Cute little beachy read. Perfect for summer time. It felt excessively long for what it was, but there was a lot going on through out the story. It covers an entire summer on the island so it makes sense, but it just felt a little dragged on from the last three quarters to the end. I did enjoy the book though and the character development was perfect. The narrators fit each character and they made it more enjoyable! Thank you to Netgalley, Lindsay MacMillan, Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Mackinac Island and have visited many times. I love the nostalgia of it, it is absolutely a throwback in time, and such a fun place to spend the weekend. I have always wondered about the lives of the year-round residents and I loved that this book would lead me down that path and give me some insight.

In this respect, I really liked this book. All of the locations actually exist, and the scenes were set beautifully enough to take me back to my time there; so fun to revisit the island in my mind throughout this book.

If you like small town stories and romances that take a back seat to family drama, this one just may be for you. The narration was alright, but some of the voices of the narrator felt forced and fake. I think I would have liked reading the physical copy more than listening to the audiobook. I wanted more from the romantic chemistry side of things as well, but still enjoyed a story about one of my favorite places.

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!

I thought the audio was well done. Great narration that brought the book to life.

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.

I really wanted to enjoy this as the synopsis sounds good. The attention to detail regarding the island and its history were good. I'm not from the U.S. and found myself Googling the island. I felt that the descriptions in the book were pretty loyal to what was on there. I love horses, and found it interesting about the horses on the island.

I didn't like the narration at all, and it took me a lot to even get past the first few chapters. I thought this was going to be lighthearted and enjoyable, but it wasn't.

I didn't like the characters, and I didn't feel connected to them or the story.

2 stars.

Thanks to Lindsay Macmillan and Harper Audio for my audiobook in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

I love a good multigenerational story, and SUMMER ON LILAC ISLAND delivered -- the audiobook made for enjoyable, easy listening for an enjoyable, easy summer road trip. I've spent time in Michigan, but never Mackinac, and I was immediately drawn to the setting, as well as the premise that seemed made for a perfect rom-com. But the mother / daughter / grandmother / sister dynamic at the core of the novel really stole the show.

I haven't read many books this summer that would be your typical "beach read." I usually read books set in Nantucket, Cape Cod, or Martha's Vineyard, but I've been branching out, so I picked up this book. I think I forgot that it was set in Mackinac Island since the title said Lilac Island.

I spent much of the novel confused by the title, but it finally clicked just before the characters spelled it out. I didn't know anything about Mackinac Island - I had heard of it, but couldn't tell you where it was or anything. Now, I'm kind of intrigued by it.

I'm kind of on the fence with this novel. I enjoyed the plot and the theme of mothers and daughters. It had just enough romance to be a light beach read, but it wasn't the main focus, as this is solidly women's fiction and not a romance novel.

I struggled with the characters. They weren't too likable. Partly, I think that was on purpose so that the character growth is obvious. I thought Gigi was self-centered and played the victim too much. A lot of people grew up without a father and are children of divorce. But she made it seem like it was so much worse for her. She could have still had character growth without being so annoying. But her selfishness is inherited. Both her mother and grandmother are the same way. The ending did redeem them all a bit.

Another problem I had with the novel was that it felt overly long. I still had over 2 hours left in the audiobook, and I was ready to be done with the story. It was just drawn out too much. I think the story could have been tightened a little bit to trim it down.

Kira Fixx is great as the narrator. I had no problem distinguishing the various characters, and there are quite a few characters in this book.

The story is difficult to follow so if you have the daily grind to do but wish you were on vacation, then this audiobook would be great for that. Likewise, if you are on the beach and the sun is too bright to read, it would be a fun book to just lie back and listen to.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/07/summer-on-lilac-island-by-lindsay.html

Thank you @uplitreads @harpermusebooks and @itsthelindsaychannel for the free book and @netgalley @harpermuseaudio for the free ALC 💖.

🗓️Out now!

✨What it is about:
When Gigi returns to her hometown to spend the summer with her estranged mother, their plan to play matchmaker for each other leads to unexpected romance, and a healing mother-daughter bond.✨

💭My thoughts:
This is such a great beach read, in my opinion. It’s a feel good story about love, second chances, and finding your way back home. The small town vibe was cozy, the slow-burn romance was satisfying, and the matchmaking chaos was really fun to see unfold. The mother-daughter relationship between Gigi and Eloise was a bit messy but really sweet, and I loved seeing them go from fighting to actually having each other’s backs. The characters felt real, and the emotional moments hit just right without getting too heavy, which I really enjoyed. The story really showed that love (any kind) can surprise you when you least expect it.
🎧 Kira Fixx did a great job narrating the audiobook. It’s a slightly longer listen at 14 hours and 30 minutes, but it didn’t feel that long while listening. Fixx really captured the heartwarming (and sometimes funny) vibe of the story and brought the characters to life in a very natural way. Her pacing and rhythm made it super easy to follow and really enjoyable to listen to.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
☀️Small town dating
☀️Mother daughter relationships
☀️Matchmaking antics
☀️Island settings
☀️Slow burn

⚠️CW: Strained mother daughter relationship.

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.

I didn’t know much about this book before I started it. But it exceeded my expectations! It was a beautiful story about complex relationships. I loved how it explored various relationships and dynamics within them.

It was a little complicated at the beginning because there are a lot of characters to keep track of but the long list of characters allowed for an exploration of so many types of relationships in life.

Thanks you netgalley for an ALC for my honest review!

This is your classic summer read, in my opinion. Set in Mackinac Island, a small island where everyone knows your name. No cars are allowed and most residents have been there for many generations. The story begins with Gigi returning from LA to spend the summer with her mom. She is out of work and no longer has a place to live. She hasn't been home to this small island since she was a teenager. Family, friendship, love and heartbreak are all depicted in this story.

I loved everything about this book. The characters were so relatable and the author did a great job in describing the setting. It made me want to visit Mackinac Island!! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC in return for my opinion.

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.

I really like reading stories about the complexities of family relationships, especially mothers and daughters. This is a story of love, loss, friendship, and self-discovery and I ate it up. It did feel a bit long but overall I enjoyed the stories and the multiple perspectives that helped put pieces together.

*~ Most Likely to Inspire Home-state Pride ~*

Things I loved about this story:
- Multiple POVs
- Family reconciliation
- Multiple Character's finding themselves and speaking their truths
- Mother/Daughter relationships
- Unique Island setting

Things I didn't love as much:
- A little stagnant at times
- Gus
- The immaturity of Gigi at times

All in all, this was a cozy story with decent bones. I listened to it and I think if there were more narrators it would have drawn my attention a bit more.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Muse, and Lindsay MacMillan for an ALC of this story.

Set on Michigan’s enchanting Mackinac Island, this is a breezy summertime read. The island's unique appeal, with no cars allowed and a quaint, lakeside atmosphere, is a character in itself, adding a delightful backdrop to the story.

This is a heartwarming story of an estranged mother and daughter reuniting and finding themselves playing matchmaker for one another. However, it is not without its bumps and bruises along the way. But it leads to some funny moments and blossoming romances for both of them.

Through it all, the mother and daughter's journey is one of transformation. They begin to talk again, first about date nights, but then they open up about the past and the pain; soon their hearts are open to forgiveness, leading to a heartwarming and inspiring conclusion.

For me, the island itself is what grabbed my attention. The author's vivid descriptions brought the island to life, from the bustling summer tourists to the sweet aroma of the bountiful lilacs. She even introduces us to the 'fudgies', those who come for the island's famous fudge, and the horses that replace cars on the island's charming streets.

3.5 ⭐️


Thank you @uplitreads and @harpermusebooks for this #gifted book.
Thank you @harperaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley narrated by Kira Fixx

This book was everything I want in a summer read—emotional, heartwarming, and full of charm! 🌸🐚

Set on the stunning Mackinac Island, this story brings together:
🏡 A cozy small-town setting
👩‍👧 Multigenerational family drama + touching mother-daughter relationships
💘 Fake dating and second chances
🐴 A horse-and-buggy community that stole my heart
🌅 Sandy toes, seaside sunsets, and slow, sweet summer magic

Every character felt real and relatable—I seriously loved them all! And Kira Fixx’s narration brought the emotional layers and quiet strength of the story to life so beautifully. I was completely hooked. 🎧💫

Mackinac Island is now officially on my bucket list. The way this story captured the magic of the place! 🏖️

✨If you’re looking for a warm, heartfelt summer read full of love, healing, and sunshine, this one’s a must.

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. I also need to give credit to Kira Fixx for her outstanding narration. The way she depicted specific scenes, definitely increased my reading enjoyment.

"Summer on Lilac Island" is a multiple point of view Women's Fiction novel set on the idyllic Mackinac Island in Michigan. This island is so charming that the setting along with the enigmatic Gigi Jenkins, the main character whose point of view is central to the story. Gigi's character drew me right into the story but she also had me frustrated at times, however I rooted for her to come out ahead during the whole book.. The characters in this book are so different from one another I found it easy to follow each character's storyline and point of view though there were 8 different points of view portrayed in this book. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator.

I do feel that 8 points of view it was too much. They tie together and as stated before are easy to separate, but it makes the story longer than it needed to be and I feel that it could have been narrowed down to 5 points of view. to tell the same story. One of the characters comes out as a lesbian in the story (not Gigi, the main character) but it is a pivotal point in the story for Gigi.

There is romance, loss, a lot of family drama, heart break but also joy found in this book. It has some very deep topics that are explored such as infant loss, adultery, substance abuse and so much more which keeps this from being a book that I'd categorize as a beach read despite the book's cover and more light-hearted description. The characters experience a lot of growth and reconciliation in the story.

There were some things that happened in the book I was disappointed with, but the main character's story was very satisfactory to me as the listener/reader. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen to an ARC audiobook of this story. All opinions expressed are my own.

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.
I also got a chance to tandem read this on audio and the sole female narrator, Kira Fixx, did a fantastic job voicing all the different points-of-views/characters. Her tones and emotions added to the reading experience. 4.5 stars

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.