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Elin Hilderbrand

Summer of '69 Kindle Edition

by Elin Hilderbrand (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of the '60s summer when everything changed in Elin Hilderbrand's #1 New York Times bestselling historical novel.
Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century. It's 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother's historic home in downtown Nantucket. But like so much else in America, nothing is the same: Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests and determined to be independent, takes a summer job on Martha's Vineyard. Only-son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. And thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother and her worried mother, while each of them hides a troubling secret.
As the summer heats up, Ted Kennedy sinks a car in Chappaquiddick, man flies to the moon, and Jessie and her family experience their own dramatic upheavals along with the rest of the country. In her first historical novel, rich with the details of an era that shaped both a nation and an island thirty miles out to sea, Elin Hilderbrand once again earns her title as queen of the summer novel.

Length: 450 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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From the Publisher

Summer of '69

Review

"The grande dame of beach reads...Hilderbrand shifts among characters with her usual ease, weaving a saga that will make you forget the dynamics of your own dysfunctional people as you crowd into a too-small vacation rental."

―Liz Egan, New York Times Book Review

"An engrossing tale of an iconic American summer"

―People Magazine

"Overall this novel is an entertaining bagatelle . . . There won't be a single transistor radio this summer on Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, nor on Madaket Beach in Nantucket. But there almost certainly will be multiple copies of Summer of '69. It's this year's beach-reading cure for . . . the summertime blues."―The Boston Globe

"Superb...Hilderbrand hits all the right notes about life in a tightly knit family, and this crowd-pleaser is sure to satisfy both her fans and newcomers alike."

―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hilderbrand's first foray into historical fiction will rouse curiosity in new readers as well as devotees of her annual summer smashes."

―Susan Maguire, Booklist

"Hilderbrand's characters are utterly convincing and immediately draw us into their problems, from petty to grave...To use the parlance of the period, a highly relevant retrospective."
―Kirkus

"Misunderstandings, secrets, and wrong choices are revealed in this completely satisfying novel that is the beach read of the summer, sure to appeal to Hilderbrand's fans while earning her new readers. A must buy."

―The Library Journal

"She presents another breezy yet gritty novel with Summer of '69... Simple, sassy, and continuously engaging, Summer of '69 fits neatly into the nostalgic reader's beach bag."―NPR

"Hilderbrand's books keep getting better and better."

―Bookreporter

"With vivid descriptions of the songs, fashions and other details of the era woven throughout, it's a true nostalgia trip."

―AARP --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Elin Hilderbrand is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Nantucket series, the Winter series, and over a dozen stand-alone novels, as well as two novellas. Her book Barefoot won the 2008 Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

Erin Bennett is an Earphones Award-winning narrator and a stage actress who played Carlie Roberts in the BBC radio drama Torchwood: Submission. She can be heard on several video games. Regional theater appearances include the Intiman, Pasadena Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, A Noise Within, Laguna Playhouse, and the Getty Villa. She trained at Boston University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

Publication Date : June 18, 2019
File Size : 4184 KB
Lending : Not Enabled
ASIN : B07J564ZHD
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 450 pages
Publisher : Little, Brown and Company (June 18, 2019)
Language: : English
Enhanced Typesetting : Enabled
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #5,605 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #95 in U.S. Historical Fiction
- #117 in Sisters Fiction
- #144 in Women's Historical Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4,066 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		67%
4 star		19%
3 star		10%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Wanted to Love Book BUT...

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019

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EDITED TO CORRECT A MAJOR ERROR: Somehow I got the impression that this was a debut novel. Put simply, I WAS WRONG and apologize profusely. Funny thing is, when I saw the author’s photograph, I remember thinking, “I seem to remember her.” Since I now know she is an experienced and highly successful writer, I am holding fast to my rating of three stars. Glad I didn’t decide to round up to four stars based on my erroneous belief. I do hasten to add that, I am confident, fans of this writer will be more pleased than was I. That is why I love Amazon reviews — different people share differing opinions so customers can make the best decision that works for them.

Meanwhile, I shall wander off into some secluded nook and cranny so I can humbly munch my crow...

I graduated high school in 1970 and went in the Navy to beat the draft. I was your typical, patriotic, conservative kid. Military service and the politics of the time shifted me strongly leftward. So, I wanted to love, "Summer of '69." How did I find this book?

The attempt is notable and commendable. The difficulty, though, is that the language and thoughts of the kids is so poliished that it feels, well, disconnected from reality. At least, when compared to more average members of the generation for which this is a mirror.

I read the first letter by Tiger to his little sister and almost wanted to laugh at how unrealistic the letter was.

Then, a little later on, I read the dialogue of between parents and daughter. The tone would have been great, but the language used was, well, pollyanna.

Mind you, I love the attempt to shine the light on the time of my coming of age. I just feel let down by the pictures presented to us.

BLUSH FACTOR: No swearing. Only the word rhyming with dam appears. However, there is some, uh, romantic overtures, if you will, so use discretion before sharing with any youngsters. Otherwise, this is a clean book suitable for all audiences.

BOTTOM LINE

I'm between three stars and four. Don't want to be too harsh on a new writer, but, well, four stars might give too much credit.

Three stars out of five. Actually, 3.25. Just can't round up to four.

202 people found this helpful

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Dianne

Sorry, Not My Favorite

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2019

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I have read all of Ms Hilderbrand's books, and while this one includes Martha's Vineyard in addition to the usual Nantucket setting, it was the characters that had less appeal for me. I have a long history of life on the Vineyard, and I could feel the excitement driving over the Sagamore Bridge to the Cape to begin a summer interlude. The picture of the Vineyard is perfect, including actual places. Placing Kirby there was a plus for me. The feel of both islands, the fact that little changes from year to year; the places, the faces, the activities all stop in time. That is real. I just could not really like the characters except for Jessie who is a typical 13 year-old of the '60's. Being of a certain age, the mores of the times, the events, the songs, the clothing, all brought back memories. It was the people who did not ring true or come to life. Exaltra is a stereotype, Kate is so full of angst as to be annoying, Blair's relationship with Angus more of the 50's, not late '60's. Darren is a throwback to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. In my experience, the Vineyard has been integrated for decades; I doubt if a White person would be shunned at the Inkwell, although I have personally never laid my towel there. I wanted to like the people more, to root for someone. Then after all the turmoil, all suddenly is right again. The ending was too pat, too tied up in sappy "happy families." I will continue to read Ms. Hilderbrand's books, of course, but this one could have been better.

101 people found this helpful

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Swissmiss

Blast to the past!

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019

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This is most definitely my favorite of Elin's books and I've read them all. We were taken back to the summer of 1969 on Nantucket, a summer in which a lot of dramatic things happened in the US. Each chapter was imaginatively named (won't spoil it), at least for me as 1969 was the summer I was 14 so a lot of the book resonated with me. Each character was brought to life although one of the main characters I couldn't stand (Kate). It would be great if a future book told the stories of the younger generation in this book.

70 people found this helpful

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Mystery Gal

Guess every author misses once in a while

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019

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I have read and thoroughly enjoyed, for the most part, Elin Hilderbrand's novels, but this one reads like a research paper she had to crank out to avoid failing a class. Let's face it, two novels a year is way too much to expect. I understand why the publisher wants to keep the cash cow working, but maybe it's time to give this writer a break. Everybody burns out.

50 people found this helpful

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On elf her best books; read it in an afternoon!

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019

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I LOVED Elin's latest book! I must admit, I'm not crazy about the first in Paradise series so it was joyous to get back Nantucket! I wasn't;t sure how I would feel about this book being set in the past, but it was a really refreshing spin on the things and at ties I would have to remind myself about the time period as I would get so wrapped up in the characters' storylines. Her characters and their experiences were very "Elin;"familiar and wonderfully entertaining. Fans will not be disappointed.

36 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

JaquiP

As a snapshot of a time - Summer '69 it's a fascinating read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2020

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Who isn't fascinated by the swinging 60s - Vietnam, the Kennedy's, Nixon, the music, Woodstock - all that. Through the mirror of one exceedingly privileged family, so many aspects and issues of that time: underlying antisemitism, race, women's rights are covered in this book. I haven't read this writer before and the topics are really well covered and the characters became increasingly well rounded. Some of them I found appealing and some I couldn't warm to at all. It's a very "American" novel. For example what are 'clam diggers? Patio Dresses? Tretorns? I guess a Magnavox is some kind of record player. But all these Americanisms just added to the fun, and, I guess The authenticity. Imagine, in the 6Os no mobile phones or ipads, every one used public phone boxes. And party lines! I remember them. We had party lines in the UK too. Great to reminisce and look back

The summer of '69 I was twenty one and living in the UK was only vaguely aware of the social and political aspects of the time although so much was in our news. We were glued to our black and white TVs back then,watching the space launch and astronauts walking on the moon The book made me feel very nostalgic, these were indeed amazing times of change and history. The 60s were so vibrant and exciting and it felt the young truly came into their own with the fashion, the music, the hope. This felt indeed like the dawning of the age of Aquarius. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the feeling it imparted of how it was to live through those times. Not for us the tragedy of the 30s and 40s, the dismal 50s. It was great to be young and alive in the 60s. I loved the descriptions of food and the beaches and islands like Nantucket and Martha's vineyard. All in all, a very enjoyable read. Not all the ends are tied up neatly, but that's fine, they aren't in life, but I would read this writer again for the insight into a different time and world. Good book about relationships and a segment of social history.

Helena Halme Author

Couldn't put this book down...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2020

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Elin Hilderbrand is rapidly becoming one of my very favourite authors! I discovered her during a trip to the US when browsing in a bookstore. Her name had cropped up as one of the authors my readers also enjoy, so I was keen to find out what kind of books she writes. And I was immediately hooked.

'Summer of '69' is slightly different from this author's usual books, as it's set in a bygone era, but her research into the 1960s is impeccable, as is the atmosphere she invokes. There's casual sexism, racism and good descriptions of the new generational gap in the social norms that symbolized the end of the decade.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this novel. If you haven't yet discovered Elin Hilderbrand, I envy you! You have a bunch of books to enjoy.

D. C. A. Price

Yet another unputdownable book ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2019

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It’s a bit of a mystery to me why Elin Hildebrand’s books aren’t more popular in the UK. This one is yet another winner in my opinion and the setting of 1969 is inspired because so much was happening in the US then. The fears of a mother for her son fighting in the Vietnam war are movingly described, and the occasion of the first moon landing and walk seem strange when also reading of the horrors in Vietnam. The author also manages to include the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and Senator Bobby Kennedy’s involvement in that. An excellent book, full of family secrets, coming of age, social changes ... I couldn’t put it down and was sad when it ended.

Lidia Budzinska

Wonderful book ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2020

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I had a great opportunity to visit Martha’s Vineyard On many occasions years ago when I was an au pair in Boston this is why I reached out for this book to read about the place where I’ve been and it was a great pleasure to read I got involved with all the characters I love the descriptions and how each character struggled with different aspects of their lives and how they Related to each other I didn’t want to believe that Angus had an affair I had a feeling straight away that he was going for therapy and I was right so it wasn’t a surprise for me to have read about that outcome. funny book to read as well made me laugh a few times interesting to read about America in 1969

Michelle Styles

A book I inhaled

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2019

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A thoroughly enjoyable read. Hilderbrand evokes a time period brilliantly. I loved reading about Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and the summer the Foley/Levin family spent there. A really enjoyable summer read by a new to me author which I inhaled in a day.