The Blue Book: A Must-See, Can’t-Miss, Won’t-Forget Guide to Nantucket

by Elin Hilderbrand

Half the fun of an Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket novel is her attention to local the beaches, restaurants, shops, and scenic destinations are as memorable as her plots and characters. For years Elin’s fans have made pilgrimages to the places they know from her books, and for years they’ve asked for a single guidebook to “Elin’s Nantucket.” The wait is in The Blue Book, the Queen of the Beach Read – and dare we say the Queen of Nantucket – offers readers practical, fun, insider from drive-on beaches to late-night dance bars; from romantic getaways to family outings; from where to find the best oysters to where to buy the best beach towel. Interspersed with scenes from Elin’s novels set at the locations she recommends, with charming watercolor illustrations throughout, The Blue Book lets readers plan the perfect getaway – and live like the characters in an Elin Hilderbrand novel.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

144 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2025

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

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are ever going to go to Nantucket I recommend you use this book for your trip. Elon brings everything on Nantucket to life in her books. This book spells out all her advice on where to go and who to see. I hope someday I will see this beautiful place in person. Thanks Elin for sharing all your knowledge.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any day that mail arrives from Nantucket is a good day - especially when the goodies arrive earlier than expected! What a beauty of a book from @elinhilderbrand with stunning artwork from @merhanson, lovingly packed by @timtalksbooks and shipped from @nantucketbooks! I don’t know what I love more - recommendations from the Queen herself, the artwork of the real place, the excerpts from the novels that mention said place, or the exclusive bag tag that comes when you order from @nantucketbooks. You may think you know The Blue Book from The Hotel Nantucket but this 2025 update is a beautiful love letter to Elin’s Nantucket and the perfect size to take along on your adventure!

[Michelle Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely makes me want to visit Elin’s Nantucket!

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blue Book: A Must-See, Can't-Miss, Won't-Forget Guide to Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand with illustrations by Meredith Hanson (2025)
v+133-page Kindle Ebook

Genre: Nonfiction, Travel Guide, Memoir

Featuring: Endpaper map - Elin's Nantucket; Publisher's Links, Introduction, Author's Note, Nantucket Websites, Getting Here (and Back Home) Is the Hardest Part - Transportation Options, Air, Boat, Taxi, Bike; Websites, Instagram Handles, Phone Numbers, Graphics, Where Should I Stay? - Accommodations, Nantucket Hotel, Cliffside Beach Club, Elin Suite; Restaurants, Sites, Excerpts from Hilderbrand Novels, Inspiration for Fictional Places, I Have a Place to Stay and a Way to Get Around. Now What Do I Do? - Beaches, Wildlife, Beach Tips, Surfing, What Is There to Do If I Don’t Like the Beach? - Shopping, Bookstores, Shops, More Sites, What Is “Sconset” Anyway? In a Category by Itself: Cisco Brewers**, To Market, to Market… - Grocery Stores, Farms, Markets, Spirits; Who’s Hungry? - Restaurant Guide; I Love the Nightlife, I Want to Boogie! - Clubs and Bars; Salons, Working Out, Other Fun Stuff! - Sailing, Golfing, Fishing; Holidays and Festivals - Recipe; Giving Back - Nonprofits; “Best for…” Suggestions - Add to Itinerary based on Occasion, Restaurant; Conclusion, Credits, Bibliography for Elin Hilderbrand

Rating as a movie: PG

Songs and Artists for the soundtrack: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyonce, "The Best Is Yet to Come" by Tony Bennett, Violent Femmes, the Cure, Weezer, Revivalists, Grace Potter, Donavon Frankenreiter, AC/DC, "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John, "Shallow" by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, "Piano Man" by Billy Joel, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by The Beatles, “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” by Elton John, Carly Simon, Kenny Loggins, the Spinners

Books and Authors mentioned: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand, The Beach Club by EH, The Perfect Couple by EH, Swan Song by EH, Blue Moon by Lee Child - Jack Reacher #24, 28 Summers by EH, Beautiful Day by EH, Barefoot by EH, The Identicals by EH, The Five-Star Weekend by EH, Golden Girl by EH, The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand, Summer of ’69 by EH, Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, Winter Storms by EH, Silver Girl by EH, The Rumor by EH, Summer People by EH, Winter Street by EH, Winter Stroll by EH, Elf by David Berenbaum, How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, A Summer Affair by EH

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🛳🏖🛎🍛🛍⛵️🍸

My thoughts: 🔖Page 7 of 133 Getting Here (and Back Home) Is the Hardest Part - Oh I'm going to love this. I just don't have time to read it. I think this would be a single-sitting read if I don't have errands. Hopefully, I can finish it tonight and it won't result in vacation planning. The map isn't a cute as I imagined.

I wrote out "by Elin Hilderbrand" until I got to Golden Girl, since some sites limit the size of your review I decided to shorten it to EH. The Korean Pork Butt described in the book is listed as Korean Pork BBQ on the or, The Whale's menu and is allegedly shoulder. All I know is that it sounded so good I had to look that one up immediately. Photos did not disappoint. This book is awesome. It's like a travel agent giving you options for your itinerary but reads like a Samantha Brown show with a bit of Rachel Ray - $40 A Day. I feel like I just got back from vacation. This is a must read if you plan on taking a day trip or vacation to Nantucket.

Recommend to others: Yes! Yes! Yes! If you are an Elin H. fan or plan on visiting Nantucket, you need to read this book.

Memorable Quotes: In my novel The Hotel Nantucket, hotel manager Lizbet Keaton says, “The world needs a Nantucket guidebook written by an island insider.” She offers guests of the (fictional) hotel a (fictional) recommendation guide called The Blue Book. Because I have, in real life, received messages and queries about where to go and what to do while on Nantucket, I decided to compile a list of my own recommendations. The resulting Blue Book used to be available only as the end pages of The Hotel Nantucket. Until now!

Please keep in mind that what follows is curated and very biased. It is not meant to be comprehensive. The places mentioned here are personal favorites, and I have marked “can’t-miss” locations with asterisks (**). (I am not sponsored by any of the entities mentioned, nor given special treatment; I have as hard a time as anyone else getting a last-minute dinner reservation in the middle of August!)

The only accommodation that is directly on the beach is Cliffside Beach Club, which was the inspiration for my first novel, The Beach Club.

This suite is beachy and fun, with photos of me and my book covers, and there’s a director’s chair from the set of The Perfect Couple, the adaptation of my novel. I even signed a beam in the room!

Here are my thoughts on drive-on beaches: I love them. This love intensified when I had children. Instead of schlepping all of our stuff from whatever parking spot I happened to find (if I found a parking spot—because when you have kids it’s challenging to get out of the house in a timely fashion), I just pulled onto the beach, and all of their stuff was right there in the back of the car. There were years when the kids napped in the car, windows wide open. There were years when the kids climbed on the car (I had Jeeps; they were rugged vehicles). There were years when my kids climbed on my friends’ cars (even better).

Nantucket is a foodie paradise. Once again, there are too many places to mention so I’m going to give you my very favorites. I won’t tell you what to order (yes, I will).

[Jordan Schoonover · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to read, straightforward guide, and I love how she includes excerpts from her novels.

[Leslee Hefner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up because I have a Nantucket trip planned this summer and love Elin’s books! Can’t wait to try out all her recs 💙 not to mention that this book and its illustrations are stunning!

[Kate Musso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must get if you’re visiting Nantucket! Picked up so many great tips from this book. Also loved the excerpts from her past books

[Sophie Wycherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for what it is. A travel guide to Nantucket by a local author who writes about it! I loved how she included quotes from her books for different locations. It gave you all the information you needed without being full of filler info. And I love my signed copy from her shop!! 🥹

[Allison Stackpole · Rating 4 out of 5]

As described as a must-see, can’t-miss, and won’t-forget the Elin Hilderbrand hits the nail on the head with her Nantucket recommendations. Some new spots for me to check out and hidden gems, she doesn’t hold back with her top spots and things to do on island. Took her suggestion by getting the crabby patty at Surf and was not disappointed. Great size to throw in your bag and bring for on the go recommendations.

[Courtney Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought this along everywhere we went on Nantucket as our island guide! Even got elin to sign it!

[Marjorie Cavalier · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a travel guide to the island and suggestions are selective not comprehensive.

[Maddie Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

s/o my brother for the cutest & sweetest bday gift. planning my next trip to nantucket & praying there are still a few elin books i haven’t read. no one knows a nantucket summer better than ms hilderbrand. i wanna be her when i grow up

[Annie Farragher · Rating 3 out of 5]

getting me ready for our TRIP WOO!! ⛵️ loved how she added excerpts from some of her books that brought me right back to when I was first reading them!

[Susan Kauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to have if you are going to Nantucket. I will definitely buy this book if I ever plan to go.

[Gary Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for our first trip to Nantucket

My first year of retirement…I read every one of Elin Hilderbrand’s book only to end with Swan Song! The mention of the Blue Book made a lot of sense. When our daughter & husband rented a house and invited us to join them (yes our role will be grandparents to give them time to explore the island on their own!), the first thing I thought of….need to get The Blue Book.
After reading The Blue Book for first time…I’m thinking a week on Nantucket will not be enough time to enjoy all their is to enjoy. Hope to meet Elin and Nancy at the Wednesday book signing! Sandy & Gary

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first version of this book appeared at the end of the author's book THE HOTEL NANTUCKET. Now the author has revised and updated the information, added excerpts from her books, and made it a stand-alone book for anyone visiting Nantucket. I have never visited Nantucket, but I enjoyed reading the book, learning about many spots on the island. The author groups items by purpose - lodging, food, beach, activities, etc. Her love of the island really shows. The book makes a great gift for anyone visiting the island. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC.

[Christine Savukinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty comprehensive travel guide to the island of Nantucket from one of the island’s most famous authors! I’ve read all of Elin’s novels and each makes the reader want to be on island to experience all the food, drink, glamour and beauty of Nantucket! This books helps you to plan the perfect Nantucket getaway! Where to go, where to stay, where to shop, eat and drink. What to do, rain or shine and what to avoid! I have been to Nantucket a couple of times and this book would have been a valuable companion!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the digital ARC!

[Paula Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge Elin Hildebrand fan! I’ve read all of her books so of course I recognized all of the locations. She recommends in the blue book. A must read for any visitor to Nantucket! I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy of this book if ever I visit Nantucket again, it is the ultimate insider guide! My only comment about the e-book is I wish all of the named places were links that you could click to take you out to the business website. Reading on my Kindle reader, that’s not how it worked. Perhaps if I was reading on another device it would.

[Kellie Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this little guide to Nantucket! After reading every single Elin Hilderbrand book, it was a delight to read about the restaurants, hotels, beaches, and highlighted tourist spots featured in each of her books. I loved how she inserted excerpts from her books that highlighted some of these places talked about in the guidebook. I definitely plan on one day going to explore this beloved location, and this little book will be used to plan my visit❣️It felt like a wonderful finale to her amazing collection of stories❣️

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a lover of all things Nantucket - as I am - this is a delight of a travel book. For returning visitors, for first times visitors, or for annual visitors, this is a great companion book to plan your travels to this special island. I was delighted to find that the illustrations were provided by one of my favorite Nantucket artists. The drawings add a special charm to this unique guidebook.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blue Book is a delightful companion for longtime fans of her Nantucket novels. I especially enjoyed how she wove snippets of her stories into real-life locations on the island—it made the places feel even more alive and personal. It’s part travel guide, part literary scrapbook, and a charming reflection on her writing journey. A must-read for anyone who loves her world and wants to experience it beyond the page.

[Marie Guntert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book after my visit to Nantucket. I saw it at Mitchell’s book store (an autographed copy 🥰) and had to pick it up! I enjoyed all the recommendations and tips. I would recommend this to anyone planning a trip to Nantucket.
I would love to see The Juice Bar added! That was the BEST ice cream and there is a line for a reason. Also, the lemon pound cake from Claudette’s in Sconset. I wish I would have bought 5 and taken them home with me.

[Lindsay Garfinkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute little Nantucket guide that’s perfect as a gift for someone who is new to the island. For example, it’d be great to throw in a birthday party favor bag or a bachelorette party welcome bag. I like the plain language that feels like your friend giving you recs. I don’t like the excerpts of her books throughout it’s super distracting and feels inauthentic and she self-promotes a lot throughout.

[Sierra P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preordered in March for our Nantucket trip next month. The illustrations are adorable and I love the meet and greet options listed. I must catch Elin at the book festival and have her sign it!!
I love the blank pages at the beginning and end to write in your own to dos. Must read for anyone planning to visit Nantucket or is just an Elin fan.

[Lindsey Lauterwasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay as a fan of her Nantucket reads, and as someone who REALLY wants to go to Nantucket, this was such a fun little read! A guidebook on all the places she recommends- cool that her books are rooted in true places in Nantucket! This book most definitely led to me deep diving into research on Nantucket travel.

[Cheri Flake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most serendipitous absolutely unbelievable new book release ever! Lost a bet with my kid and now I gotta take her to Nantucket to see all of the Elin Hildebrand things…two months before we arrive in the island, this book comes out! It’s a dream come true! We won’t miss one E H thing! Thank you, thank you thank you thank you thank you! See you on Nantucket!🧡 July, 2025, baby!

[Kelley Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this jam packed guide book for those hoping to visit Nantucket one day. Elin weaves snippets from her books as they relate to each venue in her own version of “Foder’s”. The beautiful island is on my bucket list, even if I never get there I did via this book. Warning don’t read this hungry… I wanted to eat at every restaurant mentioned.

[Katherine Kehres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect condensed book for insight into Nantucket in anticipation of our upcoming day trip! After reading this I wish we were staying longer!!! It was fun to read snippets of novels to tie back to places especially having read almost all the Elin Hilderbrand books! Super excited for our Blue Book bus tour to see which of these must see places we get to enjoy!

[Kimberly S Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read especially if you are planning to visit Nantucket. It has all of the go to’s one should do or see while visiting this quaint town. Elin even shares her favorites at the end of the book. My cousin gave me this book and we hope to go to Nantucket in 2026. This book will definitely come in handy.

[Amanda mcdanel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful! It’s hard to rate this book as it’s different than any other book- it’s a travel guide. And if you are a fan of Elins writing- she ties together all of her incredible details with storytelling in real life destinations. I adored it. I want to purchase it. I want to go visit Nantucket.

So for me 5 stars- it’s a summer vacation in the pages.