The Identicals

by Elin Hilderbrand

From New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand, a summertime story about identical twins who couldn't be any less alike.

Nantucket is only two and a half hours away from Martha's Vineyard by ferry. But the two islands might as well be worlds apart for a set of identical twin sisters who have been at odds for years. When a family crisis forces them to band together — or at least appear to — the twins slowly come to realize that the special bond that they share is more important than the sibling rivalry that's driven them apart for the better part of their lives. A touching depiction of all the pleasures and annoyances of the sibling relationship, Elin Hilderbrand's next New York Times bestseller, THE IDENTICALS proves once and for all that just because twins look exactly the same doesn't mean they're anything alike.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Audiobook, Beach Reads, Contemporary, Book Club

421 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2017

About the author

Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.

Facebook.com/ElinHilderbrand

Pinterest.com/ElinHilderbrand

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, Elin Hilderbrand has become synonymous with summer. Her new release means it’s time for my annual trip to Nantucket—okay, not really, but a girl can dream, right? Or remind her husband incessantly, for the entire time it takes to read said book, that they need to find time to take an actual trip to the island. So, I’ll just go with, my proverbial bags are packed instead—bikini, flip-flops and floppy hat—and I’m ready to stick my toes in the sand, bask in the sun and let everything, other than the sound of the waves, drift away with her new book in my hands. Sounds like heaven, right?

A little sibling rivalry is only natural, but what about being estranged from your twin sister for fourteen years? The really incredible part about it, Tabitha and Harper have lived only eleven miles apart for all of that time. Sure, they’ve resided on different islands, one on Nantucket and the other on Martha’s Vineyard, separated by miles of ocean water, but still. Is there any worthy excuse for not making the short ferry ride over to see your sister?

Surprisingly enough, the downfall of their relationship started with a game of rock, paper, scissors. And not just any game. This particular bout with chance was the determining factor—which twin was going to live which parent, after the divorce. With a win, Harper ended up on Martha’s Vineyard with their easy-going dad, while Tabitha's loss landed her on Nantucket, doomed to live under the weight of their mother’s expectations. Can you say resentment?

Fast forward and the twins are now pushing forty and living completely different lives. Harper is pretty irresponsible and has garnered a bad reputation, only made worse by her latest error in judgement. Meanwhile, Tabitha is a single-mother to an out-of-control teenager, working in her mother’s failing store, and struggling to move on from her past. It takes the death of their father to bring the twins face-to-face and align the stars for a 'switch' of sorts. A timeout from their actual lives might be just what they need to gain some perspective.

It’s not an easy thing, getting past the years of resentment, hurt and ultimately blame. High on the drama, gossip and family dynamics, Elin Hilderbrand keeps things interesting, to say the least. Rest assured, there isn’t a dull moment with these ladies around.

From the acknowledgements, you can tell this one was sort of near and dear to Elin Hilderbrand’s heart, being a twin sibling herself and of course, calling Nantucket home. Throughout the story, she pays homage to the things that make Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard special; it’s a love letter of sorts to the two islands and might even come in handy as a travel guide *wink, wink*. She feeds into the apparent rivalry going on between the two islands, which I thought was a nice touch and fitting for this story of twin siblings.

Favorite Quote
“The most underrated force at work in the universe is that of coincidence. And yet who among us hasn’t been at it’s mercy?”

*A HUGE thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite honestly, there is something about Elin Hilderbrand's writing that makes a reader just want to sink their toes into the sand. This is the third book of the author's that I have read, but it was certainly not my favorite. The Identicals refers to 40 year old twin sisters, Harper and Tabitha. The two sisters have held a tense stand off for many years, but their father's death and their mother's ill-health brings them into reluctant contact with each other. Not to mention that Tabitha's sixteen year old daughter, Ainsley is eager to discover what drove the two sisters apart in the first place. A lot of events occur that cause the sisters to re-examine old wounds and memories that they would have rather forgotten.

There is no doubt about it- like her fellow contemporary authors, Luanne Rice, Kristin Hannah, and Diane Chamberlain, Hilderbrand has her finger on what type of heartache can be inflicted on families in a variety of circumstances. I notice the 4 and 5 stars for this book and I have no doubt that there were will be many more. It's just for me, I didn't feel the usual reading pleasure with the setting, the characters, and the plot I am tired of families fighting and I am really, really, really tired of siblings being stupid- real life and in fiction! I have one sibling and he and I made a promise a long time ago that we would never descend into pettiness like so many of our other relations. In the book, Harper and Tabitha stay silent on the death of Tabitha's infant son and when it was all revealed as to what actually happened- I literally had to put the book down and say " This is so fucking stupid!" Which was definitely, a surprise to all the people at the cafe I was sitting in this morning. In fact, I was quite bothered by the actions of many of the characters, I have absolutely no clue what would ever enter the mind of a woman that the best way to get back at her sister is to have a bunch of sex with random men. Or that the best way to get back at your high school boyfriend or your mother is to engage in all kinds of juvenile behavior.

Verdict: It will work for many, but I definitely failed to connect with this family drama.


Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are a lot of unbelievable plot lines in this book, but the idea that a sixteen year old girl living in the United States has never heard of rock/paper/scissors takes the cake.

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quintessential beach read. Yes, I know it is October, but hey, it's always a good time for a breezy, summery read according to ME! I am a little ashamed to admit this, but this was my first encounter with Elin Hilderbrand. What was I waiting for, I do not know..maybe hell to freeze over. Thankfully, I took the plunge..and I am so glad I did!


This story is as old as it is new..a tale about two identical twin sisters, whom are estranged. Tabitha, prim and proper and uptight.. and Harper, easy and breezy and relaxed. They are as different as two people can possibly be, yet they are completely identical physically. The fun that they were able to have when they were younger.. pulling the ole' switcheroo! Something happened along the way, something big (no spoilers here) and they parted ways. And this is that story.

In the middle of all of this, there is Tabitha's teenage daughter, Ainsley. As if there wasn't already enough drama! Although, who am I to care? THE MORE DRAMA THE BETTER!! Ainsley drinks, smokes and does everything she can to defy and anger Tabitha.

This book! This was charming and scandalous and juicy! It was everything I wanted and more! I never wanted this book to end..although I did think the ending was perfect. I will promptly investigate her other books and then read them. I'm so happy I FINALLY crawled out from underneath this rock I've been under for all of these years and discovered the talented Elin Hilderbrand!

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - Oh my gosh I loved this one!!
About estranged twin sisters, one living on Nantucket and the other Martha’s Vineyard, and what happens when they switch islands & basically switch lives. The epilogue was perfection!! I love Fish 🫶🏼🫶🏼

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estranged Identical twin sisters, living separate lives, 11 miles apart. One on Martha’s Vineyard, one on Nantucket.

How different can twins really be? Is their relationship really all that complicated? The answer is a resounding yes!

Tabitha is a single mother who runs a gorgeous boutique on Nantucket. She’s totally chic and appears to have it all together. Except when it comes to raising her sixteen year old daughter, Ainsley, who is hell on wheels.

Harper is a courier on Martha’s Vineyard whose life is less than glamorous. She has a knack for finding trouble. Having an affair with her father’s married physician is just the tip of the iceberg which all comes crashing down on the day of her father’s funeral at which Tabitha, her mother and Ainsley are also in attendance. Way to go Harper!

So what happens when Harper and Tabitha trade places? The results are sheer perfection.

Leave it to Elin Hilderbrand to draw me in and entertain with this dramatic storyline!
3.65 Stars

Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of this audiobook.

Published on Goodreads on 7.28.20.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I pick up an Elin Hilderbrand novel, I know I am going to get: a wonderful beach read (literally set on a beach somewhere!) with delicious foods from Nantucket, or Martha’s Vineyard, or her most recent set of books set in St. John. And most importantly, I’m going to get a twisty, character-driven novel that takes me a while to unravel and leaves me wanting to spend more time on the page with her characters with every chapter I read.

In “The Identicals” we have twins, Tabitha and Harper. In a classic “Parent Trap” scenario, one was taken by the father, the other by the mother. Harper suffers from guilt and considers herself a never do well. And to be fair, she’s made some bad choices. An incident involving drugs. An affair with a married man that she’s not the least bit sorry for despite the devastation it’s caused his family. Tabitha, who went with their posh, wealthy mother was raised under her thumb, and never allowed freedom—even now at age 40 as an adult. Her daughter is out of control. Her relationship with a man on Nantucket is failing. And both sisters feel like their worlds are falling apart. When their father passes away and their mother falls ill, they switch places (this had some fun “Parent Trap” hints and references!) and maybe might even find their way back to one another and happier versions of themselves.

[Suzzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I actually enjoyed this book a lot. The dynamics between the twins and the rest of their family and friends is one so complex and drenched in drama that you cannot help being pulled in. This is my first Elin Hilderbrand book but will not be my last. I will be looking into some of her other books so if you have any suggestions on any please let me know!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

Summer isn’t official to me until I’ve read Hilderbrand’s latest book and when I saw that The Identicals was a book about sisters, I was pretty excited. Sister relationships always intrigue me, but a book about twin sisters is even more appealing to me, there’s just something fascinating about the bond they share and the unspoken connection between them. Full of Hilderbrand’s trademark style, this book delivered on all levels and I think it’s the author at her best.

Following in the footsteps of her other books, this is told through various perspectives. Tabitha, Harper and Ainsley all narrate and as Ainsley is Tabitha’s teenaged daughter, it lent a YA feel to her chapters that spiced things up. Tabitha and Harper are twins that have been estranged for fourteen years and they wind up switching locations for the summer; Tabitha heads to Martha’s Vineyard and Harper heads to Nantucket. Apparently there’s a rivalry between the two places and the women both vehemently believe that their home is the superior spot. Part of the charm of Hilderbrand’s books, for me at least, is the idyllic setting of Nantucket. I really enjoyed the addition of Martha’s Vineyard this time, it was cool to get a glimpse of somewhere new in addition to the comfort of the Nantucket setting.

There is a reason that Hilderbrand is hailed as the queen of the summer beach read, she’s more than earned that title, this is her nineteenth novel after all. But it’s more than that, she really has all of the necessary components to create that perfect blend of an ideal summer read. There’s juicy scandal, gossip, family dysfunction, decadent and mouthwatering food descriptions, rich characterization and a vivid setting. To me, nothing is more purely entertaining than one of her books and I’m always completely wrapped up in the world she crafts.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can always rely on Elin Hilderbrand to take me away…usually to the beach. Although I’m reading The Identicals in the dead of winter, I like the warm feeling I get from reading this novel.

Tabitha and Harper are identical twins, but their personalities couldn’t be more opposite. They are estranged and living on different islands, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. They loathe each other and aren’t on speaking terms. Harper has had an affair with a well known and respected doctor and when the affair is revealed Harper is the one that takes the fall. She can’t get out of town fast enough.

Tabitha is a single mother to Ainsley. While Tabitha is the more orderly and level-headed twin, parenting isn’t her best quality. Tabitha manages her mother’s upscale boutique which isn’t what it used to be. Suddenly her mother’s health is taking a downward turn plus dealing with the recent death of her father has her reeling. She rushes to take care of her mother, leaving Ainsley to fend for herself. Against her better judgement Ainsley calls Harper to tell her that Tabitha wants her to stay at their house to watch her for a week. With great caution, Harper postpones her plans to move and stays with Ainsley.

Harper and Ainsley swing into action and help with the store’s dwindling sales and breathes fresh life into it. Tabitha is beside herself when she learns that Harper is staying at her house. Can these twins confront the past and move forward? Getting to the bottom of things is a tumultuous, heartfelt, and fun ride to cozy up to.

[Toni Aliskowitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first started listening to this book, I found it to be difficult to tolerate the narrative style. Hearing "Harper said," or “Ainsley said," after every simplistic character utterance was driving me crazy. I knew I wasn't in for a literary read, I wanted a fluffy chick-lit style story to carry me into my holiday break. Was it the audiobook reader, or the story itself? So I kept going.

While I kept going, I was looking for reviews of the author, and this book. It's hard to find a negative Elin Hilderbrand review out there...however, I am with the small minority of folks who did not find this book enjoyable. It took way too long to get any meaningful insight into the character's actions, and then it was usually ruined with their behavior. The number of times Hilderbrand re-told the plot-line through another character's eyes was driving me nuts! One redeemable moment was the epilogue...looking at the story from Fish's point-of-view. Then it turned ridiculous again with the girls yelling "Happy Birthday" across the shoreline.

I may want to visit Nantucket/The Vineyard someday because of the description of the beaches and geography, but certainly not if the characters in this book are based on the actual residents/tourists there.

[Irena Pasvinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a dear friend in the US with whom we usually read a book or two a month together -- we call this our private Book Club. So my friend told me she liked Elin Hilderbrand and was reading "The Identicals". She asked if I would be willing to make this our next book club read.

A bestseller with the cover that cries out "women's fiction" and "summer read"-- I would never have picked this up on my own. But I was curious to know what was it that my friend liked about Elin Hilderbrand books. I trust my friend's taste -- we don't always like the same books, although we often do, but most importantly I never really hate the books she really likes. Also, I thought a case study of one more women's fiction bestseller could come useful to strengthen my understanding of how the genre works and what the market wants. (Not that I will follow up on this, but knowledge is power, or, as Francis Bacon originally put it, ipsa scientia potestas est.).

If I were a fan of the genre, I would have given this five stars. I'm not, and my ratings reflect my subjective impression of the book, so three stars aka "I liked it".

What I liked most was the setting. I've heard about Martha's Vineyard in the context of a posh touristic location, but as geography has always been my Achilles spot, my version of Martha's Vineyard resided somewhere in the Napa Valley. I did associate Nantucket with ocean and whales (thanks to Moby Dick), although I'm not completely sure I realized Nantucket was an island. Now, thanks to "The Identicals", they both have become islands, each with its own personality.


Image credit: http://www.geographicus.com/mm5/carto..., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Unlike in many other bestselling representatives of the genre, here the plot wasn't built upon absurd coincidences, and nothing in it struck me as outrageously unconvincing. Whatever coincidences there were, seemed plausible because of the small islands setting or other circumstances. All elements of the story worked well together, and the characters, although not especially original, were not cardboard either, with a healthy mixture of vices and virtues. I found the story, revolving around the interconnected fates of two identical twin sisters, an easy and entertaining read (or rather, listen).

While I was still at the beginning of the audiobook version, my friend informed me that she had finished, and this had turned out to be her least favorite of Elin Hilderbrand's books. She said she wasn't crazy about the story and especially the ending, which felt rushed. Well, I arrived with low expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised by the story being much better than my average women's fiction experience. No unfathomable depth and no cathartic revelations, but that's not supposed to be part of the bargain for the genre. Regarding the ending, I, on the contrary, didn't find it abrupt and thought it was very skillfully done.

By the way, when I was somewhere at the middle of "The Identicals", I received an email from the French booksite Babelio, advertising a perfect summer read: the recent novel by Elin Hilderbrand set in Nantucket "28 Summers" (the French edition is called "Eté après été"):

"Connaissez-vous Elin Hilderbrand ? Et Nantucket, une île dans le Massachusetts ?

Retenez bien ces deux noms : ils seront peut-être le combo gagnant de votre été ! Cette romancière américaine - désormais suivie et appréciée par un lectorat grandissant et une communauté fidèle sur Babelio - vous propose des lectures parfaites pour l'été qui s'annonce.

Ses derniers romans se situent tous sur l'île de Nantucket, où elle habite, et mêlent avec délicatesse la joie et la lumière de l'été aux émotions les plus fortes."

Well done -- that's how an international success looks like.;)

Read in 2024.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want you to do what siblings are supposed to do—hate your parents but love each other!”

Fourteen years have gone by before identical twins Harper and Tabitha Frost face each other again. Instead of the twins being close, they have been estranged and had barely any contact. When their father passes away, Tabitha and their mom will travel to Nantucket for the wake.

As teenagers when their parents' divorced, a game of rock, paper, and scissors will be the deciding factor in their separation. The winner will go to live in Nantucket with their easy-going father. The loser will stay in Martha's Vineyard with her mother and her clothesline store. The end result is Tabitha stays with her mother and Harper goes with their father.

As forty-year-old women, their lives have not been what they wanted it to be.

Tabitha is a single mother to Ainsley. She's too uptight and resentful. A loss in her life marked her and she has never been the same. She broke up with her longtime boyfriend when he asked for more. She's a poor parent figure to Aisnley.

Harper's life is in turmoil. She has taken care of her ailing father for the last year. She has seen him lose the battle and die. Her personal life is a mess. She's having an affair with her dad's married physician and she recently started dating a younger cop whom she's not in love with. Her reputation in Nantucket is all unfavorable.

Ainsley is popular, conceited and a brat. She has no respect for Tabitha whom she calls by her first name. She's also drinking, partying too much and is surrounded by friends just like her. The exception is her boyfriend, who's nice until he breaks up with her and decides to date someone else.

A new situation will make the twins switch islands and this is when the story is unputtable-down.

Talk about drama! The Identicals is a synonym for family dysfunction. Between the sibling rivalry, the secrets from the past, the many mistakes each woman have committed and a poor relationship between mother and daughters, this is an exceptional drama magnet. One I enjoyed it tremendously. I love how the author was able to make all the women in this novel mature emotionally in a natural way making it believable.

So why not a five fang?

I didn't like that the men in The Identicals had so little determination to fight for the women they have fallen for. They took too long.

The best part was Fish's epilogue. I love, love, love that Elin Hilderbrand used him to provide it. It gave me a huge smile.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Book of the Month]

For an easy, breezy beach read, look no further than the works of Elin Hilderbrand—her latest is so evocative you can almost hear the sound of the waves and feel the sand between your toes. Set on the elite islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, The Identicals follows twin sisters who, after years of estrangement, trade lives in order to save their relationship. Mistaken identity hijinks and plenty of romance ensue.
— Book of the Month

Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-id...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dazzling setting and great writing about a frustrating dysfunctional sibling relationship makes for yet another tempting summer beach read.


SUMMARY
A story about identical twins who couldn’t be any less alike. Nantucket is only two and a half hours away from Martha’s Vineyard by ferry. But the two Islands might as well be worlds apart for a set of identical twin sisters who have been at odds for fourteen years. Now 39, Tabitha, lives on Nantucket and runs her mother’s high-end dress boutique and has an out of control high school daughter, Ainsley. Harper lives on Martha’s Vineyard and is taking care of her dying father and having an affair with her father’s doctor. When a family crisis forces them to band together or at least appear to, the twins ultimately realize that the special bond they share is more important than the sibling rivalry that has driven them apart for the better part of their lives.

REVIEW
Loved the setting of THE IDENTICALS in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and the intro which talked about the difference between the two islands and how islanders view each other. The descriptions of the places and scenes on the islands were absolutely captivating. I wanna go!

The writing was great and typical of Hildebrand. And while this would make a great summer read for many, it was not the book for me as I continue to search for books with strong women characters that make a difference. I had difficulty connecting to, or even liking any of the main female characters. Both the twins are deeply flawed and have made one bad decision after another. It was really frustrating to read about bright, educated women holding grudges, creating drama and making really stupid choices.

But they come by it honestly, their parents also made some pretty wacky decisions in the past. One of most unbelievable parts of the backstory was when the twin’s parents decided to divorce, they told the twins they would be split up; one twin will live with Eleanor, the formidable mom, on Nantucket while the other will go to Martha’s Vineyard to live with the fun loving dad, Billy. The parents don’t care which twin goes with which parent, but they make the girls themselves decide. They were only fourteen. They both wanted to go with Billy, so the twins had to resort to Rock-Paper-Scissors to decide. Splitting up the twins—heartbreaking!


Even though I didn’t like the main characters, they were tremendously well-developed and they evolved throughout the story. A cast of many other colorful characters also added interest and depth to the story. I particularly loved the Epilogue by Fish—a perfect conclusion.

ELIN HILDERBRAND who lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville Pennsylvania and traveled extensively before setting settling on Nantucket which has been the settings for five of her previous novels Hildebrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
Publisher Little, Brown and Company
Published June 13, 2017
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Lisa B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sarina Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Elin HIlderbrand, I think! She has a lot of fun with the differences between Nantucket & the Vineyard. And the twins' premise is really fun.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read many Elin Hilderbrand books over the years but I have to admit this is my least favorite. The story is good, identical twins who were split by their parent's divorce. I didn't like any of the women characters but they did become a little more likable toward the end of the book. They all appear to be selfish and lack some character, especially the school girl bully. Each chapter was narrated by one of the twins, Harper or Tabitha, Tabitha's daughter, Ainsley or Fish, Harper's dog. I think I liked Fish's chapter the best. Set on the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard the scenery and towns are beautiful.

[Deacon Tom F. (Recovering from a big heart attack) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Pleasant

I basically enjoyed Elin Hildebrand book, "Identicals"

It has some fun plot points but was basically average. Two sisters who are lifetime rivals have serious difficulties that are the main thesis of the book. Lots of family secrets and misbehavior break them apart. Guess what happens in the end...... happily ever after! Zzzzzz

Characters are well developed and probably whatade me enjoy the book.

I guess it would be a good beach book for some but we have a foot of snow and I am not very beachy these days.

Just ok. No recommendation one way or the other.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get “into” this book. The first 1/2 of the book was so S-L-O-W for me that I almost put it down but thanks to my friends on Goodreads and others that have read this book, said to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did. The second ½ of the book was GREAT!! And it made up for the first half that I just didn’t love. This is my 6th book I’ve read by Elin Hilderbrand and it won’t be my last. I've always wanted to visit Nantucket AND Martha's Vineyard and this book makes me want to go there even more!!

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper and Tabitha Frost--identical twins--grew up thick as thieves, the best of friends. But their parents' divorce at seventeen cruelly separated the girls, with each being allocated to a parent and sent off to live with them on a separate island. Harper goes with their more laid-back father, Billy, to Martha's Vineyard, while Tabitha goes with their formidable and exacting mother, renowned fashion designer Eleanor Roxie-Frost. The twins' relationship is then further destroyed by a tragic event in early adulthood. They've barely spoken since, and it's only the death of their father that forces them to reluctantly reunite on the Vineyard for Billy's memorial service. It also allows Harper a chance to see her popular but rebellious teenage niece, Ainsley, who is struggling under Tabitha's freestyle, lax parenting. Harper and Tabitha are set in their ways--and resolute about never forming a friendship. Can Billy's death change the way the twins feel, or is it too late?

I've read a handful of Hilderbrand's novels by now and many of her books have a similar, beachy feel, often with a focus on twins (this makes more sense now, knowing that Hilderbrand is herself a twin) and wayward teens. There's always rampant gossip on Nantucket, which is her usual locale, yet you'll always be left wanting to visit (and in this case, the Vineyard as well). Things are typically a bit predictable and there's always a romance or two thrown in.

Still, this book especially peaked my interest as I have (young) twin daughters. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and quite captivated by the book. It's a perfect beach read. Obviously you're not going to find a literary masterpiece, but if you're looking for escape, it's perfect. The plot is exciting, the characters complex enough (and up to their elbows in trouble), and the summery location makes you feel as if you're at the beach, experiencing the crazy gossip as it happens. I found myself quite drawn to all the characters--which doesn't always happen in novels like this--and especially liked headstrong teenage Ainsley and poor Harper, who just can't seem to get her life together.

Sure, things happen rather as anticipated at times and some of the characters' changes are pretty foreseeable. But they are a fun group and the supporting cast really adds depth to the story. The epilogue is a cute addition, as well. Overall, this is a pleasant, entertaining beach read and a step above many in the genre.

You can read my review of Hilderbrand's novel THE RUMOR here.

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[Peaches · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Spoilers included***
As I’ve stated with other reviews, I know what I’ll get with Hilderbrand: People on Nantucket, complicated relationships, women who have the time to cook lavish meals (with detailed food descriptions), and women who are always on the prowl for decent sex. Better than a Lifetime movie, but undeserving of awards for writing craft, Hilderbrand supports her brand of books again with another summer read. There’s kind of a beauty in selecting a book from an author and knowing you will get what you expected. Sure, I’m never shocked or so captivated that I can’t put the book down, but I am also never really enraged that I spent time reading Hilderbrand’s books (except Nantucket Nights, which, to be fair, was written 16 years ago and I should have expected how bad it would be from the name). In my quest to find decent entertainment in a summer of mostly 1-2 star rated books, Hilderbrand provided me some relief.
Unlike some of her others, I purposefully waited to read this one while at a beach (Charleston vacation), but not Natucket or Martha’s Vineyard. Usually, I’m envious of the beachy descriptions, but in this book, I learned that the beaches are actually super cold there almost the whole year. I was a bit saddened to learn this, as it killed my desire to ever seek a Nantucket vacation for myself, but I can get all the icy mountain water I need in North Carolina and prefer my beaches to be WARM.

Plot: Once upon a time, a guy named Billy went to some family party with one girl, who got sick, then let himself be snagged by another. They became Billy and Eleanor, a power couple in their own rights with twins, Harper and Tabitha (one twin clearly won the name lottery, especially considering that Hilderbrand has a character named Bluto in another book). But Eleanor can’t stand to have a family while apparently building a fashion empire on the one dress that is named in the book, the “Roxie,” so they get divorced and have a Parent Trap set up where each twin lives with a different parent, then trades (Yes, TPT is mentioned several times; it’s deliberate). Of course, no twin wants to live with Eleanor, so they shoot rock, paper scissors (and Ainsley has apparently never heard of that game even though my current students still play it…). Tabitha has been blaming Harper for ruining her life ever since. But both twins end up being screwed up: Tabitha as an uptight heiress to her mother’s fortune with a spoiled substance-abusing daughter, and Harper sleeping with a married man (but it was apparently condoned by Hilderbrand because his wife refused to give him sex for a year. Boohoo). There’s a dead premie baby of the past that Tabitha blames Harper for for no reason and a dead dad that sparks them switching islands. Tabitha finds a man “who has lost someone” (how dreamy), and Harper finds out she’s good at throwing parties in a store and hiring people, not just accidentally delivering drugs. In the end, both women reconcile with their men and have a relationship again. Yay….or something.
In another book, one of Hilderbrand’s characters says about a book she’s writing, "I want an ending where the woman is happy instead of good," and I guess that’s Hilderbrand’s personal motto in this book (149). Tabitha is still a piss-poor mom, Ainsley is an entitled brat, and Harper is a homewrecker, but they all get men fighting for their affection in the end and live at the beach! Even the scorned wife of the doctor gets a love interest and a picnic. Perhaps Hilderbrand is the modern-day Shakespeare: Writing texts of low quality entertainment for us plebeians that are clear comedies with the multiple “marriages,” but I think it’s more likely that she thinks women can do whatever the hell they want without consequences. Maybe I should move to Nantucket after all…

Some high points:
THERE WAS A PUG NAMED LUCY BEAN! But I was pissed that the other dog didn’t like her and she was portrayed as annoying. My pugs rarely bark and Fish is a super dumb name for a dog (417).
This was probably the best “hook” I’ve read from her with the descriptions of both islands and competitive sisters; it was tongue-in cheek and the highest quality of writing in the book. The rest of the book is lackluster in quality, bordering on annoying when Tabitha keeps thinking “This is happening” to herself. We get it: You’re a frigid prude who is about to get laid.
Drew gets a new, seemingly more appropriate girlfriend. I was so sad that his aunties wasted food on Harper.
“We humans want what we don’t have. Harper went with Billy and I’ve longed for her ever since” (88). I loved Eleanor and her insight. She was the perfect ridiculous older woman. Plus, she sent her daughter on a food run of three different places when she was bedridden. Goals!
“Being part of a community means you have a responsibility to behave, to obey the laws, to act like a decent human being. And when you don’t, you let everyone else in the community down” (101). I’d rather die than live in a place like that, but I appreciate Hilderbrand’s articulation.
I liked when Tabitha was a pony. Why did she ever change back?! She seemed far more likable that way.

What I really couldn’t stand:
The awful parenting that Hilderbrand often includes in her books. Is she an awful parent and is trying to make others feel like they’re not alone, or is she trying to make me so frustrated that I don’t reproduce?! Any parent who is too weary of their child’s possible reaction to discipline should not have kids.
“To provide beer and weed to your sixteen-year-old daughter makes you not only a ‘cool’ parent but also kind of a criminal. To offer coke makes you only a criminal” (59). KIND OF? I’m not sure if Hilderbrand is trying to evoke teenager logic or if she actually believes this, but again, THE PARENTING!!! Plus, nothing happens to that guy even though he also assaults someone (which is just a vehicle to progress the plot…).
This book, like the Roxie, is so dated. The “hip” descriptions of clothes and teenagers were embarrassing. Teddy is the cool guy at school and wears Nike sneakers with long-sleeve T-shirts (245). The adult clothes weren’t any better though with a tight white dress with black diamond lace cut outs…I think I saw something like that at Rue 21 in the 90s (269). I really hope the designer Hilderbrand used didn’t design that. The company should sue for defamation! Also, what school principal in 2018 has a hard copy of locker combinations in a random drawer? (142).
The bar fight was right out of a bad stunt reel on an audition tape. I could barely read it because of how silly it was. Stick to food descriptions.
Caylee is portrayed as “working on herself” when she was dumped by Ramsay and isn’t the best model considering she worked at a bar and dated an old guy, but she goes to church, so…(294).
Tabitha sucks, so I don’t really care if she has a sucky man, but any man who would put his sister’s drama over “love” isn’t worth it. That was BS and I’m horrified that Franklin pursued her after Sadie said it was ok.

Hilderbrand’s books are really hard for me to remember after I read them, but I guess the dependable adequate entertainment I get is worth it.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing, enchanting, and absolutely irresistible!

This story is set on the picturesque islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and gives us a glimpse into small-island living, complete with alluring beaches, endless sun, infinite gossip, and competitive rivalry. It is told from three different perspectives; Harper, a free spirit who is fun and kind but often impulsive and reckless; Tabitha, Harper’s mature, responsible, workaholic identical twin who struggles with underlying grief; and Ainsley, Tabitha’s teenage daughter who is popular, spoilt and in desperate need of some additional parenting.

The writing is flawless. The plot is a perfect blend of heart, hope, angst, and drama. And the characterization is well-developed with a wonderful cast of characters, including three generations of strong, determined women who learn to embrace the future and let go of the past.

This is, ultimately, a story about family dynamics, sister relationships, heartbreak, secrets, expectations, loss, grief, forgiveness, dreams, love, discovering one’s true self and the undeniable special bonds between twins. It is the perfect summer read. It sweeps you away to another place, gives you some tears, gives you some smiles and I absolutely adored it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Identicals is the first of Elin Hilderbrand's books I've read. I was expecting and hoping for a light summer read, and that's what this was. While many parts of the story were somewhat predictable, it was interesting and engaging, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.

The story is about two twin sisters who are almost 40, Harper and Tabitha, and their distant relationship that has built up over many years, despite living only 11 miles apart on The Vineyard and Nantucket. They are brought back together by loss but find it hard to put aside old feelings that resurface with what's going on currently in each of their lives. They're both dating, must tend to work responsibilities and other family obligations, and of course, deal with their own feelings which can sometimes be the most difficult to face.

Despite some of its predictable elements, I really enjoyed the story in The Identicals and it probably won't be the last of Hilderbrand's books that I read.

[Sibel Gandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umduğumdan fazla begendim. Yazarin tarzı biraz Gayle Forman'ı andırdı bana ki severim o yazarı.

[Pani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I hear Elin Hilderbrand, I automatically think summer, picturesque islands, breezy beaches, sunshine and bikinis and love. She’s a perennial favourite of mine and her books are always enchanting and absorbing, and full of complex and compelling characters.
The story of The Identicals takes place in the exotic islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyards and is about family drama and dynamics of a dysfunctional relationship between two sisters with lots of spice.
I soaked up every page of this book just like the author’s other works and laughed and cried throughout their journey.
Go ahead and read it and be mesmerized!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite of her books. I'm getting frustrated in general with the contemporary/women genres where everyone would rather stew in misery for a few decades rather than spent a couple of hours with a therapist, or, horror of horrors, not lie :-)

Still not a bad book even with the rather silly characters- it's an okay way to start off the summer reading.

[Iman · Rating 1 out of 5]

No

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

I decided it was time to jump on the Elin Hilderbrand train when the audiobook for The Identicals became available through my Overdrive app through my library. Her books are super popular all the time, but I especially start seeing the covers frequently during the summer and winter. She’s captivated the beach read crowd and cornered the cozy winter market with her beautiful covers and great branding. I decided to see what the fuss was all about with one of her latest releases. I’m happy to report, I really enjoyed listening to this on audio. It was narrated incredibly well, the story flowed and kept my interest, and it wasn’t heavy enough to make me feel lost while I was listening or if my mind happened to drift.

I really loved the concept of the story featuring the twin islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, with the identical twin sisters living on their own respective islands. I didn’t know much about either island prior to listening to this story, so this book ended up not only being entertaining, but enlightening as well. The idea of estranged identical sisters was a unique storyline and lots of fun to listen to. In some ways, this story reminded me of an adult version of The Parent Trap, which has forever been one of my favorite movies.

I normally don’t enjoy storylines with incredibly affluent characters, and at first, I was concerned this book would be another that fell flat for me for that reason. Luckily, it was Harper’s character that saved the day. Though she grew up with plenty, she wasn’t snobbish in the least, unlike her mother and sister on the other island. It was nice to see the differences she brought to the story with her unique personality and carefree attitude.

Though there was the occasional cheesy moment, such as the epilogue being narrated by Harper’s dog, I thought this book definitely fit the bill for a great beach read. It was quite transportive and was great to listen to while out on my afternoon jogs. Needless to say, I will not hesitate in picking up another Elin Hilderbrand book…or audiobook in the future.

[Kyrah Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really reallyyyy wanted to be obsessed with this but the ending fell SO flat for me - everything got cleaned up too quickly. Also did not care for the epilogue as I’m not a huge dog person.