The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

By admin, on July 9th, 2009

Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (July 7, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0316043893

ISBN-13: 978-0316043892

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy’s closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.

Don’t be confused by the title – this is not your average group of castaways…do NOT think of Gilligan or Tom Hanks with this one.

This book centers around 4 couples who have dubbed themselves “The Castaways”. They have vacationed together, raised there kids together, and have shared everything in their lives.

Greg and Tess (one of the couples) goes out sailing to celebrate their 12th anniversary when disaster strikes. Their marriage had been struggling and questions begin to surface that makes the group wonder if it was truly an accident or if foul play was involved. Add to the fact that Tess was involved with another castaway and you have a book full of deceit, suspsense, sorrow, love, and forgiveness.

How far can a friendhip be pushed before it is beyond saving? What about a marriage? You will see how much this group of friends goes through and finds out about each other to try and get the answers they so desperately seek.

I really enjoyed this book and it was not at all what I expected. I would highly recommend it but not as a “beach read” or “chic lit”. There is much more to this one that makes it a far cry from a light hearted book.

Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, PA, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her seven previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.