The final bonus episode of Books, Beach, & Beyond for 2023 features a friendly conversation between your beloved hosts, Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg! The two recap the first season of the podcast, dish on their favorite episodes, favorite books of 2023, most anticipated books of 2024, their reading routines, offer writing and reading advice, discuss Elin's final Nantucket novel Swan Song and her upcoming The Perfect Couple show, and answer wonderful questions from all of YOU listeners. It’s the perfect listen for those wanting to get to know your hosts more!

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Book of the Month - limited time, first book for just $5 with code ELIN
Nantucket Book Partners

What are we reading in this episode:
Then We Came To An End by Joshua Ferris
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
Everything’s Fine by Cecelia Rabbes
A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Speech Team by Tim Murphy
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Blackouts by Justin Torres
We the Animals by Justin Torres
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand
Winter Street Series by Elin Hilderbrand
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Wishin’ and Hopin’ by Wally Lamb
Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin
Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff
Hope by Andrew Ridker
Wellness by Nathan Hill
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

For our second bonus episode for 2023, we stay across the pond and get to chat with the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Beartown Series, A Man Called Ove, and Anxious People - Fredrik Backman! Elin and Tim chat with Fredrik about his origin story, his debut novel A Man Called Ove and where the idea for this iconic story came from, his Beartown series and the hockey team and town in the trilogy, and his writing process. We hear the differences between publishing in the U.S. and Sweden, why he thinks his characters resonate so much with people, the stigmas around mental health, and the screen adaptation A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Marine Home Center
Book of the Month - limited time, first book for just $5 with code ELIN

Fredrik Backman Reading List:
A Man Called Ove
Britt- Marie Was Here
Beartown
Us Against You
The Winners
Anxious People

What else are we reading in this episode:
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand
Winter Street Series by Elin Hilderbrand
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Other Side of Sadness by George A. Bonanno

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

In this bonus episode, Elin and Tim travel virtually across the pond to Scotland to interview one of their favorite writers of the English language, Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait. The three discuss the differences between publishing in the UK and in the US, what it means to Maggie to be Irish, how she researches her settings, point of view and experimentation with the craft of language, publishing a plague novel during COVID-19, writing fiction about real people, and her memoir I Am I Am I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death. You’ll immediately want to order every Maggie O’Farrell novel you can get your hands on because, as Tim and Elin say in the episode, they would "read her grocery list!"

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Lovango Resort & Beach Club - limited time, 10% off your stay at Lovangovi.com/ELIN
Book of the Month - limited time, first book for just $9.99 with code ELIN

Maggie O'Farrell Reading List:
After You’d Gone
Instructions for a Heatwave
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
This Must Be the Place
I Am I Am I Am
Hamnet
The Marriage Portrait

What else are we reading in this episode:
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dar
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright

Other authors mentioned:
Rudyard Kipling, Louis MacNeice, William Shakespeare, Alice Munro, Ann Patchett, Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Strout, William Boyd, and Anne Enright.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

It Ends with Colleen Hoover. Yes, Season 1 of Books, Beach, & Beyond wraps up with the mega best-selling author of It Ends With Us and Verity, Colleen Hoover, or CoHo as she is known by all her adoring fans. Colleen, Elin, and Tim discuss Colleen’s super unique journey from self-publishing her books to today working with multiple publishers and editors, domestic abuse and secondary trauma in It Ends with Us, the ending of Verity, screen adaptations, and the connection she has made with her readers and fans, who are called “The CoHorts!” Tune in to see which writers Colleen is a super fan of, her favorite books, and her advice to aspiring writers.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Hatch's
Nantucket's Meat & Fish Market

Colleen Hoover Reading List:
Slammed by Colleen Hoover
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Verity by Colleen Hoover

What else are we reading in this episode:
Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Franny & Zooey by J D Salinger

Other authors mentioned:
Tracey Garvis Graves, Emily Henry, and Tiffanie DeBartolo.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

Please welcome to the podcast the hilariously entertaining and #1 best-selling author of In Her Shoes, Mrs. Everything, and The Summer Place, Jennifer Weiner! This is one juicy episode of literary gossip with so many laugh-out-loud moments. Jen takes us through her two decades in the book business, from her debut Good in Bed to her latest, The Breakaway. We dive into mothers and daughters, biking and "yogging," commercial fiction vs. literary fiction, as well as tall tales from Elin and Jen's old flings, worst book tour stories, and their least and most favorite parts of their job as writers. *Warning, the three get carried away and this episode has some explicit language that could offend listeners.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Nantucket Looms - limited time, 15% off with code BOOKS15
Bar Yoshi
Read With Jenna

Jennifer Weiner Reading List:
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

What else are we reading in this episode:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

In this episode of Books, Beach, & Beyond, we welcome Gilbert Cruz, Editor of the New York Times Book Review. Cruz discusses his childhood, schooling, and career that led to one of the most elite jobs in the book business. He gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the process of choosing books to review in the New York Times,  who reviews them, and how the "Top Ten Books of the Year" are chosen. Tim and Gilbert bond over their love and obsession with Stephen King, while Elin and Gilbert dish on some of their favorite TV shows. This episode is filled with the joy of reading and recommending literature!

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Cartolina
Triple Eight Distillery

What else are we reading in this episode:
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
It by Stephen King
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Alice & Oliver by Charles Bock
The Shining by Stephen King
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Still Life by Louise Penny
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Other authors mentioned:
Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

This episode features one of Elin and Tim’s favorite writers and friends, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Mad Honey, Wish You Were Here, and My Sister’s Keeper , Jodi Picoult! Jodi discusses writing from both perspectives of a controversial issue, her twist endings and intense research process, and co-writing with Samantha Van Leer and Jennifer Finney Boylan. Elin and Jodi dig into their decisions around narrative voice in their stories and their relationships and online interactions with readers, and the three discuss current book banning in America. It’s another chat where you feel like you’re having coffee with your three best friends!

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
The Nantucket Hotel
N Magazine
Nantucket Current

Jodi Picoult Reading List:
Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

What else are we reading in this episode:
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugendies
How to Give the Wrong Impression by Katherine Heiny
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Speech Team by Tim Murphy
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly
Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Holly by Stephen King

Other authors mentioned:
Mary Morris, Jennifer Finney Boylan, and Samantha Van Leer.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

September is still summer in our books, and there is still plenty of time to put a couple more "beach reads" in your beach bags. Our latest guest is Sunny Hostin, the 3x Emmy Award-winning co-host of ABC’s “The View” and the New York Times best-selling author of Summer on the Bluffs and Summer on Sag Harbor. Sunny discusses her memoir, I Am These Truths, and how writing it helped form her identity, as well as talking about her novels and how place acts as a character. Recommendations, events, and tips for visiting both Oak Bluffs and Sag Harbor are sprinkled throughout the episode, as well as Sunny's view on being famous before publishing books and whether or not she reads her online reviews.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Marine Home Center
Triple Eight Distillery

Sunny Hostin Reading List:
I Am These Truths : A Memoir by Sunny Hostin
Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin
Summer on Sag Harbor by Sunny Hostin

What else are we reading in this episode:
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Paper Gods: A Novel of Money, Race, and Politics by Goldie Taylor

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

CNN Anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper joins Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg to report on his new novel, All the Demons Are Here. They start by discussing growing up in the 80's in Philadelphia, Jake’s origin story as a journalist-turned-novelist, the turbulent year of 1977 (in which his newest thriller takes place), reporting on news today while writing about the past, and how music is used to set the scene in literature. Does Jake Tapper sing in this episode? You will have to listen to find out. Writing tips and reading recommendations punctuate this thrilling episode with one of the lead reporters of our time.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Nantucket Book Partners
Susan Lister Locke

Jake Tapper Reading List:
The Out Post: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper
Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story by Jake Tapper
The Hell Fire Club by Jake Tapper
The Devil May Dance by Jake Tapper
All the Demons are Here by Jake Tapper

What else are we reading in this episode:
The King with Six Friends by Jay Williams
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Paperboy by Pete Dexter
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
White Noise by Don Delillo
Sin City Books by Frank Miller 
The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir by Paul Newman
Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama: A Memoir by Bob Odenkirk

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

Episode 4 brings us the incredible writing talent that is Ann Patchett, an "auto-buy" author for our hosts and the 2023 National Humanities Medal recipient for "putting into words the beauty, pain and complexity of human nature." The three start their conversation by diving into Elin and Ann's respective years at the Iowa Writers' Workshop before exploring  Ann's writing process, her friendship with Lucy Grealy, and her ability to nail human relationships on the page. They also discuss the release of Ann's latest novel Tom Lake, as well as Ann's favorite writers and what it's like owning Parnassus Books in Nashville.

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Nantucket Looms - limited time, 15% off with code BOOKS15
Triple Eight Distillery

Ann Patchett Reading List:
The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

What else are we reading in this episode:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
Our Town by Thornton Wilder

Other authors mentioned:
Jane Smiley, Anna Quindlen, Tim Winton, Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Frank Conroy, Allan Gurganus, Russel Banks, Grace Paley, John Irving, Lucy Grealy, Colson Whitehead, Colleen Hoover, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Hanks, Kate DiCamillo, Elizabeth McCracken, Louise Erdrich, Elizabeth Strout, Harlan Coben, Andrew Sean Greer, Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood, and V, formerly Eve Ensler.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!

Episode 3 brings us the incredible reading icon and passionate bookworm that is Jenna Bush Hager, author and the face of The Today Show’s Read with Jenna. The conversation is ripe with reading recommendations, and Elin and Tim ask all the insider questions of how Read with Jenna came about, how she chooses the titles each month, and some of her favorites over the last 4.5 years. They dive into raising children to be readers, Jenna’s writing life, and what she hopes people 200 years in the future will take away from the Read with Jenna selections. This episode is truly one for the books!

A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:
Cartolina
Lauren Marttila Photography

Jenna Bush Hager Reading List:
Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager & Barbara Pierce Bush
Love Comes First by Jenna Bush Hager & Barbara Pierce Bush

What else are we reading in this episode:
There, There by Tommy Orange
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos by Nash Jenkins
My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Florin
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Solito by Javier Zamora
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Other authors mentioned:
Emma Straub, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah, Gillian Flynn, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Megan Abbott, Agatha Christie, Britney Spears, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Diane Sawyer, Cormac McCarthy, and Ann M Martin.

Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.

And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond

Happy Reading!