Silver Girl (2011)

Meredith's husband, Freddy, was the mastermind behind a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme which left thousands of rich investors seriously out of pocket. As their property is seized and Freddy is jailed for the rest of his life, Meredith is left to pick up the pieces. And most people seem to think she must have been a conspirator too - how could she have not known what her husband was up to? The only person she can think to turn to is her old best friend, Connie, who is still grieving her late husband Wolf. The pair head off to Nantucket for the summer but it seems someone knows exactly where Meredith is hiding. This is an impressive portrayal of a woman who finds she was living a lie but regains the strength to face the world through a resurrected friendship. It's told from the alternating viewpoints of the two women, and with its Nantucket setting, will no doubt be slung into more than a few beach bags this year.

The Island (2010)

Birdie arranges to return to her family's holiday home on Tuckernuck Island in Massachusetts for the first time in 13 years. Recently divorced from husband Grant, she invites her two daughters Chess and Tate, and sister India to join her. Chess definitely needs some seclusion to recover from the devastating fallout of her broken engagement. Tate, who has made herself a comfortable but lonely life through IT, is returning to the island with the hopes of seeing her long-time crush Barrett, the caretaker. And India, who is still reeling from the suicide of her sculptor husband Bill, is contemplating a different sort of relationship. The island's isolation allows the women to come to terms with where their lives have taken them - and let their secrets seep out. Chess' story is particularly captivating. Some of the twists will make you gasp louder than the characters who are forced to endure cold showers due to the island's basic plumbing.

Second Opinion

The Castaways (2009)

The Castaways are a group of eight close-knit friends from Nantucket. When Tess and Grey McAvoy die in mysterious circumstances while celebrating their anniversary, each person left behind must deal with myriad emotions ranging from grief and shock to guilt and regrets. Andrea, Tess' closest cousin, finds it the hardest to deal with the tragedy and begins neglecting her own family and the two children Tess left behind. Meanwhile her policeman husband Ed, also known as The Chief, is determined to uncover the truth about their deaths. Addison, who's married to Phoebe, struggles with losing his future with Tess. This story is told from the perspectives of each Castaway member and revolves around the events preceding the deaths and the aftermath. It is a compelling read as you get to understand the complex and overlapping relationships of the characters and how they struggle to move on from their pain and loss. (XT)

A Summer Affair (2008)

Claire Danner Crispin hasn't been back at work in her glassblowing studio since she collapsed from dehydration and prematurely gave birth to her youngest son, Zack. At her husband Jason's behest, she has given up her craft and instead devoted herself to their four children. But then she is asked by millionaire Lock Dixon to co-chair the annual Nantucket Children's charity gala. Her role is to secure her high school sweetheart, rock star Max West, as the performer and make a piece of art to auction. But as she fights her guilt about taking time away from her family and being responsible for Lock's unhappy home life, she is drawn into an affair. An intriguing story that keeps you turning the pages - will the secret relationship, her obsession with creating the perfect chandelier and the pressures of organising a high-society event leave her life in shatters?

Barefoot (2007)

Three women go on vacation to Nantucket but none of them really want to be there. Each is dealing with life-changing events. Vicki, the mother of two small children, comes to Nantucket to get treatment for lung cancer. Her sister, Brenda, has just lost her job because of an affair she had with a student. Then there is Vicki's friend, Melanie, who recently found out she is pregnant and needs to get away from her philandering husband. They hire a local to help them with the kids while Vicki has her chemo treatments. What choices will they make for the summer and the future? This is my first book by Hilderbrand and I'll certainly be reading more. (JG)

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