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High Tide: The Beach Club / Summer People
Get swept away to an island where memories are made, friendships begun, and passions ignited, in two beloved Nantucket classics by New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand
In The Beach Club, Mack Petersen has returned as always on the first day of May to once again open and manage the Nantucket Beach Club and Hotel alongside its owners, Bill and Therese Elliott. Years ago, Mack escaped the past and started over at this hotel, and it has since become his life and his home; but though he has poured his heart and soul in the club, he knows that it will eventually pass not to him but to Cecily Elliott, the owners’ daughter. At eighteen, however, Cecily is wild and beautiful and increasingly desperate to break free on her own, even though she knows doing so will break her parents’ hearts. And this summer, as Bill’s health begins to falter, all of the guests and staff of this esteemed island establishment can feel the storm coming that will change everything forever.
In Summer People, Beth, a recent widow, can barely keep things together; but she still decides that she must continue the family tradition of going to Nantucket, and fulfill a promise that her late husband Arch made before he died. Beth invites Marcus, the son of Arch’s final and most challenging client, to spend the summer with her and her teenage twins, Winnie and Garrett. But when they stumble upon a shocking secret from Beth’s past, they must keep it from destroying the family they’ve been trying so hard to heal.
In The Beach Club, Mack Petersen has returned as always on the first day of May to once again open and manage the Nantucket Beach Club and Hotel alongside its owners, Bill and Therese Elliott. Years ago, Mack escaped the past and started over at this hotel, and it has since become his life and his home; but though he has poured his heart and soul in the club, he knows that it will eventually pass not to him but to Cecily Elliott, the owners’ daughter. At eighteen, however, Cecily is wild and beautiful and increasingly desperate to break free on her own, even though she knows doing so will break her parents’ hearts. And this summer, as Bill’s health begins to falter, all of the guests and staff of this esteemed island establishment can feel the storm coming that will change everything forever.
In Summer People, Beth, a recent widow, can barely keep things together; but she still decides that she must continue the family tradition of going to Nantucket, and fulfill a promise that her late husband Arch made before he died. Beth invites Marcus, the son of Arch’s final and most challenging client, to spend the summer with her and her teenage twins, Winnie and Garrett. But when they stumble upon a shocking secret from Beth’s past, they must keep it from destroying the family they’ve been trying so hard to heal.
736 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2016
14 people are currently reading
3215 people want to read
About the author
Elin Hilderbrand
94 books61.8k 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 14, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This was only the 5th Novel ive read by Elin but i have to say she's become one of My Favorite Contemporary Romance Authors. I dont know how she does it but everytime i open one of her books its always so relaxing to read.
The Beach Club was my favorite by far. It's hard to explain why without spoiling the story for you.
Summer People was good as well, not quiete as good as The Beach Club, but i still enjoyed it mainly because it was about a Widow trying to pick things up 3 months after unexpected losing her husband so i could relate to that storyline since My Mom and i have been going through those same emotions since losing my father 19 months ago!!
Overall This Book is a Good Relaxing Read for a lowkey weekend!! Can't wait to read more by Elin in the future!!
Review:
This was only the 5th Novel ive read by Elin but i have to say she's become one of My Favorite Contemporary Romance Authors. I dont know how she does it but everytime i open one of her books its always so relaxing to read.
The Beach Club was my favorite by far. It's hard to explain why without spoiling the story for you.
Summer People was good as well, not quiete as good as The Beach Club, but i still enjoyed it mainly because it was about a Widow trying to pick things up 3 months after unexpected losing her husband so i could relate to that storyline since My Mom and i have been going through those same emotions since losing my father 19 months ago!!
Overall This Book is a Good Relaxing Read for a lowkey weekend!! Can't wait to read more by Elin in the future!!
August 6, 2016
High Tide is by Elin Hilderbrand. It is two of her novels in one book. The two novels are set on Nantucket Island and complement each other. The two novels are The Beach Club and Summer People.
The Beach Club is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It is simply a wonderful read and one that you can’t put down. It takes place on Nantucket Island. Elin Hilderbrand makes you feel like you are right there with the characters.
Mack Petersen has returned to open The Nantucket Beach club and Hotel. He has done this for years. Now the owners are being courted by someone who wants to buy the Club and Hotel. At the same time, Mack’s girlfriend is pushing him to asking for a percentage in the profits of the hotel. If he asks, he could lose his job or he could get a percentage. If he doesn’t ask, he could lose his girlfriend. Is it time to give up and go back to the farm his parents left him?
The excitement just goes on and on in this book.
Summer People is a very good novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It is set on Nantucket Island. The characters and situations they find themselves in are definitely realistic.
Arch Newton had taken on a pro bono case where a lady killed her sister-in-law and her nine-year-old daughter. He felt the woman didn’t deserve the death sentence due to the unusual circumstances. His law firm, of which he was a full partner, was not excited about the case but since he brought in the greatest amount of business, they had to let him. Arch grew close to the family, especially seventeen-year-old Marcus. He invited Marcus to spend the summer with his family on Nantucket Island. He felt Marcus would get along with his daughter Winnie and her twin brother Garrett. However, before summer came, Arch was killed in a plane crash. His wife, Beth, reissued the invitation to Marcus in such a way that he could not refuse. So, summer found Beth, Marcus, Garrett, and Winnie on their way to Nantucket Island. Still in mourning, Garrett resented Marcus being there as he was a blatant reminder of the reason for his Father’s death. Winnie welcomed him because her Father had told her she would like Marcus because he was a swimmer like she was. Beth just wanted to fulfill her husband’s invitation and having one more teenager around shouldn’t be a problem. She was more worried about seeing her ex-boyfriend, David Ronan, without Arch’s presence. Only Arch knew David and Beth had been an item in the past and she wanted to keep it that way.
Secrets, murder, and new love abound in this novel making it always exciting. You never know what will happen next and you will be surprised
The Beach Club is a novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It is simply a wonderful read and one that you can’t put down. It takes place on Nantucket Island. Elin Hilderbrand makes you feel like you are right there with the characters.
Mack Petersen has returned to open The Nantucket Beach club and Hotel. He has done this for years. Now the owners are being courted by someone who wants to buy the Club and Hotel. At the same time, Mack’s girlfriend is pushing him to asking for a percentage in the profits of the hotel. If he asks, he could lose his job or he could get a percentage. If he doesn’t ask, he could lose his girlfriend. Is it time to give up and go back to the farm his parents left him?
The excitement just goes on and on in this book.
Summer People is a very good novel by Elin Hilderbrand. It is set on Nantucket Island. The characters and situations they find themselves in are definitely realistic.
Arch Newton had taken on a pro bono case where a lady killed her sister-in-law and her nine-year-old daughter. He felt the woman didn’t deserve the death sentence due to the unusual circumstances. His law firm, of which he was a full partner, was not excited about the case but since he brought in the greatest amount of business, they had to let him. Arch grew close to the family, especially seventeen-year-old Marcus. He invited Marcus to spend the summer with his family on Nantucket Island. He felt Marcus would get along with his daughter Winnie and her twin brother Garrett. However, before summer came, Arch was killed in a plane crash. His wife, Beth, reissued the invitation to Marcus in such a way that he could not refuse. So, summer found Beth, Marcus, Garrett, and Winnie on their way to Nantucket Island. Still in mourning, Garrett resented Marcus being there as he was a blatant reminder of the reason for his Father’s death. Winnie welcomed him because her Father had told her she would like Marcus because he was a swimmer like she was. Beth just wanted to fulfill her husband’s invitation and having one more teenager around shouldn’t be a problem. She was more worried about seeing her ex-boyfriend, David Ronan, without Arch’s presence. Only Arch knew David and Beth had been an item in the past and she wanted to keep it that way.
Secrets, murder, and new love abound in this novel making it always exciting. You never know what will happen next and you will be surprised
July 9, 2019
You can’t go wrong with Elin Hilderbrand. Her books are very comforting, highly addictive, and hard to put down.
August 8, 2020
You just can’t go wrong with summer sun, blue skys and Elin Hilderbrand. I’m catching up on all her early books I never read. Loving the light-hearted stories! And as always, dreaming of one day visiting Nantucket!
November 18, 2017
This review is for the second book in this Elin Hilderbrand compilation, Summer People, although it could be for either one. I appreciate in all of Elin's books, how the characters face the difficulties of life, and grow and change throughout. The author delves into the complexities of relationships, and the inner thoughts and lessons the characters have experienced, because let's face it, life is often complicated and hard. That said, I don't care for the myriad of character flaws she always bestows upon the characters. They are often so completely unlikeable it almost ruins any good that transpires in the end. The characters participate in activities that teenagers, or adults for that matter, should never be apart of. They are immoral and self-centered with few positive attributes. She portrays teens in such an awful light, that is undeserved. And all of her stories feel the same and follow the same pattern, more-or-less. I find her books a bit depressing and I'm still deciding if I truly enjoy her stories.
March 18, 2018
I normally really enjoy this author. Her books are like little presents - easy reads that take you away from reality for a while. High Tide is compiled of two books. The first was fine. Nothing to write home about but enjoyable enough. The second, however, was disappointing. The characters never really felt developed to me. Bill’s character in particular, seemed as though he had a bigger story to tell and the book merely scratched the surface. Vance’s character had a right to be angry (losing out on the management job he had been promised), but to allow that anger to reach such a boiling point that he pulls a gun on Mack mystified me a bit. The biggest thing that bugged me was that Mack and Vance continued to work together and later became amicable toward each other. Someone pulls a gun on you and you can work with them? Without animosity? I find that hard to believe. After Mack’s relationship ends, he has no big reason to keep Vance on or at the very least report him to the police.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
THE BEACH CLUB: This was my first Elin Hilderbrand book and I was not expecting it to be written the way it was. It was neat being able to peer into each characters life. That being said..idk if there was a character I really liked except for Lacey and I guess Neil😂 These people were hot messes. But I definitely saw their growth throughout the book too. The setting of Nantucket was sooo quaint though. I would love to get into more of the Nantucket series just to read about this little island🏖️
SUMMER PEOPLE: DNF😅
(My rating is solely based on The Beach Club)
SUMMER PEOPLE: DNF😅
(My rating is solely based on The Beach Club)
June 13, 2021
Summer People sucked you in from the beginning because I wanted to know what was going on with this family and this boy that was coming with them for the summer. Watching them all grow throughout the summer with everything that happened to them. I connected with Beth the most because I understand the “ it’s my secret to keep”. It was a great story!
August 9, 2023
2 books in one.
The first book, The Beach Club, was a fun read. The usual family drama, secrets, and beach love from this author. I liked this book.
The second book, Summer People, was also good but a little different on style and dealt with family drama and teenager issues more.
Both were good stories with sweet endings. Both had characters that you want the best things to happen.
The first book, The Beach Club, was a fun read. The usual family drama, secrets, and beach love from this author. I liked this book.
The second book, Summer People, was also good but a little different on style and dealt with family drama and teenager issues more.
Both were good stories with sweet endings. Both had characters that you want the best things to happen.
January 22, 2025
I did not really like either story. I did not like the characters- the first story was better. Summer People was horrible- every character was weak and uninteresting. David was creepy and his daughters were manipulative.
No continuity with previous characters either. If this was my first Elin H I wouldn’t read her again.
No continuity with previous characters either. If this was my first Elin H I wouldn’t read her again.
August 15, 2017
These two stories were okay but I wasn't enamored by any means. Kind of disappointed because I have always liked anything by elin Hilderbrand.
February 12, 2018
Love her books, characters, settings and ambience. Great reads. More please.
May 19, 2018
I love this book perfect for the pool or beach reading... can not wait to get this author books to read!!!!
July 6, 2019
Not nearly as good as the Original Beach Club
June 1, 2020
Don't bother.
June 23, 2020
The two together make for a good distraction read.
August 4, 2021
the perfect book to read while on fire evacuation alert. Not to intense
May 28, 2023
If you enjoy easy to read stories with likeable characters, this is a good pick for your summer reading list.
August 12, 2023
Yet again I get caught up, lost in Nantucket. I just love how Elin molds her characters, making us fall in love with them also the island. I always look forward to her next adventures on the island!
September 1, 2023
Two books in one! These are both some of her first books and just weren’t the best. I will have to say that in Summer People, the author included a new chapter! She added an update to this family that made the whole story better. It was a great conclusion and gave the story closure.
February 5, 2025
Read in 2018
March 15, 2017
What can I say? I love Elin Hilderbrand's writing and I inhaled this book containing two novels. If you're looking for great stories that twist and turn and keep you captivated, she's the author for you. If you're looking for picturesque descriptions and characters you swear you know in real life, then this author is for you. Elin is entertaining and a great writer. I wish I could read all her books again for the first time.
August 19, 2022
Lakeside-ish read. Or at least I started it there, ended the second book at the Put N Bay Volleyball Tournament. I liked the second book, “Summer People” better. Both good though. B/A-
September 9, 2018
Earlier novels of EH. Easy reading.
November 19, 2023
The Beach Club - A nice story of the Nantucket Beach Club and Hotel. Bill & Therese (& their 18 year old daughter Cecily) have owned it for years. Mack showed up 12 years ago right after his parents died when he was 18, and he is the manager. The story follows them and many of the guests who stay and some of the other employees. The characters are likable and it’s a perfect summer read.
Summer People - Arch Newton died leaving his wife Beth and twin teenagers, Winnie and Garrett. They spend the first summer without Arch at their family summer cottage in Nantucket along with Marcus who is the son of one of Arch’s legal clients who was convicted of murder. Marcus and Winnie end up together, Beth reconnects with David and Garrett connects with David’s daughter Piper. Piper ends up getting pregnant but gives the baby up for adoption.The last chapter takes place 12 years after that summer and it’s fun to learn what has happened to the characters after so much time . . . all good things!
Summer People - Arch Newton died leaving his wife Beth and twin teenagers, Winnie and Garrett. They spend the first summer without Arch at their family summer cottage in Nantucket along with Marcus who is the son of one of Arch’s legal clients who was convicted of murder. Marcus and Winnie end up together, Beth reconnects with David and Garrett connects with David’s daughter Piper. Piper ends up getting pregnant but gives the baby up for adoption.The last chapter takes place 12 years after that summer and it’s fun to learn what has happened to the characters after so much time . . . all good things!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2016
I received this entertaining beach read as a Goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed the two different novels which contained well developed, relatable characters who pursue summer romance and heartbreak.
May 24, 2016
Just in time for summer! I won this two novel book through a Goodreads giveaway. If you enjoy easy to read stories with like able characters, Elin Hildebrand delivers. Great vacation read.
October 15, 2020
2 books in one. The Beach Club was ok and Summer People better. Still, predictable beach reads. I enjoyed them for what they are.
October 13, 2025
Perfect summer vacation reading
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews