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The Castaways
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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
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Hardcover, 359 pages
Published
July 7th 2009
by Little Brown and Company
(first published 2009)
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This is by far my favorite Elin Hilderbrand novel. I was so emotionally invested in it from the first page and I had a hard time not reading it. I had to know what happened to Greg and Tess. Such a moving book and loved the ending. 5 stars for sure ;) this needs to be a movie and I can't understand why it hasn't been made into one yet! Loved this book! It made me sad, happy, mad.... A little bit of everything, which is what great books do!
This book disproves the idea that it is hard to get a book published. It is published and it is absolutely ghastly. What a waste of time!
The only good thing that I can saw about wasting the day reading it was that it was supposed to be snowing, so there wasn't much else to do. The kids were home watching movies or using the computer and all their activities were cancelled because of the snow. This is a book to read either on a snow day or a beach day, and only then if you don't expect much. I wo ...more
The only good thing that I can saw about wasting the day reading it was that it was supposed to be snowing, so there wasn't much else to do. The kids were home watching movies or using the computer and all their activities were cancelled because of the snow. This is a book to read either on a snow day or a beach day, and only then if you don't expect much. I wo ...more
Let me begin by saying I truly enjoy "chick-lit". On top of that, I have truly enjoyed several of Hilderbrand's other novels (albeit before I joined Good Reads).
However, I read someone else's review of this book, and although most people loved it, at least one person agreed with me - - - what are these so-called "friends" doing, sleeping around or WANTING to sleep around with each other? And can you really feel sympathy or warmth toward a character that so blithely throws away their own family ...more
However, I read someone else's review of this book, and although most people loved it, at least one person agreed with me - - - what are these so-called "friends" doing, sleeping around or WANTING to sleep around with each other? And can you really feel sympathy or warmth toward a character that so blithely throws away their own family ...more
This was a typical Hilderbrand tale, which isn't a bad thing. My problem was trying to keep all the couples straight. I couldn't for the life of me remember who was with who. The story was good, but with a very dopey wrap it all up in a pretty bow ending. I don't know why I keep going back to her work, I'm rarely satisfied.
Just don't read this book. Too many married people sleeping around, too much profanity, too much drug & alcohol use. I knew it would be a 'light read' but this was just junk - not in the way that an occasional candy bar is junk and fun to eat anyway - but junk in a way that I didn't even enjoy for the lighthearted fare it was supposed to be.
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I couldn't get into this book, it was all over the place. Very rarely do I ever not finish a book I started reading even if I have to suffer through. The older I get the more I realize that life is too short to read less then at least good books. I couldn't even make it halfway through. Sorry, I tried.
I quite enjoyed The Castaways. I did read it some time ago and thought I already wrote a review.
In the Castaways a group friends that have to deal with the death of two of their best friends. It did have many points of view so I had to pay close attention at times but I enjoyed knowing what others were thinking. There was a lot going on in this group of friends. A lot of partying which may turn some people off but it was right for this group of friends. Didn't like all characters but people are ...more
In the Castaways a group friends that have to deal with the death of two of their best friends. It did have many points of view so I had to pay close attention at times but I enjoyed knowing what others were thinking. There was a lot going on in this group of friends. A lot of partying which may turn some people off but it was right for this group of friends. Didn't like all characters but people are ...more
I didn't go in with very high expectations, which allowed me to enjoy the book for what it is: a perfect-for-the-poolside, perfectly shallow summer read. Admittedly, it's not so great; the character development from their youth to pre-accident was believable, but the development after the deaths of the MacAvoys was less actual, logical development and more like Hildebrand was casting the melodramatic ideal of soap opera-brand grief on her characters without caring if their actions reflected at a
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I give this book two stars instead of one because I haven't actually read the entire book yet. (Honestly, I'm not sure if I will pick it back up later and attempt to.) I really enjoyed "A Summer Affair" so I was excited about "Barefoot" but it just didn't pull me in, so I put it down and moved on to something else after a chapter or two. I had hopes that it was just a fluke and I would eagerly devour "The Castaways".
Hilderbrand has come up with a great plot. Four couples living in Nantucket, sud ...more
Hilderbrand has come up with a great plot. Four couples living in Nantucket, sud ...more
I could not finish this book. I found the writing boring, confusing and not believable at all. The book seemed to ramble on a lot, I kept thinking to myself-'who cares?' at certain parts of the book. The book was confusing with all the different characters. For example, on page 42.. Let me remind you that this is still towards the beginning of the book, their are 8 people in this story and this is the beginning of the book I am still trying to remember names and the author throws names out right
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There were only 2 of us in our book group who really liked this book. The other person said she approached it as a "beach book" and enjoyed it as such. I agreed, but I think I give it more credit than that, too. We've read a number of other contemporary novels "formatted" this way, with the chapters each dedicated to a character, told from his or her point of view. I've come to think this trend is in many cases just an easier way for authors to organize their material and move it along, rather t
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I really wanted this to be the perfect summer read but I had trouble with it from the start. The writing from multiple points of view was not interesting for me, but instead rather hard to follow, and I found myself flipping back to remind myself who characters were far too often. About 100 pages in, it was a tad clearer, but I never really got into the story. For 300 pages of character build-up, I was hoping for a twist at the end, but instead the ending unveiled what the reader would've alread
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It seemed a good idea: reading this book, Elin Hilderbrand's "The Castaways." the book started out great: a couple dies in a boating accident, and three other couples who they are good friends with are severely affected by their loss. I kind of was drawn in by what could have really happened, as well as the repercussions the incident will do to their friendships. But as I discovered more and more about the characters, I found myself disliking them immensely: drug addicts, depressives, liars. It
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Elin Hilderbrand is a master at character development. You know what the characters think, wear, eat for lunch, and what they thought, wore and ate for lunch 20 years ago, too. I enjoy that type of character development. That being said, what I find odd about her books is the fact that her characters seem to have a heightened sense of responsibility and integrity in some areas and are totally lacking in morals or conscience in other, more obvious areas. Characters have extra-marital affairs with
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There are eight main characters in this book comprised of four married couples.
The chapters move back and forth between all eight, causing it to be difficult at first for me to keep them - and their intertwined relationships - straight. I actually made a freaking chart to keep all the characters and their issues straight.
It was a beautiful chart: solid lines connecting the married couples and dotted lines connecting the affairs and other intrigues. I know, I'm way too analytical, but at least ...more
The chapters move back and forth between all eight, causing it to be difficult at first for me to keep them - and their intertwined relationships - straight. I actually made a freaking chart to keep all the characters and their issues straight.
It was a beautiful chart: solid lines connecting the married couples and dotted lines connecting the affairs and other intrigues. I know, I'm way too analytical, but at least ...more
I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it...so I settled on "it was okay."
I thought there were too many narrators for the story. A lot of times when I'm reading novel, I'll think I wonder what so-and-so is thinking but I think this took it to an extreme. Six points of view is a bit much, if you ask me. But, I also think it would be weird if the story was about six friends and some were left out, point of view-wise...well, actually, now that I think of it, ...more
I thought there were too many narrators for the story. A lot of times when I'm reading novel, I'll think I wonder what so-and-so is thinking but I think this took it to an extreme. Six points of view is a bit much, if you ask me. But, I also think it would be weird if the story was about six friends and some were left out, point of view-wise...well, actually, now that I think of it, ...more
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I really enjoyed this book. I read it pretty much straight through.
I was impressed from the beginning, when the 8 main characters were introduced in a way that allowed me to keep track of them. This is usually a challenge for me. All 8 of them were real people to me, with good points and flaws. I was very frustrated with some of the them at times, which shows the writing drew me in enough to care.
I liked the way the story built and unfolded. I learned more about the characters, The picture of w ...more
I was impressed from the beginning, when the 8 main characters were introduced in a way that allowed me to keep track of them. This is usually a challenge for me. All 8 of them were real people to me, with good points and flaws. I was very frustrated with some of the them at times, which shows the writing drew me in enough to care.
I liked the way the story built and unfolded. I learned more about the characters, The picture of w ...more
My mom always picks out summer reads that are about groups of friends (women, mostly). This one was a bit different; it was about a group of friends who are all couples. What happens when one of the couples dies? How do those friendships go on, and how do those different friends deal with grief?
It definitely was a summer read, not one that has terribly deep insights but it is fun to be reminded how intertwined our lives are with some of those around us. And maybe I just needed to read a book ab ...more
It definitely was a summer read, not one that has terribly deep insights but it is fun to be reminded how intertwined our lives are with some of those around us. And maybe I just needed to read a book ab ...more
I haven't read a book like this in awhile & it's just what I needed!! I like all the different characters & back story & the mystery of what happened to Tess & Greg. I was not a fan of Andrea though, ugh. Full review to come.
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I'm really enjoying this author. I know she's been publishing for quite some time but, as usual, I'm late to the party.
Enjoyed this one.
This was a very good read. Enjoyed it very much. It reminded me of something Liane Moriarty might right. Great character building.
This was a very good read. Enjoyed it very much. It reminded me of something Liane Moriarty might right. Great character building.
Easy, entertaining read - typical, enjoyable Hilderbrand. This one is about eight friends and their relationships spanning decades. I enjoyed the chapters from each character’s point of view.
I've enjoyed other books by Elin Hilderbrand, but this one was meh. The plot was slow, and the cast wasn't very likable. The only thing that kept me interested was the mystery surrounding the sailing accident. It was a slow reveal which was decent, overall I was happy with the ending.
With that said, there are better novels by this author. If you've never read anything by her I'd definitely recommend starting with a different book.
With that said, there are better novels by this author. If you've never read anything by her I'd definitely recommend starting with a different book.
Giving this 2.5 stars not because it was a bad book but because 3+ stars need to be reserved for better ones. I love a good back story but this one definitely gets a little long and drawn out more than seems necessary without much shock value at the end either. A good read if you have nothing else to do, but I wouldn’t jump at the chance to recommend it to anyone.
This one took me a long time to get through. I did not enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed some of her others. However, I did enjoy reading about a few characters that have been in her other books.
Very traditional multi-character-and-POV-secrets-revealed-slowly, but enough to keep you reading type story. Oh, and don’t forget the redemptive power of love.
One book, four couples, eight lives intertwined, six of them--in grief after losing two of their own.
Did you get that? Sounds like my daughter's word problems from math homework, but in reality--it's the Castaways, by Elin Hilderbrand. One wonders if an author of this caliber takes time to read or scan every review of her work. If so, I'm offering a hearty hello! and bravo! You've gone and made a fan for life. Expect a spike in back-list sales!
In The Castaways, I identified most with Delilah--a ...more
Did you get that? Sounds like my daughter's word problems from math homework, but in reality--it's the Castaways, by Elin Hilderbrand. One wonders if an author of this caliber takes time to read or scan every review of her work. If so, I'm offering a hearty hello! and bravo! You've gone and made a fan for life. Expect a spike in back-list sales!
In The Castaways, I identified most with Delilah--a ...more
This is the story of six friends that have to deal with the death of two of their best friends Tess and Greg MacAvoy. Greg and Tess died in a sailing accident but there are so many suspicious things surrounding their lives and the accident that people begin to wonder who is to blame? Was it really an accident or was it murder?
This bittersweet tale is set in Nantucket, MA. I adore books set in New England so this book had promise from the beginning. There was mention of a number of Massachusetts ...more
This bittersweet tale is set in Nantucket, MA. I adore books set in New England so this book had promise from the beginning. There was mention of a number of Massachusetts ...more
I enjoyed The Castaways, it delivered and was a fine, easy read. A book like this has its faults when it comes to believability of characters and their actions, but I find value in the fantasy of those characters’ lives. For example, that these four couples could remain friends for so long and have the time and means to take extravagant vacations together – even after having children, or that Nantucket is a magical place filled with attractive people with interesting back-stories, beautiful land
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County NC...: Not my favorite of Hilderbrand's, but it'll do | 1 | 3 | Jan 23, 2020 11:51AM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Book Cover Added | 3 | 10 | Oct 31, 2019 09:58AM | |
| What book am I thinking about? | 2 | 14 | Jun 08, 2016 08:04AM |
Readers also enjoyed
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.
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