EXCLUSIVE! Author Elin Hilderbrand Dishes on the Buzzy Adaptation of The Five Star Weekend and This Summer’s Best Beach Reads
When Elin Hilderbrand sat down to write her first novel in 1998, she wasn’t trying to become the queen of the summer beach read. “I was going to be a great American literary novelist,” she explains, noting that she was getting her MFA at the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the time. But looking for inspiration, she drew on the beautiful and tranquil place that she had called home for the past few years: Nantucket.
That decision ended up shaping her entire career.
Since The Beach Club splashed onto shelves in 2000, Hilderbrand has built a remarkable 27-book universe around the picturesque Massachusetts island and turned its beaches, boutiques and close-knit community into a backdrop for irresistible drama. Now, that world is coming to life in a whole new way with the star-studded Peacock adaptation of her 2023 bestseller, The Five Star Weekend.
The narrative centers around Hollis Shaw (Jennifer Garner), a famed cook/food blogger left devastated by the sudden death of her husband. To help cope with the loss, she invites four girlfriends from each stage of her life—played by Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, Gemma Chan and D’Arcy Carden—to her coastal abode for a theoretically relaxing weekend. And while the eight-episode series (which premieres on July 9) is indeed an escapist confection featuring to-die-for production design, it also touches on themes of love, self-discovery and forgiveness.
“I’ve never wanted my stories to be cheesy or silly or easy-breezy, even though they’ve been called that,” says Hilderbrand. “I want them to have real things and real nuance. And The Five Star Weekend is complicated in a way that everybody can relate to.”
Hilderbrand, also an executive producer, reports that she had the “best, best, best” time during the production—especially because the entire 275-person cast and crew descended to Nantucket last fall. “There was a little pushback from the locals at first because they didn’t want anybody coming into their little village,” she recalls. “But by the end, most people were enormously delighted.”
The author was at her Nantucket home autographing tip-in sheet inserts for her upcoming novel The Thoroughbreds—co-written with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham—when she hopped on Zoom to chat with Reader’s Digest. Read on for some fun behind-the-scenes details about The Five Star Weekend (including Jennifer Garner’s new Nantucket hobby), what to expect from the series, and the books that should be on your summer reading list.
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Reader’s Digest: The Five Star Weekend has an amazing cast. Do you picture certain actresses when you’re writing?
Elin Hilderbrand: I almost never do that. It’s so dangerous because then you’re writing for an actress and not for the story. I would say this to anybody thinking about having their novel adapted. It is always better to write for the book and let the actors fit into the narrative rather than write for the actors and have the narrative fit them.
Reader’s Digest: Jennifer Garner didn’t even cross your mind? Really?
Elin Hilderbrand: I was thinking of an Ina Garten type, because her fans feel like they’re in good hands with her in the kitchen. But she’s older than Hollis. And Hollis is a blonde. She looks a little bit like me.
Reader’s Digest: Was Jennifer Garner a regular presence around town?
Elin Hilderbrand: She threw herself into life on Nantucket. She went to hot yoga, she went to church, she went to the shops and boutiques. And she didn’t just shop! There’s a store called Nantucket Looms, and they weave blankets. She learned how to use the loom and wove a blanket. Then she ended up buying her Christmas gifts from Nantucket Looms—that’s an enormous boost to a small female-run business. She also went out on a sailing charter called the Endeavor, and she learned how to hoist the sails. She was very hands-on.
Reader’s Digest: Let’s hear the funniest story from the cast’s time on location.
Elin Hilderbrand: The night that they wrapped, the five lead actresses went out for a cast-only dinner. Then they went to this bar called the Gaslight that has live music and karaoke. So they stood up and did karaoke with a local tour guide. He had no idea who they were, and it was hilarious! The story was all over the Nantucket news, and it left everybody with a really good feeling.
Reader’s Digest: What was your reaction after you watched the whole series?
Elin Hilderbrand: I was amazed. I’ve watched all eight episodes multiple times. I think my favorite episode is Episode 4. That’s the spa episode, which is very ironic because we don’t have a day spa on Nantucket like that. That was fully a creation by our showrunner, Bekah Bruntstetter. But it’s so funny and poignant and memorable. And Episodes 7 and 8 are so heart-wrenching. I could not have asked for a more thoughtful, intentional and yet delicious and fun adaptation.
Reader’s Digest: What does this story say about female friendship at this stage in life?
Elin Hilderbrand: This show is made by women, starring women, about women and for women. So everybody brought their deep and wide experience with friendship—that goes from when we’re little girls on the playground all the way up through high school and then into college and then with our mom friends. It’s hardest to meet new friends when you’re in middle age because the kids are grown and maybe you work from home. That’s why we included the Gigi character (played by Chan). But female friendship is so varied and complicated, and I think that’s true in the show too. Everybody can relate.
Reader’s Digest: In your expert opinion, what kind of book makes for a good summer read?
Elin Hilderbrand: I mean, I’ve written 27 novels all set at the ultimate summer resort, right? We have this adorable, historically preserved downtown, and then we have 50 miles of pristine beach. When people come here, they’re coming for the quaintness. They want to stroll the cobblestones and go to a lovely dinner and eat the seafood. The experience can’t really be described, though I’ve tried, like, 30 times.
So l do like describing my novels as summer books. But I believe that any book can be a summer book—as long as it has a propulsive plot, it moves along and you’re invested in the characters. I personally don’t like anything that’s overly cerebral or heavy or dark, although I know lots of people who love really dark psychological thrillers at the beach. To each their own.
Reader’s Digest: Do you have an all-time favorite?
Elin Hilderbrand: I do. It’s The Vacationers by Emma Straub. It was one of her first books. I fell in love with her then. We’re dear friends now. I love her so much. The Vacationers is about this family in complete disarray, and they go away to Mallorca. It’s so funny and smart. You feel like you’re on vacation with this family.
Reader’s Digest: What are you reading right now?
Elin Hilderbrand: I read all the time—by which I mean I always have a book within arm’s range. See? I’m reading Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. It is so good. I’m leaving for Los Angeles tomorrow and was trying to finish it before I got on the plane. I have another book packed in my bag that I will read in the airport and on the plane. I always make time during my workday to read because I think reading really good books is one way to become a better writer. Then I will also read before I go to bed. I try not to go on my phone. It’s just bad for you.
Reader’s Digest: Does that mean you don’t have a favorite reading spot?
Elin Hilderbrand: Every spot is my spot. The bed, the beach, the car when I go to the dentist. In L.A., I have an interview that is a 30-minute ride from my hotel, and I intentionally packed a purse that is big enough to accommodate my paperback book because I am not sitting in that Uber on my phone.
Reader’s Digest: You’ve retired from Nantucket-set books, but you’re still writing. Talk about the series with your daughter.
Elin Hilderbrand: So last year, I wrote a novel with my daughter called The Academy. It follows a group of students at a New England boarding school. She went to a very fancy and snobby New England boarding school. I went to public school. So we wrote it together. We have a sequel coming out in September called The Thoroughbreds. Right now, we’re both autographing 18,000 tip-in sheets that my publisher will insert into the books. It’s easier than signing 18,000 books.
Reader’s Digest: You don’t sign books?!
Elin Hilderbrand: I’m at the point where there are too many things going on for me to do it. Signing 18,000 books is not right!
The Five Star Weekend
The Five Star Weekend
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