Inspired by the movie Same Time, Next Year, 28 Summers tells the love story of Mallory Blessing and Jake McCloud.
28 Summers is like a time capsule of my adult life.
I immediately fell in love with Mallory who is lost in New York City and is being tossed aside by her roommate/friend Leland. The inherited cottage on Nantucket is perfect for her, and the fact that she becomes an English teacher is even more perfect. (I wonder if Elin ever saw herself becoming an English teacher on Nantucket.)
The fact that the characters are developed over many years instead of just a weekend or one summer makes them all literally come to life for the reader.

BOOK REVIEW: 28 SUMMERS BY ELIN HILDERBRAND

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buy or borrow: BUY IT!
Drink rec: Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

“They weren’t breaking any rules if there were no rules. They weren’t burying anyone’s feelings if no one knew”

I enjoyed this unique summer love story based on the film Same Time Next Year. Hilderbrand follows Mallory and Jake over the course of several decades as they navigate their lives while maintaining their annual meet up on Nantucket on Labor Day Weekend.

I found this one to be compelling in the sense that it made me grapple with the morality of cheating on one’s spouse and maintaining a side relationship but only for three days of the year. Their complicated relationship made me frustrated at some points, this story ultimately tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel ALL OF THE FEELS!

I really enjoyed the blurbs that Hilderbrand included at the beginning of each chapter to paint a visual of what was going on during that year. These pop culture references really got me in the headspace to understand the setting.

I would recommend this one to Hilderbrand fans or to readers that are looking for a summer romance that follows characters’ journeys throughout their lifetimes.

TW: infidelity, cancer, sexual assault

Wow! I admit, the second installment of Elin Hilderbrand's latest winter series had me at a loss but she knocks it out of the park in 28 Summers, which was heartbreaking and affirming (not an easy task to pull off!) and is an all around outstanding read! It's easy to read, catchy, and so, so compelling. 28 Summers showcases what makes Elin Hilderbrand such a force to be reckoned with; she can sweep you off your feet and make you feel. Absolutely wonderful!

Elin’s best book yet! Each new book she writes keeps getting better! Follow along with a charming character as she grows older with the island of Nantucket! You’ll fall in love with all of the characters in the story line and be engulfed in their connections to each other! The true definition of a summer romance (recurring) will have you unable to put this book down!

Oh this book broke my heart! I loved it, but I had such frustration with the main characters! I suppose there wouldn't have been a book nearly as interesting if things had worked out in a more conventional way for the characters, but I really wanted the typical 'happy ending' for them!

The characters were engaging and pulled me right in. I liked them, even the less like-able characters (who really showed their vulnerability and human side the more the book progressed). They felt like people I could know in real life, and I wanted to know about them and their lives. The book spans nearly 30 years, so you get to see them grow and change.

I loved the beginning of each chapter, with reminders of the 'important things' for that particular year. It really took me back. Some events seemed like they just happened yesterday, and that addition to the book really engaged me.

I highly recommend this book. There was heartbreak and sadness, yes, but a reminder that true love does in fact transcend all.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This book was by far one of my favorite books of 2020! The love story between Jake and Mallory hit so many emotions. Besides their love story all the other characters’ stories were weaved in so perfectly. I love the ending of this book. The only thing that was disappointing was that the story is over...for now!

This book is based on the movie Same Time Next Year. Mallory is on her death bed and has instructed her son Link to call a phone number and tell them she's dying. He's shocked to reach Jake McCloud who's wife in running for President of the US. The book goes back to the summer of 1993 when a group of friends meet on Nantucket Island for a bachelor party. I always enjoy Elin Hilderbrand's books. This was not my favorite buy it's a good summer beach read. This book does take you through a large range of emotions. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love Elin Hilderbrand's books, but I was nervous going in to this one because I knew infidelity was a major plot point and I was not sure how I would like it. I needn't have worried and should have trusted that Elin would handle it beautifully. The love affair between Mallory and Jake is special and unique and perfect. The marriage in question is not your typical marriage. It's a beautiful story set against the backdrop of Nantucket with all of the lovely descriptions of food and restaurants and parties that you expect from an Elin Hildebrand novel. I loved it!!

Meh. I like this. I think? I always like Elin Hilderbrand books, and I like this. Or at least I think I do? BUT I felt like I was reading it because I always read her books, not because I couldn’t wait to read more. And to be honest, I was disappointed in the main characters. Really all of the characters. The “same time next year” thing was not romantic to me. It was pathetic and gross. You are adults. Figure it out. 🤷‍♀️ I’m also an adult, and I’ve figured it out: I didn’t like this.

Elin with a little bite. I truly enjoyed this story. Perfect beach read but had me crying at the end in public.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand is a contemporary romance that spans the course of almost three decades. The love runs deep in this couple’s story however I would warn it may not be for everyone as adultery is at play.

The book begins in the present when Mallory Blessing is on her deathbed with her son Link at her side. Mallory asks Link to call a number on a piece of paper to give them the news of her illness. When Link completes his mother’s request he finds the man that pick up is the husband of the current presidential candidate.

We then head back to the summer of 1993 when Mallory had just inherited a beachfront cottage in Nantucket after her aunt’s passing. That summer Mallory agreed to hosting a party for her brother where Jake McCloud his college roommate also attended. Jack and Mallory were both at different places in their lives but couldn’t fight their attraction. That first weekend led to an agreement that no matter what they would then on make that weekend theirs to be together every year to come.

28 Summers is based on the 1978 American film Same Time Next Year which the couple in the book watch while together and come up with their own plan to meet. Now while I’m not normally a fan of cheating there was something just so compelling about this couple that I fell just as in love with their story as they were with each other. Even with the foreshadowning of Mallory’s illness I still broke down and had to grab my tissues when the time came. Elin Hilderbrand definitely wrote an epic love story with this one and it’s easy to see why readers love her work.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

28 Summers - Elin Hilderbrand (6/16)

Rating 4 / 5 Stars


** Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown and Company, and of course, Elin Hilderbrand, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You know it is summer when Elin brings out a new beautiful book and 28 Summers does not disappoint! I’ve always looked forward to Elin’s books as they are the perfect beach read. How could you not love a beach read with a setting like Nantucket?

28 Summers provide much beyond its breathtaking setting. The love story of Mallory and Jake’s is absolutely an emotional rollercoaster. As I do not wish to spoil the book - just make sure you bring your tissues! Elin does a great job of developing these two outside of their time together each summer. Their development throughout the summers as well is lovely.

One con that I found slightly annoying was the classic “mean girl/best friend” trope. This has been something that I feel like recently has been overdone (see Jennifer Weiner’s Big Summer) and I have simply become tired of it. I was also slightly frustrated because I just want people to marry the person you love! Mallory and Jake deserve to be with one another - despite all of these years. The fact that Jake married someone else while still being in love with Mallory was slightly annoying to me, just in the back of my head.

I also really enjoyed how Elin provided context for each of the years. It was fun to relive those times at the beginning of each chapter. I am also from Philadelphia, so I enjoyed it when mentions of where Elin grew up were tied into the story.

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you want a fabulous beach read! Can’t wait for the next one!

Elin Hilderbrand writes a great summer beach read and 28 Summers is no exception. The book starts with the summer of 2020 (and coronavirus is mentioned, which I found pretty cool as most 2020 releases were written prior to the pandemic and therefore it's not mentioned) where we are introduced (via omnipresent narrator) to Mallory. Mallory is terminally ill and is literally on her deathbed. She asks her son to call Jake McCloud and we are then transported back in time.

We go through each of the past 28 summers to meet Mallory, Jake and the cast of characters surrounding them. Mallory and Jake have a "same time next year" arrangement where no matter what, they meet up on Nantucket on Labor Day weekend. Morals and ethics aside, this book is well-written. You get to know Mallory, you get to know Jake and you get to know the other characters as needed for the story. Since the narrator knows all, you get bits and pieces thrown in that Mallory may not know but are just provided to tie up any loose ends.

The narration did bother me; I think it would have been better told in Mallory's third person point of view. But beyond that, this book sucks you in and you want to read about Mallory and Jake. Even though you have an idea from the beginning what happened, it's interesting to read about how we get there. It was hard to follow the chapters, however. Each chapter was a "summer" but some didn't even get to Labor Day weekend - it just talked about what happened that year.

I think it was just hard to read this as a romance when the two characters only spend three days a year together. They get a vacation getaway, essentially, and don't have to deal with any real-life stuff. And when other people are involved and they still insist on meeting each other, it gets a little cringe-worthy at times. Trying to justify infidelity and secret-keeping is what made it hard to root for this couple, but I feel like that's what the book wanted us to do.

I ended up listening to an audio version of this book through LibroFM's ALC program.

While infidelity can be a dealbreaker for many in books, I think even readers who avoid this topic may want to give Elin Hilderbrand's take in 28 Summers a try. It was impossible not to root for Mallory and Jake, and the ending was entirely bittersweet after watching them meet, Same Time Next Year style for years and always hoping for a different outcome to their weekends. The start of each section with a recap of what people were talking about in that year was a fun walk down memory lane, and even the side characters were interesting and developed. Honestly, this is one of my favorites of Hilderbrand's yet.

Smitten!

This book is SO MUCH MORE than a bittersweet story between star-crossed lovers who rekindle their clandestine romance during Labor Day weekend in Nantucket for 28 years. Each of the characters is beautifully dynamic and her descriptions of food are utterly mouthwatering. (Elin...I need a cookbook!!!) Gen-X readers will especially adore the yearly recap of the history and pop culture events at the start of each chapter. Perfect for the beach, a lounge chair next to a blow-up kiddie pool, or wherever - this is a delightful pageturner.

Mallory Blessing issues instructions to her son, Link, on her deathbed--call the phone number found in the sticky drawer of her desk. When her son calls the number, a popular senator's husband picks up the phone. And a mystery 28 years in the making is soon to come to light

Jake and Mallory's brother, Cooper, have been friends through school. One summer the three of them come together at Mallory's cabin, and a bond is quickly formed between Mallory and Jake that spans 28 Summers. For each year for three days, Jake will visit Mallory at the cabin at Nantucket Island. During this time, they can pretend that they are the only two people in the world and the outside world doesn't exist. But on Monday they return to their normal lives until another year.

28 Summers is about a love that can stand the test of time and one that is more than a little bit complicated. It was an incredibly sweet story, that was impossible to put down. Stop what you are doing and buy this book immediately to add to your beach bag!

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

A great romance story set in Nantucket! This is a great summer read. I loved the main character and the fact that she was a teacher was appreciated! Although its a love story, I think my favorite part was the love between mother and son. There was one part of the story that seemed like a incident that happened in real life. The similarities rubbed me the wrong way as it seemed unoriginal. Otherwise, a fun summer read.

Hilderbrand delivers another perfect beach read with 28 Summers. A little predictable, but that's exactly what you want for a summer easy read. Read this one on vacation last week and it was the perfect combination of intrigue and romance.

This book was refreshing and lovely after a slow book I’d just finished. It was interesting to read the big events of the years that the relationship unfolded and the characters were so well written.

Älways fun to read an Elin Hildebrand. A welcome escape during this pandemic. I enjoy her description of Maine and she always makes me feel like we are in that part of the country with her.