The Castaways: A Novel

This group of friends shares love, lust, animosity, secrets, and lies. They are so well connected to one another and can feel each other’s hurt when two of them pass away. I loved this story of friendship and love.

This was an excellent offering by a talented author, one that explored the tough issues of love and loss and redemption through the eyes of a disparate cast of characters. Though we never meet Greg and Tess MacAvoy, they loom large over the narrative as their characters are revealed in snippets of memories. Each of the six main characters in The Castaways have a different vision of Tess and Greg, and only by combining all those different versions do their true personalities unfold. Well-written and deftly rendered, this story of adult relationships between friends, families, spouses and exes reflects the complicated reality of today's world. I was most impressed by the pacing of the various revelations and quality of the ending. I found the novel engaging and difficult to put down once I started. This is a must-read for the summer season. Highly recommended- 5 strong stars!

Amidst the beautiful and quaint atmosphere of Nantucket, the summer season is about to begin, which means tourists, lobster and endless summer parties. But this particular summer will be like none other, as tragedy finds its way to this tiny island resort. There was never a closer group of friends than the Wheelers, the Drakes, the Kapenashes and the MacAvoys. Each couple made up their perfect square of friendship. They traveled together and shared many happy times, including their trip to Las Vegas, where they nicknamed their group "the Castaways." They even shared in bad times --- be it a difficult labor, the loss of a brother on 9/11, or a stifling marriage. After recent troubles and with their anniversary approaching, Greg and Tess MacAvoy embark on a boating trip that ends tragically, with the two mysteriously drowning. Everyone in their group had been dealing with their own issues, but none as public as the MacAvoys. Greg was a local teacher who recently bore the sting of a former student's searing accusation. And now, the remaining six --- the friends who had once been so close and shared everything --- have to ask themselves just what happened between Greg and April Peck. And what of Tess's affair with another member of their circle? How well does anyone really know their friends? In the wake of the young couple's death, those who remain grapple with their grief and try to soldier on --- if not for their own sanity, then for the MacAvoys' surviving children. The unofficial leaders of the Castaways are Eddie, the local police chief, and his wife Andrea. In their 40s and settled in their family life, they provide the moral center and heart of the group. Tess was Andrea's young cousin, and she was always looking out for her, even saving her from drowning in Dorchester Bay when she was just a young girl. Addison is a wealthy businessman, and Phoebe, his second wife, struggles with a secret pill addiction. There's also Jeffrey and Delilah, a local farmer and his bar-hopping wife, who just never seem satisfied with island life. Tess and Greg rounded out their group and recently had their very private problems made public. While Greg was accused of having an affair with a former student, what people didn't know was that Tess was having an affair of her own --- with Addison. So was their mysterious death just an accident as it appeared, or was there something more sinister afoot in this tiny island community? For her eighth novel, Elin Hilderbrand once again returns to the beautiful island of Nantucket as her setting. This time out, she cleverly adds a layer of suspense and intrigue to what might have been just standard beach-reading fare. And through this additional element, the story is allowed to explore the sometimes thorny topics of friendship, betrayal and forgiveness, as well as being an entertaining summer read. --- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

Last summer, I was privileged to read and review Ms. Hilderbrand's previous novel entitled A Summer Affair (you can read my review here (and I'm excited to tell you that an excerpt of my review was included in the paperback version that was released on June 1, 2009!!). In The Castaways, Ms. Hilderbrand seems to be sticking with her theme of disillusioned marriage partners seeking diversion outside the marriage (again with the affairs! I guess books about successful marriages wouldn't sell very well?). Regardless, I absolutely loved this book. And you will too. Far from a simple "beach read," The Castaways has a pretty involved plot with several well developed characters. And those characters are so interwoven throughout their lives you really need to pay attention to keep up. Ms. Hilderbrand keeps you guessing throughout the entire book by writing the chapters from the point of view of all the characters at different points in their lives - so often you are reading the same story but from a different perspective. In my humble opinion, this is a great way to flesh out the story lines AND the characters. And her writing is so vivid, the characters and the beautiful shores of Nantucket are brought to life. So if you are looking for a good book to read this summer that is not at all cut from the usual "beach read" mold, The Castaways is a must read for you.

The Castaways are a group of four couples who stick together through everything. They started out as friends and ended up family. Greg and Tess are out on the water celebrating their 12 year anniversary and the other couples are proud that these two have decided to stick it out even though they've had a troublesome time with the affair that Greg is rumored to have had. When news hits that Greg and Tess are dead, it hits The Castaways like a ton of bricks. They feel that they have lost a part of themselves, but Greg and Tess left two small children behind. As they try to go on living their life, they think back to the fun times that they had and how their life will never be the same. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever cared deeply for another person.