If you’re looking for a heartwarming and witty escape in a world of small-town romance, family bonds, and second chances, then Summer on Lilac Island is the book for you. Readers follow Gigi as she reluctantly returns home, only to be caught in a matchmaking scheme by her meddling mother. Along the way, she discovers unexpected connections, personal growth, and the realization that love comes in many forms.

With plenty of humor, warmth, and relatable characters, this novel is a beautiful read for fans of contemporary fiction. The mother-daughter dynamic adds richness to the narrative, with a touching exploration of forgiveness and understanding.

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

Summer on lilac island. This is a mackinaw romp. Three generations are trying to find out how to survive each other, experiencing love prospects

I liked this; I didn't love it, although there were some things here that were really good. First off, great cover. Second, the star of the show was Mackinac Island, which even rated several chapters from her (its?) perspective. The story of Gigi and Eloise's relationship transformation was interesting, yes, but just seemed to happen out of nowhere. Gigi, in particular, just seemed to change overnight from an obnoxious ingrate to an ambitious, funny young woman. Her portrayal in the first 2/3 of the book was really well done - I hated her.

The family's story arc was interesting, as well, and I appreciated the inclusion of other no-family associated (like Lillian) into the mix -- it certainly broadened the story.

I hope this finds an audience. It's a good, promising summer read, and speaking for myself, will encourage other "fudgies" to visit the island.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Gigi returns home to Mackinac island, she finds herself living with her meddling mother, her mother wants to set her up on a date, Gigi agrees if she can also set her mother up on a date. really good story

This book started off with us meeting Gigi on a boat heading home to the island she grew up on, back home to live with mum jobless and penniless. I enjoyed this part of the story and really enjoyed her interaction with the Scottish author, he seemed like so much fun.

This story becomes a story of three generations of woman starting with Alice the grandmother, Elouise the mother them Gigi and Rebecca the sisters.

Straight off I just did not like Elouise, there was just something about her that turned me off. She was trying to control Gigi and make her someone she wasn’t and I hate that.

I also didn’t love Rebecca off the bat as on that first phone call between the sisters she seemed quite standoffish however I did grow to like her.

To be honest I just didn’t connect with the characters in this book at all but I did enjoy the growth these 4 woman made throughout.

I was also fortunate to receive an early audiobook of this and while I enjoyed the narrator’s story telling I didn’t love her when she was doing each character individually.

Overall it was an ok read.

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

This is a heart-warming book about a mother and her daughters that take place on Mackinac Island. Gigi and her sister Rebecca reconnect after growing a part when she runs for office, while Gigi and her mother grow closer while recovering from old wounds.

I love how this book takes place on Mackinac Island since I’ve traveled there and can picture the places and scenes the author describes. This would be a great beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions my own.

A fantastic story of second chances in love when you least expect it. Enjoyed the story from page one

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really love the story and writing style! Reading about family, the island and love was very entertaining! A light and easy flowing story that will keep you reading til the end. Want to read more from this author! Thank you and I recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperMuse for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Summer on Lilac Island releases July 1, 2025

<i>“Family saga and romance, set against the backdrop of a characterful island town.”</I>

As an only child who has a close relationship with their mother, I was particularly excited to dive into a “heartwarming” mother-daughter centered novel, but this did not hit the spot.

Perhaps it was the archaic nature of the island, set in their horse-and-buggy ways, or the immediacy of a matchmaking scheme that felt suffocating and controlling.

Multiple character perspectives (8), including those of inanimate objects written in third person, took away from the intimacy of mending a fractured family dynamic of which I was eager to explore, and I struggled to find any of the characters likeable.

There’s also something so unsettling about using the only character of colour’s queer coming out as a plot device for the straight, white, ex-best friend to finally realize that all the running she did in her adult years — from destinations, jobs, and boyfriends — wasn’t actually the freedom that she convinced herself that she needed.

Even though I’m close in age to the main character and have a history of an absentee father that closely mirrors Gigi’s experience, I feel as though I was not the target demographic for this seasonal read.

Gigi returns home rent free because of her lack of job stability, finances and a place to live. Three generations of strong women with a lot of secrets. This is a wonderful story that gives life lessons along the way. I highly recommend it. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Sweet story about several generations of women on Mackinac Island. Perfect beach read!

I both read and then listened to the audiobook. My preference is the book as I didn’t love the narration.

Cute, entertaining story- perfect to read while relaxing by the beach or pool! The characters and scenery were really well-developed so I got a good sense of what it would actually be like to summer on Mackinac Island.

I thoroughly enjoyed this summertime read about Gigi Jenkins' return to her hometown on Macinac Island after leaving it for dust years earlier. With POVs from many of the characters, including the Grand Hotel and the island itself, all the storylines interweaved nicely, and I never felt like I was losing track of what was happening.
This was a great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley.

I received an ARC fro NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this story as it was mostly centered around the complicated relationship of a mother and daughter. Although there were other romantic themes involved, I found it refreshing that the romantics storylines were more secondary to the mother/daughter plot.
Additionally, now I want to book a trip to Lilac Island!

I have always wanted to visit Mackinac Island with its quaint shops, the Grand Hotel, which is the focal point of the island, and the feeling you have that you are stepping back in time to when life was simpler, carefree and kind. From the minute Gigi Jenkins saw the shoreline from the ferry, she knew her journey back home would be emotional, boring and full of drama. She had missed the last ten summers on Mackinac Island and wasn't too keen on moving back in with her mom, Eloise, but it was her only option. She had always been closer with her dad, Gus, because they both yearned for a laid-back, unencumbered, and fly-by-night lifestyle. Upon learning that her mom had set her up on a date with the new and handsome island doctor, Gigi vowed to win the dating wars at all costs The dashing Scotsman, Clyde, she had met on the ferry was the ideal man to get her mom out of the house and back into the world of dating. She never expected her mom to be swept off her feet, but this new version of her was wonderful to see.

One could say that Gigi “found herself” that summer or maybe she just took the time to listen to her heart when it came to her family, her love life and her future. She had a renewed friendship with her mom, she came to appreciate how truly amazing Mackinac Island was, and she realized coming home this summer was the best decision she had ever made. Mackinac Island feels and looks like a magical place to me and I can see why some people would choose to never leave. In Gigi’s case, she needed to spread her wings as she traveled throughout the country; Clyde, a successful author, needed inspiration for his next book and James, the new doctor, wanted to get away from the big city so he could really get to know the patients he was treating. “Summer on Lilac Island” is a story of second chances, new beginnings and finally coming to terms with what you really want out of life. I hope to someday visit Mackinac Island so I can experience the magic and beauty of a one-of-a-kind place.

Summer on Lilac Island is a charming, feel-good novel that captures the warmth and chaos of family ties with humor and heart. Lindsay MacMillan delivers an engaging tale of Gigi Jenkins, whose return to her small, horse-and-buggy hometown sparks a summer filled with mischief, romance, and unexpected revelations. Gigi’s fiery yet loving dynamic with her meddling mom, Eloise, is the heart of the story, providing laugh-out-loud moments and tender reflections. What truly sets this novel apart is its focus on the mother-daughter bond. Through matchmaking antics, late-night heart-to-hearts, and the chaos of small-town life, Gigi and Eloise transform their relationship from strained to solid. MacMillan’s witty prose and vibrant setting on Mackinac Island add an irresistible charm, making this a perfect read for anyone who loves a mix of humor, romance, and family drama.

After years of leaving Mackinac Island, Gigi Jenkins is back to her hometown and is going to spend her summer in Eloise's—her mother—house there. Their relationship isn't exactly mom-daughter duo, but somehow they start a "matchmaking competition". Gigi would agree to go on a date with a man Eloise chooses, and vice versa. They know it's going to be unpredictable, but what they don't know is how the date could ignite something the islanders (and the fudgies) never expect to happen that would affect not only the Jenkins, but the whole community.

I had so much fun reading this. It's very summery and fragrant like lemons and lilacs. I liked that it, true to the genre, focuses on women's life on the island instead of just the romance. It's more lengthy than I expected, however when I reached what I thought would be the ending, things took a sharp turn and brought something I supposed to remember from the start but got swayed by other interesting bits and forgot it. It was delightfully surprising. And the way they handle their problems is full of doubts but that's what makes the story realistic and relatable.

Another reason why this book is lengthy is because we have five women's perspectives, and in the beginning it can be a little too repetitive since each character would confirm or deny what the other characters have said. This is where the leap-out-of-page description of the island helps me enjoy the story. The festivals, the history, the little shops, the grand hotel, the old and new buildings... oh, and the horses. The writing is charming and quotable, and this quality is not only reserved for human characters but also places (yes, Mackinac Island herself is the literally one of non-human POVs here). I also really, really enjoyed the dialogue and it was fun to read it out loud sometimes.

Summer on Lilac Island is just *that* beach read. Especially if you love women-in-family dynamic, small town setting and romance, vivid and detailed description, and family drama.

This was a good easy read with very light romance and definitely some growth with the characters. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it did go back and forth between different characters’ points of view, including the island’s. That was a little odd. Overall a good read.

There are several novels set on Mackinac Island, but this one actually shows evidence that the author has set foot on the island. The sense of place is well-done, and for that this novel is worth a purchase.