Elin Hilderbrand is an American writer renowned for her engaging beach reads that often blend elements of mystery and romance. Born on July 17, 1969, she is celebrated for setting her novels on and around Nantucket, where she resides. Her unique storytelling has earned her the title of "the queen of beach reads," as quoted by New York Magazine in 2019.

Hilderbrand grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and her adventurous spirit led her to travel extensively before she ultimately settled in Nantucket. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and further honed her craft at the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.