I am always thankful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of an Elin Hilderbrand book. She never disappoints! The Five-Star Weekend was no exception. Hollis Shaw has what seems to be a perfect life. She has a popular food blog that has taken off in recent years, is married to a surgeon, and has a summer home on Nantucket, her hometown. Until one morning when she gets into an argument with her husband and he then dies that morning in a car accident. Hollis has so much guilt about their last conversation and focuses on the strain in their marriage lately. Her daughter pulls away in her own grief so Hollis is left feeling alone. After a few months she hears about a Five-Star Weekend so she decides to host one on Nantucket. One important woman from each phase of her life is invited. Unbeknownst to Hollis, each woman comes into the weekend with her own life complications. Tatum is waiting to hear the results of her biopsy to know if she has cancer, Dru-Ann's career is on the line, Brooke is getting ready to leave her husband, and Gigi is a stranger who Hollis met on her blog with secrets of her own. The five women come together for a weekend of pampering, secrets, and friendship.

I was excited to see another book by Elin Hilderbrand available, and The Five-Star Weekend did not disappoint. It was a heartwarming and hilarious book about the friendships between women and about the friendships we make at different stages of life. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Book Title: Five Star Weekend
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Genre: Chick Lit- Beach Read
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars

Hmmm the calendar states February, I know summer is right around the corner so it must be time for “The queen of beach reads” to release a new story.
I am a big Elin Hilderbrand fan; this is #23 for me and I am so ready to be transported to Nantucket.

Hollis Shaw is a Nantucket homegrown gal. She moved to Boston after college where she meets Matthew who is a Harvard medical School student. They marry in Wellesley and stay. She is the creator of a popular food blog – “Hungry with Hollis”. However when Matthew is killed in a one-car accident on his way to the airport, her life falls apart.
Seven month later she decides to celebrate living and invites four friends, from four different stages of her life, to spend a “Five Star weekend” with her at her home on Squam Road, Nantucket.
The four women are-
Best friend form her teens ~ Tatum McKenzie
Best Friend from twenties ~ Dru-Ann Jones
Best Friend from “prime of life” ~ Brooke Nirtlley
Best Friend now ~ Gigi Ling. (Someone Hollis only knows from her website never met in person. But we readers learn early in this story that Gigi knows Matthew! ~ Hmmm)

Story had me from page one!
Then it got weird I found these ladies unlikable and thought a weekend with them would be a total disaster!
I, of course, was curious as I am a big EH fan. And was anxious to find out how the weekend plays out.
Awww trust me it does get better!
Story is pretty much written in typical Hilderbrand style of chapters with repeated POVs but this time no Nantucket POV!
We do have the signature Hilderbrand playlist of old songs!
Love that characters from past stories make an appearance ~ Fast Eddie is mentioned.

I have a feeling we are going to hear more from ‘Blonde Sharon’ and her sister brunette sister Heather. Perhaps June 2024’s beach read.


Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 13, 2023

I arrived only recently to the Elin Hilderbrand world of novels. I think I have now read 4 novels, including this most recent novel, The Five-Star Weekend. There are close to 50 Hilderbrand novels, but what I have already realized is that each novel is unique and without repetition. The Five-Star Weekend is a story about friendship, but is also a story of love and the relationships between wife and husband and between mother and daughter.

In The Five-Star Weekend, Hilderbrand creates 5 women, whose backstories are compelling and both sad and uplifting. As she has done in the previous novels that I have read, Hilderbrand tells stories about women that reveal the complexity of life, and how, within only a sentence, life can change. Hilderbrand captures the complexity of widowhood, and the moments of love and anger that can exist together in a cohesion that will surprise readers, who have not experienced that sort of loss. As is probably true for many Hilderbrand readers, I could see myself in several of these women. The sign of a fine writer is the ability to pull readers into a novel so completely that when the last page arrives, what the reader feels is acute sadness and loss that it is over. I suspect many readers will want to create their own five-star weekends.

I have begun slowly buying earlier Hilderbrand novels, especially as I find them on sale. I do heartily recommend The Five-Star Weekend. Although I am not providing spoilers, I can say with all honestly, I loved this story and all the stories within the novel. I want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you also to NetGalley for having introduced me to another fabulous writer.

Elin Hilderbrand’s latest page turner is a compelling story about the power of friendship and the bonds we create that in turn, shape who we are. As always, her characters are finely developed. I fell in love with the world that the main character, Hollis, constructed and wish I could have been a part of her Five Star Weekend!

Elin Hilderbrand is master at writing about the intricacies of female friendships. And she getting funnier too! Absolutely loved it and I wish I would have saved it for the beach instead of inhaling it on the couch.

Hollis has just lost her husband in a car accident. Reeling with grief, she invites one best friend from each phase of her life to a “five star weekend” at her place in Nantucket to help her heal.

Elin’s books are like comfort food for me. I know I will get amazing character building, some romance, female friendships, and a big side of drama to top it off. Hollis and her girlfriends, now older and wiser, are all at different points in their lives and dealing with a variety of issues. They all help each other in facing their problems, and develop stronger bonds with each other by the end of the weekend. I always enjoy the mystery and drama, but especially the hard hitting topics that are well developed and carefully written. Another perfect beach read!

Elin’s new novel, The Five Star Weekend is incredible! I’ve read all of her books to date, and with each and every one I wonder how she does it. All of her book are filled with such deep and rich backstory for every main character, and this book makes no exception. I loved the flashbacks into the past with all of Hollis’ stars. It truly makes you feel like you know the characters inside and out. I also always enjoy the descriptions of the Nantucket beaches and landscapes, the beautiful homes and gardens, and of course the delicious food! Thank you Elin for your top notch story telling. Five Stars for The Five Star Weekend!

Such an enjoyable read! I have read several of Elin Hilderbrand's novels and this one goes up to the top of the list!
Hollis is a wonderful character to follow around. She has obtained rock star status as a blogger, is married to a handsome doctor and has raised a talented daughter. Things look great....until they're not. Husband dies and Hollis is left to deal with an angry daughter and her own guilt around the last conversation she had with her husband. She needs a place to breath and recharge. Off to Nantucket! If you've read Elin's books you already know the allure of Nantucket.
Hollis has a beautiful beach home in the place she grew up and she plans the Five Star Weekend with her 5 closest friends - each one with their own issues.
I loved every character and their connection to Hollis. The relationships unfold throughout the weekend as Hollis entertains her friends with quirky wardrobe requests and adventures.
No spoilers here.....just 5 stars for a really great story!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

OMG....I have two major regrets about reading this book.....I typically am so excited to read Elin's annual book in June and I have already read it now, leaving me with no Elin in June; regret number two, I wish Hollis' recipes had been in this book.

It was so good and a very quick read. I love all 5 stars in this book---and their stories were fun, funny, happy and sad. I also loved the relationship between Hollis and her daughter. If you are an Elin fan, you will love this book. If you are not yet an Elin fan, you will be after you read this.

Powerful read. Thank you to Netgalley.com, the publisher and Elin for this ARC of this book in trade for my honest review. It was an outstanding book. Pre-order it now....

4.25 out of 5. This is a fabulous Beach read. Makes you think about relationships what makes us stay together and apart from friend and what is truly valuable in the key moments. I had myself little 5 star weekend a couple of years ago (without even knowing it existed) and it was fabulous. Why I only discovered Elin Hilderbrand last year I do not know but know I kind of want to read some of her back catalogue in a pool in the summer and also visit Nantucket. She is fabulous at describing space and location, I’ve never been to Nantucket but feel like I could get around and check out all the cool places.

My favorite quote from the book is Dru-Ann quoting why she likes to shop alone - I felt seen.

I really liked this novel. I had a hard time keeping the characters straight but after writing myself a “cast of characters” list, that wasn’t a problem. I can’t help but wonder if Five-Star Weekends will catch on? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.

Another great book to Elin Hilderbrand’s collection. I look forward to her novels every year. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG I just love Elin Hilderbrand's books. I've read them all and each one is better than the last. Fans might think The Five-Star Weekend has something to do with the last book (another winner) The Hotel Nantucket whose protagonist is chasing a five-star review. But no. The five stars in this story are friends from each of four eras of best friends. Hollis, the main character, invites four besties for a luxurious weekend at her fabulous home on Nantucket. Each friend has a back story and a secret, not all known to the reader until the end. The long weekend is packed with fabulous food and fashion ... and drama; betrayal, revenge and ultimately forgiveness abound. And there are multiple great party ideas that I can't wait to try out. Run, don't walk to get this book and enjoy!

Elin Hilderbrand hits it out if the ballpark again. I feel that each book she writes is better than the last. This book tells the story of three lifelong friends of the main character, Hollis, and one new friend. As Hollis is maneuvering through a personal tragedy, she invites her friends to her Nantucket house for a weekend. There are many unexpected twist and turns through the weekend, but the story is really about the characters. The author’s unique talents are in creating and developing these characters through interesting plot twists in a beautifully described locale. I can’t wait for the next one! Thank you NetGalley for a ARC.

Hilderbrand has done it again! Hollis has just lost her husband in an automobile accident just before Christmas. They have drifted apart - Matt is a very busy surgeon and Hollis has become a Martha Stewart like blogging celebrity. In her grief, she comes across a woman who had a five star weekend after the death of her husband. Invite a best friend from each stage of one's life. This weekend is arranged by Hollis, scheduled to take place at her opulently perfect home on Nantucket. She arranges for her daughter, Caroline, videotape the weekend. A real page turner!!

Loved this story!! It was perfectly written and so enjoyable. You will fall a bit in love with this friend group. The situation and friendship foraged in the weekend they are all together is amazing.

Elin Hilderbrand NEVER disappoints. The Five-star Weekend is an inventive take on the beach read. Hollis has just lost her husband and decides to have a five-star weekend, inviting friends from each phase of her life. This mix of people leads to all types of secrets revealed and hijinks ensue. I thought Hotel Nantucket and 28 Summers were high points, but this book is perfect for its purpose. I read it in the middle of winter, but I felt like I was on Nantucket in July.

Hilderbrand has done it again! Hollis Shaw is the creator of the popular food blog Hungry with Hollis and is married to Matthew, a dreamy heart surgeon. When Matthew dies in a car accident minutes after they finish a heated argument, it cracks Hollis's perfect life! When Hollis hears about something called a “Five-Star Weekend”—one woman organizes a trip for her best friend from each phase of her life: her teenage years, her twenties, her thirties, and midlife—she decides to host her own Five-Star Weekend on Nantucket. But the weekend doesn’t turn out to be a joyful Hallmark movie.

Elin Hilderbrand has done it again! I love her writing and how she tells a story and The Five Star Weekend is no exception. I really loved the idea of the story incorporating friends from all different stages of life. It is rare for all of your friends to be from the same place and know each other really well and I love the idea of bringing them all together. I like how there was also drama involved since some of her other books are just so happy go lucky.

Hollis Shaw is a famous food blogger who has followers from all of the world. When her husband unexpectedly dies in a car accident, she finds an idea online called "The Five Star Weekend" where the original person invited one friend from four different major stages in life. Hollis also brought her daughter, Caroline, to film and make a short story of their weekend. As the weekend goes on, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and there is lots of forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elin Hilderbrand, and Little Brown Company for this advance copy. My review will be live on my instagram, @annas.book.reviews on publication day.