A bit different for a love story book. This is about a couple who have been meeting up to have a secret love affair every summer for 28 years. But now things are changing and this might be their last summer. Well written.

I wasn’t sure whether I would like this or if I would warm to a heroine who sleeps with a married man, but I loved it. Now keen to read more from this author.

I loved this book. It follows the main characters Jake and Mallory and their love affair spanning 28 years. I enjoyed that each chapter starts with a recap of events/pop culture from that year. This was my first book by Elin Hilderbrand and I am looking forwards to reading more.

I loved "28 Summers" SO MUCH. I'm not normally a reader of love stories or romance: I tend to read psychological thrillers and crime. But something about this story sounded intriguing, so I stepped outside my comfort zone and I am so glad I did!

This novel sucked me in and I didn't want it to end. The description was so rich, the characters felt like real people. I got angry with them as if they were real people!

I'm sad for Mallory and Jake, it felt like such a waste of two lives in a way, but at the same time it made for a perfectly bittersweet story that kept me hooked right to the final page.

Also I really want to go to Nantucket now! Hildebrand created a beautiful and finely wrought world, in both time and space.

I cannot believe I have not discovered Elin Hilderbrand before given according to her blurb she writes two books a year ..... this love story drew me in straight away telling the tale of Mallory and Jake who met 28 years ago over Labour Day weekend and set up a Same Time Next Year pact - both move on with their lives Jake marrying his high school sweetheart Ursula who goes onto to become a presidential candidate and Mallory having her son. We see the ups and downs with lots of great characters along the way - I’m just about to research which of her other books to read hoping I will enjoy it as much

Elin Hilderbrand has become one of my favourite authors in recent years so I was delighted to be offered the chance to read this years summer release.
This is a story of a relationship that spans 28 years. Mallory meets Jake - college room mate of her brother - one weekend when a group of friends visit her house on Nantucket. They fall in love and due to each others personal circumstances realise that they cannot be together as a couple however they commit to meeting up for one weekend each summer. The premise should not work however the writing is so good that you can understand how they 'get away with it' for so long. This is more than just a love story but a well written tale of relationships and friendships and how they can endure or fall apart over the course of a lifetime.
I enjoyed this book very much and the main characters were likeable. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity. I look forward to more novels from Ms Hilderbrand.

I absolutely loved this. Following the main characters over the course of 28 years and seeing the different paths their lives took whilst mingling together is a great premises. The relationship between the 2 main characters is just lovely. Highly recommended.

I was delighted to be able to review this book. Unfortunately it isn't one of my favourites and I did find it hard going to get into it.

In the summer of 1993 Mallory inherits a beach cottage in Nantucket from her Aunt Greta and organises her brother Cooper and his friends a bachelor party. Mallory is instantly attracted to his fraternity brother Jake. Several disasters occur, Jake and Mallory are left on their own and find themselves getting close.

They make a pact with each other that no matter where they are in their lives, they will spend Labour weekend together. This tradition is kept up for many years. They look forward to their special times together but also dread the day when Jake leaves to go back to his real life and family!!

I wanted to dislike Mallory for having an affair with a married man, but I couldn’t help but love the bond that Mallory has for Jake whether it be right or wrong.

This is a great book and I couldn’t stop reading it. I was swept along with the beautiful descriptions of Nantucket and didn’t want the story to end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I’ve seen all the love that Elin Hilderbrand books get on #bookstagram and my interest has been piqued for some time now, but I have to admit I felt a little overwhelmed about where to start! When I saw that Hilderbrand had a new book out, I decided to take the plunge and dive into 28 Summers and I’m so glad that I did.⁣
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Hilderbrand’s nostalgic storytelling really draws you into Mallory & Jake’s love affair that spans over many years and through various life & worldly events. I couldn’t help but be swept up in all of the emotions of their special connection as well as the idyllic Nantucket setting, which I now want to visit.⁣
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While I personally didn’t agree with the paths they took and the decisions they made, Jake & Mallory’s relationship came across as quite authentic and I was so invested hoping they’d find happiness together despite knowing what we know in the synopsis.⁣
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I loved that each chapter was introduced with pop culture references from that year and it was wonderful to take a trip down memory lane as Jake & Mallory’s love story unfolded. 28 Summers is more of a slow burn & immersive type of read that I savoured over several days and that will test your moral compass and have you considering what you would do if faced with similar circumstances.⁣
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#28Summers was my first Elin Hilderbrand book but it definitely won’t be my last, I can see why her books make popular holiday or summer TBR picks.

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing an eARC for review

4.5 stars

I had heard a lot about this book and was expecting a great read but for me it didn't live up to the expectations, Overall I enjoyed it but felt Mallory and Jake were weak characters so it was hard to care to much about their story. A good but not a memorable read

Beautifully written book, lovely characters about a love story lasting 28 years but who never managed to be permanently together. It wove in historical references to every year covered by the book and how the two main characters evolved over the years. Loved it. Thank you for letting me review this book.

A lovely story. Transported me from a dreary corona summer to the sunny island of Nantucket. by the ocean.

Thank you Elin Hilderbrand for picking a weekend per year to focus on along three decades, instead of dragging on and on the dreariness of each year to make a generational saga. I don't mind that it is a modern remake of Same Time, Next Year as long as it is done right and kept me interested and entertained in this all-too-inauspicious year in a Nantucket cottage far from the maddening news of 2020.

A true enjoyable read for those forced into Staycations. It is not exactly a feel-good read, mind you,
but it was comforting in a way, heart-breaking in a good way, hopeful in the end.. I ended up actually liking all the characters, although it is not a prerequisite for me to love a book because its characters are likeable. But they were really human and faulty and... well, just human. Even when the occassion arised for some political banter, it was balanced and nuanced.

And I loved that cover. Capturing the essence of a story in one photograph. I'm a real sucker for those.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this bright spot in my summer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved this book!!

I read this based on lots of recommendations and was not disappointed.

Yes it’s a bit romantic and a tiny bit implausible in parts but the writing and characters keep you hooked & wanting to know what happens next.

It’s a story that spans decades and each chapter starts with a reminder of what were the key talking points of each year.

I didn’t want it to end and I need a second book to know what happens next with Link, Jake, Coop, Bess, Ursula.

Recommended.

I expected this to be a typical easy chick lit read but was very pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the 'What we are thinking about' at the beginning of each chapter. Mallory was a well drawn out character, Jake less so and perhaps came across as a little weak. However, I really enjoyed that the author focused on the other things rather than the Labor Day weekend romance

Oh wow, for me this was one of those books that i just couldn't put down. I loved the style of writing and each new year with what was going on in that particular year. The relationship between Jake and Mallory was so sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. Would highly recommend this book

I was SO excited for 28 Summers after LOVING Summer of ‘69 last year! I really enjoyed this book but didn’t love it (and I really REALLY wanted to 😭😭😭)

✨ This I really enjoyed: the writing was just as beautiful and descriptive as I remember it. Fantastic, well developed characters. I loved everything about the setting of the book based on Nantuket 😍 I would also love to read a spin off of Ursula’s story! 🤣

😕 What I didn’t like so much: the structure of the book. I generally love books that span decades but I found myself confused often on if Labor Day of that year had been etc. Also, the plot itself just bugged me a little in general but don’t want to spoil anything 🤭 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

One of my favourite Hilderbrand books ever. A unique love story that undoubtedly raises a lot of moral issues. Nevertheless, it is written with a lot of sensitivity. The structure of the book is one of my favourite ones and it will stay with me. The idea of "what are we talking about?" at the start of each chapter is fantastic and unique and made me a little bit nostalgic. It will definitely make you fall in love with Nantucket. Unforgettable. Unputdownable. Huge 5 stars.

I Wanted to dislike this book after the first few chapters. Here is why, in a short rant, but I could go on. There are spoilers here.

Firstly, the author seemed to think that infidelity could be excused if you re-eally love the other person and if everyone else you hurt along the way isn’t that nice. Let’s take Jake. So he is meant to be a great romantic hero but he marries a woman knowing he doesn’t love her and that she probably has an eating disorder (Although let’s just make her seem fussy) that just annoys him. No wonder she has an affair, though this seems like a ploy to make us think his indiscretion is just fine. He is a grown man. He needs to take responsibility for his Life and take some kind of positive action to just be with the woman he loves. There were literally no barriers to this at the start.

And Mallory, in true insipid heroine fashion, complains her ‘best friend’ thinks she is weak and then proves it every step of the way. Why didn’t she ditch her friend in the college years if she was so hideous? (She really was). Why did she think 84 days in a whole life time is the same thing as love? She even admits herself that life would probably be bland with Jake if they had to work on a marriage. I suspect, as demonstrated by all the hapless fools that try to woo her, it’s because she thinks an illicit affair is real and never really knows what a real relationship is. And don’t even get me started on her being ‘one of those teachers’. Am I to really believe these Hollywood portrayals of teachers who swoop in and inspire entire schools of previously reluctant yobs by being young, pretty and ignoring the rules of their trade? Is America really full of disenchanted teachers who don’t inspire children, leaving any old whippersnapper wide open to come in and look like a modern day hero? Thank goodness she didn’t win that money! And good on Jeremiah who seems to be the only character who eventually sees through her.

And please tell me Link and Bess don’t strike up a love affair, especially after the author tells us they are based on her own children (ok, ok, I realise they’re not actually related but since I’m complaining let’s just get that out there.)

But. But... I still read on til the end. I admit I wanted some kind of telling off for Jake - he must realise he behaved appallingly? But even then I cried at the end and sort of ended up buying into it all a smidge. And for that, I am furious!

I also liked the chapter headings (‘what are we talking about?‘ I don’t know, Elin, I will google it and find out! This was a fun game and if you think you detect sarcasm there, you’re a cynic). And I wsvery curious about how she chose the song lyrics- her own memory! Some kind of charts? Who knows!

All in all it was an engaging read but I just don’t like cheating. Why ever did I pick this one up?