Gigi Jenkins, newly unemployed and back from Florida, must return to her hometown of Mackinac Island and move in with her divorced mother, Eloise. Their strained relationship takes a playful twist when Eloise sets Gigi up with the town’s new doctor. Gigi counters by insisting her mother go on a date with Clyde, a charming Scottish author she met on the ferry. What unfolds is a summer of matchmaking antics, community events, and surprising twists; not only in romance, but in deepening family bonds.

I appreciated the vivid descriptions the author used; think salty breezes, horse hooves on cobblestone, and the scent of lilacs and fudge which Mackinac Island is very much known for. I enjoyed the leisurely pace of the story as it also was very much in tune with the leisurely pace of Mackinac. For me this story allowed the character interactions to breathe, almost inviting the island in as a character herself!

Summer on Lilac Island is a cozy, heartfelt summer read perfect for fans of character-driven, feel-good stories with a dash of romance. Its charm lies in the warm family dynamics and vibrant island atmosphere. If you're seeking rich small-town detail and emotional payoff over fast-paced plot twists, this one’s a win.

A brilliant story that I wish I had read a long time ago. I have had this on my shelf for awhile, and finally took the time to sit down and get to it. I definitely will recommend this!

**Summer on Lilac Island** by Lindsay MacMillan is an uplifting, heartwarming escape that feels like a breath of fresh coastal air. The story is full of charm and warmth, following characters who are easy to root for as they navigate love, family, and second chances on a dreamy island backdrop. MacMillan's writing makes you feel like you're right there, toes in the sand, soaking up all the summer magic. It’s the perfect pick if you’re in the mood for a feel-good, comforting read that leaves you smiling.

A heartwarming journey of self-discovery, reconnections, romance and love…all on the beautiful Mackinac Island. After struggling to make ends meet, Gigi returns home to stay with her meddling and divorced mother Eloise. Both set the other up on a blind date, and both unexpectedly find themselves in the process. Told mainly from Gigi and Eloise’s points-of-view with a few surprise PoV as well, their current thoughts unfolded along with their backstories. I shared their desires for success, acceptance and love, along with the heartbeat and heartaches that went with. I thought it was a poignant story with a gorgeous setting, complex, deep and relatable characters wrapped up with beautiful prose. A great summer vacation read.
4.5 stars

Big thanks to Harper, Muse, and NetGalley for the free advanced copy of this charming story!

This was such a fun and heartwarming read. Gigi is a total free spirit—constantly on the move, both in her love life and career—clearly taking after her dad’s wandering ways. But when she hits a crossroads, she ends up back on the island she grew up on, and that’s where things get interesting.

Her mom, Eloise, has plans of her own and starts nudging Gigi toward the town’s golden boy doctor, James. In classic rom-com fashion, Gigi agrees to entertain the idea—as long as her mom agrees to go on a date herself (with a Scottish author no less!). What starts as a playful matchmaking deal slowly turns into something more real. Gigi finds herself drawn to the sweet, steady doctor who is so not her usual type—and at the same time, she’s unexpectedly reconnecting with her hometown and the people in it.

With a wandering spirit and one foot always out the door, watching Gigi wrestle with the idea of staying and maybe even putting down roots made for a lovely journey. This story has all the small-town charm, mother-daughter feels, and slow-burn romance you’d hope for.

Definitely recommend if you’re into stories about second chances, unexpected love, and coming home in more ways than one.

This book broke me and put me back together several times. This isn't just a book about mothers and daughters or friendships that turn into more. It's about growing no matter in what point of your life you are. You can always count on your mother, your family, and the friendships you gain along the way.

This is written in the third person but it felt so personal for me. I loved that we moved through different female characters and how their lives went on in Mackinac Island. The island itself is a protagonist of the book and with good reason. 

Thanks to the author's writing and the narrator's voice, I found myself transported to the story. The characters came to life through the narrator. She gave a different voice and presence to each one of the characters. I found pieces of myself in each of the characters. I laughed, I got angry, I got sad, I cried with them, so many emotions.

At first, I thought this was going to be Gigi's story in the island but her mother Eloise, her grandmother Alice, her sister Rebecca, her childhood friend Lillian, her mother's friend Diedre, and Mackinac Island herself, were all the protagonists of the story. Each of them inspiring each other, challenging each other, supporting each other, and growing at their own pace. I really enjoyed this multigenerational book and how the reveals were handled. It teaches you that we can learn at any age, we are all capable of change, be uniquely ourselves, and regain hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC/ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This is one of those books I almost liked more than I actually did. The setup is charming, the writing is easy to sink into, and it has all the right ingredients for a breezy beach read. But somewhere along the way, it just didn’t stick for me. I found myself putting it down and not really feeling compelled to pick it back up. It’s not that anything was particularly wrong with it—it just felt a little too surface-level and unmemorable to keep my attention. That said, if you’re looking for a light, low-stakes read to toss in your beach bag, this would fit the bill. It just didn’t quite hold mine.

Thank you, Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the e-arc of this book.

This is what I think is peak divorced wine mom beach read in women's fiction, with characteristically unlikeable characters and gossip, with everyone hiding secrets of their own in the small town. The characters were flawed and selfish in a way that felt true to life, but the writing didn't hit like I was expecting. It's more of a blunt, to-the-point writing style, with quite a bit of telling and not showing, along with things being repeated, which only worked some of the time.

Either way, like I always say, pick it up for yourself because you never truly know how you'll feel about it until you experience it yourself.

3.5 stars rounded up. The first half of this book was too slow for me, plus there’s a zillion characters, but I decided to stick with it. The second half was way better, tho it did feel long. It’s primarily about Gigi and Eloise, daughter and mother. They fix each other up with dates and in the end their own love for each other is rekindled.

Second chances are all someone needs at times. The premise of the story was good, the bond between a mother and daughter can be fraught with tension. There was something about Gigi that made her unlikeable. I was hoping she’d become more endearing. Overall a good book, although not my favorite summer read. .

Living under the same roof with her meddling, divorced mother, Eloise, feels like a recipe for disaster–especially when Eloise hatches a scheme to set Gigi up with the island’s charming new doctor.

Determined to call her mother’s bluff, Gigi agrees to the date on one condition: she gets to play matchmaker for Eloise in return.

I really enjoyed Gigi! She is woman after my own heart. She doesn’t miss a beat and she has a quip for every situation. I loved how she matured in this tale. From her relationships to her job situation, Gigi became strong and resilient.

Now, I did feel this story is a bit long. But it is very atmospheric and I so want to go to Mackinac Island. And yes, I learned how to pronounce it properly! I screwed it up on my TikTok video 🤦🏻‍♀️😜😂.

This story also has quite a few characters with their own story line. But the author masterfully wove them all together. Plus the narrator, Kira Fixx, had a different voice for everyone, including the Scotsman! This made it so much easier to fall in love with every character…including the Scotsman! 😜

Need a sweet tale to read on the beach…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Summer On Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan, Gigi is reluctantly coming back to Mackinac Island to stay with her mom after failing in LA. On the ferry she meets a older Scottish author Clyde, who she got along with well and he even asked her if she knew of any single women his age and despite her mom was the first person she thought of she also thought her mom would never go for it. When she gets home however her mom right away wants her to go on a date with the new doctor and Gigi agrees to do it if her mom will go out with the Scottish author. her date is first with James, right away she is contrary and then totally pretends in all sincerity to be a debutante in the Regency era but quickly let’s that go. Regardless of who she pretends to be the date was not a success so her disappointment when he doesn’t call to me was baffling. As for her mother Eloise however she has a wonderful time when it’s her turn to date Clyde. being under Eloise‘s roof again is not something the problematic Gigi appreciates and as the summer goes by their relationship feels the strain. When her mom second guesses seeing Lucas again Gigi encourage her to do so but then when her mom acts if she likes him too much she again changes like the wind and doesn’t want her mom with him. when Gigi doesn’t get a call back from James and then learns he is seeing her ex best friend and biggest rival Lilliannah she desperately wants a second date with Doctor James. Throughout the book we also hear about Gigi sister who although lives with her new husband Tom a couple of hours off the island she’s trying to see how she fits in this new version of her family with her mom and sister Gigi while at the same time creating her own family. I think I would’ve found this book much more enjoyable if not for the main character Gigi I do not find her actions cute not the one she did as a 29-year-old woman nor what she did as a teenager I found her to be entitled problematic and just unlikable. I thought the mom and the sister were well rounded characters as well as her rival but Gigi was childish and irritating at the best of times and not at all seem like someone the doctor would go for and although I get why he didn’t end up with friend Lillian I just couldn’t wrap my head around why he would want to hang out with this embarrassment of a human. She not only embarrass herself but her mother and then acted as if she didn’t care. I really couldn’t wait to read this book I love feel good fiction but Gigi was just too much for me and not someone I could root for. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LindsayMacMillan, #SummerOnLilacIsland,

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan was the perfect book to read for a time when just relaxing on vacation.
I love the setting of the story. The author did a good job of making me feel like I was there with the characters in the book. The family drama and dynamics made this a book that would be a great pick for a book club to read.
Thank you NetGalley, Lindsay MacMillian and Harper Muse for the copy of Summer on Lilac Island. This is my personal review.

Summer on Lilac Island covers a variety of topics through multiple characters and encompasses many small town cliches, such as gossiping locals, scandals, jealousy, and the struggle new residents have with finding their place within established social circles. All of these aspects come together to create a story that becomes heavy and just feels overall too much for one story. While it is explained, through the characters, how the story came together, the explanation does not provide solace for the reader.

As mentioned, there are many characters, with Gigi and Eloise being the main focus. Their mother/daughter relationship is strained as the story begins and evolves throughout the story. I did enjoy that the Island is portrayed as a character within the story and found that the island was one of the more enjoyable characters.
While there are happy moments and positive moments where character growth is seen, the overall mood of the story came across as heavy.

I would like to thank Uplit Reads and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read an advanced e-book of Summer on Lilac Island.

This was an entertaining book. I enjoyed it and it was cute, though the female main character had some annoying characteristics.

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.

This was good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Sarah Morgan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital, #gifted physical and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

A big thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I have never been one to gravitate towards women's fiction, but I am so happy that Summer on Lilac Island found its way to me. I knew from the description that I would enjoy it, but I just never expected myself to finish it and want more. The characters' (including the side characters) stories were so interesting that I kept wanting more ( and yelled at a few of them for their decisions).
I look forward to reading more from Lindsay, and for her first jump into women's fiction, I give her an A+.

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

This book is basically the story of the impact of a father’s abandonment on his family and the damaging, rippling effects it had throughout their lives and how they coped or didn’t.

The banter between mother and daughter is very witty and fun, it made me think of Lorelei and Emily Gilmore which, of course, made me smile. The characters are supremely flawed (and could be unlikeable but I just see that as human nature sometimes) and nothing is really glossed over, but I felt like it was handled well and lightly enough that it didn’t get depressing. Still, I couldn’t help but have my heart break a little for the trauma and issues these poor people had because of one man’s selfish choices.

I enjoyed reading the book for the most part and watching everyone grow, though by the end I wished it would wrap up faster. It was a bit slow moving and dragged on with details and flashbacks in parts, without any compelling storyline to push you forward but it ultimately had good character development.

TW:
Language
LBGTQ
Drugs/alchohol

Side note: I’m a huge Mackinac fan and will read any book based on the island but it started off rough. I immediately found a few grammatical errors. The first few chapters were full of location errors; while many seemed like she’d been there before, just as many seemed as if she hadn’t (I’ll add some of those below to clear some things up, though the list is not exhaustive). Seems as if she should have had someone who has a bit more experience with the island beta read this book before it got published.

Location errors:
- The island has no sandy beaches, just rocks. No sand at all.
- You can’t see Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor from Main Street since it’s at the Grand Hotel.
- It says the roads are heavy potholed - I have never seen a pothole on the island and most especially not on Main Street, it’s meticulously cared for. Horse poop, yes, and plenty of it.
- Harrisonville is full of unique cottages not uniform rows of two story homes. Many quaint and unevenly laid out.
- Golf carts are certainly not allowed on the island unless on the golf course.

Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read an early release copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Uplitreads, Lindsay MacMillan, and Harper Muse for my #gifted copy of Summer on Lilac Island! #giftedbyuplit #uplitreads SummerOnLilacIsland

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐜 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Lindsay MacMillan does an excellent job in this heartwarming multigenerational novel set in Mackinac Island. Filled with family drama, hope, and second chances, this book is the perfect beach read. As someone who went to Mackinac Island when I was younger, I found this to be a perfect representation of the island and loved how the author so perfectly painted the picture of the Island. I did struggle a bit with Gigi’s character at times, but besides that, I did enjoy this one.

☀️Multigenerational Family Drama
☀️Mother-Daughter Relationships
☀️Small Town Setting
☀️Mackinac Island
☀️Perfect Summer Read
☀️Heartwarming

Posted on Goodreads on June 30, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around July 1, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on July 1, 2025
**-will post on designated date