Status
Collection
Publication
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:The instant New York Times bestseller is "a fun, delightful, un-putdownable novel" about two identical twin sisters who couldn't look more alike . . . or live more differently (PopSugar). Nantucket is only eleven miles away from Martha's Vineyard. But they may as well be worlds apart for estranged twin sisters Harper and Tabitha Frost. After not speaking for more than a decade, Harper and Tabitha switch islands-and lives-to save what's left of their splintered family. But the twins quickly discover that the secrets, lies, and gossip they thought they'd outrun can travel between islands just as easily as they can. Will Harper and Tabitha be able to bury the hatchet and end their sibling rivalry once and for all? Before the last beach picnic of the season, there will be enough old resentments, new loves, and cases of mistaken identity to make this the most talked-about summer that Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have experienced in ages. "Parent Trap vibes with an adult twist...One of Hilderbrand's most binge-worthy confections." â??Elisabeth Egan, New York Times … (more)
User reviews
Sisters can be maddening, but the love shared is unlike any other.
Having grown up with four sisters (yes, four!) - two of whom I physically lived with, I can speak from experience. My closest sister, my Irish Twin, has been my confidante, my partner in crime, my best friend. She's been my greatest champion and my biggest critic.
I can only begin to imagine what life would have been like if we were identical twins.
In The Identicals, the latest release from Elin Hilderbrand (a twin herself), this relationship is beautifully captured. Through dynamic prose and engrossing dialogue, we are given a peek into what life is like with a twin. Hildebrand chronicles a life of childhood games, fun and ease and then delves into adulthood where things get messy.
Hilderbrand develops characters with ease and brilliance. Each personality within the story has their own nuances and traits that define them. Their descriptions are so detailed, without becoming monotonous, that you feel a part of the community. Get to know the pie maker, the contractor, the rich old lady, the doctor, the bartender - and feel as if you've known them all for years. And, at the core of the story, the twins - Harper and Tabitha. It is difficult to determine who the favorite is because they both become so lovable, for different reasons. You'll find yourself siding with one, then the other, then back to the first, and so it goes. But in the end, you'll wish they were both your sisters.
Set in beautiful New England, a perfect backdrop for such a romantic story, Hilderbrand captures the landscape so easily, you'll think you're actually there. You can hear the ferry boat running the eleven miles between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. You can taste the clams and hear the Fourth of July Fireworks as if you are there on Lucy Vincent Beach. You can feel the dense heat of a heavy East Coast Summer and want to dip your toes into the Atlantic Ocean to cool off.
And through all of this, you learn one thing - life throws curve balls. It can break the heart and mend it back together. It can knock you down and give you the courage to get back up. But I wouldn't want to do any of it without a sister to hold my hand, tease me and pull my hair, and love me like only a sister can. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you want to hug your sister and wish she were your twin. Because, after all is said and done, there is nothing like the bond of a sister.
Guest Reviewer, Kate Kelly
The story of identical twins is always fascinating; their connection, their habits, their feelings. Harper and Tabitha started out with that connection, they were as close as two
At the time of Billy's death, both of their lives were falling apart and they find themselves in each other's territory, not quite living each other's lives, but seeing the other side and maybe what their lives would have been like if things had been different.
This was such a great story, as all of Elin's books are. I was drawn into the lives of all of them as if I actually knew them and cared about their wellbeing. Sometimes flawed characters can turn you off of a book, but I felt myself loving them like family members as we see their past hurts and resentments and circumstances that have shaped their lives. I was so sorry when this book ended, I would love to read more about these characters in a further book.
I love when Elin's books are released, right close to summer. They are the perfect beach books, little light but not fluffy or forgettable. They inspire so much of the reader's involvement and emotion and her books stay with me after I have read the
I do love those few days of my "living on Nantucket".
Tabitha lives on Nantucket with her troubled teenaged daughter Ainsley. When their parents divorced, Tabitha went to live with their mother Eleanor,
Harper lives with her dog, Fish, on Martha’s Vineyard. Harper went to live with her father when her parents divorced. She has been taking care of her father the whole time he has been sick and simultaneously having an affair and falling in love with her father’s doctor. When her affair is discovered she escapes the island and the rumors by going to stay at her sisters house to care for her niece.
The sisters end up switching islands and lives. Tabitha returns to her father's home in Nantucket to remodel the house and get it ready to sale and ends up gets romantically involved with the carpenter working on the house.
“Will Harper and Tabitha be able to bury the hatchet and end their sibling rivalry once and for all? Before the last beach picnic of the season, there will be enough old resentments, new loves, and cases of mistaken identity to make this the most talked about summer that Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have experienced in ages.”
This wasn’t my favorite Elin Hilderbrand book. It wasn’t terrible, but some of her others are way better. To me, it just felt a little too mushy and chick-litty. It would be the perfect book for a day at the beach.
The Identicals is
Ms. Hilderbrand has written a well-plotted novel with an engaging story line. She has included some interesting characters who help to lighten up the novel.
Have read many books from this author and have enjoyed them.
This was start out with the identical twins and each lives on an island off the coast of MA. One living with their mother, the other with their father. Identical twins and they have pulled their pranks on
You get a lot of the back story as to how they ended up there and how one had a daughter who's a teen now in the story.
Alternating chapters from them and also other family members. Due to the parents death they are drawn together and then a medical emergency where the two sisters kinda swap islands to accomplish what needs to be done.
Romances and teen problems with drugs and drinking and breakups and finding their one soul mate but it's all a farce as they learn how they are related to the one couple that bring them all together.
Lots of drama and I especially liked the island adventures and quiet spots and all about the fashion industry and what works. Also enjoyed the renovations and technical chat about that.
Received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Harper and
Fourteen years later, Tabitha has a 16 year old hellion (daughter) and has just kicked out her latest boyfriend. Tabitha lives in Nantucket and has been pampered most of her life without her sister. Harper lives in Martha's Vineyard and has worked every menial job you can think of to make ends meet. She's just lost her latest job and is facing what to do with their father's house after his recent death.
This was a very good read with just about everything in it. I really felt for Harper and Tabitha definitely got on my nerves. However, I am glad of the time I got to spend with them and really enjoyed it. Definitely a great beach read!
Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
They were both self-centered and morally questionable individuals who seemed to be stuck at the maturity level of teenagers.
Ainsley, the
The one interesting thing about the twins was the scandal that seemed to follow them everywhere. I was shocked at the behavior of Harper and Tabitha at various times throughout the story.
It was nice to watch each of them grow up a little by the end of the book and rekindle their relationship. I found the circumstances contributing to the twins’ estrangement to be a bit unbelievable. Also unbelievable was the fact that their mother, who seemed in every way a strong, opinionated woman, let the estrangement go on for years until she finally intervened.
The book was a bit predictable, a bit scandalous, but heartwarming and enjoyable for a summer read. Erin Hildebrand is so great at bringing Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard to the minds of her readers. For those who have never been to these places, there are quite a few passages pointing out the differences in the two and describing the personality of each location.
I enjoyed the book--it was quite entertaining! This is a great vacation novel or something to read when you aren’t wanting anything too heavy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
When the story begins, the plot is a bit slow, but do not quit reading. Once I got into this story, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I also did not like the four main women in this story at the beginning. Again, as the story progressed the transformations they all had were wonderful and believable. There is some drama, some romance and wonderful settings that Elin Hildenbrand is know for. A great family drama that many readers will enjoy. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Their parents, Billy and Eleanor were very different in their
Harper on Martha' s Vineyard, has not settled down into a career but she took care of her dad when he was dying of cancer. The memorial set in motion the coming together of Eleanor, the twin daughters who had not been on friendly terms since the divorce of their parents, and Tabitha's daughter, Ainsley.
Each morning when I woke up, I listened to another disc of this story. I not only enjoyed the well developed characters but learning about the big contrasts between Martha' s Vineyard and Nantucket but even the perfect ending of the story.