One Summer: The Blue Bistro / The Love Season

by Elin Hilderbrand

Just in time for summer vacation comes this reissue of two beloved Elin Hilderbrand classics, filled with double the sun, sand, drama and romance that fans love. In The Blue Bistro, Adrienne Dealey has decided to relocate to Nantucket after spending the past six years working for hotels in exotic resort towns. She's just trying to earn some quick money, never bargaining on Thatcher Smith, the owner of the hottest restaurant on the island. He's the only one to offer her a job, despite her lack of restaurant experience, and things seem to be going smoothly until Thatch makes Adrienne break one of her cardinal rules: Never date the boss. Should she open her heart for the first time, or move on, as she always does?

In The Love Season, Marguerite Beale, former chef of culinary hot spot Les Parapluies, has been out of the public eye for over a decade. But this all changes with a phone call from her goddaughter, Renata Knox, whom Marguerite has not seen since the death of Renata’s mother fourteen years earlier. Now that Renata is on Nantucket visiting the family of her new fiancé, she takes the opportunity to contact Marguerite in hopes of learning the story of her own mother’s life—and death.  But the events of a day spiral hopelessly out of control for both women, and nothing ends up as planned. The Love Story is a riveting story that takes place in one day and spans decades.

Genres: Fiction, Beach Reads, Chick Lit, Drama, Summer Reads, Adult Fiction

639 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.

Facebook.com/ElinHilderbrand

Pinterest.com/ElinHilderbrand

Reviews

[Connor]

Took me forever to read this one. Elin hilderbrand isn't a bad author but this combination of books was just sappy. The first: The Blue Bistro was over 300 pages long! It shouldn't have been the story was dead by page 150. The story building didn't work and added no substance at all. Adrienne and thatchers relationship was supposed to be the focal along with his friendship with Fiona. Neither was developed. The conflict was barely recognisable.
The second book: The Love Season. I tried the first few pages and re-read the synopsis and refused to put myself through another eight months of picking up and putting this book down only to realise it's not worth the read.

[Madison Everett-Clark]

It took me quite a while to get through this one & I don’t know if I’m convinced with the rating I’ve chosen.

I enjoyed the story line of The Blue Bistro, but didn’t love the ending of it. It felt undone.

The Love Season was slow moving & Marguerite was quite infuriating to me, but the ending made it a worthwhile read.

[Teri Wood]

I enjoyed the first book but the second was not. Quite as good

[Becky A]

3.5 stars.

The Blue Bistro: I didn't have to worry about applying sunscreen with this romance; it was an extremely slow burn. But something compelled me to keep reading. Even at the end I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Which about the ending: I'm not at all a fan of the maybe-they-did / maybe-they-didn't make it ending.

Overall, this book just left me sad.

The Love Season: I liked this one better than the first. Maybe because I was prepared to be left unsatisfied, which, overall, I wasn't. To me, the MC's arc was completed.

[Nikki Carr]

I had always heard that Elin said Blue Bistro was her favorite of all of her books, and now I know why. This book was amazing, between the love story, and the history of the amazing restaurant, it was all so beautiful. I spent 12 years as a waitress/bartender/bar manager, and reading this book brought back so many found memories of that part of my life. I always say I never want to go back into the restaurant business, but this book really had me missing it. Another 5 star read from my favorite author...❤️❤️

[Shannon]

Good book, was hard to put down once I got started in it. The characters are quite believable. The relationship between Thatcher and Fiona was deep and seemed so sad due to the circumstances.

I have now added Nantucket to my bucket list and hope to visit there soon.

[Martha Kempf]

An easy, relaxing read... perfect for beach/pool... but since we are under a constant rain cloud a lazy weekend book. I loved that Thatcher was from my neighborhood! Made it an extra fun book. If you enjoy the Hallmark Channel & ND (which I DO!!) you’ll enjoy this book.

[Shannon A. Haebler]

I really liked the Blue Bistro, it had great plot twist. I read the Love Season after that, while the ending was great the book kind of seemed to drag on a little bit. Maybe I should have read a book or two in between and I might have liked it more.

[Carey Simpson]

The first part of the book, the blue bistro, was an okay story. lots of delicious, mouthwatering menus, but the story itself was bland, like something was missing, especially the ending. The second part, the love season, kept my interest and the characters were much deeper.

[Rose Hallarn]

Many did not care for this book. But I appreciated the peek behind the scenes of a very high end restaurant on the usual Hilderbrand setting of Nantucket.
The story of the unusual double love story was thought provoking and one that needs a new set of rules perhaps.

[Susan]

This book was really two novels in one. I only read the first one, The Blue Bistro. It was a "beach read" about a girl who worked in a busy, upscale restaurant. I decided to pass on the second book, The Love Season, and get back to something a little more substantial.

[Janice Tolifson]

Adienne Dealey has spent the past 6 years working for hotels in exotic resort towns. This summer she went to Nanrucket to find a job. Thatcher hired her on the spot and trained her in as hostess in the Blue Bistro restaurant very high end. Adienne is scared to open up her heart to romance .

[Sheila Martinez]

Fun summer reads! The author is very skilled at likable characters and easy dialogue.

[Amanda]

Another amazing summertime journey

[Taylor Celeste Sawyer]

The blue bistro is a romance novel that is neither predictable or “classic”. It also places so much emphasis on the restaurant and the food which gives the story life and character.

[Sandy]

I loved this book and didn’t want it to end!

[Shirley]

Both books are good stories related to restaurants, cooking, eating and unusual love stories. I enjoyed both, but The Love Season was my favorite.

[Cora]

combination of two amazing books by Elin!

[Lauren]

Was a four star for me and then the end was a Trainwreck :(

[Kate Morton]

It was a bit long, but an enjoyable light read. I especially enjoyed the restaurant menu items.

[Linene]

The end was a bit flat…. The reminiscing at the end could have been in the story through out the book.

[Toni Straziuso]

Awful

[Marian Flink]

Good summer beach reading. Enjoyed the characters, food, and the location in which the story was told. Interesting to note the relationships of the work family.

[Leah Raiser]

I enjoyed both books but their were details in both that made me angry. Mostly due to some of the characters actions. Overall a good read.

[Susan B Phillips]

I enjoyed The Blue Bistro’s storyline.
TheLove Season, for me, I enjoyed but not as much

[Erin Warner]

I just loved this book!

[Sheldon Fine]

Love Nantucket

[Carol Howard]

Audio version

[Annalea Burgess]

So different from Elin Hilderbrand’s other books, but in a good way. Beautiful love story

[Kristyn Topinka]

LOVE LOVE LOVE every single minute of reading these two books