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A review by dogoodwithbooks
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the first time I've read Elin Hilderbrand's work and I was thoroughly impressed. In The Hotel Nantucket, we get to see a cast of characters working for the new Hotel Nantucket during the Summer of 2022. Each of the characters' plots are intertwined in a sense, but the main focus of the story is Lizbet Keaton rebuilding herself through the hotel after she caught her long-time boyfriend cheating on her the summer prior and Grace Hadley, a chambermaid from the Hotel's glory days in the 1920s before she died in a hotel fire a hundred years ago.
Even for someone who's never been to Nantucket, Hilderbrand brings the island alive in this engaging read. From the detailed descriptors on various aspects of the island to inside commentary from Nantucket residents on the various events from the book to Hilderbrand even concluding The Hotel Nantucket with the well-mentioned Blue Book that each guest of the Hotel Nantucket received during their stay, readers will be fully immersed into the life of Nantucket during their summer season.
I also like Hilderbrand's decision to focus on an ensemble cast to serve as narrators in The Hotel Nantucket. Not only does this provide various aspects of the hospitality industry on display, but it also provides an interesting dynamic to the plot when you get to see how each of the different characters view the events of the book as they are happening. While not all of the characters are featured as heavily or shown a decent amount of development/growth, this ensemble cast is worth the read.
For anyone wanting a book that does over working in hospitality with a close-knit community and ensemble cast, you are going to enjoy The Hotel Nantucket.
Even for someone who's never been to Nantucket, Hilderbrand brings the island alive in this engaging read. From the detailed descriptors on various aspects of the island to inside commentary from Nantucket residents on the various events from the book to Hilderbrand even concluding The Hotel Nantucket with the well-mentioned Blue Book that each guest of the Hotel Nantucket received during their stay, readers will be fully immersed into the life of Nantucket during their summer season.
I also like Hilderbrand's decision to focus on an ensemble cast to serve as narrators in The Hotel Nantucket. Not only does this provide various aspects of the hospitality industry on display, but it also provides an interesting dynamic to the plot when you get to see how each of the different characters view the events of the book as they are happening. While not all of the characters are featured as heavily or shown a decent amount of development/growth, this ensemble cast is worth the read.
For anyone wanting a book that does over working in hospitality with a close-knit community and ensemble cast, you are going to enjoy The Hotel Nantucket.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Murder