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The Rumor: A Novel
Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor.
And rumor has it...
...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;
...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;
...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;
...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.
As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
And rumor has it...
...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;
...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;
...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;
...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.
As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2015
7252 people are currently reading
49990 people want to read
About the author
Elin Hilderbrand
91 books61.2k followersElin 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,936 reviews
August 10, 2025
Quintessential Elin Hilderbrand with lots of gossip, affairs, & drama set throughout the summer on Nantucket! I didn’t love any of the characters & their decisions were questionable, but I was invested for sure 🫡
Extra points for this because I read it while on Nantucket & seeing everywhere she name dropped was SO FUN! It felt like I could run into a character on any street
Extra points for this because I read it while on Nantucket & seeing everywhere she name dropped was SO FUN! It felt like I could run into a character on any street
July 5, 2015
Meh, this wasn't one of her best. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good, either. The plot was pretty predictable and unimaginative, and it just didn't have that spark that made me want to dig in and devour the story and the characters.
What it did have, which I noticed early on and then became fixated on, was an over-abundance of ridiculously-named characters. I get really annoyed when authors use names that are difficult to spell, pronounce, or remember, as it seems like an unnecessary hardship for readers. Maybe the author is trying to be cool by using these trendy (?) names, but it was just annoying to me. I inwardly cringed at each new strange name, including Allegra, Brick, Bluto, Hollis, Calgary, Curren, Kenzie, Sterling, Colby, Benton, Barbie, Sabine, Ashland, Schuyler, Sultan, Bridger and Thornton. Sheesh, enough! Not that I would want each character in a book to be named something boring and/or traditional like Tom or Mary, but still, the crazy or made-up names should be kept to a minimum.
Anyhow, this was a light, quick read, and suited its purpose well -- it was fine as a mindless read for a day at the pool.
What it did have, which I noticed early on and then became fixated on, was an over-abundance of ridiculously-named characters. I get really annoyed when authors use names that are difficult to spell, pronounce, or remember, as it seems like an unnecessary hardship for readers. Maybe the author is trying to be cool by using these trendy (?) names, but it was just annoying to me. I inwardly cringed at each new strange name, including Allegra, Brick, Bluto, Hollis, Calgary, Curren, Kenzie, Sterling, Colby, Benton, Barbie, Sabine, Ashland, Schuyler, Sultan, Bridger and Thornton. Sheesh, enough! Not that I would want each character in a book to be named something boring and/or traditional like Tom or Mary, but still, the crazy or made-up names should be kept to a minimum.
Anyhow, this was a light, quick read, and suited its purpose well -- it was fine as a mindless read for a day at the pool.
May 26, 2023
I may have arrived super late to the Elin Hilderbrand party, but I can’t think of a better way to kick off summer than a three-day weekend spent out on the deck with one of her books (and maybe with a little cocktail).
This was my sixth Hilderbrand, but actually only my third trip to her famous Nantucket setting since the Paradise trilogy was my introduction to her writing. I can confirm I now know why everyone wants to take a fictional vacation to her little island because this sucker was a great way to waste some time.
If you know me, you know I’m always down to clown when it comes to fictional neighborhood drama and my addiction to all things Housewives, so this one was 100% my cup of tea. The story here is about two longtime friends, Grace and Madeline. They might not exactly fall into the same tax bracket, but they are most certainly BFFs – heck even their kids are high school sweethearts. So when the rumor mill starts circling that Madeline’s new rental might not actually be a writing retreat, but in reality a place where she can get down to pound town with Grace’s husband, they both laugh it off. What the local gossips don’t realize is things are sooooooooooo much juicier than that fabrication and nearly everyone is trying to hide some little dirty secret.
I picked up a paperback copy of this ages ago and left it on the “next-ish” stack. I would say I regret not reading it sooner as it was an absolute escapist’s delight, but truthfully I’m so happy I waited until it was 80 degrees and gorgeous outside before diving in. Although I’m landlocked here in flyover country, the weather situation certainly added another level of enjoyment and I could almost feel the Cape Cod breeze.
April 29, 2016
As the title implies, this is a novel about gossip and scandal among a tight knit group of friends and neighbors on Nantucket. For 80% of the novel, I was repulsed by the selfish, short-sighted, immature behavior of the adults, (I could excuse the bad behavior of the teens), When the proverbial shit hit the fan and the awful consequences of this behavior became apparent, the immerging of humble goodness in the main characters felt inauthentic, as if the author was grasping for an ending appropriate for the Life Time Channel.
March 26, 2024
EXCERPT: NANTUCKET
We didn't like to gossip; we loved to gossip.
Did you hear?
Most of the time living on Nantucket comforted us; we felt like Mother Ocean was holding us in the palm of her hand. But sometimes, the island made us restless and irritable. Winter was bad, but spring was worse because, except for a few short weeks, it was indistinguishable from winter.
What had T.S. Eliot written? April is the cruellest month.
Gossip was always the most rampant in the spring. It ran like water in a newly thawed brook; it circulated through the air like pollen. We could no sooner refrain from repeating what we'd heard than we could keep from rubbing our swollen itchy eyes.
We weren't mean spirited or vindictive or cruel; we were simply bored, and after the long stretch without summer visitors, summer money, summer magic, our reservoirs were dry.
Besides which, we were human beings, saddled with our own curiosities and our own insecurities. We were aware of things happening in the wider world - human genomes being decoded on the MIT campus, tectonic plates shifting in California, Putin waging war in Ukraine - but none of these events captured our interest like those taking place on the 105 square miles of our home island. We gossiped at the dentist, in the salon, in the produce section of the Stop & Shop, around the bar at the Boarding House; we gossiped over appetizers at the Angler's Club on Friday nights, between the pews of five o'clock Mass on Saturday nights, and in line at the Hub as we waited to buy our New York Times on Sunday mornings.
Did you hear?
There was never any way to predict who would be our subject. But if someone had told us, in the frigid. steel skied middle of April, that most of our summer would be spent whispering about Grace and Eddie Pancik . . .
. . . and Trevor Llewellyn and Madeline King . . .
. . . and about the renowned landscape architect Benton Coe . . .
. . . our mouths might have dropped open in shock.
No way.
Not possible.
They were some of the loveliest people we knew.
ABOUT 'THE RUMOR': Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor.
And rumor has it...
...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;
...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;
...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;
...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.
As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
MY THOUGHTS: Dramatic. Engrossing. Deliciously trashy. And just what I needed!
A rumor, once started, takes on a life of its own. It spreads, taking on a new aspect, a new angle, each time it is repeated. Rumors are at the heart of this enticing novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Most of us have been affected by the rumor mill at some point in our lives, and very few of us could honestly say that we haven't contributed to it.
I'm not going to add any more to the book's synopsis - no spoilers from me! But I will say that I ate this delicious book up in large chunks and enjoyed every minute of it. Oh yes - and be careful what you wish for, because when you get it, what then?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheRumor @ElinHilderbrand
THE AUTHOR: The following rumors about Elin Hilderbrand are true: she writes her novels longhand, she is a good cook, and she is a terrible gardener. Everything else is up for speculation.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand, rescued from a dusty life on the shelves of a second-hand bookstore.
We didn't like to gossip; we loved to gossip.
Did you hear?
Most of the time living on Nantucket comforted us; we felt like Mother Ocean was holding us in the palm of her hand. But sometimes, the island made us restless and irritable. Winter was bad, but spring was worse because, except for a few short weeks, it was indistinguishable from winter.
What had T.S. Eliot written? April is the cruellest month.
Gossip was always the most rampant in the spring. It ran like water in a newly thawed brook; it circulated through the air like pollen. We could no sooner refrain from repeating what we'd heard than we could keep from rubbing our swollen itchy eyes.
We weren't mean spirited or vindictive or cruel; we were simply bored, and after the long stretch without summer visitors, summer money, summer magic, our reservoirs were dry.
Besides which, we were human beings, saddled with our own curiosities and our own insecurities. We were aware of things happening in the wider world - human genomes being decoded on the MIT campus, tectonic plates shifting in California, Putin waging war in Ukraine - but none of these events captured our interest like those taking place on the 105 square miles of our home island. We gossiped at the dentist, in the salon, in the produce section of the Stop & Shop, around the bar at the Boarding House; we gossiped over appetizers at the Angler's Club on Friday nights, between the pews of five o'clock Mass on Saturday nights, and in line at the Hub as we waited to buy our New York Times on Sunday mornings.
Did you hear?
There was never any way to predict who would be our subject. But if someone had told us, in the frigid. steel skied middle of April, that most of our summer would be spent whispering about Grace and Eddie Pancik . . .
. . . and Trevor Llewellyn and Madeline King . . .
. . . and about the renowned landscape architect Benton Coe . . .
. . . our mouths might have dropped open in shock.
No way.
Not possible.
They were some of the loveliest people we knew.
ABOUT 'THE RUMOR': Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Sunday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor.
And rumor has it...
...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;
...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;
...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;
...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.
As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
MY THOUGHTS: Dramatic. Engrossing. Deliciously trashy. And just what I needed!
A rumor, once started, takes on a life of its own. It spreads, taking on a new aspect, a new angle, each time it is repeated. Rumors are at the heart of this enticing novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Most of us have been affected by the rumor mill at some point in our lives, and very few of us could honestly say that we haven't contributed to it.
I'm not going to add any more to the book's synopsis - no spoilers from me! But I will say that I ate this delicious book up in large chunks and enjoyed every minute of it. Oh yes - and be careful what you wish for, because when you get it, what then?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#TheRumor @ElinHilderbrand
THE AUTHOR: The following rumors about Elin Hilderbrand are true: she writes her novels longhand, she is a good cook, and she is a terrible gardener. Everything else is up for speculation.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand, rescued from a dusty life on the shelves of a second-hand bookstore.
March 19, 2018
Translation widget on the blog!!!
O poveste de viața si despre viața. Ce poate face bârfa dintr-un orășel mic? Sau ce poate strica omul prin acțiunile sale. O carte frumoasa!
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/zvo...
O poveste de viața si despre viața. Ce poate face bârfa dintr-un orășel mic? Sau ce poate strica omul prin acțiunile sale. O carte frumoasa!
Recenzia mea completă o găsiți aici:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/zvo...
April 28, 2022
Elin Hilderbrand writes books set on the beach with interesting characters. In THE RUMOR there is enough drama going on within this cast of characters for about 3 books. Madeline and Grace are best friends. Their kids are dating, and the mothers have vowed to stay out of any drama that ensues from that relationship—and there’s plenty. Madeline is an author who had a bestselling first book and now is struggling to pen her next title. Grace is struggling in her marriage and is contemplating an affair with the landscaper. Her husband Eddie is the island’s realtor and he’s been concealing his financial difficulties… which lead him to do some terrible things. Some of the characters did things that were quite hard to stomach. All of their situations kept me on the edge of my seat reading. I’d have to say my favorite character was Hope, the quieter and nerdier of Grace’s twin daughters who has always lived in the shadow of her popular sister.
September 8, 2020
It’s those Pesky Little Secrets that’ll Getcha!
Best Friends Madeline King and Grace Pancik share everything, including their secrets. Little do they know, it’s their secrets that are going to wreck havoc in their lives.
Madeline is a successful novelist who has writer’s block, until she uses her best friend’s love life as inspiration for her new book.
Grace is married to Eddie Pancik, a successful Real Estate Agent/Developer on Nantucket. She has everything she’s ever wanted, but fulfillment escapes her until she starts working on a garden project with Benton Coe and does the unthinkable.
Eddie has always walked the straight and narrow, until he makes a series of mistakes, one seemingly worse than the next. His heart is in the right place but somehow, that’s simply not enough. Can Eddie turn things around before it’s too late?
“The Rumor” is contemporary fiction that kept my attention throughout. I chose to read this novel by Elin Hilderbrand due to the fact that Eddie Pancik was a character in one of Ms. Hilderbrand’s “Winter Street” series (which I adored) and I was intrigued by his story and by what made him tick. Though I knew where this book was headed, I wanted to know his back story and this book provided exactly that.
The storyline revolving around Madeline and Eddie’s wife Grace while prevalent, was not as interesting to me. Though this wasn’t as strong as some of Elin Hilderbrand’s other books, it was entertaining and I recommend it for those looking for an escape.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads on 9.8.20.
Best Friends Madeline King and Grace Pancik share everything, including their secrets. Little do they know, it’s their secrets that are going to wreck havoc in their lives.
Madeline is a successful novelist who has writer’s block, until she uses her best friend’s love life as inspiration for her new book.
Grace is married to Eddie Pancik, a successful Real Estate Agent/Developer on Nantucket. She has everything she’s ever wanted, but fulfillment escapes her until she starts working on a garden project with Benton Coe and does the unthinkable.
Eddie has always walked the straight and narrow, until he makes a series of mistakes, one seemingly worse than the next. His heart is in the right place but somehow, that’s simply not enough. Can Eddie turn things around before it’s too late?
“The Rumor” is contemporary fiction that kept my attention throughout. I chose to read this novel by Elin Hilderbrand due to the fact that Eddie Pancik was a character in one of Ms. Hilderbrand’s “Winter Street” series (which I adored) and I was intrigued by his story and by what made him tick. Though I knew where this book was headed, I wanted to know his back story and this book provided exactly that.
The storyline revolving around Madeline and Eddie’s wife Grace while prevalent, was not as interesting to me. Though this wasn’t as strong as some of Elin Hilderbrand’s other books, it was entertaining and I recommend it for those looking for an escape.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads on 9.8.20.
March 14, 2016
This read like a bad over drawn soap opera.
Time to turn the channel for good.
Time to turn the channel for good.
November 4, 2017
There never was any way to predict who would be our subject. But if someone had told us, in the frigid, steel-skied middle of April, that most of our summer would be spent whispering about Grace and Eddie Pancik.. and Trevor Llewellyn and Madeline King.. and about the renowned landscape architect Benton Coe...our mouths might have dropped open in shock. No way. Not possible. They were some of the loveliest people we knew.
A nice light fall that read just like those weekday soap operas that I used to watch with my grandmothers. Plot was fairly predictable, but I will say that Elin Hilderbrand does a very good job of making her characters just every day, ordinary people that manage to screw up just we would "in real life."
A nice light fall that read just like those weekday soap operas that I used to watch with my grandmothers. Plot was fairly predictable, but I will say that Elin Hilderbrand does a very good job of making her characters just every day, ordinary people that manage to screw up just we would "in real life."
August 27, 2025
EH never disappoints. Her words to paper so beautifully written. Her characters oozing drama and The Rumor satisfied any gossip itch that needed a scratch. The ultimate rich people behaving badly.
Set during summer on Nantucket, EH does not miss a detail of this idyllic island. While I’ve never been, I felt transported to beautiful location! The flowers, the beaches, the foods, the sky, the cocktails, the weather!
The story involves two best friends, their husbands, their children, the landscaper, a few crazy scandals and the rumor mill…. Nantucket. There’s a cameo appearance of The Chief- from The Castaways.
Told in multiple POV per usual EH story telling, we get into the heads of most of the main characters. Each character is fully developed and I appreciated how book ends with closure for each person. I didn’t feel like EH left me hanging. (Book red flag.)
I like how the author uses accurate Nantucket events, such as the ‘Figawi Weekend’. Along with the street names, locations such as the beaches, and stores, are all true to life. It helps to visualize the locale and learn about the history of the island.
I also enjoy how she intermixes characters throughout her books. You never know when one will show up again in a different story. You don’t need to read them all as they are explained but it makes for an “I know this character!” Moment.
This is a fun summer read. Desperate Housewives meets the original Gossip Girl.
💵 🏝️ 🌊 🌹 🌺 🍹
Set during summer on Nantucket, EH does not miss a detail of this idyllic island. While I’ve never been, I felt transported to beautiful location! The flowers, the beaches, the foods, the sky, the cocktails, the weather!
The story involves two best friends, their husbands, their children, the landscaper, a few crazy scandals and the rumor mill…. Nantucket. There’s a cameo appearance of The Chief- from The Castaways.
Told in multiple POV per usual EH story telling, we get into the heads of most of the main characters. Each character is fully developed and I appreciated how book ends with closure for each person. I didn’t feel like EH left me hanging. (Book red flag.)
I like how the author uses accurate Nantucket events, such as the ‘Figawi Weekend’. Along with the street names, locations such as the beaches, and stores, are all true to life. It helps to visualize the locale and learn about the history of the island.
I also enjoy how she intermixes characters throughout her books. You never know when one will show up again in a different story. You don’t need to read them all as they are explained but it makes for an “I know this character!” Moment.
This is a fun summer read. Desperate Housewives meets the original Gossip Girl.
💵 🏝️ 🌊 🌹 🌺 🍹
August 4, 2015
★★★½
I think I can say with certainty that we all have been the topic of a rumor at some point. If not, just wait. When it happens, just remember that it will all be OK. Keep your head held high... you're obviously important enough to be talked about, right?
Author Elin Hilderbrand's newest women's fiction novel: The Rumor is themed with examples of age-old gossip. In addition to watching misinformation spread like wildfire, The Rumor incorporates issues related to friendship, parenting, business, and marriage (well a marital affair at least). There's romance, lots of drama, some humor, and the mystery of secrets...both rumored and real. It's a pretty wild ride.
Overall, I liked The Rumor. It was my first book from this author and all the drama going on (both real and rumored) created a fast-paced feeling that kept me engaged. There were a lot of characters and third-person perspectives to keep track of though, and I think my audiobook experience may have contributed to my difficulty following at times. It would have been nice to read this visually so I could mark sections as needed, but that could have been just me. I'd recommend The Rumor to both new and familiar fans of Elin Hilderbrand. It's an ideal beach read - check it out!
My favorite quote:
"I read the sample scene. There is something in the writing that is so immediate, so electrifying! It nearly burned my fingers as I turned the page. You're characters have such hot chemistry. We're going to market it as the Playboy Channel meets HGTV. After all, what woman doesn't want to sleep with her contractor?"
June 19, 2020
Nantucket is full of gossip this summer and most of it sounds like the childhood game of Telephone, nothing true but maybe people's names. While rumors usually have a kernel of truth to them, some of the rumors circulating around Nantucket are just complete fiction, made up to make someone feel like they had the latest news on someone else. Some of the gossip on Nantucket is true and leads to hurt feelings, ruined reputations, spoiled friendships, lost chances...
Madeline King and Grace Pancik are the center of the Nantucket rumors, and they must weather the storm of gossip that not only they create but others make up about them and those they care about.
Madeline King and Grace Pancik are the center of the Nantucket rumors, and they must weather the storm of gossip that not only they create but others make up about them and those they care about.
April 8, 2021
3 Stars
Not bad. I enjoyed the story but never warmed up to the characters.
Not bad. I enjoyed the story but never warmed up to the characters.
December 26, 2021
Grade: C+
Every June I look forward with eager anticipation to another five-star Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket beach read. Until this year, each novel has been more nuanced and delicious. Hilderbrand was going through surgery and radiation for breast cancer, I'm also a survivor, and had similar surgery and chemo. I couldn't have written a novel, some days I could barely brush my hair. That's why I feel bad giving s less than great review to one if my favorite writers.
THE RUMOR is filled with big and little rumors, some true, some not, some wishful thinking. The first Rumor is that Nantucket writer Madeline King is having an affair with her best a friend Grace's husband. Grace is on the cusp of an affair with her gardener, but that Rumor will be hidden for a while. Suffering from writer's block, Madeline uses her friend's secret romance as a way to break her lack of creativity. What could possibly go wrong?
THE RUMOR is told in short chapters from different third person POVs, but unlike most of Hilderbrand's previous novels, none of the voices were unique or felt special. Even though I read THE RUMOR in one day, there was almost zero tension, even when there should have been. None of the characters felt particularly memorable and I found the plethora of names not found among common people (Calgary. Brick. Allegra. Benton. McGuvvy. Sterling. Bridger.) to be distracting.
Elin Hilderbrad might be a victim of her and own success. She has set the bar high, and readers like me will probably expect the same level of excellence, despite having a tumultuous year. I'd rather have waited a few months, or even another year for a novel on par with her previous books. For another writer, THE RUMOR might be considered a career high, but for me it lacked luster and uniqueness. I'm still a huge fan and I can't wait to preorder her next book.
ETA: The female narrators were brilliant, but the male narrator was awful. His grating voice and horrible female dialogue made me hate his chapters.
Every June I look forward with eager anticipation to another five-star Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket beach read. Until this year, each novel has been more nuanced and delicious. Hilderbrand was going through surgery and radiation for breast cancer, I'm also a survivor, and had similar surgery and chemo. I couldn't have written a novel, some days I could barely brush my hair. That's why I feel bad giving s less than great review to one if my favorite writers.
THE RUMOR is filled with big and little rumors, some true, some not, some wishful thinking. The first Rumor is that Nantucket writer Madeline King is having an affair with her best a friend Grace's husband. Grace is on the cusp of an affair with her gardener, but that Rumor will be hidden for a while. Suffering from writer's block, Madeline uses her friend's secret romance as a way to break her lack of creativity. What could possibly go wrong?
THE RUMOR is told in short chapters from different third person POVs, but unlike most of Hilderbrand's previous novels, none of the voices were unique or felt special. Even though I read THE RUMOR in one day, there was almost zero tension, even when there should have been. None of the characters felt particularly memorable and I found the plethora of names not found among common people (Calgary. Brick. Allegra. Benton. McGuvvy. Sterling. Bridger.) to be distracting.
Elin Hilderbrad might be a victim of her and own success. She has set the bar high, and readers like me will probably expect the same level of excellence, despite having a tumultuous year. I'd rather have waited a few months, or even another year for a novel on par with her previous books. For another writer, THE RUMOR might be considered a career high, but for me it lacked luster and uniqueness. I'm still a huge fan and I can't wait to preorder her next book.
ETA: The female narrators were brilliant, but the male narrator was awful. His grating voice and horrible female dialogue made me hate his chapters.
July 2, 2018
"Every life contains a novel.”
This is my first book by Elin Hilderbrand. I'm not sure if it was the right one to begin with, but when my flight got canceled and I suddenly had to rent a car and drive four hours, I knew I needed an audiobook to help me stay awake.
The Rumor did its job. I was entertained the whole way through. The drive was a breeze while I was picturing the beautiful Nantucket (which is on my list of places to vacation at). A small island where people love to gossip and where two couples are about to give fuel to the fire.
The residents of this island have nothing better to do than to entertain themselves by whispering about their neighbors and to create drama from nothing just like Madeline, Trent King, Grace and "Fast Eddie" Pancik will discover soon.
Madeline King is a writer suffering from writer's block. She needs to deliver a new book soon to her publishers before they come knocking on her door. Madeline has used the advance they gave her. She doesn't have enough money in the bank to pay them back. She makes the sudden decision to rent an apartment to isolate herself from her husband Trent and her son Brick and to concentrate on writing her next novel. Of course, this will trigger a rumor that she is having an affair.
Eddy Pancik is a real state agent. His nickname is Fast Eddy. Eddy came from nothing and now he's a big success or so people think. The real estate market is down and Eddy is in dire need of money to finish a project. His bills are accumulating. He needs to do something. Grace and his twin girls, Allegra and Hope, depend on him. In a desperate move, Eddy makes the decision to start a lucrative side job except it is illegal and if caught, he could lose it all.
Grace is married to Eddy. She feels like Eddy doesn't see her anymore. Her two teenage daughters don't want to spend time with her. Her passion is her garden and the man who's helping her build it. Slowly but surely, she is falling for Ben. He is everything she wants. But how far can she take it before there is no return?
I love small town settings where everyone knows everyone. The downside is that everyone knows everyone. It's hard to hide an illicit business, a teenager's indiscretion, a heated affair or a separation. And even if everything is going well, people still love to talk.
I was thoroughly entertained by The Rumor. There were so many wrong decisions taken by many characters and I didn't know how Elin Hilderbrand was going to wrap things up. I can say that in my opinion, she did it just perfectly.
I have The Identicals on my kindle. I think I'll read that one next.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
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October 9, 2017
Want a good beach read – a.k.a. weekend read, vacation read, or fireplace read? Here’s one. Elin Hilderbrand has made a name for herself penning novels set on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Several years ago, I read one of hers, Summerland, and, while it was scenic, it was also thought-provoking.
I enjoyed The Rumor, but more for fun than thought. It is filled with sympathetic characters – teens, parents, friends – who make bad choices until they get caught, at which point they atone. Tying it all together, more as a gimmick than a consequence, are rumors. Nantucket is, after all, an island. Its communities are insular, and Hilderbrand, a local, knows them well.
This book gives island flavor. It gives you the angst of a writer trying to find a blockbuster next-book idea, twinship temporarily gone awry, beautiful gardens, and drama reminiscent of a mid-day soap opera. It was a little heavy with repetition, as in gossip spreading the same stories from character to character. And the ending was perhaps too speedy for the slower pace of the rest. But The Rumor is well written. Nothing deep here. Just enjoyment.
I give it four stars because of that enjoyment factor. The Rumor is what it is – makes no pretense of being otherwise – and whereas I expect more from the “literary” writers so highly touted by professional reviewers, I felt that this one delivered what it promised. It’s a good beach read set at the beach. Period.
I enjoyed The Rumor, but more for fun than thought. It is filled with sympathetic characters – teens, parents, friends – who make bad choices until they get caught, at which point they atone. Tying it all together, more as a gimmick than a consequence, are rumors. Nantucket is, after all, an island. Its communities are insular, and Hilderbrand, a local, knows them well.
This book gives island flavor. It gives you the angst of a writer trying to find a blockbuster next-book idea, twinship temporarily gone awry, beautiful gardens, and drama reminiscent of a mid-day soap opera. It was a little heavy with repetition, as in gossip spreading the same stories from character to character. And the ending was perhaps too speedy for the slower pace of the rest. But The Rumor is well written. Nothing deep here. Just enjoyment.
I give it four stars because of that enjoyment factor. The Rumor is what it is – makes no pretense of being otherwise – and whereas I expect more from the “literary” writers so highly touted by professional reviewers, I felt that this one delivered what it promised. It’s a good beach read set at the beach. Period.
August 2, 2015
Hilderbrand delivers again... and with breast cancer no doubt! She is truly a superwoman!! I have this 4 stars because I wanted Benton and Grace to end up together. I didn't like Eddie and I really wanted Benton to swoop in and become the husband. I also wanted Madeline to publish her story and go half with Grace. Overall it was a good book! Loved the characters minus Eddie and was happy that Allegra and Hope came together as sisters who love to read in the end. I was happy that Madeline got her money and started a new book, and I was happy that Eddie went to jail... He deserves it. Side note: can't wait for Elin's next novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2016
The fluffiest beach read ever. Is there a template for these novels; there must be. Affairs, minor tragedies, betrayals, broken hearts, on and on. All on the mostly beautiful, playground of more wealthier people who summer on Nantucket . Amusing though the many descriptions of food and settings are reminiscent of the 1990s than present day even though this book was released this year. Disappointed in my first Elin Hildebrand novel. Too simple, obvious and predictable.
I'm revising my stars from one to three. I was way too harsh.
I'm revising my stars from one to three. I was way too harsh.
November 8, 2018
Not a bad read. Kept my attention and told an okay story Good character development but lacked the emotional depth I expect. The beginning started off promising but kind of fizzled as it went along. I made it to the end but somewhere in the story it went from enticing and unexpected to predictable and lackluster. I listened to the audio and I think the readers made it a little more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been. This is my second Hilderbrand book and I felt the same way about the first one. I plan to try another of her books so will see how that goes. Probably a good one for the beach as it's easy to put down and pick up.
July 14, 2018
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Genre: Women's Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Recommended Read
Filled with juicy gossip and a whole lot of scandal, this is a must have bead read! How I let this author slip by on my radar is downright horrendous. I want to grab all of her books and nestle them on my bookshelf. I want to pack them all up, go to Nantucket for the week, and read them all one by one. I feel like I have been missing so much by not reading them and am slapping myself because of it. If you are a fan of women's fiction and love novels that are downright scandalous then this is a must read! I am so glad I grabbed a copy when it was on sale because I am now an instant fan.
Elin Hilderbrand does a wonderful job at bringing her characters to life. This book is told in 4 point of views (don't worry, it's easy to follow and will not confuse you) and allows us insight into every juicy detail. We have Grace, mother of twin teens, who may or may not be having a fling with her gardener. The we have Madeline, mother of one, and author who is having a hard time coming up with her next novel in time for the deadline. Madeline may or may not be writing a book about a close friend- sharing a shameful secret in the process. Next is Eddie. He is Grace's husband. He is living the high life in Nantucket only, his funds are quickly dwindling. Good thing he found a way to get more money... Only, it may be quite illegal. Finally we have Hope. She is one of Grace's twin daughters. She's a high school student, book nerd, and polar opposite of her twin sister Allegra. She would rather read a book than deal with drama, especially after what happened between her and a school mate, but she can't seem to stay out of the drama! What happens between everyone involved in this book is quite scintillating and you aren't going to want to miss out on what happens with each person!
If you are looking for the perfect summer book, Elin Hilderbrand is clearly a must have author! I am going to be grabbing all her other books because I know she is worthy of a BIG binge read this summer! I highly recommend this one. It's a whole lot of fun and shouldn't be missed!
Genre: Women's Fiction
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Recommended Read
Filled with juicy gossip and a whole lot of scandal, this is a must have bead read! How I let this author slip by on my radar is downright horrendous. I want to grab all of her books and nestle them on my bookshelf. I want to pack them all up, go to Nantucket for the week, and read them all one by one. I feel like I have been missing so much by not reading them and am slapping myself because of it. If you are a fan of women's fiction and love novels that are downright scandalous then this is a must read! I am so glad I grabbed a copy when it was on sale because I am now an instant fan.
Elin Hilderbrand does a wonderful job at bringing her characters to life. This book is told in 4 point of views (don't worry, it's easy to follow and will not confuse you) and allows us insight into every juicy detail. We have Grace, mother of twin teens, who may or may not be having a fling with her gardener. The we have Madeline, mother of one, and author who is having a hard time coming up with her next novel in time for the deadline. Madeline may or may not be writing a book about a close friend- sharing a shameful secret in the process. Next is Eddie. He is Grace's husband. He is living the high life in Nantucket only, his funds are quickly dwindling. Good thing he found a way to get more money... Only, it may be quite illegal. Finally we have Hope. She is one of Grace's twin daughters. She's a high school student, book nerd, and polar opposite of her twin sister Allegra. She would rather read a book than deal with drama, especially after what happened between her and a school mate, but she can't seem to stay out of the drama! What happens between everyone involved in this book is quite scintillating and you aren't going to want to miss out on what happens with each person!
If you are looking for the perfect summer book, Elin Hilderbrand is clearly a must have author! I am going to be grabbing all her other books because I know she is worthy of a BIG binge read this summer! I highly recommend this one. It's a whole lot of fun and shouldn't be missed!
April 27, 2017
I really liked this one!! It had lots of humor and small-town backstabbing and gossip, much like Liane Moriarty's novel Big Little Lies.
Set yet again in Nantucket, where everybody knows everyone, all who live there feel like they belong in anyone's personal business. The Rumor is about friendship, love, and all of the messiness that hides beneath the surface. It's about marriage and best friends and sisters and forbidden crushes. It is tied all together in one big messy ribbon with the phrase ".....did you hear????"
With the weather FINALLY getting better and summer right around the corner, go ahead and grab this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed
Set yet again in Nantucket, where everybody knows everyone, all who live there feel like they belong in anyone's personal business. The Rumor is about friendship, love, and all of the messiness that hides beneath the surface. It's about marriage and best friends and sisters and forbidden crushes. It is tied all together in one big messy ribbon with the phrase ".....did you hear????"
With the weather FINALLY getting better and summer right around the corner, go ahead and grab this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed
February 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It shows how rumors can fly around a small community even if they might not be true. Both of these families have issues and as the story goes along, they slowly unravel. I enjoyed the different characters. There were a few I wanted to slap and a few I wanted to comfort. It was an enjoyable audiobook. Great beach read.
August 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this novel. Elin managed an entertaining summer read involving friendship, betrayal, and love set in Nantucket.
October 9, 2021
I basically enjoyed Elin Hildebrand book, "The Rumor"
It has some fun plot points but was basically average. Two friends who are lifetime pals have serious difficulties that are the main thesis of the book. Lots of family secrets and misbehavior break them apart. Guess what happens in the end...... happily ever after! Zzzzzz
Characters are well developed and probably whatade me enjoy the book.
I guess it would be a good beach book for some but we have a foot of snow and I am not very beachy these days.
Just ok. No recommendation one way or the other
It has some fun plot points but was basically average. Two friends who are lifetime pals have serious difficulties that are the main thesis of the book. Lots of family secrets and misbehavior break them apart. Guess what happens in the end...... happily ever after! Zzzzzz
Characters are well developed and probably whatade me enjoy the book.
I guess it would be a good beach book for some but we have a foot of snow and I am not very beachy these days.
Just ok. No recommendation one way or the other
June 19, 2015
Elin Hilderbrand returns with her annual Nantucket summer beach read THE RUMOR - A contemporary chick-lit, with tantalizing scandals, lustful affairs, hidden secrets, financial ruin, writer’s block, desperation, greed, prostitution, town gossip, and rumors which turn this beach island upside down. 3.5 Stars
With a page taken from a series of Wisteria Lane’s Desperate Housewives, we meet a cast of characters, whose lives connect in many ways for some wit, summer fun, and naughty mischief.
Meet the characters:
Grace and Madeline are best friends. Grace’s daughter Allegra and Madeline’s son Brick are involved. Fast Eddie (town’s real estate broker, currently in financial ruin with the real estate bust) finds a way to bring in some fast cash. Grace his wife, who is secretly in love with her landscape architect –clueless, a dreamer romantic--- has no clue what is going on with her own household—(daughters, husband, friend), and begins an affair.
Eddie owes Madeline and her husband a large sum of money from a bad real estate investment; His bill is due at the country club, and things are closing in. He cannot let his family, nor the town know he is broke, as will ruin his real estate career.
Madeline, an author is suffering from writer’s block until she gets some inspiration from her best friend’s secret affair and begins writing her sizzling novel, betraying her trust. (loved her editor and her enthusiasm).
Behind Eddie and Grace’s perfect façade, a beautiful home, stunning gardens, and an upcoming featured story in the Boston Globe, we find twin teenage daughters with much drama. Of course Grace is not paying attention to her daughters, her husband’s illegal scheming, nor her financial woes, as all she is consumed with is her gardens, looking good, and her handsome and charming landscape architect, Benton Coe (and the garden shed). However, does Benton really return her feelings?
Having read all Hilderbrand’s books and a long-time fan, excited she is back with her old writing style which made her a big success. With her real-life courageous fight against breast cancer, she still manages to crank out her annual summer beach reads and her winter family charming reads.
I enjoyed THE RUMOR, as Hilderbrand demonstrates flaws, drama, and real life characters, versus picture perfect, especially when people lose track of what is important in life, and the lengths they will go in order to keep up appearances.
Highly recommend the audiobook, as Kathleen McInerney (one of my favorite narrators), delivers a smashing summer scandalous beach read, where reality- may be worse than the rumor.
JDCMustReadBooks
With a page taken from a series of Wisteria Lane’s Desperate Housewives, we meet a cast of characters, whose lives connect in many ways for some wit, summer fun, and naughty mischief.
Meet the characters:
Grace and Madeline are best friends. Grace’s daughter Allegra and Madeline’s son Brick are involved. Fast Eddie (town’s real estate broker, currently in financial ruin with the real estate bust) finds a way to bring in some fast cash. Grace his wife, who is secretly in love with her landscape architect –clueless, a dreamer romantic--- has no clue what is going on with her own household—(daughters, husband, friend), and begins an affair.
Eddie owes Madeline and her husband a large sum of money from a bad real estate investment; His bill is due at the country club, and things are closing in. He cannot let his family, nor the town know he is broke, as will ruin his real estate career.
Madeline, an author is suffering from writer’s block until she gets some inspiration from her best friend’s secret affair and begins writing her sizzling novel, betraying her trust. (loved her editor and her enthusiasm).
Behind Eddie and Grace’s perfect façade, a beautiful home, stunning gardens, and an upcoming featured story in the Boston Globe, we find twin teenage daughters with much drama. Of course Grace is not paying attention to her daughters, her husband’s illegal scheming, nor her financial woes, as all she is consumed with is her gardens, looking good, and her handsome and charming landscape architect, Benton Coe (and the garden shed). However, does Benton really return her feelings?
Having read all Hilderbrand’s books and a long-time fan, excited she is back with her old writing style which made her a big success. With her real-life courageous fight against breast cancer, she still manages to crank out her annual summer beach reads and her winter family charming reads.
I enjoyed THE RUMOR, as Hilderbrand demonstrates flaws, drama, and real life characters, versus picture perfect, especially when people lose track of what is important in life, and the lengths they will go in order to keep up appearances.
Highly recommend the audiobook, as Kathleen McInerney (one of my favorite narrators), delivers a smashing summer scandalous beach read, where reality- may be worse than the rumor.
JDCMustReadBooks
July 10, 2015
Title: the Rumor - stand alone novel that takes place on Nantucket, but some familiar characters do make brief cameos.
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: June, 2015
Format: ebook via Samsung Galaxy 4 Nook ereader
Read: June, 2015
Genre: fiction, drama, chick-lit, nor a "light" read yet still a fast one.
My Goodreads rating: 4.5 "whoa, that was gooood", stars.
Brief remarks:
I always anticipate the release of a new novel by Elin Hilderbrand. This novel was especially anticipated by me personally as it was written during Ms. H's breast cancer battle. I cannot imagine writing a book during such a trying ordeal, but I bet the escape was very much needed.
All that aside, we once again return to the beautiful island and small town, Nantucket (east coast, USA). The book is written from many perspectives as is rather typical of this author, and it reeeeealllly flows well that way!
As one can infer based on the title, "the Rumor" is loosely based on the negative effects of gossip, how rumors get started and grow and change, etc., but that isn't the whole story.
Unfortunately, I am not yet a good enough reviewer to write much else without spoiling the entire book, but I must say it was really, really excellent and just so REAL. Some books resonate with readers for different reasons; this one really resonated with me from the "small town, too many people with nothing to do" perspective. That was my entire life until about 12 years ago. Blargh.
Anyhow, fans of Hilderbrand are sure to love this book as much as I did, I think. If you're new to this author, I would definitely recommend this book to you; it would work as a "beach read" but really, the story is actually deep enough to warrant a little extra focus, if that makes sense. I hope so. ☺️
Feel free to ask me specific questions if you're interested in knowing more before reading. Thanks for taking the time to read my remarks and enjoy whatever you choose to read!!!
Cheers!
Lisa (@NurseLisainOhio)
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: June, 2015
Format: ebook via Samsung Galaxy 4 Nook ereader
Read: June, 2015
Genre: fiction, drama, chick-lit, nor a "light" read yet still a fast one.
My Goodreads rating: 4.5 "whoa, that was gooood", stars.
Brief remarks:
I always anticipate the release of a new novel by Elin Hilderbrand. This novel was especially anticipated by me personally as it was written during Ms. H's breast cancer battle. I cannot imagine writing a book during such a trying ordeal, but I bet the escape was very much needed.
All that aside, we once again return to the beautiful island and small town, Nantucket (east coast, USA). The book is written from many perspectives as is rather typical of this author, and it reeeeealllly flows well that way!
As one can infer based on the title, "the Rumor" is loosely based on the negative effects of gossip, how rumors get started and grow and change, etc., but that isn't the whole story.
Unfortunately, I am not yet a good enough reviewer to write much else without spoiling the entire book, but I must say it was really, really excellent and just so REAL. Some books resonate with readers for different reasons; this one really resonated with me from the "small town, too many people with nothing to do" perspective. That was my entire life until about 12 years ago. Blargh.
Anyhow, fans of Hilderbrand are sure to love this book as much as I did, I think. If you're new to this author, I would definitely recommend this book to you; it would work as a "beach read" but really, the story is actually deep enough to warrant a little extra focus, if that makes sense. I hope so. ☺️
Feel free to ask me specific questions if you're interested in knowing more before reading. Thanks for taking the time to read my remarks and enjoy whatever you choose to read!!!
Cheers!
Lisa (@NurseLisainOhio)
July 22, 2015
A pretty typical beach read: Lots of people making terrible choices and everything turns out all right in the end.
February 4, 2017
this is the 3rd book I have read by this author and I haven't loved any of them?!? I think I'm done. Cringeworthy characters.....this book was just not for me!
June 20, 2024
4.5⭐️ ate this right up we love a beachy island drama
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