The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024

Thinking about your reading list for this summer? If you’re looking for a good older book you may have missed, try THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand. THE ISLAND came out in 2010, so it should be easy to find at the library and at bookstores.

THE ISLAND is a story of familial and romantic love, recovery from tragedy, sibling rivalry, and family support. The story reveals the individual paths four women have taken for love and the course each path set for their futures.

Summary

Shortly after Chess called off her wedding, her ex-fiancé tragically dies rock climbing. To help her through this dark time, her mother Birdie, her aunt India and her sister Tate take Chess to their family vacation home for a full month. They haven’t been back to the house on Tuckernuck Island near Nantucket in over a decade. They hope the family memories and serenity of the location will be healing.

The homes on Tuckernuck have no electricity, no heat or air conditioning, no hot water, no internet, and no cell service. A vacation home caretaker whom Birdie hired years ago has been checking on the house. When he retired, his son Barrett Lee took over the business. Birdie sent Barrett money to make the place livable for their visit since it had been neglected for so long. Upon their arrival, Barrett supplies their transportation by boat between Nantucket and Tuckernuck. He also brings them mail and groceries. Barrett, who is a widow with a child, focuses on keeping all of his clients happy, but one client, Nantucket socialite Anita Fullin, is jealous. She doesn’t want to share Barrett’s time and attention with the other family. Tate’s focus is also on Barrett, hoping this could be the summer he finally notices her.

The characters each have their own story and baggage. Birdie, the mom, is still recovering from her divorce. Free-spirited, artsy India is rediscovering herself after her husband’s death. Computer geek Tate thinks her sister has always had the advantage, but she still wants to support her. Chess, who is dealing with her grief and guilt, is also hiding a deeper secret.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this novel. The island/beach setting is right up my alley. I love a good book about love and family relationships. Birdie’s journey was a bit too predictable for me, but I did like that each character’s journey and personality was unique and had depth. Elin Hilderbrand has a way of breathing life into complex, distinctive characters.

My favorite character storylines were India and Tate. India is a widow, but her reflections on her marriage with a famous artist husband felt realistic, and her free-spirit was interesting. Tate has a successful career, but love hasn’t been in the picture. She has always felt she was in her sister’s shadow. With memories of Barrett from their summer trips years ago, she wonders if she might have a shot with him. Her same old fear rears its head – Is he more interested in Chess?

If you’re considering your summer reading list, THE ISLAND by Elin Hilderbrand is a great addition. If you like this book, check out my review on The Identicals, another Hilderbrand book here.

Note About My Book Reviews This Year

Although I love reading books close to when they’re published, I have so many older books on my TBR (To Be Read) pile! I want to catch up on some of them. This year I promised myself I’d work on those more than new releases. My blog will reflect that. Sure, you’ll still see some newer books or ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) because I automatically say yes to certain authors’ books, but you’ll see some older outstanding books here as well. Hope you enjoy the mix of older and newer in my reviews this year!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

December 21, 2023December 4, 2023

Beautiful Little Fools by Jill Cantor

Robin’s Reviews

Yes. I admit it. I was one of those people that loved reading THE GREAT GATSBY, so I was excited to hear about BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS by Jill Cantor. Let me tell you, her retelling didn’t disappoint. It gives fans a chance to relive the classic through a new lens. Same plot. Same characters. BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS is told from the women’s point of view, including capturing the limitations of women in the 1920s.

Cantor’s title is perfect! Perhaps you recall Daisy Buchanan’s quote in the classic when her daughter is born: “I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE GREAT GATSBY (NOT FOR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS)

*I’m going to assume you’ve read THE GREAT GATSBY or watched the movie at some point, so fair warning, there are some Gatsby spoilers in this review. It would be hard not to when reviewing a book heavily inspired by the original.

Readers know Jay Gatsby ends up dead in his swimming pool in the original, and readers believe George killed him in a jealous fit. In BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS Cantor turns the story into a murder mystery. She gives readers a reason to re-evaluate who murdered Jay when a hairpin is found in the bushes near the murder scene. A mobster hires Detective Frank Charles to determine the actual murderer.

WOMEN CHARACTERS COME ALIVE

The best fleshed out character in the classic is Daisy Buchanan. Married for financial security, she’s an unhappy socialite, but Cantor fills in more of her backstory. You may remember her best friend Jordan who is involved in a scandal on the golfing circuit. Cantor reveals her to be a lesbian. (It isn’t that big of a stretch from the insinuations in the classic.) Readers also dive deeper into Myrtle Wilson’s character. The wife of a garage mechanic, she’s unhappy with the lack of glitz and excitement in her life and becomes Tom Buchanan’s mistress. Catherine, Myrtle’s sister, was only a background character in one scene in the original. She now becomes a fully fleshed out character as a 1920s suffragette who had a casual relationship with Gatsby.

Cantor’s character development keeps the reader guessing who killed Gatsby. They each have a motive. Although Cantor makes some character choices based on the classic that I wouldn’t have, it was interesting to follow her vision of these women.

Although readers can enjoy BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS as a standalone, it fits best as a companion to THE GREAT GATSBY. Perhaps Fitzgerald wouldn’t have seen his characters exactly as Cantor develops them, yet it’s interesting to see how she develops storylines and backgrounds that fill in gray areas left by the original. And Cantor’s ending gives readers a twist you won’t see coming!

Have you read THE GREAT GATSBY? How long ago? Is it time to revisit this old friend? Or is it time to finally read this classic for the first time? What about watching the movie version on a cold winter evening? If you love the classic, you’ve got to read BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOLS.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

December 7, 2023October 10, 2023

The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz

Robin’s Reviews

The Liz Taylor Ring by Brenda Janowitz was an enjoyable read. Don’t be confused going in though. It is more about a fictional couple than Liz Taylor.

Photo showing the size of the actual Liz Taylor diamond ring — The actual Liz Taylor ring

This dual timeline story covers the romance of Ritchie and Lizzie in the 1970s, and years later, the family drama of their adult children after the parents have passed. Then add the discovery of a piece of jewelry, an inheritance they all want, to the sibling tension. It’s an issue many families have experienced.

Lizzie and Ritchie’s relationship is compared to that of Lizzie’s movie idols, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor — both passionate and tumultuous. After marriage and two children, Lizzie and Ritchie separate due to his gambling addiction. When he wins a gigantic eleven-carat diamond ring, he uses it to woo Lizzie back. (The ring is similar to the one Burton gave Taylor to win her back after their separation. See the photo above.) Soon after, Lizzie and Ritchie have another child, twelve years younger than her siblings.

At some point in Lizzie and Ritchie’s marriage, the ring is lost. Each child has a different memory of what happened to it — stolen, lost or gambled away. After their parents’ deaths, their children rediscover it in a lock box. The children all believe they deserve it, and each has a different reason for wanting it. Can they survive each other as they decide what to do with it? Will this inheritance tear the family further apart? Is it a treasure or a curse?

Brenda Janowitz, the author, has done extensive research on Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. She adds an interesting section at the end of the book explaining the Easter eggs she’s added throughout the novel that are nods to Burton and Taylor. She also includes scenes from Taylor and Burton movies for readers to Google. If you are a fan of these Hollywood idols and/or love books with family drama and the process of reconciliation, The Liz Taylor Ring is one you’ll want to put on your TBR list.

If this kind of fiction is your thing, Brenda Janowitz has more for you! She also wrote The Audrey Hepburn Estate and The Grace Kelly Dress, along with several other novels. Aren’t all of her book covers gorgeous?

And if you like those books, make sure to check out my five-star review of The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey about the Vanderbilts.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

November 2, 2023September 27, 2023

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

Author Leesa Cross-Smith photo — Author Leesa Cross-Smith

Hachette unexpectedly sent me This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith. I assume I won it in a contest, but I didn’t know I had! It sat on my TBR pile for awhile, but I was glad I chose to read it. I wouldn’t normally pick up a book dealing with mental illness, but these are deep, complex characters who normalize that everyone struggles sometimes.

Story Summary

The story starts on a rainy night when Tallie, a licensed therapist, is driving over a bridge and notices a man who look like he’s going to jump. She stops and convinces him to get coffee with her, although she hides that she’s a therapist. At the coffee shop, she realizes he doesn’t have any place to go so she invites him to come home with her. (Okay, I thought that was a bit crazy on her part, but I kept with the story.)

Taking place mainly over a weekend, This Close to Okay is told through alternating chapters from Tallie’s and Emmett’s perspectives. They spend the time helping each other heal — from what brought Emmett to the bridge that night, and for Tallie, from problems she hasn’t addressed surrounding her divorce and problems with infertility. Tallie believes she’s helping Emmett, but his presence is cathartic for her as well. Even therapists need help to work through trauma. Everyone needs someone willing to catch us when we stumble or get overwhelmed.

Be aware that This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith contains potential triggers: mental illness, depression, suicidal thoughts, infidelity, infertility, and grief. Even so, the feeling of the book is positive. Through loneliness and loss, even the unexpected compassion of a stranger can change the trajectory of a life. By offering emotional support, both characters benefit. The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending. The author left the book somewhat open ended, but that’s better than a trite romantic ending that wouldn’t fit this novel.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

September 21, 2022September 2, 2022

Spells for Forgetting By Adrienne Young

As fall descends upon us, I wonder – do the types of books you choose change with the seasons? Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a dark, romantic tale with mysterious atmosphere just right for this time of year! It’s a perfect choice for when you want to curl up with a good book, a blanket and a hot beverage of choice.

YA author Adrienne Young’s first adult novel takes us to the Pacific Northwest to a mystical island off the coast of Washington. Residents of the island’s small village have lived there for generations and are deeply steeped in folklore, superstitions, and traditions. Tourists visiting their apple orchard generate most of the islander’s revenue.

Synopsis

After fourteen years away, August returns to bury his mother’s ashes. His presence re-ignites suspicion and hatred from most of the island’s residents. For Emery, the high school sweetheart he left behind, August’s presence opens old wounds and brings conflicting feelings.

“There are spells for breaking and spells for mending. But there are no spells for forgetting.”

Fourteen years earlier, August and Emery are in love and secretly plan on leaving the island together the day after graduation. That is until the night Emery’s best friend Lily is found dead, and the apple orchard is set on fire. August is the suspect in the murder, but when no proof is produced, he and his mother leave the island.

Through multiple POV’s, we experience what happens between Emery and August now that he’s returned and see glimpses of the past that led up to that fateful night.

My Thoughts

After a few slow opening chapters, I found myself deeply invested in the characters. I wanted to follow this unresolved love story and murder mystery. It kept me guessing what really happened the night of the fire and Lily’s death, and the twists and turns kept me quickly turning the pages.

Magic and folklore is an underlying thread in the story, adding mystery and atmosphere; however, it felt underplayed. I wanted the book of magic spells and the ancient traditions to be a bigger part of the story.

This book is categorized as general fiction because it doesn’t fit neatly into only one genre. It’s part mystery/thriller, part fantasy/magic, and part romance. The publication date is set for Sept. 27, 2022. I rate Spells for Forgetting 4 stars since I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

If Spells for Forgetting sounds like a book you’d like, check out my reviews on these novels: Valley of the Moon , The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Gallant, and a lighter novel, The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

September 12, 2022September 2, 2022

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks gets a strong 4 1/2 stars!

Readers enjoy guessing how two storylines in a novel will cross. Not so easy with this one! Sparks doesn’t reveal it until a long way into the book. I kept guessing, and the anticipation kept me reading. I figured it out, but later than I’d like to admit. ; )

Beverly’s story: She is on the run with her young son. I wanted her to successfully get away from an abusive husband and father, but to make the situation harder, he works for Homeland Security. That means he has access to many tools to try to locate them. I got involved in her story, but I was annoyed that some of the details in Beverly’s story felt like clips from Safe Haven. (That’s the only reason I didn’t give the book a full five stars.)

Colby’s story: Colby gave up his dream of writing music and singing when the aunt who raised him needed his help to save the family farm. After a few years of getting the farm running smoothly, it was time for Colby to take a break. He takes a working vacation as a musician when he lands a short-term gig in Florida. He meets Morgan who is vacationing with friends before her big move to Nashville. She is about to chase her dream of a music career. Colby and Morgan fall in love as they bond over writing songs, but Nashville calls to Morgan while Colby has obligations back at the farm. Is it possible to continue a summer romance as a long-distance relationship?

Readers will be doubting that these two very different stories could possibly match up, but they will. It’s worth the wait. That’s the best part of the book. It’s what makes it stand out.

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks comes out Sept. 20, 2022, but you can pre-order a copy today! If Dreamland sounds like a book you’d like, check out my past reviews on these Nicholas Sparks novels: The Wish , Every Breath (and a feature on the Kindred Spirits mailbox ), and Two By Two .

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my honest thoughts.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley