Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for sending me this book for review. Opinions are my own.
“Two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women.”
I don’t read much WWII fiction anymore, but I am drawn to stories set on the home front – especially when they spotlight the lives of women in unexpected ways. The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club does exactly that, bringing to life a small island community, and a small group of women, grappling with the ripple effects of the war from the front lines.
Told in a dual timeline, which we aren’t sure how they connect for most of the story, the novel follows two sisters in 1942, Briar and Cadence, trying to save their family farm as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. Their world is upended by a possible spy, romance, and a growing book club that becomes much more than a hobby. I especially loved Briar’s firecracker personality, and I was fascinated by the group of women in the publishing world working to get books into the hands of soldiers. I only wish we got to spend more time with them.
The present-day storyline, featuring Mari uncovering her connection to the island, felt a little thin in comparison. At times I think the novel tried to do a bit too much and we didn’t get a full picture of everything. But the historical elements and waiting for the connection to be revealed kept me engaged. Don’t skip the author’s note at the end. It added so much meaning about the true elements that inspired the story.
This was my first Martha Hall Kelly book and I’ll definitely be picking up more.
3.5 Stars

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club was a slow burn, family drama. The book alternated between the present and the past. Set on Martha's Vineyard, the book stayed mostly in the past timeline during WWII.

Our main character in the present timeline, Mari, goes to Martha's Vineyard to take a painting lesson from the famous artist Elizabeth Devereaux. Early on, Mari reveals to Elizabeth that she came to the Island under the guise of an art lesson, but was really looking for the connection between her mother, who recently passed away, and the Island. Elizabeth starts to tell the story of the Smith girls and slowly reveals Mari's connection to the island.

The historical aspects of the story were very interesting. America, especially places along the coast, were vulnerable to a war that was being fought far away, and every day, citizens made sacrifices to help with the war effort. Martha's Vineyard is known for being the summer place for the wealthy. But this story focused on those who lived on the island all year round, eeking out a living, often from its natural resources. But, there was definitely a class divide.

I love a good found family story, those that we choose to have as part of our lives, and those times when a long-lost family is discovered. But sometimes the reasons why someone searches out a family of their choosing, or why their family was lost to them leaves me feeling a bit sad. In this story, it was quite bittersweet.

The title of this book was a bit misleading. Yes, there was a beach and book club, but this wasn't at all a huge part of this story. Although I liked some the references to the publishing world and the books formatted so that soldiers could take them with them when they shipped out.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was definitely a slow paced book, but the story was intriguing and took me through a range of emotions. I'd definitely recommend those who enjoy family dramas and historical fiction.

I really enjoyed my first Martha Hall Kelly novel. This is a fictional story that is steeped on actual historical events during WW II on Martha's Vineyard. First off I loved my cover. So eye-catching and mysterious! Historical Fiction WW II novels are among my favourites and this setting was quite refreshing.

The majority of this story is told in the 1942 timeline. There are only a few chapters set in the present day. Mari Starwood comes to Martha's Vineyard in the present day as she wants to meet the famous and elusive painter Elizabeth Devereaux. She has found her name among her deceased Mother's belongings. Mrs. Devereaux lives on a farm. She begins to tell Mari a story about the Smith sisters who used to live there. How this connects to Mari will slowly be revealed.

This is a family story that involves intrigue and mystery with a touch of light romance. This was a buddy read with Darlin' Darla and I very much enjoyed trying to put the pieces together with her. I can always count on Darla for an interesting discussion. Please check out her review as I know she loved this story!

The Author's note at the end is an extra treat. Ms. Kelly explains how some of the characters are based on her own family. Particularly her Mother who lived on Martha's Vineyard during the war years.

Published on May 27, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader's Copy.

I read a lot of Historical Fiction - often set in WWII - so I appreciate it when I find a book that gives a different perspective of how war impacts people. In her latest book, author Martha Hall Kelly brings her readers to Martha's Vineyard and tells a story that is inspired by real people - some from the author's own family.

Told in two timelines, the modern storyline in 2016 grabbed my attention initially but ended up having very little page time. The bulk of the story is set in 1942 which focuses on sisters Cadence and Briar who start a book club on the island. And although the book club features in the title, it plays a minor role. Instead, we see the impact of war on small-town Americans. There's also an element of mystery, family drama and romance (insta-love), but I had hoped for more depth in all these elements.

What I loved in this book is the 'found family' that these women create with each other! I also appreciated how this American author acknowledged the crucial role Canadian soldiers played in the war - particularly in the battle of Dieppe - which is too often ignored.

This story is set in a turbulent time when the enemy was quite literally on the doorstep, but it is told with a light hand. With a beautiful setting, blend of history, small-town life, love and loss and an ending that ties up neatly, this is a good pick for readers who enjoy lighter historical fiction reads based on real-life experiences.

You can count on Martha Hall Kelly for an engaging historical fiction read and this one is no exception.

I loved this story set largely during 1942 in Martha’s Vineyard (but also in 2016) about two sisters living on a small farm when the US Army comes to the island to train for beach landings in WWII Europe. This was a new aspect of WWII for me and I found it so interesting to learn that German submarines were found off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.

The novel unfolds through alternating perspectives of the sisters - 19-year-old Cadence and 16-year-old Briar, both very likeable characters, and includes weekly newsletter extracts that Cadence wrote about life in the town. Those really added to the sense of place and time.

There are so many likeable elements such as the wartime book club that the sisters formed, the way the author wove in the real-life development of small, portable versions of novels for soldiers to carry with them (called Armed Services Editions), and the mystery surrounding a potential German spy in their midst.

Highly recommend this well-written, interesting, engaging read for historical fiction readers.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is an unforgettable historical fiction. It is a dual timeline story, set between 2016 and 1942 during WWII.

Mari Starwood, grieving her mother’s death, visits Martha’s Vineyard to meet Elizabeth Devereaux after finding the famous painter’s name among her mother’s belongings. She learns a lot about her mother’s past and information that ties her to the island during the time when German u-boats were spotted offshore. This book is based on real events which makes it all the more interesting. The story has it all from romance to suspense, and everything in between. Great read that I would recommend especially to historical fiction fans for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced copy of this book.

Cadence and Briar have been living with their Gran since their Mom passed away years ago. Their brother Tom has gone to fight in the war and they are all missing him so much including his girlfriend, Bess who also lives with the girls. Briar is obsessed with the war and loves learning about it - she even thinks she's spotted some u-boats in the water near the farm. Cadence just wants to read and get access to more books for herself and the troops. She'd love to one day move to New York and be a fancy editor.

In other chapters we learn about Mari in 2016. She's just come to Martha's Vineyard because she found a note in her deceased mom's things. She doesn't know who Ms. Deveraux is but she might be able to tell her about her mom or at least give her a painting lesson. Scrapping the last money she has she books a return ticket to Martha's Vineyard where she listens to a long drawn out story and tries to figure out how this story is important to her.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club has many other twists and turns to this story but I don't want to spoil it. If you love historical fiction this one is for you. I really enjoyed the story. At one point I thought it was over as all ends were nearly wrapped up when another twist begins. I will say there were a few parts that dragged for me when they were a bit more detailed about the war than I was interested in but that's just me. With the setting being Martha's Vineyard I feel it was quite a bit different than some of the other historical fiction books I had previously read. There's also a touch of romance as with most historical fiction.

This dual timeline, multi-POV historical fiction was a different take on WWII stories than I've read before and I really enjoyed that.

The Book:
Present Timeline - Mari, grieving the loss of her mom, travels to Martha's Vineyard under the pretense of taking a painting class from famed, but reclusive painter Elizabeth Devereaux. Elizabeth convinces Mari to stay with her a bit longer by telling her stories of sisters who once lived there and connects Mari to the island.
Past Timeline - This timelines was told through alternating POVs between sisters Briar and Cadence, who were tasked with keeping their family farm running during the war while their brother had deployed and the army arrives to train on their property.
Cadence is an aspiring writer who starts a book club and Briar is obsessed with the war.
There was mystery and love throughout, as well as loyalty and family obligations.

My Thoughts:
I was immediately taken with the first chapter and Mari and Elizabeth and was a smidge disappointed when I didn't get another chapter in this timeline for a while, however, my teeny disappointment was short-lived as I got more and more into the past timeline & dual-timelines connected really nicely in the end.
I connected much more with Briar's POV - I thought she was so interesting, bold and brave.

Overall, I enjoyed both timelines and all POVs and it was a refreshing WWII story. Plus, I tend to love books set on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, so the location was a bonus for me!

This was an interesting WWII story told from a location that I was unaware of, Martha's Vineyard.

The novel begins modern day, when Mari first arrives on the island in 2016 to meet a well-known painter. The story jumps to 1942 where we're introduced to the Smith family. I fell in love with this family with its likeable, quirky characters and learned so much about what happened there during WWII. It was such a fun read and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the author's work.

Martha Hall Kelly has written an unforgettable historical timeslip novel with a mystery at its heart. She effortlessly blends Martha’s Vineyard during WWII with a contemporary setting and highlights how the written word connects and comforts us during difficult times.

In the 1942 timeline, Cadence and Briar Smith form a wartime bookclub and donate books to soldiers stationed on Martha’s Vineyard. I learned about The Armed Services Editions (Books in Action) and was surprised at where and how the residents obtained their books - an interesting precursor to Little Free Libraries! I was drawn in by a unique subplot - how Martha’s Vineyard played a role in WWII.

In the 2016 timeline, Marigold ‘Mari’ Starwood’s interactions with the islanders give us insight into the relationships with the visitors and residents as she struggles to understand her mother’s past.

I also enjoyed the mystery that tied everything together and the wonderful characters the author crafted. The setting came alive because of the author’s connection to this island. Don’t miss the notes at the end!

I was gifted this copy by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a captivating read that will touch your heart.

The story is told in two timelines and in the present Mari arrives on Martha's Vineyard for painting lessons with Mrs. Devereaux who certainly has a story to tell.

In the past WW2 and the island is feeling the effects as the army is present and things are changing
The sisters Candace, Briar and Gram ( (I loved them all ) are like everyone else doing their very best to make ends meet.

The sisters along with Bess decide to set up a book Club .

This is the best book club and I would have loved to join.

Briar spots a German U- boat but nobody believes her. Briar is quite the character and it was fun to see what she would get up to next.

I cheered for the ladies of The Book Club, I laughed with them, I cried with them and most of all I wanted to be them.

Martha Hall Kelly has brought the not only the characters to life but Martha's Vineyard as well and she takes the reader on an unforgettable journey that you wont soon forget.

Please take the time to read the author's notes at the end of the book. They were fascinating and to me they were the icing on the cake.

Clear your schedule because once you start reading The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is hard to put down.

I cant wait to get my hard copy for my book shelves.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) /Doubleday Canada for the privilege of reading and reviewing this wonderful book .

Believe it or not, this is my first Martha Hall Kelly. WWII, a seaside town, and books?! I was in, gobbling it up in one day.

The characters felt really well built, distinct from one another, and I was swept away as if by the tide off Martha's Vineyard. A rare dual timeline historical fiction where the present day timeline doesn't feel manufactured, and does its job of supporting the historical timeline really well.

More, please, of historical fictions with bookish subplots. More, please, of wartime historicals set in North America. More, please, of anything set in a seaside towns.

Fans of Madeline Martin, Kate Quinn, and Jennifer Robson are sure to enjoy!