This book was the perfect summer read. First, it had 2 of my all time favorite things, a coastal New England setting and dual timelines. I cannot get enough of books with these elements and Our Place on the Island did both of these so well. The descriptions of Beech House and the surroundings of Martha’s Vineyard really transported me there. I also really loved how
The author wrote about inter generational relationships, blended families and best of all FOOD!!! Lovely book.

I couldn't finish this book fast enough!!!!! I loved this so much! Made me feel like I was at the Beech House with all of these characters. I loved how it went back and forth from 1948 from the grandmother's perspective and then back 1999 to the present. I also loved that it was a generational story, grandmother, mother and daughter. Just made my heart happy.

Three generations of women reunite at their beloved home to celebrate the marriage of the family’s matriarch. As wedding preparations progress secrets are revealed. And Cora, the family matriarch, may not be the only one looking at a new beginning.

Our Place on the Island is touching family drama that takes place on Martha’s Vineyard. It is a quick, easy read that is perfect for a day on the beach. The characters are perfectly flawed and very relatable.

Thank you to Erika Montgomery, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and Netgalley for the Oporto read and review this ARC.

I thought the dual timelines of the book set the stage and told the story of the Campbell women very well. I loved the inclusion of food in each timeline and with each character. I am a big fan of books set in and around Martha's Vineyard. This is a great book to sit and read on any beach!

Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery is a story of three women finding home and a new future on a familiar island. Many occasions have been celebrated at the Campbell family’s seaside cottage. The beloved matriarch, Cora, is getting remarried and the town gossip whispers that he was the one that got away. Her granddaughter, Michelle “Mickey,” is a renowned chef with a popular, successful restaurant with her boyfriend, Wes. However, she is hiding a secret. She has mismanaged the restaurant into the red. Cora’s wedding gives her an excuse to hide. She comes to the island to regroup and figure out a solution. Mickey’s mother, Hedy, is still mourning the passing of her beloved father and is having a hard time welcoming this new man in her mother’s life. Everyone knows a woman’s heart holds many secrets and Cora is about to reveal a story that will have the three women reevaluating their views on marriage, motherhood and the joys of following one’s heart.
Two years ago, I read Ms. Montgomery’s debut novel A Summer to Remember and when I was offered a chance to read her newest novel, I took it! Our Place on the Island is a story of second chances, discovering your true passions and finding home again. It is a story that did not disappoint. I thought I had figured it out; however, as the story unfolded, it took a surprising, heartwarming turn. I enjoyed every character. However, my favorite character was Cora. Her words of wisdom and insights were spot on. Word of warning: DO NOT read this book on an empty stomach! Cooking and food is an important aspect as the women bond over food and you will be craving every delicious dish as you read! Even the descriptions of the ingredients made me wish I had them in front of me! Ms. Montgomery describes Cora’s garden so well, I swear I could smell the fresh herbs and produce. I highly recommend Our Place on the Island.

Our Place on the Island is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Well, I started a new pre-summer tradition when I read and truly enjoyed A Summer To Remember by this author. So this year it is her latest book Our Place on the Island, that was my last read for May.
Mickey Campbell heads to Martha’s Vineyard for her grandmother’s wedding. She was rather shocked, since she is struggling to make her restaurant profitable and had no idea Cora was seeing someone after the death of her husband. But, this will give her a chance to catch her breath, and figure out how to tell her partner about the financial hole they are in.
Told in the now and in the past, when Cora was a young bride, secrets are revealed that surprise, and bring the Campbell women closer together.
This was a perfect backyard Memorial Day weekend read. Three generations of Campbell women( Cora, Hedy, and Mickey) will each learn things that will allow them to move forward. What’s not to love about an elderly woman getting a second chance at romance? A family that learns a lot before this wedding and just an enjoyable story on a sunny day.

4.25 stars!

Happy Publishing Day to Our Place on the Island, the second novel by Erika Montgomery! It’s exactly what I want in a beach read: an atmospheric setting in the summer at the beach, characters who jump off the page, food references that have me salivating, and love stories I root for with each new chapter.

I adored the author’s first book, A Summer to Remember, so I was excited to pick up her newest historical fiction novel. Sometimes with historical fiction, I find myself favoring one time period over another, but that wasn’t the case with Our Place on the Island. Jumping between 1999 and 1948, I was eager to to return to each storyline.

In 1999, the “present” storyline for the book, we meet Mickey Campbell who is struggling with the secret that she’s kept from her chef boyfriend that she’s done a poor job of managing their restaurant, and she isn’t ready to face the fact that it’s time to make some hard decisions. So when she receives a call from her mother that Mickey’s beloved grandmother Cora is getting remarried, she can’t say no to the invitation to return to Beech House, the seaside cottage in Martha’s Vineyard that the family has always called home, for the wedding.

It’s been three years since Mickey’s grandfather passed away, but she and her mother, Hedy, are having a hard time accepting their matriarch’s remarriage. Especially when they discover the groom is someone from the bride’s past.

In 1948 we meet Cora as a young bride arriving to Beech House for the first time, meeting her husband’s life-long friends, unsure of how she’ll fit in. It’s in the remodeling of the kitchen, as she makes the changes that she wants, where she finds the place she’s most at-home, a place where her love of cooking can shine.

Cora’s kitchen is the heart of the story, uniting the past and present, bringing three generations of women together to share new and old secrets. Our Place on the Island really is a love letter to cooking, and I could picture the Campbell family gathering in the kitchen throughout the years.

I especially enjoyed that it’s Cora’s love story bringing the family together, reminding readers it’s never too late for a second chance at love. Add Our Place on the Island to your summer reading stack, and be prepared to grow wistful for the warm sand and thirsty for a Lobster Daiquiri while you read!

Loved the setting, Martha's Vineyard and the well developed characters in this story. A great beach read, which reminds me of the annual Elin Hilderbrand novels. Definitely an author to watch. Loved the relationship between the grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter. Their connection to their family home and their memories and experiences there were heartwarming. A great story about family and second chances.

This engrossing story wove together the lives of three very different women, matriarch, daughter, and granddaughter for a wedding on their beloved island. As the wedding date approaches, the complexities of family, love, history, and long-held secrets twine into knots that can be untangled for a new reality and celebration of one another or simply remain closed and limited and sad. As Montgomery does so well, the knots are untangled, secrets revealed and absorbed with each individual coming to peace with the marriage to come, the past they lived, and the future they will make together and for themselves. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts

Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery is a wonderful book of women's fiction.

Second chance romance is my favorite trope. This book is set in Martha's Vineyard and an ode to cooking.

Family, romance, a workplace romance were all incredible elements in thus story.

I felt the breeze on my face as I recalled my own memories of Martha's Vineyard.

This is my first book by Montgomery, but it certainly won’t be my last. What a delight this one was. It’s definitely the perfect summer read. Definitely recommend

Erika Montgomery is an author to follow. Her books always make you feel so good. Such well-constructed stories, likeable characters, interesting history and situations, a plot that captures your interest and draws you in. Just enough suspense to keep you hooked but not enough to keep you seriously worried.

Our Place On the Island is a story about the three Campbell women and their family seaside cottage Beech House. There’s Mickey, who left home years ago to make her mark in the culinary world. Hedy, Mickey’s mother, whose marriage didn’t take so she never put herself out there again, and the matriarch, Cora, Hedy’s mother and Mickey’s grandmother.

Everyone’s coming to Beech House on Martha’s Vineyard because Cora is getting remarried. What? Who? How did this happen? Gossip has always had a life of its own in their community, and now Hedy is hearing that Max, the man Cora is going to marry, is the one who got away, Cora’s one true love. Hedy doesn’t know if that is true or not, but her relationship with her mother has always been fractious and Hedy’s father has only been dead three years. She’s not ready for this wedding. Mickey is close to her grandmother but hasn’t been home in a while and had no clue, but since she’s just run her restaurant into the ground – hey, she’s a chef, not a finance major – and is afraid to tell her head chef/partner/boyfriend Wes about it maybe it’s a good time to return to Beech House after all. She loves him and is afraid she’ll lose him because of this. As for Cora, she’s that head-of-the-family older woman character we all love to read about. Feisty, opinionated, maybe hasn’t always gotten her way or the life she wanted but knows her own mind. She may or may not explain: Why Max? Why now? But she’s not going to apologize. Her marriage to Harry was good and she’s not going to diminish it, but she’s going to live the rest of her life.

Cora has been on the Vineyard since 1948 and the early days of her marriage to Harry. Beech House was their seaside summer home. She was an outsider with a background that didn’t fit in with Harry’s family and friends and that ever present snobbery and gossip, but he loved her and knew she would “come around.” Well, maybe she did and maybe she didn’t but after all these years, she and Beech House are fixtures on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves it. And she loves Max.

The action shifts back and forth between 1948 and 1999, remembering people and events from the past, facing what is the reality of now and accepting what the future might bring. Cora is happy and for some reason has invited everyone to attend the wedding, even those long-time gossips and possible enemies from the old days. Hedy doesn’t understand, but maybe it’s time she unravels herself a bit and live her own life, not the one she thought would please, or at least not disappoint, her father. And Mickey, she needs to come to terms with what she really wants, who she is really meant to be, why she left and why maybe it’s good to be home.
Our Place On the Island is delightful, full of love – lost, found, new, in jeopardy – and disappointments and wishes and dreams. And most of all family. And a custom-built kitchen island that is very, very special. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of Our Place On the Island for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. I loved this story and Erika Montgomery is an author I always want to read. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

The one that got away I love second chance romance and throw in three generations of woman and you have got a wonderful, feel good beach read. I loved the clambakes, all the food it just makes it feel like summer.

Always a pleasure getting to read this author's work

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review


Grab this one on June 13th 2023

This was a cute one ya'll. It brought me back home to New England beach life. It was a mix of a beach read with romance and family drama turned happy. It was a feel-good, happy ending, type of read.

Mickey is a chef in Baltimore who owns her own restaurant but is in some of her own hot water. She finds out that her grandmother, Cora, is getting married to Max Dempsey. Mickey travels back to Martha's Vineyard for the nuptials even though she has not told her boyfriend Wes about her restaurant financial troubles, and knows she needs to.

Mickey is not the only one with a secret though; Cora has decided to sell the Beech House that has been in the family for generations but hasn't been able to tell Mickey yet. We move through their wedding weekend preparations with Cora urging Mickey to reveal her secret to Wes; when Cora sees the angst it caused Mickey, she secretly calls Wes to come. The caterer bails last minute which allows Mickey and Wes to show their craft.

The ending is a sweet one and you should read it! It came out June 13, so snag it quickly! This is your next best beach read!!

#NetGalley

Three generations of women gather at their home in Martha’s Vineyard for this heartwarming story. The home - Beech House - has been in their family for generations and they are gathering one more time to celebrate the wedding of Cora, the matriarch. Cora and her daughter Hedy have a tempestuous relationship and Hedy’s daughter Mickey has always been closest to Cora. As the women reconcile with the changes in their lives and the changes yet to come they each gain a greater understanding of one another.. Secrets slowly come to light during the book and attitudes change. This is an uplifting story set in an idyllic setting. If you like a character driven plot this one is for you. From the mouthwatering recipes to the beautiful landscape and the various interesting characters you will find this is a perfect summer read.

OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND by Erika Montgomery is a moving and engaging novel about family and their enduring ties to the place they call home. Set on Martha’s Vineyard and told over two timelines, the 1940s and 1999, the story transported me to the beach setting, island vibes and all the drama unfolding as three generations of Campbell women come together for life-changing event. It is also a testament to the power of food to bring family and friends together. Mickey Campbell is a celebrated chef in Baltimore, owning a highly-acclaimed restaurant with her head chef and boyfriend. Learning to cook with her grandmother, Cora, from childhood was what led to her passion for cooking. Despite the restaurant’s success, the pile-up of late bills threatens to take away the one thing Mickey’s ever dreamed of. When Mickey’s mother, Hedy, calls her home to their family home on Martha’s Vineyard for Cora’s upcoming wedding, it is with mixed feelings that she returns to Beech House where she hasn’t visited for more than ten years. The story also steps back to 1948 when Cora first arrived on the scene of Beech House as a newlywed and outsider. As they prepare for Cora’s second wedding, secrets will be revealed that will change the lives of all three women. I enjoyed how the author skillfully developed each character and showed how they grew and changed with time. It is a story of love, loss and second chances that kept me enchanted from beginning to end. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, Goodreads, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want a romantic generational family drama set on Martha’s Vineyard? Do you like cozy cooking books?

Pre-reading:
I am trying to read Vita Nostra and I hate it, so obviously, I will read literally anything else, but my Capricorn guilt says be productive, so let’s make some progress on the ARC list. I am a New England rom-com girlie, okay? They’re just better.

Thick of it:
Okay, so I work at a restaurant. I don’t like to read about it on my days off. Honestly, very triggering. Too real.

Aesthetically great, but wouldn’t an old bank vault be terrible for ventilation and thus the worst place to put a kitchen?

Oh baby, is she a local? (New England romcoms are superior. I don’t make the rules.)

See, this is good writing because I also got that low thrum in the belly of just like oh, man leaning. 👀 We’re such easy creatures.

Oh shoot, is Max her actual grandfather?

Oh my god, is grandpa having an affair with Lois?

I don’t know if liquid crackles like that.

Well, there’s your solution. Bring your bestie back to Baltimore, have her become the manager, and you go back to cooking as the chef, problem solved.

Oh Lois, you miserable cunt. There’s a special place in hell for women who go out of their way to make other women miserable.

Having to give up generational family homes makes me so sad.

Plongeur

Raffia

You know a metallic smell for a love interest is a new one.

But oh look, Harry is a minty boy.

Hedy and Tom have major chemistry, but also ew, because her mom is marrying his dad. Like I know, they’re not technically related, but it still icks me out. Like of all the people in the world, you really believe your soulmate is in your family tree? I don’t think so.

She’s pregnant.

It’s cute how all their romances parallel each other, but it also feels just a little like lazy writing. You had to come up with one device to give the audience warm and fuzzies rather than a bunch of unique ones.

Shims

Espagnole

Lois is such an interesting, complicated character.

I also believe that people’s driving styles say a lot about their personalities.

I really like Hedy. I feel like she’s got Sharky Blonde energy.

What do you mean she doesn’t seem like the type? She absolutely has dirty martini energy.

I repeat, I really like Hedy.

I feel like this book isn’t anything new, it’s just done well.

It’s loaded with food details, but it feels fitting when the majority of the characters have such a relationship with food, and it doesn’t take you out of the story. It adds to it, which is hard to do. I feel like a lot of the time you get food thrown in as some cultural spice and it just feels out of place.

The men in this book are so appealing.

This book is so sweet, like I’m not crying, but I definitely thought about it. What’s cute aggression but make it tears?

Oh, I do like them together. Honestly, give me more Hedy and Tom.

Post-reading:
This was really sweet. Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No. Is it an idea that’s been done over and over before? Absolutely, but it’s done well. It’s romantic. It’s cozy. It’s a perfect summer beach read. It feels authentically and charmingly true to Cape Cod. The characters are familiar archetypes, but nuanced. The romantic banter is so enjoyable. The love interests in this book are so fundamentally appealing. It tackles gender issues and classism and gentrification. Is the ending a little wholesome and tidy and too easy? Probably, but what did you want from a summer romance? For them to be miserable? It’s good escapist reading. It’s chock full of food like any cozy book, but it fits the story and it’s never jarring or so long that your eyes glaze over and you skim it to get back to the plot. I think the biggest criticisms of the book would be that it’s not diverse and that the romantic pairs kind of feel like a repeat of each other, but that’s pretty intentional. It’s generational wealth in Martha’s Vineyard-not exactly a beacon of diversity. And the couples are similar because the generations are supposed to parallel each other. I think if they were more distinct while keeping that parallelism, the book would be stronger and tip into lit fic territory, but I think it’s perfectly fine and cute and cozy as it is.

Who should read this:
Beach read fans
Cape Cod romance fans
Generational family drama fans
Emily Henry girlies
Cozy cooking book fans

Do I want to reread this:
No, but I would read more by the author

Similar books:
* The No-Show by Beth O’Leary-3 different couples, relationship parallels, romantic
* Beach Read by Emily Henry-beach town romance with family drama
* Book Lovers by Emily Henry-small town romance with family drama
* Happy Place by Emily Henry-New England romance, found family drama
* Off the Map by Trish Doller-travel romance in Ireland with family drama
* Too Wrong to be Right by Melonie Johnson-slow-burn family drama holiday romance
* Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score-small town romance
* For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa-cooking romance

Unhinged Summary:
Mickey has managed her restaurant into the ground so they are hemorrhaging money despite rave reviews. Obviously, she hasn’t told her business partner chef boyfriend. Mickey’s mom calls and is like Grandma’s getting married haul your ass back to our Martha’s Vineyard familial mansion. And Mickey’s like done. We love ignoring our problems. She gets to the island and her mom isn’t jazzed that grandma’s getting remarried. She’s like it’s a little soon don’t you think? Grandpa only died three years ago. And Mickey’s like mom, you’re 50 and single. Let grandma do what she wants. She’s 72. She could keel over at any second. She wants to marry a guy and have a sex life in her 70s? Kudos to her. But like also what do you know about this guy because I have never met him. And her mom’s like I’ve probably never met him. And Mickey’s like probably? And her mom’s Iike probably.

Jump back in time. Grandma is a spring chicken. She’s just moved to the island with her hot banker husband, grandpa. Grandpa‘s like hey grandma I know you loved cooking and working as a waitress, but now we have generational wealth so you don’t have to do anything but worry about redecorating our mansion after the war. And also fitting in with the Stepford wives. Peace. I’m going to Boston to do banker things. Also, no pressure, but like get pregnant. And grandma’s like I’m feeling some pressure. And she like tries to fit in with the other generational wealth families but like oh my god, they’re mean girls, and they make snide comments all day. Grandma’s like the only thing that makes me happy is my kitchen so let’s get that redone super fast. Oh look, the handyman is super hot.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Mickey’s best friend shows up. And she’s like oh my god, best friend, how is our childhood restaurant doing? And she’s like oh my god, best friend, gentrification sucks. They’re not gonna sell us the restaurant, but like at least yours is doing super well, right? And Mickey’s like right. Mom goes for a walk on the beach and runs into one of the neighbors. The neighbor is like oh my god isn’t it so cute how grandma and the handyman are getting married? I always knew they would get together. Like officially if you catch my drift. And Mom’s like that cheating skank. I knew grandpa didn’t chase carpenter man away from the house when I was a random seven-year-old for no reason. Now it’s nighttime. Mom’s going for a swim because admitting to liking things would be a weakness and also she has to wash off the adultery. She’s coming back home, and she’s like there’s definitely no murderers here in the dark, right? And some guy is like right. So she decks him in the face. And she’s like oh my god, who are you? And he’s like oh my god, definitely not your love interest and also your future stepbrother. And she’s like oh my god, please keep me away from washing machines. Also, isn’t it weird that our parents are getting married? And he’s like not really. They’re old. Let them do what they want. And mom’s like oh my god, no one understands me. I’m so unique and different.

Back in the past, hot carpenter man is like oh my god, do you want me to build you a super special custom kitchen? And grandma’s like oh my god, you would do that for me? And no one’s like oh my god, that is literally what he’s hired to do. And carpenter man is like thank me later babes. Also goddamn, you can cook.

Mickey has finally decided to come clean to her family that her restaurant is bankrupt. And her family is like oh my god is that why your love interest didn’t come with you? And Mickey is like no, actually, I haven’t told him. Her family is like oh my god, call him right now. We’re not doing this particular miscommunication trope for any more chapters. So she calls him and they fight because duh, and she’s like oh my god, he’ll never love me again. And mom and grandma are in the kitchen like well, her life sucks. We better not tell her that we’re also selling the family home.

Back in the past, grandma’s kitchen is finally finished and she wants to show it off to her friends, but they like don’t care. They’re like OK it’s a kitchen? Do you think we cook? Do you think we’re poor? And she’s like oh my god my new friends are rejecting my only personality trait. I’m so misunderstood and unique. Grandpa is like I don’t know why you can’t give up cooking now that you’re rich so that you would fit in better here on this island that you’re gonna be trapped on for the rest of your life. By the way, I’m going back to Boston for more business. Keep working on the friendship and the baby-making. And grandma’s like don’t you need to be here for that? And grandpa’s like probably not. Grandma gets some mail at the post office, and instead of waiting for the mailman to deliver it, she’s like I’m a strong, independent woman who don’t need no man. I will take this back to my house myself in the dark. On foot. And like this package is as big as me- maybe I do need a man. Oh look, the carpenter. So he brings her home and she’s like oh my god, you should totally not stay for dinner. And he’s like oh my god, I totally shouldn’t. What are we having? And she’s like you’re the only one who understands me. And he’s like I’m in love with you. And she’s like goddamn, but I am married. And he’s like goddamn. And then they’re like probably going to fuck, but then a car drives down the driveway definitely by mistake and leaves and carpenter man is like well that’s a sign. And like that was definitely just a random nobody. And grandma’s like yup, you’re completely right.

Back in the present, grandma called Mickey’s boyfriend and guilt-tripped him into coming for the wedding. And Mickey’s like oh my god, you’re here. You must not be mad at me. And the chef love interest somehow has a healthy mindset and is like babe I can be mad at you and still love you. And she’s like what? That’s so weird. I didn’t learn healthy relationships from my parents at all. And her mom is like why are you looking at me? So Mickey gives her chef boyfriend a tour of the vineyard and he’s like wow this place is really great. I can see why you love it. Why didn’t you ever open a restaurant here? And she’s like damn, I don’t know. And he’s like sorry your family is selling your mansion. And she’s like yeah it sucks. If only there was something we could do. And he’s like damn if only you knew how to manage your money so we could buy it. Except he doesn’t say that, but like that’s what we’re all thinking.

Once more into the past, I guess there’s some tennis tournament going on and grandma’s sitting with the mean girls being like well, I’ll never fit in. Regina George pulls her aside and is like I know you’re having a really hard time getting pregnant. And grandma is like OK bring it on, bitch. What terrible thing are you gonna say to me? And Regina’s like I had a hard time getting pregnant too. Don’t worry about it. I think you and I could be really good friends, even though we have different interests and personality traits. And we’re all like wait a minute. Is this a nuanced female character? So obviously Regina‘s husband gets drunk and goes up to grandma and he’s like I know what you did last summer. And grandma’s like did you mean this summer? And he’s like you’re a little slut and you’ll never fit in here. And grandma‘s like dang, I guess that wasn’t a random car. I’m gonna walk home now because I feel unsafe. Grandpa beats her home obviously because he has a car and he doesn’t walk all the way home barefoot like a weirdo. And he’s like grandma, you know I love you, right? I just have a bad way of expressing it. And she’s like I know, grandpa. I already hitched my wagon to yours, so we just have to make the best of it. Too bad there’s nothing I could do like divorce to live a happier life, so I’ll just have to live in the lap of luxury now. And grandpa is like do you love me? And grandma‘s like well you bought me a kitchen, so I guess so. Speaking of guessing, guess what I’ve been cooking up? And grandpa’s like is it pie? And she’s like no silly, a baby.

Back in the present, grandma is ready to get married to elderly carpenter man, except oh no, the caterers have canceled and they’re like oh my god, where could we find chefs and a restaurant staff so last minute? And Mickey’s like hi, and best friend is like hi, and chef love interest is like hi. And mom is like well, guess I’m gonna have to go get the alcohol. And stepbrother love interest is like well, guess I’ll have to go with you in case you get stuck anywhere. At the alcohol store, he’s like hey what’s your drink of choice? And she’s like a dirty martini. And he’s like man that’s such a weird drink. Who would drink those? And she’s like my dad. And he’s like oh I get it now. You’re probably just jealous of grandma because she’s getting married and you’re alone. And she’s like are you high? So mom comes back and finally confronts grandma like how are you gonna marry the man that you cheated on grandpa with? And grandma’s like you are so dumb. I never cheated on grandpa. That was just a rumor. And Mom‘s like who said the rumor? I’m gonna go make fun of them because nothing says boss ass bitch like bullying the elderly. Mickey and her chef boyfriend cook for the wedding and best friend manages them and they’re like oh my god, guys, it would be so weird if we like ran a business together. And they’re like oh my god, that would be so weird. If only we had a building to do it at. Too bad we don’t know anyone selling one of those. Mom and stepbrother dance at the wedding and she’s like damn, you were right. I was just jealous. And also I thought grandma cheated on grandpa, but she didn’t so I am okay with everything now. Well not now, but probably in the future like after therapy. And stepbrother is like oh my god, that’s great. Do you want to start a new rumor and or reason for therapy? And she’s like what rumor? And he’s like incest. And she’s like bet. And then grandma’s like oh my god, this wedding was so perfect. Now if only we didn’t have to sell the mansion. And Mickey’s like hey grandma, I know I ran my last restaurant into the ground, but this time I won’t. And grandma‘s like oh my god, this is the best news ever, and everyone lived happily ever after, the end.

I couldn't ask for anything more from a beach read than what Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery delivers! Three generations of women, second chance romance(s), cooking and it all takes place at the Campbell family's summer home, Beech House, on Martha's Vineyard.

There is a lot packed into this lovely novel, and I could hardly put it down for wanting to know how each of the situations will turn out. I also found myself wanting to get into my own kitchen and start cooking, as the love that Cora and Micki have for cooking oozed from the pages. The characters were well fleshed out, and the dual timelines brought a depth to Cora's and Max's relationship story that helped the reader understand the backstory.

This was the first novel I have read by Erika Montgomery, though I have her first novel on my bookshelf already (moving straight to the top of my TBR pile). It will certainly not be the last. I also thought the ending of this one left an opening for a follow-up with Michelle and Wes (hint-hint) which I would love to see. Our Place on the Island is comparable to most of the books by Elin Hilderbrand, a perennial favorite for the beach. Great summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery. The opinions in this review are my own

I really enjoyed this new book by new to me author, Erika Montgomery. It’s a lovely story of mothers and daughters told over the course of a weekend where the family matriarch gets remarried. I’m ready to hop on a plane and head to Martha’s Vineyard just to eat some of the delicious food they prepare in this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed her debut book A Summer to Remember as well! This has everything I love! Dual timeline 1948 and 1999. I mean what didn’t you love about the 90s! It would be nice to have more 90s references but it was still fun. The main character is Cora. The 1948 timeline is her as a newlywed spending their summer on Martha’s Vineyard in the home passed down from his parents. Cora is navigating her life as a wife, but also living amongst the privileged that she didn’t experience growing up. She had a love for cooking and her kitchen is getting renovated by carpenter Max. Even though she’s married she feels a chemistry with him. He understands her, but she loves her husband Harry.
In 1999 three years after her husband Harry died she is marrying Max after they became reunited. She is throwing together a wedding to remember. Her successful realtor daughter Hedy is having a hard time accepting this marriage. She was always a daddy’s girl. Granddaughter Mickey comes in from Baltimore with her own baggage. Her restaurant is in the red and she hasn’t told her boyfriend and head chef Wes. She is hoping her time on the island will give her clarity. Will have three women find what they need in a week?