Best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand shares her summer reading picks
Elin Hilderbrand, for many, is synonymous with summer.
Dubbed the "queen of the summer beach novel," the author has transported readers to the beaches of Nantucket 19 times now with hits like "Summerland," "The Matchmaker" and "The Island."
Now, the New York Times best-selling author is out with a new book, "The Identicals," which toggles between Nantucket and nearby Martha's Vineyard.
The novel centers on a pair of estranged identical twins who were raised separately following their parents' divorce — a decision that was left up to the girls and decided by a game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors." The death of their father forces a reunion and later, a dramatic upheaval in both of their lives.
Here are some of Hilderbrand's personal picks for summer reads to take along to the beach, and why she's recommending them:
"Do Not Become Alarmed" by Maile Meloy
Someone told me about this novel on day one of my tour and I bought it in Nashville from the utopia of all independents, Parnassus Books. It's a heart-wrenching page turner. Perfect for the beach!
"Siracusa" by Delia Ephron
I have been recommending this novel left and right. Two couples with way too much history go to Sicily together and drama ensues.
"Saints for All Occasions" by J. Courtney Sullivan
I was a huge fan of J. Courtney Sullivan's novel "Maine," and like that novel, "Saint" is a family saga set in Boston. Irish Catholic family secrets: is there anything better?
"The Nix" by Nathan Hill
A bit deeper and more involved than my usual beach read. This is a gripping mother-son story that centers around the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. It's brilliant.
"The People We Hate at the Wedding" by Grant Ginder
Fact: best title of any novel ever. This story about a dysfunctional blended family and a wedding in England is sinfully good.
"The Admissions" by Meg Mitchell Moore
For anyone with a teenager. This charming, gorgeously written novel tells the story of a Bay Area family who is desperate to get their oldest child into Harvard. It's smart, funny and painfully accurate.