Our collection of the best books by Elin Hilderbrand will keep you turning page after page as you become immersed in historical and modern romance stories.

If you want to pick up you’re next beach read, you’re in luck as we’ve compiled the best books by Elin Hilderbrand, which are perfect for any vacation. The American romance author has sold more than 20 million books and has 28 novels to date.

Growing up, Hilderbrand spent her summers on Cape Cod, which inspired her writing. When she was sixteen, her father passed away, and her summers on the Cape were no more.

After spending a summer working in a factory, she promised herself that for the rest of her life, her goal would be to have a real summer – and she made it happen by writing about oceanside love stories.

“I live a life very similar to my characters in that I live a full-blown summer fantasy from June to September,”

Elin Hilderbrand

According to her website, Hilderbrand is planning retirement following her summer of 2024 book and aspires to become a book influencer.

We think you’ll enjoy our list, but if your tastes run to something a little more steamy, check out our guide to authors like Emily Henry.

Where To Start With Elin Hilderbrand Books?

Hilderbrand has written series as well as standalone novels, and as many readers prefer not to start a series written by an unfamiliar writer, it may be best to begin with a standalone work.

Her series include The Winter Series, featuring the Quinn family, and Paradise Series, which focuses on the widow Irene Steele.

Of her 19 standalone books, referred to as summer books, her most popular work is Summer of ‘69. It makes a good starting point to determine if you like her storytelling and writing style. 

Do You Have To Read Elin Hilderbrand books In Order?

It’s best to read Elin Hilderbrand’s books in order if they are part of a series such as The Winter Series or Paradise series. The series options include:

• The Winter Series (Winter Street, Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, Winter Solstice)
• Paradise Series (Winter in Paradise, What Happens in Paradise, Troubles in Paradise)

As for her standalone works, you can read them in any order. And if you’ve already read them and are looking for something in the same vein, check out our roundup of authors like Elin Hilderbrand.

1. Summer of ‘69

Summer of ‘69 follows the Levin family through an unforgettable summer. A mother of four, Kate struggles with her marriage and managing her children’s lives. Her children struggle in their personal lives, and Kate tries to navigate these ups and downs throughout the novel.

Her youngest daughter can’t wait to get out of Nantucket, much to the dismay of her mother and grandmother. On top of everything else happening in her life, Kate knows she’s drinking too much and trying to control it alone.

You’ll love this engrossing escape from the real world as you bond and empathize with the Levins. It’s deeply relatable, reminding readers that we all struggle and make mistakes. You’ll laugh and cry.

You might also be interested in our list of authors like Nancy Thayer.

“Kirby has learned that no one can judge a relationship except for the two people in it.”

Elin Hilderbrand, Summer of ’69

2. The Island

In The Island, a canceled summer wedding throws the Cousins family into a tailspin as they work to navigate the details of an upheaval they never expected.

As the protagonist, Birdie works to figure out why her daughter, Chess, unexpectedly called off her wedding. She’s also faced with her own issues. Birdie’s 30-year marriage is no more, and she’s sad to break from her first shot at love following her divorce.

Together, Birdie and Chess join two other female family members to enjoy a summer on Tuckernuck Island, just off the coast of Nantucket. Without phones, TV, and drama, they can fully escape their troubles – or so they hoped. While their summer was peaceful, old issues (and lovers) creep up one by one.

This book is light and refreshing, making it the ideal vacation read if you don’t want to get bogged down. Be warned, while it’s a pleasant read, it’s difficult to put down.

“Drama followed Chess around like a smell. Some people, Tate had learned, were like that, and it was for people like her to sit and watch the show.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Island

3. A Summer Affair

A Summer Affair follows Claire – a woman who has struggled to say no to anyone for her entire life. Whether it’s her husband, her children, or her clients (she’s a successful artist), she puts everyone else’s needs before hers, often to her detriment.

She’s asked to head a committee to put on the largest annual social event in Nantucket, and as usual, she’s happy to say yes. Claire begins planning the event and works closely with a local billionaire.

While she’s no stranger to rubbing elbows with the uber-wealthy, she’s surprised she feels a spark with someone other than her husband. While struggling to ignore how he makes her feel, she finds things quickly getting out of hand.

Hilderbrand’s twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see where Claire ends up.

“All her life, Claire had had a problem figuring out where other people ended and she began. All her life, she’d taken on the world’s hurt; she held herself responsible. But why?”

Elin Hilderbrand, A Summer Affair

4. The Beach Club

In The Beach Club, Hilderbrand once again takes readers to a summer in Nantucket to follow the ups and downs of life at Nantucket Beach Club. On the island, drama, love, and anger ensue between staff members.

The hotel manager struggles to keep his job when the owner shows up and demands that he manage things differently from how he’s been running the club for the past 12 years.

Bellman Vance has a vendetta against the manager, believing he stole his job over a decade ago. The new front desk receptionist, Love, has baby fever and is searching for someone to make her dream come true. 

And to top it all, the staff are forced to work through their differences as a hurricane approaches the shore, risking their livelihood.
There’s never a dull moment during The Beach Club, making it a perfect book to pick up if you’re looking for some excitement. The beach and the characters feel tangible, and you’ll find yourself wishing it could last longer.

“Nobody knows where it comes from, and nobody knows where it goes.’ Love doesn’t make sense most of the time and that’s what’s so wonderful about it.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Beach Club

5. The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro follows the life of Adrienne, who has spent years working in resort towns, enjoying summer while gaining experience of what it’s like to work in a top-notch hotel. Adrienne finds herself in a tricky financial situation when her boyfriend leaves unexpectedly, and she calls Nantucket home for the summer.

The owner of one of the island’s most in-demand restaurants offers her a job, and there’s a clear attraction between the two. Adrienne is left to decide whether she will run on to the next location (per usual) or stick around and see whether she has something worth staying put for.

The Blue Bistro is a real tear-jerker, but we need a good cry sometimes. Hilderbrand expertly created realistic characters and with themes of second chances and self-discovery that anyone can relate to.

“He has never known a woman so free from conceit, vanity, ambition, pretense. He has never known a woman so willing to show the world that she is a human being.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Blue Bistro

6. The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple is Hilderbrand’s first murder mystery novel. At the height of the Nantucket wedding season, vacationers are shocked when the body of the bride’s best friend washes up in the harbor just a few hours before the Otis-Winbury nuptials are set to take place. Everyone at the wedding party is a suspect.

As the chief of police interviews everyone in the family, including the groom’s mother, a famous mystery writer, it’s clear that there’s far more to each family than meets the eye.

The variety of points of view in the novel will allow you to see the story from a new angle constantly, and Hilderbrand, as usual, keeps readers on their toes. As her first foray into the genre, long-time fans will find this novel to be a refreshing change of pace.

“The moment their eyes meet, the moment their hands touch. That certainty. That recognition. You. You are the one. This is what it feels like. Nothing, as it turns out, can take the place of love.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Perfect Couple

7. Winter Street

Winter Street, the first book of The Winter Series, is the story of Kelley Quinn, the owner of a Nantucket inn. As the father of three sons and one daughter, Kelley finds himself excited about getting the family together for Christmas, despite their lives being in varying states of disarray.

When Kelley walks in on his wife kissing someone else at the inn’s Christmas party, the family descends into chaos. Various love triangles aren’t the only thing that plagues the inn during the holiday season – the Quinn family also has to deal with a surprise pregnancy, a house fire, a federal crime, and more. 

This festive read is great for setting the mood as the holiday season approaches. It’s a sweet story with realistic family dynamics and characters you can’t help but root for.

“With this in mind, Ava tells herself to be present and celebrate the holiday instead of wishing it over. After all, one is given only a certain number of Christmases in one’s life.”

Elin Hilderbrand, Winter Street

8. Winter in Paradise

Winter In Paradise, from the Paradise Series, is perfect for a beach read or to enjoy while snuggled up under blankets and watching the snowfall.

This novel follows Irene Steele, an Iowa City woman deeply in love with her husband and can’t get enough of his over-the-top romantic gestures. She’s devastated when he unexpectedly passes away, and she’s faced with unraveling the bizarre details of her husband’s death, which took place in the Caribbean.

Irene and her family are shocked when they arrive on the island to discover that their family patriarch has been living a double life. Irene’s heartbreak at her husband’s lies is intertwined with her excitement at becoming a part of the island’s rich culture. 

Readers will find that they’re rooting for Irene and her sons as they work through their devastation at the hands of the person they trusted most. It has the perfect mix of drama and romance that will keep readers fully immersed.

“Secrets become lies, and lies end up destroying you and everyone you care about.”

Elin Hilderbrand, Winter in Paradise

9. Summerland

When the high school students of Nantucket High meet on the beach for a bonfire, tragedy strikes. Penny Alistair is killed in a car crash, leaving behind her boyfriend and friend to suffer the emotional aftermath. What follows is a tale of secrets and heartbreak with plenty of romance.

Summerland is a short book, making it ideal for a day on the beach. Don’t underestimate it because of the brevity, the changing character narratives will keep readers on their toes, and you’ll find yourself feeling for all of them.

“What happened when we died? How were we to know that death wasn’t as profound an adventure as life was?”

Elin Hilderbrand, Summerland

10. The Matchmaker

As the title of The Matchmaker suggests, Dabney Kimball Beech is well-known as a matchmaker, setting up successful matches with over 40 couples on Nantucket Island. Yet when her long-lost love returns to the island, she must decide if she will make her own match.

Like many of Hilderbrand’s books, this one is not afraid to dip into the world of affairs, as the main character is married yet unfulfilled. Readers can’t help but feel conflicted by these morally gray protagonists and are eager to find out what happens next.

“Sometimes you regret the things you do, but they’re over and done. Regretting the things you didn’t do is tougher because they’re still out there…haunting you. The what-ifs.”

Elin Hilderbrand, The Matchmaker

11. Nantucket Nights

Nantucket Nights tells the story of three best friends who meet once a year to swim in the ocean under the stars. Yet on this particular summer night, one of them does not return. This opens the door to a web of secrets that make this one of the best Elin Hilderbrand novels.

This book has fewer characters than some of the other books by the best-selling author. Yet the story unfolds in the way that Hilderbrand fans have come to expect. The element of mystery makes it hard to put it down.

“It was popular to believe that things only happened on Nantucket during the summer. Summer was a slice of heaven, but the same was true for the rest of the year on the island, and Kayla felt sorry for anyone who missed the days of October.”

Elin Hilderbrand, Nantucket Nights

12. Golden Girl

Golden Girl is a tale beyond the realms of reality as we know it. This novel tells the story of Vivian Howe, an author and loving mother of three who suddenly dies in a hit-and-run accident. When Vivian ascends to the Beyond, she watches on as life continues without her.

Although this novel touches on some difficult subject matter like death and betrayal, it also has a light and loving storyline as a mother watches her children grow up from the Beyond.

With all of Hilderband’s signatures – sumptuous meals, beach scenes, and idealistic lifestyle goals, fans will love this take on life after death.

“The aesthetics of that dinner had been sheer perfection. The dining room was lit only by candles; there was a bouquet of iris on the table; the restaurant smelled of butter garlic, veal stock, freshly baked bread.”

Golden Girl, Elin Hilderbrand

13. The Castaways

The Castaways consider some of the biggest challenges a person can go through in life. When a close-knit group of friends embark on a boating expedition, tragedy strikes, and two of the group’s leading members die, leaving behind two orphaned twins.

When the friendship group comes to terms with what has happened, they begin to try and navigate their new life – without their best friends.

With themes of grief, love, friendship, and tragedy, this novel pulls on readers’ heartstrings from the first page to the last.

“He could not call his wife and drop the bomb that would destroy the landscape of her life. Her first cousin, her closest friend- a person Andrea held dearer, possibly, than himself – Tess MacAvoy, was dead.”

The Castaways, Elin Hilderbrand