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    Barefoot: Booktrack Edition
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    Barefoot: Booktrack Edition
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    Barefoot: Booktrack Edition
    Audiobook16 hours

    Barefoot: Booktrack Edition

    Written by Elin Hilderbrand

    Narrated by Rachael Warren

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Visiting Nantucket for the summer, three women seek peace and comfort as they cope with the challenges in their lives—from marriage, infidelity, and the mayhem of motherhood to scandal, tragedy, and illness.

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateMay 8, 2012
    ISBN9781611135190
    Unavailable
    Barefoot: Booktrack Edition
    Author

    Elin Hilderbrand

    Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket, has three children and is the author of 27 novels, including SUMMER OF ‘69.  Elin met Dottie in the spring of 2017 at the annual Post & Courier luncheon in Charleston and Elin says, “It was love at first sight.” The two authors proceeded to meet on Nantucket every chance they got and they texted and emailed non-stop. They dreamed of doing a joint cooking show called “Cook the Books,” where they would invite a third author on to make a signature dish for each episode. They also talked about a cookbook called “The Southern Belle and the Gray Lady.” Elin’s summer of 2020 novel, 28 Summers, is dedicated to Dottie and Dottie makes a cameo appearance in Elin’s summer of 2021 novel, Golden Girl. “I will never again have a writer friend like Dottie,” Elin says. “Those of you who knew her understand what I mean, and those of you who didn’t will just have to trust me. They broke the mold.”

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    Reviews for Barefoot

    3.5/5

    377 ratings38 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I enjoyed Barefoot, although it wasn't the light, beach read I expected. It's the story of three women in their early to mid thirties who travel to Nantucket to escape from their problems. These problems capture a wide range of middle age issues: career, money, marriage, motherhood, health, and, of course, their relationships with each other. The women are often self-centered, which is understandable given the seriousness of the issues they face. They do, however, support each other when they are needed.Vickie and Brenda are sisters, while Melanie is a friend of Vickie's, invited to the summer cottage to distract her from thoughts of her husband's infidelity. For this reason, Melanie is not as close to either of the other women and even makes an attempt to leave the island.I liked the way the character flaws of the women made them seem real. But Josh was different. He was the only major male character, a college sophomore who took a summer job babysitting for Vickie's two sons. His relationships with all three women and with Vickie's two sons grow as the summer goes on. He is reliable, caring, and always thoughtful, regardless of his role as a caretaker, an employee, a friend, or a summer fling. Yet, he seems unrealistically mature in his relationships, especially with the boys. This is compounded by the personality of his high school girl friend, who keeps showing up at odd times. The Josh we get to know would never have stayed with Dee Dee for any length of time.Still, the women are wonderfully complex and interesting. This was the first Elin Hilderbrand novel I've read and I intend to read more.Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul, White Horse Regressions, Hopatcong Vision Quest, and Under a Warped Cross
    • 3/5
      Kind of a fluffy chick-lit kind of read, but I enjoyed it. The characters are easy to related to and likable.
    • 2/5
      Three women, Brenda, Vickie (sisters) & Melanie (Vickie's friend) have run away from their lives (they all have a secret) and are spending the summer in Nantucket in a bungalow left to the sisters by their Aunt Liv.

      I'm giving this a 2.5 rating due to the fact that although this was a good story and I did stay up most of the night reading it....there were too many places of "T.M.I." and the "secrets" kept being rehashed & rehashed...after a while I just didn't care....I wanted to get on with what was currently happening to them and the conclusion.

      The book definitely reminded me of Jennifer Weiner's "Fly Away Home".



    • 5/5
      Elin Hilderbrand at her finest!
    • 4/5
      a woman coping with cancer goes to her family's charming little beach cottage in nantucket with her children, her sister and her best friend!!! all the characters come to realize that "love is all that matters" loving this author's books! perfect for a beach read!
    • 3/5
      I actually enjoyed the book even though parts of it were rather implausible. It is a book intended for women for summer reading I believe.
    • 4/5
      My first time reading a book by this author and I am impressed. Really enjoyed the story about 3 women spending their summer in Nantucket. It was at times sad, happy, and heartwarming. Vicki's journey with cancer was told really well. A cancer survivor myself I really related to Vicki and I could tell the author did thorough research on this topic. An engaging, easy read that had me wishing I was there on the beach with them. I have never been to Nantucket, but after reading this book I definitely want to visit there.
    • 5/5
      I wish time would have permitted me to read this a little faster as it held my interest. 3 woman go off to Nantucket for the summer. 1 has cancer, 1 just recently fired due inappropriate behavior and involved in a lawsuit and 1 who just found out she was pregnant and just recently found out her husband has been cheating on her. Each individual woman with their own issues going on vacation to help each other out. Along with 2 small children. What an interesting adventure these women go through in one summer at nantucket living together. Great story and background.
    • 2/5
      Didn't finish. Couldn't stand the whiny characters.
    • 4/5
      A delicious taste of summer wrapped up in some interesting twists. Not the most intellectually stimulating book, but it certainly was fun.
    • 1/5
      I really wanted to like this author and this book.It has been on my TBR for awhile. I found the first 100 pages ok.Some areas held my attention and others I just kept skimming thru. I did not care abt the characters.Whiney sisters. One sister (although ill) feels everyone should care for her kids, one that is independent and single but judged as selfish.Not really,she just knew what she wanted. The sisters arguing. The guest felt unwanted by those that invited her. I don't know when the story was supposed to get better. At least my TBR will be lighter now, I am removing this author from my TBR.I give it 1 star for a beach setting.
    • 3/5
      This book is one of those stories that you devour in just a few days. The story is compelling and you can't put it down. But, in hindsight, now that it's been a few months since I read the book, I feel that there was something lacking in the characters or the story to make it memorable, or even feel that there was some lesson that I want to save for later. Still, easy to recommend it as a beach read and a perfect accompaniment for a vacation on the Cape.
    • 3/5
      Slow moving novel; perhaps good for summer reading. The book is set in Nantucket where three women, each dealing with a life crisis (cancer, adulterous husband, career catastrophe) come to get away from the problems in their lives and there meet a boy. There is the requisite affair, the reconciliation, the cure. All ends more or less happily.
    • 3/5
      I just couldn't find myself caring about any of the characters in this novel very much. The main characters are two sisters and the best friend of one of the sisters. One of the sisters, Brenda, just made me cringe every time she appeared on the page. I especially didn't like the way her plot line went in the end. The other sister, Vicki, was just about too good for words, so I struggled with that too. And the best friend? She really bothered me for many reasons. Still, I stuck with the book because I wanted to know what would happen in the end. It turned out not to be quite as predictable as I had expected.
    • 4/5
      Great summer read - have read all Elin's books! Three women arrive at the local airport, observed by Josh, a Nantucket native home from college for the summer. Burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues, the women--two sisters and one friend--make their way to the sisters' tiny cottage, inherited from an aunt. They're all trying to escape from something: Melanie, after seven failed in-vitro attempts, learned her husband was having an affair, and then discovered she's pregnant; Brenda embarked on a passionate affair with an older student that got her fired from her prestigious job as a professor in New York; and her sister Vicki, mother to two small boys, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Soon Josh is part of the chaotic household, acting as babysitter, confidant, and, eventually, lover.
    • 4/5
      a woman coping with cancer goes to her family's charming little beach cottage in nantucket with her children, her sister and her best friend!!! all the characters come to realize that "love is all that matters" loving this author's books! perfect for a beach read!
    • 3/5
      Melanie, Brenda and Vicki are three sisters heading to their beach cottage for a Summer. Melanie has been trying to get pregnant with her husband for years with no luck. She finds out her husband has been having an affair in which he does not want to get out of at the same time she finds out she is pregnant finally. Brenda has been fired from her teaching job after she was caught dating her student. A student who was her age yet it was considered unethical and now she has no career to fall back on. Vicki has been a list maker who has two children. She has a perfect list and perfect newborn when she finds out she has cancer. They all have issues and many secrets kept from one another. This book is like a soap opera in pages. The characters are pretty developed and the plot is rather enjoyable. I will say it was a tad long considering the storyline was not to packed with actions. Minimal twists and turn yet pretty interesting read.
    • 3/5
      Ahh! Okay great summer read but the end and many of the parts in the book dealing with Vicki and her Cancer were a little too real for me. I mean, Elin Hilderbrand definitely captured what it's like to go through chemo and finding out you have Cancer etc. but it was tough for me as just one year ago my mama had a bilateral mastectomy for Breast Cancer and we just went through all of these same battles as Vicki does in the book. Strong characters and a complex but lovely storyline. Love Elin Hilderbrand's summer novels and cannot wait to travel to Nantucket some day.
    • 5/5
      I wish time would have permitted me to read this a little faster as it held my interest. 3 woman go off to Nantucket for the summer. 1 has cancer, 1 just recently fired due inappropriate behavior and involved in a lawsuit and 1 who just found out she was pregnant and just recently found out her husband has been cheating on her. Each individual woman with their own issues going on vacation to help each other out. Along with 2 small children. What an interesting adventure these women go through in one summer at nantucket living together. Great story and background.
    • 3/5
      first nook book!

      I think this was a good one to start my nook with. I liked it. It kept me interested, but it wasn't great. I'm glad I got it from the library.

      I felt the characters were a bit too self-focused and even though by the end things evened out, it still felt a bit much.

    • 4/5
      Summer in Nantucket? Maybe you wouldn't want to have all the adult angst that follows these three women, but like all good beach reads, it works out in the end and it's fun getting there. Not a memorable book but enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      I got this book in the mail a few weeks ago as part of the Library Thing Santa Thing. This is my Secret Santa's favourite book and I have to say that while I really enjoyed reading this novel the characters sometimes really got on my nerves. Melanie, who is pregnant with her cheating husband's baby, spent most of the time wallowing in her pity and completely ignoring the fact that her best friend has lung cancer. I mean come on get out of your head for minute. I realize that finding out you're pregnant right after finding out your husband is a huge douche is pretty bad there are still some things to be thankful for. She also starts having an affair with someone who is 15 years younger than her while still being pregnant. I just wanted to yell at her. Vicki on the other hand is the sister who has 2 children and lung cancer. She decides to skip one of her chemo treatments and at the time I felt frustrated with her but I could see how that may happen. I've never undergone chemo but I'm sure you are downer than down. It would drain every ounce of energy from you and I can fully sympathize with not wanted to go to every chemo treatment. I did feel bad for the other sister, Brenda who had an affair with one of her college students who just happens to be one year older than her. She got fired for this affair and is in some legal trouble due to her temper. While she should have waited until her student wasn't her student anymore I do not feel that she deserved to be fired for this offence. As I said before I really enjoyed reading this novel. Hilderbrand writes really well and draws you into the story. You want to know more and more about the characters and what happens in the end. While some of the characters annoyed me I think that may have made me enjoy the book. It made me want to see how these characters would change over the course of the story. Overall I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
    • 3/5
      This was my first experience with Elin Hilderbrand. Many people had suggested her books and when I came across a hardcover of Barefoot at a used book sale for four dollars and figured I'd give her a shot.The cover sucked me in. It looked perfect for a summer beach read. I liked the concept: three different women dealing with three different problems, spending a summer together on Nantucket.I fell out of my reading groove this summer so I actually didn't get to this book until almost fall (I finished it over Labor Day weekend). The story was very well written, the characters developed nicely (all of them, not just the main players) and the book flowed well - it wasn't choppy and the author didn't bounce around from storyline to storyline. Each character's story blended seamlessly into the story of the next character.There were a lot of different personality types: Vicki and Brenda I could relate to very well, Melanie I just wanted to slap. What I liked best was that everything wasn't wrapped up with a neat little bow at the end. It was much more true to life than the proverbial "happy ending."Overall, I enjoyed Barefoot and Elin Hilderbrand. I'm looking forward to reading more of her stories.
    • 2/5
      I'm never really sure about what qualifies as "Chick Lit". Is it just books about mainly women or is it women empowerment novels? Either way I guess on the whole I'm not attracted to stories just because they're deemed "Chick Lit" but then again, I'm not totally turned off by them either.That being said I'm not sure whether or not "Barefoot' would be fall in the category but it was a girly kind of book. The story of three women and their summer in Nantucket. Two sisters and one of the sisters friend come to hide and heal in the families summer cottage. One sister is fighting cancer, the other sister is hiding from a scandal that cost her her job and reputation at the college where she taught, and the friend has found out after seven tries she's finally pregnant just as she also finds out about her husbands affair. So, yeah, I guess this is "Chick Lit".I've never read any of Elin Hilderbrand other books but I believe she is quite popular. I got this one for $1.99 on my Nook so I thought what the heck. It was not a great read. I thought she dealt with the character's cancer fairly well but the rest left me kind of flat. None of the characters jumped out at me and made me really care about them. Well, that's not true - the twenty-something guy they hired to be their babysitter - his story line was interesting but not enough to carry the book.If my reading list wasn't so long I might try another of Hilderbrand's novels from the library but for right now I'll have to leave her to her fans. Maybe next year.
    • 4/5
      Three women take a vacation together, and the friendships and relationships are daily tested. How they deal with their individual personal lives and decisions makes for a great summer reading, and it leaves you wondering how you would react with any of the women's lives, if you were one of them. Fun reading no, but interesting, and engrossing.
    • 3/5
      What a fun read. A little more than a beach read, and perfect to curl up with on a winter evening with a cup of tea and a cold. Great characters, faulted, human and lovable.
    • 2/5
      In her novel Barefoot, Elin Hilderbrand tells the story of three women from New York who spend a summer on Nantucket. Two of the women are sisters and one is a friend. They are all running from their problems and spend the summer trying to forget the reality of their situations. The friend Melanie, has just discovered her husband is having an affair and that she herself is pregnant with their first child after years of trying to fall pregnant. Brenda has just been fired from her position as an English professor due to her relationship with one of her students. She has also been charged with vandalizing a very expensive piece of art (after throwing a book that accidentally damaged it). Brenda's sister Vicki is having to deal with lung cancer. She undergoes treatment on the island. Also along for the summer are Vicki's two small boys. I was not particularly fond of this book. It moved kind of slow and was obviously fairly depressing. The way in which everything was resolved in the end seemed a bit unrealistic in Brenda's case and kind of annoying in Melanie's case. I thought that the thread about Vicki was probably the strongest. So Barefoot was not a book I would specifically recommend.
    • 4/5
      I thought the characters in this book were well-drawn - Brenda, the selfish younger sister; Vicki, the type-A older sister who is suddenly felled by cancer; Melanie, the shy, codependent pregnant woman who flees from her cheating husband; and Josh, the hunky 22-year-old who steps in for the summer as the babysitter. I found the ending a little unsatisfying, and the plot dragged a bit for the last 50 pages or so. Also, the writing was not terribly original, though the author is a good observer of human nature. All in all, an enjoying diversion but I probably won't be reading any more by this writer.
    • 3/5
      As chick lit goes, this was pretty good. I loved the total devastation that the younger sister caused in her life. It was a total wreck and entirely of her own doing. I tend to be a cautious person, so this really gave me a shiver. The almost dying of the older sister made me feel manipulated and I resisted the urge to cry (but of course, I finally gave in). There was another friend, but she was a pretty whimp and I couldn't connect to her at all. The relationship between Josh and his high school girlfriend felt familiar. It was strange how her death was sudden and shocking, but the lingering illness of one of the main characters was supposed to make you reflect on life and death in a kind of 'big picture' way. I guess it goes to show you that you never know how and when it will all end.
    • 4/5
      Well done....more substantive than expected. Three women each facing difficult times in their lives must make decisions for their future. Author avoids stereotypes and provides a realistic look at the messy lives we all live. This is an easy but worthwhile and enjoyable read .......