I’m a big fan of Martha Hall Kelly’s historical fiction and her latest book The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club showed me a fascinating aspect of Martha’s Vineyard that I had no prior knowledge of — its World War II history.

When the story opens, it’s 2016 and we meet Mari Starwood who is grieving the death of her mother and who has traveled to Martha’s Vineyard with nothing but a piece of paper with the name Elizabeth Devereaux on it. Mari has no other family and because she found Elizabeth’s name in her mother’s notes, she has come to meet Elizabeth, hoping maybe there’s some connection between them.

Mari gets way more than she expected when Elizabeth launches into a detailed history about the Smith sisters, Cadence and Briar, who lived in her house long before she did. The story Elizabeth tells is about bold, resilient women trying to keep their family farm from going under while the men are away at war, and it’s about the different ways they try to help the war effort. Cadence and her friend Bess start a book club at first as a way to maintain normalcy, but soon the book club is more than just a book club. I loved how, after hearing that soldiers wanted books, they were determined to create pocket sized versions of books to send to them.

The WWII timeline was also filled with mystery and intrigue, German U boats off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, and even a spy on the island itself! While both timelines were compelling, I have to admit that the WWII timeline was a bit more engaging because of these elements.

As always with Kelly’s books, everything is well researched and her writing is beautiful and filled with likeable characters.

A good-enough book, set in Martha's Vineyard, mostly in 1942. There's a framing device of a character we don't spend enough time with to care about being told the story in 2016, and the book is inspired by the author's own family history on the island, which makes me feel slightly bad about not enjoying the book more.

My husband and I visited Martha's Vineyard on our honeymoon a few years ago and I quite enjoyed it, so I was interested in this book. The author's research shines and I loved seeing the world of 1942 on the island. Soldiers were stationed there, using it as training grounds for a future amphibious assault, while German U-boats lurked just off-shore. Nods are made to rationing, but there's an awful lot of baking going on. Still, wartime Martha's Vineyard truly comes to life.

There's a lovely story of found family; the book centers on Briar and Cadence Smith, who live with the grandmother on a farm up-island. Their brother Tom has just shipped off, but his girlfriend Bess is staying at the farm as well. Briar is 16 and obsessed with the details of the war; Cadence, 19, works at a beach club and dreams of working in publishing in New York. Kelly throws a bunch of plot into the book--a possible spy! Bess's horrible mother! Gram's poor health! An arrogant British officer! A dead German neighbor! Briar's reputation as "Briar the Liar"! Honestly, I never warmed to Briar; I would've appreciated more development there about how she became interested in war and ship models and things. I liked parts of Cadence's romance, but it felt rushed. Honestly, a lot of my problems with the book boil down to it being so crammed that nothing had room to breathe. Even the titular book club barely factored into the story--it was mostly just the main characters, who already live together, sitting around, talking. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society this isn't.

Also, on a more nit-picky note, the chapters almost entirely alternate between Briar and Cadence (with a very very occasional one from Mari in 2016). The chapters are labeled, which is helpful, but they're also all labeled with 1942. At first I assumed this meant that we'd be bopping around in time, but that wasn't the case at all; the action of the book takes place over maybe a month. We don't need the 1942 for all those chapters.

Ultimately, there are aspects of this book that are really well done. It would make for a decent beach read--particularly if you're on Martha's Vineyard.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the alternating POV’s so we got the story from multiple people! I can’t imagine being there while the soldiers are training and there’s enemy soldiers coming too. Briar was my favorite character because she didn’t just accept what was told to her. I do wish she had done more after the war, but I also get she stayed for an important reason. I was happy with Cadence’s ending because I loved Gil! The only thing I was really unhappy with was Bess. I don’t get why she didn’t go back eventually. But I’m glad the 2 got to meet in the end.

I finished this book about a week ago and had to think of what to write for it. I really did like the storyline and I LOVED reading about how Martha's Vineyard and other seaside towns were basically the front line for the US during WWII and the German U-boats coming soooo close to US soil. And I loved Briar's character. But it was a book I was able to put down and then get back to later or go to sleep and read the next day. While the chapters would end in suspense, I was ok putting it down. This was a 3 star book for me (which is an average rating) and I love Martha Hall Kelly books, so hopefully this one was an exception.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. I am not a reviewer who will retell the plot, just my feelings towards the book as the reader can look up the plot themselves.

Kelly has done it again with a heart-warming, well-researched historical fiction story. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. The characters draw you in with real emotions and reactions to this difficult period during WWII. The setting is alluring and described beautifully. I really liked the tie to modern-day but with the bulk of the story in the 1940s. I feel like this could be set up nicely for a sequel...one can hope! Recommended for anyone looking for a cozy tale with lots of little stories within.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

This was a unique story about the families left behind when young men went to war. Girlfriends, sisters, mothers and grandmothers all were left to deal with homes and businesses and the uncertainty that their loved ones may not return. I enjoyed this perspective and the story of the young women on Martha’s Vineyard and how they helped each other deal with their losses. The book club is actually a very small part of the story, but it was one of the several ways they were able to distract themselves during the war.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital ARC.

I just adore MHKs books!! this was such a beautifully written WWII fiction. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. Probably my favorite of hers yet!

I was looking for a book that would get me in the mood for summer and this was it! I enjoyed reading about Martha’s Vineyard and the part it played in WWII. The main characters were all different types and I enjoyed them all. This book has something for everyone-history, romance and mystery.

A one-of-a-kind approach to the World War II-themed novel, The Martha's Vineyard and Book Club follows three young women as they reach their post-teen years living on Martha's Vineyard during the war. What makes this novel stand out is that the focus is not on the war and the struggles, but on the three women's personalities set against the background of the island during this time. I was thrilled to learn that it is partially based on the real lives of the author's own family.

We meet Cadence, Briar, and Bess as part of a flashback that actually works. There are no awkward breaks or see-sawing through the book. The three women are part of a story told by a mystery narrator, Mrs. Devereux, to her guest, Mari, who feigns being a mere art student interested in taking a Master Class from Mrs. Devereux. Who they really are is worth reading the book to find out.

Cadence and Briar are sisters who are joyful survivors of losing their parents and the deprivation of material goods due to the war, but these losses aren't the central part of the story. Instead, we read a unique story filled with their crazy antics, sly deeds, and fun-loving personalities that help them forge the future that they dream about. Along with their friend, Bess, who moves in with them, sharing their poor farm life, after being estranged from her rich, snooty Mother, reminiscent of Cruella DeVille, the two older girls and the young Briar are an adventurous threesome that we get caught up in. A 20th Century Little Women!

Cadence wants to work in publishing in glamorous New York City one day and reads every book she can get her hands on. She writes a column, works as a waitress in a club, scours the dump for used books, and slyly gets paid under the table to read books for the club's Divas, who are too busy to read them for their high-society book club meetings. Through the relationships she builds at the club, enterprising Cadence might just find a way to make this dream come true. Cadence forms a book club for her friends and uses found books discarded by the divas to give out to her members.

Briar is a tomboy who prowls around the island and swears she sees German spies everywhere, but no one believes her due to her youth. Her knowledge of the island and her prowling ways might just pay off big, though. Bess supports both sisters and the family because she is in love with their brother Tom, whom her evil Mother can't see as a worthy enough boyfriend. How will her enduring love for Tom affect her life and the family's life? It's a mystery to be discovered.

The intricately woven story, which also features a supporting cast of a handsome soldier, a German spy, a beloved grandmother, and several mysteries to be revealed, is a five-star read that sets it far apart and above other books in the genre. As a bonus, you will learn how the U.S. used Martha's Vineyard to prepare for military excursions and some interesting facts about the war, including how books were used as a propaganda tool and Cadence's role in that. But mostly it is a warm book about family and love with a creative plot that is perfect for a reader looking to dig into an inspiring and uplifting story. I am thrilled to have received this as an ARC from Penguin Random House and will look to read other books written by this author.

I loved this story! It takes place on Martha's Vineyard during WWII. It's Mari Starwood who comes to Martha's Vineyard to stay with Elizabeth Devereaux, a painter. There, she learns the story of the Smith sisters who created a wartime book club during WWII. 19-year-old Cadence is an aspiring writer and and 16-year-old Bri is a war-obsessed teenager.

This story was a page-turner. I loved the characters, especially Cadence, Bri, and Bess, who was Cadence's best friend and in love with their brother. Bri was always on the lookout for German U-boats and was frequently not believed for her sightings. Cadence wrote a local column, and they all lived on the family farm with their grandma and their friend Bess, who was dating their brother, who was off to war. It was a great story of life in Martha's Vineyard during the war. Even though they participated in a book club, there was a lot of other stuff going on, including a possible German spy, dealing with the military training on the island before they shipped out to war, romance, and running a family farm. It was definitely an interesting read.

Thanks to @randomhousepublishingballantine, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.

I sadly couldn't get in to this book as much as I would have liked. I had a hard time remember which sister was which and their ages. I appreciate the opportunity, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story, and especially the perspective of managing the home-front while men were off to war during WWII.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Martha Hall Kelly has done it again…transported me to another time and place - Martha’s Vineyard in 1942. Cadence and Briar are two teenage sisters who have grown up on a farm on Martha’s Vineyard. Kelly portrayed the way the summer residents treated the locals, weaving it into the storyline seemingly effortlessly. They both love books and start a book club to share their love of their favorite books. Cadence publishes a column in the local paper while Briar is intent on watching for the U boats off the coast. I so loved reading about their young lives and was so proud of each of them for putting their grandmother’s health before pursuing their own dreams. Cadence falls in love with British officer while Briar gets wrapped up in a mystery involving finding a Nazi spy. They also find themselves hiding a German soldier who washed up on the beach. Their wish for each soldier to have a book to read inspired the “pocket books” that would easily fit in their packs. The women who brought this to fruition were fascinating.
There is a dual storyline, a story within a story, with a woman named Mari pursuing information on a woman whose name she found after the death of her mother in the present time. Interesting but Cadence and Briar stole my hearts.
Reading the Author’s Notes added another whole level of enjoyment for me knowing that the characters and events were based on many real people in Kelly’s family as well as residents of the island. I have spent much time in Marth’a’s Vineyard having grown up and lived in Connecticut more than 60 years. As I was reading this fabulous story I had a memory of watching the movie, The Russians are Coming at a drive in movie theater on Cape Cod as a young child.
Martha Hall Kelly is one of my favorite authors as she has the incredible knack of creating characters that come alive and seem to walk right off the pages of the book and into your heart. I also enrich my knowledge base as she includes so much history into each book she writes.
Many many thanks to Martha Hall Kelly, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for affording me the amazing opportunity to read an arc of this just published incredible story. A true 5 star read.

I feel like the desire to have the cute, marketable title was stronger here than the storytelling.
The book starts in somewhat modern times, with a protagonist arriving on the island of Martha's Vineyard in search of something. Then we go back in time to 1942 and stay there so long, the existence of the modern part of the story is easy to forget. Then we quickly go back to the past again, and at the very end, get a massive info dump about the connection between the timelines and characters.
The book club is mentioned a lot, but plays a negligible role in the plot progression. The braided structure of the book would have worked a lot better if the story switched back and forth a bit more, so we could learn about some of the connections earlier or at least get a foreshadowing of sorts, to keep it interesting.
The writing is fine, but the voices are so similar, it was difficult for me in the first third of the book to even distinguish between Cadance and Bryar.
This could be a much better book with a bit of editing and a better pace.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine, for providing an early reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Not only was this a good historical fiction story, it was also very informative. I did not know about the military training that happened on Martha's Vineyard during WWII. I had heard about the U-boats off the eastern coast but learned so much more about that too. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery that was entwined in the plot.

Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club
By Martha Hall Kelly
Pub Date: May 27, 2025

Books, sand, U-boats and war preparation bring sisters and best friends together only to break them apart over betrayal and loss. Not even book club meetings and tea can save everyone in this coming-of-age WWII story. How will the book club beach flag continue to fly after the days of WWII? A must-read beach read for the Summer!

Martha Hall Kelly brings her signature trademark storytelling to the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, Her writing gift is bringing circles of strong women together to overcome the unthinkable. This novel, like her others, does not waiver in the strength of that circle of women. Witnessing World War II through the eyes of two teenagers living on Martha’s Vineyard was an interesting approach. The circle made up of Candence and Briar Smith and their friends has the power to change the course of the war from their island farm.

Each of the women have their own demons to overcome and the mystery of the German U-boat off their coast, there to pick up a German VIP, drives them all to do things they would never have dreamed of doing. They grow up way too fast and lose too much through that accelerated growth.

Told from two timelines-1942 and 2016, we learn what really happened and who survives. Mrs. Devereaux shares the secrets of the Smith family with painter, turned smoothie maker, Mari Starrwood. Mari is quickly drawn in. She wonders why she is drawn to the island, what her connection to the Smith sisters is; and what the unveiling of the truth will mean to her future.

FOUR Stars! Available now!

Net Galley and Ballantine Books have provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved the dual timeline story. I was so satisfied with the way the stories were wrapped up at the end of the book. This was based on the author's family members and was such good historical fiction. Loved the descriptions and the way I felt a part of Martha's Vineyard during WWII, hiding a spy and everything!

I enjoyed my time with "The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club," and can see it being a favorite summer read for historical fiction lovers. There wasn't as much of the book club as I would have liked and it was a bit dialogue heavy, but wrapped up nicely.

**Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

I love all of Martha Hall Kelly's books. I've been on a kick lately of reading books that have books (or bookstore or library) in the title so it was definitely a bonus that this book is also about books.

With its Martha's Vineyard setting, it is the perfect beach read. I love reading about Nantucket but I've been branching out to the other towns in my reading. I think this is the second Martha's Vineyard set book and the town is growing on me - at least the historical town.

When I picked up this book, I couldn't remember when it was set. From the cover, I thought perhaps the 1950s or 1960s. So I was confused when it opened in 2016.

This isn't really a dual timeline book. There are only like 3 chapters set in 2016. The majority of the story takes place in 1942.

I love WWII stories, and I enjoy it when I get a different kind of story. I've read a few homefront books set in the U.S. In a lot of ways, life didn't change much for the people living in the US. There are little things like rationing, and for Martha's Vineyard, the presence of the military. But it wasn't really the WWII aspects that drew me into the story.

The characters are wonderful. They are so life-like. If you have read any of Hall Kelly's other books, then you know she does a ton of research, so the story is authentic. She also provides wonderful descriptions so you feel like you are there with the characters.

I became so invested in the characters. I was right there with Mari when Mrs. Devereaux broke off from her storytelling at a critical point in the lives of the characters. I was so impatient to learn what happened to them.

There is some mystery - both in the 1942 timeline as well as in 2016. I was able to figure some of it out before it was revealed, and other things I was close to putting the pieces together, and it made perfect sense when it was revealed.

If you are planning long days at the beach or pool this summer, you will want to pack this book in your bag.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/06/the-marthas-vineyard-beach-and-book.html