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    Summerland: A Novel
    Summerland: A Novel
    Summerland: A Novel
    Audiobook13 hours

    Summerland: A Novel

    Written by Elin Hilderbrand

    Narrated by Erin Bennett

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The "queen of the summer novel" explores the power of community, family, and honesty-and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow new love can take flight (Kirkus Reviews).

    A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. What begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt--but the emotional damage is overwhelming. Questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

    As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents, the secrets kept, promises broken, and hearts betrayed.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateJun 26, 2012
    ISBN9781611134476
    Summerland: A Novel
    Author

    Elin Hilderbrand

    Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket, has three children and is the author of 27 novels, including SUMMER OF ‘69.  Elin met Dottie in the spring of 2017 at the annual Post & Courier luncheon in Charleston and Elin says, “It was love at first sight.” The two authors proceeded to meet on Nantucket every chance they got and they texted and emailed non-stop. They dreamed of doing a joint cooking show called “Cook the Books,” where they would invite a third author on to make a signature dish for each episode. They also talked about a cookbook called “The Southern Belle and the Gray Lady.” Elin’s summer of 2020 novel, 28 Summers, is dedicated to Dottie and Dottie makes a cameo appearance in Elin’s summer of 2021 novel, Golden Girl. “I will never again have a writer friend like Dottie,” Elin says. “Those of you who knew her understand what I mean, and those of you who didn’t will just have to trust me. They broke the mold.”

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    Reviews for Summerland

    4/5

    152 ratings12 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Elin Hilderbrand's latest book highlights the aftermath of a tragic teenage accident and how it rocks the small Island Community. Twins Hobby and Penny seem to have the world at there feet but that changes instantly when Penny is killed in a tragic accident where she was driving. The other two friends in the accident, Jake, Penny's boyfriend and outsider Demeter also struggle with trying to figure out and come to grips with what happened and Why. The parents also share the narrative in this inside look at life, love and tragedy.

      This will not go down as one of my favorite EH books. While I enjoyed the story, it seemed a little choppy with so many narrators and none of them stood out( well maybe Demeter's). The big secret seemed to be downplayed in the end and wasn't much of a secret and I feel like the ending was a little short.

      Overall, a good read- a solid 3- 3.5. Not as beachy or summery as many of EH's other books ( which is why it took me so long to read it. I started it and realized this was not what I wanted to be reading on the beach).
    • 3/5
      I could not resist reading a novel set on Nantucket while vacationing on Nantucket. That the novel was released while there and the author did a signing at the local bookstore? Even better. An easy read, made more interesting by reading it where the action of the book takes place, but would be a good beach read no matter where you vacation.
    • 5/5
      Elin Hilderbrand's books are always a treat for me. I love family dramas with a lot of emotion and secrets. Summerland is my favorite so far. Nantucket is the island that my ancestors were the first settlers so I have visited it and immediately felt at home. This book is my way of going back again through a family's story.

      After enjoying a bonfire on the beach, four students head home but the driver, Penny Alistar is very upset about something. She speeds up and she dies immediately, her twin Hobby breaks 16 bones and goes into a coma. The owner of the car, Jake and the other student are wearing seat belts and are not hurt. They and their parents are plunged into deep emotional turmoil. Each one of them have holding onto their own secrets and wonder if they could be responsible for the accident.

      Through expertly written flashbacks we learn each of their secrets, including Penny's. I must say that I cried through a lot of this book so be prepared. Healing is not easy and must be earned. The characters were beautifully shaped and the dialogue flawless. At the end, I hugged the book. I identified with the parents wondering if they raised their children right or did they make big mistakes. I really loved that Elin Hilderbrand chose twins for the story because being a twin is such a special relationship.

      I highly recommend this book for summer reading and will continue to read as many of Elin Hilderbrand's books as I can.
    • 5/5
      A page turner. Gripping and poignant and engrossing.
    • 5/5
      I have had a few Elin Hilderbrand's books sitting on my bookshelves unread for a while (along with a thousand of others) and after reading this one, they won't be sitting much longer.
      I totally enjoyed this book. I love her writing and fell in love with Nantucket. Her descriptions of things on the island and beaches made me want to be there.
      There are wonderful strong characters and I wanted to know them, you can't help but like them, flaws and all.
      The book starts with the tragic accident at the end of the school year. What happened? Four teens who have known each other forever, one now on the outside of things, the remaining three are the pride of Nantucket, go from being at a graduation party having a blast to their lives forever altered by the accident that only three survived. The book that spans about three months gives us their lives and the lives of their families, how they cope, how their families cope and how it all affects them.
      This book is very hard to put down, I didn't want to stop reading. Her writing is magic, the story is weaved so well, I felt I knew the characters,and felt their emotions along with them. I now look forward to reading more of her books and have already bought the new one "the rumor" that just came out.
    • 3/5
      "A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel. As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.

      I have read all Hilderbrand's books; however this one was more like Jodi Picoult's subject matter; very heavy and a bit morbid - troubled teens. Wish Elin would write about something other than Nantucket and venture out from this one setting for all her books. Not one of my favorites."
    • 2/5
      Summerland - luckily I was given a free copy by my bookstore to try out. I'm glad I did not spend money

      First let me start off by saying the title and the cover are totally misleading. I thought this book was going to be a nice light beachy read with just a hint of drama. Nope this book was Depressing. If I were on the beach I wouldnt want to read this. I want something light and fun.

      This whole book was a pile of depression for me. It didnt get fun or progress well at all.

      Too many POV. I didnt identify with the characters. None had their own voice. I was constantly flipping back seeing who I was Reading about. I didnt connect with a single one. And I def. did not connect with the book or the tragedy. I should feel sad and emotional. I felt bored and like the story was drug on.

      Demeter. I just couldnt stand her. I didnt like her ONE bit. she was annoying. spoiled. I got so tired of her I only skimmed her sections.

      This is my second Elin Hildebrand book. and like the first I just dont understand all the hype. But I am going to try One more book by her.
    • 4/5
      I started listening to this audiobook in an attempt to escape this never-ending winter that has enveloped Northern Wisconsin. I thought a trip to Nantucket would fit the bill, but little did I know how much sadness would come along with this story. There are several main characters in this story that are affected by Penny's death and we watch them all try to continue on with their lives as different chapters are dedicated to different character's viewpoints.

      Penny was a beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Everyone expected her voice to open many doors for her professionally in the future. No-one can understand what would cause this girl with such a bright future to cause the fatal accident that would end in her own demise. How could her actions be so irrational with her brother, boyfriend, and a good friend, riding as passengers in the vehicle?

      All of our characters struggle with the loss of Penny, but they also have their own secrets. Throughout the book they let their secrets fester, many thinking they alone are responsible for Penny acting the way she did. The sadness they all feel seems to take over the tone of the book, making me feel we would never learn what caused Penny to crash the car. Finally, after receiving tidbits from a few of the characters, enough is revealed to help us understand her actions.

      Bennett did a great job narrating this story of sadness and loss. I'm sure her narration helped to heighten my emotions, bringing me to tears several times. As sad as this book was, I did still enjoy it, and you may also with it's themes of love, secrets, and loss. I don't hesitate in recommending this novel for either personal leisure or as a book club discussion.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book, found quite by accident. A terrible car accident takes the life of a high school student, leaves her twin brother in a coma, and her boyfriend heartbroken. As the people closest to them try to deal with the aftermath, we also learn about 3 families intertwined publicly and secretly. It seems everybody has a secret--but don't we all? Well written, great characters, very readable. The story is set on the island of Nantucket, and the characters are those who really live there, all year round.
    • 5/5
      I think Hilderbrand loves New England as much as I do which makes her writing so enriching. In Summerland, the end of school is celebrated on the beach. Popular student Penny leaves the party with her twin brother, boyfriend and friend Demeter. Something powerful upsets Penny just before she is to take everyone home and she hurls the car off the road killing herself and seriously injuring her brother.

      What set Penny off? How will her twin brother go on without her? The 300+ pages of the book are filled with much confusion, questions, grief, survivor guilt and turmoil. Many secrets are revealed. Hilderbrand fleshes out all the characters in the book, as always. It is easy to bond with these people, feel their pain, anticipate their better futures and work through the many challenged relationships.

      Elin Hilderbrand is a genius at creating characters who are flawed, compelling, genuine and likable.
    • 4/5
      At first I was put off by this book because it seemed too focused on death and tragedy, and then I was drawn in by the character of Zoe. Hilderbrand does a good job portraying the Nantucket community and creating a bunch of flawed and believable characters.
    • 5/5
      Great Summer read for those who like realistic fiction.

      If you are looking for a great book to read this Summer look no further. I was highly impressed by this author and her easy to read writing style. I was not expecting such a realistic read. The main location for this novel is the island of Nantucket with a few Australian scenes. I love novels based on island communities where everyone knows everyone elses business and the gossip runs rampant. However you won't find as much gossip as you would think might come from such a small island community in Summerland. Instead you find secrets, many secrets. When families come together and become best friends anything can happen. I became so engrossed in everything going on in this community that I really was not aware of my surrounding while I was reading. This to me is a good indication that I found this book highly interesting.

      The author does go back and forth among the characters and even the island of Nantucket itself gives its narrative, however I didn't find it in any way uncomfortable to read. I have come across some authors who organize their chapters this way and it can make for a frustrating read, not so with Hilderbrand. This novel is definitely a timeless masterpiece and a story that remains with the reader long after the book has started to collect dust on the shelf.

      This could be any community anywhere and the realism Hilderbrand brings fourth in this novel has me placing her on my favorite author list. I had a really difficult time breaking away from this book. I would recommend this novel to anyone who would love to get away from normal life for a while and read about teens, adult relationships, family, friendship, tragedy, alcoholism, depression, infidelity and especially betrayal, as this book has a little bit of everything human.