Member Reviews

This is an end of an era and Elin Hilderbrand closed the chapter brilliantly. I will miss these books, but am glad Swan Song is the goodbye to this genre her fans deserved.

Was this review helpful?

I was not aware that this was part of a series. I love Elin Hilderbrand and her writing style. I am not going back to read the first ones!

Was this review helpful?

Elin's books are always an auto-read for me! Summer officially starts when I start reading Elin's latest book each summer! This read was bittersweet knowing it was her final one, but I was so excited to dive into it. "Swan Song" was a fun read with all the previous characters and did not disappoint. Add Swan Song to your pool bag this summer!

Was this review helpful?

As the Chief of police plans retirement due to health concerns, a tragedy strikes the island. Ed is only days away from retirement, is this investigation his swan song? A couple, the Richardsons, blaze onto the island and stir up quite the scandals with parties at their mansion and on their yacht. Their personal concierge, Coco, gets all the behind the scenes drama. There is no limit to what the Richardsons will pay to be popular, but at what cost?

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting beach read by author Elin Hilderbrand. I love how all the characters are introduced in the beginning and how all of their lives become intertwined, as is often the case in small town settings. It twisted to places I did not see coming, and the ending left me a little breathless, but I did enjoy becoming immersed in the characters lives.

I think it is not my favorite of Hilderbrand's books, but I did enjoy reading it. I don't find the storyline predictable in any of her books, and this one is no exception.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy of this book.

Elin is an auto buy author for me. Every time I read one of her books I want to visit Nantucket. She fully immerses you in the world of the elite and not so elite. I love how she brings characters in from other books. It makes me remember how much I liked that book she refers back to.

This is a perfect beach read of wealthy people behaving g badly. Is it far fetched? Absolutely! Is it total brain candy? Yep!

Was this review helpful?

The ultimate summer beach read! This may be one of Elin’s best books yet! Absolutely fell in love with the main character. Lots of character development, both likable and unlikable characters. Couldn’t put this one down!

Was this review helpful?

It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. For many years I looked forward to reading a new Nantucket book by Elin Hilderbrand. Each summer I was transported to a tiny island off the Atlantic. The descriptions of the people, businesses and shoreline are so vivid in my mind, I feel like I have been there - even though I have yet to actually step foot off the ferry.

But alas, after reading this very aptly-titled book Swan Song, the most important piece of the story comes in the acknowledgments: Elin is retiring from writing her summer books, therefore this book is indeed her Swan Song. I enjoyed the storyline, even if some of the characters didn't fully work for me, but I embraced it because so many of the residents of Nantucket made an appearance. As usual, it was a good beachy summer read, especially if you are a fan.

Was this review helpful?

Another great book by Elin Hildebrand! Old characters from previous novels makes it fun but it can be read as a stand alone book. Recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This was okay, it started off feeling like a knock-off version of big little lies, but it did improve from there. i didn't love any of the characters, and i'm not the biggest fan of this narration style. but overall, the setting trumps all else and it was an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

This is Elin’s literal Swan Song, as she’s gone on record saying she will not for the foreseeable future write anymore books set on Nantucket. I’ll be honest and say I liked her last book more, actually felt it harkened back to her earliest novels, but this was a fun summer read. I love how she can gently lampoon the people who sumner on Nantucket, yet not offend them. I also appreciated her LGBQT advocacy. Dive right in, you won’t be disappointed. Recommended for all public libraries.

Was this review helpful?

Is it even summer without an Elin Hilderbrand novel? It definitely isn't for me! This is the last Nantucket beach book that she will write and I think that it is a winner.

No one develops a character like Hilderbrand does and Swan Song's characters are no exception. The island, sights, and restaurants are so vivid that I definitely want to visit Nantucket. There are so many Easter eggs in this novel. I also love that there was a mystery in the story. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced digital copy of the book. Is

Was this review helpful?

Elin Hilderbrand's final Nantucket book did not disappoint! I tried to read slowly, because I didn't want it to be over, but I ended up devouring it.

Nantucket's Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is retiring! But of course he can't retire peacefully - during the last weeks of being chief, a wealthy new couple moves to the island and starts all kinds of drama.

Swan Song is a standalone book, but if you're a reader of Elin's, you'll love reading about all your favorite characters from previous books.

Was this review helpful?

Could it truly be Elins last Nantucket read? If so, she’s truly finished with a great story. This one is stand-alone but brings characters together from many of her past books. If you’re an Elin fan, you’ll definitely recognize the characters and even get to know a few of them better in this story!

Was this review helpful?

I haven’t read too many Elin Hilderbrand books, but the books that I have read have been very enjoyable (The Five-Star Weekend being a favorite). Swan Song was no exception. Supposedly, this is the author’s last book of her Nantucket novels. And this book is certainly her own personal swan song. I loved the setting (I now want to go to Nantucket), the characters (the chief was a personal favorite) and the mystery that unfolds throughout the book. It’s the perfect beach read (actually, in my case, cruise read). I can’t wait to go back and read the other books in this series.

Was this review helpful?

I knew this book was going to be great because every book I've read by Elin Hilderbrand is an amazing story. Whether you're crying along with the characters, or cheering them on you're enjoying yourself until the last page.

Was this review helpful?

I look forward to the newest Elin Hilderbrand book each summer. They make great vacation reads. When I saw this was available through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review I jumped on it. I will admit, I put off reading Swan Song not wanting it to be the end of an era. I loved, loved, loved it! The story kept me wanting more and I loved seeing more of the characters I've read about in the past (Blonde Sharon and the Chief) I didn't want it to end.

Was this review helpful?

Swan Song
Coco was working as a bartender on the island of St. John’s in the Caribbean when she met Bull and Leslee Richardson. The Richardsons told her they were looking to buy a large estate in Nantucket and offered her a job as a personal assistant.
When Coco arrived in Nantucket she discovered that the Richardsons’ house was not ready and she had nowhere to stay until they moved into the place. Kacey, the daughter of the Chief of Police, met Coco as the ferry terminal. She heard of the dilemma facing Coco and suggested Coco stay with her family until the Richardsons needed her.
Kacey had left her job as a NICU nurse in San Francisco after a bad breakup. Among the people Leslee befriended was Amanda, the wife of Chief of Police, and soon the couple were invited to parties with the Richardsons.
As soon as the Richardsons moved into the estate on the water, they began throwing elaborate parties and inviting their newly made friends.
Leslee had a rule that her employees could not become romantically involved but Coco and Lamont, the captain of their yacht, ignored the rule and started sleeping together.
Bull seemed affable but Leslee was brash & a flirt. As the summer progressed, she made enemies on the island.
While the couple was entertaining on their yacht one night, their house went up in flames. Coco had been working on the boat but disappeared after the fire was discovered. A massive search was made for Coco and also an investigation into the cause of the fire began.
This is a classic Elin Hilderbrand book with a look at the lifestyles of the wealthy residents of Nantucket. The characters are interesting and you will want to know what happens to each of them at the end of the book.
The author claims that this is her final book set on the island of Nantucket. She has written 32 other books about life on Nantucket.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Swan Song is the "last" Nantucket novel by summer beach queen, Elin Hilderbrand. She's supposedly not going to write another novel with this setting but we'll see...

This one features a few characters from past books as well as a couple new ones. We have Coco who has been hired to work as a personal concierge for a newly arrived Nantucket couple. This couple is determined to win over the hearts of the citizens of Nantucket no matter what it takes or how much they have to spend. This all leads up to a fire, a missing person, and a police chief who thought he'd be retiring without one more big case.

Read and enjoy!

Was this review helpful?

When the Richardson's move into the 15 million dollar house on the island and begin throwing extravagant parties, the people of Nantucket are enamored. But as time goes on and Leslee and Bull's true colors start to show, they start to make some enemies. Their assistant, Coco, is one of them, but can not pass up the money she is making. When at the end of one of the parties the house goes up in flames and Coco is missing, lives are turned upside down.

I know I am late to the party, but this was my first book by this author! Her writing style took me a little getting used to, but ultimately I was a fan and will pick up a few more of her books to try out. The Richardson's were great villains of the book because they were just charming enough to captivate people and hold their interest. I loved Kacy- I thought she was so relatable, especially in her relationship with Isla and jealousy. I was so happy with how things ended for her.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?