Summer of '69

Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ‘69 (2019), her 25th novel, is a family drama that spans the spring and summer of 1969. The book is set on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and historical events such as the Vietnam war, the moon landing, and Ted Kennedy’s car crash at Chappaquiddick provide a vivid backdrop. Only when the characters confront the past and accept the uncertainty of the future, can they embrace what’s most important to them. Hilderbrand revisited these characters in a long story titled Summer of ‘79, available as an eBook.

This guide uses the hardbound version of Summer of ‘69, published in 2019 by Little, Brown and Company.

Content Warning: The novel contains scenes depicting domestic violence and physical fights, references to abortion and drowning, and alcohol misuse. In addition, some characters discuss racial and ethnic prejudice or use racial slurs, which are replicated in this guide only in quoted material.

Plot Summary

Hilderbrand’s Summer of ‘69 follows the Foley-Levin family, particularly its female characters, during the spring and summer of 1969. The family’s world is shaken when 19-year-old Tiger Foley is drafted into the Vietnam War. The plot follows his mother,

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