Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of the ’60s summer when everything changed in Elin Hilderbrand’s #1 New York Times bestselling historical novel. Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century. It’s 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother’s … to spending the summer at their grandmother’s historic home in downtown Nantucket. But like so much else in America, nothing is the same: Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests and determined to be independent, takes a summer job on Martha’s Vineyard. Only-son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. And thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother and her worried mother, while each of them hides a troubling secret.
Summer Of ‘69
more
sappy ending
This novel was like a trip down memory lane. As a senior in college in 1969 I experienced all the news events the author pulls into her story. She does a good job describing reactions to the Vietnam War, moon landing, Woodstock, civil rights movement, feminism, the Ted Kennedy controversy, overall societal changes in attitude, the rebelliousness of young people of that era and the music and fashions that reflected that rebelliousness. I’m a native of Massachusetts who spent several summers on Cape Cod so I also enjoyed Hilderbrand’s attention to detail of her Cape settings. The characters are very believable and I got caught up in their lives even when there seemed to be a few inconsistencies in some of the events. Summer of ’69 is a fun read any time of year. Also, hats off to Elin Hilderbran for raising three kids while writing so many novels!
Although this starts a bit slowly, it turns into a delightful and movingly personal tale of how different people were affected by the remarkable events of 1969. It’s not so much a historical novel as it is an exploration of family and connections. A magical journey.
Not my favorite of her books … it ended a bit abruptly
I’m not embarrassed to admit I’m not a huge Elin Hilderbrand fan. I’ve read and loved a few of her books, but I’ve picked up a few and never gotten past the first few chapters.
But this one? Oh my goodness. It kind of pains me to call a book set 50 years ago a historical, but whatever the genre is for books set in the recent past, Elin Hilderbrand owns it. Told primarily from the point of view of thirteen-year-old Jessie, Summer of ‘69 follows three generations of strong women in Nantucket during that pivotal summer—pivotal in both US history but also in the lives of Jessie, Kate, Exalta, Blair, and Kirby. Add in a gorgeous setting, a few special men, and a lot of alcohol…oh, and babies, twin babies. It’s impossible to put down.
All of E Hilderbrands book are so very entertaining.
Elin always delivers a steady stream of relatable, engaging characters. I loved being taken back to 1969. Great read!
It took me back and it activated my memories of the time. I loved,it!
This was the first book I have read by Elin Hilderbrand, and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the historical reflections, and the development of several plot lines. This is a clean wholesome read, as The Summer of ’69 introduced me to a blended family spending their summer together at Grandma’s house in Nantucket. I will read Elin Hilderbrand again, for the same reasons I watched The Waltons as a child … and discovered Meet Me in Saint Louis as an adult. It is nice to see and experience families that we long to have as our own.
Kind of boring
Loved that it took me back in my time. And realistically.
Great book!,
I don’t know how Elin Hildebrand makes each new book set on Nantucket, of which 95% of hers are, so fresh and unique. I love her characters, especially in this book–we view a whole family in 1969 with all the events of that tumultuous year. Wonderful writing and heart-rendering story. Another page-turner!
It just isn’t summer without a new Elin Hilderbrand book! Summer of ’69 was a wonderful departure from her normal contemporary/women’s fiction genre. I loved that this story was set against the backdrop of so many important issues and events from that summer. I highly recommend!
Elin Hilderbrand’s newest novel revolves around the Levin family and the annual summer trip to their grandmother Exalta’s home in Nantucket. But this year things are very different for the Levin family. The eldest sister Blair, newly married to a brilliant astrophysicist is very pregnant with twins and is stuck in Boston all by herself unable to travel, questioning her marriage as she sits alone. Kirby, the middle sister, the rebel, who is independent and freewheeling, takes a job on Martha’s Vineyard. Away from the comfort of her grandmother’s home and the watchful eye of her family, she is determined to find herself while battling personal demons after a troubling experience. Tiger, the only son, has been deployed to Vietnam as an infantry soldier worrying the entire family. And Jessie, the youngest who feels alone and stranded, just turned thirteen, venturing into a whole different world with a grandmother who is still living in a different century and a mother (Kate) who is closed off and drinking all day.
As the summer “heats up” this drama only gets better, and many more skeletons start to come out of the closet. We find out about Kate and her recent remarriage to Jessie’s father after the sudden death of her first husband Wilder. We learn more about Blair and Angus, how they met, and why she is questioning her marriage. Kirby’s activist past starts to catch up with her in the most unlikely of places, and we wait on baited breath to receive updates from Tiger. Jessie starts to experience what it is like to be at that “in-between” age where you are still a child but becoming a woman, and you still want to ride your bike but you also want a boyfriend. When the longtime caretaker Mr. Crimmins’s grandson Pick comes to town and is suddenly staying on the Nantucket property, Jessie’s summer takes a whole different turn than she expected.
Elin Hilderbrand, the queen of summer beach reads has ventured into her first historical novel about an era where the times in America were substantially significant, when emotions were high and views were rapidly changing, and she pulls it off in a sensational way. Her writing is smooth and flowing, easily read and always captivating. This is hands down a 5 star review for me and one book I feel I will be talking about for quite a while.
Thank You so much to Elin Hilderbrand and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of Summer of ‘69 for an unbiased and honest review.
Brought memories of my young adult years and one of the best Summers of my life. It also provided a reminder of how the roles of women have changed since 1969. Good character development!
Loved the setting, the characters and all the references to 1969, from the Kennedys and Vietnam to the great music from that era.
Enjoyed the plot involvement of the time period. It was a fun visiting the world of my teen years.
I always enjoy a good Elin Hilderbrand book, the imagery make me yearn to go to Nantucket!
A good summer read! Entertaining as usual from this popular author. Great characters, good storytelling and an ending that wraps up all the storylines.