Endless Summer: Stories from Days That Last Forever

by Elin Hilderbrand

Overview

The "queen of beach reads” (New York Magazine) presents a newly assembled collection of nine captivating stories—prequels, sequels, and bonus chapters from Elin Hilderbrand’s beloved books—some of which have never been published, until now.

Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand revisits her most treasured and iconic characters in this magical collection of stories. Collected in a single volume for the first time, Endless Summer ranges from fan favorites to original, never-before-seen works. In “The Surfing Lesson,” the marriage at the heart of Beautiful Day crosses uncertain territory when Margot Carmichael encourages her husband to reunite with his ex-girlfriend. The legendary weekend of a Harvard-Yale football game in “The Tailgate” recharts the course of Matchmaker Dabney Kimball’s first—and abiding—true love. And in a brand-new novella, “Summer of ’89,” we reconnect with the Levin sisters, whose distant adult lives collide once again at a tumultuous family reunion on Nantucket.

With exclusive, behind-the-scenes introductions to each story, this page-turning volume blends Hilderbrand’s irresistible love of Nantucket with her longtime affection for short stories. Endless Summer answers the prayers of both new and seasoned readers everywhere who “would rather be living in an Elin Hilderbrand novel” (Kirkus Reviews).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316474528
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	1,088,383
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Elin Hilderbrand is the proud mother of three, a dedicated Peloton rider, an aspiring book influencer, and an enthusiastic home cook (follow her on Instagram @elinhilderbrand to watch her Cringe Cooking Show). She is also a grateful seven-year breast cancer survivor.

Editorial Reviews

"One wonders what the author of 28 novels, sometimes appearing at the rate of two per year, does in her spare time. It turns out she writes what might almost be called Elin Hilderbrand fan fiction, creating short stories piggybacking off already-developed characters and plots....[Endless Summer is] a generous gift to fans."—Kirkus Reviews

"“The beloved beach novelist’s twenty-eighth book is another tour de force. . .Honestly, who needs Nantucket? It could hardly be more fun than this book."—Kirkus Reviews (on THE HOTEL NANTUCKET)

"It’s almost summer, which means Hilderbrand’s legions of fans will be eager for her latest....This is classic Hilderbrand...we hope she has many more Nantucket tales in store."—Booklist (on GOLDEN GIRL)

"“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 (on 28 SUMMERS)

From the Publisher

2022-08-17
Prequels, sequels, and bonus tracks for favorite Hilderbrand novels.

One wonders what the author of 28 novels, sometimes appearing at the rate of two per year, does in her spare time. It turns out she writes what might almost be called Elin Hilderbrand fan fiction, creating short stories piggybacking off already-developed characters and plots. Brief introductions to each of the nine stories presented in this collection explain which book it goes with and the circumstances of its creation (most were digital or limited-edition publications; three were unpublished until now). Though it certainly would be best to read each story with its progenitor, as suggested, some can also work on their own. Both "The Surfing Lesson" (which goes with Beautiful Day) and "The Tailgate" (The Matchmaker) have the tight narrative focus and limited character set that make the short form shine. Less successful are the add-on stories "Summer of '79" and "Summer of '89," because if you haven't come fresh from Summer of '69, the large, multigenerational cast and intricate tapestry of the backstories are a little challenging. Fans of Golden Girl, in which Nantucket novelist Vivi Howe dies in the first chapter, will be pleased to see her resurrected here in "The Workshop." Vivi's experiences at the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference in Vermont are based on Hilderbrand's famously terrible time at the University of Iowa graduate writing program. Also fun is "Barbie's Wedding," in which realtor Fast Eddie Pancik's little sister, a bit player from The Rumor, marries the competition, shaking off any latent bad juju from the prostitution ring she helped run.

A generous gift to the fans.

Kirkus Reviews