64 pages • 2 hours read
Elin HilderbrandThe Five-Star Weekend
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Importance of a Multifaceted Identity
All primary caregivers for a significant portion of their lives, Hollis Shaw, Brooke Kirtley, and Electra Undergrove illustrate the importance of nurturing an identity apart from their roles as wives and mothers. When Hollis dedicates more time to her career than they would like, she receives pushback from Matthew and Caroline. The conflict illustrates women’s struggle to build something for themselves. When Matthew fusses about Hollis having a photo shoot at their Nantucket house instead of enjoying the beach with him and Caroline, Hollis “wants to ask who spent the first two decades of Caroline’s life ‘hanging’ with her, but she feels guilty” (227). Even when Hollis recognizes that she is entitled to develop her professional identity, she battles guilt for not prioritizing her husband and daughter. Matthew missed several summer weekends for work priorities, yet he neither exhibited remorse nor received any negative feedback from his family. Hollis’s emotional response to her family’s critical view of her work highlights a relatable struggle for many women, especially mothers, who struggle to find a work-life balance. Hollis demonstrates an intense passion for her work, thriving while creating content for her subscribers. Her career is meaningful, and it gives her a fulfilling outlet for her creativity and passion for food.
In cherishing her rare social outings away from her family, Brooke illustrates how different a person can feel without constant domestic responsibilities. Brooke tells Caroline, “But it felt so good to be wild and free for a night, to be a person again, not just a wife and mother” (307). Brooke prioritizes all members of her family before herself at all costs. She hides away essential parts of herself, including her sexuality, to accommodate the needs of her husband and children. Only until Brooke is pushed past her breaking point by Charlie’s second sexual misconduct lawsuit does she allow herself space for self-discovery. Brooke craves to feel like herself always, not just on the occasional mother’s night out. Like Hollis, Brooke needs to explore her identity outside of her roles as wife and mother, but unlike Hollis, her multifaceted identity revolves around discovering her authentic self and acting on her sexual identity.
Electra represents the repercussions of limiting one’s identity to wife and mother only. Electra becomes excessively competitive among her other mom friends. She wants to have the most successful children, the strongest marriage, and the most glamorous friends and be the envy of everyone she knows. She preys upon Brooke’s self-doubt, uses her to collect information about Hollis’s five-star weekend, and then crashes the event. Electra’s meanness stems from her insecurities. Her adult children are not thriving like Brooke’s children are, and Hollis’s success as a popular food blogger intimidates Electra. Consumed by what other women are doing and jealous of their triumphs, Electra desperately needs an outlet outside of domestic life where she can explore interests outside of what other people (and their children) are doing.
The Supportive Nature of Friendship
Even though the five stars gather for indulgence and relaxation, each woman discovers and accepts profound parts of themselves before the weekend’s close. Tatum overhears Brooke coming out as gay to Hollis: “There’s some more conversation. Brooke is a little weepy; she’s going to tell her husband and kids when she gets home” (362). Although her sexuality isn’t necessarily new information, Brooke only finds the courage to discuss her sexual orientation when her friends show their support and concern for her well-being. Never wanting to be different or cause trouble for others, Brooke hid this vital part of herself to accommodate the needs of others. When Hollis, Dru-Ann, Gigi, and Tatum accept Brooke as she is and encourage her to seek happiness, Brooke feels empowered enough to put herself first.
Even Dru-Ann, who does not struggle with her self-esteem, benefits from a reminder of her strength as an influential woman. Gigi reassures Dru-Ann about the Posey situation: “The reason you’re so popular in the first place is that you speak your mind and stand by your convictions” (208). Dru-Ann stands firmly by her beliefs, even though it would be easier and more financially beneficial for her to submit to the ideas and requests of others. The fact that she is willing to sacrifice her career to follow through on her values demonstrates Dru-Ann’s confidence and certainty. Still, having her close friends' unwavering support helps Dru-Ann maintain her composure while doing what is hard but necessary.
While focusing on an elaborately planned girls’ weekend, Hollis comes to terms with avoiding the problematic, more conflicting parts of herself. Hollis lays out a beautiful cocktail spread for her friends, retreats to her room, cries, and thinks, “Caroline is right. She is a phony, overly concerned with the appearance of things” (254). Hollis acknowledges her part in the strained relationships with Matthew and Caroline, recognizing how her constant concern for Hungry With Hollis detracts from living in the moment with her family. Hollis struggles to write about her five-star weekend on the Hungry With Hollis website because of her self-discovery and acceptance as a more reflective person.
Growth and Forgiveness in Relationships
While each character confronts their crisis, several interpersonal conflicts emerge, adding to the weekend drama. Caroline is overcome both by the grief of losing Matthew and by resentment of Hollis’s dedication to her blog. Her growth as a daughter begins as she strives to create a meaningful documentary about Hollis and Hollis’s friends. Specifically, Caroline comes to terms with her mother’s actions and decisions while hearing about Hollis’s earlier life from Tatum, Dru-Ann, and Brooke. After Dru-Ann recalls Hollis lying about her mother’s death out of embarrassment, Caroline “realizes Hollis didn’t have…a Hollis of her own” (252). This new information allows Caroline to appreciate everything Hollis sacrificed for her while devoting all her time and energy to childrearing. Caroline thinks, “Hollis was her every day. Hollis was her unconditional. How had Hollis known how to be a mom? Thinking about it now, Caroline finds it sort of amazing” (252). By envisioning the hardships and obstacles Hollis faced as a teenager, young woman, and new mom, Caroline cultivates respect and empathy for her mother. Because Hollis can forgive Caroline’s hostility and Caroline grows in maturity and empathy, their relationship is redeemed through growth and forgiveness.
Dru-Ann and Tatum address the animosity that has lingered between the women for years: “Thinking about it now makes Dru-Ann want to throw herself overboard. Who says something like that? She was every bit as thoughtless and idiotic then as certain young people she has the pleasure to know are now” (328). Dru-Ann realizes she has grown to be more considerate and dislikes the younger version of herself that made rude, hurtful comments to Tatum at Hollis’s wedding. Tatum also acknowledges feeling petty jealousy in wanting Hollis to favor her over Dru-Ann. By forgiving one another and accepting responsibility for their actions, Dru-Ann and Tatum strengthen their relationship. By the end of the weekend, each woman realizes how much she admires the other.
When Hollis confronts Gigi about her betrayal and dishonesty, both women discover the closure they desperately sought after losing Matthew. Even though Hollis feels incredibly hurt by Gigi’s actions, she learns that Matthew intended to prioritize Hollis. Gigi’s confirmation that he valued their marriage comforts Hollis. Hollis decides to forgive Gigi, though she realizes, “Only a very few among Hollis’s followers would even understand forgiveness; no one would expect it. They would expect Hollis to kick Gigi out on her perfect ass” (359). Hollis values her strength and ability to empathize with Gigi and rise above her anger. In doing so, she grows and confronts difficulties head-on, without dismissing them to focus on more superficial things. Hollis demonstrates how effort put into developing and strengthening relationships echoes back, positively affecting those who build strong, lasting relationships.
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By Elin Hilderbrand
