I posted a few days ago that I was reading an awesome book that was keeping me on the treadmill. I freakin’ LOVE it when that happens.
You don’t even notice the minutes and miles ticking away because you’re just enthralled in the book. THE. BEST.
I’ve started taking my iPad to the gym and it’s become my favorite way to read. I bump up the font size to extra, extra large so that I can keep my place no matter how fast I’m walking. Seriously, technology makes it so much easier to do so many things… including this.
Summerland is the fourth book I’ve read by Elin Hilderbrand now, and I just loved it. Prior to reading this (her latest) novel, I had read The Island, Silver Girl, and The Blue Bistro and loved them dearly.
With this third successful read, Hilderbrand has found a comfortable position amongst my favorite contemporary authors: Emily Giffin, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Nicholas Sparks.
Summerland starts off with a bang… I feel comfortable telling you this detail only because it happens within the first two chapters of the book. It starts out with the death of a teenager and a terrible car accident that caused it. Thankfully, this tragic accident only takes one life, and the three other passengers become the protagonists of our story.
All of Hilderbrand’s novels (at least those that I’ve read) take place on Nantucket Island, so you can imagine the impact associated with a teen’s death and injured (and traumatized) survivors living in such a close-knit community. The community comes together as it can in situations like this, paying tribute to the beautiful young girl who’s life was lost.
The novel chronicles life after Penny’s death for her twin brother, her boyfriend, and her troubled friend. We also see the impact the accident has had upon the island and the parents of the children as they all try their hardest to get back to “normal,” whatever normal is after you’ve lost a dear sister/friend/girlfriend.
Hilderbrand had me in tears MULTIPLE times during the story. Not because her words were sad, but because she had written them in a way that touched me. She also is the master at introducing TWISTS and TURNS. She starts throwing curveballs, and I literally can’t put the book down. She did this expertly this time around with more than ONE surprise twist that I didn’t anticipate… GENIUS!
I HIGHLY recommend this book, and if you read it… message me so we can talk details! I don’t want to spoil it for those who are still planning to read it!
Have you read Summerland? Do you have any other book recommendations?