The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND by Elin Hilderbrand is a twisty soap-opera beach read that Hilderbrand’s many fans will really enjoy. The main character is Hollis Shaw, recently discovered food blogger and influencer, who has been distracted from time with her husband, Matthew (increasingly pursuing his own interests, too), and daughter Caroline, a college age film student. A LibraryReads Hall of Fame title for June, THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. And The New York Times recently recommended this beach read and the “vicarious proximity” to success and wealth.  Hollis invites four friends: Tatum (from childhood and high school), Dru-Ann (from college), Brooke (fellow Mom) and Gigi (recent internet follower) to an extravagant weekend filled with gourmet meals, shopping, music/dancing, and drinking. To be honest, they are all pretty seriously messed up with plenty of insecurities and drama related to relationships, sexuality, employment, and class issues. Readers will find this guilty pleasure and its Nantucket setting to be a happy diversion for the holiday weekend.