#17 Swan Song

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver, featured in Swan Song

and

Jul 07, 2024

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance. The grand finale by the “Queen of the Beach Read”.

Was there ever going to be another book we could possibly choose for our July feature? If you’ve been a member of the BookStarr community for awhile (thank you!), you know we are big time Elin Hilderbrand fans, or we guess Hilderbabes as fans are known. We love the pure escapism, the witty and sometimes acerbic character insights, the aspirational lifestyle details around food, clothes, and real estate, the Nantucket setting, and most of all, the deep fondness Hilderbrand has for all her characters. They mess up, they do questionable things (we’re thinking of you, Mallory and Jake in 28 Summers), but we love them just as much as the author so clearly does too.

This summer’s Nantucket book is Elin’s last in what isn’t exactly a series (you don’t have to read them all, or in order) but rather a “sideways” - as she puts it in this podcast - collection of books taking place on the Massachusetts island 30 miles out to sea. Appropriately titled Swan Song, it’s Elin’s final book in this setting and world - but NOT the last book she’ll ever write (there are at least two boarding school-set adult books she is co-writing with her teenage daughter, the first of which is out next fall).

If you’ve never read a Hilderbrand book, we suggest you start with a couple of our faves - 28 Summers, Summer of 69, The Castaways, The Rumour, Five Star Weekend - as that will help you fully appreciate the Easter eggs she tucks away in Swan Song and the recurring characters that show up.

In Swan Song, it’s Police Chief Ed Kapenash’s final summer before he retires - his own “swan song”, if you will. And he’s hoping for a quiet, drama-free summer on the island. But when mysterious newcomers Bull and Leslee Richardson - along with their personal concierge Coco, who brings with her a secret hope - arrive at their new $20 million mansion intent on not just causing a scene, but being the scene, all bets are off. Secrets come out, there’s a bit of a mystery, lots of workplace drama, romance, and more…it’s the perfect send-off to an island that has given Hilderbrand no shortage of content to mine over the years.

We loved this final visit to Elin’s Nantucket and we think you will too!

All ready? Make sure to pack some sensible sandals for those cobblestone streets, let the air out of the tires of your jeep for some beach driving, and get ready for one last summer on Nantucket.

Julie’s Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Kirkus Reviews once said, when reviewing 28 Summers, “Print the bumper sticker - I’d Rather Be Living in an Elin Hilderbrand Novel.” Umm - YES! Morning buns from the Wicked Island Bakery. Golden hour with a glass of rosé and buck-a-shuck at the Oystercatcher. Sunset at Smith’s Point. Dancing at the Chicken Box. Reading an Elin Hilderbrand novel is like living your best life. And with Swan Song being the last of her Nantucket series, it’s one last visit to your favourite place on earth - even if you’ve never been there in person.

I enjoyed re-visiting all the Nantucket haunts, catching up with familiar characters, and meeting wild new ones, all within a gripping and dramatic plotline. A big round of applause for moving Blond Sharon out of the sidelines and into a bigger role. I laughed out loud so many times - Hilderbrand’s wry commentary has never been better. Her omniscient narrative voice has become so fine-tuned that the reader actually is the proverbial fly on the wall in every corner of the island.

If you’ve read an Elin Hilderbrand novel before, you know her food descriptions are legendary. It’s safe to say that the woman is a true foodie, and Swan Song will give you all the inspiration you need to up your hosting game. The other nods that I adore are the book and music references sprinkled throughout. If I’m having a blast at the Pink and White party, it helps to know that Beyonce is turned up to the max. Each of these devices solidifies the reader’s connection to the story - reinforcing the notion that “we” belong here on Nantucket, with these characters.

Outside of the book itself, my reading experience was all the more memorable because I actually read it with Katie. Not just in real time, but physically curled up together on her couch on a couple of late afternoons in June. And for that reason, my rating was bumped up to a 4.5.

Katie’s Rating: 5/5

I’m not sure how I can beat that review, Mum! You describe Elin’s magic perfectly. She is so talented as a writer and I love escaping into her books. Elevating Blond Sharon to a main character was a highlight for me, too. She’s such a fun personality and I was rooting for her to find herself after an unwanted divorce. Coco, the personal concierge of the Richardsons who shows up to Nantucket for the first time, was also a fun character to get behind.

I’m rating Swan Song a 5/5 because I think it’s so hard to stick the landing and Elin pulls it off with aplomb. It’s also so hard to know when to call it quits, and I admire people (especially authors) when they know the time is now, before things get stale. I laughed, I cried a bit, and I so thoroughly enjoyed my time over a few days with my mum, both of us reading on the couch together.

I will add that if you can find a copy of the special Nantucket edition at your library or through a friend, read it! It includes extra content like an interview with Elin at the end that is equal parts fun, frothy, and contemplative as she assesses her long career - and gives us readers tips on how to throw epic parties like her characters!

Lemonade

For Bull and Leslee Richardson in the novel, money is no object, and Leslee in particular loves the finer things in life - for example, regularly importing 12 lemons from the Amalfi coast for 224 euros (plus shipping).

We don’t recommend doing the same for your lemonade, but we do think a tall glass of cold lemonade - store bought or homemade, Amalfi lemons or regular ones from Sobey’s or Harris Teeter’s - would pair perfectly with Swan Song on a summer afternoon!

Themed parties

The Richardsons love a themed party (with suggested dress codes, corresponding menus, and decor!), and so do we. A few of the most memorable ones we’ve hosted over the years include:

Viva Las Vegas!
Kentucky Derby
70’s Night
Pub Night
Silver Party
Murder Mysteries

And our brains are always buzzing with ideas for potential future themes and signature cocktail combinations. Recently, Julie got to chatting with a woman at The Boxwood in Old Town Alexandria, VA, who was getting ready to host a “Weenies and ‘Tini’s” party. (How’s that for the ultimate hi/low event?) - hot dogs and martinis. Sign us up!

In-person reading dates

During Julie’s recent visit with Katie, we got into the habit of late afternoon reading sessions on the couch together (with the occasional kicking appearance from a baby making his/her debut later this summer!). We recommend pairing Swan Song - or really, any book! - with an in-person reading date with a friend or loved one. Head to a cafe, a shady park bench, or get cozy on the couch, it doesn’t matter! All you need are a couple books and the ability to sit quietly together. It is so relaxing and lovely!

Bonus points if you pick the same book and can chat about it every so often (without spoilers from the person who’s ahead!) IRL.

Extra Credit:

Worlds colliding! We were reminded of this collab that Elin did with one of our favourite online friends, Jessica Merchant from How Sweet Eats.

You know there’s been a ton of media buzz about Swan Song recently, and we’ve been on top of it all. Here are a couple of the pieces we’ve been reading and listening to:

Listen in as Elin says goodbye to Nantucket in this NYT Book Review podcast.

This is a fantastic little Q & A with the Queen of the Beach Read (Kirkus Reviews).

Let us know what you think - about the book, a themed party you’ve thrown or would love to attend, and your favourite summer drink. We’d love to hear!

Whenever possible we feature books from our own personal collections, or books that we purchase at independent local bookstores, or borrow from our public library.