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A Summer Affair: A Novel Paperback – June 1, 2009

by Elin Hilderbrand (Author)
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The perfect wife and mother finds the perfect temptation in this "perfect summer cocktail of sex, sun, and scandal" (Kirkus Reviews).

Claire has a problem with setting limits. All her life she has taken on every responsibility, assumed every burden, granted every request. Claire wants it all—and in the eyes of her friends, she has it: a devoted husband, four beautiful children, even a successful career as an artist. So when she agrees to chair the committee for Nantucket's social event of the year, she knows she can handle it. Claire can handle anything.

But when planning the gala propels her into the orbit of billionaire Lock Dixon, unexpected sparks begin to fly. Lock insists on working closely with Claire—often over a bottle of wine—and before long she can't ignore the subtle touches and lingering looks. To her surprise, she can't ignore how they make her feel, either. Claire finds the gala, her life, and herself spinning out of control.

A Summer Affair captures the love, loss, and limbo of an illicit romance and unchecked passion as it takes us on a brave and breathless journey into the heart of one modern woman.

"Think you know where this is going? Think again. Hilderbrand is way too smart to give away the whole story in her title." —Elisabeth Egan, New York Times
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  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Back Bay Books
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.45 x 8.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780316018616
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316018616
  8. See all details
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From the brand

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Think you know where this is going? Think again. Hilderbrand is way too smart to give away the whole story in her title."―Elizabeth Egan, New York Times

"Claire has it all — and then she gets more! Will new love destroy her great life? A Summer Affair is voyeuristic fun."―People

"A gem of a summer read with a glamorous location, elite lifestyle, and Hilderbrand's appealing take on the constant stress that fills the lives of women everywhere."―Booklist

"A perfect summer cocktail of sex, sun, and scandal.... Pure voyeuristic fun." ―Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

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

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0316018619
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (June 1, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780316018616
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316018616
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.45 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand

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Elin Hilderbrand first discovered the magic of Nantucket in July 1993. Her recipe for a happy island life includes running, writing at the beach, picnics at Eel Point with her three children, and singing "Home, Sweet Home" at the Club Car piano bar. Here's to Us is her seventeenth novel.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
6,281 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline wonderful and great. They also praise the writing style as well-written, fast, and easy to read. However, some find the pacing abrupt and the story drags on without much development. They find the book boring. Opinions are mixed on the characters, with some finding them rich and others unsympathetic.

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StorylineWriting styleCharactersPacingEntertainment value
101 customers mention "Storyline"84 positive17 negative

Customers find the storyline wonderful, engaging, and emotional. They also appreciate the creative and real metaphors and similes.

"...I loved to read it, Great book. Nice to get to know the island description through this novel! I wish I could go some day. Ximena, from Argentina." Read more

"...It was a good summer read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to dive into the plethora of Elin Hilderbrands books!" Read more

"...A wonderfully engaging tale of human self-discovery." Read more

"...The novel is a compelling and emotional journey that will resonate with readers." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing style"26 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written, easy to read, and creative. They also mention the metaphors and similes are very real and adorable.

"Loved this story! Elin is a wonderful writer!!! Looking forward to reading the remainder of her novels I recently purchased." Read more

"This is a great, easy read. It was a fast one for me to get through. I love how Elin’s characters are flawed. They are human. They make mistakes...." Read more

"Good, steady, book. I really enjoyed the writing style, the characters and the book overall. One of my favorite authors!" Read more

"...Couldn’t put it down just to be done. Definitely a fast read, but I won’t be going any further with this author. Back to spies and murder mysteries." Read more

43 customers mention "Characters"22 positive21 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them rich and human, while others say they lack empathy and emotion.

"...'The Matchmaker', and I enjoyed it quite a bit -- complex characters in realistic situations...." Read more

"...Mainly because I found nearly all the characters unlikeable...." Read more

"...I love how Elin’s characters are flawed. They are human. They make mistakes. They do things that don’t make sense. They make us mad...." Read more

"...struggled through the first 100 plus pages but the main female character was so unlikeable...." Read more

16 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive16 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book too abrupt and slow.

"It was disappointing. I feel like it did not conclude well. It needed more closure for me. But an ok read ." Read more

"...I don’t agree with all of it, and I do agree that the ending isn’t totally realistic. I still enjoyed it overall though...." Read more

"Story line was too slow and too uneventful" Read more

"...I did feel like this story ended too abruptly though...." Read more

12 customers mention "Entertainment value"0 positive12 negative

Customers find the book boring and unreal. They also say it's not worth their precious time.

"...But the characters in this book were so annoyingly dumb at times...." Read more

"...Everyone else is pretty rotten, as well. It's hard to enjoy a book when you hope everyone gets what they deserve yet nobody..." Read more

"Story line was too slow and too uneventful" Read more

"I usually live this author but this book is boring and way too predictable. Just skip it as it is not with your precious time." Read more

A juicy summer read!
3 out of 5 stars
A juicy summer read!
A Summer Affair follows Claire, a devoted wife, mother, and successful artist, who struggles with setting boundaries and taking on too many responsibilities.Despite having a seemingly perfect life, Claire's role as chair of Nantucket's biggest social event brings her into close contact with billionaire Lock Dixon. As they work together, their professional relationship becomes blurred, ultimately leading to a scandalous romance that leaves Claire's life in turmoil.I found myself initially intimidated by the subject matter, but ultimately found that Elin did a great job at invoking empathy for a cast of very imperfect people. This book explores the complexities of desire, passion, and the impact of an affair not just between spouses, but through a multitude of interpersonal relationships. It was juicy, and I found myself feeling like I was reading a gossip column of Nantucket’s locals!With all of this said, it was also somehow relaxing, and inspiring. It was a good summer read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to dive into the plethora of Elin Hilderbrands books!
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Top reviews from the United States

Arlene Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Loved this story! Elin is a wonderful writer!!! Looking forward to reading the remainder of her novels I recently purchased.
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Ximena
4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
The book was absolutely compelling, but the end was not quite what I excepted. I loved to read it, Great book. Nice to get to know the island description through this novel! I wish I could go some day. Ximena, from Argentina.
One person found this helpful
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Christie
3.0 out of 5 stars A juicy summer read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
A Summer Affair follows Claire, a devoted wife, mother, and successful artist, who struggles with setting boundaries and taking on too many responsibilities.

Despite having a seemingly perfect life, Claire's role as chair of Nantucket's biggest social event brings her into close contact with billionaire Lock Dixon. As they work together, their professional relationship becomes blurred, ultimately leading to a scandalous romance that leaves Claire's life in turmoil.

I found myself initially intimidated by the subject matter, but ultimately found that Elin did a great job at invoking empathy for a cast of very imperfect people. This book explores the complexities of desire, passion, and the impact of an affair not just between spouses, but through a multitude of interpersonal relationships. It was juicy, and I found myself feeling like I was reading a gossip column of Nantucket’s locals!

With all of this said, it was also somehow relaxing, and inspiring. It was a good summer read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to dive into the plethora of Elin Hilderbrands books!
Customer image
Christie
3.0 out of 5 stars A juicy summer read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
A Summer Affair follows Claire, a devoted wife, mother, and successful artist, who struggles with setting boundaries and taking on too many responsibilities.

Despite having a seemingly perfect life, Claire's role as chair of Nantucket's biggest social event brings her into close contact with billionaire Lock Dixon. As they work together, their professional relationship becomes blurred, ultimately leading to a scandalous romance that leaves Claire's life in turmoil.

I found myself initially intimidated by the subject matter, but ultimately found that Elin did a great job at invoking empathy for a cast of very imperfect people. This book explores the complexities of desire, passion, and the impact of an affair not just between spouses, but through a multitude of interpersonal relationships. It was juicy, and I found myself feeling like I was reading a gossip column of Nantucket’s locals!

With all of this said, it was also somehow relaxing, and inspiring. It was a good summer read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to dive into the plethora of Elin Hilderbrands books!
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Laurel-Rain Snow
5.0 out of 5 stars Self-Discovery
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2008
Verified Purchase
When Claire Danner Crispin---wife, mother and artist---agrees to chair the Summer Gala on Nantucket, she doesn't realize that she is turning her life upside down. But then, as Claire describes herself, she is a person with "no boundaries". She can't say no, and she allows others to use her.

What seems like an ordinary social event becomes a trip into obsession...First, Claire finds herself drawn more and more to the director of the event, a somewhat sad, but wealthy man, whose wife has turned into a bitter, angry creature after an unfortunate car accident left her "impaired" mentally. An accident that Claire blames on herself, as she and her friends failed to persuade their inebriated friend to take a cab that night.

Then Claire has to revisit an old love...Matthew, a now famous rock star. Her task is to convince him to do a concert for the gala.

And finally, Claire is persuaded to create a museum piece for the event...she is a semi-retired glass-blower, who has previously created such pieces. But because Claire had an accident in her "hot shop" while pregnant with her youngest child, and because that child was born prematurely and may have been damaged, Claire meets resistance from her husband, who is bitter and angry about her obsession with her art. And blames her for what happened to their baby.

All of these events combine to create the perfect maelstrom for what then transpires. The guilt, the angst, the neediness...these feelings lend vulnerability to Claire's life, somehow causing it to spin completely out of control.

Over a period of a year, while Claire and others on the committee team up to create the perfect event, there is almost an inevitability in how things play out.

Does Claire find the love she lost in her marriage? Can she recreate the "perfect" first love with her rock star ex-boyfriend? Will she be able to create that museum piece, while juggling all the balls in her life? What, finally, will happen when the Summer Gala is presented, and
will Claire find the answers she seeks?

What could have been just an ordinary beach read has turned into an exploration of the human needs, flaws and urges that plague all of us at one time or another. Ms. Hilderbrand skillfully leads us down a path of discovery...not just of the characters in the story, but of our own human frailties.

A wonderfully engaging tale of human self-discovery.
15 people found this helpful
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Brittany
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand is an exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of modern relationships. Claire is a relatable character, grappling with the pressures of balancing family and a career. The author weaves together both the excitement and danger of an illicit summer romance and the consequences of pursuing forbidden desires. The novel is a compelling and emotional journey that will resonate with readers.
One person found this helpful
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angelyaya
4.0 out of 5 stars juicy
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love the way these characters become real. Hildabrand goes a great job with creating characters you believe in.
I wish religion was not used but I guess it was needed for this story!
2 people found this helpful
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Robert Ahnen
5.0 out of 5 stars Quality
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
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Thank you
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Jmarshall
3.0 out of 5 stars Just ok
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
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This is the second Hilderbrand book that I've read; the first was 'The Matchmaker', and I enjoyed it quite a bit -- complex characters in realistic situations. But the characters in this book were so annoyingly dumb at times. Claire very easily enters into an affair with Lock, who was not compellingly wonderful and I have no idea why she was even attracted to him. Except for the fact that she had four small kids at home, a neanderthal husband who expected her to work 18 hours a day as a mom and homemaker so he could come home from his 8-10 hours, eat the dinner she prepared, and then sit in front of the TV before he mauled her in bed, no matter how tired she was. Claire's best friend was a bully, jealous and unsupportive. But I have to say that Hilderbrand knows how to write in a way that interests you and keeps you reading, as there were several times when I just had to put the book down out of anger for these characters. But then I picked it up again, of course. It took about 380 pages for everyone in the book to get into a lot of trouble, and then everything resolves in the last 30 pages or so. Felt forced; I would have preferred less repetitive build-up and more resolution (with some soul-searching on Claire's part included).
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Betsy
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in Canada on September 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
I'm reading all her books and this is probably one of her best.
it pulls you right into a situation and life struggles many women have faced.
One person found this helpful
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Mrs. L. J. Howland
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2018
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Good easy holiday read.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on February 17, 2017
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very well written.
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julie huleux
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it!
Reviewed in France on October 29, 2013
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hilderbrand makes you want to go to nantucket, where for sure you would live a true love story! this book is a romantic pause enjoyable everywhere...!
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read as always
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
up to her usual fabulour standard. Love her books and wish they were all available in kindle.
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