Elin Hildenbrand and summer on Nantucket go hand in hand, and The Identicals contains one of my favorite beach read tropes - estranged identical twins who take a summer to navigate through their problems, all by a beach, all with clever dialogue and a lot of heart. A home run for your beach read pick this summer.

Classic Elin Hilderbrand. Whenever I pick up one of novels, I know I’m in for a good story. This one was no different. Great cast of characters. Four stars.

I liked this book but didn't love it. It has everything I have come to expect from a Hilderbrand novel, but that's not quite enough anymore. I need some more substance instead of so much name dropping.

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand tells the story of identical twins Tabitha and Harper Frost. Though identical, these sisters seem to be incredibly different from their personalities (Tabitha uptight; Harper laid back) to their career paths (Tabitha assisting their mother with her clothing line/boutique and Harper taking random low-paying, sometimes illegal, jobs) to where they live even (Tabitha with their mother on Nantucket and Harper on Martha's Vineyard with their father).
Their lives are thrown back together when Billy Frost, their father, dies. After their father's death, much is revealed about the division and animosity that has driven these inseparable identical twins apart over the last 20 years.

Another excellent summer beach read from Elin Hilderbrand, although her books are so much more than a fluffy beach story. This one tells us the story of two sisters who are completely opposite and separated from each other after an ugly divorce. Set as usual in Nantucket, I can almost picture the main drag, the beaches, the houses and the summer crowds. Great story! Thanks to #netgalley, #elinHilderbrand and #littlebrownand company for the chance to get this one before the publishing date in exchange for a fair review.

Oh my goodness, I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It was awesome to see a set of siblings particularly twins be at such odds. I love when family relationships are more real and not so sugary sweet. These two twins were so opposite and yet so much alike. It was interesting to see them work through their relationship and come out far better off by the end of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a dynamic family relationship book to read that is a quick and enjoyable read. The more of Ms. Hilderbrand's books I read the more I enjoy her writing!!

What a wonderful read!!! In true Elin Hilderbrand fashion, I couldn’t put it down once I started it. Perfect read for summer!

The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand is a novel set in the East Coast. The author tells the story of two estranged twin sisters who live with divorced parents on different islands. They switch places to try and bring their family together. The author does an amazing job at describing the setting so vividly that it nearly feels like one of the characters. This was a good book overall, but it started out very slowly. I received a digital copy of this book from the publishers. These opinions are entirely my own.

I love Elin Hilderbrand. That is all I can say. This book was no different but I loved the commentary on sisters and family relationships that this story offered. Grab it ASAP, take it to the beach, and devour it!

Another excellent fluff read by Elin Hilderbrand! Captivating intriguing characters made this a pleasurable book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read something out of my wheelhouse. I enjoyed it immensely and felt like i was taking a trip for a vacation from the fast paced who done it crime spree I usually read.

I enjoyed this book of identical twins who have spent years not speaking to each other. It was a little slower than I expected at times, but it did pick up and turned out to be a good read at the end.

** A copy of The Identicals was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

I took my time reading this because I didn't want the story to end. This story follows the twins Harper and Tabitha as they are coming up on their fortieth birthday. One lives on Martha's Vineyard and the other on Nantucket. They're lives are almost opposite each other. A tragedy brings their lives back together.

So many stories were woven into this book. The characters all had some flaws which added to the charm. I definitely recommend this book.

I really loved the comparisons between the two islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and how prominently the islands and their inhabitants figured into the story. I also enjoyed the character development of Ainsley, who became a more thoughtful, empathetic person as the story went on. I liked Caylee and the influence she had on the people around her. As always, I enjoyed the author's breezy, easy writing style that made me feel connected to the characters and the situations. I also enjoyed looking for the references to characters from other books (I think there was at least one mention of characters from The Rumor, which I also read this summer).

But . . . I did NOT care for the overall plot of the twins at war with one another or, more specifically, the character of Tabitha. Harper, I didn't mind, but Tabitha came across as spiteful, haughty and immature. The rift between the twins that happened when they were 17 years old would have made more sense if it had happened when they were younger and the ultimate reason the twins hadn't spoken in 14 years made Tabitha look like a vindictive, selfish person who allowed it to colour not only here relationship with Harper, but with everyone else in her life, particularly Ainsley. Her poor decision making as an adult, especially what she was prepared to do to exact revenge on her sister, left me really disliking her, whether she thought it was justified or not. The ending was a little to neatly wrapped up although I LOVED the perspective from which the final chapter was presented.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story of two sisters who lived entirely different lives. After the divorce of their parents, one daughter stays with her mother, always feeling that she had lost out on the good parent. The other stays with her father...the "fun" parent and always regrets missing out on time with her mother. The sister were close until a tragic incident divides them...for years.

Forced together again by circumstances beyond their control they are forced to take a long look at their relationship, as well as their parents. Is everything the way it seemed? Loved this story to the last page!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

This is my first Elin Hilderbrand book, but it definitely will not be my last. I easily immersed myself in its story, and it was the perfect summer read.

THE IDENTICALS is the story of two sisters, Tabitha and Harper, identical twins who live very different lives. After their parent's divorce, Harper settled on Martha's Vineyard with their laidback father, while Tabitha lived with their straight-laced and elegant mother in Nantucket. After a falling out 14 year ago, their girls have had nothing to do with each other, until a family crisis draws them back into each other's lives. The girls are forced to face the choices they've made, the resentments they've held, and find a way to work together to face their challenges.

I loved the settings, learning more about both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and the descriptions made them very vivid in my mind. The characters were complex, colorful, and their sibling rivalry felt very real.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves books about complicated families and the struggles that come along with being part one.

It wouldn't be summer without an Elin Hilderbrand novel! The Identicals was an entertaining read. It took me back to my favorite family movie, The Parent Trap," but the story is vastly different. The dysfunctional family dynamic is in full force, the sisters couldn't seem any more different. The premise of them coming together to accomplish a goal, and their discovery that events arent always how you remember them, and that they arent as different as they think, makes for an enjoyable afternoon's escape.

What fun it would be to be an identical twin and then again, it might not be so much fun!
The islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard serve as the backdrop for the story of twins who have grown apart. When their parents divorce, one daughter is sent to live with her mother and the other with her father in Cape Cod. The emotional division that separates them appears to be irreconcilable and the plot that evolves memorable. It's a deeply wrought tale of family that keeps the reader hoping for the best.

Four and a half stars: An addictive story about two twin sisters who are both floundering in life and love, then a chance to change places arises, and they learn a thing or two about each other and their pasts.

Tabitha and Harper are identical twins who have been estranged for over ten years despite the fact that they live only eleven miles apart. One lives on Martha’s Vineyard, the other Nantucket. Both girls’ lives are a mess, they are failing in life, love and their careers. When their father dies, things spiral out of control. Then an opportunity arises for both of them. Tabitha will go to Martha’s Vineyard to restore their father’s house, while Harper heads to Nantucket to help run their mother’s faltering boutique and take on the care of Ainsley, Tabitha’s rebellious teenage daughter. Will the twins reconcile or forever go their separate ways?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Hilderbrand knows how to write addictive family stories. I love her flawed characters, real life conflicts and familial relationships. This is story about identical twins who have lost their way. It reads kind of like a grown up Parent Trap. Lots of fun!
*This book features three different view points: Harper, Tabitha and Ainsley. I liked getting to know each of the characters. Harper was my favorite of the three. At the beginning her life is the biggest mess. She has a low paying delivery job as she is spending a great deal of time caring for her dying father. Her love life is a disaster because she is in love with a married man and seeing a police officer. *Then everything unravels. Tabitha, Harper’s twin, isn’t faring much better with her love life. She recently broke up with her long time boyfriend because she hasn’t worked through her feelings of loss. Her daughter, Ainsley, is completing running amok, and Tabitha has no control. Finally, her mother’s boutique that she manages is almost ready to go under. Last, there is Ainsley, Tabitha’s sixteen year old daughter. She is rebellious, spending her time drinking and partying. All three are flawed and sometimes not very likable, but they grow and change and become better people. It was fun watching them find their way. By the end, I liked all of them.
*I found myself surprisingly enjoying the whole twin swap. I was expecting it to be cheesy, but it works. Neither twin tries to masquerade as the other. Instead, Tabitha and Harper each step into the other’s life and make things work. I loved that they both succeeded at something the other was failing at. I was especially rooting for Harper, especially because she took Ainsley under her wing.
*I like that the book ended with an Epilogue down the road showing what happened to Harper and Tabitha. There are some loose ends, but not enough to ruin the story.
*I listened to the audiobook narrated by Erin Bennett. Ms. Bennett is a terrific narrator. My only qualm is I wish her male voices were a bit better, but otherwise she is solid, and I always enjoy her work.
And The Not So Much:
*I have to admit, I was disappointed when the reader finally learns what drove Tabitha and Harper apart. I was expecting it to be something far worse. I have to say, I was put off by Tabitha’s animosity toward Harper. Harper didn’t deserve the blame for what happened.
*I wasn’t a big fan of either romance. Tabitha’s felt too rushed and driven by lust. I was not pleased with Harper’s relationship for reasons I can’t go into as I would spoil it. I was really hoping she would start a relationship with the person she started hanging out with after she switched places with Tabitha. At least the romances were not the main focus of the story.
Ainsley’s story takes a back seat at the end, I wished her story line was better developed.
*The ending was too rushed. A lot goes down fast in the final pages, and then you get an Epilogue. I wish that a little more time was spent in the present before skipping ahead six months to the Epilogue.

The Identicals is an addictive summer read filled with family conflict, life changing problems, new beginnings and big changes. If you have read Ms. Hilderbrand's books before, you are already familiar with her tried and true conflicted family relationships and flawed characters. This is an easy book to get lost in, and one that I found to be lots of fun. If you want a light, entertaining book for summer, this is one to try if you don’t mind family drama.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

A great summer read, with interesting and likeable characters - and a look at the best of both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.