This is a warm, feel-good summer read about friendship, fresh starts, and the healing power of a good book club. Set on beautiful Martha’s Vineyard, the story brings together a group of women, each facing her own challenges, who find comfort and connection through books and each other.

Easy to enjoy, the perfect beach read!

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club
by Martha Hall Kelly

I adore spending time at the beach, nestled beneath a yellow beach umbrella with sand warm between my toes. The salty breeze carries the scent of the sea, mingling seamlessly with the familiar aroma of sunscreen, while a captivating book rests in my hands. If you’re searching for that ideal beach read, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Martha's Vineyard Beach & Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly.

This novel takes you on a journey that begins in present-day 2016 & swiftly transports you back to 1942. At its heart, it tells the story of the Smith sisters, Cadence & Briar & their friend Bess. Their remarkable journey is one you won't want to miss. The story is inspired by Martha Hall Kelly's family history on Martha's Vineyard. She spent a great deal of time researching WWII life on the island & all of that effort enriches the narrative. The novel kicks off with the intriguing Elizabeth Devereaux, a reclusive, aging icon of the art world residing on Martha's Vineyard, & 34-year-old Mari Starwood, who finds herself granted access to the icon through a private art class with Ms. Devereaux.

I truly appreciated how beautifully the past, present, & hints of the future intertwine throughout the story. The cast of characters is vividly portrayed, even those who grace the pages only briefly. You’re sure to find a favorite among the many fictional characters. Briar spoke to me with all her eccentricities.

By the end, the two stories weave masterfully into one, providing a satisfying glimpse into what lies ahead for our central character, Mari. The prose is exquisite, and the setting is simply ideal, transporting readers to another time and place. This book is a perfect choice for book clubs, brimming with themes ripe for discussion. I found myself reluctant to reach the end, but grateful for the journey. Who wouldn’t want to explore Martha’s Vineyard, whether in the past, the present, or simply through the pages of a beautifully crafted story?

Thanks are extended to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for ARC.

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I loved how the events unfolded, and the fact that they're based on a true story made them even more special. I loved the book club angle and the message that books can bind us and save us.

I was so excited to read this book as soon as I saw the title! Bookish books are so fun! I really enjoyed this book and the suspense leading up to the climax of the book. The last few chapters were kind of a let down for me as they weren't as exciting as the rest of the book. I loved the modern day storyline too and wish we could have had more of it. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! Thanks to netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I have to admit that this is my first Martha Hall Kelly book. I’ve had LILAC GIRLS on my shelf for years, yet still haven’t read it. I was completely excited about this one, and I thought it would be the perfect read for me. It’s a sister story set during WWII, where they start a book club, and it features a dual timeline—all things I would typically love.

First, we meet Mari, traveling to Martha’s Vineyard in 2016 to try to find out more information about her deceased mother. The chapters with Mari were limited, and I often forgot there was even a present-day character. I actually think her story was fairly unnecessary.

The Smith family sisters are helping their Gram run their family farm right next to the ocean on Martha’s Vineyard. Since the war is going on, the area is used for training for the military, and their farm is in the center of the training. Young women and military men nearby mean there is likely to be a bit of romance as well as struggles due to the military’s demands and expectations.

“They say you should have one friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry, and Bess Stanhope was both.”

Cadence is an aspiring writer, and her sister, Briar, is a bit of a tomboy who sits in her tree watching for the German U-boat that she swears she keeps seeing offshore. Unfortunately, no one will believe her. Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club that, besides reading the classics, also includes creating books for the troops, including Cadence and Briar’s brother, Tom, who has been sent off to war. Bess and Tom are in love, but Bess’s wealthy mother does not approve of their relationship.

“Sometimes it was helpful to have an overly inquisitive sister.”

When a mysterious man washes ashore, possibly from the suspected U-boat, everything felt a bit far-fetched and over-the-top to me. I think there was just too much going on all at once, and I felt it took the enjoyment of the reading away from me.

“Celia lit a cigarette, ‘They say television will be the death of reading.'”

The one thing I will say about Kelly’s writing is that she does a really good job of leaving a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. She makes you want to keep reading to know what will happen next, big or small. The author’s note at the end offered her reason for writing the story, her personal connection to it, and actual historical information used in the story. I appreciated knowing that Martha’s Vineyard was really a training area for the military, and many of the things mentioned in the story were based on fact.

Martha Hall Kelly definitely immerses you into the lives of her characters and the place. But I felt like the excessive details and constant drama took away from really enjoying the story. This isn’t a story you can just read a few chapters at a time. There are so many things happening, it can be hard to pick back up and remember all that was going on since the last time you read it. I am certain that there was extensive research done for this story, and the personal connection made this even more special for the author. I just think a few things could have been cut, including Mari’s story and Cadence’s articles, as well as some of the far-fetched happenings.

Loved this enjoyable beach read / summer book. I finished it while on the airplane and it transported me to another place and time. A fun one for book clubs as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. It’s actually a DNF at 40%, but NetGalley wouldn’t allow me to not give any stars, so I gave it 3⭐️. It’s not a poorly written book, it just wasn’t good enough for me to continue. So sorry, but I do think others may like this book if you like more of a slow character story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD BOOK AND BEACH CLUB to get ready for trip — New England island life vibes for days! It’s a sweet book about a group of girlies on Martha’s Vineyard during WWII. There are lil romances, espionage, reading and writing and big dreaming!

I much preferred the historic timeline and wanted more from the modern timeline. Though it all tied together well in the end. Audiobook was fab! Got a full cast for all the girlies.

This was such an amazing read. I loved seeing the POVs between Briar and Cadence, and eventually Bess near the end. I did feel like Mari was a little insufferable at the beginning, but by the end I liked her too. I really enjoyed seeing this aspect of WW2 since most books are written from the viewpoint of someone in Europe or the Pacific. This one was written from the viewpoint of girls from the home front. Briar was so witty and funny how she was constantly spying and thought she was being discreet. She and Cadence also had a realistic sister relationship.

There were definitely times when I was laughing at this book, but also so many times that I just wanted to cry with the characters!!! Ugh I felt so heartbroken by the end with the way Bess’s mother treated her. I felt like this book was emotional while also being lighthearted. The girls’ brother had been shipped off to war and they were worried for him and were also housing a German defector. They were also having their book club on the beach, Cadence was working hard to get into the publishing industry, and they found time for a little fun. But during all of this, they were aware of a German spy among them and the lengths they went to find out who it was, was just so funny at times.

I thought I had the ending figured out on who Mrs. D was and who Mari was, but honestly I was so shocked to find out how it all tied together. I was guessing the whole book and by the end did not guess who was who. It was such a sweet story!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this beautiful book! I absolutely loved Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club! It’s a heartfelt story that effortlessly moves between past and present, set against the backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard—a setting that felt both cozy and emotionally rich!

The characters, especially the Smith sisters (Briar and Ginny) and their sister-in-law Bess, felt instantly likable and real. I loved how each woman had her own passion—whether it was watching for enemy boats, writing, or just trying to hold everything together during incredibly difficult times! There’s also an intriguing mystery that added tension and depth, keeping me curious until the end!

One of my favorite elements was the way the story honored books and the power of reading! The idea of a book club created to help soldiers connect to stories without extra weight—both literal and emotional—was so touching! This book is a beautiful reminder of how stories and family can hold us together, even in the hardest moments!

Highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction with heart, mystery, and strong female characters!

This was a 6 star book! I absolutely loved it!! Could not put it down! I’ve already ordered some of this authors other books! So excited I found her! I loved the characters and the story! I did not see the ending coming! It touched my heart so much! One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!!! Thank you 💗

Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls was one of my top two reads last year. It stuck with me long after I read it, having read it in May and it still being on my top list at the end of December. Of course I had to read the newest one when I received the offer!

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club features a dual timeline, with present day Mari on a quest in Martha's Vineyard to figure out a connection based on the name of a reclusive painter. The past timeline takes place in the 1940s, also on Martha's Vineyard, where the Smith sisters are struggling during the war with their family farm, the US Army in the area, and the presence of German boats in the waters offshore. A body that washes up on shore puts the sisters and their book club in a precarious position as the war seems to have come to their shores.

I definitely did not know any of the history behind this book. Despite a lot of WW2 reading, I have never seen much about German U-boats reaching America or the war effort along the East Coast to provide defenses. The author does another admiral job with the story, definitely keeping the readers interest as the chapters flip back and forth between WW2 and the present day. I'm definitely glad I was able to grab an advanced copy and can't wait till her next book.

Did not love this. I wanted to like it more. It just seemed a little boring for me and maybe I am not the intended audience

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!

I enjoyed this story within a story that switched back and forth between 1940s World War II and 2016. Mari Starwood, a 23 year old girl from 2016 visits Martha's Vineyard. She is meeting Mrs. Deveraux to take a painting class. Instead, she ends up hearing a story about the people and events from the same place in the 1940s. A place where soldiers trained for WWII. Throughout the story, Mari wonders what the relevance of the story is to her own life. I gave this book 4 rather than a 5 due to the pacing. At times, the story was very interesting-- at times intriguing or suspenseful. In other places, the story lagged a bit.

fun, well-written, dual timeline book with some great ideas and vibes. in additon, the setting is well-placed and the time-swaps work well. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a wonderfully written World War II historical fiction novel set on the beloved island off of Cape Cod. Written by Martha Hall Kelly, author of Lilac Girls and The Golden Doves, this novel has drama, intrigue, and a touch of wholesome romance. Highly recommend, four stars!

This book started out slow for me. I was worried I wasn’t going to enjoy it. But it quickly picked up and I was invested in the story. The story is set (naturally) on Martha’s Vineyard. It is told to Mari by Mrs. Devereaux. Mari is on Martha’s Vineyard to paint with Mrs. Devereaux. But Mrs. Devereaux has other plans. She tells Mari a story of the Smith Family who lived on her farm during World War II. Although Mari finds the story interesting, she doesn’t understand why it would be of importance to her. As the story unfolds, I actually forgot that it was basically a story inside a story. The ending of both stories were intricately woven together. It's a must read.

Once again this author does not disappoint. This is a story about a family living in Martha's Vineyard in 1942. The storyline is interesting telling stories about this time period. I did know that there was mistrust toward people of German and Japanese descent at that time, however I never knew German subs came so close to our shores. The characters are so well written and the storyline so interesting that I didn't want the book to end. The author's notes at the end of the book went into greater detail about the time period and was very enlightening. I recommend this book - I didn't want it to end. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, readers are treated to a sweeping dual-timeline novel that blends historical intrigue, family secrets, and the quiet power of storytelling. Set against the lush, windswept backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard, this emotionally rich novel explores how the past and present collide through one woman’s search for identity.
In 2016, Mari Starwood arrives on the island reeling from her mother’s death, clutching a single name: Elizabeth Devereaux. What begins as an innocent painting class quickly unravels into something deeper as Elizabeth shares the long-buried story of the Smith sisters—Cadence and Briar—who struggled to hold their farm together during the height of WWII. As Mari listens, she uncovers startling truths about her own lineage and a legacy tied to courage, love, and resilience.
The historical sections are particularly compelling. Cadence, a budding writer, and Briar, her headstrong younger sister, are portrayed with nuance and heart as they confront not only the trials of war, but the complexities of growing up. The book club they form becomes a lifeline—a symbol of hope and community as they navigate threats of espionage, forbidden love, and the moral gray areas of wartime.
What sets this novel apart is its ability to weave historical drama with emotional intimacy. The mystery of the spy, the haunting presence of U-boats, and the sisters’ entanglements with soldiers and secrets create suspense, while the quiet moments—of friendship, grief, and creative passion—give the story depth and warmth.
Perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Paris Library, this is a book about women finding their voices in times of silence, and the unexpected connections that span generations.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A heartwarming, atmospheric, and quietly thrilling novel that celebrates the enduring power of books, family, and resilience.

Set between present day and World War II, this was a solid and entertaining read. I would have preferred a quicker story pace at times. I will absolutely look into this author’s backlist. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this one!