This book, set in 1942 on Martha's Vineyard, follows the lives of the Smith sisters: Briar and Cadence. The effects of war and their brother's enlistment are the main areas of their focus. While their gran is in the hospital, Cadence and Briar, along with Bess, their brother's fiance, must hold down their home. They decide to start a book club and help get books into the hands of soldiers. The book starts from the perspective of Mari, who is visiting the famous painter Elizabeth Devereaux after her mother dies. There is a connection between the two timelines and this lovely story unfolds to make that connection clear. Another winner by Marth Hall Kelly!

I'm a big fan of Martha Hall Kelly's writing style and this book did not disappoint. The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a dual timeline story with a mystery. Who is Mrs. Devereaux and how is Mari related to her and to the Smith family who owned the farm where Mrs. D now lives on Martha's Vineyard? In the present day, Mari visits the island after the death of her mother and visits with Mrs. Devereaux, who tells her the story of the former owners of the farm: Gram, Briar, and Cadence Smith, as well as their close friend Bess, during the turbulent WWII years. The story unfolded beautifully and the characters really came to life. I could imagine myself taking part in their book club meetings and living with them in the 1940s! I can't say much more without spoilers - but I highly recommend this book (as well as all other books by Martha Hall Kelly). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book, the storyline, the characters, the setting. This story pulled me in from the first page, the characters were well developed, multi leveled and relatable! It took on parts of World War II, that i was not aware of, I learned a lot from this book. It us a dual timeline book, that moves from current day, and
World War II. If you enjoy historical fiction, buy this book.

Martha's Vineyard, 1942 (mostly) to 1945: WWII is on our doorstep and I don't think many modern day East Coasters realized just how close the war was to home.

We follow Cadence and Briar (sisters) and their Gram in their Martha's Vineyard farm house, struggling to survive as older brother Tom goes off to war, leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend named Bess. The women run the farm; Briar is always off, observing the island's inhabitants and trying to convince the military and her family she has seen German submarines off shore.

Through mostly 1942 we see the war through their eyes and their relationships with one another as love is found and lost, dreams are found and lost and found again, and they learn what "home" really is.

Well written, well researched, and with a fabulous Author's Note about the history behind the story (so much is based on Kelly's family!) this is definitely a recommended read.

I fell in love with this book and these characters. The historical timeline paired with the modern day connection was intriguing. I loved a new take on a WWII story that I haven’t heard, especially as it stemmed from real stories from the authors mother.

The relatable eye-catching cover caught my attention, but the beautiful story captured my heart. I began this one with zero expectations as this was my first experience reading Martha Hall Kelly and I am just impressed beyond words by how much I enjoyed this novel. I now want to read her entire backlist. This one is split into a dual timeline between 1942 which is where the bulk of the book takes place and 2016.

In 2016 we meet Mari she travels to Martha's Vineyard on the heels of her mother's funeral. Her finances are tight and her heart is tender. She arrives there to paint as the famed Elizabeth Devereaux"s student. Baffled locals can't figure out why Devereaux takes Mari on. Elizabeth begins to regal Mari with stories of the island's past particularly its involvement in WWII.

That's where the second timeline comes into play. The 1942 timeline is brimming with life and vibrancy! It was amazing to read. I felt as though the sand was between my toes. There are two sisters Briar who is younger and more of a tomboy she has spunk, I took an immediate liking to her and Cadence. Cadence is the older sister with lofty dreams of leaving the island and pursuing a job in publishing.

The two girls struggle to manage the family farm alongside their brother's girlfriend and grandma. Briar is convinced she has spotted a German U-boat off the coast of the island, but no one believes her. Is she mistaken? A mysterious man washes ashore and tells the family there's a spy in there close-knit town. The family must decide if this is the truth or a ploy by an enemy to gain their trust.

The atmosphere won me over with this book. It was one of those that was immersive from the first sentence. Be sure to read the author's note as well it was informative and lovely as this was a personal novel, and it showed. Such rich storytelling!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the Advance Readers Copy

I so enjoy Martha Hall Kelly books. The story takes place during WWII on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s part historical fiction and part family drama. The story is so well researched. Her author’s notes are filled with so much of her family history of living on Martha’s Vineyard, the shops, the occupation all of which help bring her book to life. Mrs. Kelly has another blockbuster with this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishingGroup-Ballantine,
#MarthaHallKelly and #TheMartha’sVineyardBeachandBookClub for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

Martha Hall Kelly is among my favourite historical fiction writers. She has yet to disappoint, and this book is another great read. Maybe not as moving as some of the previous books because it takes place a lot more removed from the action, but nevertheless, the characters are well developed and I enjoyed the mystery of figuring out who was the spy. I didn't quite call it, but I certainly suspected. Even then, I totally did not expect how it ended, although I will say that the climax of the Germany U-boat was a bit rushed, almost as though Kelly was running out of pages and had to wrap things up super quick. For all the build up, I wanted there to be more to the final moments and how everyone moved on from it.

I was rooting for all three girls, and I don't want to spoil anything, but my heart felt very heavy with how the story of the three girls wrapped up. It wasn't as though they didn't have great lives after the events of that summer, but I also feel like so much was missed as a result of decisions that were made.

I do find I struggle with alternate POVs when there are many characters, but this book didn't take me long to get into the feel for who was who, even when we threw in a few Bess POVs towards the latter part of the book. The three girls were such strong characters, and those around them were fleshed out well enough to also feel for their stories; and the present day was there just enough to keep things moving without stealing the spotlight.

This is a stand along, although I can't help but think that there were some references to Lilac Girls. Just wasn't 100% sure because I read those books so long ago and my memory isn't always what it once was. Age. Sigh.

I will say that Briar was probably my least favourite character for most of the book, and then she and Cadence kind of flipped for me and I was suddenly all in for Briar.

This is a hard book to review without giving anything away, but suffice to say that there is romance; there is mystery; there is action; and there is family. All wrapped up with a bit of history.

A huge Thank You to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. If you are a fan of historical fiction like I am, then you HAVE to read this new one by Martha Hall Kelly. Every time I read one of her books, I am surprised to actually learn historical things that I never knew about before. This book follows the story of a group of young women during WWII on Martha’s Vineyard, as they navigate life on the island while dealing with a US Army presence training on their beloved home, the threat of German U-Boats in their waters off the island, and keeping the home fires burning as their own brother and friend leaves home to be a part of the Army Rangers. Martha Hall Kelly as usual weaves a wonderful story with historical facts that will keep you entranced as you race through the book. For any fans of Anne Quinn or Kristin Hannah, you have to read this book!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for feedback.
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club tells the story of a family during the war.. Briar, Cadence and Tom live with their Gram after their parents died.
When Tom goes off to war, the book club comes up with a way to provide “little” books that the men can carry in their backpacks.
Briar is the nosy, rebel sister who often reports seeing a German U-boat from the beach and is searching for clues as to who could be a spy for the Germans in their small town. Because of her supposed sightings, she is nicknamed “Briar the Liar”.
Tom, the only brother, tries to provide for the family as best he can. He plants a new potato variety, that he hopes will provide for the family. His fiancé Bess also lives with the family and stays when Tom ships off to war.
Cadence, wants to work for a publisher, and writes a column in the local newspaper. She impresses a rich frequent visitor to the vineyard, who wants to help her on her publishing dream. She also catches the eye of a British soldier there to command his troops through practice maneuvers.
Gram, the feisty matriarch who provides snacks for the book club meetings, is fighting health problems. She loves unconditionally, worrying about the farm finances and how her grandchildren will fare if something happens to her. She often says “you’re going to miss me when I’m gone.
First book I have read by the author; she transports you to the story as if you are there. The final twist at the end was surprising, wonderful ending.
It is worth reading the author’’s note at the end to find her inspiration. Thanks again!

Truly enjoyed this WWII historical fiction novel with a unique Martha's Vineyard setting. It's the latest novel by Martha Hall Kelly, author of one of my all-time favorite books, Lilac Girls. This dual timeline story tackles the unexpected finding of family by Mari Starwood in current day, while the bulk of the story takes place in the 1940s during WWII. I love when historical fiction infuses the reader with little known historical details, which in this case for me included the location of German U boats situated off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, along with training camps for the Cape Cod Commandos, a US army unit camped on the island's rocky shores where trial exercises were conducted on a coastline that approximated Normandy before the invasion. The Smith sisters, Cadence and Briar, and their wealthy friend Bess, are all richly drawn characters who face decisions that clearly have no black and white answers in the context of the war. The various subplots, love stories, conflicting loyalties, and family drama adds layers that makes the reader want to keep turning the pages to find out who Mari is actually related to in the end. Don't skip the Author's Note - Kelly has her own family history on the Vineyard and has done tremendous research to bring this story to life. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy of The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. I have never read any books about what took place in Martha's Vineyard during WWII and found this historical fiction very interesting and surprising. I am an avid reader of Ms. Kelly's books and enjoy how her novels are inspired by her family's history.

An entertaining look at an American coastal impact of WW II. It’ interesting to see the various characters ‘ reactions to the threat of German U Boats off their shore and the interruptions of an army base training on their island, trampling their gardens, and placing handsome soldiers in their town.
I did find some cultural discordance. I don’t believe IVF was available in 1941 and some of the phrases were not popular then. Overall, however, I enjoyed being part of the Smith sisters lives for a while.

Cadence and Briar Smith are growing up in Martha's Vineyard during WWII, surrounded by the intricacies and scarcities of life during war. Cadence has plans to become a writer and move to New York City while Briar is constantly watching the coastline for any signs of German U-boats, an occupation that has gotten her the nickname "Briar the Liar." Between health problems, financial hardships, unexpected gifts, lose-lose choices, and more, the Smith sisters make incredibly hard decisions to survive the war with their small family and home in tact. Throw in a book club and hundreds of American military men on their shores, and the girls do what they must to survive.

This book tells a story of life during World War II off the coast of New England. Martha's Vineyard is an interesting setting for the novel since I hadn't realized all of the history and how it was used during the war. The book touches on so many themes--classism, paranoia and discrimination, wartime hardships, and more. I loved the setting and I always enjoy Martha Hall Kelly's writing style. However, this book just had too many plot lines going at once. A deserted German soldier, a book club, a potential spy, an ailing grandmother, a surprise pregnancy, a romance, and more...I think there were just too many stories being told at once, so unfortunately the book didn't work for me. I still liked the characters, but I think I would have preferred two or even three novels over one.

3/5

World War II historical fiction meets summer beach read set on Martha’s Vineyard. As someone who vacations on the Vineyard every year, I thought I knew a lot about the island; however, I was completely unaware of the island’s history during the 1940’s. I found this aspect of the story fascinating.

The novel moves along with multiple POVs - predominantly with those of two sisters who live on a farm during the war. The book packs in a lot - a love story, a secret Nazi spy, a possible murder, neighborhood gossip and country club drama, and a family that readers will fall in love with.

I received this book as an advanced copy, and I predict that it will be a popular summer read for 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review

“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club,” the latest by Martha Hall Kelly, is so much more than a delightful historical fiction novel involving a Book Club—it is also a fast paced spy thriller. Set primarily at Martha’s Vineyard in 1942, the book focuses on the lives of Cadence, her younger sister, Briar, their grandmother and Cadence’s friend Bess, who live in a cottage on Martha’s Vineyard. The soldiers at a nearby Army post, Peaked Hill, perform maneuvers on the nearby beaches while preparing for war in Europe and Japan. Briar often spots German U-Boats, but her claims are dismissed by the locals, who refer to her as “Briar the Liar”. When Pete, a disaffected German medic, washes ashore, Briar’s suspicions regarding U-Boats are confirmed. Pete informs them that the U-Boat is waiting to take a spy back to Germany. The women suspect a variety of locals not knowing who they can trust.

Interspersed with the 1942 narrative is the present day story, taking place in 2016, involving Mari Starwood, who arrives on Martha’s Vineyard to meet Mrs. Elizabeth Devereaux, a famous local artist who Mari pretends to seek out for private art lessons, when instead she is trying to find out why she found Mrs. Devereaux’ name amid her mother’s belonging after her mother’s recent death. As Mrs. Devereaux shares the story of the women who lived in the cottage during the war, Mari wonders what their lives have to do with Mari and her late mother.

Full of intrigue, this captivating historical fiction thriller is filled with witty dialogue and well drawn, nuanced characters. Although I have read many World War II novels in recent years, this one adds a new twist, with its focus on U-Boats in American waters, spies and a present day mystery involving links to the past. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

What a beautiful story that combines historical fiction, a mystery, and a love story. The characters were well developed and appealing. The story was primarily set on Martha's Vineyard during WWII when there was a great fear of German submarines invading the east coast. The interwoven relationships between the characters was deftly written and gradually revealed. The story also deals with the pain of loss in a beautiful way. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.

I couldn’t put this book down! The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club combined all of my favorite elements of historical fiction, romance, and mystery.
Every character was intriguing and well-formed. The robust plot kept me turning page after page, eager to find out what would happen next.
Martha Hall Kelly was so illustrative with her words, it felt as if I were breathing in the salty ocean air and living in the cozy farmhouse right along with the characters.
A few of the transitions between past and present were slightly abrupt, but easily forgiven.
Very enjoyable read!

I really liked this book. I like books that go back and forth between time periods WHEN I can keep the periods straight. I was able to do this with this book. While it's based mostly in the 1940's, I did wonder how it would connect to the current time and story. It was nicely tied up in the final chapters, which I liked, as it was not too predictable. I love historic fiction and found this book to have a fiction base with historic references thrown in. The characters were likable and relatable for the most part, with a couple bad guys thrown in to keep it interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone and look forward to reading more from Ms. Kelly.

This book took me a while to get into but once I did I fell in love with the characters. I felt like I was there with them during wartime and how they must have felt getting along on their own as well as having their brother shipped off to war without any information. The dual timelines kept my interest piqued and the retelling of the story was superb.