Your Guide to Elin Hilderbrand's Books in Order

If you’ve ever dreamt of packing up your things, hopping on a ferry to Nantucket, and starting over—preferably with a beach bag full of drama, romance, and secrets—then welcome to the world of Elin Hilderbrand. You’re in the right place.

Known as the Queen of Beach Reads (seriously, it’s official—New York Magazine said so!), Elin Hilderbrand has gifted us book after book of emotionally layered, character-driven stories set against the salty breeze and cobblestone streets of Nantucket Island. But make no mistake—these books aren’t all sunshine and sangria. In true Hilderbrand fashion, love and loss go hand-in-hand, and just when you’re getting comfy with your wine and beach towel... BOOM. A plane crash. A secret affair. A knock at the door that changes everything...

There’s something about an Elin Hilderbrand novel that feels like a phone call from an old friend. You don’t always know what to expect, but you do know you’re going to laugh, cry, scream into a throw pillow, and Google “How much is a ferry to Nantucket?” by the end.

From Summer of '69 to The Hotel Nantucket, her stories span generations, relationships, heartbreaks, and hard truths. Her characters? A+ complexity. Think secret chefs, second-chance lovers, grumpy patriarchs with soft hearts, and women who are just trying to hold it all together in linen pants and boat shoes.

When Tragedy Strikes (Because It Always Does)

Elin doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Helicopter crashes, mysterious disappearances, freak accidents—she delivers plot twists like summer storms: unexpected, intense, and impossible to ignore.

Take Winter in Paradise, where Irene Steele’s picture-perfect life is shattered by one call that her husband has died… in the Caribbean… with a secret second life. Or The Perfect Couple, where a wedding weekend turns into a murder investigation. Drama? Always. Predictable? Never.

Old Friends, New Challenges

One of the best things about reading her books in order is watching characters grow—or spiral. Kelley Quinn, Adrienne Dealey, the Steele brothers, Mack Petersen, Arch Newton… they feel like real people. (Let’s be honest, they’ve lived rent-free in your head too.)

Whether it’s returning to a family we know (Winter Street series), or meeting someone new navigating an identity crisis (The Blue Bistro, anyone?), the characters are nuanced, messy, lovable, and deeply human.

The Winter Series & More

Sure, Elin has a ton of juicy standalone novels, but her Winter Street series is a holiday tradition for many of us. Set at the cozy Winter Street Inn with the delightfully chaotic Quinn family, it brings the holiday cheer—and just the right amount of scandal.

Then there’s The Paradise Trilogy, which has all the Elin-isms we love: sun, secrets, and a setting so vivid you’ll smell the salty sea air through the pages!

Want to Read Them in Order? We’ve Got You!

Whether you’re new to her world or ready for a reread, here’s a complete list of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels in order of publication:

Elin Hilderbrand's Novels:

1. The Beach Club (2000) Set at a luxurious Nantucket resort, this novel explores the intersecting lives of staff and guests over one dramatic summer—where love, secrets, and ambition collide by the sea.
2. Nantucket Nights (2002) Three lifelong friends reunite for their annual midnight swim, but when one of them disappears, long-buried secrets surface and their bond is put to the ultimate test.
3. Summer People (2003) After a tragic loss, a widow takes her teenage twins to Nantucket, where a summer of healing, reflection, and surprising connections changes everything.
4. The Blue Bistro (2005) Adrienne lands a job at Nantucket’s hottest restaurant, where she becomes entangled in the lives of its enigmatic owners—and must choose between love and loyalty.
5. The Love Season (2006) A reclusive woman is pulled back into society when a young guest arrives on the island—and her visit stirs up painful memories and unresolved truths from decades past.
6. Barefoot (2007) Three women, each escaping their own crisis, find refuge in a Nantucket cottage—and with each other—during one unforgettable summer of transformation.
7. A Summer Affair (2008) A talented glassblower is asked to co-chair a charity gala and finds herself torn between her family and a seductive new opportunity that threatens to unravel everything.
8. The Castaways (2009) A tight-knit group of Nantucket couples is shattered by a tragic accident, and as they grieve, betrayals and secrets come to light, changing their friendships forever.
9. The Island (2010) Four women retreat to a rustic family home on remote Tuckernuck Island, where a summer of solitude, sisterhood, and self-discovery brings surprising revelations.
10. Silver Girl (2011) After her husband is arrested for a massive financial scandal, Meredith flees to Nantucket to hide from the press—and finds unexpected friendship and a shot at redemption.
11. Summerland (2012) After a car accident shatters a group of teens and their families, a summer of grief, questions, and buried truths leads to healing in this emotionally rich story.
12. Beautiful Day (2013) As a bride prepares for her dream wedding using her late mother’s notes, family drama, past loves, and unexpected emotions surface, turning the big day into a turning point.
13. The Matchmaker (2014) Nantucket’s beloved matchmaker has helped countless couples find love—but when her own past resurfaces, she’s forced to confront a secret she’s kept for years.
14. The Rumor (2015) Gossip spreads like wildfire through Nantucket when a struggling novelist and a wealthy friend become the subject of scandal—threatening reputations, marriages, and friendships.
15. Here’s to Us (2016) Three very different women gather at the beach house of their late ex-husband to scatter his ashes—and confront old wounds, new truths, and the surprising bonds that remain.
16. The Identicals (2017) Twin sisters living on opposite coasts swap lives—and secrets. Can they fix what’s broken, or are some divisions too deep?
17. The Perfect Couple (2018) A wedding is derailed when a body is found. As secrets unravel, this “beach read meets murder mystery” delivers plenty of twists.
18. Summer of '69 (2019) Set against the backdrop of a turbulent summer, this historical novel follows four siblings navigating family drama and societal change.
19. 28 Summers (2020) When Mallory inherits a beachfront cottage on Nantucket, she and a friend make a pact to meet there once a year—no matter what. Over nearly three decades, their secret tradition weaves a powerful, unforgettable love story that explores loyalty, longing, and the complicated choices that shape a lifetime.
20. Golden Girl (2021) A successful author dies in a hit-and-run—and gets one last summer to watch over her loved ones. With wit and wisdom, she tries to help them heal—and uncover the truth.
21. The Hotel Nantucket (2022) A once-glamorous hotel reopens with a new staff, a celebrity guest, and even a resident ghost. Everyone has a secret—and the hotel is listening.
22. The Five-Star Weekend (2023) After tragedy strikes, food blogger Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different phases of her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket.
23. Swan Song (2024)when rich strangers move to the island, social mayhem—and a possible murder follow. Can Nantucket’s best locals save the day, and their way of life?

Elin Hilderbrand Books By Series

Winter Street Series: Set in Nantucket during the holidays
Follow the cozy chaos of the Quinn family as they run the Winter Street Inn. From tangled love lives to unexpected guests, this heartwarming series blends festive charm with family drama, making it the perfect seasonal binge read!

• Winter Street (2014) Welcome to the Winter Street Inn, where holiday cheer is in short supply and family secrets run deep. One family’s festive season is anything but ordinary.
• Winter Stroll (2015) A year later, the Quinns are back—and so is the drama. Love, betrayal, and second chances fill the halls of the inn this holiday season
• Winter Storms (2016) The family braces for a storm—both literally and figuratively—as old wounds resurface. But even the fiercest weather can’t dim the warmth of coming home.
• Winter Solstice (2017) In this emotional finale, the Quinn family comes full circle. It’s a season of goodbyes, healing, and one last Christmas to remember.

Paradise Trilogy: Set in the U.S. Virgin Islands

When Irene Steele’s seemingly perfect life is shattered by a shocking revelation, she’s drawn into the tropical mystery of her late husband’s secret life. Sun-soaked and suspenseful, this series explores grief, love, reinvention—and a whole lot of island intrigue.

• Winter in Paradise (2018) After an unexpected tragedy, a widow travels to the Virgin Islands—and discovers her husband’s secret life. Her journey to uncover the truth changes everything.
• What Happens in Paradise (2019) As answers come to light, so do new questions. Torn between the past and the future, Irene and her sons face choices that could change their lives.
• Troubles in Paradise (2020) The explosive finale brings secrets to the surface—and no one’s life will be the same. Family, love, and truth collide in paradise.

The Nantucket Series :

• A Summer Affair (2008) A picture-perfect wife and mother finds herself drawn into an irresistible temptation while planning Nantucket’s biggest summer gala. As sparks fly with a charming billionaire, Claire’s carefully balanced life begins to spiral beyond her control.
• The Castaways (2009) When longtime couple Greg and Tess MacAvoy mysteriously drown off Nantucket on their anniversary sail, their six closest friends are left reeling—and questioning everything they thought they knew. As secrets surface and grief deepens, The Castaways unravels a gripping story of love, betrayal, and the fragile ties that bind us.
• The Perfect Couple (2018) When a body turns up just hours before the most extravagant wedding of the season, secrets unravel fast—and no one in the wedding party is safe from suspicion. With characters you’ll love from The Castaways and Beautiful Day, this tangled tale of privilege, pressure, and perfection-gone-wrong is a must-read before you hit play.
• Swan Song (2024) When rich strangers move to the island, social mayhem—and a possible murder follow. Can Nantucket’s best locals save the day, and their way of life? Sun-soaked, scandal-filled, and deeply satisfying—this is Hilderbrand at her most unputdownable!
  

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Upcoming Releases

Elin Hilderbrand is co-writing a book with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, called The Academy. The story follows an intertwined cast of characters over the course of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.

The Academy, is set to be released in September 2025 inspired by Shelby's experiences at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Tv Adaptations

The Perfect Couple was adapted into a Netflix miniseries by the same name!

The series, starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber, premiered on September 5, 2024.

Following its success, Netflix is developing a second season based on Hilderbrand's 2024 novel, Swan Song. 

Additionally, Peacock is adapting another of her Nantucket-set novels, The Five-Star Weekend, with rumors Jennifer Garner is set to star in it!