4.5/5
Somehow, this was my very first Elin Hilderbrand novel. I don't know why I was so hesitant to pick one up- for some reason they have big beach mom energy but that was doing them a disservice I think. While I can't comment on her previous novels (yet), I did really enjoy this one. The style of writing was a little jarring at first, written as an omniscient presence almost (are they all like this?) but I grew to really enjoy it. I love a book that has a lot of characters and storylines and then does a good job of tidying them up in short snippets at the end and this book did exactly that. I definitely will be adding Hilderbrand's other books to my list and I'm happy I took a chance on this ARC! Definitely add this one to your summer beach reading list- mom or not.

Thank you NetGalley for this wonderful book. Hilderbrand is one of my favorite authors and she doesn't disappoint. I loved this book, I love her descriptions of Nantucket and I could imagine the hotel in my mind. The love story and the twists were great. The ghost aspect was a wonderful addition to this book. Loved it.

I’ve read an embarrassing amount of books set on Nantucket and nothing quite compares to the immersive experience you get from Hilderbrands novels. You know the people (and even the ghosts, occasionally) & taste the food, you feel the sun on your cheeks & the wind in your hair. I loved the history of the hotel & the scandalous details that emerged from it. I was delighted at the mention of characters from previous books, although I do wish the cast of characters would have been narrowed down a bit. At times it got a bit difficult to keep track of them all. I think Lizbet’s story especially could be a fantastic book of its own honestly. All in all, this was another wonderfully enjoyable beach read from the undisputed Nantucket queen.

Lizbet is hired by a London Billionaire to run the newly remodeled Hotel Nantucket. Over the years there have been many owners with tales of weird things happening from the ghost of Grace a ladies maid that died in a fire at the hotel in the 1920s. The goal of the hotel owner along with all of the staff besides keeping the ghost on the down low is to get the 5 keys from hotel influencer Sally Carpenter.

Perfect beach read. Great atmosphere and characters. Really liked the multiple storylines and the way each character seemed to have secrets. Thought the slightly supernatural story line would bother me but it was integrated nicely. Wonderful summer escape reading with tempting food.

I was very excited to dive into this summer read! The Hotel Nantucket was full of twists and turns and kept me on my toes. I loved how it followed multiple point of views, even that of a ghost! Following each staff member, guest, and owner of this historic hotel made the book very fast paced and interesting. Thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

As usual, Elin painted the perfect backdrop for her latest novel. She really made me want to go visit, especially if this hotel was real! I loved the characters as they developed, and she kept me turning pages. The guidebook at the end is the perfect touch!

Another entertaining novel from one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand!

It's all about saving the one hundred year-old Hotel Nantucket that has fallen into total disrepair. Enter Xavier Darling, multi-billionaire from London to swoop in and buy the property and spare no expense to refurbish it like never before. Gradually Xavier hires local staff after he fills the General Manger position with island favorite, Lizbet Nnnn. It's rumored that Xavier only bought the hotel to try and win the Five Keys rating from a notorious media critc who has never rewarded five keys before.

The characters are wonderful, and often have their own private reasons for working at the hotel. The renovations go smoothly and the hotel opens successfully with its cracker-jack staff. Romances happen, no one gets murdered, but a delightful ghost named Grace visits only the few that can sense her. Even though her demise was in the long-ago fire that destroyed the original hotel, Grace means no harm. She likes to have fun with some of the guests by blinking their room lights, causing a little chill here and there but all in good spirits!

Secrets are revealed in the ending, often a few delightful ones. Even Grace finds out information she's long wanted to hear. Enjoy the fun and don't miss the lat chapter, The Blue Book, where Elin recommends her personal favorites on the island of Nantucket. A little guide book about restaurants, beaches, hotels, shopping, baked goods, etc.; all the key essentials to a fabulous vacation stay.

If you love Nantucket and plan to visit that last chapter is huge bonus!

Thank you Netgalley, and Little, Brown and Co.; and Elin Hilderbrand.
Five golden stars!

It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to Nantucket, courtesy of Elin Hilderbrand and this year it comes with a stay at “The Hotel Nantucket.” The newly renovated hotel welcomed guests with open arms, fabulous amenities and luxurious accommodations. The front desk staff is very efficient and will cater to all of your needs. The bellhops will have your luggage delivered to your room in record time and if you are lucky, they may even walk your dog. Running this fine establishment is Lizbet Keaton who comes to the hotel from a popular local restaurant where she had much success. The owner of the hotel, Xavier Darling, was lucky to have someone as knowledgeable and creative as Ms. Keaton. She runs a tight ship with a handpicked front desk staff who is ready to welcome guests from near and far. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the grand opening existed a rumor concerning a ghost who may be inhabiting the hotel. Time will tell whether or not the ghost makes an appearance and how the guests and staff will react to a celestial being living among them.

A Nantucket vacation is a dream for many people with its quaint shops, gourmet restaurants and romantic sunsets. As with any small town, it has its share of secrets, mysteries and indiscretions. Lizbet abhors any type of gossip and keeps a close eye on who checks in, who is lingering in the lobby and who may be flirting with the guests. Nantucket works its magic on everyone who arrives with stars in their eyes and dreams in their hearts. The first guests at the hotel checked in for various reasons; some to escape real life, others to enjoy all the island had to offer, but they all had one thing in common; they wanted to experience a special place that makes you feel young again, invigorates your soul and gives you hope that all your wishes will come true. “The Hotel Nantucket” is worth more than five stars in my book because of its attention to detail, impeccable service and the fact that it treats everyone like family.

I recently read The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand and although it wasn’t my favorite I did really enjoy her writing. So when I had the opportunity to read her newest release I had to give it a shot, and I am really glad I did!

The Hotel Nantucket is about an old historic hotel on Nantucket that is bought by a billionaire and renovated to become the island’s hottest new place to stay. Along with tons of drama, of course.

I love Hilderbrand’s writing and her effortless ability to set the scene for a perfect beach read. I picked up this book during my first vacation with my husband alone after having our baby and it could not have been more perfect. There is romance, drama, mystery, and a ghost. I loved the ghost so much! There are amazing hotel rooms, luxurious food, and hilarious characters. This book had everything I wanted and more.

There are so many characters and storylines to follow but somehow Hilderbrand makes it easy to keep track of everything and each chapter is as amusing as the next. I never wanted to stop turning the page. I loved the “gossip” chapters and the music playlists, this book really had it all. I can’t say enough good things about it. Also, I loved the main reveal in the end, I did not see it coming at all!

With summer just around the corner, this is the perfect book to get you started for the season! I highly recommend it. And I definitely want to read more by Hilderbrand now, as well as visit Nantucket!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for an ARC of this book.

TL/DR: A classic Elin Hilderbrand beach read with her characteristic mingling of characters. It’s a fun story that mixes past and present but feels rushed, is overloaded with side stories, and lacks the Nantucket magic we are used to.

First, some context. I love Elin Hilderbrand; she’s tops in my Guilty Pleasures list, and a 100% literary girl crush. I don’t love all books equally, but have yet to meet one I don’t at least like. However, I don’t foresee ever having a 5-star love because of her unhealthy attachment to exclamation points.

The Hotel Nantucket adds a bit to the normal beach read romance and dramas by telling much of the story through Grace Hadley, the resident ghost. Grace has spent the past century watching the hotel shift from grandiose youth to its current state as a decrepit barnacle that Nantucket just can’t let go. She refuses to leave the hotel until someone figures out her murder, so she lurks around sharing the stories of what she sees.

We join Grace’s story as the hotel is being revived by a faceless billionaire, a stranger to Nantucket. The new general manager is Lizbet, a beloved local who is fresh off the crushing end to her 15 year relationship. Lizbet has no hotel experience, is oddly gullible, and hires about seven people to run a hotel that would require at least 4x that. The entire staff are so underqualified for their jobs that it’s laughable, less one person who has actual experience. But they are relatable - you care about the good ones, scowl to yourself at the bad ones, and a few surprise you, and their quirks and secrets make for fun interactions. Their progression from the chaos of opening a seasonal hotel to finding their groove is entertaining. Throughout the story, Grace adds another layer of observations on the modern day folks, gives Lizbet some free marketing by getting the hotel some “haunted” attention, and gives us nuggets of the days before she died. Throw in the personalities of the various guests and the directive from their mysterious boss to get the elusive “5 Key” review from a well-known travel blogger, and you have the makings of another good story to let you get lost in the Nantucket mystic.

It’s not a great one though. This is not one of her personal bests, and will land in the lower half of my list. It tries to pack in too many storylines, leaving potentially strong ones neglected like a broken seashell to give time to others that are built up to disappointing ends. Nantucket - let’s be real, she’s our perpetual main character - barely feels like she has a supporting role. There are some great scenes (I WANT the cottage on the water!), but the true immersion we are used to is lacking. And the details of actually operating a high-end hotel were cringy to someone who has lived in that seasonal world. I know it’s just a story, but it’s hard to love the story when you are constantly distracted by things making your internal monologue go “yeah, right…”.

Yes, I’m probably nitpicking, but here’s why. My girl crush on Elin H is based a lot on the travel lust it inspires; my husband is sick of me suggesting we quit our jobs and move to Nantucket every time I finish one of her books. How she has so wonderfully shared her chosen home with her readers is a huge part of why we love her books - we want to ride our bikes to Sconset, swing by Bartlett’s for our fresh salad veggies, and snooze to the sound of the waves while we sleep off our Chicken Box hangovers. She makes it real. So when you keep getting distracted by contrived storylines and unbelievable details, it sucker punches the magic a bit.

Please know though - I will still recommend this, and maybe even re-read it one day. Was it rushed because she has too many projects going? Or just a weaker at-bat? Who knows. At the end of the day it is not a bad book, it’s just not near as good as Elin Hilderbrand has shown many times over that she is capable of.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

Obsessed!! I couldn’t put this book down, about 30% in I was hooked! Such a cute story and I loved all the different characters and their stories! Having a ghost written in to a story without it being creepy is amazing! I was always trying to figure out who was Shelly Carpenter but I didn’t expect that twist!! I really enjoyed the writing style to this book and The Hotel Nantucket gave off the perfect summer vibes, sitting on the beach with a cocktail and reading this book would be perfect! I will be recommending this to everyone!

The characters seemed unrealistic. My favorite part of the book was the supplemental guide at the end. The actual storyline was too simplistic and unbelievable.

Elin Hilderbrand has done it again! My most anticipated summer read is here, and it is FANTASTIC. I will never forget my introduction to Elin Hilderbrand's books - a fellow student recommended her to me in 2011 and I have been hooked ever since.

I can say this honestly. I never thought any book of Elin's would be as good as The Blue Bistro, well let me tell you emphatically - The Hotel Nantucket is even better. The characters, the story, the ghost...unbelievable. I devoured this in 2 sittings, and it was only 2 sittings because I had to go to sleep on the first night.

The story introduces us to Grace, a chambermaid that succumbs to a tragic fire started by her lover's wife, in a successful attempt to kill her. After the fire, the hotel went through various owners until billionaire, Xavier Darling, buys the hotel and hires Lizbet Keaton as the general manager. The story follows Lizbet, her ex JJ, and the rest of the Hotel Nantucket Staff (Alessandra, Zeke, Raoul, Ms. English, Chad, and more) through their inaugural season. Throw in some romance (my favorite, Lizbet, romances the Head Chef, Mario), a weekly contest for the best staff member, the glory of getting the distinguished "5 Keys" review by Shelley Carpenter, and Grace the ghost, who weaves in an out and fills us in on much of the goings-on within the hotel. I also loved the nod to Eddie Pancik!

I wish I could give this book 10 stars, it was that good, and I was so sad for it to end.

Thank you so much to Net Galley & the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy... this story will stay with me for a very long time.

Loved this book so much. It was like taking a vacation to Nantucket of course. I would love to really visit there one day but for now I enjoy reading Elin’s books about the lovely place. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. People are going to love this one, of course.

The Hotel Nantucket was a sweet, easy read about a newly renovated hotel and it's staff in Nantucket. Initially I thought there were way too many characters being introduced and a few too many perspectives. It was hard to keep track of everyone at the beginning. I wish the chapters had been shorter and titled so they you knew which character's perspective you were reading and they weren't just all thrown into one big chapter. My other complaint was that I felt like the story moved slow and then kind of suddenly ended. I guess I wanted more ending and less fluff and definitely more of the mysterious Xavier. Overall I thought it was a cute book and an easy summer read. Lizbet, Edie, and Chad were definitely my favorite characters and I loved their stories. I hope there's a book 2 with them!

This was another great beach read from Elin Hilderbrand. There was a little suspense to this one. I was sure about the ghost storyline, but it fit. I literally read it on the beach & couldn’t put it down.

Lizbet is ambitious to make the old newly reopened hotel on Nantucket a success. She wants to impress the new billionaire owner Xavier. She is recovering from a recent breakup and is attracted to the Chef at the hotel restaurant.
Edie is a young woman who grew up on Nantucket and wants a career in hotel management. She works the front desk.
Alesandra also works the front desk and is an ambitious woman of low morals.
Chad is a twenty year old from a very wealthy summer family. He is working at the hotel as a cleaner as a way to make restitution for a thoughtless act he committed. I think he was my favorite character.
Kimber is staying in hotel suite with her two children after leaving her husband. Her son Louie keeps the guests entertained with his prowess at chess. The daughter Wanda loves Nancy Drew mysteries and wants to solve the mystery of the ghost that she knows lives in the hotel.
Grace is the ghost of a chamber maid who died in a hotel fire 100 years ago. She enjoys startling the guests.
Richard is secretly homeless and living in his car. He is the night auditor at the hotel and he and Kimber begin a romance.
These are just a few of the many characters populating this novel and I think that made this novel less enjoyable to me than other books by this author. There was just not enough character development for me to care much about any of these characters. I also disliked the fact that Richard who was stealing the identities of the hotel's guests and selling them online is treated sympathetically! I have enjoyed several other books by this author, but I was disappointed in this one. Sorry, Elin.

I look forward to a new Elin Hilderbrand novel every summer. I love being able to escape to the island of Nantucket, even if it is via arm chair reading and not an actual trip. The island of Nantucket is almost like another character in her books. I wasn't sure of what to think of The Hotel Nantucket when I began it. A story about a ghost seemed like a bit of a departure from the type of book I was expecting. But I soon got immersed in the story telling and I appreciated having Grace (the ghost) as another character that tied the characters and plot points together.

I know that some people won't like that there is often marital discord and extramarital affairs in Elin's books. But I think that life isn't perfect and neither are relationships. I like to see how characters who have faced conflict are able to keep going and in thrive after living through terrible times.

I especially appreciated the Blue Book guide to the Island at the end of the book. If I ever get the chance to visit I know what I will be using to plan my trip.

Let me begin with saying I am already a huge fan of this author. Her books always transport me to Nantucket, where I’ve never been but can picture the people and restaurants and places from Ms Hilderbrand’s fantastic descriptions.
The Hotel Nantucket was no exception - I fell for the quirky cast of characters and rooted for Lizbet and her staff to succeed, both in life and in keeping the hotel afloat. The book focuses on one crazy season and how the hotel changes some of their lives.
Plus, there’s a pesky- or maybe not - ghost to contend with.
The Hotel Nantucket had a few twists that I totally didn’t see coming and kept me entertained to the last line. I loved the inclusion of “The Blue Book” all about the real places that the author has written about in so many of her books over the years.
Someday, I’ll get to Nantucket. Until then, I’ll be dreaming through the words of Ms Hilderbrand of checking in to my own suite at The Hotel Nantucket