The Island

A Novel

By: Elin Hilderbrand

Narrated by: Denice Hicks

This “deliciously addictive” (Kirkus) beach read from Elin Hilderbrand follows a family in upheaval after a cancelled wedding fills an island summer with heartache, laughter, and surprises.

Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement.

It's only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she's embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store—a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.

But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known.

Critic reviews

"The story flows as gently as a summer breeze, carrying the listener to its refreshing conclusion."—AudioFile Magazine on A Summer Affair

Beach Read

I always enjoy this author's books - a beach read with a deeper story than most. This was my first audio book experience which I enjoyed.

Great story

This book was well written. It kept your interest and took you to a place that sounded wonderful. It told of a family each with their own issues and made you feel a part of their lives.

a decent way to spend 15 hrs.

I enjoyed the story, but the thing I will probably remember most is the little details that didn't make sense. I guess the issue was that I'm the same age as the girls, would have grown up at the same time, and live in the Philadelphia area. Moat details Elin hit the nail on the head, but other minor items, particularly in the daughter's life ruined it for me (computer details, products in the girls lives, also they would have primarily grown up in the 90s, not the 80s.) Also, I don't love how Tate's character was drawn. For an independent "tomboy" who was a computer professional, she was kind of unbelievable. Chess and India were written much better. Fun, but overly sappy in parts.

I was waiting for something to happen

The main characters are on an island for a month... I was just waiting for some action to happen and not much did.

To slow

The writer filled the pages with to much description and examples, it made it boring and I found myself advancing my place on the book to get to the story. The book did not seem to be written by Hilderbrand. The reader sounded like a teacher talking to little boys and girls in kindergarten.