The Hotel Nantucket

After a scandal ends her long-term relationship, Nantucket native Lizbet Keaton accepts a position as general manager of the newly renovated Hotel Nantucket. The historic hotel's owner, London billionaire Xavier Darling, tasks her with achieving a coveted five-key rating from an influential hotel blog. Lizbet assembles a staff of local characters and hospitality professionals to restore the hotel's reputation, which was tarnished by a tragic fire in 1922. The hotel's resident ghost, Grace Hadley, observes the modern-day drama while harboring secrets about the century-old tragedy that claimed her life. Multiple storylines intersect as the summer season progresses, involving hotel staff members, guests, and island residents. Romance, professional ambition, and long-buried mysteries come together during the hotel's crucial first season under new management. The novel explores themes of second chances and reinvention, while examining how the past influences the present. It balances the fun of a beach read with deeper questions about redemption and the ways people choose to rebuild their lives.

Readers call this a fun summer beach read with an engaging ghost story element and detailed descriptions of hotel operations. Many note it works well as a standalone despite being part of Hilderbrand's Nantucket series. Readers liked: - The diverse cast of characters and their individual storylines - Behind-the-scenes look at luxury hotel management - The ghost character's perspective - Nantucket setting descriptions Readers disliked: - Too many characters to track - Some plot points left unresolved - Romance elements felt rushed - Predictable storyline One reader noted: "The ghost's chapters were the most compelling part." Another said: "Needed a character list to keep track of everyone." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (123,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (22,000+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (2,000+ ratings) The book ranked on multiple bestseller lists and was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Historical Fiction (2022).

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand A tale of a decades-long secret romance unfolds through the backdrop of a Nantucket beach house, weaving together themes of family, loss, and summer memories.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave A woman uncovers the truth about her husband's disappearance while forming a bond with her stepdaughter in this story of family secrets and reinvention.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner Multiple generations of a family confront their secrets and relationships when they gather at their Cape Cod summer home for a wedding.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley A wedding celebration at a remote island hotel turns dark when someone turns up dead, revealing the hidden connections between the guests.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid An aging Hollywood legend recounts her life story to an unknown journalist, revealing the truth behind her seven marriages and her time at the Sunset Hotel.

🏖️ Like the novel's fictional Hotel Nantucket, the real-life Nantucket Hotel & Resort was restored from a historic property and reopened in 2012 after years of neglect. 🔥 The ghost story element was inspired by true events—the 1925 fire at Nantucket's Point Breeze Hotel, which was destroyed just hours before it was scheduled to open. 📚 Author Elin Hilderbrand has written over 28 novels, and all of them are set in Nantucket, where she has lived since 1994. ⭐ The novel's hotel rating system is based on Forbes Travel Guide's real five-star rating process, which involves anonymous inspectors evaluating properties on up to 900 criteria. 🏨 The character of Xavier Darling was partially inspired by hotelier André Balazs, known for transforming historic properties into luxury hotels like The Mercer in New York and Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.