Book review: 28 Summers

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand was recommended to me more than once by friends this summer, so I gave in and made it a priority to read before it got toooo chilly out. I’m glad I did because not only was this the beachy romance I needed, but I actually got to read some of it at the beach! A friend and I played hooky one day last week and took off to the CT shore on Wednesday. We took the top down in my Jeep and enjoyed the crisp air and sunshine- there’s nothing like sweatshirt-on-the-beach weather!!

I have to admit that I am often hesitant to pickup books by Hilderbrand because of the misconception that they are “all the same”. This one, however, was unlike her other books that I have picked up over the years on vacation. This story follows Mallory and Jake, star-crossed lovers who have a “Same Time Next Year” type situation worked out. They see each other for three days each year on Labor Day Weekend, no matter what else is going on in their lives that year. They make it happen through turbulent marriages, short-lived flings, children, campaigns for political office, and sickness.

The premise of this book was both juicy and sweet- soulmates that can’t be together isn’t a trope I have come across often in stories like this. I kind of liked how there wasn’t a perfectly happy ending (even though it didn’t need to be that sad!), and most of the happy moments for Mallory and Jake happened while they were together on those weekends. It seemed like a more realistic situation than the typical “beach read”. The characters were well-developed, and I liked how much side characters were a part of the main narrative. Hilderbrand did a great job adding depth to the love story by making the reader empathize with all of the secondary characters- I even felt sympathy for Ursula despite wanting to hate her. And, of course, Hilderbrand’s descriptions of Nantucket were gorgeous- I would do anything for a visit right about now.

Rating: 4/5 Sunday nights filled with Chinese food and Same Time Next Year

xx, Lauren