This is a good beach read. It was on a lot of people’s “best of 2023” lists, but is being talked a lot about now because it is becoming a new streaming series (on platforms I don’t subscribe to), so I gave it a try, needing something light to read. This did not disappoint, and I enjoyed it.

The story centers around Hollis, who is a food blogger, and has recently lost her husband in a car accident. Seven months into being a widow, she decides to host a “five star weekend” on Nantucket Island. This means she’ll circle her wagons of support and invite together her best friend from each decade of her life to come spend the weekend together. She’s got a great itinerary planned with exceptional food, and she’ll see what transpires.

So the book fills you in on the backstory of all these women and the main character’s relationship with them. Each one is bringing some baggage with them, that ends up getting addressed or sorted during the freewheeling weekend. The ending is satisfying, and I think that’s why I like a book like this, because downer endings are unlikely.

This book also made me reflect on who I’d invite to such a weekend as this? Who were my besties from each decade and how would they all get along, not knowing each other beforehand? Probably pretty well. It is interesting to think about, with only yourself as the common deminator. Then I mourned again that one of the women I’d invite is no longer with us (see here).

Anyway, if you are looking for a decent beach read that feels a bit like a vacation, you might like The Five Star Weekend. I give it four stars.