By Elin Hilderbrand
Delicious Nantucket lovefest and escape
Now I know what all the Nantucket fuss is about in Elin Hilderbrand’s books. Salty ocean breezes, worn wooden panels, farm-fresh tomatoes sprinkled with balsamic — these vibrant details and more bring this idyllic setting to life.
It’s a familiar lovefest for Hilderbrand fans and 28 Summers is another pretty picture. Against this backdrop, Hilderbrand has written a secret love story. With the classic film, Same Time Next Year, as a framework, 28 Summers is a heartrending sweet romance between two people, Mallory and Jake, who carry out a once-a-year-meetup love affair.
As the years come and go, their lives (and the people around them) complicate and grow. The prospect that their love affair will be outed picks up tension and pace — the perfect escapist fiction.
A few other literary gems: I loved the little march through time at the beginning of each chapter, anchoring the year with pop culture people and events. And I also loved the amusing asides Hilderbrand makes on secondary characters from the author's omniscient point-of-view. The reader is let in on insider jokes and they’re fun. If you're looking for a little romance, a little escape and some Nantucket sun, this latest Hildebrand novel is a win.