It doesn't seem to be the start of summer in the United States until an Elin Hilderbrand novel has come out. This year is no exception. The Five-Star Weekend is Hilderbrand's latest vacation read set in the ever popular island of Nantucket.

Hollis is a well known social media influencer who is very comfortable being "on brand" and living up to her visible and heavily "followed" lifestyle choices online. When her husband dies unexpectantly, her world is thrown into chaos. In order to move on and reflect on her life thus far, she creates a "five star weekend" inviting 4 woman who have played prominent roles in her life, to join her for a girls weekend in Nantucket. What seems like a wonderfully curated and posed weekend is anything but serene when readers discover that each of these women come harboring complicated secrets they would rather keep hidden.

Elin Hilderbrand has a way of writing characters that are much deeper than at first glance. Most of her novels are set in the picturesque world of Nantucket, MA, but she also has a way of bringing her characters down to earth with very real and visceral problems allowing the reader to realize that not all that glitters is always gold. Over all The Five-Star Weekend is another wonderful novel from the world of Hilderbrand and her loyal fans will not be disappointed by the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to review this novel.

This is a quintessential Elin Hilderbrand beach read - island summer atmosphere, great pace, interesting characters. This book kept me good company through a week-long beach vacation. All the summer vibes.

Thanks to Little Brown and Company, the author, and NetGalley for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will get sucked into literally anything that Elin Hilderbrand writes, I am truly obsessed with the “beach read” type books that center around this Nantucket town.

I know some people don’t love the infidelity trope woven into stories but I think it's fun to have in fiction books for the extra drama and tea. I love how intertwined all the characters are and how they are all connected to Nantucket in some way.

I enjoy the way Elin makes you truly feel like you are on the beach with these characters and how you become deeply entranced in the Nantucket area. It makes me so nostalgic for a beach vacation where I can lose myself in one of her books.

Elin Hildrebrand does another fantastic job in creating familiar characters that the reader will identify with (and always wonderfully set in Nantucket). I love how this novel explored female friendships and how they grow and change over time.

I also loved how each woman found herself by the end of the novel.

Fantastic read and a great summer book!

While some of Elin Hilderbrand's books have been hit or miss for me, this one was definitely a hit. There was all kinds of drama and food and fun and Nantucket! As usual, the Queen of the Beach Read does it again by weaving a tale that keeps you interested and feeling like you were right there on the island. Although I didn't have much of a personal connection with any of the characters, I enjoyed each of them and was sad for the book to end.

Hollis, famous food blogger, is reeling from her husbands sudden death. Months into the grief process she reads about a 5 Star Weekend where one invites and heals with the 5 most influential people from each phase of life. Hollis decides that it’s time to host her own five star weekend on Nantucket. She invites her childhood friend, her college roommate, her friend, from raising children together, and someone from her blog, She also invites her daughter to be the videographer for the weekend. There is bonding, secrets, and personal growth for all of our characters. Hilderbrand is at the top of her game in this novel… I found myself rooting for, wanting to slap, and cheering on each and every one of Hollis’s stars. Hildebrand is the queen of summer!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Hollis Shaw has it all: a handsome doctor husband, a smart and successful daughter, two homes and a huge social media presence with a thriving online community. Or she did, until her husband died suddenly in a car accident. Months later and not knowing what else to do, Hollis decides to host a Five-Star Weekend where she invited four friends from different stages of her life to her home on Nantucket. What could go wrong?

Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of summer and friends, she has done it again! I loved this book! The characters all felt so real to me and I was engrossed in their lives and the drama that came with it. I loved how they had their differences and didn't always see eye to eye, but they put those aside to be there when their grieving friend needed them most. There were secrets at every corner and I loved the unraveling. I can't recommend this one enough!

Thank you Little, Brown and Company & Netgalley for the eARC!

I'm a huge Elin Hilderbrand fan and was so excited to get access to this one early! It absolutely did not disappoint. I loved how all the characters' lives were interwoven (typical for Elin!), and thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with them. A great beach read, I loved all the descriptions of the places they visited on Nantucket and the amazing food served by Hollis. Highly recommend, and can't wait for her next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Elin Hilderbrand has knocked another summer read out of the park. She does chick-lit just right; the relationships, interactions, observations and conversations are so relatable. I could hardly put this down. As always, the Nantucket elite and their designer lifestyles were tiresome, but there was so much more to the story.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favourite authors and I will ALWAYS pick up her latest release (I am aware and more than a little sad that her next book will be her last "traditional" book), but this book is not one of my favourites, despite still being a four-star read.

In true style, there are a lot of words describing the scenery, the food, the fashion, etc. but I expect this from the author. One of the appealing factors to me is her ability to take this prairie girl and immerse her in the Nantucket lifestyle, particularly in the hot, dry days of summer. I did have a hard time connecting with the characters and their backstories and, as another reviewer mentioned, it took a while to keep them straight. I think the author did a good job at portraying five very different women with very different lives and not much in common but the main character and how they all fit in with one another (or if they even did).

A pretty realistic view of female friendship, with all the love (and pettiness) that comes along with it.

If it's summer and you're off to Nantucket, be sure to bring along this book for pleasure reading.
Here's a fun book, as are all Hilderbrand's books. The premise of inviting your closest friends from various avenues of your life is an intriguing one. It certainly sets you to thinking who you might invite which makes this book even more attractive.
This required much suspension of belief as to the invitees' relationships with the host but, then, that's what makes the plot even more fun.

Really great concept about inviting friends from different decades for a weekend together. Great book club book. A story of friendship, forgiveness, and self discovery as best told by HIlderbrand. Good character development. A weekend to truly remember.

I feel as though so much of what I could say regarding this book has already been said, so I'll keep it short and sweet- all hail the reigning queen of summer beach reading, Elin Hilderbrand! I always go into one of her novels.knowing what I'll get- a little drama, a little intrigue, interwoven characters, and a well-planned ending. (And beginning and middle, too). Oh, and a whole lot of Nantucket! In my eyes, you cannot go wrong reading one of her books. They're always just so WELL DONE. I know there is sometimes a stigma about "woman's fiction"- be willing to look past that and your find a treasure trove of books- and authors- you'll fall head over heels for.... And Hilderbrand is the leader of the pack. It isn't summer until I read one of her books, and I'm already looking forward to whatever she writes next!

Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of beach reads and her new novel The Five-Star Weekend does not disappoint!!

Every character has a story to tell. Hollis invites five friends to join her for a Five-Star weekend at her luxurious Nantucket home. Each friend has a special reason for being there. Hollis is a masterful chef and plans the weekend to a tee. Everyone enters the weekend with their own personal baggage, including Hollis.

I loved the development of the characters and their stories. Definitely add this one to your TBR list!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance e-reader copy of The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand in exchange for an honest review.

If you look up “beach read” in the dictionary, a picture of this book should be next to it. A delightful Nantucket-based romp, the novel features protagonist Hollis Shaw as the center star of the constellation. Nantucket born and bred, Hollis, an Internet food influencer, is now a “summer person,” complete with a gorgeous beachfront home. When Hollis’ husband dies suddenly (it happens in chapter one so this is not a spoiler but a setup) she decides to host a “five star weekend” with her best friend from each decade of her life, and hires her film student daughter to document every dramatic moment. With an engaging plot that includes a few surprises and sly commentary on how deeply embedded the internet has become in our lives, and with beautiful descriptions of everything from the decor to the food to the clothes (color coded!) the friends wear to each outing, The Five Star Weekend is classic Elin Hildebrand. Bucking the subliminal pressure, this is a four star read for me; but one that I absolutely recommend. It’s delicious. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a perfect summer/beach read. There is drama, Nantucket and even a touch of romance. When Social Media influencer, Hollis Shaw loses her husband quite suddenly she is adrift. Her seemingly perfect life is over. To reenter the world, she hears about a thing called a Five-Star Weekend - you host a weekend surrounded by a special star from each decade of your life - Teens, twenties, thirties and mid-life. Hollis invites Tatum from high school, Dru-Ann her College BFF and Brooke, a neighbor and fellow Mom. For her midlife star, Hollis choses Gigi, a website fan who she's never met, but who she bonded with through her website and blog, Hungry with Hollis. They all enjoy an intensely planned weekend - while dealing with unresolved issues and slights. Once of them has a very deep secret. There are cat fights, jealousy, some amazing food descriptions and a glimpse into what it is like to be rich and famous on Nantucket. The descriptions of food and setting are awesome and the characters are well developed. Some of the plot points are strained at time and some of the dialogue is a little silly. In spite of this this is a five star read.

Looking for a captivating summer read? Look no further than Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel, "The Five Star Weekend"!

When tragedy strikes for popular food blogger, Hollis Shaw, she decides to gather four friends from four different stages of her life together at her summer home in Nantucket. Something known as a “Five Star Weekend”. Filled with friendships old and new, it’s sure to be a weekend like no other.

With Hilderbrand's hallmark enchanting storytelling, you'll be immersed in a world of friendship, love, and self-discovery. Hilderbrand's vivid descriptions will make you feel like you're basking in the sun, sipping a fancy cocktail, and feeling the Nantucket ocean breeze on your skin. Her characters are relatable, flawed, and beautifully developed, making their journeys of growth and transformation all the more compelling. There is a reason why Hilderbrand is at the top of her game!

So, grab your favorite beach towel, find a shady spot, and dive into the world of "The Five Star Weekend." You won't be disappointed! Trust me, it's a must-read for any Hilderbrand fan or anyone in need of a delightful summer escape.

Thank you Little, Brown and Co for my e-copy on NetGalley!

If it’s summer, it’s time for an Elin Hilderbrand book. The Five-Star Weekend is similar to her earlier books. The setting is Nantucket in summer, there are plenty of descriptions of sumptuous meals and beautiful surroundings, and of course lots of drama. In this book, the main character, Hollis Shaw, invites four friends from different stages of her life for one spectacular weekend on Nantucket. However, each woman brings her own tragedies, struggles, and histories to the weekend, and things do not go smoothly as planned. This was not my favorite Elin Hilderbrand book - maybe it is because I have read all her books, but this one seemed a little “copy and paste”. The book has a good pace, but I got bogged down in the constant food, scenery, and clothing descriptions, which kept me from connecting or really caring about any of the women that much. But if you are looking for a great beach book, you really cannot go wrong with any Elin Hilderbrand book. Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy.

In Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel, newly widowed Hollis is a food blogger, whose cardiothoracic surgeon passed away in a tragic accident right before the holiday. Retreating to their family home on Nantucket the summer after while still grieving the loss of her husband and strained relationship with her daughter Caroline, Hollis reads about something called “The Five-Star Weekend,” where you invite the best friends from each stage of life on a girls weekend to reconnect and celebrate friendships. Hollis decides to host her own and invites her high school best friend (Tatum, a Nantucket local), her college best friend (Dru-Ann, a freshly cancelled sports agent/TV host), Brooke (a fellow mom from Wellesley), and Gigi (a bit of a wild card; one of her blog’s most engaged readers who she’s developed a bond with) to share in a weekend packed with food, friend time, and bonding.

But each attendee of the weekend celebration is holding secrets: Gigi is not who she appears to be and has a surprising connection to Hollis and her late husband; Dru-Ann and Tatum have a long-standing feud; and Caroline (who she hired to film the weekend) is barely speaking to her. Add in the appearance of Hollis' first love Jack on Nantucket and nothing seems like it will go as planned.

Like all of Hilderbrand's novels, I absolutely loved The Five-Star Weekend - it's the perfect beach read and escape, and magically makes the reader feel like they are experiencing the lives of these characters on Nantucket as a fly on the wall. Her attention to detail and scope of her stories on Nantucket consistently bring me back and I look for her novels as the start of the summer season.

Thanks to NetGalley, Elin Hilderbrand and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“After tragedy strikes, Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.“

This being my first Hilderbrand, I didn’t know what to expect, beyond Summer Read, and it delivered on that score.

I think my favourite aspect was the setting. I don’t know that I’ll ever visit Nantucket, and, really, with this book, I probably don’t need to.

The descriptions of the island, the food, and the fashion were all vivid. If they ever make this book into a movie, guaranteed there’ll be a Cook Book tie-in.

The characters were also (very) well-developed. Can characters be TOO well-developed? Each character had a complete backstory (told from their own POV) and there were a few times I got a little grumpy, wading through it all. I just wanted the plot to MOVE.

All told, while I think people who enjoy a character-driven story will be very satisfied.

6.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this seasonal ARC.