This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Mallory Blessing loves being a teacher。 She is a English teacher on Nantucket Island。 She meets Jake for the first time on Nantucket island when her brother Cooper is having a bachelor party。 Things go badly and Cooper leaves。 Then the other member of the party goes missing。 Jake and Mallory kiss。 This sets off a same time next year。 The affair goes on for 28 summers。 The last is when Mallory's son calls Jake and tells him the bad news。 Jake comes to nantucket one more time to play guitar and be Mallory Blessing loves being a teacher。 She is a English teacher on Nantucket Island。 She meets Jake for the first time on Nantucket island when her brother Cooper is having a bachelor party。 Things go badly and Cooper leaves。 Then the other member of the party goes missing。 Jake and Mallory kiss。 This sets off a same time next year。 The affair goes on for 28 summers。 The last is when Mallory's son calls Jake and tells him the bad news。 Jake comes to nantucket one more time to play guitar and be with Mallory while she dies。 Totally cried my eyes out。 。。。more
Camryn,
Oh Elin, Elin, Elin。 Despite the initial skepticism I always have before I start one of your books, I always end up loving it。 This was no exception。 It was maybe a touch long? But every time I thought I was starting to get bored, I found myself getting pulled back in again。 A very good chocolate bar book。
Aubrey,
Read in less than a week 🤍 such an inspiring and realistic book that dives into the reality of what is “right for right now” and when does that become “it’s too late” or “we are too deep into this”。 It made me question where I stand on love and living, what to give up for someone else and when to be selfish。 Such a great read!
Jenna Deutsch,
Cute! Maybe a little long but couldn’t put it down and am definitely crossing my fingers for a sequel。
fictiontelle,
I didn't like what I feel after reading this book。 I feel like I'm grieving。 It's not that I hate it。 I love the book entirely but the ending was such a bittersweet one。 I don't feel like I'm okay with how it turns out。 I love the opening scene but when everything was revealed, I don't know。。 I kinda wanted more。 Honestly, I love-hate Jake's character。 I feel like he doesn't know how to stand with his own feelings and can be easily manipulated。 I love that he's a good and sweet person but throug I didn't like what I feel after reading this book。 I feel like I'm grieving。 It's not that I hate it。 I love the book entirely but the ending was such a bittersweet one。 I don't feel like I'm okay with how it turns out。 I love the opening scene but when everything was revealed, I don't know。。 I kinda wanted more。 Honestly, I love-hate Jake's character。 I feel like he doesn't know how to stand with his own feelings and can be easily manipulated。 I love that he's a good and sweet person but throughout the book, he's very indecisive。 Like he doesn't love Mallory enough。 I mean Mallory didn't marry and he stays so while they keep their arrangement。 I hated Ursula (I don't care about her POV)。 The politics talk is out of nowhere。 The story could have laid out without the politics talk - it was unnecessary maybe because it was Ursula's POV。 。。。more
Kitty,
Definitely a beach read, but I really enjoyed it。 Whether you agree with the concept of a Same Time, Next Year or not, the main characters were very likable and I found myself rooting for them。
Melanie Roberts Afrikian,
Another easy, fun Hilderbrand read
Alex B,
Absolutely loved it - easy to read and wonderfully written。 The story is beautiful。 Highly recommend。
Brianne Fearon,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Didn’t want to put this one down。 Literally read the majority in one sitting。 I didn’t expect to cry, but couldn’t hold my tears back at the end。 This love story is amazing despite the circumstances。 Really enjoyed this book and the historical reminders at the beginning of each chapter。
Leslie Kamenszky,
Surprisingly, I was rooting for Jake and Mallory throughout the entire book。 The ending felt so rushed, though! Ugh, I needed more closure!!
Daniele,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This was my first experience with a Hilderbrand book。 It is beautifully written, and captivating from the first page to the last。While I initially thought that I would not be able to relate with the characters that much, because of the lies and cheating, I ended up hoping and wishing that their relationship would amount to more than a 3 day, yearly affair for 28 years。At times, the main character's almost 'pathetic' (for a lack of a better word) manner bothered me。 Why is she settling for only t This was my first experience with a Hilderbrand book。 It is beautifully written, and captivating from the first page to the last。While I initially thought that I would not be able to relate with the characters that much, because of the lies and cheating, I ended up hoping and wishing that their relationship would amount to more than a 3 day, yearly affair for 28 years。At times, the main character's almost 'pathetic' (for a lack of a better word) manner bothered me。 Why is she settling for only this for her whole life, while Jake gets to have the best of both worlds?Be that as it may, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it! 。。。more
Barbi Knott,
Fantastic! I couldcouldn't put it down。 Starting the second in the Trilogy today Fantastic! I couldcouldn't put it down。 Starting the second in the Trilogy today 。。。more
Amanda Smith,
Loved!!!!
Emily,
I couldn’t put this book down。 It read very fast。 It got political。 I liked the different characters but I just felt sad at the end。 I guess not everything has a fairy tail ending。。。。 and middle point too I guess?
Patrice,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Good book but depressing finish
Karen & Gerard,
I think this book is really, really good for several reasons: (1) the writing, (2) lots of well developed characters, and (3) I never knew where this story was headed。 I LOVED IT! (Gerard's review) I think this book is really, really good for several reasons: (1) the writing, (2) lots of well developed characters, and (3) I never knew where this story was headed。 I LOVED IT! (Gerard's review) 。。。more
Michelle,
I went back and forth on giving 3 or 4 stars。 I went with 4 because I can't resist an Elin Hilderbrand novel and this one kept me turning the pages like her others。 However, it is hard to accept that Jake would stay with Ursula。 I don't really buy his reasoning and yet the whole story centers on this decision。 In the end, though, it was another compulsively readable book from her。 I went back and forth on giving 3 or 4 stars。 I went with 4 because I can't resist an Elin Hilderbrand novel and this one kept me turning the pages like her others。 However, it is hard to accept that Jake would stay with Ursula。 I don't really buy his reasoning and yet the whole story centers on this decision。 In the end, though, it was another compulsively readable book from her。 。。。more
Lynn,
This is not a typical choice for me。 I tend to ignore authors who fill up entire library shelves。 But I have to say I really enjoyed this book! The story is compelling and I cried like a baby at the ending。 For a break from weightier and thought-provoking books, I highly recommend it! And I think (dare I say?) that I might have to check out another Hilderbrand book!
Ellen,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 The audio was great but honestly I dont understand why everyone has loved this。 The characters were deplorable。 If he loved her that much, he would have chosen a life with her。
Betsy,
I have mixed feelings about this storyline, though it kept my interest。 Additionally, several geographical locations in the book are eerily familiar to me ( Baltimore, Vieques, University of South Carolina)。 For every summer, Hilderbrand noted what we were talking about that year。 The memories I revisited! This is a love story and somewhat of a tragic one。 I’m not sure I support the idea of “same time next year。” Call me a romantic, but I couldn’t help hoping all through this book that either Ma I have mixed feelings about this storyline, though it kept my interest。 Additionally, several geographical locations in the book are eerily familiar to me ( Baltimore, Vieques, University of South Carolina)。 For every summer, Hilderbrand noted what we were talking about that year。 The memories I revisited! This is a love story and somewhat of a tragic one。 I’m not sure I support the idea of “same time next year。” Call me a romantic, but I couldn’t help hoping all through this book that either Mallory or Jake would take the step of “forever。” 。。。more
Lauri,
Another wonderful Elin Hilderbrand novel。。。 one that had me wanting to flip pages quickly, while also wanting to savor the story, as I knew I would not want it to end。 Hilderbrand, in typical fashion, immerses you in the setting of Nantucket- so much so that you feel you are there。 This is a love story between two flawed characters, who have made choices in their lives based on their childhoods, histories, and vulnerabilities。 It is not always easy to relate to their choices, but as a reader I r Another wonderful Elin Hilderbrand novel。。。 one that had me wanting to flip pages quickly, while also wanting to savor the story, as I knew I would not want it to end。 Hilderbrand, in typical fashion, immerses you in the setting of Nantucket- so much so that you feel you are there。 This is a love story between two flawed characters, who have made choices in their lives based on their childhoods, histories, and vulnerabilities。 It is not always easy to relate to their choices, but as a reader I rooted for them as people and as a couple。 The ending is a tear jerker for sure, one that although Hilderbrand prepares you for, you can never truly be prepared。 I loved how she framed each chapter with events, people, lyrics from the year - it took me down memory lane, and set a timeline for the characters' lives, while juxtaposing the changes of the world with the stability of the Labor Day weekend for these two characters。 。。。more
Michelle Fortin,
Loved this book。 And it was interesting to remember the year’s events posted at the beginning of each “summer” year。
Tiffany,
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 At first I thought I was excited about this book, but as I kept reading a few things really brought the book down in my opinion。I couldn’t decide if this book was trying to be a history book, a recipe book, or a commentary about women being equal to men。Throughout the book it talks about empowering women but “our gal” (which is such a random thing to call her through 1/4 of the book and then drop it) seems to be the one that suffers during this whole relationship。 True, Jake is incredibly unhapp At first I thought I was excited about this book, but as I kept reading a few things really brought the book down in my opinion。I couldn’t decide if this book was trying to be a history book, a recipe book, or a commentary about women being equal to men。Throughout the book it talks about empowering women but “our gal” (which is such a random thing to call her through 1/4 of the book and then drop it) seems to be the one that suffers during this whole relationship。 True, Jake is incredibly unhappy in his marriage, but he seems to get ahead in life。 Mal is trying to eek out an existence and never seems to be able to have satisfaction in life。 。。。more
Liz,
Awful!
Kirsten,
My friend Lindsey told me to read this book, so I did。 And it gutted me。
Allison,
Cute, fluffy, very Hallmark-esque。 (Unsurprising given who recommended this to me!) The "summer by summer" format grew on me over the duration of the book, as did the "What we're talking about" intro to each chapter。 (I must admit, recognizing nearly all of the pop culture references made me feel rather old。。。。)The main characters Jake and Mallory frustrated me (as they were supposed to) because neither would ever demand or take what they actually wanted, and I really did not care for the neat l Cute, fluffy, very Hallmark-esque。 (Unsurprising given who recommended this to me!) The "summer by summer" format grew on me over the duration of the book, as did the "What we're talking about" intro to each chapter。 (I must admit, recognizing nearly all of the pop culture references made me feel rather old。。。。)The main characters Jake and Mallory frustrated me (as they were supposed to) because neither would ever demand or take what they actually wanted, and I really did not care for the neat little death "bookends" on the story, but for readers of this sort of romance, I can fully acknowledge that it fit the bill。 Given that this was a romance, I also wanted to read an actual sex scene—just one!—but alas, this just wasn't that kind of romance novel。As a break from more "serious" writing (I just finished Leave the World Behind), this book did the job。 And it with all its talk of sun, sand, and seafood, it definitely got me in a summer mood! 。。。more
Vanessa,
I do not think I could ever not enjoy an Elin Hilderbrand book。 I gave it 4 stars because I did not enjoy it as much as some of her other books, but it was still a good read。 It lost me a bit in the beginning, but it got back on track。 Each chapter focuses on a different year in the life of these characters and starts with a "what were we talking about?" paragraph about hot topics in that year。 A great read and a mini history lesson! I do not think I could ever not enjoy an Elin Hilderbrand book。 I gave it 4 stars because I did not enjoy it as much as some of her other books, but it was still a good read。 It lost me a bit in the beginning, but it got back on track。 Each chapter focuses on a different year in the life of these characters and starts with a "what were we talking about?" paragraph about hot topics in that year。 A great read and a mini history lesson! 。。。more
Jena Onarheim,
4。5 I liked this book so much more than I expected。 The story is so lovey, kept my interest, and had my crying at the end。 Makes an excellent vacation read。
Marla Sherrard,
Good read but her books are beginning to flow together
Maddielucy(Patti),
Loved this。 The writing, characters and story are lovely。 Great beach read。