Police Chief Ed Kapenesh is finally retiring, but not before he will have to work on one more newsworthy case on his beloved island of Nantucket. Just as the Chief goes out with a bang, Elin’s last summer Nantucket novel ends with a bang. She hides many Easter eggs throughout the story and readers will fondly remember bits and pieces of her previous works along the way. Great story line, lots of drama and lots of twists.

"The Swan Song" is a beautifully crafted novel that will resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page. Elin Hilderbrand's masterful storytelling and vivid prose make this a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. With its richly drawn characters and evocative setting, "The Swan Song" is a testament to the enduring power of love and the beauty of second chances.

The arrival of a new Elin Hilderbrand books is a personal signal that summer is coming. I have looked forward to her novels for at least the last decade. I approached reading this, her last summer novel, with anticipation and dread. Anticipation because I knew that it would be one of those delicious reads that I fall into to the exclusion of everything else (the dishes can certainly wait until after I read the first description of delicious food).

This book has some familiar characters, including Ed Kapenash, and we get more insight into other members of his family. Blood Sharon is back and becomes an accidental anti-hero. We learn to love her Nd see her a bit more deeply than in other Hilderbrand books. The author has let it all fly with this one, and that adds to the unexpected turns that it takes. It made me so sad to turn the last page of this really great, fun and all-consuming read. Let’s hope that this is not the end of Ms. Hilderbrand’s delicious writing. Maybe she’s just moving to a new local. A reader can dream…

Can you ever go wrong with Elin Hilderbrand? I think not. Always great characters, beautiful scenery, and a bit of mystery make this another amazing read. It feels like an escape and it was the perfect book to curl up on the couch with and simply enjoy.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

I always feel like I have gone on a vacation after reading an Elin Hilderbrand book. Great escape and lots of fun. I will miss this author's books if this really is her Swan Song but I am thankful that she wrote so many enjoyable books.

"Swan Song" is a love letter to Elin Hilderbran fans everywhere. Filled with characters and places from all 30 of her Nantucket based novels, Elin's dedicated fan base are sure to devour this instant best seller!

While not required reading, Elin had recommended to read "The Rumor" and "The Castaways" prior to starting "Swan Song". I am SO happy I listened to her advice because understanding the history of these characters made the book SO much more fun! In my personal opinion, reading "The Rumor", then "The Castaways" right before "Swan Song" is the perfect order!

First and far most THANK YOU Netgalley for the ARC of Swan Song. Elin Hiderbrand has done it again with her final book set in Nantucket. She will. have you hooked on the characters by the first chapter. I loved how she brought the character Coco in with ties to St. Johns (as some of her other books are set it) to Nantucket. She developed each character so well that made you fall in love with all of them so easily. This is a must read for any Elin fan!!!

A perfect goodbye to characters and stories we have grown to love. I will miss Hilderbrands stories. Absolutely brilliant

I was not prepared for this book to be Elin Hilderbrand's "Swan Song" as well. I've devoured her books for years and I'm still sad this is her last one. This title is a standalone, but if you've read any of her Nantucket books before you will recognize some of your favorite characters like Fast Eddie, Blonde Sharon, Chief Kapenesh, and more. With 48 hours to go before he's officially retired Chief Kapenesh gets the call that a woman his daughter has gotten to know this summer has vanished off of the yacht of a new couple in town! This new couple appears to have more money than sense in the beginning, but they are definitely more than they seem to be as they set out to befriend the longstanding citizens of Nantucket to gain entry to the Field & Oar Club. Along the way they throw over the top parties with a shrinking guest list as they cull only those that can help them. After their assistant disappears the book switches back and forth from past and present to keep you guessing on what has actually happened. Along the way Hildebrand guides us back to some of our favorite beaches, dancing at the Box, and dining at the Galley while we say goodbye to places and characters that we've grown to love over the years. This story is told brilliantly and will make you want to go back and re-read or read for the first time her older books because you won't want to say goodbye to this town or these people.
Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title.

From Lily to Coco, Seventeen’s shores, to the singed pages off Pocomo, Elin forever shares her heart, joy, and pain like no one else can. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Summer officially starts when Elin tops the NYT Bestseller List and I can’t wait for her 2024 season. You earned it! 💕

In the interim, Hilderfans: iron your pink and white polos, grab some Amalfi lemons, and dust off your pickleball rackets. The Swans are ready to sing.

Special thanks, too, to Danielle at LB&C. You started this Hilderbro’s summer earlier than I ever could have imagined.

Book Title: Swan Song
Series: Nantucket #4
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Genre: Women’s Fiction - Beach Read
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 400

Hmmm the calendar states March- the start of spring but I know summer is right around the corner so it must be time for “The queen of beach reads” to release a new story. This is Ms. Hilderbrand’s thirtieth novel and Yes she is retiring.
This is my twenty fourth and I am once again ready to be transported to Nantucket!

This is Number four in the” Nantucket” series Yikes! I remember " A Summer Affair" which was #1 in this series and was published in 2008, Then "The Castaways" in 2009, " The Perfect Couple" #3 in 2018. - which will be a Netflix series starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber.) This story has the return of other characters not necessarily in this series but of course, are Nantucket residents .- such as - real estate agent Fast Eddie = his Panama hat and wife Grace, town gossip Blond Sharon, landscaper Coe Benton, Steamship guy Romeo. Pink Laurent-Perrier champagne a throwback from The Blue Bistro”

When Chief of Police Ed Kapenash has what the Doctor’s describe as the ‘Widow-maker’ heart attack he is advised to retire as his heart can no longer take the stress. So after thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island his Retirement Party is in the works.

August 22 -three days left, Chef he get a call that the multimillion home at ‘Triple Eight Pocomo' Road the home of the Richardson-a flashy new couple in town- has burnt to the ground. The Richardson are not home as they having a big party on their yacht. Additionally their Personal Concierge- Coco – (a friend of Kacy who is the daughter of the Chief) now is missing!

The alternating chapters kept me on my toes. I was curious until the very end.
Although I liked this story- since it is her last- I have to say it is my least favorite!
But I do thank Ms. Hilderbrand for the many hours of reading enjoyment!

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 11, 2024.

The author has ended her Nantucket series which once again transports you to this quaint island life. The story kept me engaged but was a little slow moving with many characters who each had their set of problems. The s Richardsons were a unique couple with over the top personalities. Their behaviors were often unbelievable but that’s what makes the novel. It will be a great addition to her all her summer beach reads! I had the pleasure of meeting her at BEA in NYC and wish her all the best but will anxiously await her next venture. Looking forward to the Netflix series! #SwanSong #ElinHilderbrand #NetGalley

Elin Hilderbrand is well-known for being the “queen of beach reads.” About three years back, I read and reviewed her novel Golden Girl, and…was NOT impressed, in fact it was one of my very rare DNFs. But her string of books with titles like Summer of ‘69, 28 Summers, Trouble in Paradise…you get the idea. An, just as was the case three years ago, every once in a while, I want something escapist, something that is pretty much guaranteed to have a happy ending, and something that is NOT focused on any of the current “issues” that are like a tsunami whenever we turn on the news. With gratitude for Little, Brown and NetGalley (who provided a copy of Swan Song in exchange for my honest review), I dove in (note the cover photo?)

Over the years, I have had times (particularly when I was fumbling my way through a divorce, a new marriage, family issues, and moving to a new place, when I went in search of a book to sink into just for the comfort it might provide. MANY years ago, I stumbled onto a book by Nancy Thayer and found it somehow soothing: a happy ending, and it just felt like everyone in the story had found their footing and was going to be fine. I guess the genre was romance, although I have never been a fan of the “bodice-ripper” romance novels that seemed to be everywhere back then. In any case, I spent the past weekend reading Swan Song, Elin Hilderbrand’s latest Nantucket-based beach read, hoping for absolute escapist fiction. (Spoiler alert: I found it!)

As someone who hasn’t been one of the adoring fans of Ms. Hilderbrand, I didn’t reunite with any known characters from prior books, so everyone was new to me. That includes Police Chief Ed Kapernash, who is three days from a well-earned retirement when a young woman named Coco disappears. She had come to Nantucket to take a job as a “personal concierage” for the uber-wealthy Richardsons, a couple she met in a bar in the Caribbean, who seemingly spontaneously hired her to join them in Nantucket as they settled into their 22-million dollar home. On the ferry to the island, Coco met the police chief’s daughter, and they become instant BFFs. Relationships, shopping, subservience to employers…it’s a full story with lots of characters.

The Richardsons throw lavish parties at their home and on their yacht, and on one evening outing the party is interrupted by news that the mansion has burned to the ground, and when the yacht docks after the party, Coco is missing. Suddenly, Chief Ed has to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a main suspect in the fire (Coco) as well as the origin of the fire…was it arson? Revenge? Etc.

As noted above, there are many characters. I learned after I finished the book that this includes recurrent favorites from Hilderbrand’s other books (Blond Sharon and Fast Eddie as well as Chief Ed). The characters are well developed, and along the way, Hilderbrand uses them to explore themes of race, class, and family drama. The island of Nantucket is a character on its own, and Hilderbrand, like Thayer, builds an enjoyable story around it. Apparently, Swan Song is Hilderbrand’s final entry in her Nantucket series (her swan song?) Her fans will love this book, and many of us will just go along for the ride and lose ourselves in a well-written book with a good story. Need a beach read? GRAB IT. Four stars.

I was so excited to get into this final Hilderbrand book. Maybe my expectations were too high here as I have loved her work and thought surely her planned last would be a smash success, it was not for me. I think she has so clearly evolved and I should let her, but I am attached to her older style from when I first picked her books up. Still wrestling with my full thoughts because I thought it would be easier to just gush and write a review for her final book.

Swan Song has officially been chosen as Jenn Im's Book of the Month for June 2024. A formal review will be published on Curl Up Club's instagram.

Elin Hilderbrand's "Swan Song" is the grand finale in her Nantucket series. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Nantucket, this book seamlessly weaves together multiple storylines and point-of-views, which kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

The story centers around the Richardsons, a glamorous couple whose arrival to Nantucket quickly shakes up the status quo. The lavish parties they throw are legendary, and how quickly they're able to climb the social ranks is even more impressive. But, when their 22-million dollar home suddenly goes up in flames along with the disappearance of their assistant Coco, chaos ensues. Now Chief Kapenash must postpone his retirement in order to solve both cases.

Hilderbrand's characters are richly developed, each with their own flaws and complexities, making them feel incredibly real. From the wealthy and privileged to the local islanders, every character adds depth to the narrative. It was so nice seeing past characters like Blond Sharon and Fast Eddie return in Swan Song. Blond Sharon is going through a nasty divorce after her husband leaves her for his physical therapist. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Blond Sharon's journey towards self-discovery and independence.

As the mystery behind Coco's disappearance and the Richardson's house fire unfolds, Hilderbrand expertly navigates through twists and turns, keeping the suspense alive until the very end. But amidst the intrigue, it's the exploration of love, friendship, and family that truly shines in Swan Song.

Swan Song is a compelling blend of romance, mystery, and drama that will keep readers guessing until the final page. Elin Hilderbrand once again proves why she's earned the title of "queen of the beach read", delivering a novel that is both captivating and unforgettable.

For Elin. Hlderbrand fans, this book was like a warm hug. You will meet all your favorite characters in a known place again. This book followed Chief Ed Kapennash who takes on his final case just days before his retirement. The book includes mystery, romance, and intrigue, all things we've come to expect from Hilderbrand. While not required, I do recommend reading her previous Nantucket books as it will add to your reading experience in a big way.

This book was fun, engaging, and a delight to read. Highly recommend it to all!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Another great Nantucket story by Elin Hilderbrand! It's the final weeks of Chief Ed's career as the chief of police. A new couple, the Richardsons, move to town and begin hosting elaborate parties. At one party, things go wrong, and their house is burned down, and their personal assistant is missing. Can Chief Ed find out the truth in this his Swan Song? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A last book from Elin Hildebrand that is just like her others, filled with the people and flavor of Nantucket and so fun to read. Our patrons are already missing the prospect of another book. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and to Hilderbrand for years of joy. .

A mysterious wealthy couple buy a 22-million-dollar summer house on Nantucket. Extravagant parties at the house and on their yacht have the Richardsons getting involved with the people on the island. There is some romance, secrets and betrayals take place and tragedy strikes. Possibly even a murder. This is classic Hilderbrand, who has woven many past characters into the story as it is her final Nantucket novel. A fitting farewell to Nantucket and all the characters that we have come to know and love. Devoted readers of this author will not be disappointed.

A perfect ending to a perfectly crafted set of novels! Hilderbrand is the gold standard for the beach read, and this, her final entry in the Nantucket series, is divinely executed. I love when an author recognizes that they are done with a specific project and retires it themselves before their writing gets repetitive and stale, and that's exactly what Elin is doing by ending the series here, and with this specific family. Love love love.