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A review by sslovesbooks_1
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
4.0
This was a wonderful summer read, set on Nantucket following a family who have secrets to keep but over the course of a wonderful summer in 1969 they are slowly revealed. The book is set at a pivotal time in US history, the war in Vietnam and the Moon Landings and throughout I felt the authenticity of time in the author's writing.
The setting is stunning, the descriptions of the area led me to google the area the book is set in and it was such a wonderful place to take yourself to for a summer read. Beaches, restaurants, lovely food all added to the feel that me as the reader was there with them. I adore books where you feel immediately taken away to another place.
I loved Jesse, a young girl who is coming of age in this novel. She is spending the summer with her grandma - Exalta - a strong and determined, austere character but as we learn more about her there are far more layers to her that you first see. Jesse's mother is also at the summer house and is not coping with her son Tiger being drafted in the US army and is away fighting in Vietnam. She spends her days drinking to cope and as the days unfold secrets are revealed which make you see her in a different light.
Jesse's older sister Blair is pregnant and stuck in Boston and as her circumstances change she vying for her husband's attention as his work takes over his life.
Her middle sister Kirby is on another island close by trying to gain some independence from her family for the summer as well as hiding away from past mistakes she has made. Her summer brings her into the lives of a cast of lovely characters and she also has secrets to hide.
I thought this was a wonderful family drama set in the summer which captivated me completely. I have read a number of Elin's books and they always take you somewhere special with characters you love instantly and before you know it a few hours have passed and the story is over.
Loved it !!!!
The setting is stunning, the descriptions of the area led me to google the area the book is set in and it was such a wonderful place to take yourself to for a summer read. Beaches, restaurants, lovely food all added to the feel that me as the reader was there with them. I adore books where you feel immediately taken away to another place.
I loved Jesse, a young girl who is coming of age in this novel. She is spending the summer with her grandma - Exalta - a strong and determined, austere character but as we learn more about her there are far more layers to her that you first see. Jesse's mother is also at the summer house and is not coping with her son Tiger being drafted in the US army and is away fighting in Vietnam. She spends her days drinking to cope and as the days unfold secrets are revealed which make you see her in a different light.
Jesse's older sister Blair is pregnant and stuck in Boston and as her circumstances change she vying for her husband's attention as his work takes over his life.
Her middle sister Kirby is on another island close by trying to gain some independence from her family for the summer as well as hiding away from past mistakes she has made. Her summer brings her into the lives of a cast of lovely characters and she also has secrets to hide.
I thought this was a wonderful family drama set in the summer which captivated me completely. I have read a number of Elin's books and they always take you somewhere special with characters you love instantly and before you know it a few hours have passed and the story is over.
Loved it !!!!