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The Rumor: A Novel Paperback – July 26, 2016
Madeline King and Grace Pancik are best friends and the envy of Nantucket for their perfect marriages, their beautiful kids, their Saturday night double dates with their devoted husbands. But this summer, something's changed, and if there's anything Nantucket likes better than cocktails on the beach at sunset, it's a good rumor.
And rumor has it... that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation — and a desperately bad decision; and that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect.
As the gossip escalates, and they have the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight — but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
- Print length368 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
- Publication dateJuly 26, 2016
- Dimensions4.75 x 1 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-100316375136
- ISBN-13978-0316375139
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From the brand
Editorial Reviews
Review
"We've said it before and we'll say it again: Hilderbrand is the queen of the summer. Rich people behaving badly--perfect poolside."―Susannah Cahalan, The New York Post
"It wouldn't be summer without a breezy, sensual Nantucket tale from Hilderbrand, and her latest...doesn't disappoint. Intricately plotted and filled with fast-paced dialogue, it's as sweetly satisfying as a glass of Sancerre." ―Kim Hubbard, People
"The story is packed with the details of the wonder that is summer on the small, chic island off the coast of Massachusetts." ―Catherine Mallette, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"The detail is authentic...Expect to find it filled with all the ingredients of a great chick lit read: many characters with intertwined lives, a handsome guy (in this case a landscape architect), complicated romance, and lots of wine." ―Georgea Kovanis, The Detroit Free-Press
"One of the reigning queens of the summer beach book." ―The Connecticut Post
"Be forewarned: scandal and swirling tension aside, Elin's descriptions of the idyllic setting in this perfect beach read may inspire readers to book a getaway." ―Eric Cupido, Hello! Canada
"Queen of the beach read, and her latest [The Rumor]...is nothing short of a gift."―Lynsey Eidell, Glamour.com
"[The Rumor] explores human nature and the truth behind the gossip that people love to be the first to share."―Laurie Higgins, The Cape Codder
"Elin Hilderbrand, queen of the romance novel, never disappoints her readers--and here she is at the top of her game once again. She details every character superbly, her themes and plotlines are well thought out, and you can picture every scene in your mind so vividly. I read The Rumor quickly because I needed to know what ultimately happens and had no idea how it was going to end...Rumor has it that you will enjoy this book as much as I did."
―Vivian Payton, BookReporter
Praise for BEAUTIFUL DAY:
"A perfect summer read."―Ladies Home Journal
"A wedding readers won't be able to resist crashing."―Kirkus Reviews
"Hilderbrand's latest is the perfect beach read....[her] straightforward style pulls the reader into the minds of her characters, and all the secrets and sorrows that create the universal messiness of major family events."―Publishers Weekly
PRAISE FOR SUMMERLAND:
"Summerland is as readable as any beach book, but with a much bigger heart."―Boston Globe
"The Queen of the Summer Novel...Hilderbrand blends real-life issues - depression, teen alcoholism, bullying - with her signature soapy twists and illicit romances."―Joanna Powell, People
"Hilderbrand has once again written an engaging story wonderfully illustrating the often complex lives of young people struggling toward adulthood."―Booklist
"A sensitive glimpse into the lives of damaged people groping their way toward healing."―Kirkus Reviews
"Hilderbrand weaves a thrilling tale of friendship and betrayal."
―Us Weekly
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Little, Brown and Company (July 26, 2016)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0316375136
- ISBN-13 : 978-0316375139
- Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.75 x 1 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #109,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,735 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
- #3,534 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction
- #4,280 in Contemporary Women Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Elin Hilderbrand first discovered the magic of Nantucket in July 1993. Her recipe for a happy island life includes running, writing at the beach, picnics at Eel Point with her three children, and singing "Home, Sweet Home" at the Club Car piano bar. Here's to Us is her seventeenth novel.
Customer reviews
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Elin Hilderbrand does a wonderful job at bringing her characters to life. This book is told in 4 point of views (don't worry, it's easy to follow and will not confuse you) and allows us insight into every juicy detail. We have Grace, mother of twin teens, who may or may not be having a fling with her gardener. The we have Madeline, mother of one, and author who is having a hard time coming up with her next novel in time for the deadline. Madeline may or may not be writing a book about a close friend- sharing a shameful secret in the process. Next is Eddie. He is Grace's husband. He is living the high life in Nantucket only, his funds are quickly dwindling. Good thing he found a way to get more money... Only, it may be quite illegal. Finally we have Hope. She is one of Grace's twin daughters. She's a high school student, book nerd, and polar opposite of her twin sister Allegra. She would rather read a book than deal with drama, especially after what happened between her and a school mate, but she can't seem to stay out of the drama! What happens between everyone involved in this book is quite scintillating and you aren't going to want to miss out on what happens with each person!
If you are looking for the perfect summer book, Elin Hilderbrand is clearly a must have author! I am going to be grabbing all her other books because I know she is worthy of a BIG binge read this summer! I highly recommend this one. It's a whole lot of fun and shouldn't be missed!
The bad part is the female characters were so impossible to like. Graces big problem is getting her garden featured in a snobby publication meanwhile cheating on her husband and being a terrible parent. The Madeline character was an airhead. The rest of the women were mean and backstabbers. The same handful of places to go out for dinner or drinks and along with the theme of the whole town in everyone’s biz made me wonder why anyone would want to live in a place like this.
I really enjoy her novels, easy reads, beautiful scenery, characters that are interesting and juicy storylines.
You won’t be disappointed with this one!
Grace and Eddie Pancik are an acknowledged "power couple." He, with his real estate/construction business and Grace with her gardening business, their names are on everyone's lips that particular summer.
Madeline Llewelyn is Grace's best friend. They share confidences and keep each other's secrets. Until they don't.
Trevor, Madeline's husband is a pilot and away a lot. He doesn't figure into the story very much. But he is supportive of Madeline's writing and her need for a "room of her own," so when she rents an apartment for her writing space, he is completely behind it. She is determined to write something worthy of the generous advance she has received after the success of her dystopian novel, Islandia. So will she cross a line to achieve her goal?
Then when Eddie stops by Madeline's apartment to ask why she used another agent to rent the space, busybody eyes notice him there, and the first "rumor" springs to life. Soon many are chatting about the supposed affair between them.
Meanwhile, however, Grace and Benton Coe, the landscape architect helping her redesign her garden, seem to be spending an awful lot of time together, aside from their gardening.
What is going on? Can the rumor mill spin its wheels fast enough?
Meanwhile, the teenagers are stirring up their own brand of trouble. Eddie and Grace's twins, Allegra and Hope, are nothing alike. Allegra is narcissistic, spoiled, and cheating on her boyfriend Brick, Trevor and Madeline's son. Hope, quiet and studious, has her eye on Brick for herself, but she won't betray her sister.
The Rumor: A Novel is an intriguing story with twists and turns that kept me guessing, even as I suspected where much of it would go before the end. But there were a few surprises, and I liked the ending. A 4 star read for me.
Top reviews from other countries
Not sure if this is typical small town living