Where To Start With Elin Hilderbrand Books For A Summer Full Of Beach Reads
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Since her 2000 debut novel, "The Beach Club," Elin Hilderbrand solidified herself as the "Queen of the Beach Read." The majority of her novels take place on Nantucket and involve romance, family drama, and the usual plots and twists that make her writing so perfect for those who love beach reads. "It's something that you're excited to spend time with and you can't put down — something that you're just so eager to get back to that it will go with you wherever you go, whether that's the park, the pool, the couch, your yard or even the beach," vice president of Penguin Books, Amanda Bergeron, told Time about beloved beach reads.
While not every author would embrace such a nickname, as "beach read" isn't exactly a compliment in some literary circles, it's doing Hilderbrand some major favors and it certainly works for her legions of fans. With the release of her 30th novel "Swan Song," trying to figure out where to start with Hilderbrand's books can feel daunting. Well, like anything, sometimes it's best to start at the beginning — try her first novel, "The Beach Club." Because the characters don't overlap and each book can stand on its own, where you go from there is your decision. If you're looking for a summer full of beach reads and you get started right now, you just might be able to read all 30 of her books before Labor Day.
Who's the best audience for Elin Hilderbrand books
If you're someone who delights in lengthy, scientific textbooks or the entirety of Dostoevsky's writings as a means to relax at the beach, then Hilderbrand might not be a good fit. But if you want to escape and get wrapped up in a fictionalized version of Nantucket where characters are wealthy, interesting, and on the verge of being embroiled in scandal while living a life of luxury, then you should go out and buy all her books immediately. What makes Hilderbrand's books such ideal beach reads is the escapism allowed to the reader. Hilderbrand creates a world that most can only dream of — and even she agrees.
"I love Nantucket so much," Hilderbrand told Glamour. "It's the love of my life. I go to the specialty grocery store once a week to get one or two things. Today I saw a woman in front of me who had full-on done her grocery shopping there, which, I could see over her shoulder, was like $875. For, I don't know, two or three bags of groceries. I'm like, Holy sh*t, that is the kind of person that lives in my novels ... the quintessential sort of summer person who comes and literally does not care how much anything costs because they have unlimited sums of money. I was laughing, like, okay, so that's a character straight out of my book."
Where you should start your Elin Hilderbrand journey
Like Taylor Swift, Elin Hilderbrand has a hardcore fan base. "Hilderbabes," like any group of fans, are going to have strong opinions on where to start and which book is best. If you want to go about this wildly, you can save her debut novel for later and choose one of her other books at random. Or you can do some research.
If you're looking for a book about sister bonding, then "Barefoot" is the choice for you. Perhaps, you want a fictional story that ties in historical facts and events, if that's the case, then pick up "Summer of '69." If you want a bit of mystery to spice up your July, then give "Golden Girl" a read. Any Hilderbrand book is a good place to start except for her most recent, "Swan Song," because it's her last of the Nantucket genre and includes characters from past novels.
All that being said, there does appear to be one book that really stands out with her fans: "The Hotel Nantucket." According to a survey by The Book Girls' Guide, 25% of respondents put "The Hotel Nantucket" in their top three Hilderbrand books, with the majority of that percentage declaring it their favorite. On Goodreads, over 75,000 readers gave it five stars. On Amazon, "The Hotel Nantucket" has received more than 21,000 five-star ratings, as well. Impressive! While the choice is yours, these titles will provide some direction.