THE ISLAND (Unabridged) by Elin Hilderbrand ready by Denice Hicks

Book Description:
Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement.
It's only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she's embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store - a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.
But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known. It's a summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell, filled with the heartache, laughter, and surprises that have made her page-turning, bestselling novels as much a part of summer as a long afternoon on a sunny beach.

My Thoughts
This book was ok. Birdie and her husband of thirty years have recently been divorced and she has just started a relationship with Hank. Her oldest daughter Chess is getting married to Michael and Birdie is planning the whole lavish affair! Then, out of the blue, Chess calls off the wedding and quits her job. Bridie's sister, India, is a widow and a curator. Tate, Birdie's other daughter is a computer genius. After some tragic news that sends Chess into a deep depression, Birdie makes arrangements for all of them to go to her childhood summer home of Tuckernuck for vacation. That is where the story starts getting really interesting...
It took me a while to get into this book, but I suspect it was the reader's voice and not the story. I thought the characters were very well developed and loved that Birdie was so nurturing. Chess comes across as a spoiled know-it-all who is used to everyone fawning over her and getting her way. Tate is sometimes juvenile and sometimes a wonderful character. I liked India, she is a world savvy, strong, capable woman. All the men in this book, even the ex-husband are written to be strong, successful, handsome men and that is always a good thing to read about! The four women together seem like an unlikely cast of characters, especially to put on an remote island together but it works!
I rate this a 3/5. I would probably go buy the book instead of listening to the Audio version again.
Thank you to Hachette Audio Books for providing this review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.