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, Brown
• Nantucket Island Tours

And a special thank you to our Season 4 Premier Sponsors:

• Book of the Month
• Nantucket Book Partners
• Little, Brown

Books Mentioned in this episode

• The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
• American Fantasy by Emma Straub
• Whistler by Ann Patchett
• This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
• The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
• John of John by Douglas Stuart
• Kin by Tayari Jones
• The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffmann
• The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
• Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
• Sophie Standing There by Meg Mason
• Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
• Down with the Shipmans by Meg Mitchell Moore
• The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
• Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead
• Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li
• Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
• Ply by Hernan Diaz

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Happy Reading!