This is a light romance, perhaps a beach read. The story takes place over a period of years. with romance, adultery, and friendship. The sense of place is almost another character in itself-Nantucket...This is the best part of the book as one reads about the happenings on the island. The author's craft is unique in that she makes the reader believe she is on Nantucket and a part of the story. As to the characters, no one was really likeable throughout. The protagonist went from one man to the next-even married men. This did not make her more interesting, but it made her a person that one doesn't understand. As to her brother-one woman after another-none super special. Quite superficial actually...It takes a book to get to the ending and the purpose of a phone call. If one likes this author, maybe read it and see for yourself. If not, give this one a pass.

As much as I enjoyed 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand, I was disappointed that the main characters, Mallory and Jake based their entire relationship on adultery when at the beginning they were both single, available and very much in love. As the novel progressed each summer and each "Same Time Next Year" meeting, I hoped that things would change, Jake would man up and leave his controlling wife Ursula and stay with Mal, but no...he couldn't do it. Sadly, Mal couldn't demand anything of him and lived a half life, knowing she could never have him. This made me so sad for her. Of course, even though I hoped it would happen, I knew from the beginning it never did when her son was told to call a number as she lay on her deathbed and he got Jake. All in all, I enjoyed reading the story, but found it rather depressing to think that she would choose to live her life that way.

Thank you to the author, Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It's the middle of a pandemic, I have two kids, a full time job and a part time.job... and yet I managed to read a book in less than 48 hours. This book was so good I couldnt put it down. I loved the different perspectives and the voice that was sp unique. I could imagine myself with them on Nantucket enjoying their fleeting moments of bliss. I loved how we were able to see pieces of other Hildebrand novels with guest stars and visits to Tuckernucket amongst other favorite locales. What a beautiful novel and probably my new favorite novel by Elin Hildebrand.

Most excellent. The Chapter intros brought back many memories. The "Same Time,Next Year" plot kept you guessing if it would all work and how.

How on earth Elin Hilderbrand manages to outdo herself summer after summer I'm not quite sure....my first foray into the Hilderbrand universe was her 2018 mystery The Perfect Couple and I then read a majority of her 20+ backlist books and she just gets better with time....I devoured Summer of '69 last June....and then when I received the ARC of 28 Summers on NetGalley I squeed with pure happiness. This is my new favorite since I read The Matchmaker, this one has that same deeply emotional and poignant storyline that readers are going to connect to.

This book is simply better than anything Elin has ever written, the characters are real and they have flaws, and there's some that you love to hate, and at the heart of the story is a couple that spends 28 years of infidelity.....but they are truly in love, and for the 28 years you experience the highs and lows of there one weekend a year relationship, and you just become so attached to the characters. My only criticism is that it wrapped up too neatly/quickly. It starts off where you know it's going to be a tear-jerker with a sad ending just from the first few pages, but I wasn't able to cry enough. It needed about 10 more pages at the end for the main characters to have closure, before that very clever final page, which I adored.

This book was amazing, like all of Elon’s other books! I felt like I was growing up again..from my 7th grade year to present. I loved the summaries of each year..so many things I remember! This book was addicting, made you feel good, made you feel sad, and made me even more thankful for the love I’m shown daily by my “same time, next year” which is my “same time, rest of my life” husband.

Elin Hilderbrand's books never disappoint! This is the story of Jake and Mallory. Jake is Mallory's brother's best friend and college roommate and they all meet up at Mallory's home on Nantucket Island. Sparks immediately fly between Jake and Mallory but they are from two different worlds and believe a relationship would never work with them. However, they vow to spend Labor Day weekend every year together. As you can imagine from the title, Jake and Mallory meet up for 28 summers and the story follows their lives. I enjoyed the book even though I found myself somewhat conflicted over whether or not to root for their relationship. Good summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Company for this ARC. Hmmmm...where to start on this one. First I will say, this book flew for me. I figured I would read a few pages last night, and at 1:30 am I was half way done and forced myself to go to bed. Each chapter covers a year and at the start of each one, there is a synopsis of all the "big trivia" of that year...songs, movies, current events, etc... I really loved that part of this book. I also loved that thought this was not necessarily a "bookish" book, the main character was a reader and she would receive books as gifts each year from the male protagonist, Jake. I loved seeing what "big book" of the year she was going to get. That was really fun. So, those were my pros.

My con is that this whole plot is based around adultery. Yes, Jake's wife is difficult and self-serving; but he continues to remain married to her when there is absolutely no reason in the book that he had to STAY MARRIED to her when his heart was so obviously with Mal, who loved him and was unattached. I just found it very hard to get passed the adultery. Ursula, Jake's wife is involved in politics, so I know that played a role in Jake staying with her, but that is not enough of an obstacle of why Mal and Jake could not be together.

I have so many thoughts and feelings. Of course, this book was written so wonderfully, each chapter being a new summer with a list of important things that happened in that year. It was such a great way of bringing me back to that time and being able to remember the styles, lingo, and music of that time. I absolutely loved Mallory, Link, and Jake. I loved getting to get a peek back at the Winter Street Inn which was such a fun tie in. The story was so wonderful and hit upon many topics that are prevalent to our times and are even drawn off of historical events that were going on at the time but with fictional names. My only real qualm is with the ending. I wanted more and I feel like it left me with so many unanswered questions that I wanted answers to. However, there is something to be said about a book that leaves you wanting more.

This was a wonderful quarantine book. I always enjoy Hilderbrand’s reliably interesting characters and beautiful descriptions of her beloved Nantucket - more so now when I’m not able to go far from home!! Even though the premise of a Same Time Next Year romance was a little far fetched I was willing to suspend disbelief because the author developed her characters so well. I loved how she showed through the progression of the years how the characters matured (in some ways) and particularly liked the main character who was a very strong woman. Hilderbrand clearly knows the island well as a long time resident and her intimacy with Nantucket life and love of nature shines through in this story. Thank you for the escape from the stress and sadness of the pandemic Elon, even for a few brief hours. The sun will continue to shine!!!

Is a "Same time next year' relationship any less intense and satisfying than a 24/7, 365 relationship? Could a "same time next year relationship" be a perfect relationship. Mallory and Jake end up spending Labor Day weekend together on Nantucket after her brother's bachelor weekend goes off the rails. At the end of the perfect weekend they vow to have no contact during the year but to meet on Nantucket next Labor Day. And they do, for 28 summers. No matter what else is going on they meet for 1 perfect weekend on Nantucket. Have they found the perfect relationship?

One thing I like about being a reviewer on Netgalley is being exposed to books and authors you might not otherwise have read. Elin Hilderbrand is one of those authors I've seen around but never been compelled to pick up a title of.

28 Summers hooked me as it referenced Same Time Next Year as inspiration, which is a film I just adore. Of course, you must get past the idea of infidelity and all of the moral entanglements that arise from that as a plot theme. In Same Time Next Year, that's easy because the characters are dynamic and witty and interesting. You can overlook the fact that while their chemistry is amazing, they are risking destroying many lives if their affair gets out.

With Mallory and Jake, I really found it hard to root for them. First, neither is married when they meet so other than a few circumstantial issue there is no reason they can't be together. That's not love. That's lust. It's relationships like this that result in such a high divorce rate. Mallory is fickle and afraid of commitment and Jake is risk-averse and too concerned about appearances. That would be ok as a novel if somewhere along the way there was development. But there's not. Throughout the 28 Summers, the characters remain stagnant and never grow.

The story did keep me attached to see what happened but I felt like in the end nothing did. Really the only characters who progressed were the secondary ones like Ursula or Leland, both who you're meant to dislike but in the end I felt the most connection with their arcs.

This one was a bit of a miss for me. I can see it as a quick afternoon beach read if you're not looking to get too invested in a story.

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful Ellin Hilderbrand novel.This one transported us to Nantucket summer romance great characters.Perfect escape from all the news and off to the deliciousness of this novel.#netgalley#28 summers

Elin Hilderbrand just never disappoints. If you enjoy her books, you will enjoy this one. It was perfect escapism, especially during quarantine.

I enjoyed the way the the book started with the end and let us find out how/what happened to get where we began. The love between the characters was palpable, I couldn't stop reading. The scenes were well told and the imagery was spot on. The author as always did a great job of telling an original story with believable characters and a good story. This is more than just a beach read but a compelling story where you root for a character with traits that typically are not attractive.

Here comes another good beach read by Elin Hilderbrand. I know when I sit down with a Hilderbrand book, I will always enjoy it. Hilderbrand transports you to Nantucket and brings the island to life with her descriptions of the town, the food and the people. Her characters are engaging and likeable. Although this was a terrific beach read that I read quickly, I have to admit the premise slightly bothered me. Jake and Mallory spend one weekend a year for 28 summers at her Nantucket cottage. Thats it, just one weekend, then they both go back to their daily lives. This just struck me as slightly unbelievable,, but it still was a good read..

This is a great beach read and a different take on romance. Like most of Hilderbrand's books, this book is beautifully written and addictive, with the background of Nantucket hovering in the background, as always. It also takes turns through DC (my current city), Seattle, South Bend, Indiana, and Newport, adding a bit of flavor and variance to the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the Preview!

*Mild spoilers ahead*

The story is based on the life of Mallory Blessing, the protagonist (perhaps self-modeled after the author, in some ways?) who leaves Manhattan for Nantucket in her early 20s and has a unique tradition at the end of each summer (28 summers): a labor day weekend romance. Reading the opening lines to each chapter--a different year--is like opening a time capsule--what were we talking about that year? (Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake, etc). At first, the idea is incredible, and I loved traveling with Mallory and her crew through the 90s and early 2000s. But just like any idea, there are only so many ways to use it before it gets old. You find yourself catching up with Mallory's age as chapters slow down a bit in her 30s, before grimly trudging through her 40s and the 2010s, until you're just about ready for the book to end where it belongs, in 2020.

**Major Spoilers ahead**

My major issue with this book, apart from the previously-mentioned repetition, is the ending of the story. Obviously, you didn't make it through the whole book for it to...end exactly how you would expect it to after the first chapter? Granted, the AOC-Mayor Pete-HRC-Ursula story was somewhat entertaining, if not ridiculous, but I was truly hoping for a twist that would put the latter part of the book in a different perspective. It didn't happen. Knowing the ending, I would reread the first half of this book more than once over and never bothering to finish it again.

Another great read by Hilderbrand! I love the way her books transport you to Nantucket and her characters are so vivid, flawed and relatable. I adored Mallory and Jake and didn't want the novel to end. I think this is one of Hilderbrand's best! Highly recommend.

I take sleep medication for insomnia. Read 28 Summers most of the day. Read it while in bed waiting for my medication to kick in...the book was so interesting, I think my adrenaline over rode the sleep med and at 2 am, I gave in and finally took another sleeping pill! Finally - around 3am I was able to close the book, that's how wonderful, fascinating all the characters are. The writing just flows. Every chapter moves easily into the next. I love the introduction of each chapter and what was happening in the year. I am a bit of a prude, and would never be cheering on "cheaters" but here I was, cheering everyone on! There is a part where it get a bit soap opera or Real Houseswives (if they were authentic and intelligent), but that makes it more interesting. I love character of Nantucket too. Such a great escape this book is. LOVE LOVE LOVE.!!!!!!!!

Just like the old Alan Alda movie, Same Time Next Year, Mallory and Jake have a meet-once-a-year love affair, getting together every Labor Day weekend on the beautiful island of Nantucket to spend time at a beachfront cottage Mallory inherited from her Aunt Greta. Very complex, well-paced story and fully developed characters make this book hard to put down. The perfect beach read!