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
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Elin’s stories always come with in-depth characters and storylines. Every story is just amazing!
This was a fantastic novel from beginning to end. Loved it.
An entertaining book which I enjoyed. Loved the songs listed at the start of each chapter. Perfect beach read
I always say when I finish a Hilderbrand book “this is the best she’s ever written”. Well, she just keeps getting better. Elin was born in ’69, I was 19, so it certainly brought back a slew of memories. No matter what age you were in 1969 this is a must read page turner, can’t put down book. Her descriptions jump off the page at you. When she describes food I want to gnaw on the pages and you can picture her characters as if you know them personally. I just can’t wait for her next book.
HILDEBRAND’S BEST BOOK SINCE ‘BLUE BISTRO’
In the vast canyon that is filled with summer reads, Hildebrand’s ‘Summer of ’69’ does stand out (with a few others) as the best of the crop. Dorothy Benton Frank’s ‘Queen Bee’ is in the list as is Jennifer Weiner’s ‘Mrs. Everything.’
By far, her strongest work since “Blue Bistro”. Hildebrand is one of the few authors that can write multiple storylines and still keep the reader engaged. I’ve never been a fan of multiple characters but she does it so very well in this book. I actually liked each of her characters and found the whole setting and story reality-based.
Was it worthy enough to knock “Where the Crawdads Sing” off the #1 spot on the NYTimes Best Seller List? Not really but “Where the Crawdads Sing” is a whole different level of writing than this one but I see how this book would have caught on quickly enough with readers to get that spot.
I rarely say this but I wouldn’t mind a sequel to this book or perhaps a trilogy.
Nicely done, Elin, nicely done!
The summer of ’69 I was 2.5 years old and my parents had bought a house. This book brought back so many memories, I do not remember the moon landing at all but I know my parents watched it on tv and my mom saved the paper the next day. I love that a book can made me nostalgic for a time I barley remember but were the good days. This story of this blended family was a great read, I loved Blair, Kirby and Jessie as well as their mom and grandmother. I give high praise to Elin Hilderbrand, she never disappoints in her novels (She is one author I could just pick up the book without reading the back first). Its more then a “beach read” it has depth, its got humor and it has soul. I would reread this book in a flash!
Elin Hilderbrand nailed another best seller! Truly a warp in time without being boring. Perfect vacation, road trip or beach read.
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand revolves around the all-too-true theme that families are complicated. There seem always to be secrets and the Nichols-Foley-Levin-Whalen family has more than most. As is its habit, the family, or most of it, has gathered on Nantucket for the summer. Exalta Nichols, the matriarch declares Memorial Day to be too early so they arrive on the third Monday in June. There are the easy problems: one daughter is dating a black man; Exalta’s daughter is married to a Jewish man; there is a pregnancy and infighting between in expectant parents; one of the daughters wants her independence, well all of them do, really. Then there are the larger problems of the day: the Viet Nam War, abortion, Civil Rights, Chappaquiddick, and the expanding world.
Hildebrand has crafted a wonderful story by taking just a slice of the summer of 1969 and telling its story as well as flashbacks to make parts of it relevant. What family doesn’t have secrets? Yet, this story is so gently told, even the hard parts of it, that the secrets don’t remain in the forefront. The participants have the fortitude and common sense to put them away and strive for better, in an almost heartbreaking way. It was easy enough to cry at parts of this story, but easier, yet, to cheer. And all the time remember being alive in 1969 with many of these problems existing in my sphere as well. And remembering being a teenager and young adult and how difficult it was. Summer of ’69 is a wonderful book. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of Summer of ’69. All opinions expressed herein are solely my own. #netgalley #summerof’69
Loved this book!
I loved this book. The perfect beach read!
What a great summer read, the author really captured the flavor of the era: the Vietnam war, the beginnings of the women’s movement, the loosening of strict societal norms concerning Jews and African Americans, of college educated and the “working class”. She deftly develops complicated family and inter generational relationships. I look forward to reading more of her work. Two thumbs up!
Elin Hildebrand never disappoints!
Full of historical events that left thinking I was back in 1969. The characters became family as I read this book. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Book follows a family-3 girls, one boy during the summer of 1969. Each one could have their own book on their own-they are just so good.
Remember myself listening to the radio when my brother was up for induction into the military but he had a number that meant he’d not be seeing any ….
The girls brother was not so lucky-he was sent to Vietnam to fight. One treasures his letters home. Another woman is pregnant with twins but her husband is not so faithful and she ends up on the Vineyard.
The grandmother is also there and the other two girls have jobs for the summer months. Love the traditions that are followed every year. Especially like hearing of the things they do on the island-very similar to how I grew up on the island in the bay nearby.
Beaches-nude beach, public beach, beach for Blacks only as just a handful of those that are talked about. Each one holds their own speciality.
Events lead to the death of a young woman who makes world wide fame because of who she was with…. So many events I recall from my childhood.
Twists and turns and so many secrets that shed light on what’s really going on.
Love hearing the soldiers journey and especially love how the book came about. About the author and notes are included at the end.
Resources are noted and acknowledgements and other works by the author are highlighted.
Received this review copy from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.