28 Summers

By: Elin Hilderbrand

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

A "captivating and bittersweet" novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Summer of '69: Their secret love affair has lasted for decades—but this could be the summer that changes everything (People).

When Mallory Blessing's son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he's not sure what to expect. But he certainly does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. It's the late spring of 2020 and Jake's wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming Presidential election.

There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other?

Flash back to the sweet summer of 1993: Mallory has just inherited a beachfront cottage on Nantucket from her aunt, and she agrees to host her brother's bachelor party. Cooper's friend from college, Jake McCloud, attends, and Jake and Mallory form a bond that will persevere—through marriage, children, and Ursula's stratospheric political rise—until Mallory learns she's dying.

Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year (which Mallory and Jake watch every summer), 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.

Critic reviews

"Summer on Hilderbrand's Nantucket is never dull. This time she focuses on former lovers who now lead separate lives but share an island idyll once a year. Captivating and bittersweet."—People

"This sweeping love story is Hilderbrand's best ever. . . Her stories are relatable in an aspirational way, but her attention to detail is what makes her characters feel like living, breathing people you want to know. They would never skimp on citronella candles; they would save the least creaky rocking chair for you."—Elisabeth Egan, New York Times Book Review

"Hilderbrand steers this tightly written novel with ease and skill. . . . Less a story about a secretive affair and more a tale of sweet nostalgia and fate, this title will be popular with a wide audience."—Library Journal

"In her 25th novel, Hilderbrand gets everything right and leaves her ardent fans hungry for No. 26. Hilderbrand sets the gold standard in escapist fiction."—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Summer of '69:

"Superb...Hilderbrand hits all the right notes about life in a tightly knit family, and this crowd-pleaser is sure to satisfy both her fans and newcomers alike."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hilderbrand's first foray into historical fiction will rouse curiosity in new readers as well as devotees of her annual summer smashes."—Susan Maguire, Booklist

"Hilderbrand's characters are utterly convincing and immediately draw us into their problems, from petty to grave...To use the parlance of the period, a highly relevant retrospective."
—Kirkus

Praise for The Perfect Couple:

"A quintessential summer read."
—People

"One of this summer's must-reads that is all at once quick paced, compulsively readable, and thought provoking. An entertaining yet observant look at the surprising secrets that can fester and erupt in marriage."—Patriot-Ledger

"Elin Hilderbrand's fans can expect a twist on the beach this summer with her new book"—CBS News

"a sizzling summer read fans won't want to miss"—Bustle

"The Perfect Couple proves that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer beach read"—WFMY News 2

Praise for THE IDENTICALS:

"A sun-drenched treat."
—Kim Hubbard, People

"Another Hilderbrand beach hit."
—Jocelyn McClurg, USA Today, 10 Hot Books You Won't Want to Miss This Summer

"Engaging family relationships mixed with vivid landscape descriptions create an effortless read."
—Library Journal

"I was captivated. I finished it in a day...I longed to stay forever in fake-real Nantucket with Tabitha and Harper and Eleanor and Ainsley."—Sam Anderson, New York Times Magazine

Deepest one yet

I have enjoyed many of this author's books rather like a light lunch, entertaining stories about family and island life. This one takes all her themes a step further. The structure is unique, captivating, and culturally relevant. It's about deep romance but also about deep friendship and severing same, and different kinds of family relationships. Highly recommended.

Her best yet!

WOW! I can’t wait to see the film adaptation! This book had me on a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish!

Written beautifully if you like a sad book

This book was a great fast read but was incredibly sad even though the story was interesting. Read if you’re into that sort of thing.

Heartfelt

Enjoyed getting lost in this book... Life is a journey not always as we expect

Simply Wonderful

really hard to stop. Heartwarming, funny and endearing. I recommend if your heart can take it.

Love the love in this

Besides a few slow spots, the book keeps you wanting more of the love Jake and Mal share.

28 Summers

I don't usually write reviews, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the layout and the story. I didn't want to put it down. a great listen. Almost cried at the end.

This is the best one!

I've read most of Elin Hilderbrand's books (we went to Hopkins at the same time). This one tore me apart. I would think about it all day until I could listen again at night. I loved the structure, the nostalgia, the references to characters from her other books, plot twists that literally made me say "what!!" out loud. Admittedly it was partly because it felt like it was written with me in mind: Hopkins, I grew up in DC and live in Seattle now. Plus I was in the same high school class as Christine Blasey Ford at Holton in Bethesda and I love the movie Same Time Next Year. There were a lot of other smaller connections as well. But at the heart, I can't remember a book or movie or tv show that made me feel so vividly the joy and deep melancholy of looking back at your youth, the regrets and the amazing moments that will never happen again. Obviously not everyone can have all the connections I had to it but I do recommend reading her other books first to get some background. But if you're only going to read one then this is the one. The narrator is excellent too, even if she did pronounce Gob from Arrested Development wrong (another connection since that's one of my favorite shows). I'm so sad this book has ended, I miss it already.

very entertaining

I loved the story. was read well. was sad at the last chapter, it ended well.

Loved this book!I

Loved the story! I couldn't wait to see what happened next. but didn't want it to end. Narration was perfect.