I enjoyed reading about the different generations of women and how they are alike and different. A good blend of historical fiction and a beach read.

This is a WWII story set in the states. It follows the story of several women from each of their points of view. I have loved previous books by this author but this was far from my favorite. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy

While a good story, I thought this book was too shallow and pretentious for the seriousness of the situation. Also, the unfolding was frustrating rather than compelling.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick interesting read for me. I love WW2 fiction but I mostly have read about people internationally so it was interesting to see one from an American perspective. I never thought about the troops actively training and practicing for future possible invasions so that was an interesting perspective. I always loved dual timeline stories and was eager to find out where they connected down the line and solve the mysteries with the characters.

This was a captivating book! The dual timeline and POV was so well done. You’ll find mystery, family secrets, spies, betrayal, love and friendship.

2016- Mari who just lost her mother and travels to Martha’s Vineyard to meet a reclusive painter whose name was found in her mother’s things.

1942 - sisters Briar, who is war obsessed and Cadence, an aspiring writer, set in Martha’s Vineyard. Along with best friend Bess who is also dating their brother, they form a wartime bookclub and help get books to the soldiers. This timeline was my favorite and so detailed.

As I kept reading, I couldn’t help wondering how these characters were connected but I allowed myself to be patient and enjoy the mystery.

This was a hit and historical fiction fans will love.

Thank you to the publisher Random House, author & NetGalley for the arc.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story set during World War II, but this time in American shores.

Although there were no actual battle sites on the mainland, there were skirmishes and infiltrations that were made along the east coast, as Germany made the most of sumbarine warfare.

My full review can be found here, and I'm glad to see Martha Hall Kelly back wth her well-written historical novels.

This is a work of fiction, yet is an historically accurate depiction of war time on Martha’s Vineyard, with characters inspired by real people, and events inspired by what was happening in the world in 1942. The title and cover are a little misleading. They feel a lot lighter than the story. This is a WWII story and while we don’t see the battlefield, we see the impact that the war has on the people here and it’s not all light with German u boats seeking glimpses of Allied practice maneuvers, a spy on the island, young men sent off to war who don’t return home or return forever changed.

The story, in spite of the serious issues, was a pleasure to read. The Smith sisters, Cadence and Briar, along with their friend Bess stole my heart. The book club started by Cadence and Bess is a reader’s delight as they give away a book each month to someone to read and pass on, when they bring boxes of books to the soldiers . The author pays tribute to the Armed Services project to produce pocket books small enough to fit in a soldier’s knapsack by imagining its start on the island. I loved the literary references, especially the numerous mentions of The Great Gatsby. (A coincidence that I had celebrated the 100th anniversary of my favorite book by listening to the audiobook just before reading this novel .) Reading Cadence’s columns in the Vineyard Gazette was a joy . They were funny, gave such a feel for the island , its inhabitants and what was happening .

There’s a current time frame component in 2016 with Mari visiting the island to discover her mother’s past . I found I didn’t connect with her as much as the characters in the earlier time frame. Perhaps because we don’t see a lot of her life. I did however, very much enjoy the novel, the eventual revelation ( which I guessed ) of her connection to the characters.

I received a copy of this from Random House through NetGalley.

Absolutely loved! Definitely for the lovers of Kristin Harmel and Elian Hilderbrand! All the cozy love of Martha's vineyard and historical fiction nuggets of a story untold!

The perfect summer read for historical fiction fans, this story is a wonderful combination of history, mystery, family drama, and romance. The contemporary story line of Mari, who is visiting the Vineyard to try to find out more about her mother's past, sets the scene. Mari meets up with famous reclusive painter Mrs. Devereaux, who shares stories of the World War II years on the island, centering around Cadence and Briar Smith, who form a wartime book club and donate books to soldiers stationed there. The through line of the story is the power of books to comfort and connect us during tough times - a particularly timely message these days. But alongside, we get stories of spies and betrayal, family secrets, first love, and bonds of friendship and family that transcend it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. Mari is mourning the loss of her mother and among her things, she finds the name Elizabeth Devereaux in Martha's Vineyard. Arriving to find out who this woman is, Mari receives more information than she ever imagined. Ms. Devereaux tells the story of Briar, her sister Cadence and Cadence's best friend Bess living on the Smith family farm with Gram during WW2. How even in Martha's Vineyard, they are affected by the war with their brother Tom called to duty and the many training exercises the Army and Navy have on their shorelines. Martha Hall Kelly writes a story loosely based on her family and friends on the Vineyard. A story of love, loss and mystery. #TheMartha'sVineyardBeachandBookClub #MarthaHallKelly #RandomHouseBallatine #May2025

4.5 stars!⭐ Thank you to @randomhouse and @ballantinebooks for the advanced copy of this beautiful novel!

📚 The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
🗓 Publication Date: May 27, 2025

This was such a rewarding read. It blends historical fiction, mystery, romance, and women’s fiction into one layered and emotionally rich story. Most of the novel takes place in 1942 and follows two sisters trying to keep their family farm going on Martha’s Vineyard as the war begins to reach their doorstep. With U-boats spotted just offshore, rumors of spies, a forbidden romance, and the formation of a wartime book club, their quiet island life becomes anything but ordinary.

In the present day, Mari Starwood visits the island after her mother’s passing, hoping to uncover more about her family’s past. What she finds ties her to the Vineyard in ways she never expected.

Martha Hall Kelly’s writing pulled me right in. She brings Martha’s Vineyard to life in such a vivid way - the setting practically leaps off the page. I also loved the alternating perspectives. Each one felt distinct, heartfelt, and really well developed. The 1940s storyline was especially absorbing, full of tension, tenderness, and a strong sense of sisterhood. I’ve read a lot of WWII books, but I didn’t know much about the U-boats off the East Coast or how the war impacted this part of the U.S. That historical angle felt unique and informative.

It was also fascinating to learn that many of the plot points were inspired by real events. Don’t skip the author’s note! It adds some great context and I absolutely loved her personal connection to the story.

My only small critique is that I didn’t connect with the present-day storyline quite as much as the historical one, but it’s a smaller part of the novel and didn’t take away from the overall experience.

I really recommend this one and just loved the characters so much. If you enjoy historical fiction, stories about strong women, or books that truly transport you to another time and place, definitely add this to your list. I think book clubs will have a lot to talk about.

✨ Out May 27, 2025!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a beautiful story. I do love the nostalgic cover, but I do worry others wouldn’t pick it up because of that.

Martha Hall Kelly has done it again with The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club! This novel delivers a compelling story with well-developed characters and an engaging plot that kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially loved immersing myself in the world of the Smith girls—it felt like I was right there alongside them. Kelly’s rich storytelling and attention to historical detail make this another unforgettable read. Highly recommend!

Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is inspired by the author’s family history and summers spent on the island off the coast of Massachusetts. Martha Hall Kelly blends the two timelines into a puzzling mystery sketched out for Mari Starwood by the local artist Mrs. Devereaux. The story of sisters Cadence and Briar Smith during 1942 is filled with historical details but the main spotlight is on those left behind on Martha’s Vineyard. The visual, aromatic descriptions of the community of Vineyard Haven, the honeysuckle hedges, and the local lore depict Martha’s special love for the island. This novel pays tribute to the bonds of sisterhood, familial relationships, and the profound impacts of war through the conflict involving Cadence and Briar, the plight of Tom and Bess, and the life-changing discovery on the North Shore.
My favorite character is Cadence, whose side hustle is writing summaries and reviews. The wealthy women involved in publishing who visit the island, support Cadence and add an unexpected suspenseful layer to her dreams of working in New York City; it’s an exhilarating but exasperating thread in the novel. Briar, the quirky, independent, brilliant 16-year-old sister is a font of war information for her family and the reader! I enjoyed the precocious banter between “Briar the Liar” and the FBI agent, McManus.
There are several characters who add uncertainty and excitement to the plot. The suspicious activities of Tyson and Sandra, along with the encouraging, pie-baking Gram, and mostly irritating, unlikeable Margaret-a Jane Austen fan, so she earns points there- all have parts in the story being told by Mrs. Devereaux. MHK has an uncanny sense of ending chapters at a point where one simply must keep reading.
As the title suggests, Martha’s Vineyard Beach & Book Club is at the heart of the book. Like most book clubs, the book choice and discussion are important, but so is connecting daily lives! I love how Cadence calls impromptu meetings and announces the book choice in her weekly column! It turns out the Putnam yacht, Never Moor, plays a delightful role, a treat for the book club and for readers. Yes, the Putnam that published Edgar Allen Poe-you’ll learn so much, plus the club’s fabulous classic book choices.
Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a puzzling mystery and love story. A bracelet of golden hearts links three generations through devotion to family and choices forced by war.

This fine book is an example of what I love best about great historical fiction, i.e.,fresh insights to a part of history I know little about. In this case, I learned about the role of Martha’s Vineyard in early WWII, specifically 1942 ,where military training including on the beach was conducted in preparation for the upcoming Normandy landing. One major character was a British major, Major Gilbert, who was in charge of the training. Apparently there were British being trained as well for the landing. The effect and restrictions on local residents is well-described, i.e. trampled gardens and soldiers traversing their property on the way to the beach/water for practice. There is a brief mention of gas restrictions on personal vehicles and on car lights at night, again which again I hadn’t heard about in the US.

The main family characterized is the Smith family, consisting of “Gram” (Virginia), and the sisters Cadence and Briar, brother Tom being away fighting as a soldier.. They rent Copper Pond Farm which provides their income, so their crops being trampled early on is a difficult issue. Bess, Tom’s fiancee, from a wealthy family who has ostracized her for dating a man who is non-high society, lives and works on the farm, helping to provide income to support the Smiths.

The other great insight this book provided me was the extensive Nazi U-2 activity off the US East Coast and particularly Martha’s Vineyard area. While I had read occasional tidbits about this, the book provided a more complete picture, and also touched on German “Bund” (pro-Nazi) activity specifically on Long Island, as related to Tyson Schmidt’s character and parents

While brief portions of the book occur in 2016, relating to a young woman named Mari’s visit to the former farm to visit its caretaker, artist Mrs. Devereaux, they provide more of an adjunct to the main wartime story.

I would highly recommend this book for its many plot twists and turns which engrossed me, its excellent portrayals of high society and middle class on the island, and fine characterizations. The author’s note is also very interesting and provides additional historical context.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

Did I squeal/scream/freak out when I got the email that I was approved for an early ARC for Martha Hall Kelly’s new novel. She is one of my favorite authors and her new book does not disappoint.

Her book brings to life Martha’s Vineyard during wartime with the Smith sisters. I absolutely loved every character… every word… every thing. Go ahead and buy this book because you will want to revisit this beautiful story. Also, I always adore reading her author’s note as she has some of the most fascinating background on where she gets her story ideas so make sure to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the stars!!!!!

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is historical fiction taking place on Martha’s Vineyard told via a dual timeline narrative: one in 1942 (during WWII ) and the other in the present day. In 1942 we meet two sisters (Cadence and Briar Smith) after their brother Tom goes off to fight in Europe. It’s up to the two of them, their friend Bess, and their mother to keep the family farm running while military maneuvers are taking place on the island and German U-boats are spotted offshore. In the present day, Mari goes to Martha’s Vineyard following the death of her mother when she learns of her mother’s correspondence with the artist Elizabeth Devereaux. Eventually, the two timelines merge and we learn the connections between the present and the past. An enjoyable read with compelling characters.

Thanks to Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly.

I love MHK's books and this was such a fun historical fiction. I LOVE that MHK uses her mom's experiences growing up on Martha's Vineyard and stories she told about living on the island during World War II as partial inspiration for the book.

This is a dual timeline told in 2016 when Mari comes to Martha's Vineyard because her late mom had the name Elizabeth Devereaux on a piece of paper and she needs to find out why. The 1942 timeline as Cadence and Briar Smith are trying to keep their family farm going and they create a book club with their friend Bess.

I love how the book unfolded, It was interesting to read a home front WWII book, especially with the u-boats and the training that took place on the island. The research and notes about research in the authors note were wonderful.

This was a great book about friendship, family and dreams. I love MHK's writing! I'm excited to be seeing her on tour for this book!

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club comes out May 27th and I highly recommend reading it!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, out May 27, 2025.

I absolutely love reading books set on Martha's Vineyard, one of my favorite places on Earth. I'm sure my love for the island and my personal history of vacationing there every summer influenced how much I enjoyed this book, but I learned so many things about this place I though I knew so much about. It was so nostalgic, but also very engaging and intriguing.

I especially loved the WW2 timeline and the author's connection of many of the characters to real people. I did feel that the present day timeline was lacking more depth but understand it's role in the story overall.

Highly recommend this one if you love historical fiction and especially if you have connections to the Vineyard!

I enjoyed this multiple point of view book. The author did a wonderful job giving details from each perspective to build upon the storyline. It brought in historical aspects of WWII as well as life on Martha’s Vineyard. Definitely read the authors note at the end as the book is loosely based on personal stories.