The Castaways are a group of four couples that are very close friends - they all live on the island of Nantucket. When one couple (Greg and Tess) die in a boating accident, leaving two young children and a string of mysteries, the other three couples are left to deal with the tragedy each in his/her own way. As the circumstances leading up to their death become known it seems that Greg and Tess's lives were not as straight forward as their friends thought... The point of view moves between all the different characters and we get to know Greg and Tess and their circle of friends by the retelling of stories from their past. The Castaways took many vacations together and the story of their relationships weave in an out from past and present. It was an enjoyable read because there was a lot going on. With so many main characters there was plenty of scope for human drama and tragedy. I kind of expected the boating accident to be more than an accident, but the book turned out to be predominantly about relationships. ( )

This was a great book and it reminded me of the movie, The Big Chill. It follows four couples after the death of their close friends. It is a growth book with shows the progressions of the characters and follows their grief. I really liked the authors writing style and thought the descriptions of Nantucket were awesome. This was a book that I had a hard time trying to put down. ( )

Another novel of idyllic life on Nantucket... with the twist of a major plot point happening here in Stowe, VT! Hilderbrand's novels are always enjoyable, incredibly readable, and perfect for a trip, the beach, or by the fire. ( )

The Castaways were a group of 8 friends, 4 couples that live in Nantucket. They have mourned, cried and laughed together. Phoebe and Addison, Tess and Greg, Delilah and Jeffery, and Andrea and Ed care very much for each other. One tragic day Tess and Greg go sailing only to never return. The autopsy report presents questions. Was it an accident?

Elin Hilderband is a master at defining characters. Each of the Castaways had a distinct personality that was fully developed. The plot moves from one character to another allowing the reader to hear the story through his or her eyes. Each characters had a faults making them life like. The setting is quaint and makes me want to visit that area. Hilderbrand allows each character to mourn the loss of their friends. She does not rush it. She allows the since of loss, guilt and anger to fully develop. The Castaways is a delightful read. ( )

Oh. I get it now! THIS is what someone means when they talk about a great "summer read."

The Castaways: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand was a great book. It begins with a tragedy, as most good books do. A couple dies in a sailing accident off the coast of Nantucket. They not only leave behind their twin 7 year-olds, but they also leave behind their friends, three other couples, together known as the Castaways.

Hilderbrand takes us up down and backwards into the lives of these 8 friends - how they met, how they fell in love, and how they are each going to get passed this awful tragedy. This group of Castaways that lived on Nantucket was the epitome of the saying "friends are the family you choose."

Each of the 8 characters was different enough from the others that I didn't have to look very far to identify with one of them, yet it was easy to see how they all became and stayed friends. Hilderbrand was able to give each of her characters his/her own identity without falling into stereotypes. This made the whole book so much more believable for me.

I only had one problem with this book, and it was an editing situation, which I need to check out in the final copy (I read the ARC) before I comment. It was something sloppy which I really really hope the editors fixed before it went to print. I'll get back to you all on that.

The Castaways was the first book I have read by Elin Hilderbrand, and I don't think it will be the last. I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone looking for a good summer read (now that I'm learning what exactly a summer read is! I need to put down the vampire books, huh?). I'm also looking forward to reading more of Elin Hilderbrand's work. Based on the titles of her other novels, I do believe that her books have found their way into many beach bags this summer!

**If you enjoyed this review, and would like to read more of my book reviews, visit my book blog at: http://www.alisons-bookmarks.blogspot... ( )