family members to enjoy a summer on Tuckernuck Island, just off the coast of Nantucket. Without phones, TV, and drama, they can fully escape their troubles – or so they hoped. While their summer was peaceful, old issues (and lovers) creep up one by one.

“Drama followed Chess around like a smell. Some people, Tate had learned, were like that, and it was for people like her to sit and watch the show.” Elin Hilderbrand, The Island

The Island: A Novel

  • Elin Hilderbrand (Author) - Denice Hicks (Narrator)
  • 07/06/2010 (Publication Date) - Hachette Audio (Publisher)

A Summer Affair

In A Summer Affair , you’ll follow Claire – a woman who has struggled to say no to anyone for her entire life. Whether it’s her husband, her children, or her clients (she’s a successful artist), she puts everyone else’s needs before hers, often to her detriment. She’s asked to head a committee to put on the largest annual social event in Nantucket, and as usual, she’s happy to say yes.

She begins planning the event and works closely with a local billionaire. While she’s no stranger to rubbing elbows with the uber-wealthy, she’s surprised she feels a spark with someone other than her husband. While struggling to ignore how he makes her feel and finds things quickly getting out of hand. She struggles to live in limbo when deciding what step to take next. Hilderbrand’s twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see where Claire ends up.

“All her life, Claire had had a problem figuring out where other people ended and she began. All her life, she’d taken on the world’s hurt; she held herself responsible. But why?” Elin Hilderbrand, A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair: A Novel

  • Elin Hilderbrand (Author) - Isabel Keating (Narrator)
  • 07/01/2008 (Publication Date) - Hachette Audio (Publisher)

The Beach Club

In The Beach Club , Hilderbrand once again takes readers to a summer in Nantucket to follow the ups and downs of life at Nantucket Beach Club. On the island, drama, love, and anger ensue between staff members. The hotel manager struggles to keep his job when the owner shows up and demands that he does things differently from how he’s been running the club for the past 12 years.

Bellman Vance has a vendetta against the manager, believing he stole his job over a decade ago. The new front desk receptionist, Love, has baby fever and is searching for someone to make her dream come true. The staff is forced to work through their differences as a hurricane approaches the shore, risking their livelihood.

“Nobody knows where it comes from, and nobody knows where it goes.’ Love doesn’t make sense most of the time and that’s what’s so wonderful about it.” Elin Hilderbrand, The Beach Club

The Beach Club: A Novel

  • Elin Hilderbrand (Author) - Christina Delaine (Narrator)
  • 03/19/2013 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Audio (Publisher)

The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro follows the life of Adrienne, who has spent years working in resort towns, enjoying summer while getting the experience of what it’s like to work in a top-notch hotel. Adrienne finds herself in a tricky financial situation when her boyfriend leaves unexpectedly, and she calls Nantucket home for the summer.

The owner of one of the island’s most in-demand restaurants offers her a job, but she’s still determining if she can hack it without food industry experience. There’s a clear attraction between the two, and Adrienne is left to decide whether she will run on to the next location (per usual) or stick around and see whether she has something worth staying put for.

“He has never known a woman so free from conceit, vanity, ambition, pretense. He has never known a woman so willing to show the world that she is a human being.” Elin Hilderbrand, The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro

  • 09/21/2012 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Audio (Publisher)

The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple is Hilderbrand’s first murder mystery novel. At the height of the Nantucket wedding season, vacationers are shocked when the body of the bride’s best friend washes up in the harbor just a few hours before the Otis-Winbury nuptials are set to take place. Everyone at the wedding party is a suspect.

As the chief of police interviews everyone in the family, including the groom’s mother, a famous mystery writer, it’s clear that there’s far more to each family than meets the eye. The variety of points of view in the novel will allow you to see the story from a new angle constantly, and Hilderbrand, as usual, keeps readers on their toes.

“The moment their eyes meet, the moment their hands touch. That certainty. That recognition. You. You are the one. This is what it feels like. Nothing, as it turns out, can take the place of love.” Elin Hilderbrand, The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple

  • 06/19/2018 (Publication Date) - Hachette Audio (Publisher)

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Winter Street follows the story of Kelley Quinn, the owner of a Nantucket inn. As the father of three sons and one daughter, Kelley finds himself excited about getting the family together for Christmas. Despite their lives in varying states of disarray. When Kelley walks in on his wife kissing someone else at the inn’s Christmas party, the family descends into chaos. Various love triangles aren’t the only thing that plagues the inn during the holiday season – the Quinn family also has to deal with a surprise pregnancy, a house fire, a federal crime, and more. 

“With this in mind, Ava tells herself to be present and celebrate the holiday instead of wishing it over. After all, one is given only a certain number of Christmases in one’s life.” Elin Hilderbrand, Winter Street

Winter Street

  • 10/14/2014 (Publication Date) - Hachette Audio (Publisher)

Winter in Paradise

Winter In Paradise is perfect for a beach read or to enjoy while snuggled up under blankets and watching the snowfall. This novel follows Irene Steele, an Iowa City woman deeply in love with her husband and can’t get enough of his over-the-top romantic gestures. She’s devastated when he unexpectedly passes away, and she’s faced with unraveling the bizarre details of her husband’s death, which took place in the Caribbean.

Irene and her family are shocked when they arrive on the island to discover that their family patriarch has been living a double life. Irene’s heartbreak at her husband’s lies is intertwined with her excitement at becoming a part of the island’s rich culture. Readers will find that they’re rooting for Irene and her sons as they work through their devastation at the hands of the person they trusted most.

“She had lived in eight different countries growing up and had visited dozens of others…She longed to live in America, preferably the solid, unchanging, undramatic Midwest, and attend a real high school, the kind shown in movies, complete with a football team, cheerleaders, pep rallies, chemistry labs, summer reading lists, hall passes, proms, detentions, assemblies, fund-raisers, lockers, Spanish clubs, marching bands, and the dismissal bell.” Elin Hilderbrand, Winter in Paradise

Defense Reform and Technology: Tactical Aircraft

  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Hardcover Book
  • Herzog, Serge B. (Author)
  • 224 Pages - 05/30/1994 (Publication Date) - Praeger (Publisher)

Summerland

When the high school students of Nantucket High meet on the beach for a bonfire, tragedy strikes. Penny Alistair is killed in a car crash, leaving behind her boyfriend and friend to suffer the emotional aftermath. What follows is a tale of secrets and heartbreak with plenty of romance. Hilderbrand published Summerland in 2012. It is a short book, making it ideal for taking to the oceanside for a summer trip.

“What happened when we died? How were we to know that death wasn’t as profound an adventure as life was?” Elin Hilderbrand, Summerland

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The Matchmaker

Dabney Kimball Beech is well-known as a matchmaker, setting up successful matches with over 40 couples on Nantucket Island. Yet when her long-lost love returns to the island, she must decide if she will perform her match. In the end, she faces a race against her mortality. The Matchmaker was published in 2014. Like many of her books, this one is not afraid to dip into the world of affairs, as the main character is married yet unfulfilled.

“Sometimes you regret the things you do, but they’re over and done. Regretting the things you didn’t do is tougher because they’re still out there…haunting you. The what-ifs.” Elin Hilderbrand, The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker: A Novel

  • Hilderbrand, Elin (Author)
  • 416 Pages - 11/23/2021 (Publication Date) - Back Bay Books (Publisher)

Nantucket Nights

Nantucket Nights tells the story of three best friends who meet once a year to swim in the ocean under the stars. Yet on this particular summer night, one of them does not return. This opens the door to a web of secrets and connections that make this one of the best Elin Hilderbrand novels. 

This book has fewer characters than some of the other books by the best-selling author. Yet the story remains intertwined in the way that Hilderbrand fans have come to expect. Nantucket Nights was published in 2002. Looking for more? Check out our round-up of the best fantasy authors !

“It was popular to believe that things only happened on Nantucket during the summer. Summer was a slice of heaven, but the same was true for the rest of the year on the island, and Kayla felt sorry for anyone who missed the days of October.” Elin Hilderbrand, Nantucket Nights

Nantucket Nights: A Novel

  • 240 Pages - 05/12/2009 (Publication Date) - St. Martin's Griffin (Publisher)

Golden Girl

Golden Girl is a story beyond the realms of reality as we know it. This novel tells the story of Vivian Howe, an author and loving mother of three who suddenly dies in a hit-and-run accident. When Vivian ascends to the Beyond, she watches on as life continues without her.

Although this novel touches on some difficult subject matter like death, betrayal, and secrets, it also has a light and loving storyline as a mother watches her children grow up from Beyond. With all of Hilderband’s signatures – delicious meals, beach scenes, and idealistic lifestyle goals, fans will love this different take on life after death.

“The aesthetics of that dinner had been sheer perfection. The dining room was lit only by candles; there was a bouquet of iris on the table; the restaurant smelled of butter garlic, veal stock, freshly baked bread.” Golden Girl , Elin Hilderbrand

The Castaways

The Castaways looks at some of the hardest things a person can go through in life. When a close-knit group of friends embark on a boating expiration, tragedy strikes, and two of the group’s leading members die, leaving behind two orphaned twins. When the friendship group comes to terms with what has happened, they begin to try and navigate their new life – without their best friends. With themes of grief, love, friendship, and tragedy, this novel pulls on readers’ heartstrings from the first page to the last.

“He could not call his wife and drop the bomb that would destroy the landscape of her life. Her first cousin, her closest friend- a person Andrea held dearer, possibly, than himself – Tess MacAvoy, was dead.” The Castaways, Elin Hilderbrand

The Identicals

The Identicals follows identical twins Tabitha and Harper Frost as they navigate an unexpected family crisis. Both twins are fiercely independent and have worked to become individuals – they’re not as close as we might think identical twins would be. During the crisis, the twins must confront their issues and work together despite their differences. This heart-warming novel tackles themes of identity, sibling relationships, forgiveness, and the power of family.

“Billy’s death warrants another phone call, but Harper is too angry to conduct one civilly. Did Tabitha deign to listen to the message? Did she come visit? Has she set for on the Vineyard even once since the death of her son, Julian, fourteen years ago? She has not.” The Identicals, Elin Hilderbrand

Here's To Us

Here’s To Us is an intriguing novel that follows Laurel Thrope, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver – who have all been married to the same man. Deacon Thorpe is a celebrity chef; he is talented, handsome, and charismatic – that’s why it comes as such a shock when he takes his own life.

After the catastrophe, all three women must come together to see out his final wish: to have his entire family (wives, children, and all) return to his favorite place on Earth: Nantucket. With everyone under one roof, getting along will not be easy. But as secrets are revealed, bonds and friendships begin to form as they say goodbye to the man they all loved dearly.

“Six weeks had passed, but John Buckley still couldn’t believe that his first-ever client and his best friend, Deacon Thorpe – the most famous chef in America – was dead.” Here’s To Us, Elin Hilderbrand

FAQs About the Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand

What should I read if I like Elin Hilderbrand? 1. Emily Griffin 2. Jennifer Weiner 3. Rebecca Serle 4. Carley Fortune

If you want to read Elin Hilderbrand’s books, it is best to pick a series and read them in order of publication. The series options include: 1. Nantucket Series (A Summer Affair, The Castaways, The Perfect Couple) 2. Winter Series (Winter Street, Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, Winter Solstice) 3. Paradise Series (Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, Troubles in Paradise)

After these, you can move on to her standalone books in order of publication, starting with The Beach Club and finishing with her newest novel, The Hotel Nantucket.

Summer of ‘69 is Hilderbrand’s best-selling book and is a fan favorite amongst her loyal readers.

It’s best to read Elin Hilderbrand’s books in order if they are part of a series such as the Winter Street, Nantucket, and Paradise series. However, you can also pick up any of her books and enjoy it without reading the previous ones, but having the background and insight into previous events will make the story more enjoyable.

Looking for more? Check out our round-up of the best Cuban authors !

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Author Picks: 8 Engrossing Books Elin Hilderbrand Recommends

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

You can’t be a fan of the beach read without having read Elin Hilderbrand’s summer books. Ranging from  Summer of ’69   to  What Happens in Paradise , Hilderbrand brings the beach to readers far and wide. But what does the queen of the beach book read in her free time? Quite a lot. Reading everything from other beach reads to memoirs, she’s more than willing to offer a book recommendation when you’re in a reading rut. See below for eight of her favorites. 

The Bright Hour

Elin Hilderbrand : “This book is carefully, thoughtfully, and beautifully written. I think it should be required reading for the entire human race. Nina Riggs is my hero and after you read this she will be your hero, too.”  

Poet and essayist Nina Riggs  was  just thirty-seven years old when initially diagnosed with breast cancer—one small spot. Within a year, she received the devastating news that her cancer was terminal.  E xploring motherhood, marriage, friendship, and memory, Nina asks: What makes a meaningful life when one has limited time? “Profound and poignant” ( O, The Oprah Magazine ),  The Bright Hour  is about how to make the most of all the days, even the painful ones. It’s about the way literature, especially Nina’s direct ancestor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and her other muse, Montaigne, can be a  balm  and a form of prayer.  Tender and heartwarming,   The Bright Hour   “is a gentle reminder to cherish each day” ( Entertainment Weekly , Best New Books) and offers us this important perspective: “You can read a multitude books about how to die, but Riggs, a dying woman, will show you how to live” ( The   New York Times Book Review , Editor’s Choice).  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

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The Summer Sail

Elin Hilderbrand : "Wendy Francis's book thrilled me like a ride in a race car along the coast with the top down. It is everything a summer read should be."  

Three college roommates are celebrating a twentieth wedding anniversary by taking a cruise to Bermuda. As the ship pulls away from the pier, everyone is looking forward to lounging by the pool, sipping sunset cocktails, and reminiscing. Abby, the mother hen of the group, will be celebrating her wedding anniversary in style, even as she and her husband keep a secret from the group. Ambitious career woman Caroline happily anticipates several stress-free days away from her magazine job with her boyfriend, Javier, who may or may not be finally inspired to propose. And single mom Lee (annoyingly gorgeous and irresistibly popular in college) hopes she’ll win back the affections of her formerly sweet daughter Lacey, who after her first year in college, has inexplicably become a little bit of a monster.   As the balmy pink shores of Bermuda come into view, tensions simmer, and old jealousies flare, sending the temperature from soothing to scorching in this engrossing tale of three best friends on a vacation they won’t soon forget—but not for the reasons they expect.  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

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The Secret to Southern Charm

Elin Hilderbrand : Kristy Woodson Harvey is "the next major voice in Southern fiction."  

Critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.   After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as  her worst nightmare comes true .  Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.   But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

A 2018 Spring Okra Pick USA TODAY Happy Ever After’s Best Women’s Fiction Southern Living ’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2018 Deep South Magazine ’s Summer Reading List Raleigh News & Observer 's “The Best Reads of Summer” Charlotte Observer ’s “Summer’s Best Books” New York Live ’s “Ashley’s A-List” Pick

Leaving fans “practically [begging] for a sequel” ( Bookpage ), critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.

After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve.

Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.

But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.

Harvey’s signature warmth and wit make this a charming and poignant story of first loves, missed opportunities, and second chances and proves that she is "the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author).

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Mystic Summer

Elin Hilderbrand : “When two roads diverge...take the one that leads to the beach! Hannah McKinnon delivers a charming gem of a novel in  Mystic Summer .  I adored this book.”  

Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She’s an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend’s wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.   But when Maggie’s career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie’s city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she’s become.  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Maggie Giffin has an enviable life as an elementary school teacher in a Boston suburb, but when she discovers her job may be on the line, she returns to Mystic, Connecticut, the beach town where she grew up, for her best friend’s wedding. There, she runs into Cameron, a man from her past who makes her see her idyllic life from a new perspective.

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Please Enjoy Your Happiness

Elin Hilderbrand : "Please enjoy…the most romantic memoir you're likely to read in a lifetime."  

Pulitzer Prize–winning war correspondent Paul Brinkley Rogers has lived an adventurous life all over the world. But there is one story he cannot forget: that of his haunting love affair with a mysterious older Japanese woman in 1959. Paul was a sailor aboard the USS   Shangri La  that long ago summer when he met  Kaji  Yukiko in the seaport of Yokosuka. A fierce intellectual, Yukiko shared her astonishing knowledge of literature, film, and poetry with Paul and encouraged, even demanded, that he use his gifts to become the writer he is today.   But theirs was not a quiet love story. When a member of the yakuza, Japan’s brutal crime syndicate, attempted to kidnap Yukiko, Paul realized that there was much more to her—and to Japan in the devastating wake of World War II—than he saw at first glance. Through the searing letters that Yukiko wrote to him and Paul’s vivid telling of a history made all the more powerful and poignant by the weight of time,   Please Enjoy Your Happiness   reaches across decades and continents, inviting us all to revisit those loves of our lives that never truly end.  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

A beautiful and evocative memoir based on the author’s summer-long love affair with a remarkable older Japanese woman in the wake of World War II—“the most romantic memoir you’re likely to read in a lifetime” ( New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand).

Pulitzer Prize–winning war correspondent Paul Brinkley‑Rogers has lived an adventurous life all over the world. But there is one story he cannot forget: that of his haunting love affair with a mysterious older Japanese woman in 1959. Paul was a sailor aboard the USS Shangri‑La that long‑ago summer when he met Kaji Yukiko in the seaport of Yokosuka. A fierce intellectual, Yukiko shared her astonishing knowledge of literature, film, and poetry with Paul and encouraged, even demanded, that he use his gifts to become the writer he is today.

But theirs was not a quiet love story. When a member of the yakuza, Japan’s brutal crime syndicate, attempted to kidnap Yukiko, Paul realized that there was much more to her—and to Japan in the devastating wake of World War II—than he saw at first glance. Through the searing letters that Yukiko wrote to him and Paul’s vivid telling of a history made all the more powerful and poignant by the weight of time, Please Enjoy Your Happiness reaches across decades and continents, inviting us all to revisit those loves of our lives that never truly end.

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The Bee Keeper's Daughter

Elin Hilderbrand : "A multigenerational banquet of love: falling in, falling out, rediscovering, rekindling.  The Beekeeper’s Daughter  features sophisticated, irresistible backdrops and brilliantly drawn characters that made it one of the most engrossing reads of my year."  

England, 1932: Grace Hamblin is growing up on the beautiful estate of the  Marquiss  and Marchioness of  Penselwood . The beekeeper’s daughter, she knows her place and her future—that is until her father dies and leaves her alone. Her childhood friend Freddie has recently become her lover, and she is thankful when they are able to marry and take over her father’s duties. But there is another man whom she just can’t shake from her thoughts…   Massachusetts, 1973: Grace’s daughter, Trixie Valentine, is in love with an unsuitable boy. Jasper  Duncliffe  is wild and romantic, and in a band that might be going somewhere. But when his brother dies and he is called home to England, Jasper promises to come back for Trixie one day, if only she will wait for him. Thinking Trixie is surely abandoned, Grace tries to reach out to her daughter, but Trixie brushes off her mother’s advice and comfort, sure Jasper’s love for her was real…   Both mother and daughter are searching for love and happiness, unaware of the secrets that bind them. To find what they most truly desire they must confront the secrets of the past, and unravel the lies told long ago. Set on a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts with charming architecture, beautiful landscape, and quirky islanders,   The Beekeeper’s  Daughter is  “a multigenerational banquet of love…one of the most engrossing reads of my year” ( New York Times   bestselling author Elin  Hilderbrand ).  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

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The Unexpected Waltz

Elin Hilderbrand : “Kim Wright’s charming novel,  The Unexpected Waltz , chronicles one woman’s second chance at happiness and an opportunity to find her authentic self. The writing is pitch perfect—this is a winner!”  

From the author of the “sharply written and emotionally accessible” ( Kirkus  Reviews ) debut   Love in Mid Air   comes this moving novel about a middle-aged woman who regains her balance in life. Kelly Wilder becomes recently widowed from a much older, wealthy man with whom she spent her married life doing charity work, building a lovely home, and, as she says, “pretending to be a whole lot more conservative and stupid and nicer than I really am.”   Now, with too much time and money on her hands, Kelly has absolutely no idea what happens next. So on a whim she signs up for a ballroom dancing class, and slowly, step by high-heeled step, begins to rebuild her life with the help of friends old and new: Nik, a young Russian dance teacher who sees the artistic potential she left behind; Carolina, a woman in hospice, anxious to experience a whole lifetime in a few months; and Elyse, Kelly’s girlhood best friend who knows all of her past secrets—including the truth about the man who long ago broke Kelly’s heart.  

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand : What a lovely summer novel! ON GIN LANE follows charming New York socialite Everleigh Farrows as she navigates the tricky social terrain of the Hamptons in the summer of 1957. The exquisite care given to vintage detail in this novel was utterly captivating—I felt like I was eating tomato sandwiches, bumping into romantic rivals at the Maidstone Club, and dancing in the street in my espadrilles.

best rated books by elin hilderbrand

“Utterly captivating. What a lovely summer novel!” —Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author

“ On Gin Lane encapsulates the very best of historical fiction.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author

After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings .

Everleigh “Lee” Farrows thinks she finally has life all figured out: a handsome fiancé named Roland, a trust in her name, and a house in Bronxville waiting for her to fill it with three adorable children. That is, until Roland brings her out to the Hamptons for a summer that will change everything.

Most women could only dream of the engagement present Roland unexpectedly bestows on Lee—a beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane—but Lee’s delight is clouded by unpleasant memories of another hotel, the Plaza, where she grew up in the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Shaking off flashbacks, Lee resolves to dive into an unforgettable summer with poolside Bellinis, daily tennis matches, luncheons with her Manhattan circle, and her beloved camera in tow. But when tragedy strikes on the hotel’s opening weekend, the cracks in Lee’s picture-perfect future slowly begin to reveal themselves, and Lee must look deep within herself to determine if the life she’s always wanted will ever truly be enough.

From the regal inns to the farmland, the well-heeled New Yorkers to the Bohemian artists, the East End of Long Island is a hodge-podge of the changing American landscape in the late 1950s—and the perfect place for Lee to discover who she really is.

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Book Nation by Jen

Best book blog for reviews, recommendations and author interviews, elin hilderbrand’s top 9 book recommendations of 2022.

Elin Hilderbrand's Top 9

The “Queen of Beach Reads” Knows Books…

Famous for her more than 40 romantic beach reads her devoted readers devour each summer, author Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket where many of her books are set. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on the island. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa. Originally appearing on Instagram and now listed below, Elin shares her top book recommendations for 2022. More about Elin HERE .

Red Island House

Red Island House by Andrea Lee

Shay is surprised when her husband Senna declares his intention to build her a spectacular dream house on an idyllic beach in the tropical island nation of Madagascar.

But the Red Island House casts a spell from the moment she sees it, and before she knows it Shay has become the somewhat reluctant mistress of a sprawling household, caught between her privileged American upbringing and education, and her connection to the continent of her ancestors.

At first, she’s content to be an observer of the passionate affairs and fierce ambitions and rivalries around her. But as she and her husband raise children and establish their own rituals on the island, Shay finds herself drawn ever deeper into an extraordinary place with its own laws and logic, a provocative paradise full of magic and myth whose fraught colonial legacy continues to reverberate. Soon the collision of cultures comes right to Shay’s door, forcing her to make a life-altering decision.

A sweeping novel about marriage and loyalty, identity and heritage, fate and freedom, Red Island House reintroduces readers to a powerhouse literary voice and an extravagantly lush, enchanted world.

Crying in H Mart

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

A memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity.

Michelle Zauner tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food.

As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.

This Time Tomorrow

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

What if you could take a vacation to your past?

With her celebrated humor, insight, and heart, beloved  New York Times  bestseller Emma Straub offers her own twist on traditional time travel tropes, and a different kind of love story. On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible .  She likes her job, even if it isn’t exactly the one she expected. She’s happy with her apartment, her romantic status, her independence, and she adores her lifelong best friend. But her father is ailing, and it feels to her as if something is missing. When she wakes up the next morning she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her 16th birthday. But it isn’t just her adolescent body that shocks her, or seeing her high school crush, it’s her dad: the vital, charming, 40-something version of her father with whom she is reunited. Now armed with a new perspective on her own life and his, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?

Notes on an Execution

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

In the tradition of  Long Bright River  and  The Mars Room , a gripping and atmospheric work of literary suspense that deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life—from the bestselling author of Girl in Snow.

Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. He hoped it wouldn’t end like this, not for him.

Through a kaleidoscope of women—a mother, a sister, a homicide detective—we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and finally, Saffy, the homicide detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy, exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake. 

Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes on an Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it simultaneously unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our system of justice and our cultural obsession with crime stories, asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the psyches of violent men.

The Marriage Portrait

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

The author of award-winning  Hamnet  brings the world of Renaissance Italy to jewel-bright life in this unforgettable fictional portrait of the captivating young duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici as she makes her way in a troubled court.

Florence, the 1550s. Lucrezia, third daughter of the grand duke, is comfortable with her obscure place in the palazzo: free to wonder at its treasures, observe its clandestine workings, and devote herself to her own artistic pursuits. But when her older sister dies on the eve of her wedding to the ruler of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, Lucrezia is thrust unwittingly into the limelight: the duke is quick to request her hand in marriage, and her father just as quick to accept on her behalf.

Having barely left girlhood behind, Lucrezia must now enter an unfamiliar court whose customs are opaque and where her arrival is not universally welcomed. Perhaps most mystifying of all is her new husband himself, Alfonso. Is he the playful sophisticate he appeared to be before their wedding, the aesthete happiest in the company of artists and musicians, or the ruthless politician before whom even his formidable sisters seem to tremble?

As Lucrezia sits in constricting finery for a painting intended to preserve her image for centuries to come, one thing becomes worryingly clear. In the court’s eyes, she has one duty: to provide the heir who will shore up the future of the Ferranese dynasty. Until then, for all of her rank and nobility, the new duchess’s future hangs entirely in the balance.

Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of  Hamnet , Maggie O’Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

In this exhilarating novel by the best-selling author of  The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry  two friends–often in love, but never lovers–come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster,  Ichigo . Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow  is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Vacationland

Vacationland by Meg Michelle Moore

Louisa has come to her parents’ house in Maine this summer with all three of her kids, a barely written book, and a trunkful of resentment. Left behind in Brooklyn is her husband, who has promised that after this final round of fundraising at his startup he will once again pick up his share of the household responsibilities. Louisa is hoping that the crisp breeze off Penobscot Bay will blow away the irritation she is feeling with her life choices and replace it with enthusiasm for both her family and her work.

But all isn’t well in Maine. Louisa’s father, a retired judge and pillar of the community, is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Louisa’s mother is alternately pretending everything is fine and not pretending at all. And one of Louisa’s children happens upon a very confusing and heartfelt letter referring to something Louisa doesn’t think her father could possibly have done.

Louisa’s not the only one searching for something in Maine this summer. Kristie took the Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania with one small suitcase, $761, and a lot of baggage. She’s got a past she’s trying to outrun, a secret she’s trying to unpack, and a new boyfriend who’s so impossibly kind she can’t figure out what she did to deserve him. But she can’t keep her various lives from colliding forever.

As June turns to July turns to August, secrets will be unearthed, betrayals will come to light, and both Louisa and Kristie will ask themselves what they are owed and what they owe others.

Nora Goes Off Script

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Moneghan

Nora’s life is about to get a rewrite…

Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er do well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.

The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it’s the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it’s the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.

Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom,  Nora Goes Off Script  is the best kind of love story–the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.

Trespasses

Trespasses by Louise Kennedy

Set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, a shattering novel about a young woman caught between allegiance to community and a dangerous passion. Amid daily reports of violence, Cushla lives a quiet life with her mother in a small town near Belfast. By day she teaches at a parochial school; at night she fills in at her family’s pub. There she meets Michael Agnew, a barrister who’s made a name for himself defending IRA members. Against her better judgment – Michael is not only Protestant but older, and married – Cushla lets herself get drawn in by him and his sophisticated world, and an affair ignites. Then the father of a student is savagely beaten, setting in motion a chain reaction that will threaten everything, and everyone, Cushla most wants to protect.

As tender as it is unflinching,  Trespasses  is a heart-pounding, heart-rending drama of thwarted love and irreconcilable loyalties, in a place what you come from seems to count more than what you do, or whom you cherish.

Elin Hilderbrand

A Sample of Books By Author Elin Hilderbrand

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The Best Elin Hilderbrand Books

Reference

List of the best Elin Hilderbrand books, ranked by voracious readers in the Ranker community. With commercial success and critical acclaim, there's no doubt that Elin Hilderbrand is one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years. If you're a huge fan of her work, then vote on your favorite novels below and make your opinion count. This poll is also a great resource for new fans of Elin Hilderbrand who want to know which novels they should start reading first. With memorable characters and excellent storytelling, there's no reason why you shouldn't check out her work if you're a big reader.

The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It follows Adrienne Dealey, a young woman who decides to work at Nantucket's hottest restaurant for the summer. She shares an attraction with the restaurant's owner, Thatcher Smith, and must decide if she's willing to give love a chance despite questions that keep arising.

The Island

The Island is a bestselling novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Following a series of unexpected upheavals, Birdie Cousins, her daughters Chess and Tate, and her sister India travel to Tuckernuck Island for a summer escape that proves to be less than peaceful.

What Happens in Paradise

What Happens in Paradise

What Happens in Paradise is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Following the death of her husband, Irene Steele and her sons travel to St. John to learn more about the family patriarch's double life and they are surprised to learn truths about themselves as well.

The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Dabney Kimball Beech is a successful matchmaker whose own personal life is turned upside-down when the man who stole her heart decades earlier returns to Nantucket.

Beautiful Day

Beautiful Day

Beautiful Day is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. A Nantucket wedding may be a joyous occasion for the bride and groom, but the extended members of the Carmichael and the Graham families must navigate scandals and broken hearts.

Troubles in Paradise

Troubles in Paradise

Troubles in Paradise is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Irene Steele and her sons are residing on St. John upon the revelation that their family patriarch, who died in a helicopter crash, was living a double life. More secrets are revealed but can the truth set them free.

Silver Girl

Silver Girl

Silver Girl is a bestselling novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Old best friends Meredith Martin Delinn and Constance Flute embark on Nantucket for an escape from their troubles and worries but they find that you can't outrun your problems.

Summerland

Summerland is a novel by Elin Hinderbrand. The Nantucket community is left reeling after a horrible car crash leaves teenager Penny Alistair dead and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers of the car aren't physically injured though they carry unseen scars that deepen throughout the summer as secrets are revealed.

The Beach Club

The Beach Club

The Beach Club is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. The Nantucket Beach Club is the setting for relationship dramas, work conflicts, and even weather threats as the hotel's staff prepare for life-changing events.

The Identicals

The Identicals

The Identicals is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Estranged twin sisters Harper and Tabitha reconnect to try and help their family. Can reconciliation win the day or are the resentments of the past to difficult to overcome.

Nantucket Nights

Nantucket Nights

Nantucket Nights is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Kayla, Antoinette, and Val travel to Nantucket every year, but this year one of the trio disappears after going for a swim. Overwhelming grief and shocking revelations shake the surviving friends to their core.

Barefoot

Barefoot is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Nantucket local Josh, a college student home for the summer, finds his life intertwined with three women who are staying island with hopes to escape from and overcome their problems.

Golden Girl

Golden Girl

Golden Girl is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It follows the recently-deceased author Vivian Howe who looks upon loved ones from the afterlife. She is given three chances to change the course of events on earth and she considers her options carefully.

Summer People

Summer People

Summer People is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Following the sudden death of her husband, Beth Newton decides that the summer tradition of a family retreat in Nantucket must continue. This time, a special guest is along for the getaway provoking a tornado of emotions.

The Love Season

The Love Season

The Love Season is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It takes place over the course of one day, during which two women recall a late-loved one with stories spanning decades and set in fabulous locations across the globe.

28 Summers

28 Summers is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. After his mother makes a deathbed request, Link Blessing learns of her one-weekend-a-year affair with a high profile man.

Summer of '69

Summer of '69

Summer of '69 is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It's an eventful year in the world and for the Levin family, who spends ever summer on Nantucket, it is a time of turmoil and excitement.

The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. A Nantucket wedding becomes the setting for a murder investigation in this captivating national bestseller.

The Castaways

The Castaways

The Castaways is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It finds six friends coping with the deaths of two of their group while learning secret after secret.

Winter in Paradise

Winter in Paradise

Winter in Paradise is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Irene Steele gets the shock of a lifetime when she learns her loving husband died in a helicopter crash. This isn't the only life-changing news she receives as she also learns of her husband's secret life.

A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. When Claire agrees to chair the committee for a big social event, the last thing she expects is for sparks to fly with billionaire Lock Dixon threatening her happy family life.

The Surfing Lesson

The Surfing Lesson

The Surfing Lesson is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Margot Carmichael's marriage is at a crossroads and she believes a dose of jealousy may be just what she needs to fan the flames of the love.

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. The Quinn family is ready to celebrate the holidays and it seems that everyone has good news to share though there's still a lot of drama to go around.

Here's To Us

Here's To Us

Here's To Us is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Deacon Thorpe's dying wish was for Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver – the loves of his life – to come together with their children to say a final goodbye in Nantucket. Residing in one cabin, the women struggle to overcome past hurts as the accusations fly.

The Rumor

The Rumor is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It finds Madeline King and her best friend Grace at the center of the town's gossip mill. As they try to set the record straight, the truth weighs heavy on the situation.

Winter Storms

Winter Storms

Winter Storms is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Wedding bells are ringing but a blizzard threatens to prevent the pending nuptials. The Quinn family may be able to overcome the storm, but will their own family drama prove to be the greater threat.

Winter Stroll

Winter Stroll

Winter Stroll is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It finds the Quinns ready to enjoy a relaxing holiday on Nantucket, but a surprise guest or two threaten to unravel the peaceful retreat.

Winter Street

Winter Street

Winter Street is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Kelley Quinn can't wait to host his family for Christmas at his Nantucket inn, but when he discovers his wife Mitzi kissing Santa Claus the get-together becomes less than jolly.

The Tailgate

The Tailgate

The Tailgate is a short story by Elin Hilderbrand. Dabney Kimball and Clendenin Hughes were high school sweethearts . Now that they are in college they are testing the old adage that distance makes the heart grow fonder as they are each located on separate coasts. When they finally reunite, Dabney worries that Clendenin may now have eyes for someone new.

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Best Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order To Read

Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

Elin Hilderbrand is an American writer, mostly of romance novels. Her novels are typically set on and around Nantucket Island, where she resides. She was born and raised in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, and was previously a teaching/writing fellow at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

In 2019, New York Magazine called Hilderbrand “the queen of beach reads”. Currently, actress Ellen Pompeo has been working with ABC in adapting Hilderbrand’s Paradise Trilogy into a TV series where she would star after her departure as the lead on Grey’s Anatomy.

Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

1. The Beach Club — (2000)

The Beach Club

In this juicy first novel by a talented newcomer, a series of personal dramas are played out during one summer at a Nantucket Beach Club. It’s about the love of summer, summer love, and the special feelings we all have for that special summer place–in this case, a hotel and an island. Mack Petersen, manager of the hotel, has been working at The Beach Club for 12 summers. Only this summer is different. His boss, the owner of the hotel, Bill Elliot, shows up in the spring with a new set of demands. His girlfriend Maribel is pressing Mack to get married and Vance, the African-American bellman, who has hated Mack since the day Mack stole his job 12 years ago, threatens him in a deadly scene. Mack knows something’s got to give.

Love O’Donnell, the new front desk person straight from the slopes of Aspen, is desperately searching for a stranger to father her child. The bellman, Jem Crandall, who posed as Mr. November in his college calendar, is on his way to LA to break into agenting, until he falls in love with Maribel. Emotions are at a peak when a hurricane threatens to wash away The Beach Club and all it stands for.An engrossing, sexy novel that will sweep you away to the beach any time of the year.

2. Nantucket Nights — (2002)

Nantucket Nights

The ties between women can run as deep as the ocean-but so can the secrets. 

For 20 years, Kayla, Antoinette and Val have performed their own special summer ritual. Once a year, the old friends put aside their daily, separate lives to drink champagne, swap stories and swim naked under the Nantucket stars. But on one of those bonding nights, one of their trio swims out from the shore and doesn’t return. After the surviving friends emerge from their grief, they realize that the repercussions of their loss go far beyond their little circle, and they begin to uncover layers of secrets–and their connections to each other–that were never revealed on the beach. What has made their friendship strong now has the power to destroy–their marriages, families, even themselves, in Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket Nights.

3. Summer People — (2003)

Summer People

Every summer the Newton family retreats to their beloved home on Nantucket for three months of sunshine, cookouts, and bonfires on the beach. But this summer will not be like any other. When Arch Newton, a prominent New York attorney, dies in a plane crash on his way home from a business trip, his beautiful widow Beth can barely keep things together. Above all, though, she decides that she must continue the family tradition of going to Nantucket, and at the same time fulfill a promise that Arch made before he died.

Beth invites Marcus, the son of Arch’s final and most challenging client, to spend the summer with her and her teenage twins Winnie and Garrett, who have mixed reactions to sharing their special summer place with this stranger. Always a place of peace before, Nantucket becomes the scene of roiling emotions and turbulent passions as Marcus, Winnie, and Garrett learn about loss, first love, and betrayal. And when they stumble upon a shocking secret from Beth’s past, they must keep it from destroying the family they’ve been trying so hard to heal.

4. The Blue Bistro — (2005)

The Blue Bistro

Elin Hilderbrand, author of the enchanting Summer People and The Beach Club, invites you to experience the perfect getaway with her sparkling novel, The Blue Bistro.

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.

5. The Love Season — (2006)

The Love Season

It’s a hot August Saturday on Nantucket Island. Over the course of the next 24 hours, two lives will be transformed forever.

Marguerite Beale, former chef of culinary hot spot Les Parapluies, has been out of the public eye for over a decade. This all changes with a phone call from Marguerite’s goddaughter, Renata Knox. Marguerite has not seen Renata since the death of Renata’s mother, Candace Harris Knox, fourteen years earlier. And now that Renata is on Nantucket visiting the family of her new fiancé, she takes the opportunity, against her father’s wishes, to contact Marguerite in hopes of learning the story of her mother’s life–and death. But the events of the day spiral hopelessly out of control for both women, and nothing ends up as planned.

Welcome to The Love Season–a riveting story that takes place in one day and spans decades; a story that embraces the charming, pristine island of Nantucket, as well as Manhattan, Paris and Morocco. Elin Hilderbrand’s most ambitious novel to date chronicles the famous couplings of real lives: love and friendship, food and wine, deception and betrayal–and forgiveness and healing.

6. Barefoot — (2007)

Barefoot

Visiting Nantucket for the summer, three women seek peace and comfort as they cope with the challenges in their lives–from marriage, infidelity, and the mayhem of motherhood to scandal, tragedy, and illness.

Three women–burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues–tumble onto the Nantucket airport tarmac one hot June day. Vicki is trying to sort through the news that she has a serious illness. Her sister, Brenda, has just left her job after being caught in an affair with a student. And their friend Melanie, after seven failed in vitro attempts, is pregnant at last–but only after learning that her husband is having an affair. They have come to escape, enjoy the sun, and relax in Nantucket’s calming air. But into the house, into their world, steps twenty-two-year-old Josh Flynn.

Barefoot weaves these four lives together in a story with enthralling sweep and scope–a novel that is as fun and memorable and bittersweet as that one perfect day of summer.

7. A Summer Affair — (2008)

A Summer Affair

Claire Danner Crispin, mother of four young children and nationally renowned glassblower, bites off more than she can chew when she agrees to co-chair a huge benefit concert on Nantucket. Claire is asked to chair the Nantucket Children Summer Gala, at least in part, because she is the former high school sweetheart of world famous rock star, Max West. Max agrees to play the benefit and it looks like smooth sailing for Claire—until she agrees to create a “museum-quality” piece of glass for the auction, pre-emptorily offers her best friend the catering job, goes nose-to-nose with her Manhattan socialite co-chair, and begins a “good-hearted” affair with the charity’s Executive Director, Lockhart Dixon.

Hearts break and emotions stretch to the point of snapping in this in-depth look at one woman’s attempt to deal with loves past and present, raise a family, run a business, and pull of a charity event unlike any the island of Nantucket has ever seen. Claire discovers that doing good and being bad are not mutually exclusive—and that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

8. The Castaways — (2009)

The Castaways

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy’s closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.

9. The Island — (2010)

The Island

A summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell: a family in upheaval after a cancelled wedding fill an island summer with heartache, laughter, and surprises.

Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess’s lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she’s cancelled her engagement.

It’s only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she’s embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store – a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.

But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known.

10. Silver Girl — (2011)

Silver Girl

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.

11. Summerland — (2012)

Summerland

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. What begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny’s boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt–but the emotional damage is overwhelming. Questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents–secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow new love can take flight.

12. The Surfing Lesson: An Original Short Story — (2013)

The Surfing Lesson: An Original Short Story

A digital edition short story about a wife coming to terms with her fading marriage, based on a subplot from Elin Hilderbrand’s forthcoming novel Beautiful Day

Margot’s reservoir of romantic feelings for her husband Drum is running dry. But while the family is on vacation in Nantucket, Margot finds an opportunity to potentially regain her romantic love for her husband – in the form of Hadley Axelram, his ex-girlfriend. She is counting on jealousy as a relationship defibrillator.

But after forcing her surfing-god husband to make plans for a surfing lesson with Hadley and her son, Margot is left to reminisce about the summer she fell in love with Drum, and the unexpected blossoming of their relationship. When she sees Drum and Hadley spending time together, will the spark reignite – and will her marriage be saved? Or will she find that love is truly gone from this relationship?

This touching short story about a poignant stage in a marriage explores the backstory of Margot Carmichael, one of the stars in Elin Hilderbrand’s new novel Beautiful Day.

13. Beautiful Day — (2013)

Beautiful Day

The Carmichaels and Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride s late mother, who left behind the notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter s future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event but in reality, things are far from perfect. While the couple-to-be are quite happy, their loved ones find their own lives crumbling. In the days leading up to the wedding, love will be questioned, scandals will arise, and hearts will be broken and healed. Elin Hilderbrand takes readers on a touching journey in “Beautiful Day” into the heart of marriage, what it means to be faithful, and how we choose to honor our commitments. “

14. The Tailgate: An Original Short Story — (2014)

The Tailgate: An Original Short Story

Clendenin Hughes first kissed Dabney Kimball during a Nantucket snowstorm freshman year of high school. Ever since that moment – God, the rush, the chemistry! – Dabney has known that she and Clen are an unsplittable unit – essentially the same person in two different bodies.

Of course, with Dabney now at Harvard and Clen at Yale, those bodies are 140 miles apart. And traveling is a serious challenge for Dabney, for reasons she’d prefer not to discuss, reasons having to do with her mother (or lack thereof). But with the big Harvard-Yale game coming up, Dabney is determined to make the trek to New Haven to see Clen. She’s even borrowed a sexy black outfit from a classmate down the hall.

But when she arrives at the tailgate to see sparks flying between Clen and Jocelyn, a girl with dark blue eyes and luscious black hair, Dabney fears the collapse of a bond she has never questioned before, a bond so important that she’ll be lost without it. A stirring portrait of young love at a crossroads, THE TAILGATE introduces two irresistible characters and invites us into a world we don’t want to leave. To learn the fates of Dabney and Clen, read Elin Hilderbrand’s forthcoming novel, The Matchmaker.

15. The Matchmaker — (2014)

The Matchmaker

A touching new novel from bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand in which a woman sets out to find love for those closest to her – before it’s too late.

48-year-old Nantucketer Dabney Kimball Beech has always had a gift for matchmaking. Some call her ability mystical, while others – like her husband, celebrated economist John Boxmiller Beech, and her daughter, Agnes, who is clearly engaged to the wrong man – call it meddlesome, but there’s no arguing with her results: With 42 happy couples to her credit and all of them still together, Dabney has never been wrong about romance.

Never, that is, except in the case of herself and Clendenin Hughes, the green-eyed boy who took her heart with him long ago when he left the island to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. Now, after spending 27 years on the other side of the world, Clen is back on Nantucket, and Dabney has never felt so confused, or so alive.

But when tragedy threatens her own second chance, Dabney must face the choices she’s made and share painful secrets with her family. Determined to make use of her gift before it’s too late, she sets out to find perfect matches for those she loves most. The Matchmaker is a heartbreaking story about losing and finding love, even as you’re running out of time.

16. Winter Street — (2014)

Winter Street

In bestseller Elin Hilderbrand’s first Christmas novel, a family gathers on Nantucket for a holiday filled with surprises.

Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket’s Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can’t get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley’s second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines.

As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who’s playing Santa at the inn’s annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley’s ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.

Before the mulled cider is gone, the delightfully dysfunctional Quinn family will survive a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, a small house fire, many shots of whiskey, and endless rounds of Christmas caroling, in this heart-warming novel about coming home for the holidays.

17. The Rumor — (2015)

The Rumor

Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something’s changed, and if there’s anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it’s a good rumor.

And rumor has it…

…that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer’s block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation–and a desperately bad decision;

…that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;

…that Grace’s husband, successful island real estate developer “Fast Eddie” Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;

…that the storybook romance between Madeline’s son, Brick, and Grace’s daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.

As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they’ve worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight–but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.

18. Winter Stroll — (2015)

Winter Stroll

“Happy Holidays 2015! It has been a rough year for the Quinns, but I would like to start by saying thank you for all of the well wishes and positive missives sent our way.”

Another Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn reflecting on the past year as he writes a holiday letter to friends and family. Though the year has had its share of misfortune and worry, the Quinns have much to celebrate. Kelley, now single, at least is on better terms with his first wife Margaret, who is using her celebrity to lure customers to the inn in record numbers. Their son Kevin has a beautiful new baby, Genevieve, with the Inn’s French housekeeper, Isabelle; and their daughter, Ava, is finally dating a nice guy–her devoted colleague, Scott.

Now the Quinns are looking forward to celebrating Genevieve’s baptism, welcoming Isabelle to the family, and enjoying the cheer of Nantucket’s traditional Christmas Stroll. But just when a peaceful family gathering seems within reach, Kelley’s estranged second wife, Mitzi, shows up on the island after souring on her relationship with the inn’s former Santa Claus. Soon Kelley isn’t the only Quinn entertaining a surprise guest from Christmases past as lovers old and new gather beneath the mistletoe. With jealousy, passion, and eggnog consumption at an all-time high, it’s going to take a whole lot more than a Christmas miracle to get the Quinns–and the inn–through the holidays intact.

19. Here’s To Us — (2016)

Here's To Us

An emotional, heartwarming story from New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand about a grieving family that finds solace where they least expect it.

Celebrity chef Deacon Thorpe has always been a force of nature with an insatiable appetite for life. But after that appetite contributes to Deacon’s shocking death in his favorite place on earth, a ramshackle Nantucket summer cottage, his (messy, complicated) family is reeling. Now Deacon’s three wives, his children, and his best friend gather on the island he loved to say farewell. The three very different women have long been bitter rivals, each wanting to claim the primary place in Deacon’s life and his heart. But as they slowly let go of the resentments they’ve held onto for years and remember the good times, secrets are revealed, confidences are shared, and improbable bonds are formed as this unlikely family says goodbye to the man who brought them all together, for better or worse–and the women he loved find new ways to love again.

20. Winter Storms — (2016)

Winter Storms

Gather under the mistletoe for one last round of caroling with the Quinn family in this heartwarming conclusion to Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling Winter Street Trilogy.

Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn’s old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there’s hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can’t quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can’t decide between the two lovers that she’s been juggling with limited success. However, if there’s one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it’s Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle’s wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place–and the people–they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again.

21. The Identicals — (2017)

The Identical books Elin Hilderbrand

From New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand, a summertime story about identical twins who couldn’t be any less alike.

Nantucket is only two and a half hours away from Martha’s Vineyard by ferry. But the two islands might as well be worlds apart for a set of identical twin sisters who have been at odds for years. When a family crisis forces them to band together — or at least appear to — the twins slowly come to realize that the special bond that they share is more important than the sibling rivalry that’s driven them apart for the better part of their lives. A touching depiction of all the pleasures and annoyances of the sibling relationship, Elin Hilderbrand’s next New York Times bestseller, THE IDENTICALS proves once and for all that just because twins look exactly the same doesn’t mean they’re anything alike.

22. Winter Solstice — (2017)

Winter Solstice

Raise one last glass with the Quinn Family at the Winter Street Inn.

It’s been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that’s about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they’ve experienced in years. And Bart’s safe return isn’t the family’s only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she’s finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn’t be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly. A celebration of everything we love–and some of the things we endure–about the holidays, WINTER SOLSTICE is Elin Hilderbrand at her festive best.

23. The Perfect Couple — (2018)

The Perfect Couple

It’s Nantucket wedding season, also known as summer-the sight of a bride racing down Main Street is as common as the sun setting at Madaket Beach. The Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: the groom’s wealthy parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony at their oceanfront estate.

But it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons after tragedy strikes: a body is discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony-and everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect. As Chief of Police Ed Kapenash interviews the bride, the groom, the groom’s famous mystery-novelist mother, and even a member of his own family, he discovers that every wedding is a minefield-and no couple is perfect. Featuring beloved characters from The Castaways, Beautiful Day, and A Summer Affair, The Perfect Couple proves once again that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer beach read.

24. Winter in Paradise — (2018)

Winter in Paradise

Spend the coldest days of winter on a Caribbean beach with New York Times Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

Join New York Times Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand on the stunning beaches of St. John for the beginning of her thrilling new winter series-The Paradise. Welcome to Paradise, the first book in the Paradise series, has everything that readers have come to know and love about an Elin Hilderbrand novel, plus a healthy dose of intrigue. Irene Steele’s idyllic life-house, husband, family-is shattered when she is woken up by a late-night phone call. Her beloved husband has been found dead, but before Irene can process this tragic news, she must confront the perplexing details of her husband’s death. He was found on St. John island, a tropical paradise far removed from their suburban life. Leaving the cold winter behind, Irene flies down to the beautiful Caribbean beaches of St. John only to make another shocking discovery: her husband had a secret second family. As Irene investigates the mysterious circumstances of her husband’s death, she is plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit belied by the pristine white sand beaches of St. John’s. This exciting first book in the Paradise series will transport readers to a new beach locale-another world that Elin knows as well as her beloved Nantucket-and have them longing for winter.

25. Summer of ’69 — (2019)

Summer of '69

Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of the ’60s summer when everything changed in Elin Hilderbrand’s #1 New York Times bestselling historical novel.

Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century. It’s 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother’s historic home in downtown Nantucket. But like so much else in America, nothing is the same: Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests and determined to be independent, takes a summer job on Martha’s Vineyard. Only-son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. And thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother and her worried mother, while each of them hides a troubling secret.

As the summer heats up, Ted Kennedy sinks a car in Chappaquiddick, man flies to the moon, and Jessie and her family experience their own dramatic upheavals along with the rest of the country. In her first historical novel, rich with the details of an era that shaped both a nation and an island thirty miles out to sea, Elin Hilderbrand once again earns her title as queen of the summer novel.

26. What Happens in Paradise — (2020)

What Happens in Paradise

Spend your winter on sunlit shores in the New York Times bestselling follow-up to Winter in Paradise, where secret lives and new loves emerge under the bright Caribbean sky.

A year ago, Irene Steele had the shock of her life: her loving husband, father to their grown sons and successful businessman, was killed in a helicopter crash. But that wasn’t Irene’s only shattering news: he’d also been leading a double life on the island of St. John, where another woman loved him, too.

Now Irene and her sons are back on St. John, determined to learn the truth about the mysterious life — and death — of a man they thought they knew. Along the way, they’re about to learn some surprising truths about their own lives, and their futures.

Lush with the tropical details, romance, and drama that made Winter in Paradise a national bestseller, What Happens in Paradise is another immensely satisfying page-turner from one of America’s most beloved and engaging storytellers.

27. Summer of ’79: A Summer of ’69 Story — (2020)

Summer of '79: A Summer of '69 Story

Elin Hilderbrand’s brief, irresistible postscript to her #1 New York Times bestselling novel Summer of ’69.

Catch up with Blair, Jessie, and Kirby ten years after the summer everything changed. This “Summer of ’69 story” by Elin Hilderbrand will be published in print in spring 2021 as part of a Dorothea Benton Frank tribute anthology. Get it now in digital form, for a limited time!

28. 28 Summers — (2020)

28 Summers

By the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Summer of ’69: Their secret love affair has lasted for decades — but this could be the summer that changes everything.

When Mallory Blessing’s son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he’s not sure what to expect. But he certainly does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. It’s the late spring of 2020 and Jake’s wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming Presidential election.

There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other?

Flash back to the sweet summer of 1993: Mallory has just inherited a beachfront cottage on Nantucket from her aunt, and she agrees to host her brother’s bachelor party. Cooper’s friend from college, Jake McCloud, attends, and Jake and Mallory form a bond that will persevere — through marriage, children, and Ursula’s stratospheric political rise — until Mallory learns she’s dying.

Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year (which Mallory and Jake watch every summer), 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.

29. Troubles in Paradise — (2020)

Troubles in Paradise

Travel to the bright Caribbean one last time in the satisfying conclusion to the nationally bestselling Winter in Paradise trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand.

After uprooting her life in the States, Irene Steele has just settled in at the villa on St. John where her husband Russ had been living a double life. But a visit from the FBI shakes her foundations, and Irene once again learns just how little she knew about the man she loved.

With help from their friends, Irene and her sons set up their lives while evidence mounts that the helicopter crash that killed Russ may not have been an accident. Meanwhile, the island watches this drama unfold — including the driver of a Jeep with tinted windows who seems to be shadowing the Steele family.

As a storm gathers strength in the Atlantic, surprises are in store for the Steeles: help from a mysterious source, and a new beginning in the paradise that has become their home. At last all will be revealed about the secrets and lies that brought Irene and her sons to St. John — and the truth that transformed them all.

30. Golden Girl — (2021)

Golden Girl

In this #1 bestselling page-turner a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl.

On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she’s assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them.

From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes—with or without a nudge of help from above—while Vivi finally lets them grow without her.

With all of Elin’s trademark beach scenes, mouth-watering meals, and picture-perfect homes, plus a heartfelt message—the people we lose never really leave us—Golden Girl is a beach book unlike any other.

31. The Sixth Wedding: A 28 Summers Story — (2021)

The Sixth Wedding: A 28 Summers Story

A sequel to 28 Summers – Jake McCloud returns to Nantucket for Labor Day weekend 2023, this time without Mallory.

32. The Hotel Nantucket — (2022)

The Hotel Nantucket

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.

How many Elin Hilderbrand Books are there?

There are total 32 books written by famous American writer Elin Hilderbrand which include different novel series, short stories and standalone books.

Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order of Release

Here is the List of Elin Hilderbrand books in order, they were released.

Elin Hilderbrand Books Series in Order

Elin Hilderbrand’s Standalone Novels

1. The Beach Club (2000)

2. Nantucket Nights (2002)

3. Summer People (2003)

4. The Blue Bistro (2005)

5. The Love Season (2006)

6. Barefoot (2007)

7. ​The Island (2010)

8. Silver Girl (2011)

9. Summerland (2012)

10. Beautiful Day (2013)

11. The Matchmaker (2014)

12. The Rumor (2015)

13. Here’s To Us (2016)

14. The Identicals (2017)

15. Summer of ’69 (2019)

16. Golden Girl (2021)

17. The Hotel Nantucket (2022)

The Nantucket Series

1. A Summer Affair (2008)

2. The Castaways (2009)

3. The Perfect Couple (2018)

The Winter Series

1. Winter Street (2014)

2. Winter Stroll (2015)

3. Winter Storms (2016)

4. Winter Solstice (2017)

The Paradise Series

1. Winter in Paradise (2018)

2. What Happens in Paradise (2019)

3. Troubles in Paradise (2020)

The 28 Summers Stories

1. 28 Summers (2020)

2. The Sixth Wedding (Short Story) (2021)

Elin Hilderbrand’s Short Stories

1. The Surfing Lesson (2013)

2. The Tailgate (2014)

3. Endless Summer Short Story Collection (To be Published October 2022)

Elin Hilderbrand Books FAQ’s’

1. elin hilderbrand new book 2023.

Ans – Elin Hilderbrand’s new book is called The Five-Star Weekend, and it will be released on June 13, 2023. It’s about a food blogger who gathers friends from throughout her life for a weekend on Nantucket as she grieves the death of her husband.

2. Do you have to read Elin Hilderbrand books in order?

Ans – Since the Elin Hilderbrand Winter series follows the same characters in a chronological storyline, it is recommended that you read them in the order they were published.

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All 29+ Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order [Complete Guide]

Looking for a list of Elin Hilderbrand books in order? We’re here to help!

If you’re a Elin Hilderbrand fan, then you know that she writes romantic suspense. Reading her books in order can help you appreciate the full story. But before we dive head first into the Elin Hilderbrand books in order, let’s learn a little more about the author herself.

Who is Elin Hilderbrand?

Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling romance author from America. Hilderbrand grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania . The novelist graduated from John Hopkins University and she then taught at the Writers’ Workshop hosted by the University of Iowa.

Hilderbrand traveled extensively before finally arriving on Nantucket, which has become the setting for most of her novels. She also spent many summers of her childhood in Cape Cod. The lived experience in this region brings a realistic nature to her books that fans adore.

Hilderbrand has sold more than 10 million books worldwide.

Do I Have to Read Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order?

Elin Hilderbrand is a New York Times bestselling author of the quintessential summer read. As mentioned, most of her novels are all set in the charming island of Nantucket.

Most of Hilderbrand’s books are standalones and can be read in any order. Even the books within her series can function as standalone novels. However, we’ve broken these series out below and it would be best to read them in order of publication to fully understand the character development.

We have also included the standalone Elin Hilderbrand books in order of publication in case you would like to read them in chronological order and experience her growth as an author.

Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

Below is a list of Elin Hilderbrand books in order categorized by series and type. Within each series, the books are listed in order of publication.

As previously mentioned, you don’t “need” to read them in this order, but we highly recommend it.

Each series is also listed based upon when the first book was published, so if you’re looking for her more recent books, those books are later on down the list.

Nantucket Books

Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket books are, as you would assume, all set on Nantucket Island. Each book is from the perspective of a different character and follows a different storyline. However, the books are loosely connected with cameos from beloved characters.

  • A Summer Affair (2008)
  • The Castaways (2009)
  • The Perfect Couple (2018)

Winter Books

The  Winter  series contains four books set at the Winter Street Inn owned by Kelley Quinn. Each installment picks up in a new Christmas season and depicts the Quinn family through the hectic holidays. The second book in this series has also been published as Christmas on Nantucket.

  • Winter Street (2014)
  • Winter Stroll (2015)
  • Winter Storms (2016)
  • Winter Solstice (2017)

Paradise Books

Irene Steele lives in an idyllic Iowa City Victorian home with her husband, devoted to her. However, Irene learns soon that her husband, who died mysteriously, lived a secret lifestyle on the remote Caribbean island.

  • Winter in Paradise (2018)
  • What Happens in Paradise (2019)
  • Troubles in Paradise (2020)

28 Summers Books

Based on the classic movie Same Time Next Year, which Jake and Mallory watch every summer, 28 Summers follows these two lovers as they embark upon an affair one weekend of every year. The story explores how this complicated relationship impacts not only Jake and Mallory, but also everyone around them.

  • 28 Summers (2020)
  • The Sixth Wedding (2021) (Short Story)

Standalones

The next list of Elin Hilderbrand books in order are her standalones, which is a great place to begin if you haven’t read anything by Hilderbrand before.

  • The Beach Club (2000)
  • Nantucket Nights (2002)
  • Summer People (2003)
  • The Blue Bistro (2005)
  • The Love Season (2006)
  • Barefoot (2007)
  • The Island (2010)
  • Silver Girl (2011)
  • Summerland (2012)
  • Beautiful Day (2013)
  • The Matchmaker (2014)
  • The Rumor (2015)
  • Here’s to Us (2016)
  • The Identicals (2017)
  • Summer of ’69 (2019)
  • Golden Girl (2021)
  • The Hotel Nantucket (2022)
  • The Five-Star Weekend (2023)
  • Swan Song (Expected: June 11, 2024)

Short Stories

Then, if you are a fan of short stories, Elin Hilderbrand has written a few throughout her career, including a recent short story collection.

  • The Surfing Lesson (2013)
  • The Tailgate (2014)
  • Endless Summer Short Story Collection (2022)

Finally, Hilderbrand has also contributed to one anthology throughout her career.

  • Reunion Beach (2021)

Summary of Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

If you’re looking to read the Elin Hilderbrand books in order, I recommend that you read these summaries for an overview of what book you should pick up first. This section will provide an overview of Hilderbrand’s Nantucket , Winter , Paradise , and 28 Summers series.

A Summer Affair Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

1. A Summer Affair

The first book in the Nantucket series introduces Claire Danner Crispin, a mother of four who has taken on more than she can handle as co-chair a benefit concert. While Claire is herself a nationally renowned glassblower, she is also the childhood love of Max West, a famous rock star.

Max agreeing to play for the benefit concert doesn’t seem to be a problem until Claire begins juggling past and present loves. All the while she is supposed to be creating a her own piece of art as she tries to balance family, friends, and business. Nothing is ever as it simple as it seems.

Castaways Elin Hilderbrand

2. The Castaways

The next Nantucket book follows four families who are pillars in the close-knit Nantucket community. The MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are best friends and important to friends and neighbours alike.

But then Greg and Tess MacAvoy are killed in a mysterious boating accident, leaving behind two young children. Their six grieving friends try to find out what happened to them, but in the process reveal secrets that tests the boundaries of their friendship amidst a swirl of rumors and betrayal.

The Perfect Couple Book Cover

3. The Perfect Couple

In Nantucket, summer is well-known as wedding season and the Otis-Winbury wedding is sure to be one to remember with the groom’s wealthy parents footing the bill.

But it will be memorable for all the wrong reasons when a body is found in Nantucket Habor just hours before the ceremony. Suddenly every wedding guest is a suspect. The Chief of Police, Ed Kapenash, interviews the wedding party and quickly discovers that there is no such thing as the perfect couple.

While the final Nantucket book follows new protagonists, it does feature appearances from previous characters in the series.

Winter Street Kelley Quinn

1. Winter Street

Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter books also take place in quaint Nantucket and follow the Quinn family through four Christmas seasons, making them cozy holiday reads.

This first book in the series introduces the patriarch of the Quinn family and the owner of the Winter Street Inn: Kelley. He’s the proud father of four grown children, all of them with their own secrets and scandal.

So, as the holidays approach, all Kelley wants is for his family to be together again under the same roof. But then all chaos erupts with a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, a small house fire, and more.

Hilderbrand hilariously pens a heart-warming story about coming home for the holidays and all it entails for this delightfully dysfunctional family.

Winter Stroll Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

2. Winter Stroll

As you might expect, the second Winter book picks up with the Quinn family again for a second Christmas and contains just as much chaos. Without revealing anything that would spoil the first book, Winter Stroll finds Kelley reflecting on the misfortune and joys alike of the past year.

As the family gets ready to celebrate the season, old flames and new lovers alike gather. With jealousy and passion coursing through the halls of the inn, it’s going to take more than a Christmas miracle to make it through the season intact.

Winter Storms Elin Hilderbrand

3. Winter Storms

One thing is for certain: A Christmas with the Quinns is never boring. Winter Storms picks up with the family for the third Christmas in a row, so you should absolutely read the first two books in this series before moving onto this one, otherwise there will be massive spoilers.

As the family continues to persevere through the hard times and delight in the small joys of the good times, like Christmas, a massive storm slams Nantucket. The once-in-a-century blizzard threatens to keep the Quinns apart, forcing the family through multiple upheavals.

Winter Solstice Kelley Quinn

4. Winter Solstice

The fourth and final Winter book following the Quinns begins with the family preparing to celebrate the Christmas season with gusto. Things finally seem to be improving for each Quinn, meaning there is lots to celebrate and be thankful for this season.

But things rarely go as planned, especially when the Quinn family is involved.

Winter in Paradise Elin Hilderbrand

1. Winter in Paradise

The first book in the Paradise series follows a husband’s secret life and a wife’s new beginning. It is a Caribbean escape, making it the perfect beach read.

Irene Steele’s life appears idyllic. She lives in a charming Victorian house in Iowa City with her loving husband. Until everything she knows about her husband goes up in smoke one cold night.

She receives a phone call that her husband died in a helicopter crash while away on business. As Irene and her sons arrive on St. John, she discovers the double life her husband had been living.

What Happens in Paradise Book Cover

2. What Happens in Paradise

The second book in the Paradise series picks up one year after the first book. So, you should only read What Happens in Paradise after you’ve read Winter in Paradise.

This book features the return of Irene and her sons to the Caribbean island of St. John, where they are determined to learn the truth about the man they thought they knew. But along the way they will also discover surprising truths about themselves, and their future.

Troubles in Paradise Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

3. Troubles in Paradise

Troubles in Paradise is the perfect conclusion to the Paradise books that will satisfy readers who have been following along with Irene’s story.

Irene Steele and her sons have just settled into a villa on the Caribbean island of St. John when, once more, what Irene thought she knew about her late husband is upended. Following a visit from the FBI, Irene will need to lean on her friends more than ever to get through this next hurdle in her life.

The final book in this trilogy races towards a conclusion that will finally pierce through the lies and secrets that brought Irene and her sons to St. John.

28 Summers Elin Hilderbrand

1. 28 Summers

28 Summers is based on the 1978 film Same Time, Next Year, which our protagonists watch every summer. It is a bittersweet romance that explores the trials and tribulations of an affair that occurs once a year during a summer weekend.

The novel begins with Mallory Blessing on her deathbed. She instructs her son to call a number on a slip of paper. Link is then shocked when Jake McCloud, husband to presidential candidate Ursula DeGournsey, picks up the phone.

Link cannot fathom how his mother and Jake knew one another. But it began in 1993 when Mallory inherited a Nantucket beachfront property and agreed to host her brother’s bachelor party. That was where Mallory and Jake, a friend of her brother’s from college, met.

It is also where their love affair began. Their affair persevered through marriage, children, and Ursula’s political career. Right up until Mallory learned she was dying.

The Sixth Wedding Book Cover

2. The Sixth Wedding

This is a sequel to 28 Summers and is also described as a postscript to the novel as The Sixth Wedding is only a brief short story.

It follows Jake McCloud returning to Nantucket for the Labour Day weekend, but this time, without Mallory.

Final Thoughts on Elin Hilderbrand books in order

Elin Hilderbrand’s writing beautifully depicts love, betrayal, and forgiveness. This Elin Hilderbrand books in order list will help you navigate through the author’s extensive catalogue. If you’re looking for a new read, we hope this list will provide some guidance!

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One thought on “ All 29+ Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order [Complete Guide] ”

I enjoyed your Paradise series . Will there be a sequel to the third book? I’d like to find out what the outcome will be. TY

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Every Elin Hilderbrand Book In Order

Warm up this winter by reading every book by the Queen of summer novels! We’ll show you the correct order to read all of Elin Hilderbrand’s seasonal series and standalone stories perfect for staying warm by the fire or lounging on Nantucket beaches.

The Winter Series

Winter Street

  • Winter Street

by Elin Hilderbrand

Winter Stroll

Winter storms, winter solstice.

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  • Audiobook CD (Unabridged)

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Winter Stroll

  • Winter Street Winter Stroll Winter Storms Winter Solstice

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Winter Storms

  • Winter StreetWinter Stroll Winter Storms Winter Solstice
  • Mass Market

This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around November 14, 2023. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

Winter Solstice

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The Nantucket Series

A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair

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The Castaways

The Castaways

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The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple

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The Paradise Series

Winter in Paradise

Winter in Paradise

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What Happens in Paradise

What Happens in Paradise

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Troubles in Paradise

Troubles in Paradise

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28 Summers

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The Sixth Wedding

The Sixth Wedding

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Standalone Stories

Newest to Oldest

The Five-Star Weekend

The Five-Star Weekend

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  • Nantucket Book Partners (Signed Edition)

The Hotel Nantucket

The Hotel Nantucket

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Golden Girl

Golden Girl

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Summer of '69

Summer of '69

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The Identicals

The Identicals

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Here's to Us

Here's to Us

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The Rumor

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The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker

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Beautiful Day

Beautiful Day

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Summerland

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Silver Girl

Silver Girl

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The Island

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Barefoot

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Short Stories

Endless Summer

Endless Summer

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Summer of '79

Summer of '79

The Surfing Lesson

The Surfing Lesson

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The Tailgate

The Tailgate

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Paperback Row

6 New Paperbacks to Read This Week

By Shreya Chattopadhyay Feb. 16, 2024

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Shreya Chattopadhyay

At the end of your reading list? This week’s recommendations include a Nigerian novel of power and poverty, a deep dive into Sumner Redstone’s final years and more.

Here are six paperbacks we recommend →

In what our reviewer called “a model of how gracefully to tell the most grotesque of stories,” two Times journalists lay bare the final years of Sumner Redstone, who spent his 90s “obsessively manipulating the people around him as they sought to manipulate him.”

Though they’re from the same city, Eniolá and Wúràolá live very differently; his efforts to escape poverty are continually foiled, while her affluent family pressures her to marry her controlling boyfriend. When an election brings the two together, “Adébáyò humanizes those sucked into the vortex of that power with a striking compassion,” our reviewer wrote.

While confronting the cracks in her life following the sudden death of her husband, Hollis Shaw decides to host a weekend party in which friends from every decade of her life come together on Nantucket. Chaos, romance and reflections on the internet ensue.

Bringing together scientific research with personal contemplation, Eklöf argues that it is not the dark human beings should fear, but “mankind’s false dawn.”

In the 1880s, in the harsh back country of South Australia, 6-year-old Denny has gone missing during a dust storm. The authorities, his family, a Swedish artist and an Aboriginal tracker all join in the search, resulting in clashes that illuminate the uneasiness simmering among the residents.

From a 16th-century Dominican friar’s undermining of the Catholic Church’s indulgences to political filibustering and price manipulation today, Schneier writes, a hack is any “activity allowed by the system that subverts the goal or intent of the system.”

Read more books news:

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In Lucy Sante’s new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” the author reflects on her life and embarking on a gender transition  in her late 60s.

For people of all ages in Pasadena, Calif., Vroman’s Bookstore, founded in 1894, has been a mainstay in a world of rapid change. Now, its longtime owner says he’s ready to turn over the reins .

The graphic novel series “Aya” explores the pains and pleasures of everyday life in a working-class neighborhood  in West Africa with a modern African woman hero.

Like many Nigerians, the novelist Stephen Buoro has been deeply influenced by the exquisite bedlam of Lagos, a megacity of extremes. Here, he defines the books that make sense of the chaos .

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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  1. The Best Elin Hilderbrand Books

    Critics' Reviews 100 Notable Books Advertisement The Essential Elin Hilderbrand She's the bard of Nantucket and the doyenne of flip-flops, outdoor showers and pink sunsets. Haven't read her...

  2. Best of Elin Hilderbrand (27 books)

    25 friends Vanessa 153 books 1 friend Ashley 93 books 3 friends Olivia 121 books 21 friends Paula 7 books 2 friends Jill 766 books 1 friend More voters… 27 books based on 11 votes: Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand, 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand, The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, Barefoot by Elin H...

  3. Elin Hilderbrand Books: The Ultimate Author Guide for 2023

    63 shares Do you love stories that make you feel like you're living the island life, no matter the time of year? Look no further! In this ultimate reading guide to the best Elin Hilderbrand books, we'll provide an overview of her works, including the Elin Hilderbrand books ranked by our readers. Table of Contents The Queen of the Beach Read

  4. 17 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books [Ranked for 2024]

    1. Summer of '69 - Best Overall $11.29 Buy on Amazon 02/09/2024 04:06 pm GMT "Summer of '69" is one of Elin Hilderbran's most well-known books and ranks as her best book overall. Published in 2019, the book has gained quite a big following and has even made the number one spot on the New York Times Bestselling list.

  5. 10 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books (2023)

    Golden Girl The Great Beyond It's a perfect June day in Nantucket and Vivian Howe, well-known author and mother of three, is out jogging when she is killed in a hit-and-run. Vivian ascends to the Beyond, where she finds herself assigned to a person named Martha. Martha allows Vivi to spend one last summer watching what happens down below.

  6. Top 10 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books Ranked (+ Printable List)

    28 Summers The Blue Bistro: A Novel Summer of '69 Read these books in my Summer Reading Challenge. Details on the 10 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books 28 Summers 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand My #2 Top Pick for Elin Hilderbrand's best book #1 New York Times bestseller Best for those who enjoy popular culture references and decades-long romances

  7. 15 Best Books By Elin Hilderbrand

    9. Summerland 10. The Matchmaker 11. Nantucket Nights 12. Golden Girl 13.

  8. Books by Elin Hilderbrand (Author of The Hotel Nantucket)

    Showing 30 distinct works. « previous 1 2 3 next » sort by « previous 1 2 3 next » * Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more books, click here . Elin Hilderbrand has 83 books on Goodreads with 5147204 ratings. Elin Hilderbrand's most popular book is The Hotel Nantucket.

  9. 22 books Elin Hilderbrand recommended

    Latest Recommendations First Layout American Dirt A Novel Jeanine Cummins - Jan 21, 2020 Goodreads Rating 4.4 (554k) Fiction Adult Thriller & Suspense Historical Fiction

  10. Author Picks: 8 Engrossing Books Elin Hilderbrand Recommends

    Elin Hilderbrand: "A multigenerational banquet of love: falling in, falling out, rediscovering, rekindling. The Beekeeper's Daughter features sophisticated, irresistible backdrops and brilliantly drawn characters that made it one of the most engrossing reads of my year." England, 1932: Grace Hamblin is growing up on the beautiful estate of ...

  11. Full Guide to Elin Hilderbrand's Series to Binge Read (+PDF)

    These important details of Elin Hilderbrand's series help you plan and track your guilty pleasure beach reading beyond just one book. To recap, Elin Hilderbrand has three book series: Nantucket, Winter Street (my personal favorite holiday series), and Paradise (set in St. John). Some of Elin Hilderbrand's books also have short story ...

  12. Best Elin Hilderbrand Books

    16 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books. Elin Hilderbrand is an American author known for her bestselling novels set on the island of Nantucket, which often explore themes of love, family, and relationships. She has written over 25 novels, many of which have been New York Times bestsellers. Hilderbrand's writing style is known for its vivid descriptions of the island and its characters, as well as its ...

  13. 17 Best Elin Hilderbrand Books [Ranked available 2024]

    1. Summer of '69 - Best Overall $11.29 Buy on Amazon 01/15/2024 01:41 am GMT "Summer away '69" is one of Elin Hilderbran's most well-known books and ranks as her best book comprehensive. Published in 2019, the book has gained quite a big following and has even made and total one spot on the New York Times Bestselling list.

  14. Elin Hilderbrand's Top 9 Book Recommendations of 2022

    The "Queen of Beach Reads" Knows Books… Famous for her more than 40 romantic beach reads her devoted readers devour each summer, author Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket where many of her books are set. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on the island.

  15. The Best Elin Hilderbrand Books: A Definitive List

    16. The Beach Club The Beach Club was Elin Hilderbrand's first novel and is a little different than the books we've come to associate with the author. The Nantucket Beach Club is the center of one drama-filled summer, as the manager of the hotel and his staff deal with the intersection of their personal lives and professional issues.

  16. 11 Elin Hilderbrand Books to Warm Your Heart

    Here are some of the best books by Elin Hilderbrand that you may want to add to your bedside pile: 1. 28 Summers (2020) At his mother's deathbed, Link Blessing receives instructions to call a number. When he does, the husband of a frontrunner presidential candidate answers the call.

  17. The Best Elin Hilderbrand Books

    134 votes The Island The Island is a bestselling novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Following a series of unexpected upheavals, Birdie Cousins, her daughters Chess and Tate, and her sister India travel to Tuckernuck Island for a summer escape that proves to be less than peaceful. Author: Elin Hilderbrand First Published: 2010 Genres (Book): Fiction

  18. Every Elin Hilderbrand Book, In Order

    Here's every Elin Hilderbrand book and short story in order, includign the 2024 release "Swan Song." ... 25 of the Best Self-Love Books to Read RTFN. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.

  19. Winter Street (Winter, #1) by Elin Hilderbrand

    In bestseller Elin Hilderbrand's first Christmas novel, a family gathers on Nantucket for a holiday filled with surprises. Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience.

  20. Best Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order To Read

    Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order. 1. The Beach Club — (2000) In this juicy first novel by a talented newcomer, a series of personal dramas are played out during one summer at a Nantucket Beach Club. It's about the love of summer, summer love, and the special feelings we all have for that special summer place-in this case, a hotel and an ...

  21. The Complete List of Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order

    From her first book, The Beach Club, to her bestselling novel Summer of '69, Elin Hilderbrand has been at the top of our list of favorite authors of beachy reads and travel books for years....

  22. All 34 Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order [Complete Guide]

    2. The Castaways. The next Nantucket book follows four families who are pillars in the close-knit Nantucket community. The MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are best friends and important to friends and neighbours alike. But then Greg and Tess MacAvoy are killed in a mysterious boating accident, leaving behind two young children.

  23. Every Elin Hilderbrand Book In Order

    by Elin Hilderbrand. Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of the '60s summer when everything changed in Elin Hilderbrand's #1 New York Times bestselling historical novel. Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century. It's 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing.

  24. Best elin hilderbrand books to buy in 2024

    Overall best elin hilderbrand books. The Five-Star Weekend: An Unforgettable Escape into Luxury and Relaxation "The Five-Star Weekend" is an exceptional travel package designed for those seeking a luxurious and unforgettable short getaway. This premium package offers travelers an all-inclusive experience in one of the most exquisite five-star ...

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