This is everything I want from historical fiction! The intertwined storylines all made sense and tied together throughout the story - not just at the end. I didn’t feel lost hopping between narrators and really enjoyed the alternating perspectives. All the characters were developed well and likable. I loved the sprinkle of romance, but none of the romance storylines overshadowed the rest of the story.

There were a few little breadcrumbs that made the ending a bit predictable, but that didn’t make it any less impactful.

Would highly recommend to readers fond of historical fiction, WWII era stories, and sisterhood.

Thank you to Random House and Ballantine Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a must-read in 2025! I LOVED this story from the author of the Lilac Girls, one of my all-time favorites. With a dual timeline between 2016 and World War II, this story follows two sisters on Martha's Vineyard who have to navigate the turmoil of wartime while trying to hold together their family, farm, and each other through their book club.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is Briar's introspections, specifically this one: "Why did people just believe everything they were told without questioning and not think for themselves? Hitler had done pretty well with that. The German people swallowed whatever he told them. Mr. Schmidt had always said that's what would eventually be Germany's downfall- hearing only what they wanted to believe."

Powerful, and poignant today, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thanks for my copy, NetGalley! Another interesting read by Martha Hall Kelly. This book was a compelling blend of historical and fiction. I'll be brutally honest, as a reader I am gritting pretty worn out of encountering historical fiction set during WWII, and feel that at this point, it's very hard to tell a new story that would keep my attention. Somehow, this book managed to exceed my skepticism and deliver. The story felt fresh, the characters well written, sympathetic and believable to the point I kind of race read through to find out that twist! Also, who knew there were U boats so near the coast of Eastern United States? I didn't! I also had very little understanding how many Nazi sympathizers and full on colonies there were in US during the pre war years. So this is 100% a read where not only you will learn quite a few things, but will also find rich, vibrant women whose stories you will want to see to the very end!

I did not think Martha Hall Kelly could top "Lilac Girls." She ended up surpassing my expectations. The characters were impeccably drawn, and the backdrop of Martha's Vineyard was the cherry on the sundae. I loved the romance and the way the author tied up the ending in a pretty bow. This is the BEST historical fiction novel that I have read in a long time. I have already preordered this book for my girls and two of my friends.

Two timelines done in an incredible way!

WWII timeframe (1942-1945) tells the story of two sisters, Cadence and Briar, living and working a farm on Martha's vineyard. They build their own book club, and are always trying to find ways to earn money to keep the farm going. All the while, paranoia about spies is gripping the nation, and the Army has moved onto the island for training and preparation.

The 2016 timeline tells of artist Mari Starwood coming to visit an esteemed painter (Elizabeth Deveraux) at the same farmhouse. After losing her mom recently, Mari is broke and barely able to scrape together enough for the trip. But considering her reclusiveness, she needs to jump at the chance. As the lessons begin, Mari begins to learn more about the history of the island and the farmhouse.

Extremely well done - each chapter is from one of the characters points of view, and most have a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, making the book SO hard to put down! I also really appreciated how she wrapped things up and included Author's notes at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, and Martha Hall Kelly for the eARC.

Pub Date May 27 2025 | Archive Date Jul 27 2025 #TheMarthasVineyardBeachandBookClub #NetGalley

I love most all fiction books that are related to WWII. It's interesting to see how the war affected all kinds of people. This book will definitely tug on your heart strings and I LOVED the twist on the present day timeline as well!!

I received a free copy of, The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, by Martha Hall Kelly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its 1942 WWII is going strong, and sisters Ginny and Briar are living in Martha's Vineyard. Its 2024 and Mari is on Martha's Vineyard to meet a painter, but thats not all she is there for. A really good read.

4.25. I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel . It was a dual timeline book, in WWII and in 2016 .in Martha’s Vineyard. One story focused on two sisters (Cadence and Briar), very different from each other, who were born and raised on a farm along with their brother in Martha’s Vineyard by their grandmother during the Depression and Workd War II. . They loved books and started a book club with their friend Bess, generally obtaining the discarded books from the summer islanders. The book also noted the economic and societal challenges for those who lived full time on the island versus those wealthy elites who converge in masses on the island in the summer. The other story, more in the present, focuses on Mari, who is searching for answers about her past after the death of her mother It was interesting to see the dynamic between the full-time residents and the wealthy summer elite. Most interesting to me was to find out how Martha’s Vineyard played an important and crucial role in WWII, searching for German U-boats, and how the military used the island as a test for the Normandy invasion. This is a captivating story, somewhat of a thriller, with many twists and turns, with a somewhat predictable ending, yet still kept me enthralled. Great character development and very well researched.. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

Interesting story set in 2 time frames. During WW2 two sisters live on Martha's Vineyard. The younger sister swears that she sees a U boat off the coast, but cannot convince anyone. During present time, a young artist comes to Martha's Vineyard to paint with one of the best, who has a story to tell.

I cannot articulate enough how much I loved this story. This is a dual timeline told in WWII and 2024 present day. This is a lovely atmospheric story of women surviving during the war on US soil and making a difference in others lives. For all who enjoy WWII historical fiction this is a book I highly recommend for your reading enjoyment. Thank you to the author, to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. Martha Hall Kelly is a marvelous writer and a must read for me.

In 1942 two sisters left with their Grandmother on their family property in Martha's Vineyard are smart and savvy women. They love to read and adore books. They begin to read the Armed Forces Editions books and start a book club for women left behind. Soon they are finding ways to provide books for troops and their book club proves to be their saving grace during war time as a means of connection. They have a German boat come ashore and deal with the soldier as well as daily concern for their family fighting the war. These two women are a wonderful patriotic example to all Americans that proves what love of country stands for as well as the love of books.

The 2024 timeline is a story of family history. Mari is researching her family history during WWII and what their lives mean to her today. Each story told is poignant and beautifully told. I appreciate the narrative of Martha's Vineyard during WWII . A beautiful book you must read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC of The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by the always incredible Martha Hall Kelly in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always a good day when Martha Hall Kelly writes a new book and you should put this on your list right now for when it comes out in May 2025 because it is hands down one of the best novels I read this year.

Told through the perspective of sisters Briar and Cadence Smith, living with their grandmother, their brother Tom and his girlfriend Bess on a Martha’s Vineyard farm in 1942, the book tells the little known story of the Vineyard’s role as a war games location for the US Armed forces during WWII. With MV history and geography galore as its backdrop, readers will be rooting for the family to save the farm and for Mari Starwood, visiting a reclusive island painter in 2016, to finally learn her own connection to the farm, the family and the Vineyard. As a big Vineyard fan for my whole life - we started going on vacation there in the 1970s and Katama / South Beach is still my happy place - this is an absolute don’t miss novel from one of the best. Five stars and I wish I could give it more. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was soooo excited to get approved for this book from one of my favorite authors Martha Hall Kelly!! This went to the top of my reading list. Dual timelines and multiple POV set in 1942 and 2106 respectively at Martha’s Vineyard. I learned some history that I never knew before reading this book. All of the stories and characters weaved together amazingly and there were some twists that I did not see coming. I will think about this story for a while and highly recommend it!!! Solid 5 star book!!!!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book. I liked the characters and the story. This book has two interwoven time frames that culminate in a cross-over at the end. I loved the role that books played in the story of the girl's lives and also in the soldier's lives. Quick read, engaging, likeable story, and great historical references. Two thumbs up!

I don’t usually go to historical fiction, but I love Cape Cod/Martha’s Vineyard, so I requested a copy of this book from Net Galley & Ballantine and they granted a copy for me.

First, wow do I love the characters in this book. They are well developed and so likable (well except for one woman…). I loved the way they worked in one of my favorite MV book stores in the book. I had no idea that CC/MV was heavily used during WW2, and learning about the portable books that were made… just too cool.

I think this would make a great book club book (LOTS to discuss) and an excellent movie. Will be in the best of 2025, I bet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for an ARC of this novel.

I will start by saying that I have been a fan of Martha Hall Kelly since I read The Lilac Girls. I love how she has researched her family's history and creates historical fiction novels from her family's stories. Some of the characters in this story are based on real people in her family, unlike in some of her previous novels where the actual family members are characters in her novels. I have to say at first, I had trouble getting into the story, but once I did, I learned to love the two sisters in the story and to care what happened to them. The story takes place on Martha's Vineyard in 1942 and also in 2016. The two timelines come together at the end of the novel in a very satisfying way. I love books that take place during this time period, and it was interesting to experience the war from the perspective of women in America trying to hold down the fort while the men were away at war. I did not realize that there was a military presence on Martha's Vineyard during the war and I enjoyed learning about this. I think that if you enjoy historical fiction books taking place during WWII, with a unique setting of Martha's Vineyard that you will enjoy this book.

I am a fan of WWII fiction and have also been going to Martha's Vineyard for over forty years. So I connected right away with this book. Then the book club theme along with my enjoyment of Lilac Girls by Kelly made this book my favorite for the year.I loved it! My mother and grandmother would tell my sisters and I stories about life during WWII and the Depression. This book read just like stories handed down through generations.

Yes, the plot is somewhat predictable. However, all the details of life on an island during WWII created such authentic realism that the plot seemed very believable to me. A section following the main story details all the real events and people on which the story is based, adding to the authenticity.

A parallel plot concerns a young contemporary woman who has traveled to the island to discover her heritage. While this plot was less interesting to me, it serves to tie final loose ends together, contributing to a very satisfying conclusion to the story.

The main characters were well developed and quite relatable, despite being very different people. As these and many of the minor characters were based on real people, Kelly was able to incorporate idiosyncrasies and specific details to make them come alive. I I also liked that chapters were narrated by alternating main characters, providing multiple perspectives on story events. I sometimes have difficulty differentiating narrators in this format. However, that was not the case with this book. Each main character was a distinct individual, easily distinguishable from one another. The fact that they were readers and were devoted to helping others have access to books was an added delight for me.

The one character who seemed to need more development was the individual who was identified as a German spy near the end of the story. Knowing more about his background and motivations would have made the revelation of his true character more believable.

The most compelling and unusual parts for me were the references to soldiers who were stationed on the island and trained for the Normandy invasion. With its cliffs, bleachers, and rural terrain, the Vineyard would have been the perfect training ground. This was an interesting historical event that I have never heard of in all my years visiting the island. I am looking forward to exploring this history and finding the actual places where the events occurred during our annual summer visit.

Many WWII stories are based in Europe. This book, based in America on little known events, is a good addition to the genre.

Martha Hall Kelly could rewrite the phone book and I’d read it just to see her spin on it. Knowing she drew inspiration from her own mother’s stories of growing up on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II for her upcoming novel, The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, I knew this one would be special.

Mari heads to Martha’s Vineyard to met with an elusive artist under the pretense of an art lesson. Instead, it turns into Mari hearing a story about sisters who lived with their Gram and brother’s fiancé in 1942. What follows is a beautiful tribute that includes a dashing British officer, U-boats, espionage, potatoes, a washed up foreigner, and books. MHK creates a magnificent WWII story that isn’t about the Holocaust, doesn’t take place in Paris, and is without air sirens and night time bombings. It is a story of a group of women during the early part of the war and the lasting legacy they left on the island. This is a tale of sisterhood, secrets, and sacrifice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on May 27, 2025.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #TheMarthasVineyardBeachandBookClub #RandomHouseBallantine #marthahallkelly

When I think of WWII, Martha’s Vineyard does not come to mind. Was I wrong! This enjoyable story about a multigenerational family trying to survive during WWII on the remote island of Massachusetts is a wonderful read to recommend to multigenerations. The story is a mixture of mystery and romance (with no spice) and a book club.

Courtesy of Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group, I received the ARC of Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly, one of my favorite authors. This dual time line historical novel is set on Martha's Vineyard in 1942, with 2016 being the contemporary time frame, as the characters' stories comes together. Reflecting the history of her ancestors, Kelly covers the strength of the women involved in maintaining the home front with optimism and resilience. I loved the book club aspect, and the books created for servicemen. I had no idea of the American military presence on the island and was fascinated to read and learn! Highly recommend this well researched story!

Being a born-and-raised Martha’s Vineyard island native myself, this book hit close to home. It was very neat to see my family’s name mentioned at various points throughout this book. It was even cooler to read the Author’s Note regarding her ties to the Vineyard. My own mother, daughter of a Mayhew, loves spending her time on Ancestry.com in search of missing familial links and clues. The island is a fascinating place with deep generational history. Martha Hall Kelly did her research with this one!

This book features a woman named Mari, in her mid-30s, after the death of her mother. Mari adventures from her home in California to Martha’s Vineyard in search of a woman named Nancy Starwood. She hopes to understand why her late mother had searched this name and written it down before passing. Is she connected to Martha’s Vineyard somehow?

Rewind to 1942 for the beautiful storytelling about two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II. Like the title suggests, there are your fair share of beaches and book club talk, but this novel is so much more than that. When a stranger washes ashore during the war and is found by the two island sisters, their world changes forever.

How are these two stories related? This historical fiction novel pieces it all together for an exciting and satisfying ending.

I found this book easy to pick up from the start. The author dove right into the plot and didn’t waste any time with unnecessary details. In fact, I found myself rereading the first chapter after I finished the book! The character development was solid and the characters were largely likable. This would make for a fun beach read while on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard next summer!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. If you’re a fan of reading good books, check this one out in May 2025! … and if you’re on the Vineyard, definitely read this one!