It was the Summer of ’69

It’s July and I’m deep into my summer reading. I’m an avid reader all year long, but there’s something special about reading when the weather gets warm. The summer read I was highly anticipating was Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand. Luckily, it was one of the options for my Book of the Month June pick, so I didn’t have to wait very long!

Here’s the synopsis from the back of the book:

“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. 

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.” (Hilderbrand, Elin. Summer of ’69, 2019)

I am a BIG fan of Elin Hilderbrand. She’s one of my favorite authors and I devour anything she writes. As a result, I definitely have a list of my top Elin books. The Matchmaker has always been my favorite, but I can confidently say that Summer of ’69 overthrew its reign as #1. I LOVED this book. Everything about this book was great. The plot was enticing. The pace was ideal. The characters were flawed but relatable. I couldn’t put it down. And when I did, it was all I could think about.

I’ve mentioned in other posts about my pickiness when it comes to historical fiction. I typically stick to WWII. But after reading Summer of ’69, I want to read more about the 60’s and 70’s. I was fascinated and hooked. In fact, I’m currently reading Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner, which predominately takes place during the 60’s and 70’s. (Stay tuned for that one later this month!)

Summer of ’69 is my favorite read of 2019 so far. I’ll be recommending it all summer long!

I really wanted to celebrate this book, especially when it became Elin Hilderbrand’s first #1 New York Times bestseller. That’s an excellent reason for this long-time fan to celebrate! I decided to pair it a sparkling wine, Clink! The wine is from Winc, which is another monthly wine club I belong to. It’s dry, slightly tart, and lemony. It reminded me of a really good champagne. It’s delicious. Plus, a chilled sparkling wine is great for the heat wave we’ve been having. It’s refreshing, fun, and I love how the bubbles tickle my nose. I’ve tried a few new wines this summer and this one is by far my favorite.

It’s the perfect drink to toast to a bestseller!

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What’s your favorite summer read?

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If you’re interested in checking out Winc and earning a free $22 bottle of wine, check out my referral link!

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*I was not compensated for my review. All thoughts and images are my own.*