By Lisa Waldo, Rolling Hills neighbor
 
If you read my article last month, you’ll already know that this born-and-raised SoCal girl has an obsession with the whole East Coast vibe. I visited Newport, Rhode Island back in the summer of 2019, and let me tell you—I did not want to leave. That salty air, the preppy summer whites, the sailboats cutting across the harbor—it’s a lifestyle that just calls to me. And maybe that’s why I fell so hard for Elin Hilderbrand’s books.

Elin is often called the Queen of the Beach Read, and with good reason. With more than 28 novels under her belt (and counting), she has built an entire fictional universe around Nantucket. Each book is its own story, but if you’ve read a handful, you’ll start recognizing names, places, and faces—characters slipping in and out of each other’s lives in a way that makes you feel like you live there too. It’s seamless, comforting, and part of the magic.
 

What I love most is that her books don’t get stale. You’d think after so many, the plots would start to blur together. Not for me. Even when she dips into mystery (like in The Perfect Couple, which made its way to Netflix), the stories are light, engaging, and very readable. No heavy violence, no disturbing scenes—just that perfect escape you want when you’re poolside or curled up on a summer night.
 Two of my absolute favorites?

 • The Nantucket Hotel – This one stole my heart. It has that cozy, full-circle feeling that makes you want to book a ferry ticket tomorrow.

 • The Blue Bistro – I adored this one because it read almost like a cookbook. The restaurant descriptions, the food, the behind-the-scenes look at “family dinner” (the meal restaurant staff share before service begins)—it was intoxicating. Funny enough, I thought I was learning something new, but then “The Bear” on Hulu showed the same tradition.

 Part of what makes her writing sing is that she herself has lived on Nantucket for decades. She may have been born in Pennsylvania, but her life and experiences on that little island give her stories a grounding that feels authentic.

 So if you’re looking for light, easy, but utterly entertaining reads that transport you to cobblestone streets, sandy beaches, and quaint seafood restaurants—grab an Elin Hilderbrand novel. For me, summer doesn’t really start until I crack one open.

 

Lisa

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