28 Summers

Mallory Blessing inherits a beach cottage in Nantucket and soon begins a romance with Jake McCloud during Labor Day weekend of 1993. Their connection leads to an agreement to meet one weekend each year at the same cottage, following the plot of the film Same Time Next Year. Over the next 28 years, Mallory and Jake maintain their annual tradition despite the complexities of their separate lives. Jake marries an ambitious politician while Mallory builds her life on Nantucket, with both experiencing career changes, family obligations, and personal challenges between their yearly reunions. The structure moves year by year through nearly three decades, with each chapter anchored by notable events and cultural touchstones of that specific time. The format provides context for the characters' choices and circumstances while marking the passage of time. This exploration of love, duty, and sacrifice asks questions about the nature of happiness and whether brief moments of connection can sustain us through life's demands. The novel considers how people balance personal fulfillment against societal expectations and commitments.

Readers found the book to be an emotional beach read with strong character development and vivid Nantucket settings. The parallel storylines and time jumps maintained engagement, with many noting they finished it in 1-2 sittings. Readers appreciated: - The "Same Time Next Year" movie connection/premise - Details about Nantucket life and culture - The historical references woven through each chapter - Complex family dynamics Common criticisms: - Political commentary felt forced and unnecessary - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Several readers struggled with the morality of the affair - Timeline jumps confused some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (191,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (22,000+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 "The historical markers grounded the story in reality" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much political commentary took away from the romance" - Amazon reviewer "Couldn't put it down despite disagreeing with the characters' choices" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

One Day by David Nicholls A story that follows two people who meet on the same day each year for two decades, chronicling their separate lives and enduring connection.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner Two women with the same name become entangled in each other's lives through mistaken identity, leading to revelations about past trauma and healing on Cape Cod.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo The paths of two former college sweethearts intersect over thirteen years as they pursue different lives while maintaining a deep connection.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle A woman's perfectly planned life takes an unexpected turn when she experiences a vision of herself five years in the future with a different man.

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand Four siblings navigate romance, war, civil rights, and family dynamics during one transformative summer in Nantucket.

🌊 The novel's premise was inspired by the 1978 romantic drama "Same Time, Next Year," starring Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn 📚 Author Elin Hilderbrand has written over 28 novels, and all of them are set on or around Nantucket Island, Massachusetts 🗓️ The book spans 28 years, from 1993 to 2020, with each chapter beginning with real-world "What's Happening" events from that particular year 💍 The "same time, next year" affair between Mallory and Jake occurs specifically on Labor Day weekend, creating a bittersweet tradition that anchors the story 🏖️ While writing the novel, Hilderbrand maintained a strict writing schedule, working from 11 AM to 4 PM daily at a specific beach on Nantucket to capture the island's authentic atmosphere