28 Summers

A "captivating and bittersweet" novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Summer of '69: Their secret love affair has lasted for decades--but this could be the summer that changes everything (People).

When Mallory Blessing's son, Link, receives deathbed instructions from his mother to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk drawer, he's not sure what to expect. But he certainly does not expect Jake McCloud to answer. It's the late spring of 2020 and Jake's wife, Ursula DeGournsey, is the frontrunner in the upcoming Presidential election.

There must be a mistake, Link thinks. How do Mallory and Jake know each other?

Flash back to the sweet summer of 1993: Mallory has just inherited a beachfront cottage on Nantucket from her aunt, and she agrees to host her brother's bachelor party. Cooper's friend from college, Jake McCloud, attends, and Jake and Mallory form a bond that will persevere--through marriage, children, and Ursula's stratospheric political rise--until Mallory learns she's dying.

Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year (which Mallory and Jake watch every summer), 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love.

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Published Feb 9, 2021

448 pages

Average rating: 7.29

475 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *28 Summers* by Elin Hilderbrand is a beautifully written, emotional story that captures life and love over decades, praised for its vivid...

Jcallaghan

Feb 17, 2026

6/10 stars

I’m torn on this book mostly because of its overall showcasing of a relationship that shouldn’t be. Torn also because I feel the characters and am almost sad for them not having courage to be happy.

Jan 18, 2026

10/10 stars

great quick read

This book captures you from the first page. I love the characters Mallory and Jake as much as I hate Ursula. Can’t wait to read the next book!

Cresta McGowan

Dec 25, 2025

4/10 stars

It got two ⭐️ ⭐️ for Nantucket, but not the story. This book is literally a story about two people who cheat on the relationships in their lives (one of them married) for 28 years. I usually love Elon’s books, and the writing about summers on Nantucket is beautiful. I’d love someone to leave me a cozy beach cottage. But the three decades of cheating was such a turnoff that I didn’t care about anything else.

Across the Globe Book Buddies

Oct 19, 2025

10/10 stars

Hole.E.Sh*t. Rarely does a book leave me in tears. This falls into that “rarely” category. It’ll take a minute to be able to compose myself to compose more. Loved.This.Story! Ugh… and hate that I won’t know what next happens in each of my book friends’ lives…

Mary Pat Holt

Feb 05, 2026

4/10 stars

If I never read another Elin Hilderbrand book, I'll be ok. I know she writes about 2 books a year and this one should really be called My 28th Book about Nantucket. Every book has the same pattern, carefree beach days, delicious food, charming cottages, summer romance.

The plot is about star crossed lovers, Mallory and Jake. Mallory has recently inherited her aunt's cottage on Nantucket and her brother Cooper is getting married and asked to bring 2 friends for a last boys' weekend. Plans quickly go awry and Mallory and Jake spend the weekend together alone at her cottage. They are both single but Jake lives in Baltimore and has a long time on again/off again girlfriend. Mallory and Jake agree to meet every year same time/same place. They don't tell anyone about this secret romance and they don't communicate with each other the other 362 days of the year. It was all just a bit cheesy for me. I couldn't believe that people would actually agree to this despite going on with their real lives. Jake gets married and Mallory has a child but they still meet every Labor Day weekend.