28 Summers

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’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

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 It wove in historical references to every year covered by the book and how the two main characters evolved over the years.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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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

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.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
This book by Elin Hilderbrand is a fascinating and enjoyable read, 28 summers is a story of love and life, it is Mallory and Jake’s story.
I found the storyline interesting and the idea that two people would just meet for a weekend every year for 28 years and not communicate in between those times fascinating. The whole book told the stories of Mallory and Jake, their families, friends and children and who they became as they moved from childhood to adulthood.
Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. I was virtually transported from COVID-19 lockdown to Nantucket and could almost smell the ocean breeze. Such a heartfelt, well written story that triggers many emotions. I would recommend.

I love Elin Hilderbrand’s books so was delighted to have the chance to read 28 Summers. It was a perfect holiday read and I was totally engrossed in the lives of Mallory and Jake, who only meet once a year, on Labour Day weekend. The setting of Nantucket is so appealing. I was lying on a beach in Cornwall reading this novel but felt as though I was in Nantucket, in Mallory’s beautiful coastal house, eating the delicious meals she shares with Jake. The structure of the novel is so clever and I enjoyed the start of every chapter, where the author tells us what was making the headlines in that year. I grew fond of Mallory and Jake and, as the story progressed, was desperate for the Labour Day weekend to happen, no matter what! 28 Summers is a big, sweeping, enjoyable novel and one that I won’t forget.

Can one hide a love affair for 28 years. Mallory and Jake have done just that. Jake is now married, with a family. He comes every weekend just one weekend mind you to live with Mallory and he has done that for 28 years unknown to his friends, to Mallory's own family and to his own wife.

The circle is close, they are all known to each other and one thinks what is the love that binds Jake to Mallory but that is not sufficient for him to actually leave his wife (now a US Senator) and an aspiring Presidential candidate to boot.

The story set in Nantucket in a quiet town and then going back and forth over
the lives of each character appearing now in one city and then the next, the cross referencing between all of them and underneath it all the thread of Mallory and Jake's love story.

Very poignant, sad and emotional this was inevitably a sad story of a different kind of love story.


It has to end it cannot continue - one begins to feel that from midway through the story.

This is one of the author's best ever books.

28 Summers is a whirlwind romance that happens only on Labor Day weekend and describing each year based off of events that happened. This is definitely a tear jerker and you know from the prologue how it will end. While I’m definitely not a fan of infidelity Mallory and Jake are made for each other.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️

This is the first book by this author I have read and it packed an emotional whallop that I didn't really expect. I am not usually a fan of books that feature infidelity, but for some reason this story just works and definitely made this reader cry.

I loved the character of Mallory, so much. She is such a wonderful human being, a great mother, a fabulous teacher, fantastic cook......and borrows someone else's husband once a year. It is a surprisingly complex tale, actually. I don't think that Jake and Mallory are automatically terrible people for doing what they do. They both try to do the best they can, every step of the way.

I liked the recap of each year that started each chapter, that was very interesting. Not being American, I had to look up some of them but it brought back lots of memories for me, I have to say.

All in all, this was a story worth reading and I am very happy that I did. Have some tissues handy for the ending though, you will need them!

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company.

This is my first book by this author and I doubt it will be my last. Beautifully written with a prologue that makes me want to dive right in. I loved the beginnings of each year with the summary of what was topical that year. The names and song lyrics took me back to my childhood, through my teens and into adulthood. Very well done and a great way of setting the scene. The way everyone's lives played out over the 28 years was good and well thought out with fashions, relationships, careers and opinions evolving over time. Little to fault with this book. Highly recommended.

This was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It was so well written, a real page-turner and a perfect summer read.
I'd definitely recommend it.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Elin Hilderbrand is a fantastic storyteller and 28 Summers shows that. This book was brilliant. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I normally hate books that involve affairs but this was smartly done. This might be the only book I have ever liked that had an affair. Elin's writing was top notch in this book and I cannot recommend it enough.

Mallory decides to leave New York behind to live in Nantucket after inheriting a house from her aunt. Her life is blissful and she loves her teaching role there. After meeting a college friend of her brother, Jake, she embarks on a one weekend a year affair spanning many decades. Life suddenly changes when Mallory is told she is dying.

Oh my how I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! The writing was just gorgeous,
I felt like I was on a warm beach with the summer breeze blowing and the scent of the sea every time I was reading. Ive been meaning to read this author for a while and loved her writing so much Ive added all her books to my amazon basket.
The scene setting is beautiful, the people are flawed, summers in Nantucket! it just makes me want to go right now and live on the beach.
Jake and Mallory's story is unusual and beautiful, I love the 'What we are thinking about' paragraph at the start of each summer, so unusual and quirky.
Elin has an absolutely gorgeous style, warm and absorbing, I made myself ration this book each day so I could make it last. One of my favourite books of 2020, just fabulous!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC of this wonderful book.

I am around the same age as Mallory so this book was a nostalgic look at each of the 28 years. I read this book in one sitting. I got totally caught up in the characters lives. This is a story about love, family, friends, loyalty, and politics. I liked the way the book was written and that Jake and Mallory’s relationship comes across as real.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elin Hilderbrand and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC copy. This is my honest personal review.
Mallory and Jake are what romance is made of and the are together only once a year, but their feelings are what make them who they are.
Elin Hilderbrand is one my most favorite authors and she brings me into this story and leaves me with every emotion there can be while reading about Jake and Mallory.
Thank you, Elin Hilderbrand, for giving me an escape to Nantucket!

This was a really different read for me. It's told from many different perspectives over a 28 year period. It's a one summer a month love affair that takes place no matter what else is going on in their lives. Wife's, boyfriends, children or work, once a year nothing else matters. I truly loved Jake and Mallory and their love affair was wonderous and life altering. I have no idea how they did it, or could live with the life they chose. I could have settle for something less than everything. At times it just about broke me. The chemistry and love between them was unforgettable. It was what we all strive for, search for, sacrifice for. And when Mallory finds herself at the end and her son stumbles upon her hard kept secret, nothing else matters. The journey and the people who love you are all that matters when your time comes and I hope you enjoy their story just as much as I have.

It's the first book i read by Elin Hildebrand and won't surely be the last.
It's engrossing and enjoyable, the author is a talented storyteller and I loved the plot and the character development.
The romance is sweet and the story is heartwarming and heartbreaking.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Oh even though I knew, and this isn't a spoiler because you know when the novel starts, that Mallory will die from cancer, I still shed a tear at the end of this wonderful book. Mallory and Jake meet every Labor Day weekend on Nantucket where she lives for 28 years- they eat the same meals, listen to the same music, and watch the same movie- even though he's first involved with and then married to the redoubtable Ursula. They keep it secret from Ursula, Mallory's son Link, and, for a long time, her friend Leland and most importantly her brother Cooper. The characters jump off the page- Ursula's work ethic and quirks, Cooper's attraction to bad marriages, Jake's love for Mallory, Then there's Leland and Fif.i (I adored Fifi). Nantucket itself is another characters - all the restaurants are real places, as are the ponds and, of course, the ocean. I'd love to live in Mallory's cottage- renovated or not. I also liked the dollop of Baltimore lore- not much but people from Baltimore will recognize spots in Roland Park (but where did Mallory and Leland go to school?). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. If you haven't read Hilderbrand, this is an excellent place to start. A great read for a hot pandemic summer (or any time).

I loved this book. I was immediately immersed in the storyline as it starts when one of the main characters - Mallory gives her son Link instructions from her deathbed to contact a number on a slip of paper and he has no idea who is on the other end of the phone. He cannot believe it when Jake McCloud answers, husband of a front runner in the upcoming Presidential election. What then is told is a love story spanning decades set against the continuing separate lives lived by Mallory and Jake. They meet once a year for a weekend in Nantucket and they have no contact through the year with each other and for me this was captivating and at the same time desperately sad and the book touches on many themes, friendship, grief, acceptance, and love.
I love a book where the setting plays so much importance. I have instantly swept away to Nantucket and spent time googling photos on the internet because the descriptions were so beautiful. Although the book focuses on the lives of Mallory and Jake the setting is of prime importance. it brings the characters back together again “Same Time Next Year” and it sustains a comforting life for Mallory. The author's description of the cottage, the community, and the beaches and shores left me seduced and I felt a real sense of place.
I liked both the main characters, especially Mallory who finds herself living on Nantucket when she inherits a cottage from her aunt and she is in her early 20s she meets Jake who is her brother's college friend when he comes to stay with her brother one weekend. I thought she was a head-strong woman, she forged a new life for herself away from the busy city life, becoming a teacher and taking part in all the community had to offer whilst still looking for love. She was not happy to just settle in a relationship, in fact, her heart belonged to Jake but that did not stop her living her life as full as she could and I liked that about her. I did want more for her in her relationship with Jake, but I also wondered if they were together all the time would the relationship have lasted? I also liked Jake. He was in a relationship with a workaholic whose desire for ambition did not stop even when they had a child together. He was the character that left me with questions about his life choices, he had much more to lose than Mallory but he appeared to spend his year waiting for the weekend they could be together. The compromise of giving up his life for her was obviously too much. I did believe he loved his life and his wife and although there is deceit on his side there is also deceit on her side too so does that cancel it out? I am not sure.
However, the story is much more about their lives in the times between their weekend together. As the story moves from summer to summer the author gives brief news snippets about what was happening in the world that year. I thought this was a great way of moving through time.
The ending was for me very thought-provoking. Was their story over? Are their children going to continue the love story? What would happen that weekend every year? Is true love, true love if it fits with the two people? For me this book made me think about how over 28 summers two people can come together for the briefest of time, do the same things, and still find solace in their love for each other.
I gave this book 5 stars, I have already ordered the author’s Winter series in preparation for my Christmas themed binge reading. I loved this book, it is about doing as your heart desires and I found it very touching and compelling to read. A summer read for me that had me doing my best to avoid being distracted from the story. That is always a good sign in my eyes. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Loved loved loved this book and everything it brought from the story. There is love, laughter and tears in abundance in this amazing story!

This was a beautiful and heartbreaking love story that kept me engaged at all times.. The characters were sympathetic and believable. Can’t recommend it enough!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book is a journey with ups and does like the lives it describes. I felt like i was submerged into the characters lives which became real and vivid for me: a sure sign of a good book.
I was a bit apprehensive to read this book as it had a lot to live up too, being one of the most popular books I've seen this year. However, I was completely absorbed by this book and blown away. The book has many underlying layers, of which I believe more will become clear on further readings of the book. I'm not usually a fan of books on affairs but this book was so well written and expressive that I loved it and now consider it one of the best books I have read this year.
I really enjoyed the snippets at the start of each chapter, describing the current year. I found it a great and interesting way to set the scene and liked reading about some things that I had forgotten.
The book is set over 28 summer but the pace is good and the author gives a good depth of well selected information for each year, which adds to the book without becoming dull and overwhelming.
The imagery and writing was exquisite, particular of the scenery and the food. The dialogue sharp and well written and the characters well developed and their changes over the years, described in a sensitive and realistic way.
I loved reading about 'our girl' and 'our voy' and will definitely be returning to read more of this author.

If you are looking for a good Summer Holiday read and you like romance, look no more! Now romantic fiction is not my bag but I knew what to expect when I came across this title. I wasn’t disappointed – far from it.

As the title suggests the action spans 28 summers. We meet Mallory and Jake on Labour Day weekend in Nantucket, and so begins their tradition of spending every Labour Day weekend together in Mallory’s home in Nantucket. Despite the fact that they are very much in love they do not contact each other at any other time; no texts, no phone calls, no letters, no meetings. Imagine the discipline that would take. Jake gets married and they have a child. Mallory takes lovers but nobody becomes permanent. Each time Jake considers leaving his wife something happens and he remains with her.

Each chapter is presented with a precis of ‘what is happening in …..each particular year. I loved this preface as it was the perfect vehicle to launch me back into my memories of that year and recognising events, people or music associated with it. Many references went unidentified as they related to some specific fact which I presume was particularly relevant to Americans.

All in all, I enjoyed this book very much. I thought the characters were well constructed, with strong personalities. I can’t say I loved them, because, true to life, they had flaws. I was somewhat irritated by Mallory and to a lesser degree Jake, probably because it just didn’t seem possible to live and love in that manner without much jealousy or insecurity. The fact that it was based in Nantucket also irked me. I felt that they were too privileged, too elitist, untouched by the realities of life – at least that was my irrational presumption.

The last chapter had me in floods of tears – very moving. So, easy to say – I have no hesitation in recommending this book as a great summer read. Resting by the pool, cool breeze, cold drink and a bunch of tissues when you get near the end – ahhh!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand is, in my opinion, the author's most ambitious and accomplished novel to date. An epic love story that spans nearly three decades, this one will carry you away, and have you longing for your own chance at experiencing a Nantucket summer. Ms Hilderbrand has an enviable knack for evoking an island that so clearly holds a piece of her heart, and her idyll very quickly becomes ours. I have loved each and every one of my virtual summer escapes to Nantucket, and this one has proven to be no exception.

Mallory first meets Jake one Labour Day weekend shortly after she has inherited an idyllic beachside cottage from her aunt. Jake McCloud is a friend of her brother's, and when the two arrive on the island for a visit, the spark between Mallory and Jake is instant. But, as is often the case, life gets in the way, and personal entanglements prevent them from pursuing the relationship further, until an idea begins to form. What if, in the style of the film Same Time, Next Year, the two meet to recreate the perfect weekend every Labour Day, without contact at any other time? Could such an arrangement be sustainable as life unfolds for both Mal and Jake, for better or worse?

This is a wonderful story, brimming with all of the charm, heart, and decadent atmospheric detail that we have come to expect from Ms Hilderbrand, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

So, what are we talking about in 2020? Covid 19, Face masks, loo roll, Meghan and Harry, Epstein, BLM, Protests, statues, Australian Fires LFC, Furlough, Social distancing, lockdown, Zoom, home schooling, Philip Schofield...escaping into a good book!

I have read a lot of psychological thrillers recently and I was on the look out for an epic romance, I got more than I bargained for...

Where do I start with this book? 1993 and a long weekend in Nantucket for Mallory and Jake sets the precedent for future Labor Day weekends.

We are taken on a journey through the next 28 summers of Mal and Jake's 'Same time next year' relationship, putting aside their normal life for just a moment in time.

The author begins each change of year with the things making the headlines or trends - I loved this it was a great way to show the passage of time (especially as I read it in 24 hours, staying up till 2am) and also to take the reader along on the journey as it reminds us of the things we were doing in those years so I felt more connected to the story.

Straight from the start we know that Mallory is ill, and I wished we didn't know that from the off as I thought the end wouldn't have such a big impact, but I still bawled my eyes out.

SPOILER ALERT: I also wanted Mal to marry Scott, he seemed a good guy and I'm sure she could've sent him off on golf trips once a year, but then that meant I found myself condoning the affair, but it wasn't really an affair to begin with, they were both single, life just got in the way of their relationship and maybe the magic of it was that it was a brief encounter once a year.

In my head Bess and Link live happily ever after.

Follow Mallory through teenage to middle age and her relationship with Jake over 28 summers. They meet up just once a year and re-kindle their affair, of which their family and friends know nothing. A story full of hope and longing as well as secrets and betrayal. Each chapter focuses on a different year and is precluded with a short synopsis of the happenings in the world at that time, a really nice touch that draws you in to the story as you remember some pretty poignant times.

Absolutely fantastic read,I have found this one completely gripping and a perfect escape which has been needed.
This is my first read by this author but I absolutely cannot wait to read more.
I am definitely converted as a fan of this author after this book.

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.

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.