28 Summers

Product Information

Oh, also, it throws in every single controversial political topic in ONE BOOK and discusses the issue with minimal insight, and obviously very one sided. As a note of warning, this book leans liberal. There’s some talk of politics, largely due to the character of Ursula’s career as a politician. I didn’t think there was much politics in this book, but there is a little. If you’ve very sensitive about that sort of thing, perhaps it’ll be a skip for you. Main Criticism of 28 Summers: The Cheating I don't ever read books of this genre so my review should be taken with a grain of salt - or sand! -since I have nothing to compare 28 Summers to. While I don’t condone adultery, I found it impossible not to like and root for Mallory and Jake. Despite knowing the ultimate outcome, revealed early on in the first chapter, the final chapter of the book got me — good. I wouldn't have thought this book would have created such tumultuous feelings within but it did. A story about an affair between two people shouldn't make me cry but it has. I couldn't help but be pulled into Mallory and Jake's lives and I did want them to finally be together. As each year passes and Hilderbrand relates the news events that had us talking each of those 28 years, it seemed like time had stopped itself.

28 Summers (28 Summers, book 1) by Elin Hilderbrand 28 Summers (28 Summers, book 1) by Elin Hilderbrand

Mallory and Jake decide to make Labor Day weekend their thing, every year — No matter what. They keep this tradition for 28 years, experiencing the highs and lows of life in between each annual reunion. This includes other relationships, work, children, and grief — Timing is everything. I guess their relationship was meant to be one-and-done every year kind of thing. Maybe the magic would have worn off if they would have been together longer. We just don’t know because they never gave it a try. Storylines galore I listened to the audio version of this book and was swept away on an adventure with Mallory and Jake Summers had me torn between wanting to rush through this engaging story and making it last as long as possible. In her 25th novel, the Queen of the beach read has done it again!

Synopsis

I think because of that, I found Jake and Mallory each so unlikable. I couldn’t believe Mallory was indignantly screaming about what a good person she was after learning that a guy she’d dated was married. Wasn’t she was cheating all the time with Jake anyway? Cheating’s okay, but only if you’re in on it, is that the rule? I also couldn’t deal with book telling me how “kind and sympathetic” Mallory was for offering some basic sympathy after seeing Jake’s pregnant and retching wife in the bathroom. Are you kidding me? She’s screwing that pregnant woman’s husband, don’t tell me how kind she is! The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother. I hold a Masters in Human Performance Physiology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Outdoor Education & Adventure, I am a qualified Life Coach and am currently writing my thesis for my Masters in Outdoor Ed and Adventure with a research focus on the restorative effects of nature and the outdoors, particularly for men. I don’t know if I’d be open to reading another one of Hilderbrand’s books. I wanted to try at least one, and there’s definitely things I liked about her writing, but I think perhaps I have a different idea of what romance is than she does. It nagged me that Jake and Mallory never felt guilty of what they were doing. They just waited to see each other "Same Time Next Year" and family be damned. Their affair goes on so perfectly that Jake's daughter never learns her father is a cheater.

28 Summers Series by Elin Hilderbrand - Goodreads

For the last twenty-eight summers, Mallory and Jake have met to rekindle the passionate love affair they began all those years ago. Each married to someone else, with busy lives and happy families, they've managed to keep their secret, and to keep their love alive.I always knew this was going to be good, but didn't dare to hope it would turn out to be a five star read for me. It's no secret this story doesn't end well (from book summary) and we know the storyline is based on a "Same Time Next Year" movie scenario so perhaps that's why 28 Summers made me feel kind of down. I think not disclosing the ending up front would have worked better (for me) in this one. But, we never found out if Bess was really Jake & Ursula's child or Anders? I know her hair was dark like J & U and A was blond, put that doesn't prove paternity. Nice dedication for Dorothea Benton Frank who passed last year...so young. I've read many of her Sullivan Island novels; 28 Summers would have been right up her alley. Why do you think Mallory and Jake never tried to be together? Do you think their relationship would have worked out if they gave it a try?

Club Questions for 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand Book Club Questions for 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

Less a story about a secretive affair and more a tale of sweet nostalgia and fate, this title will be popular with a wide audience' - Library JournalIt’s like a fairy tale. It’s like a game of Would You Rather? Would you rather have perfect bliss for only three days or a solid but dull relationship all year long? Mallory would choose Jake every time.