Books, Beach, & Beyond

Elin Hilderbrand, Tim Talks Books, N Magazine

Join Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of 30 titles and the “Queen of the Beach Reads,” and Tim Ehrenberg, creator of the popular Tim Talks Books, as they talk shop and host spirited discussions with special guests from bestselling and internationally recognized authors, to publishing industry insiders, to local island legends who feature prominently in Hilderbrand’s prolific Nantucket stories. From what it’s like to take a book to the screen to the intricacies and intimate details of an author’s writing process, Hilderbrand and Ehrenberg take listeners on an exciting (and amusing) journey each episode, bringing books to life in a brand-new way in this podcast presented by N Magazine. A special thank you to our Season 2 Premier Sponsors: Nantucket Book Partners, Book of the Month, The Nantucket Hotel, Cartolina, and Triple Eight Distillery.

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S4 · E9
Tuesday · 50 min
James and Susan Patterson
James and Susan Patterson are the co-authors of The Mother Daughter Book Club recently on shelves this summer. James Patterson is one of the most popular storytellers of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross and has co authored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton. Susan Solie Patterson has a Bachelor of Science/Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was also an All-American swimmer. She is the author of Big Words for Little Geniuses, a New York Times bestseller. The four discuss book clubs, Wisconsin and the states where we are all from, and how both Jim and Sue got their start writing. We dig into the books, food, characters, and story and inspiration behind The Mother Daughter Book Club and their process for writing it together. It's as if Jim, Sue, Elin and Tim have their own book club together in this penultimate episode of Season 4! Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Wawa And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown James and Sue Patterson Reading List The Mother Daughter Book Club Things I Wish I Told My Mother Big Words for Little Geniuses The Most Dangerous Games with Mr Beast What Else are we Reading in this Episode The Guest by Emma Cline The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand Lady Chattery’s Lover by Oliver Mellors Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple The Wedding People by Alison Espach Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Whistler by Ann Patchett The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E8
September 8 · 47 min
Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the Practical Magic series. We start this episode talking about beginnings and our favorite first pages of books. The three discuss how Alice got her start as a writer, the magic in Alice’s novels and the magic of books, moving in and living with school roommates, her new novel Witches of Cambridge, Anne Frank, her Best Dog in the World anthology and our love of our dogs, the Practical Magic movie and the upcoming sequel, supporting breast cancer research, and so much more! Alice wrote one of the greatest quotes, “Books may well be the only true magic.” and this episode has a magical feeling to it with some fall autumn vibes. Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Book of the Month And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Alice Hoffman Reading List The Witches of Cambridge Illumination Night When We Flew Away The Best Dog in the World Practical Magic The Probable Future The Museum of Extraordinary Things What Else Are We Reading in this Episode Plot Twist by Harlan Cohen Franny and Zooey by J D Salinger It by Stephen King Ray Bradbury books Elizabeth Strout books Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E7
August 25 · 56 min
Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben joins Books, Beach, & Beyond this week for such an entertaining conversation about reading and writing. Harlan is a #1 best-selling author and one of the world’s leading storytellers, and one of Tim's auto-buy authors. His thirty-eight suspense novels are published in forty six languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries. Your hosts talk with him about his new memoir Plot Twist along with topics like point of view, Harlan’s take on research, favorite endings in books and penning great plot twists, writing with Reese Witherspoon, and all his book to screen adaptations. The episode is filled with incredible writing tips and takeaways from a singular writing life. Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Nantucket Book Partners And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Harlan Coben Reading List Plot Twist Tell No One The Innocent I Will Find You Gone Before Goodbye The Woods The Stranger Lazarus What else are we reading in this episode? The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand White Fur by Jardine Libaire The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain Double Indemnity by James M. Cain Michael Connelly books Phillip Roth books Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott The Color of Light by William Goldman Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E6
August 11 · 46 min
Anna Quindlen
Please welcome to the podcast one of Elin's very favorite writers (and now Tim’s), - Anna Quindlen! Anna is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Rise and Shine, the #1 bestselling memoir Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, and A Short Guide to a Happy Life. Her new novel More Than Enough was released in February 2026. The three dive into how Anna got her start writing, how reading and writing fulfills someone differently, weaving backstory into narrative, and how to engage fully in our daily lives. Anna discusses her new novel More Than Enough; her characters, the multiple storylines, and the book’s themes and literary references. The episode ends with Anna explaining how she infuses the lessons she writes about in her nonfiction into her fiction and the three give us a terrific speed round with some great reading recommendations! Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: Nantucket Meat & Fish And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Books Mentioned in this Episode Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen One True Thing by Anna Quindlen Black & Blue by Anna Quindlen Every Last One by Anna Quindlen Little Women by Louisa May Alcott The Correspondent by Virgina Evans Theo of Golden by Allen Levi The Accidental Tourist by Ann Tyler Still Life with Breadcrumbs by Anna Quindlen More than Enough by Anna Quindlen A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen Away by Amy Bloom The Savage Noble Death by Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr. She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff Who Else Are We Talking About Susan Isaacs Scott Turow Richard Russo Irma Baumbach Laurie Colwin Ann Tyler Herman Melville Edith Wharton Alice McDermott Amy Bloom Don DeLillo Phillip Roth Stephen King Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E5
July 28 · 46 min
Mary Kay Andrews
They say “Summer begins with MKA” and we are thrilled to welcome New York Times best-selling author Mary Kay Andrews this summer to Books, Beach, & Beyond. Mary Kay Andrews is the author of thirty-three novels and a cookbook. In June, St. Martin’s Press published her 34th novel Road Trip. Your hosts and Mary Kay talk about how publishing has changed since her first book in 1992 and how writing for a newspaper helped in writing her novels. Then they dig into Road Trip with a “road trip” inspired speed round (favorite "road trip song", "favorite road trip snack") and background on her research trip to Ireland for the new book. The three end the episode with some bad irish accents and talking all about “Friends and Fiction” and the vibrant show and community that she built along with four other best-selling authors. Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Little, Brown Peacock And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Books Mentioned in This Episode Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden Every Crooked Nanny by Mary Kay Andrews Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt To Live and Die in Dixie by Mary Kay Andrews Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie The Searcher by Tana French Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan Who else are we talking about this episode? Tim Winton Karin Slaughter Agatha Christie Michael Connelly Elinor Lipman Anna Quindlen Harlan Coben Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E4
July 14 · 47 min
Jennifer Garner
Welcome to the podcast Jennifer Garner, actor and entrepreneur and star of The Five-Star Weekend, the 8 episode series from Peacock adapted from the novel by your co-host Elin Hilderbrand. They start by asking Jen what she read as a child, if she approaches roles differently if the original content is a book, and they dig into a bunch of Jen’s other screen adaptations. Then they chat all about The Five-Star Weekend, the character of Hollis, pretend cooking shows and favorite summer recipes, the friendship and camaraderie of the cast and the characters, and so much more. Settle in for a five-star conversation and then head over to Peacock and binge the show of the summer! Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Cartolina Serena & Lily Nantucket Historical Association And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown What are we reading in this episode? The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand Roots by Alex Haley Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje Jaws by Peter Benchley Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer Partita by Barbara Kingsolver The Foster’s Market by Sara Foster Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garden Barefoot at Home by Ina Garten Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garden Who else are we reading? Ann Patchett Laura Dave David Sedaris Abraham Verghese Barbara Kingsolver Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E3
July 1 · 46 min
Tayari Jones
This special episode of Books, Beach, & Beyond was recorded LIVE at the 15th annual Nantucket Book Festival on June 13, 2026. Tim sits Tayari Jones down to talk about one of the best-selling novels of the year so far - KIN. Tayari and Tim talk about Tayari’s origin story, choosing point of view, mothers and daughters, writing historical fiction, her tour for Kin, and much more. Thank you to Nantucket Community Television for the live audio recording of this conversation. Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Nantucket Hotel N Magazine Nantucket Current And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E3
June 30 · 49 min
Belle Burden
This special episode of Books, Beach, & Beyond was recorded LIVE at the 15th annual Nantucket Book Festival on June 12, 2026. Elin sits Belle Burden down to talk about one of the best-selling memoirs of the year so far - “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage.” Elin designed the conversation to be split between before the book, about the book, and after the book came out. Belle tells us of her writing and reading life, her past, her marriage, being on Oprah’s podcast, and Hollywood plans for the screen adaptation. Thank you to Nantucket Community Television for the live audio recording of this conversation. Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Nantucket Hotel Hill House Home - 20% off first order of $150 or more with code ACK20 And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E2
June 16 · 52 min
Carley Fortune
Carley Fortune is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After, One Golden Summer, This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake, and new on shelves this year, the #1 New York Times bestseller - Our Perfect Storm. Carley, Elin, and Tim start talking about the romance genre and its respect in the industry, Carley’s life as a journalist before turning into a novelist, and how she got her start. They chat about literary tropes, first person point of view, writing believable sex scenes, her Canadian settings, Tofino and Barry’s Bay, her newest novel Our Perfect Storm, and her screen adaptation Every Year After based on her book Every Summer After. Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Nantucket Book Partners Nantucket Looms And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Carley Fortune Reading List Every Summer After One Golden Summer This Summer Will Be Different Meet Me at the Lake Our Perfect Storm What else are we reading in this episode? Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden Fifty Shades of Grey E. L. James Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan Sandwich by Catherine Newman Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S4 · E1
June 2 · 59 min
Ann Patchett & Emma Straub
Elin Hilderbrand and Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books are back for Season 4 of Books, Beach, & Beyond! The two co-hosts update listeners on their years so far and then introduce returning guests Ann Patchett and Emma Straub, both bookstore owners (Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN, and Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, NY), and both with new books this year. The four talk about bookstores from childhood, what it’s like owning a bookstore, and their favorite books of 2026 so far. They dive into the research for Emma’s new novel published this April, American Fantasy and discuss the themes of Ann’s newest on shelves this week, Whistler. The episode ends with a bunch of book recommendations for you to check out. This is an entertaining conversation between four readers and friends to kick off your summer reading. A readers’ dream! Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Little, Brown Nantucket Island Tours And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Book Partners Little, Brown Books Mentioned in this episode The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand American Fantasy by Emma Straub Whistler by Ann Patchett This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage John of John by Douglas Stuart Kin by Tayari Jones The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffmann The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash Sophie Standing There by Meg Mason Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Ply by Hernan Diaz Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E10
Dec 3, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Season 3 Wrap-Up with Brady Lockerby and Katie Shober
Elin and Tim end Season 3 of Books, Beach, & Beyond with two of their favorite book influencers: Katie Shober of @beachreadsandbubbly and Brady Lockerby @bradylockerby. Tim and Elin recap all seasons of the podcast by getting to know Katie and Brady as readers with a long list of reading recommendations. Then they dig into how Katie and Brady started as social media influencers, how their day works, what they do when they don’t like a book, their advice for emerging influencers, and their favorite books of the year, favorite Christmas songs and drinks, and the book they all will be gifting this year. It’s like listening to four best friends talk at a book club. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Book of the Month Serena & Lily Reading List: Conform by Ariel Sullivan The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Divergent by Veronica Roth The Most Fun We’ve Ever Had by Claire Lombardo Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’ Farrell After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell American Fantasy by Emma Straub (April 2026) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Heart the Lover by Lily King The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons Every Last One by Anna Quindlen King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 11/22/63 by Stephen King Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J Maas Shady Hollow Series by Juneau Black One Day in December by Josie Silver Lonesome Dove by Larry McCurtry Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Playworld by Adam Ross Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand What to Cook When you Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Heart the Lover by Lily King Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E9
Nov 5, 2025 · 54 min
Dan Brown
Please welcome to Books, Beach, & Beyond Dan Brown, the author of nine #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the bestselling books of all time, as well as Origin, Inferno, The Lost Symbol, and Angels & Demons. His thrillers have captivated readers worldwide and been the subject of intellectual debate and speculation. Your co-hosts and Dan discuss his newest #1 bestselling novel The Secret of Secrets, the mystical city of Prague, his epic international tour, consciousness, the afterlife, religion and science, the character of Robert Langdon, Hollywood, and so much more. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsor: The Nantucket Hotel Dan Brown Reading List: Deception Point Digital Fortress Angels & Demons The DaVinci Code The Lost Symbol Inferno Origin The Secret of Secrets What else are we reading in this episode? Franny and Zoey by JD Salinger Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner Playworld by Adam Ross Chief Inspector Gamache/Three Pines novels by Louise Penny A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle The Lotus Eaters by Stanley G. Weinbaum The Bourne Identity Series by Robert Ludlum Memoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F. Saint The Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E8
Sep 16, 2025 · 52 min
John Grisham
All rise for the honorable John Grisham on Books, Beach, & Beyond this week. The G.O.A.T of the legal thriller and the author of A Time To Kill, The Firm, The Confession, and publishing this October 21st from DoubleDay, The Widow. John tells us about his life as a lawyer, how he got his start writing, his most memorable reading experiences throughout his life, and some of his favorites of his own novels. The three dig in about The Widow, Grisham’s first legal whodunnit, his writing process and routines, The Innocence Project, and his favorite legal thriller of all time. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Little, Brown N Magazine Nantucket Current John Grisham Reading List: A Time to Kill The Firm Calico Joe Bleachers Playing for Pizza Sooley A Painted House Skipping Christmas The Innocent Man Camino Island The Confession Framed What else are we reading in this episode? The Goldfinch by Donna Tart Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Snow Falling on Cedars by David Gutterson Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner The Chip Hilton Series by Clair Bee The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Sophie’s Choice by William Styron The Little Drummer Girl by John Le Carre Scott Turow, Stephen King, James lee Burke, Amor Towles Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E7
Sep 2, 2025 · 47 min
Shelby Cunningham
This is a very special episode for Books, Beach, & Beyond celebrating Elin’s 31st novel written with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham – The Academy, publishing this September 16th. Our guest for this episode is Elin’s daughter Shelby and they dig into the writing of The Academy, Shelby growing up on Nantucket and heading to boarding school at St. George’s Academy in Rhode Island, and how that inspired the writing of the novel and the fictional Tiffin Academy. The three discuss the difference between Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, what books they were reading and their individual high school experiences, and so much more! It’s a funny, entertaining look at this mother-daughter duo in anticipation of the book's release. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Book of the Month Nantucket Looms Reading List: The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham Pinkalicious Fancy Nancy Olivia the Pig Perfectly Arugula 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand Mrs Dalloway The Hours by Michael Cunningham Jane Eyre The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Coleman Hill by Kim Coleman Foote Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver A Separate Peace by John Knowles Huck Finn by Mark Twain The Crucible by Arthur Miller The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E6
Aug 19, 2025 · 48 min
Lily King
Next up is Lily King, the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including Euphoria and Writers & Lovers, and coming in the fall, Heart the Lover. Pre-order today! The three start talking about the expression “writers’ writer” and who they would describe as a “writer’s writer”, and then they continue with Lily’s writing and reading origin stories. They spend time on Margaret Mead, anthropology, a writer’s process, golf, and love in all its forms. Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation on writing, reading, and everything in between. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Nantucket Book Partners Open Book With Jenna Lily King Books The Pleasing Hour Father of the Rain Euphoria Writers and Lovers Heart the Lover Who else are we reading in this episode? Lorrie Moore Maggie O’Farrell Tim Winton Gish Jen Shirley Hazzard Tessa Hadley Elizabeth Strout Ann Patchett Playworld by Adam Ross Tobias Wolfe Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Jude Blume It’s Not The End of the World by Judy Blume William Faulkner Virginia Wolff Andre Dubus The Cheever Stories by John Cheever Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger Franz Kafka Flannery O’Conner Toni Morrison What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Colm Toibin My Friends by Hisham Matar Free Love by Tessa Hadley Speak Memory by Vladimir Nabokov Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E5
Aug 5, 2025 · 46 min
Elizabeth Strout
Next up for Books, Beach, & Beyond is the best-selling and award-winning writer Elizabeth Strout, author of Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton, and Tell Me Everything, just released in paperback. Elin and Tim start by discussing why they read and welcome Liz with how she got her start in this literary life along with her one night as a stand-up comedian. They continue with discussion on some of her beloved characters Olive, Lucy, and Bob, and dig into her process, point of view, her Pulitzer Prize win and Oprah’s Book Club experience. We hear about the screen adaptation of Olive Kitteridge with Frances McDormand, which two characters Liz would take to a weekly lunch, and what books her characters would recommend to read. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Little, Brown Hill House Home Elizabeth Strout Books: Amy and Isabelle Olive Kitteridge My Name is Lucy Barton Olive, Again Tell Me Everything Other Books Mentioned: Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life by Sherwood Anderson The Good Seed by William March Mrs. Dalloway by Virgina Woolf Middlemarch by George Eliot Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E4
Jul 22, 2025 · 53 min
Catherine Newman
Next on Books, Beach, & Beyond is Catherine Newman, author of Sandwich, We All Want Impossible Things, and Wreck, (forthcoming from HarperCollins in October 2025.) Elin and Tim begin by gushing about Catherine’s writing and how much they love her books. Catherine takes us back to her first writing projects, and then her pivot into writing auto-fiction with her three novels. They talk about family summer vacations, what keeps them up at night, health scares, grief, food in her books, her beloved characters, family dynamics, and all the themes and layers upon layers in Catherine’s novels. Don't miss this episode and make sure to pre-order Wreck coming out this fall. A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: Cartolina Nantucket Meat & Fish Catherine Newman Reading List: We All Want Impossible Things Sandwich Wreck (coming October 28, 2026. Pre-order now!) What else are we reading in this episode? The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute Small Rain by Garth Greenwell Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel The Road by Cormac McCarthy Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingall’s Wilder Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes Real Americans by Rachel Khong Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres Heartwood by Amity Gaige Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo Straight Man by Richard Russo The Risk Pool by Richard Russo The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
S3 · E3
Jul 8, 2025 · 51 min
Curtis Sittenfeld
Elin and Tim welcome to the podcast Curtis Sittenfeld, the author of Prep, American Wife, and Show, Don’t Tell. They start with Curtis’s favorite books, her time at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop where Elin and her compare stories, and then segue into her debut novel, “the boarding school book of boarding school books”, Prep. They discuss how much of it was inspired by Curtis’s own boarding school experience and compare and contrast it to Elin’s upcoming boarding school novel, The Academy, as well as chat about their favorite campus novels. The three move on to Curtis’s novels inspired by First Ladies, American Wife and Rodham, and they laugh about their favorite SNL skits. This episode is rich with reading recommendations so don’t miss it! A Special Thank you to our Episode Sponsors: The Nantucket Hotel Nantucket Historical Association Curtis Sittenfeld’s Reading List: Prep American Wife Eligible Romantic Comedy Rodham Show Don’t Tell What Else Are We Reading in this Episode: Charlotte’s Web by E.B White Stuart Little by E.B. White The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner The Secret History by Donna Tartt Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos by Nash Jenkins Sarah Phillips by Andrea Lee Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris I am Charlotte Simmons by Thomas Wolfe The Islanders by Lewis Robinson Girlfriending by Susanna Daniel My Own Devices by Dessa Animal Instinct by Amy Shearn Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
Jul 2, 2025 · 43 min
Wally Lamb
This bonus episode features the live conversation with your host, Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books, at the Nantucket Book Festival with one of his favorite novelists, Wally Lamb. Wally is the author of seven New York Times best-sellers, three of them selections for Oprah’s Book Club, She’s Come Undone, I Know This Much is True, and most recently, The River is Waiting. The two discuss many of Wally’s books, one of Tim’s favorites of all time, I Know This Much is True, and the newest novel, The River is Waiting. They examine its themes, our prison system, addiction, the act of forgiveness, emotional intelligence, and the transformative power of fiction. A Special Thank You To Our Episode Sponsor: J.Crew Wally Lamb Reading List: She’s Come Undone I Know this Much is True The Hour I First Believed Couldn’t Keep it To Myself I’ll Fly Away We Are Water Wishin’ and Hopin’ The River is Waiting What else are we reading in this episode? Flannery Conner, Anny Tyler, Raymond Carver, John Updike Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Flannery O’Conner Collected Stories Raymond Carver Collected Stories The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott Paper Girl by Beth Macy Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!
Jul 1, 2025 · 40 min
Adam Ross
This bonus episode features the live conversation with your host, Elin Hilderbrand, at the Nantucket Book Festival with Adam Ross, author of Playworld. Playworld is one of Elin’s favorite books she has read in a decade. Adam is the acclaimed author of Mr. Peanut and renowned editor of the Sewanee Review. Sure to be a conversation to remember, these two masters of their craft have much to discuss about contemporary fiction, the publishing industry, and the art of storytelling. A Special Thank You To Our Episode Sponsor: J.Crew Adam Ross Reading List: Mr. Peanut Playworld Ladies and Gentleman: Stories What else are we reading in this episode? The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellows Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes. And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyond Happy Reading!

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