Elin Hilderbrand truly does know how to do summer well. She takes her traditional Nantucket setting, which includes many beach references, but she finds a way to create character development and a plot that doesn’t feel overly consumed with the beach storyline that could be so easily written about.
Summerland, one of Hilderbrand’s older pieces published in 2012, follows the lives of several families and their specific members throughout the most life-changing summer to date. Penny Alistair and her friends, Demeter, Jake, and Hobby, are about to celebrate the summer before their senior year of high school; however, Penny makes a decision that changes everything for them when she drives off a cliff with them in the car with her. Of course, her peers struggle to understand her motives, and they are all able to find a reason to blame themselves for her actions.
Summerland shows us the struggles of teens, the pains of unexpected loss, and the hope of healing and new life.
Although I felt like this earlier piece by Elin Hilderbrand had more grammatical errors than her more recently released books, the story kept me interested, and I enjoyed getting to follow along with the characters as they underwent healing in various aspects of life. So, if you need a light, easy read, this author does not disappoint.