Gigi Jenkins travels home to Mackinac Island to spend the summer with her mother, Eloise. Despite the tense relationship between them already, the two agree to play matchmaker for each other. As they each navigate dating, they feel sparks with their match-up, but more than anything grow their relationship as mother and daughter.

This gorgeous cover screams summer, and I was excited to dive into the story. While I was intrigued by the premise and picturesque setting of the book, I struggled to connect with the story. The characters did not resonate with me, and I found them to be quite unlikable, which made it difficult to feel invested in their stories. Overall, I feel that I was not the right audience for this book, so unfortunately it was a miss for me.

Thank you to UpLit Reads, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for my gifted physical + digital copies!

The love between a mother and daughter is very complicated. But first these two forge a pact to date and find their second act in love. A sweet family story you’ll enjoy this summer.

No, I just could not get into this one.

Typical storyline lately is the unemployed daughter comes home to live with the mother they don't get along with. In this case it is for the summer and mom lives on Mackinac island so the setting is a little different, but the storyline is pretty much the same. They don't get along, personalities clash constantly and they are annoying to read about.

Biggest peeve of the book was the constant use, and I mean on almost every page, tourists are referred to as fudgies. ok, once was enough, more than that was annoying and made me never want to go there if this is how residents feel about visitors.

Gigi's abrasive, in your face attitude was obnoxious. I did not finish more than about a third of the book and that was too much.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

The setting of The Summer on Lilac Island was well-developed and personal. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Mackinac Island and had spent the summer there. This was only emphasized by the multiple points of view this story was told through–including from the island itself. At times, it felt like there were too many storylines to follow (which led to a fairly long wrap-up at the end), but the character development was worth the wait! This is a romance, a multigenerational story of four strong women, and overall, a great summer read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Summer On Lilac Island is what a summer book is all about. I loved the escape to a small town island, it was so quaint and I felt fully transported. I can't believe I've never been to Mackinac Island, living relatively close in Chicagoland. I really have FOMO after reading this book.

I loved the message of starting over along with second chances. This book is full of great characters, the story made even better with doses of love sprinkled in, but the best relationship of all was that between Gigi and her mother!

This book has a really creative premise. Gigi is having career problems and needs to move back to her childhood home out of necessity. She does so very reluctantly, even though her childhood home is the spectacularly beautiful and unique Mackinac Island in Michigan. Her mother, Eloise, wants to fix her up with a handsome local doctor. Gigi consents to the setup, but only under one condition: Gigi is allowed to play matchmaker to Eloise in return. So, lots of fun things going on in this plot, which added to the incredible island setting, makes this an absolutely perfect, romantic, beach read.

This beautifully written, multi-generational story is the perfect summer beach read! Set on Mackinac Island, it tells the story of Gigi, her mother Eloise, and her grandmother Alice. Interwoven with their stories are chapters from friends and from Rebecca, Gigi's younger sister who recently moved off-island.

There were a lot of characters in this one, and a lot of POVs. Because of that, there were many "stories within a story" but I really didn't find it hard to keep track of. Everyone's stories were intertwined and it was fun to see how and why everyone was connected.

The setting of the book was absolutely stunning. I really didn't know anything about Mackinac Island before reading, but found myself researching it as I went along. What a fascinating place! There are no cars allowed, and although the year-round population is tiny, it's a huge tourist spot. I loved how small-town it was, and the different perspectives on life there from each character.

All of the women in the book showed immense growth by the end of the book. I did find myself very annoyed at the "mother knows best" attitudes from several characters, but in the end I was happily surprised and satisfied with how everyone learned to accept and listen to each other.

If you're looking for a contemporary women's fiction book that is very character driven and set during the bustling days of summer on a small island, I highly recommend this one!

Set on the backdrop of Mackinac Island, Summer on Lilac Island is a multigenerational family drama and the bonds between mothers and daughters. It's a story of complex relationships, complicated pasts, regrets, loss, new beginnings, forgiveness, second chances, unexpected romances, healing, self discovery and personal growth.

MacMillan portrays the complexity and ups and downs of life and relationships perfectly. The diverse cast of characters and plot were so well developed that it felt realistic. I loved the inside look at so many different relationships and how they were interwoven, showing how one relationship can cause a ripple effect, whether positive or negative, into another relationship. I also loved how the sisters were complete opposites making it not only realistic but also easy for most readers to make a connection with one or the other. I thought all the drama and gossip of the island was a fun addition and helped add even more humor to the story. I did feel like it had a slow start as the background and all the different characters were being introduced, but it quickly picked up as the drama began to unfold and the twisty secrets were slowly being revealed. This was a great summer read!

The audio book made for a great immersive experience. The narrator, Kira Fixx, delivered a flawless performance from start to finish. Fixx did a great job giving each character their own unique voice, which is impressing considering all the different characters. Her tone and pacing were spot on and helped bring the characters and story to life.

Thank you @itsthelindsaychannel, @uplitreads, and @harpermusebooks for the #giftedbyuplit of this stunning book and ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this book was everything i didn’t know i needed! This book features multiple character povs throughout but has a main focus on our main character Gigi who has had to come back to her home town Mackinac Island for summer. She and her mother Eloise have a rocky relationship and the book explores their dynamic as well as how these characters change and grow with others on the island over the summer! This book has a touch of romance, heartbreak, friendships, and character growth which made for a very entertaining and jam packed story! With the povs from multiple different characters had me rooting for them all and allowed for me to develop a better connection to all of them! I had a fantastic time and would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to dabble in the women’s fiction genre or likes seeing platonic relationships grow as well as romance!

This was an easy to read and follow summer story. The characters were all likeable and not so complicated that I couldn’t remember them. It got a it long for me towards the end but, wrapped up nicely with a happy loving storyline.

Mackinac Island is one of,the gems of the upper Midwest. It’s quaint and classic but also home to year rounders.
There is a lot of character growth in the novel particularly among the Jenkins women.
I wanted to shake Eloise for being such a doormat to tumbleweed Gus.
Gigi finally matured and made some adult decisions.
I think Rebecca and Alice were always ok, they just needed to trust themselves more.
I loved how the island was a character too.
Hitch up the carriage, inhale the lilacs, and take a ride around the island.

Summer on Lilac Island is a charming, feel-good novel that captures the magic of second chances, personal growth, and the quiet beauty of island life. It is a lengthy book but if you are a fan of heartfelt contemporary fiction you will be swept away by the serenity and spirit of Lilac Island. I enjoyed this book. I will be recommending it.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the storyline of this book. You follow women trying to get back out there while trying to shove the other one back into the dating world. Such a heartwarming story.

Having limited options, Gigi finds herself returning to the island she ran from though it seems this summer could be a summer of change for Gigi, her mother, her sister, her grandmother, and the island.

Overall, I did enjoy getting to know these women as I tend to enjoy multigenerational stories. It seemed as though everyone on Mackinac Island had some sort of secret and this was the summer for all the be revealed. This aspect of the story was done well, and I appreciated each person's personal journey and growth as they finally dealt with these hidden pieces of themselves.

Fair warning, this book was filled with many vibrant and interesting characters. I personally enjoyed meeting them and liked the way the multiple plots worked together, though, I have to admit, it took me a while to warm up to Gigi. I did like her more at the end than the beginning of the book and felt like she came a long way. But one of my favorite characters was Clyde, a visitor to the island. He was hilarious and sweet, and I was really rooting for him.

This was a story about family dynamics, confronting the past, and embracing a future. It was about shedding guilt and embarking on new adventures, no matter how big or how small. It was about family and friendship and love which made for a lovely visit to Mackinac Island.

I sadly did not connect to these characters and found them really annoying. BUT, if you do connect to these characters right off the bat, you will love this book. It’s a great women lit fic about family, relationships and finding yourself. A very heart warming book but sadly did not connect with me personally.

What could be better than a small-town summer novel set on the beautiful Mackinac Island? I immediately signed up to review this charming novel about mothers and daughters, small-town dating and what it means to find your way home.

Gigi Jenkins is broke, unemployed and stuck in a rut, so she sucks it up and heads back home to the horse-and-buggy hometown of Mackinac Island to live with her meddling mother rent-free for the summer. She wasn’t prepared to be set up with the island’s charming new doctor, but two can play the matchmaker game. She sets her mother up with the charming Scottish author she met on the ferry, and what ensues is a fun-filled summer of small-town antics, unexpected sparks and a cast of quirky characters.

This reminded me a bit of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels set on Nantucket, but it dragged a little along the way and I found myself skimming a bit to get through some slow spots. I had high hopes for this book because it sounded so quaint and charming, but it just didn’t hit the spot like I’d hoped. I do look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Lindsay MacMillan, Harper Muse and NetGally for a digital copy of the book for an honest review.

A well-crafted novel that follows the main character as she returns home after too long away. It is the story or women-mothers, daughters, sisters-and it is wonderful.

I enjoyed this mother-daughter story set on Mackinac Island, Michigan that had some romance, some reconciliation, secrets and more as the two women embark on journeys of self-discovery over the course of one life-changing summer.

As an only child, I’ve always been a bit envious of sibling relationships. Summer on Lilac Island was filled with such beautiful interactions between sisters and mothers and mothers of mothers and daughters and even some surprise characters, that I felt truly invested in this tiny island filled with loving people all trying to figure life out in their very human (and sometimes very funny) ways.

An interesting summer story set on Mackinac Island.

Gigi, newly unemployed and broke, decides to move back to her home on the island she couldn't wait to leave as a child. Her mom is keen on setting her up with the new island doctor, hoping to keep her on the island. In return, Gigi sets her mom up with a traveling writer staying at the Grand Hotel. It's fun to watch Gigi learn to love the island and grow. An easy, summery story with a lot of grit.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.