Women's Fiction
![Elin Hilderbrand - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001IGQLTO.jpg)
Barefoot: A Novel
From marriage, infidelity, and the mayhem of motherhood to scandal, tragedy, and illness-three women seek peace and comfort in Nantucket as they cope with life's challenges.
Three women-burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues-tumble onto the Nantucket airport tarmac one hot June day. Vicki is trying to sort through the news that she has a serious illness. Her sister, Brenda, has just left her job after being caught in an affair with a student. And their friend Melanie, after seven failed in vitro attempts, is pregnant at last-but only after learning that her husband is having an affair. They have come to escape, enjoy the sun, and relax in Nantucket's calming air. But into the house, into their world, steps twenty-two-year-old Josh Flynn.
Barefoot weaves these four lives together in a story with enthralling sweep and scope-a novel that is as fun and memorable and bittersweet as that one perfect day of summer.
Three women-burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues-tumble onto the Nantucket airport tarmac one hot June day. Vicki is trying to sort through the news that she has a serious illness. Her sister, Brenda, has just left her job after being caught in an affair with a student. And their friend Melanie, after seven failed in vitro attempts, is pregnant at last-but only after learning that her husband is having an affair. They have come to escape, enjoy the sun, and relax in Nantucket's calming air. But into the house, into their world, steps twenty-two-year-old Josh Flynn.
Barefoot weaves these four lives together in a story with enthralling sweep and scope-a novel that is as fun and memorable and bittersweet as that one perfect day of summer.
Readers Top Reviews
BarbNDSandracathe
I wanted so much to enjoy this book. I was looking for a summer read, instead I ended up with a depressing story of a women fighting lung cancer, a young college student having an affair with a pregnant married women whose husband was having an affair, a college professor fired and being sued by the college where she had been employed and all this on Nantucket Island. Sorry all I could think of while reading this was will it ever end? Lots of repeated tales of whoa made for lots of skimming. If you saw the movie "Beaches", then you know what this book is about. This book will depress you, it was not warm and fuzzy.
Anita NwaobiloBar
Liked the story. Lots of conflict of emotions present, but most of it resolved at the end. It was interesting the way the sisters viewed each other and I suppose this happens in most families -- one sibling envying the other while the other is envying her. There's also the issue of not being able to get out from under the influence of one's emotions. In the midst of everything, enter one odd factor, in this case the young man and behold the developments. Good storytelling!
Zachary E. Schwar
After a somewhat lackluster start to my summer reading with Summerland, it was nice to get back to my usual seasonal reading experience with Barefoot. This read felt like quintessential Hilderbrand. I was transported back to Nantucket, with a fascinating array of characters that draw you in and make you want to keep turning the pages to see where they’re going to end up. Between Vicki’s health issues, Brenda’s legs troubles, Melanie’s marital problems, and Josh’s interactions with all the above; we’re left with a captivating story that leaves you with lots of feels and a very memorable Nantucket summer.
Libby's MomR. Wei
I am still reading this book and haven't formed a total opinion yet but I have a question that is bothering me. At the top of Page 286, Brenda mentions "Amrita's accusations (true)" but I don't know what Amrita said. I went back and read everything I could find during the classes, and can't see where Amrita accused Brenda of anything, or even said anything personal to Brenda. Can someone enlighten me? Little details bug me to death about any book.
Trish270Libby'
Honestly I felt this book portrayed women as very weak and there wasn’t much character development. I kept reading, hoping they would evolve, and they were just disappointing. The fact that Melanie went back to her cheating husband who basically degraded her than told her he’d maybe one day leave his mistress is embarrassing for women everywhere. And the fact that the other characters were equally willing to accept abandonment from their men is equally disappointing.
