Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay Macmillan is a delightful story set on picturesque Mackinac Island, Michigan. The novel beautifully weaves together the journeys of Gigi Jenkins and her mother, Eloise, as they both navigate their relationship living under the same roof again, as well as unexpectedly find love and new beginnings during one memorable summer.

Gigi is relatable and strong-willed, dealing with her own struggles and doubts about the future, while Eloise brings a wise, tender energy as she reopens her heart after years of solitude. Watching these two women navigate love at different stages in life, with all the apprehension and insecurity that can so easily go hand-in-hand with the possibility of new love, made the story feel authentic and uplifting.

The island setting is charming, memorable, and relatable—from the historic quaintness to the tranquil lakeside views and even candy shops, it perfectly frames their stories. The characters in the community add reality and humanness to the tale, with all of their frustration, good intentions, frailties, and love. Macmillan’s writing captures the nuances of mother-daughter relationships and the surprises that life can bring, especially when you’re ready to take a chance.

If you’re in the mood for a warm, multi-generational romance filled with hope, family, and the magic of unexpected love, Summer on Lilac Island is a great choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an ARC of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

A sweeping cast of characters await your visit to Mackinac Island! Gigi returns home to her mother's house for the summer after she flames out and needs a soft place to land. Her mother, Eloise, greets Gigi and immediately shares the news that she's set Gigi up on a blind date with the island's most eligible bachelor - the attractive, single town doctor. Meanwhile, her sister Rebecca scandalized her mother and her posh friends by <gasp> leaving the island after she got married, forcing them to stay in touch by phone. Join the town as we watch what happens as these women try to reconnect and repair their relationship over the course of one golden summer on beautiful Mackinac Island.

This cover is gorgeous and the premise is lovely, but overall I was unable to connect with this book. Gigi is just barely starting to mature at 29 and prides herself on being memorable, obstinate, and scandalous - all things that make this 44 year old, Enneagram type 9's skin crawl. Eloise is controlling and desperately clinging to her ex-husband and her daughter, Rebecca. Eloise and Rebecca speak on the phone 3 (!!) times every day in an effort to stay connected now that Rebecca has moved off the island. As the book moves along, these characters grow, old wounds are healed, and their edges smooth over, but I was unable to identify with any of them and was more than a little annoyed by each of them at one point or another. The setting is stunning, but even that was a bit overshadowed by the locals' obvious disdain for the tourists (aka "the fudgies").

Overall, this book was fine, but mostly not for this mood reader. I went into it expecting a lighter, summery read, and this one was actually quite heavy on character development, which is delightful when that's what you're in the mood for. In other words, if you're looking for a lush summer setting, a large cast of characters, a quirky small town, PLUS a family drama with strong character development, you should absolutely give this one a try! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the chance to listen to this novel prior to its publication in exchange for this honest review.

Unfortunately, Summer on Lilac Island just didn’t work for me. I found the main character too edgy and off-putting to ever feel truly likable or relatable, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested in her story. The pacing was painfully slow and the plot never really hooked me—in fact, it started to drift into an improbable direction that only added to my frustration. I ended up stopping at 83%, simply because I wasn’t invested enough in the characters or the outcome to keep going. I know some readers might appreciate the unique tone or character arc, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks | Harper Muse for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I read the ARC and was excited to listen to the audiobook. The image, and personalities I developed in my mind about the characters translated well to the audio version with the exception of Eloise, reading the book I imagined a warm, friendly mom with some quirks, but the narrators interpretation of her in the book, gave me the impression of a mean, snarky judgmental woman...I stick to the book which was fun and as I love descriptions of places, food and relationships.

This was … okay.
Rather slow-paced, but did have some fun / witty lines thrown in to keep it mildly entertaining.

Matchmaking.
Coming home.
Small town.
Vacation setting.
Snooty, meddlesome parents.


Overall:
Okay.
3 stars.

#netgalley




🎧 Audio:
Fantastic production, great narrator and smooth overall sound quality.

What a cozy, heartwarming escape to Mackinac Island, Michigan! And I find beauty in a solid mother-daughter trope.

Gigi Jenkins is broke and needs to come home for a while. She has a strained relationship with her mother, Eloise, and she will also have to face her best friend, Lillian, again after years of ghosting her. To top it all off, her mother has arranged for her to go on a date with a doctor upon arriving home! She can't stand the backward ways of her hometown island, but evidently, running from her present means running back into her past. Little does she know just how much healing Mackinac Island will bring to her and her family.

This was so quaint. Through Lindsay McMillan's writing, I could see the colors and feel the breeze. This setting in the Summer was the idyllic place for budding romances. I enjoyed the three-dimensional main character, Gigi. The internal conflicts and struggles she faced were brilliantly articulated. The crafting of this novel from SEVEN perspectives was unexpected and a little confusing at times, but always intertwined with the greater narrative while illuminating the culture of the Mackinac Island people. With a well-written, slow-burning, clean 2/5 spice level, juicy plots, and room for redemption, I enjoyed every page.

Kira Fixx juggled more voices than I think I've ever heard in an audiobook! Her buttery, soothing quality was great for day or night. She nailed each character with care. I felt as though she encapsulated the people of Mackinac Island with heartwarming grace.

Thank you NetGalley, Lindsay McMillan, Kira Fixx, and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this audiobook. I think Mackinac Island is delightful and this book celebrates the specialness of the island.
At times the characters acted in a way that I found grating. Overall this was a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance and a taste of Mackinac.

SUMMER ON LILAC ISLAND
By Lindsay MacMillan

Read by: Kira Fixx

3.5 stars
When I saw that this book was set on the idyllic Mackinac Island, I instantly knew I wanted to give it a listen. We’ve been staying on the island during the summer with our grandsons for many years. We’re all enchanted by the island and the wide variety of activities it offers.

This is a heartwarming women’s fiction read set on Mackinac Island, Michigan—a picturesque horse-and-buggy community. We’re introduced to Gigi Jenkins as she hesitantly returns to her childhood home to spend the summer with her mother, Eloise, following the loss of her job. They quickly become locked in a battle of wills and decide to play matchmaker for each other. The most unforgettable love story of the summer is the bond between Gigi and her mother, Eloise.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Lindsay MacMillan. I would describe this book as contemporary romance with a focus on personal transformation. Though romance isn’t my usual genre, the magic of Mackinac Island won me over, and I enjoyed listening to this. The narrator did a fine reading of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks | Harper Muse for the ALC

I thought this was a really lovely book, perfect for reading at the beach or day by the pool

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved an ALC of this book.
I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but I found myself totally swept up in the story. The book weaves together multiple POVs, which can sometimes feel overwhelming, but here they blended together beautifully. Each character added depth to the overall narrative, and their perspectives felt distinct yet cohesive.

The island setting was good, the emotional arcs were satisfying, and the pacing kept me listening. It’s a great summer read with character growth and just the right touch of drama. I’m so glad I gave this one a chance.

The narration was good and portrayed enough emotion to bring the story out.

This was summer bottled up! I really, truly enjoyed this - this was my first MacMillan book and will not be my last.

Oh I absolutely loved this book about community, family relationships, mother and daughter duos. It is perfect for any season, but especially if you can't wait for summer time, as the island setting makes the descriptions leap off the page and makes you long for the next season.

The personal growth of the main characters resulting from working through their traumas and the consequent opening up for the next challenges and surprises that life has in store for them were my favourite part of the book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC.

Audiobook

Summer on Lilac Island begins with Gigi returning to her home, an island in Michigan called Mackinac Island, where cars are not allowed and horses are still used as the primary mode of transportation. The main characters are three generations of women who develop stronger bonds throughout the story, as they grow personally and together. There is matchmaking, some hijinks, and some random tangents.

I wanted to like this story, but it didn't resonate with me. It felt somewhat scattered in focus. I was not aware of Mackinac Island beforehand, so I will be happy to take that tidbit away.

Advanced copy provided by Harper Muse Audio via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book!

Gigi returns to her home of Mackinac Island, a small-town island in Michigan where there are no cars, after losing her job. During Gigi's summer on the island, her mother Eloise is determined to set her up on a date with the new town doctor; Gigi only agrees on the condition that she can set her mother up on a blind date as well. Meddling in each other's love lives and spending time together under one roof allows Gigi and her mother to understand each other more and build a stronger bond.

This story includes
- themes of family relationships
- multiple POVs
- small town drama
- family dysfunction

While I enjoyed this one as a whole, I had a hard time with many of the characters and their views, especially Gigi's mom and grandmother. I also felt that this book was longer than it needed to be. However, I think people who read more literary fiction will enjoy this one more than I did!

I listened to this one on audio. I enjoyed the performance from Kira Fixx and felt that the audio was high-quality and enhanced my enjoyment of the story overall.

Thank you to Uplit Reads, NetGalley, and the publisher for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun way to visit Mackinac Island?!>!?!?!?!?!

The characters all felt very real in a heart warming story of mother and daughter on a beautiful island. Mackinac seemed to steal the show in some parts of this book but Gigi reeled us back in with sarcasm and wit reminding you who the story was really about.

Great fun beach or summer read!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the audiobook ARC to listen in exchange for an honest review!

The audio was fun to listen to and the voices made me feel like i knew the characters personally. Truly done very well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Heartwarming, Fun Read That Pulled Me In

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay Macmillan is a charming, feel-good summer read set on a dreamy island that offers the perfect escape. The story follows a heartfelt journey of love, friendship, and self-discovery, all unfolding in a vibrant setting that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

What stood out to me most was the plot – engaging and well-paced, it had just the right balance of light-hearted moments and emotional depth. I found myself really invested in the characters; they were well-developed, relatable, and each added something special to the story. The writing style was another highlight – it felt natural, witty, and easy to get lost in. Overall, it was just a fun, satisfying story that left me smiling.

Honestly, there wasn't much I disliked. If anything, I simply didn’t want it to end – I could’ve stayed on Lilac Island a little longer!

As for the audiobook, narrated by Kira Fixx, I thought it was wonderfully done. The narration was clear and well-paced, making it easy to stay engaged. I appreciated how each character had a distinct voice, which made the listening experience even more immersive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I highly recommend this one for your summer reading (or listening) list!

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this book in exchange for my review.

I grew up in Michigan, and though I choose to not live there now, I still think the state is a hidden gem, and should be the setting for far more books! So when I found this book set on Mackinaw Island, I was very excited. And overall, I liked the story, but don't really feel that I was the right audience for the book. Maybe I'm just too old. While I could see why Gigi would leave her mother's house - the mother was insufferable and demanding - I found Gigi to be far too moan-y and whiney and that turned me off quite a bit.

2.5 stars rounded up. I would recommend this to a younger audience, maybe.

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.

This book is the perfect listen/read for a beach day! I really enjoyed the third party POVs from various characters. It got a little confusing to follow all of the point of views in an audiobook format, but I think it would have been clearer reading it (didn't lessen my enjoyment, just took me a few minutes to catch-up a few times.) However, the multi-point of view raelly enhances the story and the why behind so many characters.

As the description suggests, it's a story of three generations trying to find love and themselves on Mackinac Island. Each of the women in the story, receive enough back-story and details that no-one feels like an after-thought.

There were some stories of other characters that feel incomplete, so I'm hoping it is the opening for a sequel that shifts focus to others on the island!

It took me a while to read this one. Not sure why I waited so long. It was a really sweet story. I loved all the details of Mackinac Island. As someone who has visited the island a few times, I found the novel fascinating. I did not realize people actually lived there. Ha ha. Just kidding, but really, what an interesting place to live year-round. The story was intriguing, and the characters were well developed and likable. I enjoyed so much about this book. The narrator had a lisp during some parts that was more prominent than other times and sometimes I found it distracting, but overall did a nice job. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse audiobooks for the advanced lesson and exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5-ish stars