28 Summers

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Mallory and Fray hook up at Cooper’s wedding and she ends up getting pregnant with Link. What did you think about that? Summers had me torn between wanting to rush through this engaging story and making it last as long as possible. In her 25th novel, the Queen of the beach read has done it again! Jake has been with Ursula for a long time. And he feels connected to Ursula due to her close friendship with his sister who passed away young. What did you think about their relationship? Did it make sense to you or was it perplexing? Why do you think Jake couldn’t bring himself to break up with Ursula for Mallory?

Club Questions for 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand Book Club Questions for 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

If you can't get to the beach this summer, bring the beach to you with Elin Hilderbrand's 25th novel, 28 Summers. It's a lovely escape. But first things first, I guess. Don't let the title of the book fool you. It's a total misnomer. Mal and Jake don't spend 28 summers together. They spend 28 weekends together, albeit long Labor Day weekends. It would have been more accurate had the book been called 28 Labor Days or even 28 Long Weekends. Granted, those titles aren't nearly as catchy as the one that was chosen, but at least they're more representative of Mal and Jake's time together. I enjoyed watching the progression of all the characters over three decades, and I also enjoyed the displays of friendship, forgiveness, grief and acceptance. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.

I think because of that, I found Jake and Mallory each so unlikable. I couldn’t believe Mallory was indignantly screaming about what a good person she was after learning that a guy she’d dated was married. Wasn’t she was cheating all the time with Jake anyway? Cheating’s okay, but only if you’re in on it, is that the rule? I also couldn’t deal with book telling me how “kind and sympathetic” Mallory was for offering some basic sympathy after seeing Jake’s pregnant and retching wife in the bathroom. Are you kidding me? She’s screwing that pregnant woman’s husband, don’t tell me how kind she is!

28 Summers Quotes by Elin Hilderbrand - Goodreads 28 Summers Quotes by Elin Hilderbrand - Goodreads

It's no secret this story doesn't end well (from book summary) and we know the storyline is based on a "Same Time Next Year" movie scenario so perhaps that's why 28 Summers made me feel kind of down. I think not disclosing the ending up front would have worked better (for me) in this one. Why do you think Mallory and Jake never tried to be together? Do you think their relationship would have worked out if they gave it a try? Unfortunately, something about this novel simply didn't grip me like the rest of the Hilderbrand library. Perhaps it's because we learn how the story ends within the first few paragraphs of the book? While I typically like that writing technique...in this instance, it was a bit depressing. I also felt there was some repetitive material, which is entirely expected when the plot involves two people meeting over Labor Day weekend each year...eating the same food, going to the same places, and participating in the same activities. For the last twenty-eight summers, Mallory and Jake have met to rekindle the passionate love affair they began all those years ago. Each married to someone else, with busy lives and happy families, they've managed to keep their secret, and to keep their love alive.A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. I adored Mallory and Jake's secret relationship! It was so touching and uplifting! I found them both somewhat emotionally stunted and I doubt their love could have survived beyond their Labour Day bubble but it was perfect for them. Oh for the days when life was a picnic on the beach: Hilderbrand sets the gold standard in escapist fiction. Malory, along with her brothers best buddy Jake, embark on a Same Time Next Year affair that may have begun innocently, but gets rather complicated as their life moves forward. Spouses, children, careers and illness. Question is, can their love survive lifes’ many obstacles thrown their way?