If you've read any of Hilderbrand's Nantucket books you're going to have to read this one, her swan song about Chief Kapenash's swan song as chief of police on the island. One last summer of watching the drama of the summer people and the year-rounders, a summer filled with intrigue and drama as a new couple comes to the island and immediately start throwing lavish parties that all want to attend. The perfect summer read.

This was a very interesting book. I had never really read an Elin Hilderbrand book before, but I know she is someone our patrons love. I thought this would be a perfect chance to see what she was about, and I was not disappointed. This book is intriguing, I realized at the end it is part of a series, however I didn’t feel like I was lost picking up this book and not having read any of the other books. Which is always a good thing. I loved all the different character perspectives. I found the Richardsons to be outlandish in all the right ways to make them look super suspicious. The story was well put together, organized well even with all the different viewpoints. I can see why people enjoy her books so much. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with this final book.
Thank you so much to Litte, Brown and Company and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

The author says that this is her final Nantucket book, as she is retiring from writing. I'm not sure why authors ever retire, as they can just slow down and write, or not, at their own paces. Regardless, this is the last Nantucket novel, unless she changes her mind. ;) I have not read all of the Nantucket novels, but I have read enough to recognize many of the recurring characters who appear in this story. Police Chief Ed, his wife and daughter, many of their friends, and enemies, plus a new couple, the Richardsons, who cause all kinds of upheaval in the summer. It is a fitting final tribute to a wonderful series that always makes me want to visit this enticing island. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's a solid finish to Elin Hilderbrand's reign as the queen of Nantucket, but it did feel a little too "crime novel" to me than her others, and I wish it had focused less on unlikable characters and let the protagonists shine more.

Thank you to @littlebrown @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

Chief of police Ed Kapenash is finally retiring after serving the community for 35 years. With three days left to serve, a 22-million-dollar home owned by the flashy new couple in town burns to the ground and his plans are thwarted. The couple’s personal assistant is also missing.

In order to solve that case of not only the arson, but the missing woman, the chief must dig deep into the tight knit community that is known for keeping secrets.

Elin Hilderbrand has done it again and has nicely wrapped up her “Nantucket” series with this book. I loved being back in these characters’ world thought it was bittersweet knowing it would be my last. I really enjoyed that this rendition included a little more mystery than the other three, which was a lot of fun. There were so many easter eggs hidden throughout the pages as well, it really made for an engaging read. Reading these books always makes me want to jump on a plane and head to Nantucket. The writing is just so vivid and descriptive that I can almost feel the sand in my toes. I love when an author can elicit these feelings from me, it helps set the reads apart. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I think that your reading experience will be all the better if you are able to experience them in order.

This is one of those books that you will want to take your time and savor, and as all of Ms. Hilderbrand’s books, it is the perfect beach read.

Swan Song, by Elin Hilderbrand, is a great beach read. If this is truly her last novel, she sure left me wanting more. I've loved reading her stories about Nantucket and getting to know the area through her words. It's been fun. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I am sad to see Elin's Nantucket stories end. There were some novels at the beginning that I missed so while reading Swan Song, I also went back and read them. It helped me pick up on some things in the new novel. Seeing the tie ins for characters was clever and fun and I enjoyed the little breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout. The small town gossip and crazy storylines will have you laughing- especially the absurdity of the Amalfi lemons. I hope that a little time off from the island refreshes her and she comes back for a few more tales. Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the digital ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hilderbrand's final Nantucket novel and was completely caught up in the story, the scenery, and the characters that populated this novel. The connections to the previous books provide a fun way to look back on those storylines fondly and the returning characters are as zany and predictable (in a good way!) as ever. Of course the island of Nantucket is a major character, showing off all of the gorgeous scenery and beaches, opulent parties, and fabulous restaurants. The plot itself is a little more of a mystery this time around and that made for a fast paced and exciting read. All in all, it's a lovely wrap up of the series and (perhaps?) Hilderbrand's career. Highly recommended for a beach read this summer! I was provided with an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love reading Elins books. They're something I always look forward to in the summer. This one is the final book in the Nantucket series and her final beach read (for now), after a fantastic run of amazing, beachy novels. I haven't read all her books but have read a lot of them. They always give me such a summery feeling. I really liked this one, just as I have her others.

A new rich couple, the Richardson's, has moved to Nantucket with their concierge Coco. They have lavish patties and all the locals are present. The local chief of police is getting ready to retire at the end of summer, but when the Richardson's mansion goes up in flames AND their concierge goes missing, he delays his retirement to handle this one last case.

If you haven't read one of her books yet, and love reading beachy reads with all the summer vibes, what are you waiting for? I still have some to get to, and hope to eventually read them all. Love her books!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Out June 11.

What a fun read! This summer beach read goes out with bang with our favorite fictional Chief of Police, Ed Kapenash, new uber rich residents Leslie and Bull Richardson, and their newly hired personal assistant, Colleen "Coco" Coyle, As with Elin Hilderbrand's previous books, Swan Song starts at the beginning summer with some newly added characters that bring the Drama. It is a super fun story that takes the reader on a journey through Nantucket's hot spots and with different twists to keep the reader engaged. A perfect send off for Hilderbrand and Ed Kapenash.

In her latest novel, "Swan Song," Elin Hilderbrand bids farewell to the beach book genre she's dominated with 30 titles. Set against the backdrop of Nantucket Island, the story centers on police chief Ed Kapenash, nearing retirement after a 35-year career. Three days before his planned exit, a house fire erupts at the residence of flamboyant newcomers, Bull and Leslee Richardson. The Richardsons are out sailing when the fire breaks out, and their personal assistant, Coco, is missing. As a longtime Hilderbrand fan, I enjoyed all of the Easter Eggs scattered throughout the book. Spotting familiar characters and references to past novels added another layer of fun to the story. It felt like a delightful farewell to Nantucket and a celebration of Hilderbrand's incredible beach book legacy.

Another summer read by Elin Hilderbrand that does not disappoint. Written in small stories, Elin connects the reader to a wide range of characters that are interesting and intriguing. She uses her skills to bring old characters into a new story while focusing on a new storyline. With some mystery and romance, Elin provides the reader with a great way to spend the day emerged in a great story.

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand published by Hachette Book Group is her best book ever! An intriguing group of characters each with their own distinct personality and story but Hilderbrand is able to weave all together into a captivating story. Her descriptions of Nantucket’s sites of interests and restaurants allowed me to feel I had traveled there. Once I began reading it was difficult to put the book down until the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed Swan Song.

Elin Hilderbrand does it again with a cast of both new and familiar characters, Swan Song is a quick read that will leave you wanting more!!

Who doesn’t want to spend summer on Nantucket? In Elin’s “last” Nantucket novel a young woman named Coco decides to shake up her life and go to Nantucket to be a personal concierge for a new to Nantucket super wealthy couple, the Richardsons. This couple wants to be known as the party couple, or the “it” couple of the island immediately and it falls on Coco to organize these parties and make sure they go smoothly. Things are going well for the Richardsons and Coco until they aren’t.
In true Elin fashion this books brings you to the island and makes you feel like you’re sipping a cold glass of rosé on the beach watching the comings and goings of the locals and summer people. I truly enjoyed it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the digital ARC,

Swan Song is Hilderbrand’s last Nantucket book and her devoted readers won’t be disappointed. The drama of the elite summer set continues with sparkling parties that fracture friendships, test marriages and create secrets.

When a new couple shows up for the summer season, the social network of Nantucket is intrigued. The Richardsons have just purchased a $22 million beachfront mansion and begin throwing outrageous parties drawing everyone into their circle. But what do the residents of Nantucket really know about these new neighbors? How did they get their money? What’s their connection to the island? And where are they originally from? When their personal concierge goes missing on their yacht, the whole island is drawn into the drama.

Chalk full of Nantucket landmarks and memorable characters from previous novels and a touch of mystery, Swan Song is a must read for Summer 2024. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

What a great book to go out with if Ms. Hilderbrand is indeed finished writing beach reads! Romance and suspense, this book has both covered! A must read for not only Elin Hilderbrand fans but anyone looking for an engaging read.

I have to admit, I never liked The Richardsons throughout this book. Most of the other characters were very likable even though many had flaws but not so much with The Richardsons, well in my opinion anyway. Read it to learn about the extravagant parties the Richardson's throw (boy are they something) and to see who gets chopped from the guest list with each new event, if for no other reason. Lots of other things happening in this book but man those parties! Be sure and pick up your copy in June!

This novel centers around Chief Ed Kapenash, who becomes entangled in a case during the last days of his tenure as Nantucket Chief. An enigmatic couple, who in a very short period of time become the toast of the island, experiences a fire that destroys their opulent mansion while they're hosting a party on their boat. Upon their return to shore, their employee, Coco, is nowhere to be found. With rumors and speculation spreading throughout the island and a variety of characters involved.
Fans of Hilderbrand will appreciate all the call backs to her previous Nantucket novels.

Elin Hilderbrand revels in the absurd. It can be deceptively simple as a local police chief casually covering a thousand-dollar check at a beloved restaurant or as loud and bombastic as overwrought mansions tumbling into the sea. She specializes in an idealized version of Nantucket that is a reality for a startling few. (So much so that her Five-Star Weekend, where the island is overrun by Elin-heads is relegated to a cold weekend in January, the only time when this type of trip is affordable). To that point, Swan Song, her 30th and final adult novel, gets to the crazy more efficiently than much of her recent output but never reaches the dizzying highs of Golden Girl (2021), when she wrote a funeral scene for herself, or Summer of ’69 (2019), where she used the real-life murder of Mary Jo Kopechne as a shockingly minor plot point.

Swan Song sees the return of characters from across her entire oeuvre. Some, including Chief of Police Ed Kapenash (one day from retirement…) and, my personal favorite, the ruggedly handsome landscape architect Benton Coe, receive prominent roles, others, like Jennifer Quinn of the Winter Street side series, are mentioned by name only. In terms of a clip show revisiting old friends, Swan Song works quite well. The action is driven by three characters, the mysterious billionaire couple Bull and Leslee Richardson and their personal concierge, Coco, who arrive on Nantucket and stir up all kinds of drama in the staid poplin and Lily Pulitzer-draped world.

Hilderbrand has fallen into a groove starting with The Perfect Couple (2018), where she has been adding a mystery or crime element to her novels. While they make for good page-turners, they’re decidedly less interesting than earlier novels like The Beach Club (2000) and her magnum opus The Blue Bistro (2004). The unfortunate part of this is Hilderbrand is determined to have her cake and eat it, too. In a reverse Agatha Christie, there is only one bad actor, and the rest of our characters get to surf on home. At no point, even when the house where the main action is set is up in flames, are any stakes present. She undercuts herself by introducing the Richardson’s as unconcerned about their twenty-two-million-dollar home purchase as an impending victim of erosion and sea level rise. Even if this is accurate to a certain summer set that frequents Nantucket, it is not the strongest decision for fiction.

Except for 2003, Hilderbrand has released at least one novel every year. The fact that The Blue Bistro was published in 2004 is, I think, notable. This leads me to the most interesting scene in the entire book (light spoilers ahead). See, Bull Richardson is a movie producer on the side, and the reason Coco wanted a job as his assistant was to get him to read her autobiographical script. Bull reads the screenplay, compliments her writing, and says he’d love to look at the next one. Coco is, understandably, devastated. This is her life story! When Bull says there isn’t enough to interest the viewing public, it’s a gut punch. Bull then goes on to say that while the story may be important to Coco, he looks at scripts as commodities and not art. It is no secret that Hilderbrand weaves her personal life into her writing, and I wondered if this exchange was meant as a warning to the next wave of Nantucket writers.

If you have read all of Elin Hilderbrand’s previous Nantucket stories you’ll love this bitter sweet end to the series. It’s filled with all the usual family drama, small town gossip, and romance with a bit of Easter Eggs and mystery thrown in. All the great foundations of a good beach read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Pub Date: 6-11-24