The Hotel Nantucket book cover

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand Summary

The Hotel Nantucket
Elin Hilderbrand
Fiction
Mystery
Relationship
Inspirational
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of The Hotel Nantucket

Step into "The Hotel Nantucket," Hilderbrand's #1 NYT bestseller that sparked an actual tourism phenomenon. This beloved beach read inspired real-world hotel packages, island guides, and what locals call "the Elin effect" - proof that some fictional getaways become legendary destinations.

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Key takeaways

1

A Haunted Paradise Awaits

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The Hotel Nantucket stands weathered and abandoned until London billionaire Xavier Darling pours thirty million dollars into transforming it into the island's crown jewel. Custom whaling boat chandeliers illuminate grand spaces, hand-painted night skies adorn bedroom ceilings, and emperor-sized canopy beds promise luxurious comfort. But this isn't just another renovation story. Xavier has his sights set on the hospitality industry's holy grail-the legendary "fifth key" from notoriously exacting hotel critic Shelly Carpenter, who has never awarded her highest honor in thirty years of reviews. To achieve this impossible dream, Xavier recruits Lizbet Keaton as general manager-a hospitality veteran seeking her own fresh start after discovering her partner JJ's devastating affair. Lizbet channels her heartbreak into excellence, creating an exhaustive "Blue Book" of curated island experiences while pointedly excluding her ex's restaurant from all recommendations. Yet beneath the gleaming surfaces lurks a darker narrative. Nonagenarian Mint Benedict, whose family owned the hotel during its golden age, issues a chilling warning: "They can fix it up but it won't succeed. The Hotel Nantucket is haunted, and it's all my father's fault." Unknown to all, she's right-Grace Hadley, a nineteen-year-old chambermaid who perished in the devastating 1922 fire, has been keeping vigil for a century, waiting for the right moment to reveal the truth behind her murder.

2

The Ghost Who Watches

3

A Staff of Misfits and Secrets

4

Summer Hearts Bloom and Break

5

Scandals Behind Closed Doors

6

The Fifth Key and Unexpected Salvation

7

A Mosaic of Broken Pieces

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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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