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Summer of '69 Hardcover – June 18, 2019

by Elin Hilderbrand (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 23,100 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions
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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.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Little, Brown and Company
  4. Publication date
    June 18, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.75 x 9.55 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0316420018
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316420013
  8. See all details
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  1. Being responsible for her own happiness, she has realized, is a lonely proposition.
    Highlighted by 607 Kindle readers
  2. Never let a man be responsible for your happiness. Kirby will be responsible for her own happiness from now on.
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  3. “Tree of Life,” David says. “In the kabbalah, the Tree of Life is a symbol of responsibility and maturity.”
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From the brand

From the Publisher

Summer of '69

EW, summer of 69

PW, summer of 69, starred review

library journal, summer of 69, starred review

EW, summer of 69, elin hilderbrand, hildebrand, 1969

Editorial Reviews

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

About the Author

Elin Hilderbrand was born on July 17, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts. She has used her fifty years to write twenty-three novels and raise three children on Nantucket Island.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company; First Edition (June 18, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316420018
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316420013
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.75 x 9.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 23,100 ratings

About the author

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Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand

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Elin Hilderbrand first discovered the magic of Nantucket in July 1993. Her recipe for a happy island life includes running, writing at the beach, picnics at Eel Point with her three children, and singing "Home, Sweet Home" at the Club Car piano bar. Here's to Us is her seventeenth novel.

Customer reviews

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Top reviews from the United States

Lynn H. Beam
5.0 out of 5 stars The Iron Grip Loosens
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
One of the most intelligent authors. Allusions, humor, a stunning plot system. From the first to the last page, I walked hand-in-hand with the setting and the characters and the concerns. I remember it all, imagine my grin, when Bonnie Bell was mentioned, Pappagallos, Ralph Ellison, and of course, Walter Cronkite. With the Vietnam war looming, the reader understands the personal heartache of friends and family left behind and the antisemitic overtones and prejudice evident at certain beaches and the tennis club. That black Harvard student with a heart and a moral integrity vs the cop who lied and had a pregnant wife was integral to the speaker’s life. And (eek) pregnant women smoked and drank alcohol before we knew the consequences were cautionary! The reference to Ted Kennedy’s coverup at the death of a young girl (everyone knew he lied) and the beautiful voice of Walter Cronkite led so many through the late ‘60s and finally the music-CSN, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell so many other memorable others. This review is just the tip of one of very best novels I’ve read in a while.
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a reader
4.0 out of 5 stars EH Tries Something New & It's Not Bad
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024
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I'm late reading this because I gave up on EH for a time after books that were montages, bullet points, & outlines because she couldn't seem to even bother w/full sentences. When she's good at contemporary beach reads, she's very good. When she's not, she's horrid. BUT this is a departure for her - a back in time family saga. It's a good read.

It takes place on both Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket and the family - who, of course, has been going to Nantucket for a century - has enough members for each to have an interesting story line tied to happenings of the eventful1969 - the walk on the moon, Woodstock, Chappaquiddick, and Vietnam. It's a well-paced emotional family drama that's probably not what her readers expect, but was a refreshing change. One of the characters who ventures beyond the family home/club/select restaurants is stunned to discover there's a lot more to Nantucket - and the world - than what her circumspect family has previously given her. This reader felt that, too.
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Laurel-Rain Snow
5.0 out of 5 stars ICONIC MOMENTS
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
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. Thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother and her worried mother, each of them hiding 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.

My Thoughts: At the beginning of Summer of 69, Kate Levin is living in fear for her son Tiger, who has just received his draft notice. Could the secrets of her past lead to a karmic punishment?

As each member of the family descends on Nantucket and the family’s vacation home, they ponder the possibilities for the months ahead. Alternating narratives take us along for the ride, and I could almost feel myself catapulted back to my own defining moments of the past.

I especially enjoyed relating to Kirby and her protests, which led to her decision to get a job on Martha’s Vineyard instead of joining the family on Nantucket. We gradually learn about her previous choices and how they changed her life. I also connected to how the author wove real life historic characters into the plot, reminding us of how these events unfolded.

Young Jessie’s summer felt especially real, as she faced adolescent angst and the questionable actions of the adults in the family.

Moon landings, the Vietnam War, and Chappaquiddick stirred the pot and made the lives of the characters fit seamlessly into the historic moments for the country.

A memorable story that brought me into a delightful setting in a time that I won’t ever forget, the book earned 5 stars for me.***
34 people found this helpful
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Puppy
5.0 out of 5 stars summer of 69
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024
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Wonderfully written story of the days of my early generation! Brought back so many memories that are now history.
Intertwining a families everyday issues from untold secrets to the first steps on the moon, to a sons first steps in Viet nam, that will keep you turning the pages…. Thank you, Elin Hilderbramd!
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Carol
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Canada on May 16, 2021
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Just about a quarter way through!! I’m loving it so far!!
One person found this helpful
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Biglittle2709
5.0 out of 5 stars Bon livre
Reviewed in France on November 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Si vous voulez passer un agréable moment sans vous prendre le chou, ce livre vous conviendra. Si vous attendez des faits historiques détaillés sur l'année 69, passez votre chemin. Ce livre n'est pas un récit historique mais juste un bon livre qui vous parle d'une famille américaine pendant cette année si particulière. Ce que j'attendais. Pas trop de rebondissements. Ecriture agréable et roman facile à lire pour ceux qui veulent lire en VO.
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Lidia Budzinska
5.0 out of 5 stars 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
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Luis
5.0 out of 5 stars Tu hogar lo construye con tus seres queridos y tus sueños pero sobre todo con el corazón
Reviewed in Spain on August 1, 2019
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Es una historia conmovedora, expone los echos más impactantes del siglo XX durante la década de los 60, Vietnam, las manifestaciones por la lucha racial en los Estados Unidos o la llegada del hombre a la luna. Todo narrado a través del punto de vista de una familia media acomodada, con sus valores y sus secretos, y como vive estos echos históricos. A veces divertida y a veces entrañable. No te dejará indiferente.
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Gill Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2019
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As always a good easy read by Elin Hilderbrand. I really enjoyed this, a perfect summer read. ☀️
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