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: 7.3

480 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *28 Summers* by Elin Hilderbrand is a beautifully written, emotional story set in vivid Nantucket, exploring love and timing over decades....

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.
RM
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…
Sara
Apr 06, 2026
8/10 stars
A bitterwseet unconventional love story with excellent character development; I just wish it was more of a two person perspecive, I have always hated love triangles.

The author does an excellent job of expressing the uncertainty of a lifes plan, and allows the story lines to just unfurl in front of the reader.

100% a summer read or beach read

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