I have been an admirer of Martha Hall Kelly's work, ever since reading the Lilac Girls. I eagerly dove into her latest, Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. And I can confidently say, it did not disappoint. This novel is, without a doubt, a fantastic summer read – the kind you pack for a beach vacation or enjoy curled up on a porch with a cool drink.
Kelly has a remarkable talent for weaving historical detail into engaging fiction, and she truly shines once again in this story. I enjoyed learning about Martha's Vineyard's role during World War II. Like many, I had no idea of its significance during that time, and Kelly brings this piece of history vividly to life. It's this blend of compelling characters, a beautiful setting, and fascinating historical revelation that makes her books so uniquely satisfying.
The narrative unfolds with a delightful pace, drawing you into the lives of the characters and the unique charm of the Vineyard. It's a perfect blend of escapism and enlightenment, making you feel as though you've spent a summer on the island yourself, discovering its secrets alongside the protagonists.
For fans of historical fiction, particularly those who appreciate stories driven by strong female characters and rich, meticulously researched backdrops, Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is an absolute must-read. If you loved Lilac Girls, you'll find a similar warmth and depth here, making it a perfect addition to your summer reading list.

The Martha’s. Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly starts as Mari Starwood is still mourning the death of her mother and decides to travel cross country to find the woman whose name was written on a scrap of paper by her now deceased mother. Once Mari finds Elizabeth Devereaux, she hears the story of the Smith family on Martha’s Vineyard.

I went into this blind and was hoping for more of a focus on the book club that’s in the title. I love historical fiction, so I still enjoyed the book- it just wasn’t quite what I had assumed from the title. I will definitely read future books by Hall Kelly!

I absolutely loved this book and recommended it to my bookclub for our June selection that we will be discussing at the beach!

Already a fan of Martha Hall Kelly’s storytelling, this one draws you right in and keeps you engaged until the very end just like her prior books. Martha’s Author note should not be missed as it is both incredibly informative and heartwarming with personal experiences abound.

It was such a pleasure to host Martha at the Fairfield Public Library in Fairfield, CT to celebrate The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club on publication day!!! Listening to her discuss the book and the history surrounding it firsthand was thrilling!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc.

I thought this might be a good book for my book club (based solely on the title), and I was pleasantly surprised when NetGalley offered me an advance copy. There are two distinct story lines here: family drama revolving around the Smith family and the impact the Second World War had on Martha’s Vineyard. I am probably in the minority, but I found the latter more compelling. There was also a weak dual time line but this book would have been just as good without it. The characters were interesting, and the whole U Boat, German spy story was believable. Another decent read from this author. (I also enjoyed Lilac Girls)

Many people today know little about World War II or its impact in the U.S. Fortunately the war provides a good historical setting to explore people's lives diving that time. This is the first novel I have read by Martha Hall Kelly, whose historical fiction novel, The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, is set against the war as it impacts 3 teenage girls, who must grow up and become women seemingly overnight. Cadence, Briar, and Bess are teenagers in 1942, when watching the ocean for German U-boats is a part of daily living in Martha's Vineyard. After their older brother enlists, it is up to Gram and these 3 girls to keep the farm going. Cadence and Briar are sisters, and Bess, who moves to the farm to escape her domineering mother, is their brother's girlfriend.. To help these girls cope with the changes brought on by the war, the girls form a bookclub, using the novels discarded by wealthy women vacationing on the island as their literary choice.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club includes dual timelines, 1942 and 2016, as well as several POV. The 1942 timeline is the dominant timeline. The U.S. home front is about love, romance, spies, danger, risk, illness, a German deserter, 3 strong women, class struggle, dreams of escape, American and British soldiers, and deception. The 2016 section is about Mari, who comes to Martha's Vineyard hoping for answers about her mother, who is recently deceased. In some sections of the novel, the pace is a bit slower than I had expected, but then again, in the final chapter, the pace picks up so quickly that it is difficult to grasp all the lines of plot that must be tied up.

I do wish for better character development, but with so many characters and the war background, plus romance, more character development gets lost. Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for proving this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I do recommend The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. I think it works well to capture life on Martha's Vineyard during the war.

This book was a fun read! I enjoyed the characters and the different viewpoints, especially the ones written in the 1940s. The plot moved along well and drew the reader in quickly. It was interesting to read about World War II and the effects it had on the people of Martha's Vineyard. Although I enjoyed the book, I felt that there were parts that could have been developed further. The plot line in 2016 was one of those parts. I didn't feel like these characters were developed as well as the ones in the past. As a reader, I wanted more in-depth information about these two characters, and there were also plot lines in the past that could have had more development as well. Some characters, such as Margaret and Peter, lacked depth, and their storyline just stopped and left the reader wondering. It also didn't seem realistic that these women from publishing would just become friends with the farm women because of something she wrote in a small town paper, and then offer her a job even though she had not been educated. But I enjoyed reading the book as I do all of Martha Hall Kelly's books. I thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This one is a historical fiction book set in two time frames: 2016 and WWII set on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a fast-paced read, it was beautifully written. It held my interest and I found the characters really likable.
Highly recommended if you like very good historical books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club Honest ARC Review:

Beautifully written and captivating, this is sure to lure you in.

Mari Starwood traveled from California to Martha’s Vineyard in a quest to discover the significance of a name she found written on a piece of paper following her mother’s death. Elizabeth Devereaux, whose name was written on the mysterious paper , introduces Mari to the world of Martha’s Vineyard during WW2 through the eyes of two sisters.

Two sisters found Hope through the island book club created for women as World War Two raged.

The Smith girls were Cadence and Briar. Cadence was an aspiring writer while Briar believed she saw German U-boats often as she became quite concerned and anxious about the war.

A mysterious man washed ashore with claims that a spy was present on the island. As you can imagine, this cause quite the stir on the island.

This was a beautiful story of trial and tribulation as the Smith sisters, their grandmother and their friend Bess worked through daily life while the country was at War. Set in the beautiful coastal atmosphere of Martha’s Vineyard, this was enjoyable to read.

This is a fantastic addition to your TBR if you enjoy reading historical fiction and feeling like you are whisked away to a gorgeous island! I took my time reading this as I found the characters entertaining, the story to be full of heartwarming adventure and the description to be detailed.

The ending did not disappoint! It wrapped up in ways I couldn’t have predicted and was absolutely brilliant.

Thank you so much for sharing this ARC with me.

Two sisters form a book club during WWII. This is the start of adventures during their quest to design smaller books for the military men to carry with them.

A mysterious stranger brings a tense series of events to their farm. These sisters and their grandmother have to navigate hardships of war without the guidance of the men.

This is told in a dual timeliness with the present and in 1942 about this same farm. The history mixes with the present to unfold the lineage of the land.

A gripping story unfolds that compels the reader to put all the pieces from the past, together to the current time. The characters were likeable, and some were amiable at first but made you wonder about their intentions.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheMarthasVineyardBeachandBookClub
#HistoricalFiction ##WomensFiction #BeachandBooks #WWII

Another great book by Martha Hall Kelly. I was lucky to receive an advance copy but wasn’t able to read it quickly enough to review it before publish date. Very well written fact based account of WWII Martha’s Vineyard. I highly recommend.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a historical novel told in two timelines. In 2016, Mari Starwood visits Martha's Vineyard to meet artist Elizabeth Devereaux, based on finding her name on a piece of paper at her late mother's house. In 1942, sisters Cadence and Briar Smith are living on the island with their beloved Gram. Cadence wants to be a writer, and her younger sister Briar is obsessed with war and the idea that there could be U-Boats off the coast. One summer everything changes on the island.

I wanted to read this book because I love historical fiction, love books set in the 1940's, and found the Martha's Vineyard summer setting intriguing.

This is a lovely book. I read it in record time because I couldn't put it down! I finished reading in the wee hours of the morning today, long after my bedtime.

I especially loved the 1940's story of the Smith girls, their family, friends, and adventures - the heightened feelings of living during the WWII home front years. There is a mystery that connects the 1940's and the 2016 storyline - I figured it out early on and was happy when the characters did as well!

The storytelling is lovely with rich and evocative descriptions. This book is strongly character driven, and I absolutely loved the characters - especially the Smith family. There is a fascinating subplot about Armed Services Editions (ASEs) for servicemen during WWII.

I very highly recommend The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club for other fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who loves reading about the 1940's.

What a wonderful story about friendship and finding a way to make it through during the war. I love learning about how others cope in that time and this story brought light to a few things I hadn’t known about, particularly the ASE editions of books for the enlisted. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and following along as they tried to root out the spy in their midst. The addition of the newer timeline doesn’t really add much to the story but I did enjoy the wrap up at the end.

Dear Fellow Reader,

Last December, I mentioned that sometimes I get books so far in advance that I don’t know if I should write and post the review in advance or wait and post it when the book comes out. I hate telling you about a book that you can’t get if you are interested. I also admitted that reading the book and writing the review are two different things and that while I have gotten better at reading the books before they come out, I fall behind in writing the reviews.

I am redeeming myself a bit with this review. I was given this book so much in advance of its publication that I would never remember it if I put off writing the review. So here I am, I read the book six months ago and it just came out a few weeks ago.

But I really enjoyed it. I want you to read it. This is the third Martha Hall Kelly book that I have reviewed. I reviewed Lost Roses in 2019 (a https://cecooney.com/2019/04/09/lost-roses-by-martha-hall-kelly/) and The Golden Doves in 2023. (https://cecooney.com/2023/06/07/the-golden-doves-by-martha-hall-kelly/_ I like her books.


The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a historical fiction book that takes place both in 1941 and 2016. In 1941, we meet sisters Cadence Smith and her sister, Briar Smith, and their almost sister-in-law, Beth. They are living on the family farm on Martha’s Vineyard, trying to make it. World War II is raging in Europe, and Briar is on the lookout for German U-boats off the coast. She is sure there is something out there, but no one will listen to her. Her sister, Cadence, is working at the Beach Club with Beth, trying to make some extra money while serving the rich people who come to Martha’s Vineyard. She meets and becomes friendly with a woman from New York who can offer her the career opportunity she wants.

Meanwhile, in 2016, we meet Mari Starwood, who has come to Martha’s Vineyard to meet and have an art lesson with Elizabeth Devereaux, a famous painter. Mari’s mother has died, and she is at loose ends in her life.

As the book moves back and forth in time, we learn about how the Army’s arrival in 1941 on the island to train recruits and how this affects the girl’s future. Then the story is tied together in the current day.

I am finding it hard to say too much about the plot as it is so intertwined. Did I see what was coming? Not completely. There are several twists and turns and losses in the story. As I said before, I enjoyed the book and I think you will too. There is good character development and interesting personal stories. I liked that it was a World War II historical fiction that takes place in the U.S. Something different for me.

I suppose the most important part is that I really liked this book. I keep telling people about it.

Thanks for reading!

This book was given to me in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

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4.5 stars rounded up. This personal story, inspired by true events, engrossed me from the first chapter. Like the author, I have a soft spot for the special island of Martha's Vineyard, with family who has lived on the island for generations, including during WWII.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a dual timeline story that vacillates between 2016 and 1942. In 2016, we follow the FMC Mari as she travels to the island of MV for the first time, following a lead left by her recently deceased mother. Knowing the island well myself, I appreciated the author's detailed description of MV, which makes the reader feel transported to this magical place. Mari arrives under the guise of being an art student taking lessons from an older famous artist, Elizabeth Devereaux.

Elizabeth begins to share stories of the island during WWII with Mari, focusing on two sisters named Briar and Cadence, in particular. With their brother off to war, they are living with their grandmother and their brother's fiance while trying to maintain the family farm. Briar, who has a particular interest in the military, spots a German submarine just off the coast that appears to be spying on the island. But when she reports this to the Coast Guard and other authorities, no one believes her.

Then, a foreign man washes ashore and he is rescued and hidden by the girls and their family. He claims that there's a spy in their midst who is secretly helping the Germans. Of course, they find this hard to believe on such a small island, where everyone knows one another. The family must decide whether he is an enemy deceiving them and turn him into the authorities, versus investigating the claim themselves. The sisters decide to seek their own answers, leading the reader to follow along on this historical mystery. By the end, it all comes together nicely and we understand how this past story relates to the modern timeline with Mari and Elizabeth.

I also really enjoyed author's note at the end of the story, in which she shares more history and details about the real-life islanders and their lives during this time period. You could tell that Martha Hall Kelly was really inspired to share her knowledge of the island and she accomplished this with a heartwarming and intriguing novel! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Told in a dual time line, the reader is taken to the beautiful Martha's Vineyard to learn of family lost and then found. In present day, we find Mari who has recently lost her mother. Before her death, she was going from California to Martha's Vineyard to meet renowned artist Elizabeth Devereaux. With nothing holding Mari to California, she sets out to seek what her mother was doing. Elizabeth is a mysterious character and starts telling Mari about the island and two Smith sisters who lived there in 1942. Most of the book is told in this flash back time and the reader wonders where this is going, but keep reading as it all ties together in a big bow.
The Smith sisters, Cadence and her younger sibling Briar live with their grandmother on the island and are trying to survive on the family farm with their brother Tom. This is a wonderful read about how the war affected this family and it's impact on this island. The Army moves in to do training, Briar keeps a look out for German subs along the coastline. The characters are well defined and brought to life through these girls. The book club to me had a minor influence on the story, but Cadence's newspaper articles were a delight. I highly recommend this book for the historical aspect and the strong family ties.

As the book opens, Mari Starwood, an aspiring artist, is traveling to Martha's Vineyard from California. Now alone in the world, she meets with artist Elizabeth Devereaux. Upon arrival, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell Mari the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived on the farm where she now lives.

During the second World War, Martha's Vineyard was a training ground for the US Army. Their brother Tom is sent overseas and after he leaves, his upper class girl friend learns she is expecting a baby. They are all thrilled and plan on a marriage when Tom returns. Briar, one of the sisters, is fascinated with the war and is frequently reporting seeing U-boats off shore. The home guard become annoyed with Briar's constant reports. Her sister Cadence wants to work in the publishing industry so she and Bess, Tom's girl, start a book club. Briar gets dragged into meetings on occasion but she would much rather spend her time looking for Germans and remembering her late neighbor, a native German who was kind to her and had a short wave radio.

Mrs. Devereaux tells Mari the story in bits and pieces, with the plot jumping back and forth from the past to the present. The family all live in danger during the war--it appears there is a spy on the island. One Briar is determined to locate. One night a man washes ashore and ends up with the Smiths. Is he the spy? Or is it a relative of the deceased neighbor? Or someone else? Will Briar end up with a bad end because of her curiosity?

This story will have readers enthralled and as eager to hear the end as Mari Starwood becomes.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction and anyone who likes a good tale. The book includes romance, mystery, war intrigue, sadness, and joy.

This is a very good story which takes place during WWII at Martha's Vineyard. 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.

Mari's mother recently passed away, and Mari found a cryptic note connecting her mother to famous New England artist Elizabeth Deveraux. She goes to visit her and finds out the connection.

This story centers around the Smith family, Gram; sisters Cadence and Briar, brother Thomas and his girlfriend Bess, during WWII and their struggle to keep the family farm together. It is a story about Cadence and Bess starting a book club and a plan to get miniature books to the soldiers that are stationed on the island. It is a story about young Briar and her obsession with German U-boats off the coast of the island. And as their brother Thomas goes off to fight there are rumors of a spy living amounts them. But when an Army troop moves in for training and German U boats are spotted off the coast, their lives are turned upside down. In a time when everyone is under suspicion for harboring sympathies with the Nazis, the sisters must work together to keep their family safe.

I enjoyed this story of family life during the war on the island, the strength of family and the difficult choices that were made. The author' note is a wonderful chapter to end this book with the tie-ins to real history on Martha's Vineyard in WWII. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a good Mystery and Historical Fiction!

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly, although primarily set during WWII, feels markedly lighter overall than some of her previous novels (and spoiler alert: I loved it!).

Set in dual timelines, we meet sisters Briar and Cadence Smith who are living on Martha’s Vineyard during WWII and trying to make ends meet on their Grandma’s farm. When a man washes ashore near their farm, their world is thrown into chaos with rumors of a spy on the island, troops training nearby, and suspicious items turning up nearby.

In 2016, Mari Starwood arrives on Nantucket to meet a reclusive painter while grieving her mother’s death. When the painter begins telling her the long ago story of the Smith sisters, Mari begins to realize there is more to her own personal history than she ever knew.

With the perfect balance of summertime island vibes and the emotional punch of wartime historical fiction, this is this year’s perfect beach read.

This novel begins in 2016, when Mari travels to Martha’s Vineyard to meet Elizabeth Devereaux after finding her name in her dead mother’s belongings with no idea why. But the bulk of the story is set in 1942, part of a story that Elizabeth relates, about sisters Cadence and Briar Smith and their friend (who’s also their brother’s fiancee) Bess. The women live with their grandmother, work on the farm, and start the book club of the title. They also get to know the soldiers training on the Vineyard, and no one believes Briar that she keeps seeing a German U boat off shore - not to mention get caught up in the search for a German spy on the island.

Don’t let the cover and title fool you - there’s a lot of substance and some heavy stuff in this one, though it is lighter than Martha Hall Kelly’s other books. I’ve read all five of her historical novels including this one, and have loved them all - she’s definitely an auto-read author for me. If you have enjoyed her other books, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too. And if you haven’t read her other books, I’d say if you enjoy Beatriz Williams’ books you’ll enjoy this one, and I recommend her other books too though those are a little heavier war books. (I also had the opportunity to meet her last year and she was so sweet.)

I greatly enjoyed this story that explores Martha’s Vineyard during the 2nd World War. It describes how a family of women dealt with the island being brought into WW I through the island being used to train soldiers and the threat of war hitting close to home when German U boats are spotted close to shore and one German soldier ends up washing along shot near the Smith’s family home. I liked how the author used books as a theme throughout the book, creating a book club for women as well as giving books to the soldiers on the island. It was an interesting story and I was not familiar at all that Marty’s Vineyard was actually used for military training during this time. It was very well written. The one weakness I have is that there was not enough that connected the modern storyline of the Smith’s family great granddaughter with the rest of the novel however that is a very minor point.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC and Martha Hall Kelly for the very interesting read.