Fiction Reviews: Island Reads, June 1, 2012

Hilderbrand, Elin. Summerland. Reagan Arthur: Little, Brown. Jun. 2012. c.400p. ISBN 9780316099837. $26.99. F

Graduation night is an evening of fun and celebration for four Nantucket high school students, but it ends tragically after Penny Alistair wrecks her boyfriend’s Jeep, losing her life and putting her twin brother Hobby in a coma. The other two passengers, Penny’s boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, along with all of the island residents, are stunned and confused. In the following weeks, secrets come to light that reveal Nantucket is more than just a destination for summer fun. VERDICT Hildebrand’s (Silver Girl; Summer People) latest touches on heavy subject matter but has a satisfying conclusion. Like Jodi Picoult, she writes about ordinary, believable characters in a difficult situation that could happen to anyone. While the multiple points of view are tough to follow at first, once the story clicks, fans of realistic fiction will find themselves devouring this novel to discover what really happened that night on the beach. [See Prepub Alert, 12/12/11.]‚ Amber Woodard, Cumberland Univ. Lib., Lebanon, TN

Raichlen, Steven. Island Apart. Forge: Tor. Jun. 2012. c.288p. ISBN 9780765332387. $24.99. F

New York book editor Claire Doheney, finishing up her last few chemotherapy treatments for aggressive breast cancer, agrees to house-sit a friend’s summer home on Chappaquiddick Island, close to Martha’s Vineyard. After a bicycle accident, she meets a man known to the locals only as the Hermit. The Hermit rarely speaks to anyone and lives solely off the land, but he and Claire begin a relationship sparked by their shared love of the culinary arts. Despite his looks‚ shabby and unkempt‚ the Hermit is quite the foodie. A romance develops between these two lonely people, both damaged by former relationships. VERDICT Cookbook author Raichlen (The Barbecue! Bible) makes his fiction debut with this tasty beach book whose wonderfully evocative descriptions of meals should not be read on an empty stomach. Despite a few flaws‚ a rushed ending and contrived situations easily and quickly resolved‚ Raichlin’s novel will appeal to readers interested in later-in-life love stories and fans of culinary fiction.‚ Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN