Get answers to all your questions about Elin Hilderbrand’s series here, including which books are part of a series, what they are about, in what order to read them, and more, including a printable checklist to download and track your reading of the “Queen of the Beach Reads.”
In the midst of finishing up my reading and writing about the literary works of Elin Hilderbrand, I realized that the many Elin Hilderbrand series of books and short story pairings may especially garner questions from readers.
This post is a reference guide that answers the questions you may have about the specific details of the Elin Hilderbrand series of books so you can decide exactly what to read and read it in the right order. It also points you to additional Elin Hilderbrand resources for any additional information you may need.
Guide to Elin Hilderbrand’s Series
Yes. Elin Hilderbrand has three book series: Nantucket, Winter Street, and Paradise.
The Nantucket book series has three books: (1) A Summer Affair, (2) The Castaways, and (3) The Perfect Couple.
The Winter Street series has four books: (1) Winter Street (2) Winter Stroll, (3) Winter Storms, and (4) Winter Solstice.
The Paradise book series has three books: (1) Winter in Paradise, (2) What Happens in Paradise, and (3) Troubles in Paradise (Paradise series, 3 of 3).
Some of Elin Hilderbrand’s books also have short story prequels and sequels; however, they are not considered to be a book series per se.
I will briefly describe all of the Elin Hilderbrand series and short story pairings below for you (without spoilers).
Nantucket Series
The Nantucket series is a series of three books:
- A Summer Affair (2008)
- The Castaways (2009)
- The Perfect Couple (2018)
A Summer Affair is about a dramatic affair that occurs behind the scenes of a charitable Summer Gala between a married mother and her high school ex.
The Castaways is a beachy mystery about a group of Nantucket couples who are friends holding secrets involving their relationships with each other, which come to light after one of the couples tragically dies.
The Perfect Couple (one of the best Elin Hilderbrand books) is a juicy and indulgent “death at a wedding” mystery set in Nantucket and offering some surprising plot twists.
I read the Nantucket series out of order myself, and I didn’t even notice it was a series until afterward, however, that may also be because there was a lot of time between my reading of each book in the trilogy. That being said, if you don’t want any spoilers and/or want to totally understand any crossovers, then you should consider reading these three books in order.
For more information, check out my full post on the Nantucket series.
Winter Series
The Winter series is a series of four books set at a Nantucket Inn at Christmastime and exploring the family drama of the Quinn family, who owns it:
- Winter Street (2014)
- Winter Stroll (2015)
- Winter Storms (2016)
- Winter Solstice (2017)
Winter Street introduces the reader to the Nantucket Winter Street Inn, owned by the Quinn family patriarch and father of four adult children, Kelley, whose second wife Mitzi has kissed Santa Claus, leaving his first wife, news anchor Margaret Quinn, to try to save Christmas.
Meanwhile, the oldest Quinn child, Patrick, is a hedge fund manager dealing with a white-collar crime. Bartender Kevin has a secret relationship with the Inn’s housekeeper. Teacher Ava can’t get her dream boyfriend to commit. And Bart, the youngest, is fighting overseas in the Marines.
Winter Stroll picks up during the following Christmas season, particularly during Nantucket’s Christmas Stroll. But, all is not as happy-go-lucky as it may seem. Without giving away any spoilers, it’s a super quick read that keeps the storylines moving along while also looking forward to what may happen next Christmas.
In Winter Storms, a blizzard threatens a happy day for the Quinn family this Christmas. Meanwhile, some of the other members of the Quinn family continue to struggle with major life issues.
Winter Solstice concludes the Winter series with both great joy in the ending of one of the family member’s storylines, as well as sorrow in light of the health crisis of another.
The Winter series of books are best read in order since they follow a continuous storyline with major plot spoilers. They make for a memorable holiday reading experience, especially if you enjoy the ups and downs of family drama and/or a festive New England setting.
For more information, check out my full post on the Winter series.
Paradise Series
The Paradise series is a trilogy of three books that follow the Steele family as they uncover the details of a family mystery on the Caribbean island of St. John:
- Winter in Paradise (2018)
- What Happens in Paradise (2019)
- Troubles in Paradise (2020)
Winter in Paradise begins in the new year when Irene Steele learns that her husband was killed in a helicopter crash on the Caribbean island of St. John. She and her sons jet to St. John and become even more shocked when they learn the man they loved had been living a secret dual life.
What Happens in Paradise picks up one year later, when Irene and her sons return to St. John to learn the truth about the Steele patriarch’s mysterious life and death.
In Troubles in Paradise, Irene is settled back in her husband’s villa in St. John, when the FBI delivers shocking news about him that makes his death seem all the more mysterious until the conclusion is finally revealed.
The Paradise series of books are best read in order as they follow a continuous storyline. They are great for fans of beachy mysteries, family drama, and a Caribbean setting. They make for a slight change of pace for those who love Elin Hilderbrand’s books but also want to read something a bit different than her most notorious themes, character types, and settings.
For more information, check out my full post on the Paradise series.
Elin Hilderbrand’s Short Stories to Pair With Full Books
I mentioned earlier that some of Elin Hilderbrand’s books also have short story prequels and sequels; however, they are not considered to be an Elin Hilderbrand series per se. I’ll call them “pairings.” Here they are for your ease of reference:
The Surfing Lesson is a short story about the background of Beautiful Day‘s somewhat less central character, Margot Carmichael. It was published just before the novel Beautiful Day, so you can read these stories in whatever order you wish.
The Tailgate is a short story that tells the backstory of Dabney Kimball and Clendenin (“Clen”) Hughes from The Matchmaker. It was published just before the novel, The Matchmaker, which centers on both of these characters, so you can read these stories in whatever order you wish.
The short story Summer of ’79 is a sequel that should only be read after the novel Summer of ’69, and it tells where all the members of the Levin family ended up ten years later.
The short story The Sixth Wedding is a sequel that should only be read after the novel 28 Summers, bringing Melanie’s brother and the other main characters back to Nantucket five years later.
Endless Summer is a collection of all of the short stories mentioned above in this article plus more. It would be great to keep on your shelf and pull out when you’re reading one of her related books or to devour at once after you finish all of the long-form Elin Hilderbrand books.
Printable Checklist of Elin Hilderbrand Series, Short Stories & Books
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Conclusion
These important details of Elin Hilderbrand’s series help you plan and track your guilty pleasure beach reading beyond just one book. To recap, Elin Hilderbrand has three book series: Nantucket, Winter Street (my personal favorite holiday series), and Paradise (set in St. John). Some of Elin Hilderbrand’s books also have short story prequels and sequels; however, they are not considered to be a book series per se.
