I always knew this was going to be good, but didn't dare to hope it would turn out to be a five star read for me.

28 Summers is a story of unfulfilled love between Mallory Blessing and Jake McCloud who meet one summer in the Nantucket island and fall in love. Their romance doesn't last long as Jake has to return to his life in Washington while Mallory stays on the island where she now lives after inheriting a cottage from her aunt. Before they say goodbye, Mallory and Jake promise to each other to meet in Nantucket at the same time each year, no matter what. And that's how they secret love story starts...  

I have to say I haven't read many EH's books but the few I've read I loved. So what is it about Elin Hilderbrand's novels that totally sucks me in? The premise of 28 Summers is interesting but not ground breaking. So why couldn't I put the book down? It's the characters. The characters get me every time and this wasn't an exception. I fell in love with all of them, even the less likeable ones and I wanted to be there at every step of their lives, eager to know what happens next.

Easy to read, captivating and as the title suggests - the perfect summer book for this season. I'd say go and get yourself a copy now!

Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elin Hilderbrand is an author whose novels I see so much written about as the perfect summer read - whilst a relatively recent discovery for me, I have read a few and was very much looking forward to reading this one whilst sat in the sunshine. And I certainly wasn't disappointed - this had me glued to my seat, transported to Nantucket and emotionally invested from beginning to end.

Based on the film "Same Time Next Year" apparently (I must confess I had never heard of it but have subsequently looked it up and frustratingly can't find a streamed version here in the UK), it tells the story of Mallory and Jake, who get together one Labour Day weekend. At the end of the weekend, they agree that their relationship should remain a casual one, and they will get together on the same weekend each year, an arrangement that lasts for 28 years. Each chapter covers a new year as we learn more about their individual lives, as well as how their relationship evolves.

The subject matter means it may not be the book for everyone but what Hilderbrand does very well is not make you feel that she is glamorising infidelity. For most of us there is I am sure a moral dilemma, and it made for uncomfortable reading for me at times, but Hilderbrand cleverly leaves it to the reader to make their own judgements and it certainly made me stop and think. But the book's strength lies in the fact that the characters are all so well drawn, multi-layered and full of human flaws - I loved Mallory, and it is hard to hate Jake, even if at times you feel you should. Perfect escapism, the book takes you through all the ups and downs of the pair, and their families, until it reaches the inevitable, if heartbreaking, conclusion. I didn't want it to end.

The fun aspect of the book was the way it is structured - each chapter starts with various references from that year (news, events, tv shows, songs, films) and I loved the trip down memory lane, as it prompted so many thoughts as I stopped to reflect on my own memories of each of the years.

The perfect summer read and proves why Hilderbrand's success is so enduring - I have already added several of her older books to my stay at home summer reading pile!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great brain candy book from Elon Hilderbrand. Their books always make me want to live in Nantucket and this book is no exception.

After reading this lovely book I’m now bitterly regretting not visiting Nantucket when I was in Cape Cod on holiday! I might relocate! Mallory Blessing is lucky enough to inherit a beachside cottage from her beloved Aunt Greta. Dissatisfied with life in New York City and finding her roommate Leland a trial she relocates in 1993. Her brother Cooper visits one Labour Day weekend and she meets Jake McCloud and it’s love for life. Unfortunately, Jake can’t relocate, he’s been in an on off relationship with ambitious Ursula de Goursey who he later marries but his heart belongs to Mallory. However, the Labour Day weekend becomes their precious time in Nantucket and it settles in to a ‘same time next year’ relationship. The story is told over 28 summers from several perspectives.

I love that each year starts with a what are we talking about in ..... that particular year as it takes us through some momentous events, those who caught the headlines that year, music and films and so on. Doesn't take a genius to figure what the main topic of conversation for 2020 will be. The characters of Jake and Mallory are so likeable and it’s so frustrating that they have real love that is secret and hidden and you just want them to be together! Some of the characters are selfish, self centred and career driven such as Leland and Ursula but they make a great contrast to Jake and Mallory. The story is very well written with personal touches that makes you feel as if the author is talking to you or reading the words aloud just for you which makes you even feel more invested in the storytelling. The dialogue is smart, sometimes funny, at times it’s sad, there’s tragedy too so there’s the whole range of aspects of real life.

Overall, I loved it! Although the love between Jake and Mallory is a secret, it’s the real deal and so they do ‘fill their cups’ . The setting is wonderful and gives a fairy tale feel to the storytelling and like a lot of fairy tales there isn’t always a happy ending.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Elin Hilderbrand takes me to Nantucket and leaves me in a worse state than when I started this book.

Mallory and Jake meet on one Labor Day weekend in Nantucket, the chemistry between them is instantaneous but they recognise that they are both at different places in their lives.

They agree that each year they will meet up in that last week of August. Each year goes by and, their love survives amidst everything that life throws in their way.

This book, I didn’t think I’d need tissues, but I did(so have some handy). The story pulls you into the lives of Mallory and Jake's.

It’s unputdownable.

Recommend it.