Not my favorite of Elin's. I feel like there was a ton of build up for conflict, but then there just was no conflict or problem. I guess that is the point of the story, but it feels like these characters were built up to sustain and respond to major conflict, but that just did not happen in this story. Feel good, but not my favorite.

Hilderbrand is the queen of beach reads! I love the storyline of this book! If you are looking for a summer read, check out The Five-Star Weekend!

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting plot bringing together five friends from each fragment of her life. Childhood, college, middle age. I liked each of the characters and getting a good glimpse of their lives outside of the weekend away.

This is only my second Hilderbrand read. I am so glad to know that I can count on her to provide friendship, love and self-discovery in Nantucket.

Synopsis: Hollis Shaw’s life seems picture-perfect. She’s the creator of the popular food blog Hungry with Hollis and is married to Matthew, a dreamy heart surgeon. But after she and Matthew get into a heated argument one snowy morning, he leaves for the airport and is killed in a car accident. The cracks in Hollis’s perfect life—her strained marriage and her complicated relationship with her daughter, Caroline—grow deeper.

So 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.

The Five-Star Weekend is your perfect beach read. It’s full of friendship drama, social media surprises, and relationships. Hilderbrand’s story is set in a place where we can feel the warmth of the sun and hear the sounds of the ocean. The descriptions of fabulous food, lots of booze, and a beautiful setting make you yearn to be in Nantucket.

Hilderbrand addresses several contemporary themes: cancel culture, influencer lifestyles, and the nature of grief. Her characters are flawed. They don't always make the right decisions and Some do less-than-wonderful things. Each one is facing a challenge: money, career or relationship. And yet, despite the drama and conflicts, you can count on things ending well.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for sharing Elin Hilderbrand’s story filled with characters you will love, some you will hate, and others you will cheer on to victory.

Elin Hilderbrand has once again written a great novel set on Nantucket. The protagonist was likeable even if she was a bit self-centered (at first) and the concept of a five star weekend to help get her out of her funk was clever. The plot twist that involved one of her guests was quite a surprise.

I don't want to live in a world where there is not a new release from Elin Hilderbrand in the summer!

For those not in the know, Elin Hilderbrand writes books set in her home of Martha's Vineyard, which center on family and friendship dramas and put the reader right into this somewhat glamorous world . She excels at writing what some call food porn, describing dishes that sound so mouthwateringly delicious that you want the recipe right now! And she describes the scenes and sites of Martha's Vineyard in such a way as to make one feel like an insider who can't wait to get there.

But it's also her characters that shine. She manages to write about people and show their worst flaws and faults, but still make you care about them. When reading one of her books I become so involved with the characters, and so sad when their story is finally completed.

There have been a couple of her stories along the way that I've enjoyed less than others, but this one is a five star read! I was totally invested by the end of the first page. I actually listened to the audio, and it's the same narrator I've heard read other of her books, and her voice is such a perfect match for the stories. Truly, one of the best narration efforts I've heard all year.

Five Star Weekend is a Fivej Star Read! Thank you to NetGalley, Elin Hilderbrand, and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest summer beach read by the one and only Elin Hilderbrand - 5 stars of course!

Hollis seems to have it all - the perfect marriage to a doctor, a successful food blog, a beautiful home, and a daughter in college, Caroline, who's doing well. Then her husband, Matthew, dies in a car accident after they had an argument and her world collapses. Months later, she hears about someone who held a five-star weekend and decides to do the same. She invites her best friend from her teenage years, her 20s, her 30s, and now in her midlife. Her relationship with her daughter has been fractured since Matthew's death, so Hollis invites her along to film the weekend. But all these relationships are fraught with past hurts and secrets.

Elin's books just transport you to Nantucket in the summer and it's always the perfect backdrop for her stories. I loved getting to know each of these characters and their stories, and they felt so relatable. Plus, these books are always so positive and life-affirming - and can't we all use that this summer? Don't forget to pack this one in the beach bag!

The Five-Star Weekend is the newest summer novel by bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand. This book revolves around Hollis as she recovers from a sudden loss. Hollis decides to host friends from various points in her life for a luxurious weekend. As the weekend unfolds the women learn each other's secrets and that all may not seem as it appears with each of them. I love the Nantucket setting and reading all bout the food and fashion involved over the weekend. This was a fast and fun story. Read and enjoy!

Interesting premise and Elin Hildebrand is always a great read. I always love her characters and her setting. And this one has louts of delicious food entries!

This is Hilderbrand’s second to last novel, and I am just not okay.

Think of the 5 most important people from 5 different times in your life… and bringing them all together. Who would you bring? Why? That is the conceit to this book, and it is excellent. Hilderbrand just keeps getting better!!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the latest by Elin Hilderbrand. I started reading her decades ago now and have read everything she has written. Some I have enjoyed more then others but this book was really enjoyable. The twist towards the beginning (no spoilers) really intrigued me and kept me interested right from the start. I always love revisiting all the places on Nantucket and Elin paints such a vivid picture of such a beautiful place.

As Elin Hilderbrand does every summer, she has written a story for women that I absolutely loved. As one character says, it’s a story of a lifetime of friends, as Hollis, an online star for all things food and home, invites her best friends for a special weekend on Nantucket. Hollis is recently widowed, and the weekend is meant to take her out of her funk. Enter Tatum, the best friend from childhood on Nantucket, to Dru-Ann, her best college friend, to Brooke, her best friend while raising their kids,and the surprise addition of Gigi, one of her most devoted followers on Facebook. The characters are brought to life with depth and humor, while the Nantucket setting provides the strong sense of place and belonging. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The queen of the summer read is back with this fun story about the friendship circles we have and who shows up when you need it. What I enjoy about Elin's style of writing is that while the novel could easily be consumed on a beach, this one has more depth. The characters have their own flaws and despite their mistakes, you can easily feel empathize and maybe even relate to each of them. The most interesting character, to me, was Gigi, the current online bestie who has quite the secret. I felt that while it was unlikely that Hollis and Gigi would just happen to cross paths in the way that they did. Yet it showcased and highlighted that crafting relationships online these days is commonplace but the outcomes of not being truthful can be just as devastating in friendships as it is in romantic relationships. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I think many women's summer book clubs would have a lot to discuss about the food, the atmosphere and the question of the the "perfect Instagram life" status so many people feel desperate to achieve these days.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Company for a free copy of The Five-Star Weekend in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Elin Hilderbrand book I’ve read. I expected a light hearted, fun, beach read. I was right in that it was fun, but it was so much more than that. Beautiful setting and fascinating women, each dealing with their own drama and secrets. I loved these women and their stories and connections to each other. Grief, betrayal, the mother-daughter relationship, resilience and the bond of friendship, all on a witty, luxurious weekend - I didn’t want this book to end!

I was let down by this book as the Gigi and Hollis drama took too long to surface, which was the most captivating aspect. The characters were uninteresting, and inviting a stranger from a blog to one's home appeared irrational. Jack's storyline could have been further expanded, and the daughter's character development was minimal. In general, I was hoping for the author's previous works' quality.

Elin Hilderbrand has written a lot of novels, and like her others, this one does not disappoint. The characters are relatable, funny, and feel fully fleshed out. This title takes place in Nantucket and is a perfect beach or anytime read. Elin describes Nantucket so well that you want to plan a trip, and if you were lucky enough to be one of the main character's best friends you may be treated to a Five-Star Weekend. This weekend is crafted to be a weekend of intimate sisterhood after Hollis (the main character) has a devastating loss. She gathers friends from the eras of her life and they all grow and learn from each other while developing their bonds and healing rifts from decades ago. Tatum, her childhood best friend resents her college best friend and at times Hollis, but she still says yes to a weekend at Hollis' house on the island. DruAnn, her college bestie, wouldn't normally have the time to come, but she's recently been cancelled on socials and needs some time to figure out how to spin her life back into it's familiar orbit. Brooke is her friend from her child rearing era that always tries a little too hard to fit in without realizing that she doesn't have to do that and finally Gigi, her current "online" bestie that she's never met in person. Hollis pays her daughter to come and film all of the content so that she may use it on her social media and maybe heal their relationship. The dynamics of these relationships are shared through their own stylized narration, and even guessing the ending didn't spoil the book for me. Elin's writing is wonderful and for as long as she's writing, I'll be reading.

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Hollis has the perfect life, or so it seems to others. She has a beautiful house, a successful food blog, and a doctor for a husband. One day her world suddenly falls apart when her husband, Matthew, gets into a car accident and dies, leaving Hollis alone with her daughter, Caroline. She decides to host a Five-Star weekend, so she invites her closest friends from the different stages of her life for a weekend together. As all of her friends attend for the weekend, they learn a lot about each other and of course there's some drama.

I absolutely loved this book it is the perfect beach read. I liked all the women and how the weekend played out. Yes, there is drama but when you get a bunch of women together drama will ensue at some point. It was comfy, heartwarming, it was a quick read. It is like a ray of sunshine, every time Elin Hilderbrand writes they are the best stories where she makes you care about her characters.

I wanted to be part of the five-star weekend warts and all. Hollis is just one of those characters who you want to be friends with or watch her on social media with her cooking videos. I recommend this book if you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand and you like characters that you can connect with then this book will be for you. The Five-Star weekend is a Five-Star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Company for a free copy of The Five-Star Weekend for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Heartwarming, comforting, and nostalgic!

The Five-Star Weekend is a lighthearted, engaging tale that takes you into the life of Hollis Shaw, a middle-aged successful food blogger who, after returning to her hometown of Nantucket, invites four friends, one from each stage of her life, to spend a weekend at her home on the island to help her come to grips with the recent loss of her husband and the strained relationship with her daughter she’s struggling to repair.

The prose is sentimental and tender. The characters are independent, supportive, and layered. And the plot is a compelling, touching tale of life, love, family, honesty, kindness, communication, acceptance, self-discovery, grief, loss, understanding, forgiveness, romance, taking chances, and new beginnings.

Overall, The Five-Star Weekend is another emotive, thoughtful, cosy read by Hilderbrand that does a beautiful job of reminding us just how important, powerful, and meaningful female friendships can truly be.

I love every book by Elin Hildebrand, I devour them down quickly, cannot stop.

Return to Nantucket-
Catch up on gossip, meet up with old friends, make new friends.

During different times of our lives;
we must have friends
common ground friends
friendships who make/made us who we are

Please invite me to the next Five Star Weekend!

Hollis Shaw may have curated the perfect five-star weekend for her friends but Elin Hilderbrand has curated a stunning masterpiece that is filled with all the colors of the rainbow, delicious food to entice your palate and beautiful music that holds special memories for Hollis and her stars.

Drama filled every page of this scintillating beach read and I must admit that I read “The Five-Star Weekend” twice and went through it again, highlighting my favorite passages, along with decorating tips and the scrumptious weekend menus. The charcuterie board was a five-star array of delectable delights and I am sure that every hostess will be clamoring for the recipe for the Bacon/Rosemary Pecans. What stood out to me the most was the attention to detail given to every aspect of the weekend. Every guest room was meticulously decorated, Hollis’s table settings were carefully coordinated and their days and nights were filled with all that Nantucket had to offer.

Friendships come and go and Hollis was lucky to have women who were there for her at different times in her life. She put aside her grief and embraced life as she welcomed her friends, old and new, to celebrate the summer with laughter and tears as they made new memories they would cherish forever. The island was a hotbed of speculation and wonder as to what was really going on at First Light, Hollis’s magical home, and as with all the women on Nantucket who were hoping for glimpses of Hollis and her friends, I too, would have loved to have been on the guest list for “The Five-Star Weekend.”

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book