🏄 Book Review: The Surfing Lesson by Elin Hilderbrand (Kindle Edition)
A breezy yet poignant short story about love, jealousy, and the fragile spark in a long marriage—Elin Hilderbrand delivers a Nantucket-set vignette that doubles as a prequel to her novel Beautiful Day.
🧠 Overview
First published on May 14, 2013, The Surfing Lesson is a 37–44 page digital short that explores a turning point in the marriage of Margot Carmichael and her husband Drum.
Margot feels her romantic feelings for Drum slipping away. While vacationing with their family in Nantucket, she hatches a risky plan to reignite the spark: invite Hadley Axelram—Drum’s stunning ex-girlfriend—and her son to join them for a surfing lesson. Margot hopes a twinge of jealousy will act as a “relationship defibrillator.”
As she watches Drum and Hadley together, Margot drifts into memories of the summer she first fell in love with him, weighing whether the connection they once had can be revived—or if it’s truly gone.
🌊 Key Themes & Highlights
- 💔 Marriage at a crossroads: Honest look at the slow fade of romantic passion.
- 🏄 Surfing as metaphor: Balancing on shifting waves mirrors the instability of relationships.
- 🔄 Jealousy as a test: Margot’s plan to provoke emotion becomes a mirror for her own feelings.
- 🌅 Nantucket backdrop: Hilderbrand’s signature setting—sun, sand, and coastal charm—softens the emotional weight.
- 📚 Character backstory: Offers deeper insight into Margot, a supporting character in Beautiful Day.
“She is counting on jealousy as a relationship defibrillator.”
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: ~3.65/5 from nearly 5,000 ratings
- 📖 Fans of Hilderbrand enjoy the emotional honesty and summery atmosphere, especially as a companion to Beautiful Day.
- 🧾 Some readers note that, as a short story, it’s more of a character sketch than a full plot arc—but it succeeds in adding depth to Margot’s character.
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: Can be read in under an hour; don’t expect a full novel’s complexity.
- 📚 Best for series fans: Works alone, but resonates more if you plan to read Beautiful Day.
- 🧠 Character-driven: Focuses on emotional beats rather than dramatic twists.
🏁 Final Verdict
The Surfing Lesson is a quick, heartfelt slice of Nantucket life that captures the bittersweet reality of long-term love. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy Hilderbrand’s beachy settings and nuanced relationship portraits, and for those who want a little extra context before diving into Beautiful Day.
