Melissa
rated it
really liked it
over 2 years ago
“People are people.”
More than anything else, it’s the people Elin Hilderbrand brings to life among her pages that have me chomping at the bit for her annual (June and now October!) releases. And while many authors contribute to this genre space, for me it is Hilderbrand’s sm “People are people.”
More than anything else, it’s the people Elin Hilderbrand brings to life among her pages that have me chomping at the bit for her annual (June and now October!) releases. And while many authors contribute to this genre space, for me it is Hilderbrand’s smart and often relatable approach to the “beach read” that has become synonymous with summer. Her work eliciting an eager reader ready to jump on a ferry to Nantucket for a dose of scenery, local eats, and unparalleled people. People who bare their hearts and truths as if we’ve always been the closest of friends. As if we’re all local Nantucketers.
Last year, Hilderbrand pulled off quite the feat with the delivery of her first suspense novel, The Perfect Couple. A book that not only proved to be one of her strongest yet, but earned a coveted spot among my very favorites. And this year, continuing that trend of branching out, Hilderbrand takes a stab at historical fiction, transporting readers to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard during the pivotal summer of 1969. A time that’s near and dear to the author's family—the very summer she and her twin brother said hello to the world—providing the inspiration.
Summer of '69 brings readers into the lives of the Levin/Foley family for what is poised to be a defining time. Not only for the family but for the nation as a whole.
The story opens with a jarring prologue, which sets the tone for the summer months ahead. Tiger, the only Levin son, has been called to war and deployed to the front lines of Vietnam. Tiger in an infantry uniform, Blair (the oldest sister) in Brookline expecting her first child, and Kirby (the middle sister) determined to experience life on Martha’s Vineyard, means thirteen-year-old Jessie (the youngest sister) is on her own. Left to spend the summer with her distracted mother, Kate, and overbearing grandmother, Exalta, in the family’s Nantucket summer home, All’s Fair.
Just about everyone is on the precipice of change as told through alternating chapters. Kate and each of her three daughters take turns examining their views on life, exposing their deepest secrets to the light of day and plucking the strings of the complicated dynamics of the relationships at their fingertips. The culmination of their stories and life lessons hit home with the notion, “people are people".
This intriguing piece of fiction, set amongst actual events—the Vietnam War, Nixon’s tumultuous tenure, Apollo 11, and the Chappaquiddick incident—surprisingly enough, offered this 80’s born woman a bit of a history lesson. And while I wouldn’t say this reads as tried and true historical fiction, it still has a very contemporary feel, Hilderbrand is successful in turning back the hands of time while remaining true to her brand. New and longtime fans are sure to enjoy this summer escape to Nantucket.
*Thanks to Mitchell’s Book Corner and Elin Hilderbrand for making it possible for me to add a personalized copy to my collection. ♥ ...more
More than anything else, it’s the people Elin Hilderbrand brings to life among her pages that have me chomping at the bit for her annual (June and now October!) releases. And while many authors contribute to this genre space, for me it is Hilderbrand’s sm “People are people.”
More than anything else, it’s the people Elin Hilderbrand brings to life among her pages that have me chomping at the bit for her annual (June and now October!) releases. And while many authors contribute to this genre space, for me it is Hilderbrand’s smart and often relatable approach to the “beach read” that has become synonymous with summer. Her work eliciting an eager reader ready to jump on a ferry to Nantucket for a dose of scenery, local eats, and unparalleled people. People who bare their hearts and truths as if we’ve always been the closest of friends. As if we’re all local Nantucketers.
Last year, Hilderbrand pulled off quite the feat with the delivery of her first suspense novel, The Perfect Couple. A book that not only proved to be one of her strongest yet, but earned a coveted spot among my very favorites. And this year, continuing that trend of branching out, Hilderbrand takes a stab at historical fiction, transporting readers to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard during the pivotal summer of 1969. A time that’s near and dear to the author's family—the very summer she and her twin brother said hello to the world—providing the inspiration.
Summer of '69 brings readers into the lives of the Levin/Foley family for what is poised to be a defining time. Not only for the family but for the nation as a whole.
The story opens with a jarring prologue, which sets the tone for the summer months ahead. Tiger, the only Levin son, has been called to war and deployed to the front lines of Vietnam. Tiger in an infantry uniform, Blair (the oldest sister) in Brookline expecting her first child, and Kirby (the middle sister) determined to experience life on Martha’s Vineyard, means thirteen-year-old Jessie (the youngest sister) is on her own. Left to spend the summer with her distracted mother, Kate, and overbearing grandmother, Exalta, in the family’s Nantucket summer home, All’s Fair.
Just about everyone is on the precipice of change as told through alternating chapters. Kate and each of her three daughters take turns examining their views on life, exposing their deepest secrets to the light of day and plucking the strings of the complicated dynamics of the relationships at their fingertips. The culmination of their stories and life lessons hit home with the notion, “people are people".
This intriguing piece of fiction, set amongst actual events—the Vietnam War, Nixon’s tumultuous tenure, Apollo 11, and the Chappaquiddick incident—surprisingly enough, offered this 80’s born woman a bit of a history lesson. And while I wouldn’t say this reads as tried and true historical fiction, it still has a very contemporary feel, Hilderbrand is successful in turning back the hands of time while remaining true to her brand. New and longtime fans are sure to enjoy this summer escape to Nantucket.
*Thanks to Mitchell’s Book Corner and Elin Hilderbrand for making it possible for me to add a personalized copy to my collection. ♥ ...more
