A literary novel set on the coast of Maine during the 1960s, tracing the life of a family and its matriarch as they negotiate sharing a home.
Margreete’s Harbor begins with a fire: a fiercely-independent, thrice-widowed woman living on her own in a rambling house near the Maine coast forgets a hot pan on the stovetop, and nearly burns her place down.

When Margreete Bright calls her daughter Liddie to confess, Liddie realizes that her mother can no longer live alone. She, her husband Harry, and their children Eva and Bernie move from a settled life in Michigan across the country to Margreete’s isolated home, and begin a new life.

This book is one to remember for sure.
I loved how the author wrote this book. It was truly incredible.
From beginning to the end, I was hooked.
I can't wait to read more from this author.

Beautiful story set in Maine about a family coping with change in the 1950's thru 1970's. I would not recommend this to everyone as it is very depressing in parts. For those who want to remember events during that period and how a family is affected by these, it is a must read.

I simply adored this book and hope it will become a classic of our times. Though it takes place during the 1950's and 60's it has a message that cannot be ignored. The simple, yet elegant writing style and the astute observations and actions of each character combined engage the reader fully. Each character could be someone we know; they are ordinary, yet each extraordinary in their approaches to life and situation.
Margreete herself is a vehicle for both humor and realism. How the family relates to and handles her descent into dementia is very touching.
Finally, this would be an excellent choice for a book club, particularly one with members of this generation. Highly recommended.

Burnt Harbor, Maine although she refers to her small town as Margreetes Harbor is the setting for this story of Margreete Bright and her daughter and son in law and their family who pull up roots in Michigan and come to stay. Margreete is slipping and can’t be left alone. Liddie her daughter, a concert cellist, her school teacher husband and their three children navigate the waters in this small town during the 1960s as the nation faces growing political turmoil. Civil rights, assassinations. JFK. Martin Luther King. The Vietnam War all provide a backdrop for the children and their dedicated parents.
This is a great story. The plot and characters become a little disjointed in the second half of the book, almost like the author is rushing to get her story finished. Eva and Gretchen leave a lot of unanswered questions.
I would rate this book as 3.5 stars- Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital ARC. My thoughts and review are my own and completely unsolicited.

Margreete's Harbor is a beautifully written story set in beautiful coastal Maine against the backdrop of the 60s - an era that was filled with change. The characters Ms. Morse gives us are multi-dimensional, full of life, spirit and strong personalities. I found myself feeling deeply about each of them, especially Margreete. This is a book that made me cry, laugh out loud, and gave me much to think about.