Publishers Weekly
08/13/2018
The summer wedding of the year on Nantucket Island is shattered when the maid of honor’s body washes up on the beach right before the ceremony in Hilderbrand’s deliciously captivating drama. It’s July 4th weekend, and Bronx Zoo assistant director Celeste Otis, a kind young woman of modest upbringing, is set to marry the very privileged Benji Winbury. When Celeste finds her best friend, the vivacious Merritt Monaco, dead, Nantucket police chief Ed Kapenash and stalwart Massachusetts State Police detective Nick Diamantopoulos set about questioning family and friends, some of whom are more forthcoming than others. A tangled web of shocking secrets and steamy affairs is revealed, but is one of them really capable of murder? Using multiple viewpoints, Hilderbrand (The Identicals) realistically mines her flawed, likeable characters’ lives. She gives each a depth and humanity that’s difficult to pull off with an ensemble cast, with character notes such as Celeste’s mother’s desire to see her daughter married before she dies from breast cancer. The author shows similar attention to peripheral characters, such as Lola Budd, who’s dating Chief Ed’s ward and gets a chance to help the investigation and impress the chief. Hilderbrand’s legions of fans will be thrilled by this delightful whodunit, and it will earn her plenty of new ones. (June)
From the Publisher
"A quintessential summer read."—People
"One of this summer's must-reads that is all at once quick paced, compulsively readable, and thought provoking. An entertaining yet observant look at the surprising secrets that can fester and erupt in marriage."—Patriot-Ledger
"a fantastic and clever whodunit that keeps readers in suspense throughout the entire book...Hilderbrand's books keep getting better and better as they're well thought out and meticulously written."—Bookreporter
"This is one beach read you won't be able to put down as the investigation unfolds."—Brides.com
"Elin Hilderbrand's fans can expect a twist on the beach this summer with her new book"—CBS News
"a sizzling summer read fans won't want to miss"—Bustle
"We've been saying this for a while, but it bears repeating that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of summer reading."—Amazon Book Review
"The Perfect Couple proves that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer beach read"—WFMY News 2
"Readers can open [Hilderbrand's] latest with complete confidence that it will deliver everything we expect: terrific clothes and food, smart humor, fun plot, Nantucket atmosphere, connections to the characters of preceding novels, and warmth in relationships evoked to beautifully it gets you right there...Sink into this book like a hot, scented bath...a delicious, relaxing pleasure. And a clever whodunit at the same time."—Kirkus, Starred Review
"Hilderbrand throws enough curveballs to keep readers guessing, but not too many, maintaining the breezy pace her novels are known for. The mystery element is new, but The Perfect Couple is classic Hilderbrand."—Booklist
"The Perfect Couple is the must read of the Summer - it's Elin Hilderbrand's best book yet"—Pop Sugar, "The 25 New Books to Put in Your Beach Bag This Summer"
"Secrets begin to come out as the families and local police officers realize that no couple is as perfect as they might seem"—Good Housekeeping, 25 Best New Books for Summer
PRAISE FOR HERE'S TO US:
"Beautiful people, dysfunctional families and Nantucket: That's Hilderbrand territory, and it wouldn't be summer without a visit...[Here's to Us is] just the thing for a day by the sea."
—Kim Hubbard, People
"It must be summer: Hilderbrand is back with a new beach read."
—Jocelyn McClurg, USA Today
"The must read that will be in everyone's beach bag this summer."
—Brenda Janowitz, Popsugar
"The queen of the summer beach read...keeps the title with another light-as-air Nantucket-centered tome."
—New York Post
"No one captures the flavor and experience of a summer place—the outdoor showers, the seafood, the sand in the floorboards—like Hilderbrand."
—Kirkus
"Hilderbrand is a master when it comes to writing the quintessential summer read and her offering this summer, Here's to Us, is no exception."
—Laurie Higgins, Wicked Local.com
"The book immediately draws you in with its scenic descriptions of the island and the Page Six-worthy life of a famous rock star chef. A comfy beach chair and Here's to Us is the perfect recipe for a delectable reading experience."
—Bronwyn Miller, BookReporter
"The perfect summer read...Fans of delectable summer reads and romances with a touch of tragedy will love this latest Hilderbrand novel, a perfect companion for a sunny summer morning and a bowl of something sweet."
—Tara Sonin, B&N Reads
"Queen of the summer beach read."
—Lambeth Hochwald, Parade
"The bestselling author of The Rumor pens yet another must-pack beach read—this time about forgiveness, unlikely friendships and the experiences that unite us."
—Ava Baccari, Hello Canada
"Here's to Us will spice up your vacation...You won't be able to put the pages down as the lies, tears, accusations and drama pile up in this crowded cottage."
—YourTango.com
"An absolutely addictive read...written with such exquisite attention to detail, you'll practically smell the salt air and feel the sand beneath your feet."
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press
RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
A delicious mix of a summer beach read and page-turner murder mystery, the twists and turns of this novel will indulge that secret side of each person that loves good gossip. The characters and the secrets that bind them are layered, making each chapter a little more intriguing. Readers will be captivated through the big reveal.”
Good Housekeeping
Secrets begin to come out as the families and local police officers realize that no couple is as perfect as they might seem.”
PopSugar
The Queen of the Summer Novel gives us something new this year: a murder mystery!…[and] it’s Elin Hilderbrand’s best book yet.”
Detroit Free Press Georgea Kovanis
An absolutely addictive read...written with such exquisite attention to detail, you'll practically smell the salt air and feel the sand beneath your feet.
People
A quintessential summer read.
People Kim Hubbard
Beautiful people, dysfunctional families and Nantucket: That's Hilderbrand territory, and it wouldn't be summer without a visit...[Here's to Us is] just the thing for a day by the sea.
Bookreporter
a fantastic and clever whodunit that keeps readers in suspense throughout the entire book...Hilderbrand's books keep getting better and better as they're well thought out and meticulously written.
WFMY News 2
The Perfect Couple proves that Elin Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer beach read
Booklist
Hilderbrand throws enough curveballs to keep readers guessing, but not too many, maintaining the breezy pace her novels are known for. The mystery element is new, but The Perfect Couple is classic Hilderbrand.
New York Post
The queen of the summer beach read...keeps the title with another light-as-air Nantucket-centered tome.
Parade Lambeth Hochwald
Queen of the summer beach read.
Patriot-Ledger
One of this summer's must-reads that is all at once quick paced, compulsively readable, and thought provoking. An entertaining yet observant look at the surprising secrets that can fester and erupt in marriage.
Popsugar Brenda Janowitz
The must read that will be in everyone's beach bag this summer.
USA Today Jocelyn McClurg
It must be summer: Hilderbrand is back with a new beach read.
25 Best New Books for Summer Good Housekeeping
Secrets begin to come out as the families and local police officers realize that no couple is as perfect as they might seem
CBS News
Elin Hilderbrand's fans can expect a twist on the beach this summer with her new book
"The 25 New Books to Put in Your Beach Bag This Su Pop Sugar
The Perfect Couple is the must read of the Summer - it's Elin Hilderbrand's best book yet
Wicked Local.com Laurie Higgins
Hilderbrand is a master when it comes to writing the quintessential summer read and her offering this summer, Here's to Us, is no exception.
Hello Canada Ava Baccari
The bestselling author of The Rumor pens yet another must-pack beach read—this time about forgiveness, unlikely friendships and the experiences that unite us.
B&N Reads Tara Sonin
The perfect summer read...Fans of delectable summer reads and romances with a touch of tragedy will love this latest Hilderbrand novel, a perfect companion for a sunny summer morning and a bowl of something sweet.
Brides.com
This is one beach read you won't be able to put down as the investigation unfolds.
Bustle
a sizzling summer read fans won't want to miss
BookReporter Bronwyn Miller
The book immediately draws you in with its scenic descriptions of the island and the Page Six-worthy life of a famous rock star chef. A comfy beach chair and Here's to Us is the perfect recipe for a delectable reading experience.
YourTango.com
Here's to Us will spice up your vacation...You won't be able to put the pages down as the lies, tears, accusations and drama pile up in this crowded cottage.
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2018-04-16
A wedding on Nantucket is canceled when the bride finds her maid of honor floating facedown in the Atlantic on the morning of the big day.One of the supporting characters in Hilderbrand's (Winter Solstice, 2017, etc.) 21st Nantucket novel is Greer Garrison, the mother of the groom and a well-known novelist. Unfortunately, in addition to all the other hell about to break loose in Greer's life, she's gone off her game. Early in the book, a disappointed reader wonders if "the esteemed mystery writer, who is always named in the same breath as Sue Grafton and Louise Penny, is coasting now, in her middle age." In fact, Greer's latest manuscript is about to be rejected and sent back for a complete rewrite, with a deadline of two weeks. But wanna know who's most definitely not coasting? Elin Hilderbrand. Readers can open her latest with complete confidence that it will deliver everything we expect: terrific clothes and food, smart humor, fun plot, Nantucket atmosphere, connections to the characters of preceding novels, and warmth in relationships evoked so beautifully it gets you right there. Example: a tiny moment between the chief of police and his wife. It's very late in the book, and he still hasn't figured out what the hell happened to poor Merritt Monaco, the Instagram influencer and publicist for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Even though it's dinner time, he has to leave the "cold blue cans of Cisco beer in his fridge" and get back to work. " ‘I hate murder investigations,' [his wife] says, lifting her face for a kiss. ‘But I love you.' " You will feel that just as powerfully as you believe that Celeste Otis, the bride-to-be, would rather be anywhere on Earth than on the beautiful isle of Nantucket, marrying the handsome, kind, and utterly smitten Benji Winbury. In fact, she had a fully packed bag with her at the crack of dawn when she found her best friend's body.Sink into this book like a hot, scented bath...a delicious, relaxing pleasure. And a clever whodunit at the same time.
