Books, Beach, & Beyond

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 PartnersAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownHarlan Coben Reading ListPlot TwistTell No OneThe InnocentI Will Find YouGone Before GoodbyeThe WoodsThe StrangerLazarusWhat else are we reading in this episode?The Perfect Couple by Elin HilderbrandWhite Fur by Jardine LibaireThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha ChristieMurder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieAre You My Mother? by PD EastmanCharlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald DahlThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.LewisA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'EngleThe Amateur by Chris BohjalianThe Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. CainDouble Indemnity by James M. CainMichael Connelly booksPhillip Roth booksBird by Bird by Ann LamottThe Color of Light by William GoldmanFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 & FishAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownBooks Mentioned in this Episode Object Lessons by Anna QuindlenOne True Thing by Anna QuindlenBlack & Blue by Anna QuindlenEvery Last One by Anna QuindlenLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottThe Correspondent by Virgina EvansTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Accidental Tourist by Ann TylerStill Life with Breadcrumbs by Anna QuindlenMore than Enough by Anna QuindlenA Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen Away by Amy BloomThe Savage Noble Death by Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr.She Rides Shotgun by Jordan HarperA Violent Masterpiece by Jordan HarperThe Burning Side by Sarah DamoffWho Else Are We Talking AboutSusan IsaacsScott TurowRichard RussoIrma BaumbachLaurie ColwinAnn TylerHerman MelvilleEdith WhartonAlice McDermottAmy BloomDon DeLillo Phillip RothStephen KingFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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, BrownPeacockAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownBooks Mentioned in This EpisodeRoad Trip by Mary Kay AndrewsMemoirs of a Geisha by Arthur GoldenEvery Crooked Nanny by Mary Kay AndrewsMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John BerendtTo Live and Die in Dixie by Mary Kay AndrewsSavannah Blues by Mary Kay AndrewsHissy Fit by Mary Kay AndrewsThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie The Searcher by Tana FrenchDolly All The Time by Annabel MonaghanWho else are we talking about this episode? Tim WintonKarin SlaughterAgatha ChristieMichael ConnellyElinor LipmanAnna QuindlenHarlan CobenFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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:CartolinaSerena & LilyNantucket Historical AssociationAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownWhat are we reading in this episode? The Five-Star Weekend by Elin HilderbrandRoots by Alex HaleySwan Song by Elin HilderbrandTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe English Patient by Michael OndaatjeJaws by Peter Benchley Harriet The Spy by Louise FitzhughThe Land of Stories by Chris ColferPartita by Barbara Kingsolver The Foster’s Market by Sara FosterModern Comfort Food by Ina GardenBarefoot at Home by Ina GartenBarefoot in Paris by Ina GardenWho else are we reading? Ann PatchettLaura DaveDavid SedarisAbraham VergheseBarbara KingsolverFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 HotelN MagazineNantucket CurrentAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 HotelHill House Home - 20% off first order of $150 or more with code ACK20And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 PartnersNantucket LoomsAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownCarley Fortune Reading ListEvery Summer AfterOne Golden SummerThis Summer Will Be Different Meet Me at the LakeOur Perfect StormWhat else are we reading in this episode?Anne of Green Gables by Lucy MontgomeryTomorrow When the War Began by John MarsdenFifty Shades of Grey E. L. JamesDolly All the Time by Annabel MonaghanSandwich by Catherine NewmanFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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, BrownNantucket Island ToursAnd a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:Book of the MonthNantucket Book PartnersLittle, BrownBooks Mentioned in this episodeThe Five-Star Weekend by Elin HilderbrandAmerican Fantasy by Emma StraubWhistler by Ann PatchettThis is Not About Us by Allegra GoodmanThe Heir Apparent by Rebecca ArmitageJohn of John by Douglas StuartKin by Tayari JonesThe Reservation by Rebecca KauffmannThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutLost Lambs by Madeline CashSophie Standing There by Meg MasonHollow Bones by Jodi PicoultDown with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell MooreThe Shampoo Effect by Jenny JacksonCool Machine by Colson WhiteheadMusic Against the Night by Yiyun LiSorrow and Bliss by Meg MasonPly by Hernan DiazFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 MonthSerena & LilyReading List:Conform by Ariel SullivanThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodHunger Games by Suzanne CollinsDivergent by Veronica RothThe Most Fun We’ve Ever Had by Claire LombardoHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellThe Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’ FarrellAfter You’d Gone by Maggie O’FarrellAmerican Fantasy by Emma Straub (April 2026)The Great Alone by Kristin HannahThe Nightingale by Kristin HannahAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidHeart the Lover by Lily KingThe Bronze Horseman by Paullina SimonsEvery Last One by Anna QuindlenKing of Ashes by S.A. CosbyRazorblade Tears by S.A. CosbyPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenRemarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltThe Ten Year Affair by Erin SomersSweet Valley High by Francine PascalSarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlanOn the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls WilderThe City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrauDaisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid11/22/63 by Stephen KingBe Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina GartenA Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J MaasShady Hollow Series by Juneau BlackOne Day in December by Josie SilverLonesome Dove by Larry McCurtryWild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghyBroken Country by Clare Leslie HallPlayworld by Adam RossWinter Stroll by Elin HilderbrandThe Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand28 Summers by Elin HilderbrandWhat to Cook When you Don’t Feel Like Cooking by Caroline ChambersThe Correspondent by Virginia EvansHeart the Lover by Lily KingFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 HotelDan Brown Reading List:Deception PointDigital FortressAngels & DemonsThe DaVinci Code The Lost SymbolInfernoOriginThe Secret of SecretsWhat else are we reading in this episode? Franny and Zoey by JD SalingerFamily Happiness by Laurie ColwinThe Stories of John Cheever by John CheeverA Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia WeinerPlayworld by Adam RossChief Inspector Gamache/Three Pines novels by Louise PennyA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EngleThe Lotus Eaters by Stanley G. WeinbaumThe Bourne Identity Series by Robert LudlumMemoirs of an Invisible Man by H.F. SaintThe Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney SheldonThe Perfect Couple by Elin HilderbrandFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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, BrownN MagazineNantucket CurrentJohn Grisham Reading List:A Time to KillThe FirmCalico JoeBleachersPlaying for PizzaSooleyA Painted HouseSkipping ChristmasThe Innocent ManCamino Island The ConfessionFramed What else are we reading in this episode? The Goldfinch by Donna TartCulpability by Bruce HolsingerTwelve Angry Men by Reginald RoseTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper LeeSnow Falling on Cedars by David GuttersonPresumed Innocent by Scott TurowEmil and the Detectives by Erich KastnerThe Chip Hilton Series by Clair BeeThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark TwainGrapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Sophie’s Choice by William StyronThe Little Drummer Girl by John Le CarreScott 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 @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

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 MonthNantucket LoomsReading List:The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby CunninghamPinkaliciousFancy NancyOlivia the PigPerfectly Arugula28 Summers by Elin HilderbrandThe Love Season by Elin HilderbrandThe Blue Bistro by Elin HilderbrandMrs DallowayThe Hours by Michael CunninghamJane Eyre The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldColeman Hill by Kim Coleman FooteDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverA Separate Peace by John KnowlesHuck Finn by Mark TwainThe Crucible by Arthur MillerThe Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby CunninghamFollow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!