Once again, Martha Hall Kelly has delivered a historical fiction story inspired by her family’s history.

The Beach and Book Club centered around the Smith family farm on the Northern shores of Martha’s Vineyard during WWII. I loved every member of the Smith family, and while previous Kelly books held heavy sinister tones, this one was somewhat lighter. And as usual, the author’s notes at the end made me appreciate the book even more.

Briar and Cadence were both charming. Cadence showed more depth of character than I expected. Briar was interesting from the very start. And Bess was an unexpected treasure.

I was surprised to learn of the U.S. military drills on the shores of Martha’s Vineyard, where they practiced for the invasion of France.

Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for review.
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"The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a charming and delightful read that captures the essence of friendship and community. The story revolves around a group of diverse characters who come together to share their love for books, leading to heartfelt conversations and personal growth. The beautiful setting of Martha's Vineyard adds to the overall appeal, making it a perfect backdrop for their adventures. With engaging writing and relatable themes, this book is a warm reminder of the power of literature and connection. A must-read for book lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly. I'm familiar with Kelly's work, having read her previous novel Lilac Girls a few years ago. Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a fast-paced novel set during WWII, with the unique twist of taking place in Martha's Vineyard rather than Europe, where most WWII novels are typically set. The story alternates between present day and the early 1940s, focusing on a group of women, their friendships, and the book club they establish. This book is truly a delight to read!

Martha Hall Kelly’s The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a must-read that beautifully blends gripping historical fiction with the warmth of familial bonds. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard in 1942, this novel tells the story of two sisters, their grandmother, and a would-be sister-in-law who form a book club to find solace amid the turmoil of World War II.

Kelly’s storytelling shines as she skillfully intertwines personal struggles with the historical realities of the time. One sister faces skepticism after claiming to see U-boats lurking offshore, while the other navigates a budding romance with a military man stationed on the island, all while pursuing her dreams in publishing. The narrative is filled with suspense, heart, and moments of pure joy that remind us of the power of family.

What makes this book truly special is Kelly’s ability to craft relatable characters and a richly detailed setting that draws you in from the first page. Her writing flows effortlessly, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the emotional depth of the story resonates long after the final chapter.

If you’re looking for a novel that explores love, loyalty, and the strength found in community during challenging times, The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is the perfect choice. Prepare to be swept away by Kelly’s enchanting prose and the unforgettable journey of her characters. This is one book you won’t want to miss!

Story that involved a family during war and the struggles each had. There always seemed to be a twist or new struggle that the girls went through that captured my attention. Seemed to get a little boring in the middle but picked up as I tried to figure out the today vs 1942 connection. Glad I was able to read it. Enjoyed it. Would be a great book for a book club.

Sweet tale but the military mystery felt contrived to me. Ending also felt rushed. I enjoyed spending time with the characters though. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the present, Mari arrives in Martha's Vineyard after her mother's death to take a class from the painter Elizabeth Deveraux. What she gets from the famously reclusive artist is a story from World War II. During the war, the Smith sisters have had their beloved brother ship out for Europe while they try their best to keep the family farm running smoothly. Briar, the youngest Smith sister, works free lance for a model shop and also believes that a German U-Boat is off the coast of the island. The authorities don't believe her and call her Briar the Liar. Ginny dreams of working in publishing and living in New York. Both girls try to help their grandmother and their brother's fiancée healthy and secure. When a German submariner washes up on the shore, the Smith family must figure out what to do to keep them safe. There has been a wealth of fiction with dual timelines about World War II and this novel does not stand out.

In Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, Martha Hall Kelly tells an engaging story that moves between two time periods. Years ago, sisters Cadence and Briar, along with Bess (who is dating their brother Tom), start a book club to distract themselves from the worries of World War II. Cadence is a local journalist who writes for the newspaper, while Briar is fascinated by war topics. Briar even reports U-Boat sightings off the coast to local authorities.

In the present, we meet Mari, who is dealing with her mother’s recent death. She seeks to learn more about her family’s past and connects with Elizabeth Devereaux to help uncover hidden truths.

The book explores themes of family secrets, love, and loss, showing how people cope with tough times. The characters are relatable, each facing their own struggles, and the story highlights their strength.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club!

The Author’s note gets 5 stars! Such meticulous efforts to write this historical fiction story set on Martha’s Vineyard during WWII deserve applause.

Shame on me for knowing nothing of the presence of German u-boats off the coast of MV and American troops stationed there during WWII as well as the concerted military exercises conducted there by experts from the US and abroad.

Some aspects of the story seemed a bit far fetched to me which distracted from my enjoyment in the moment. Afterward , upon reading the author’s note it all seemed a bit more plausible.

I liked the female characters in the story and especially the friendships around books. The setting on Martha’s Vineyard was my favorite part.

Spoiler alert!
Some things that I found less believable were the easy acceptance of Bess’ pregnancy, the return of Tom, the successful hiding of Pete, the murder and quick burial of the neighbor boy. .

Women’s historical fiction fans will very likely find much to love in this book.


Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review of this book.

After her mother's death, 34-year-old Mari Starwood travels from California to Martha's Vineyard to meet reclusive painter, Elizabeth Deveraux, after finding her name printed on a piece of paper among her mother's belongings. Elizabeth is just as curious about Mari as Mari is about her, although it isn't immediately clear why.

Elizabeth soon launches into a long tale of two sisters, Briar and Cadence Smith, who lived on the island with their grandmother, "Gram", during WWII. At the beginning of the story, Briar and Cadence's brother Tom is set to ship off to Europe and the responsibility of taking care of the family farm is left to the women, including Bess Stanhope, Tom's girlfriend who is living on the farm after falling out with her parents.

Briar is rather a tomboy who has a keen interest in war and swears she's seen U-boats in the waters nearby. Cadence is a budding journalist who writes about island happenings for the local newspaper.

After Tom ships out, Gram Smith suggests she, Briar, and Cadence form a book club which they call "The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club". They also invite a woman Gram knows from church, Margaret.

I have to admit that I thought the book club was very secondary to the story, although the title is quite catching. This novel is more about a German soldier who mysteriously washes ashore, the threat of spies on the island, and the budding romance between Cadence and British officer Major Gilbert.

Overall, I liked all of the women characters because they were plucky and strong.

As with all dual-timeline novels, the relationship between Mari Starwood, Elizabeth Deveraux, and the Smith girls comes together. I think it would be cool if Martha Hall Kelly wrote a related novel that was about the story of Cadence Smith and Major Gilbert after the war.

I appreciate all of the research the author did for this novel and am happy I was offered an ARC ebook edition of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly. The story of the Smith family was very interesting and hard to put down.

The Smith sisters, Cadence and Briar are trying to keep their farm solvent during WWWII . Cadence chaffs under the confines of war. Keeping her on the farm when she would love to go to New York to write. To keep herself writing she begins to chronicle the events in the area. Living off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, citizens would patrol the area looking for submarines. Briar was singularly obsessed with sighing of vessels off the coast. The girls lived with their grandmother, a no nonsense new englander. The arrival of troops brings an unexpected challenge to the people who lived year round . The troops are here for maneuver s training for DDay. The sisters have a brother who is engaged to Bess, a woman whose family is upset that she chooses the farm to wait for Thomas. It’s revealed that Bess is pregnant and as we wait out the birth, Briar becomes increasingly concerned with what she sees as subs off the coast. The book club was a way for the women on the vineyard to bond, plan their war effort and provide support . The story of the Smith sisters is told starting in modern day and revealed through each main character as the months unfold. Happy reading

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A heartwarming story of 2 sisters and a best friend on MV during WWII. Story began in 2016 but went to 1942 for most of the story except for a brief glimpse back to 2016 a few times during the novel, and then of course at the end. Briar and Cadence are sisters living with their grandmother Ginny on their family farm in Martha’s Vineyard. Cadence’s best friend and girlfriend of her brother Tom, Bess, also lives with them after a fallout with her high society mother. They all work the farm to make ends meet. Tom goes off to war as an Army Ranger. Briar,16, also works for the US government’s model project, where they make models of allied and enemy war planes, ships, etc. There is a military presence on the island. All of the girls interact with various military personnel. As the story develops, Cadence and Bess form a book club, reading the books discarded by the rich folk on the Island. They then plan to give books to the troops, which they enjoy reading.

I loved the history of MV during WWII as well as the author’s relationship to the island and how she used various experiences members of her family really had as she writes the book.

The book started off slowly and was somewhat predictable. It is a heartwarming story of the main characters as well as Mari and Elizabeth’s relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

A few things I found while reading. First, Goodreads synopsis has the second sister’s name as Ginny. That’s the grandmother’s name.
Secondly, during the current time in the book, it’s mentioned that a bar serves two for one gimlets. That technically would be a happy hour special and in 2016, there was no happy hour in Massachusetts.

A fun read by an author I have never read before. I enjoyed the fiction along with the sprinkling of history throughout the book.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is a historical fiction novel. Historical fiction is my favorite genre especially with strong female protagonists and this novel doesn't disappoint. When the opportunity to read a new historical fiction novel by the author of Lilac Girls I couldn't wait to read it.
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is written in dual timeline (modern day and WWII era), setting on idyllic, Martha's Vineyard. In 2024, Mari plans a quick day trip to Martha's Vineyard to visit a reclusive famous painter in order to gain information she is seeking about her recently deceased mother. She sets up a 1-1 painting session with Ms. Devereux and is surprised to learn that the painter has accepted the request. As Mari begins to unravel the mystery of her connection to the island,
In 1942, sisters Ginny and Briar are facing the beginning of WWII as their brother has newly enlisted. Briar is the younger sister and is convinced she has seen traces of German U=boats spying in the area. As she reports suspicious activity, she is not believed by local authorities and is referred to as Briar the Liar. One night she finds a German soldier washed up on the beach. She struggles with hiding him or turning him in and the consequences of her decision. Her older sister, Ginny writes for the local paper. Ginny finds herself in a flirtatious relationship with a British Officer who is stationed at the local Army base.
As the reader follows all of the character's journey's, mixed with surprising twists and turns of real historical events, the outcome is an unputdownable novel!

I love a good beach read and anything with “book” in the title is an instant hit. But the title is deceiving. Sure it takes place on Martha’s Vineyard, and there is a book club included. But the real story centers around the role Martha’s Vineyard played in World War II. I was totally unaware that troops trained on the island for a beach landing in Normandy, or the fact that German U-boats were sited offshore. A well-researched historical fiction novel filled with mystery and intrigue, The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a winner. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this is a duel timeline about two sisters living on Martha's Vineyard during World War 2. Love the story and the setting.

I absolutely loved this book! I was interested from the very beginning and with a few different things going on, it really kept me excited to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next. I look forward to reading more books from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Kelly’s new book! As a fan of Lilac Girls, WWII novels, and Martha’s Vineyard, I was so excited to read the description of this and even more excited to read the novel itself! I appreciated the care and research that went into the book.

An interesting take on a WWII novel . Kelly writes such good books and this another one . It is filled with a well researched plot and the characters are well rounded. I have loved all her books
That’s to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book