A truly wonderful book of World War II told, not from the European side, but rather what was happening here at home, namely in Martha’s Vineyard.
A fictional story told with true historical features, this book was informative, interesting and a marvelous, heartwarming read of a family of courageous women who were left behind to fight their own battles. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. This review is my honest opinion.

In The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly, the story of a young woman’s background is slowly revealed. This provides some suspense along with information Mari craves. The book moved along swiftly, holding my attention throughout.

I expected a breezy summer read from the title and cover of this book, but, although it is easy to read, I don’t think it’s a typical beach read. (Don’t get me wrong—I love a good beach read and think authors of that genre are masterful writers, too.) Set on Martha’s Vineyard in a dual timeline of 2016 and 1942, it’s the story of Mari Starwood, Elizabeth Devereaux, and the Smith girls—Cadence and Briar.

There’s romance, mystery, and suspicious characters galore, which dial the tension to just the right level to keep you reading. I love almost any books about World War II, and this was an angle I haven’t read much of—what happened off the Eastern Coast in the United States during the war. In fact, the book was inspired by actual events. Like any good historical fiction, it taught me a thing or two.

Themes of sisterhood, loss, grief, family, books, friendship, and economic class are the backdrop for secrets, spies, and surprises. It’s warm, suspenseful, and engaging, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

"If you can't move heaven, then just raise hell".

A bit of history, a touch of mystery and nothing like I was expecting. MVBBC took me by surprise in the best of ways.

The beginning is a bit slow but the story really ramps up around a quarter of the way through, so sit tight and enjoy the ride. Mari, heads to Martha's Vineyard to paint with the acclaimed artist Elizabeth Devereux, after the death of her mother. Turns out Elizabeth knows a lot more than just art. As she divulges the events of the past, Mari gains something significant to her future.

It's the 1940's on the Island and the war is raging, but that won't stop Cadence and Bess from dragging Briar to their book club. These three girls are the heartbeat of the book. They are bold, brave and break through the societal roles of their time period. There is so much going on through the pages like heartbreaking loss, a surprising new love and a dangerous mystery to be solved. There is a traitor among them and the girls must figure out who it is.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is what you get when historical accuracy meets entertaining fiction and one of a kind characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I’ve fortunately been on a roll with finding multiple great books lately, all 5 stars, it’s been a good spring reading for 2025. Martha Hall Kelly is one of my favorite authors so when this came up on NetGalley I jumped at it. She has knocked another one out of the ballpark, what an amazing author.

This story takes us for a ride with the Smith siblings, along with Gram and Bess on Martha’s Vineyard Island. It has it all, love, loss, mystery, murder, suspense and most of all heart. The multiple story lines kept me engaged, we have possible spies, a book club group, an injured German, and a writer in training. I did have to re-read the last chapter just to make sure I understood how the story was tied up with a bow. What a read!!! Another 5 star, just like all her others!

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

Wow! What a beautifully written book about WWII life on Martha's Vineyard. This is loosely based on true people and events which occurred in 1942, along with another timeline in 2016.

The writing is superb, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is fantastic. It had me flip-flopping on characters and guessing to the end of the book, which always makes me happy. I only figured out a small piece, but Martha kept the tension until the end!

Read this book - it is so good, especially if you like historical fiction like I do!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7150779051 - posted 4/27/2025
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/52b8fd34-9405-437d-8c12-4be2f6131f2d?redirect=true - posted 4/27/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/04/review-marthas-vineyard-beach-and-book.html - posted 4/27/2025

I’ve loved Marta Hall Kelly’s previous books and was excited to delve into a different WWII novel. The book is told in first person but from several narrators. This style interrupted my flow of the book. As I often had to refer back to the chapter title to figure out out who was telling the story now. Although fun concept with endearing well developed characters, some the writing was repetitive with the long descriptions of settings and character internal thoughts.
This novel is part well researched history of the USArmy and lives of islanders on Martha’s Vineyard during WWII and part romance / with some intrigue.
I was hoping for more book club and that is really just a vehicle to bring the narrators together on occasion. The book club is not central to the novel. While this was an easy read it was also easy to put down. Thank you Nathalie for the arc.

In a dual timeline story, follow the Smith family through on Martha’s Vineyard. Mari is making a quick trip to follow up on a name found among her mother’s things after her passing. Under the pretext of taking a painting class, from Mrs. Deveraoux, she finds herself hearing the story from WWII of Tom, the charismatic brother who went to war, Cadence, the older sister who wanted to work in publishing in New York, Briar, the younger sister who had a nose for mysteries, Bess, Tom’s girlfriend, and Gram who held the family together. In addition to a host of other characters who enrich the story. The Smiths are a farming family who are struggling to survive. To be like the rich ladies who summered there, the girls started a book club, having to share books because of a paper shortage.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, by Martha Hall Kelly, is a war story filled with family love, community, unexpected opportunities, spy mysteries, and an occasional laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

The Martha vineyard beach in book club is a beautifully written story taken place in 1942 and 2016. A young girl named Mary travels to Martha’s Vineyard after her mother‘s funeral. She is still very upset after losing her mother and she has to watch every penny, she has. When she finally gets to the vineyard, she meets Elizabeth Devereaux and becomes one of her students in painting. Elizabeth is a famous artist that has been on the venue for many many years and she starts telling mary of the stories of her life on the vineyard.

The year is 1942 and we are introduced to two sisters Briar and Cadence. Cadence has dreams of pursuing a job in the publishing world and has visions of leaving the island so she can pursue this. If she does leave the island this would leave.Briar alone to help keep the family going. The story continues with the stories of WWll. How the young men were being shipped out and families, not knowing if their loved ones will be returning.

In wildest turmoil, the Smith sisters along with best a friend started giving books away each month to someone to read and then pass it on. This is a really beautifully written story about family about love. What families went through during.
This tough time. The Smith sisters try to do something nice but yet there was a mystery about them. What was the connection? I’d like to thank Niki and penguin. Random house for the ARC. The characters were enjoyable. The story was beautifully written. Four stars.

The Martha’s. Vineyard Beach and Book Club was unlike any book club I have ever been. Founded in 1942 they manage to read some books but also share their limited books with everyone on the island, come up with an idea to get books to servicemen, hide a German defector and uncover a spy. The women of this book club showed how they could manage a farm, cope with the death of a loved one and also find love during a horrible time in our country’s history. There are so many great characters- my favorites being Gram (everyone’s grandmother) and Briar (a no holds barred tomboy). I thoroughly enjoyed this story but I knew I would since I loved Ms Kelly’s previous books.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

It's 2016, and Mari Starwood is mourning the loss of her mother. Discovering an address for the renowned painter Elizabeth Deveraux on Martha's Vineyard among her mother's possessions, Mari journeys from California to uncover more. The elderly artist, living on a large dairy farm, shares with Mari the story of the Smith sisters, Cadence and Briar. During WWII, a Naval Auxiliary Air Station was located at the island's north end, sparking the curiosity of sixteen-year-old Briar, who frequently reported sightings of German U-boats, though she was taken seriously. Nineteen-year-old Cadence aspired to become a writer. Their older brother Tom was serving as an Army Ranger, and his girlfriend Bess, from an upper-crust family, was living at the Smith farm. When an ailing soldier washes ashore, his presence puts everyone in danger. Mari is captivated by the tale of the Smith family and will discover why her mother had planned to travel to Martha's Vineyard before her sudden death.

Martha Hall Kelly became a must-read author with her debut, Lilac Girls. She has not disappointed since. The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, inspired by the author's family, who settled on Martha’s Vineyard in 1891, is another fabulous read. Several subplots, including espionage and publishing, are beautifully woven into this intriguing and heartfelt story. It was interesting to read a wartime story that takes place entirely in the U.S., showing its impact on American families. This well-researched book will send you off to learn more after finishing it.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a light, breezy read that delivers exactly what you’d expect from its title — a coastal setting, a group of women reuniting over books and beach walks, and plenty of heartwarming moments. The setting is charming, and there are some touching reflections on friendship, second chances, and the way life changes over time.

Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, my inaugural read from Martha Hall Kelly, proved to be a truly delightful experience. The novel not only met but exceeded my expectations, showcasing the author's exceptional storytelling prowess. The narrative masterfully intertwines the storylines of the Smith girls, their determination to establish a book club, and their endeavors to supply books to the army, all while exploring the profound love they share and the romantic relationships that blossom throughout the book. Additionally, the tale of Mari's journey to Martha's Vineyard and her discovery of her connection to the island and the Smith girls is beautifully woven throughout. This book is a testament to Kelly's skillful storytelling, leaving the reader eager for more. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me with an advance review copy.

An excellent, well researched dual timeline piece of historical fiction! Most of the WWII historical fiction I’ve read takes place in Europe and it is refreshing to read one based in the states. The setting, Martha’s Vineyard, is almost another character along with Bess, Cadence and Briar.
I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.

This is the first book I’ve read by Martha Hall Kelly and I look forward to reading many more.

Delving into World War II from the standpoint of the homeland shores of Martha’s Vineyard, is a much different take on any World War II historical fiction than I have seen before. I enjoyed the different perspective and the fact that the main characters were themselves teenagers as they struggled with the reality of the war and the possibility that it might even come to their hometown. Sometimes wise beyond their years, and sometimes acting like teenagers, as is to be expected, these girls represent many others who endured this trying time in history, I am sure. I enjoy this author, and enjoyed the book as a whole, but just not quite enough to give it five stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

This was a very strange book. I felt like I'd been dropped in the middle of the story - I kept paging back to the beginning, certain I'd missed a chapter. Told by three narrators, two sisters in 1942 and a future character in the present, the stories felt completely unconnected and unrelated. The characters seem to lack motivation, their decisions are often without reason, and I didn't care about them at all. Everything wraps up in a tidy little unbelievable package. Give this one a skip.

This is the only time I have ever read two books in one month that I would rate 10 Stars if I could. I recommend this book to all those who love books that blend accurate history with fiction. The family in this book was real people, the war actions around Martha's Vineyard was a real thing, and all of this is blended to give you one hell of a superb story!

Although this book begins in 2016 with Mari Starwood, it quickly shifts to 1942 and the Smith girls. The main story is told in two different voices: Briar, who was 16, and Cadence, who was 19...with a mix of other voices thrown in.

This is a love story, an espionage story, and even a murder story. Wow, it really had it all. Oh, and don't forget books, book clubs, and making books for soldiers to carry in their backpacks. They also found books to read during the deprivation of the war years, often looking to the town dump for them.

This book has believable, compelling, and likable characters. It also has a plausible plot, for the most part.

This book took me out of a low point in my reading and catapulted me up to the stratosphere.

This is the perfect beach read and also an ideal book club read. I highly recommend this book.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books/Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

4.25 great character stars

A favorite author combined with a favorite setting? Why, thank you, I’ll read that book! This is my fifth read by Martha Hall Kelly, and I love that this one is set in Martha’s Vineyard.

We have two storylines. One is a modern storyline with Mari Starwood. She’s in Martha’s Vineyard trying to solve a mystery after her mother’s death. She’s visiting a reclusive painter, Elizabeth Devereaux, at an amazing farm with an ocean view.

Then we go back to the early 1940s when WWII is a harsh reality. Men on the island are shipping out, U-boats are spotted just offshore, and there’s fear of Japanese and German residents. The Smith girls are trying to keep the family farm going with their grandmother. Cadence loves to write and aspires to move to New York for a publishing job. Briar (my favorite character in the book) loves to dress in vintage clothing, is obsessed with models and military activities, and wonders if spies are on the island.

Cadence’s best friend, Bess, lives with them and is part of the book club that the girls have started. They extend their efforts to the army base on the island, providing books for the troops to read. I loved all the book references in this one.

Some secrets swirl on the island, and I loved how it all came together. With characters I definitely rooted for, this is my favorite Martha Hall Kelly book so far!

This book started out strong with great potential as a detailed historical fiction novel. It was entertaining with interesting characters that had the reader immediately invested. The descriptive details of Martha’s Vineyard painted a beautiful picture of the island in the 1940’s.

About midway the story changed direction and became more of a suspenseful, unrealistic drama. The author takes creative licensing and adds drama to the story. Some of the characters have true historical reference but there were just too many all jammed together in a short period of time and in one tiny island’s story. A German spy amongst the Vineyard residents, a murder of a shop keeper, an AWOL German that is kept and hidden by the residence that just so happens to have family in Minnesota, a local soldier that returns from the dead, a lieutenant love interest from England, a pregnancy whose baby gets stolen. It just seemed too far fetched, add in the split timelines all made it a bit of a disappointment for me, especially after the strong beginning.

There was a lot of historical research and time spent in the writing of this story. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy.