Summer of '69 in Freaks Between the Book Sheets Romance Recs

Aug 26, 2019 Jen rated it really liked it

I love Elin Hildebrand. Her books have always made me feel like I was on Nantucket. I appreciate that writing this strays away from her norm. This story touches on the subjects of biracial relationships, infidelity, familial relationships, war and more. I do wish that there was more given in the ending. I would have loved to hear more and see what happened with everyone. I feel like the ending was very abrupt. You will be able to find a character to relate to in this story and you will root for ...more

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Jun 17, 2019 Tiffany rated it really liked it

Book: Summer of '69
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Synopsis:

This book follows the Foley/Levin family throughout 1969. In a time when everything is changing this family is just trying to survive it all. When Kate received the Selective Service notice she considered throwing it away, but that would only buy her a couple weeks at best. She's not sure she can handle her son away fighting for the next year, but she doesn't have a choice. Then you have Blair, she's the oldest of the four children and was always the good Book: Summer of '69
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Synopsis:

This book follows the Foley/Levin family throughout 1969. In a time when everything is changing this family is just trying to survive it all. When Kate received the Selective Service notice she considered throwing it away, but that would only buy her a couple weeks at best. She's not sure she can handle her son away fighting for the next year, but she doesn't have a choice. Then you have Blair, she's the oldest of the four children and was always the good girl. Blair graduated from college and had an esteemed teaching position when she met Angus. Their whirlwind romance that leaves her a pregnant housewife and she's not quite sure how she slowly let her husband strip away her identity. When there's a possibility of infidelity, she questions if this is what she wants in life. Kirby is the second oldest and what you would consider a wild child. She's a free spirit still trying to find her way. After being arrested twice for protesting the war, she decides to spend her summer on Martha's Vineyard away from her family. There she falls for Darren, but she's not sure her family will accept him and his family definitely doesn't accept her. So she can't see much of a future for them. Lastly you have Jessie, the baby of the family. She turns 13 the day the arrive in Nantucket and she slowly grows up while everyone else is wrapped up in their own drama. When she meet Pick kisses her for the first time all rational though leaves and she falls for him quickly.

Review:

As with other Hildebrand novels, this takes place on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The description of the islands take you right there and have you yearing for a trip yourself. She is a master of this setting and I look forward to reading about it each time I pick up one of her books. Between her setting, characters, and history of the time, Hildebrand has written a historical fiction novel I didn't know I was missing.

In this book you will read about all of the issues of the time, from biracial relationships to the disapproval of the Vietnam War with a little infidelity and abortion mixed in. Whereas I'm not use to such depth to a Hildebrand novel, I absolutely loved it. As everyone gets excited for the moon landing, the characters are starting to work out their problems. It was nice to see a whole family grow and find their own way to happiness. I'm usually not a fan of a book told in multiple points of view, but it completely worked for this book. There wasn't one story line I felt was lacking and enjoyed each character. I enjoyed as each of the women in the book struggled with different obstacles and took a stand against societal normals. It couldn't have been easy for them to stand up for themselves, but they all seemed to do it regardless. The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5⭐ was the lack of an epilogue, I really would have seen where this family ended up. Honestly I can't recommend this book enough and it's the type of book that will appeal to everyone. I personally hope this isn't the last historical fiction she writes. 🤞

Thank you Netgalley, Little Brown, and Elin Hildebrand for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Jul 28, 2019 Lindsay (nerdybooknurse) rated it it was amazing

{ @littlebrown #partner } Summer of ‘69 by @elinhilderbrand follows the Levin family through the summer of 1969. America is changing. Nixon is newly in office, the Vietnam war continues, Woodstock is happening, the Apollo 11 mission is about to launch, the Civil Rights movement has been underway and women’s liberation has just begun.

The family goes to Nantucket to spend the summer with their grandmother Exalta at her estate. Kate, Exalta’s daughter is devastated when her son Tiger at 19, is draf { @littlebrown #partner } Summer of ‘69 by @elinhilderbrand follows the Levin family through the summer of 1969. America is changing. Nixon is newly in office, the Vietnam war continues, Woodstock is happening, the Apollo 11 mission is about to launch, the Civil Rights movement has been underway and women’s liberation has just begun.

The family goes to Nantucket to spend the summer with their grandmother Exalta at her estate. Kate, Exalta’s daughter is devastated when her son Tiger at 19, is drafted to Vietnam and starts drinking to cope. Blair the eldest daughter at 24, is newly married and learns she pregnant with a husband who is working tirelessly on the Apollo mission and no longer has time for her. He wants his wife at home maintaining the household and now she suspects he may be having an affair after giving up all of her passions to be with him. Kirby, now 21 and on college break, decides to move to Martha’s Vineyard and continue her activism and progressivism. She gets a job for the summer at the Shiretown Inn with her best friend Mary Jo Kopechne and learns the Senator may be coming to town. Jessie is the youngest at 13 and the only child from Kate’s second and current marriage to David. At a time where she’s conflicted between hanging on to her childhood and becoming a woman, the summer of 1969 brings changes that threaten to blow the Levin’s world apart...

I LOVED this book. It was so well done and expertly weaved together so many events from American history during a time when the country was experiencing radical change. As a MA native I especially loved all the local references as the entire book felt like it was right in my back yard (I’m typing this from Cape Cod as we speak.) It alternatives POV between the mother and all of the children as you understand what each of them is truly going through at an unprecedented time. For lover’s of historical fiction Hilderbrand knocks it out of the park in this one, which is out NOW!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ ...more

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Sep 04, 2019 Sadie Longren rated it liked it

If you aren’t ready to say goodbye to summer quite yet, then this beach read might be for you! I liked that Hilderbrand book mixed in historial fiction, which is quite different from her other books. ⁣
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This book follows five woman throughout the summer of ‘69. I enjoyed the aspect of the family drama throughout this one. We got the insight into a mother and her four daughters and how this family functions, or tries to, after their son/brother of the family is drafted into the Vietnam war. ⁣
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I en ...more

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