Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand (review) audio book

The Island: A NovelFrom Publishers Weekly

At the start of this steamy woman's novel from Hilderbrand (The Castaways), recently divorced Birdie Cousins is busy planning the September wedding of her older daughter, Chess, at the family house on Tuckernuck, a privately owned island near Nantucket. Birdie hopes to spend some quality time with Chess on Tuckernuck in July, but then Chess breaks her engagement to her consummate Ivy League golden boy fiancé, Michael Morgan. Michael fatally plunges off a Utah crag just when Birdie acquires her own new beau--a married man with a wife stricken with Alzheimer's. Birdie, Chess, and their support team--Birdie's computer-guru younger daughter, Tate, and Birdie's bohemian widowed sister, India--hare off to Tuckernuck. There hunky handyman Barrett Lee flutters hearts and dampens underwear in a breathless month of supercharged estrogenic imbalances. This never-never land portrait of the rich and randy will please those looking for a satisfying beach read.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
 
My take on this book:
This book is about two sets of sisters from two different generations, Birdie Cousins, and her two daughters Chess and Tate along with Birdie's sister India. They decide to spent the month of July at the family home on Tuckernut Island.

Each woman woman has a story to tell and each of their stories revolve around love. Birdie divorced after thirty years of marriage is developing a relationship with Hank, a married man. They justify this relationship because Hank's wife has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing facility.

India's husband committed suicide 15 yrs prior and is starting to develop a relationship with an art student.
Tate, Birdie's youngest daughter comes off as arrogant, but actually she just uses that as a front to hide her insecurities, she has never really been lucky in love but maybe perhaps that will change since there is a cute handyman hanging around.

Then we have Chess, she has called off her wedding  not really explaining why, and then falls into depression when  her former fiance suddenly dies. She is the true reason for the trip, the women hope that spending time together can help Chess heal. Soon though the women realize that they all needed this time together.

Even though this was a very quick paced novel filled with women bonding, romance and drama,along with mother daughter relationships it just didn't click for me. The characters were explained in depth, I just couldn't connect with them for some reason. I could sympathize with Chess, but ultimately I really couldn't get enthusiastic about any of the characters. I really didn't care for the relationship between Birdie and Hank, I guess I am just to old fashioned but I think the wedding vows say till death do us part, not" till my spouse gets Alzheimer's."

Even though this book really didn't click for me I do think that Ms. Hilderbrand is a good storyteller, and I will read more of her work.

If  your looking for book with romance, drama with a chic-lit feel, and a happy ending then this might be the perfect  read for you.
My rating for this book is 3/5

Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher "Thanks Anna" it in no way alters my opinion of this book.

2 comments:

  1. Years ago I read one of her books at the beach...don't remember the title, but it was set at the shore...I remember it being a quick read, perfect for vacation...this one sounds like it's not enough to go on my tbr pile...thanks for the in-depth review :)

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