Customer Reviews

The Beach Club

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book definitely exceeded my expectations. I bought it because Nantucket is one of my favorite places, and because it sounded like a great Summer read. Other then that, I was anticipating a less than quality quick and easy read.

Quick and easy it was, but that is because the writing and the characters drew me in from the first page, and didn't let me go until the very end. Ms. Hilderbrand is a talented writer who's works should not be overlooked as being too simplistic or soap opera like.

This book begins at the beginning of a Summer at The Beach Club, an exclusive hotel on Nantucket Island. The reader is introduced to the main characters right away, as well as a bit of their histories. All of them are on Nantucket for one reason or another related to who they are, and each reason is as compelling as the next. Each character is somehow related to the Beach Club.

This book delves into the inter-relationships between co-workers, lovers, rivals, parents and children, and so much more. It also opens a window onto one of the most beautiful, exclusive islands in the US. For anyone who has been to Nantucket or wants to go, this is a must read. From the smells, to the sounds and scenery, this book touches upon so much of the island's mystique.

I was sad to finish this well written, heartfelt story because there were so many characters who's lives were interesting enough to have encompassed their own novels. This book was a great pre-Summer read. I look forward to reading Nantucket Nights, Ms. Hildebrand's newest book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Hilderbrand's style of writing. She captures you immediately and makes you laugh and cry throughout the story. The story line is good, but complicated and maybe too many story lines going on at once. However, the ending was a kick and it screams sequel. I loved most of the characters, although she left you hanging with one character, Vance, who seemed incomplete and not well defined, in comparison to her other characters. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to other books by Ms. Hilderbrand. She is a great author.

I've read all Hilderbrands books to date and this one is the best! I finished it in two days because I couldn't put it down. I love her writing style.

This book deserves what it gets. It was such a well written book I couldn't stop reading for even a second. I read this book in two days because it was so interesting. The author does an exellent jobs describing characters and places in the book to make it come alive. I recomend this to any needy reader.

Author Elin Hilderbrand conveys a wonderful sense of place in her novel, THE BEACH CLUB. Setting her story on the lovely little island of Nantucket, Hilderbrand does an excellent job in displaying the charms of this island, and even in explaining the peculiar joys of island life in general. I know this for a fact, because I live in a similar community.

The novel opens as a summer season begins and the tale concludes as the season ends. The goings-on at a deluxe oceanfront resort form the spine of the plot.

With as many characters as a Dickens' classic, Hilderbrand explores the loves and travails of both the resort's long-suffering staff and of the transient guests. Indeed, one flaw is that the reader is teased with snippets of the problems some the paying guests. Yet, repeatedly, these fragments never are brought to a natural conclusion, since these characters' adventures at THE BEACH CLUB end when the characters depart the hotel...as resort guests inevitably do.

The core characters, alas, are not as fully developed as they could be, and neither do most of them prove particularly likable. Of course, this lack of likability makes the novel less enjoyable than it would have been with compelling characters. Still, Ms. Hilderbrand is to be complimented for taking a story with an ultimately predictable conclusion and making it into something unexpected.

Perhaps an author as skilled as this onewould have served her novel better with fewer primary characters, and better development of those who remained. There is no escaping that Hilderbrand is an excellent story-teller and a gifted writer, and that THE BEACH CLUB is an excellent read. Anyone with an appreciation of Nantucket or similar island resorts will find that THE BEACH CLUB resonates.

this book was not as enticing as the other books by Elin. I had to force myself to read it at times. Parts of the book were very predictable - the elderly woman's demise and the relationship b/t the main character's girlfriend and his employee. Island is a much better read - much more developed characters and plot. Just purchased Barefoot - hope it compares to Island.

While I wanted to enjoy the book and I thought that storyline regarding the mother with the child with autism was compelling, the author's portrayal of the scary black man was just plain racist. I tried to get over it, but the poorly developed reductive African American character was absolutely ridiculous. I ended up pissed at the person that recommended the book to me and can't believe that the author's editors published this drivel.

This book was bad. I've never not finished a book because I was angry at the author.

this book of Hilderbrand's took a little longer to get into, but it was worth it. It's an interesting story

Book was a fun read, love this author! Perfect read for a summer camping trip. Will read more of her selections.

I read this book to the end. It was not hard reading. I have read the other reviews and seen this book lauded and seen it thrashed. It is not my kind of reading but I don't suppose I was the target audience. It was well-written and easy to follow and I was sure glad to finish it so I could move on to something I could really sink my teeth into. This story was vacuous, cliched, and with the most uninteresting characters, and the most inane descriptions ever - PERFECT for summer beach reading. Hence, the 3 stars. I would absolutely recommend it for relaxing at the beach on a short holiday, but don't expect anything of substance beyond that.