I bought this at the used book store and I swear to you, someone ate a hoagie or something equally as messy while reading this themselves. One thing I hate is food gunk on or in books. I have been known to rip out a page that food is stuck to as it distracts me. I can assure myself that there isn't one germ living on that tiny piece of lettuce clinging to page nineteen, but come on, a book is supposed to be a smooth experience, not a baby touch me book experience.
I have found other things stuck to books. I have been known to toss a book if it has half a human in it or at the very least, a post shaving expedition. That's a blog for another day.
Moving on...
I love Elin Hilderbrand's books. I read one of her novels every summer to kick off my summer season. And she never fails to displease me as the reader.
Meredith Delinn is married to Freddy Delinn who is busted for an incredibly large ponzi scheme that decimates his clients as well as their friends finances by the millions. Freddy is in jail from the onset of the story and we find Meredith in her NYC apartment with only a box of her most cherished possessions as they lose everything in the process. Meredith staunchly defends her innocence however, the public is on a witch hunt and she is sneaking out the back door to run from them, and her demons.
The only person to call is her ex best friend, Connie, who just lost her husband, Wolf, to cancer and is estranged from her daughter, Ashlyn. Connie is on her way to Nantucket to spend the summer staying in her beach home alone in her grief. Meredith asks to join her and Connie, with much trepidation, allows Meredith with the stipulation that she must keep out of sight during her stay which Meredith acquiesces to. She skips out of NYC with Connie as fast as she can. They have a long history of friendship but along the way they lost one another with harsh words, we do not find out why at the beginning so they walk on eggs with each other and travel through this quiet space and time to re-connect.
As in all of Hilderband's books there are scores of Nantucket natives that are drawn into Meredith and Connie's story, providing many great sub-stories as well as settings to get lost in. This is why I love her books as you feel as if you are there, in the midst of the fog, in the boat along the shore or in a jeep with the top down. And most of Hilderbrand Nantucket characters are charming, save a few.
The book is well writtenl, weaving the back story into the present as they summer on Nantucket, hiding out from the public as Meredith is also under investigation. And so is her son, Leo who she is to have no contact with crushing her heart even more. Ashlyn will not call Connie back and hasn't for years, this set up for the two lonely women is all encompassing individually and as friends while mending a torn friendship.
Both women have incredible loses in what they knew as family as well as lifestyle. It's a story of running from the past while sorting it out mentally, as well as physically along the way.
I loved it. As all good beach reads go, the endings are usually tied up neatly but not without much thought and introspection, there are always lessons on why we make choices and what we do with the consequences. Elin Hilderbrand is the type of author that makes sure the reader remembers her books not only with lush beach settings but with rich character development and plot.
Buy it or Borrow it.
But if you are going to pass it on? Please, wipe the food from the pages and back cover. Thanks.
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