Book Club September 2016

Here’s to Us
By: Elin Hilderbrand
Published Year: 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 416

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Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver share only two things; a love for the man they all married, Deacon Thorpe--a celebrity chef with an insatiable appetite for life--and a passionate dislike of one another. All three are remarkable, spirited women, but they couldn't be more different. Laurel: Deacon's high school sweetheart and an effortlessly beautiful social worker; Belinda: a high-maintenance Hollywood diva; and Scarlett: a sexy southern belle floating by on her family money and her fabulous looks. They've established a delicate understanding over the years--they avoid each other at all costs.

But their fragile detente threatens to come crashing down after Deacon's tragic death on his favorite place on earth: a ramshackle Nantucket summer cottage. Deacon's final wish was for his makeshift family to assemble on his beloved Nantucket to say good-bye. Begrudgingly, Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett gather on the island as once again, as in each of their marriages, they're left to pick up Deacon's mess. Now they're trapped in the crowded cottage where they all made their own memories--a house that they now share in more ways than one--along with the children they raised with Deacon, and his best friend. Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett each had an unbreakable bond with Deacon--and they all have secrets to hide.

Before the weekend is over, there are enough accusations, lies, tears, and drama to turn even the best of friends--let alone three women who married the same man--into adversaries. As his unlikely family says good-bye to the man who brought them together--for better or worse--will they be able to put aside their differences long enough to raise a glass in Deacon's honor?

                                                                                     What I thought

I have previously read two books by Hilderbrand, both of which were a part of her Winter series. I was curious to read this novel as I have enjoyed the ones I read.

Deacon Thorpe is a world famous chef. When he suddenly dies, his two ex-wives and current wife are required to come together to mourn his death and discuss his assets. Deacon has left behind their Nantucket summer home to be divided equally amongst his three wives. As a send-off, all of his families come together at the Nantucket home for one last time.

I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive based on the summary. I thought it was going to be a lot of cattiness and drama that would end up being more annoying than enjoyable. Luckily, I was wrong.

When I read Hilderbrand’s previous novels, I thought that style of writing was specific to that story, however, it seems as though that is they style of her writing. Hilderbrand uses a band of characters and switches between their points of view to tell a story. I enjoy the unique type of storytelling as it gives a very in depth view into all of the problems. It also stops the reader from being able to form negative opinions quickly on negative characters. For example, Belinda is the second wife who stole Deacon from Laurel. As a mistress who stole broke up a family, a reader would be naturally inclined to hate Belinda. With the benefit of reading from Belinda’s perspective, you don’t necessarily like her, but I couldn’t find myself hating her as much aswould have without knowing her through her perspective.

Angie, Deacon’s eldest daughter, was by far my favorite character. I liked that she was a good person (or at least seemed the best of the bunch), but wasn’t without faults. While I enjoyed Laurel, Deacon’s first wife, she was almost a little too perfect. I found it fun to read Angie’s perspective because she was connected to everyone. She grew up with both Belinda (her mother), Laurel, and Hayes (her half-brother), and Scarlett (Deacon’s final wife) was her nanny growing up. It was interesting because unlike the wives, she actually communicated with everyone.

The story itself brings up some interesting points, but I didn’t find anything earth shattering. To me, it seemed pretty realistic in that nothing magically got fixed and nobody ended up singing Kumbaya and becoming best friends. It was an interesting book, but I don’t find myself completely in love with it. It was very middle of the road for me. I liked it, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it.

                                                                       What Book Club Thought

Everyone enjoyed this book! Our biggest discussion points were the personalities of the wives and the multiple points of view. Everyone also agreed that Scarlett is the absolute worst, but I did ask if anyone else felt like that might have changed if we had received her perspective. Another discussion point was on Deacon’s part in the story and how the parts from his perspective influenced our opinions overall. It was interesting that we heard about how his relationship started with each wife from his perspective told in a present tense and not through the wives through flashbacks. While this book may not have the most discussion points in terms of morals or dramatic events, the writing itself posed a lot of interesting questions.