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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Perfect beach read in Cape Cod.
Like other Hilderbrand novels, this is set on Nantucket. Marguerite was a great chef who owned her own restaurant that served one set menu at one set time each night. Then her best friend dies and her long time lover leaves her and she abruptly closes the restaurant and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Rumors abound about what really happened and it takes until the end of the book to learn all of it.
Renata is Marguerite’s goddaughter. She is the daughter of Candace, Marguerite’s best friend who died when Renata was just a toddler. She’s been raised by her very protective father Dan, not on Nantucket, and has not talked to Marguerite since Candace died nor allowed Renata to either.
Renata is now 19 and in college. She comes to Nantucket with her very new fiancé Cade whose family has a house there. She calls Marguerite who invites her to dinner. Cade’s family is having a dinner party the same night that they expect Renata to attend. Renata is a bit overwhelmed with the engagement and Cade’s family and really wants to talk to Marguerite to get info about her mom.
My favorite parts of the book are the foodie sections, especially Marguerite shopping for ingredients and preparing her meal for Renata. As well the trip Marguerite and Candace take to Morocco makes me want to go there.
Like other Hilderbrand novels, this is set on Nantucket. Marguerite was a great chef who owned her own restaurant that served one set menu at one set time each night. Then her best friend dies and her long time lover leaves her and she abruptly closes the restaurant and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. Rumors abound about what really happened and it takes until the end of the book to learn all of it.
Renata is Marguerite’s goddaughter. She is the daughter of Candace, Marguerite’s best friend who died when Renata was just a toddler. She’s been raised by her very protective father Dan, not on Nantucket, and has not talked to Marguerite since Candace died nor allowed Renata to either.
Renata is now 19 and in college. She comes to Nantucket with her very new fiancé Cade whose family has a house there. She calls Marguerite who invites her to dinner. Cade’s family is having a dinner party the same night that they expect Renata to attend. Renata is a bit overwhelmed with the engagement and Cade’s family and really wants to talk to Marguerite to get info about her mom.
My favorite parts of the book are the foodie sections, especially Marguerite shopping for ingredients and preparing her meal for Renata. As well the trip Marguerite and Candace take to Morocco makes me want to go there.
My favorite Elin Hilderbrand novel, and I've read them all. It's told in flashback form, and has a lot to do with cooking, so don't read it if you're hungry or trying to diet!
I interviewed this author for Philadelphia Style.
I interviewed this author for Philadelphia Style.
Classic Hilderbrand—in every sense of the meaning. Published in 2006 and most of it ages well (minus the glaringly offensive use of the R word early on). This dual time line coming of age story is as much about love and forgiveness as it is about delicious food and charming Nantucket. Happy I read it, wouldn’t hurry out to evangelize it.
Definitely my least favorite Elin so far. The first half made it almost a DNF, but the latter half was more interesting. Still feel unsatisfied and like wasted time on useless stories.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of Hilderbrand's earliest novels, I put off reviewing this one until I had read another one of her works, as I saw a spark in this one.
The Love Season no doubt has one of the wildest concepts I have ever read, especially for a 'beach read' novel. It's less a beach read story and more of a day time TV soap plot story. Filled with gorgeous rich people doing awful things to one another - though I did like the themes of truth and forgiveness in this story.
Unfortunately this book spends a lot of time on very minor details (though its very rich world building, Hilderbrand LOVES food and Nantucket) and the climax feels very flat and over too quickly.
Another flaw in the book is the writing style. As I said, I have now read another Hilderbrand novel and can confirm her writing improves significantly, this novel's writing is quite bad at times. There's the funny lines of character's nipples doing odd things, but then more stark and uncomfortable/harmful writing tropes around race, sexuality at times. It's clear Hilderbrand is not writing with malicious intent, but has much to learn in these areas of representative (and again, in future, she has done this learning!).
I am looking forward to reading more Hilderbrand! Big Beach read got to me...
The Love Season no doubt has one of the wildest concepts I have ever read, especially for a 'beach read' novel. It's less a beach read story and more of a day time TV soap plot story. Filled with gorgeous rich people doing awful things to one another - though I did like the themes of truth and forgiveness in this story.
Unfortunately this book spends a lot of time on very minor details (though its very rich world building, Hilderbrand LOVES food and Nantucket) and the climax feels very flat and over too quickly.
Another flaw in the book is the writing style. As I said, I have now read another Hilderbrand novel and can confirm her writing improves significantly, this novel's writing is quite bad at times. There's the funny lines of character's nipples doing odd things, but then more stark and uncomfortable/harmful writing tropes around race, sexuality at times. It's clear Hilderbrand is not writing with malicious intent, but has much to learn in these areas of representative (and again, in future, she has done this learning!).
I am looking forward to reading more Hilderbrand! Big Beach read got to me...
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually love Elin Hilderbrand but this book dragged and felt so unresolved at the end. It felt uneven and underdeveloped.