28 Summers BOOK REVIEW

• Date Published:
  2020
• Length:
  432 pages—Listening Time: 15 hours 26 minutes
• Genre:
  Fiction, Romance
• Setting:
  1993-2020; Beachfront cottage on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
• Awards
  New York Times Best Seller 2020; Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year Fiction 2020; Top Syndetics Unbound Titles of the Year 2020
• Languages:
  English, Estonian
• Sensitive Aspects:
  Adultery, long-term extramarital affair, normalization of infidelity, divorce and serial remarriages, terminal illness and death of a main character, scenes of illness and decline, grief and anticipatory grief, parental death, unplanned pregnancy from a casual encounter, emotionally unavailable parent figures, depiction of an ambitious “villainized” career woman, political ambition and campaign stress, reference to 9/11 and its emotional aftermath, political intrigue tied to real-world events, gender-role tension and double standards around marriage, mild adult language, sexual situations (fade-to-black/closed-door style), alcohol consumption and partying, unfair emotional labor placed on women
• Movie
  The 28 Summers movie adaptation was optioned by MRC Film. However, as of 2026, the project remains in early development with no official release date, casting news, or production timeline announced.
• Recommended for Book Club:
  Yes, for those that love romance novels

Before you even think about cracking open 28 Summers, I’m going to ask something of you—and yes, it’s non-negotiable. You need to watch the movie Same Time, Next Year (the one with Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda). I’ll wait. Because this isn’t just a “read the book” situation. It’s a package deal. Like beach chairs and sunscreen. Or margaritas and questionable decisions.

No summer reading list worth its salt is complete without at least one good romance. You know it, I know it. And yet… I’ll admit, I’m not usually the one rushing to grab the latest love story off the shelf. I tend to hover somewhere between literary fiction and “emotionally devastating but beautifully written.” Romance? I approach it cautiously. Skeptically, even.

But 28 Summers surprised me.

Elin Hilderbrand has a way of pulling you into Nantucket life so effortlessly that you forget you’re “just” reading a romance. This isn’t all sunhats and flirtation—it’s layered, messy, bittersweet, and, at times, deeply reflective. It asks questions that linger longer than you expect: What does commitment really look like? Can a once-a-year love ever be enough? And what happens when real life refuses to stay neatly in the background?

What makes this book especially interesting is that it flips the usual script. Most great books get the Hollywood treatment eventually. This one? It works in reverse. 28 Summers is inspired by Same Time, Next Year, which gives the entire reading experience this fascinating sense of déjà vu. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll notice the echoes immediately. If you haven’t… well, now you know why I insisted.

And trust me, reading this book without that cinematic backdrop would feel like missing half the conversation.

So yes, consider this your official invitation (or gentle nudge) to do both. Watch the movie. Read the book. Let them play off each other. Because somehow, against my better judgment and my usual reading habits, this story held my attention all the way to the final page—and then lingered there, like the last golden stretch of a perfect summer evening.

Oh, and make sure you wear sunscreen if you are going to be outdoors this summer. Just read the book.

Let’s zoom in on the story without any spoilers.

28 Summers centers on Mallory Blessing, a woman who inherits a small cottage on Nantucket and quietly decides to build an entire life around it. She trades in an unhappy New York existence for salty air, sand in her shoes, and the kind of independence that’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. Enter Jake McCloud, a guest at her brother’s Labor Day bachelor weekend, and the spark that turns one impulsive summer into a long-running, once-a-year love story.

Instead of pursuing a traditional relationship, Mallory and Jake make a pact: they’ll meet on Nantucket every Labor Day weekend, no matter what, and otherwise stay out of each other’s day-to-day lives. The book then follows them over nearly three decades, checking in once a year as careers shift, marriages and children complicate things, and the world itself keeps changing in the background. Each chapter drops you into another summer, another set of consequences, and another round of “Are they really going to pull this off again?”

Around that central affair, Hilderbrand weaves in family drama, political ambition, and island community life, so it never feels like you’re stuck in a two-person bubble. Jake’s wife, Ursula—who’s busy building a high-profile career in law and politics—casts a long shadow over their secret weekend tradition. Mallory, meanwhile, becomes deeply rooted in Nantucket, juggling single motherhood, work, and friendships, all while protecting this one part of her life that no one fully understands.

The tone lands somewhere between nostalgic and bittersweet: you’re always aware that time is moving, choices are hard, and there’s no version of this arrangement that doesn’t cost someone something. But the book keeps pulling you back to that Nantucket cottage every year, asking the same question in slightly different ways: can a love that only lives one weekend a year still count as a great love story?

Here are the reasons you will want to add this one to your TBR list:

A grown-up love story about timing, not tropes

This isn’t insta-love or cliché rom-com territory. The relationship unfolds over decades, shaped by careers, marriages, and aging, which makes it feel closer to the “real-life mess” many mature readers actually recognize.

Rich exploration of choices and consequences

Every Labor Day weekend carries emotional and ethical fallout. The book quietly asks, “What would you give up for the love of your life—and should you?” That tension is ripe for discussion and reflection.

Ideal for nostalgia and life-stage reflection

Because the story spans nearly thirty years, it brushes up against different eras of adulthood—twenties idealism, midlife compromise, later-life reckoning. Readers at various stages can see a piece of themselves somewhere along the way.

A beach read with actual emotional weight

It has all the sunscreen-and-sand vibes of a classic summer novel, but underneath the breezy setting are questions about loyalty, marriage, and the long-term cost of keeping secrets. Perfect for readers who want more than “frothy” romance.

Built-in book-and-movie pairing

Since it’s inspired by Same Time, Next Year, it’s tailor-made for a cross-media experience. Your community can watch the film and read the book, then compare how each handles intimacy, aging, and the morality of their arrangement.

Great for group conversation and debate

This is one of those stories that naturally divides a room: some will root for the lovers, others will side-eye every decision they make. That friction is gold for book clubs—opinions, hot takes, and “I would in a heartbeat…” moments guaranteed.

Strong sense of place for armchair travelers

Nantucket is practically a supporting character. The island rhythms, seasonal traditions, and coastal atmosphere create a transporting experience, especially appealing for readers who enjoy “travel by book” without ever leaving the couch.

Thoughtful portrayal of imperfect adults

No one in this story is purely villain or hero. The characters make selfish, generous, confusing, and deeply human choices. For a mature audience used to complexity, that moral gray area is far more satisfying than tidy resolutions.

Conversation starter about long-term partnerships

Whether your readers are married, divorced, partnered, or long-time single, the book opens the door to talk about what partnership really looks like over decades—and how desire, loyalty, and responsibility shift with time.

A romance even skeptics can appreciate

Since I'm openly “romance-adjacent” rather than romance-obsessed, my endorsement carries extra weight. The fact that this story held my attention all the way through makes it a great “gateway romance” for readers who usually skip the love-story aisle.

If 28 Summers didn't sate your appetite for summer romance, here are a few more similar reads.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
A second-chance love story set over six summers at a lakeside town, this one leans into nostalgia, regret, and the “what-if” ache that older readers know all too well. It’s perfect if you liked the time-hopping emotional sweep of 28 Summers but want a slightly more compact timeline.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
Very on-the-nose title, very on-the-nose vibes—in a good way. This novel revisits a childhood summer romance years later, blending beach setting, family, and the tension between the safe life you built and the one that still tugs at your heart.

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
If what you loved most was the Nantucket atmosphere, this novel turns an old hotel into a full cast of characters with secrets, romances, and second chances. It has that same “sink into the setting and stay awhile” quality, with a slightly more ensemble feel.

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Set on Nantucket during a turbulent historical moment, this one balances family drama, romance, and generational tension. It’s a great pick if your readers enjoy beach reads that also nod to real-world history and social change.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
A more intense, emotional contemporary novel about guilt, redemption, and trying to rebuild relationships after deep mistakes. While it’s not a beach book per se, it shares that bittersweet blend of love, regret, and tough moral choices.

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
A dual-timeline romance about a long-ago affair uncovered through letters, it explores how love can both complicate and clarify a life. It’s an excellent fit for readers who liked the secret-love element of 28 Summers but want a European setting and a journalistic frame.

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan
This one leans into blended families, grief, and learning how to love people who come with history and baggage. It offers heartfelt, character-driven drama with romantic threads, ideal for readers who care as much about family dynamics as they do about the central couple.

99 Days by Katie Cotugno
A YA-adjacent choice, this novel follows a girl caught in a complicated love triangle over one summer and the fallout from her past choices. The emotional messiness and “small town watching your every move” vibe make it a good companion for readers interested in younger perspectives on similar themes.

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