Even though this claims to be the conclusion of a four book series, I read Winter Solstice as a standalone and had no trouble falling into the web of family relations depicted in the story. The Quinn Family of Nantucket has faced challenges aplenty over the past few years, including jail time for one, a tour in Afghanistan for another, and sundry other life events for everyone else. With the approaching death of the patriarch from a terminal illness, they all journey home to the family’s Nantucket Inn for the holidays and find reconnection is sweeter than they could have imagined.

Winter Solstice is not a plot driven book, but instead a woven tapestry of multiple lives intersecting and weaving something new. We spend time in the PoV of nearly every character, getting their interpretations of events both in their own lives and the lives of their family members. This leads to a feeling of richness that’s necessary in a book featuring such a large of a cast of characters – about fifteen by rough count.

We start the book with Bart, who is returned from service in Afghanistan a changed man. He left Nantucket as no more than a child really, and has returned with a case of PTSD and a craving to be near family. His mother and father run the inn, but his father’s previous marriage means a handful of step-siblings and he has a base affection for them all. That affection will deepen throughout the story, as he learns to interact with them as adults and family ties grow stronger as they all struggle with the process of not only watching their father die but understanding what their family bonds will be once he passes. In this time of preparation for his death, the gift Kelly has given his children is foreknowledge and they use it effectively.

By choosing Bart as our entry point into this story, Ms. Hildebrand allows newcomers to meet everyone. Bart, you see, is having to re-cultivate relationships he let lie fallow while on duty, including his relationship with the island of Nantucket. In this way, he’s the perfect audience surrogate. I was glad, however, not to have spent the whole time in his head, as the other characters have things to offer.

We also spend time with Ava, Patrick, Kevin, and their significant others. We meet a real estate agent on the island who interacts with them all, and a pair of lottery winners from Boston who help settle the future. As Kelly, the father, slowly dies from brain cancer, the matter-of-fact nature of life and death informs so many of the decisions of the other characters and feels authentic. If my father was dying of brain cancer, I’d make changes in my life, too.

This book wraps itself around you; the stories, the people, their pain, their joy, their peace. It’s a gentle read, as there are no surprises here. Kelly’s death is both inevitable and quiet, which sucks the drama out of the rest of the story. The stakes are high in every interaction, but aren’t they in life as well? This balance of grief infecting all interactions and the idea that life progresses in the midst of death is artfully struck here. Wrap up with a warm blanket as you walk this journey with the Quinns, and make sure to have some tissues on hand.

All in all, Winter Solstice is definitely recommended for fans of family fiction.

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