Winter Street (Winter Street, 1)

Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street is a story of the highly dysfunctional Quinn family, a family of four children, coming home for Christmas in Nantucket in a non-traditional way. (2.5 Stars)

Rather than summarizing the story, want to get straight away to the issues. Since I have been in the hotel business most of my career, a former innkeeper, and a consultant for boutique hotels and inns, and business planning for investment vacation real estate properties, was hoping for a heartwarming story with interesting characters coming to the inn (as always a story there), as this was the main reason for buying the audiobook, as my favorite guests are European travelers. Donna Ball's books and The Ladybug Farm series--a perfect example of good B&B stories.

However, there was not much about the inn operations, or guests, as the book was focused on this family and all their drama and problems, without a lot of depth nor interesting characters. It started out a little funny; however, sadly disappointed. I gave her last book 2 stars, and pushing it with a 2.5 stars this time, just because it is Christmas and is set in Nantucket.

Having read all sixteen of Hilderbrand’s books, as loved her older books, as checked back on Goodreads as to when this began to change. Either my reading interests have drastically changed (which could be), or she has completely changed her style, since around 2010, starting with The Island and downhill since. The good ones are from 2002-2009 (please go back to this). I keep reading thinking it will go back to the old ways; however, her books are no longer captivating me or grabbing me, nor am I invested in any of the characters. (I did enjoy her last two short novellas).

I will give 2015 one more shot before closing this door. If you like more of a soap opera drama, you may enjoy; however, I enjoy more substance and complex plot planning. On a side note, I am sensing a little of the same with Nancy Thayer, another Nantucket author, as have read all her books, as well and not the same over the last few years; and both started around the same time with the change.

If you are one of the older fans, you may be able to relate as have seen a few other reviewers sharing the opinion.

i agree 100% with the other posters lamenting the decline of hilderbrand's books. i was so disappointed by the matchmaker and last year's beautiful day. the matchmaker was so awful i had to force myself to finish it. i thought (and was badly hoping) that maybe e.h. put all her energy into writing an october book in addition to the june book she puts out yearly. i was sadly disappointed in this book. the characters were unlikable, immature, materialistic and flatly written. the story seemed rushed and included way too much about the objects in the inn. i felt like someone put narrative to a high-end catalog.

i have read every one of hilderbrand's books. i loved blue bistro and her other early books so much, and each year i am hopeful but ultimately let down. elizabeth berg is another author who had great early books but seems to have lost her touch. i feel myself giving up on hilderbrand like i did with berg.

Did you ever walk out of a movie and think, "Well, that is set up for a sequel?" Well, you will feel that way with this book. The story lines are simply incomplete. It felt as if the author did not have time to finish it or something.

When a book ends abruptly, you can feel very dissatisfied and I did.

What's more, you never really learn the back story of most of the characters so it is difficult to see them in context.

I did find it a bit interesting to read about the challenges of running an inn (or I would have given it fewer stars), but again, nothing is explained....WHY are there no guests this Christmas at the inn if past years it has been booked months in advance? THAT would have been interesting to me.

I really can't recommend this book.

This will be the last book of hers i will read. i don't know what happened to her writing skills but the last two i read were awful. this just left you hanging-if she planned a sequel i will not be reading it.

Unsettling - and unfinished - I am almost embarrassed to admit that I finished the book. It was very difficult to root for the characters - for the most part, they were self indulgent living in their own chosen bubble-worlds until the real outside world catches up with each of them in its own way. Then they don't have any idea how to act or cope for the long haul. They each continue to self-indulge. One character (Margaret) was so close to being the character one could champion, but she wasn't developed enough to that point. The author may have intended this as a cross section real life study of numerous personalities all brought together at a certain time on Winter Street, but instead, as the reader turns the last page, it leaves the reader with a sense of hopelessness, a feeling of chaotic downheartedness - not because of the ending, but due to the tone of the whole book - the characters were powerless for themselves. I'm glad I borrowed this one from the library and didn't spend any money on it.

I usually get two or three Christmas books each year and this is the time of year I look for new authors. When I read the part where the author called Marines soldiers, I knew then this was not the author for me. I continued reading it because I had invested the money but was very disappointed all the way through. The Christmas feeling I feel reading books by Richard Paul Evans and Donna Vanliere was absent. Although I would like to know what happens to the characters I probably will forget to look for the sequel as it did not make much of an impression on me. I gave it a two star only because I have read books worse than this that I truly did hate.

I have really enjoyed Hillenbrand's other books but this was not her style. It seemed liked someone else wrote it for her. Her writing style was short and choppy and thought the characters were not developed at all. Boring and if there is a sequel I wont buy it even to see what happens to the characters!

As usual Elin has written a wonderful novel. I always enjoy her books and know I will not be disappointed.

What in the world is a category 5 pang of jealousy?? Writing a bad book for your Christmas bonus is not ok!

Loved the book and received the book way before the estimated delivery date! Thank you!