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.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse audio for early copy for review*
3.5 rated up

I listened to the audiobook for this and while the narrator did a fantastic job with the different voices and also a Scottish accent, it would have been nice to have different narrators for the many perspectives. There was a lack of tone shift when we entered the chapters that would have been nice with additional narrators.

The overall story was good, but I never truly felt emotionally connected to the characters. I also felt that the change in some of the islanders towards the end did not feel warranted with the events that happened in the book. If they were as conservative as they repeatedly stated the personality flop does not make as much sense. This being said I did like Gi Gi's arc and felt it was the strongest out of all the characters.

3.5 stars rounded up. I did a hybrid read of this in both ebook and audio. The narrator was fine, the pace of reading was also fine. The story was a little slow and first but eventually picked up. LOTS of characters, which I feel like is more confusing when listening to a book, so I ended up primarily reading with my eyes, not my ears.

The Summer on Lilac Island is a witty and heartwarming escape that delivers exactly what it promises: a cozy small-town story full of mother-daughter antics, unexpected lessons in love, and the kind of chaotic matchmaking only family can stir up. I really enjoyed the multi-perspective storytelling—it gave the book more depth and made both Gigi and Eloise feel fully realized, even when they were driving each other crazy.

That said, the story takes a little while to find its rhythm. The first few chapters are a slow build, and while I was intrigued by the setting and premise, it didn’t fully hook me until a bit later. Also, Eloise’s romance arc didn’t quite land for me—it felt underdeveloped and a bit forced, especially compared to the more dynamic mother-daughter relationship.

Still, if you’re in the mood for a sweet, summery read with plenty of heart (and some light matchmaking mischief), this one is a solid pick. Come for the small-town charm, stay for the emotional growth and late-night debriefs over wine.

This book fell in the middle for me. I enjoyed the setting and the relationship growth between Gigi and Eloise but that was about it. There were maybe two likeable characters and everyone else was incredibly uptight or immature. I also think the story should have been about 100 pages shorter. Overall, this wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my copy of this ALC.

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.

A really heartwarming story in the island called Mackinac. It’s a feel good story of mother and daughter, and of the people around them. I really like the other characters in the story.

The narrators and production did an excellent job in making the characters alive in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for a great read.

3.5 Stars
Gigi Jenkins, out of money, out of luck, and out of options returns to her home on Mackinac Island to live with her mother, Eloise, for the summer. Though Gigi is NOT looking forward to it, she has few other options. Before she has even arrived on the island, her mother has set her up on a date with the new doctor on the island. Gigi turns Eloise's plans on their head though when she agrees to the date on the condition that her mother go on a date with someone Gigi sets her up with! While everyone has a romance in this book, it is also about the relationships between Gigi and her sister, their mother Eloise, and their grandmother. Everyone has a back story and secrets that they think they have managed to hide well, but this is a small town and that means what it always means. There are no secrets. There is always someone who knows the truth. As these women come to know and understand each other better, they open up to reveal their true selves to others, and to give themselves freedom to be who they really want to be.

Now for why it's just 3.5 stars. I had to remind myself for more than half the book that the narrator, Gigi, was nearly 30 and not 13. She is whiny, self-indulgent, and sounds like a spoiled teenage brat. I will say, this was an audiobook, so maybe it was just how the part was read. But the exchanges between Gigi and Eloise, do not sound like they are between two adults. Even Gigi's behavior on her dates left me convinced I must have heard her age wrong. It was hard to get past. Eloise's love story? Grandma's past? So much more enjoyable. I would have loved to hear more of these characters' story line.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Just in case you’re still looking for the perfect beach read to add to your bag this summer, may I suggest SUMMER ON LILAC ISLAND by Lindsay MacMillan? It would be a fantastic option as it simply screams “SUMMER” inside and out. The cover is absolutely dreamy and the themes and subject matter definitely fit the season. If you’re a big fan of the women’s fiction genre, listen up. This one has everything that you’re looking for: family drama, motherhood, mother/daughter relationships, sisterhood, female friendship, romance, small-town vibes, second chances, self-discovery, scandal, schemes, and secrets. Oh, and did I mention that it’s set on Mackinac Island, Michigan? Like I said, it’s the perfect book to get lost in at the beach, lake, or pool!

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for my ALC of this book!

This was a good start to my summer beach reads..
a story about Gigi Jenkins, who returns home for the summer to Mackinac Island, after being estranged for so many years. The story follows her rebuilding family dynamics, making adult friendships and finding love when least expected. The story was a bit slow for me at first, but picked up and I became invested in the storyline and the characters. 3.5 star read for me!

I listened to the ALC for Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan, and narrated by Kira Fixx it was an entertaining listen. Was this a romance? A family drama? Women's fiction? Some combination of the above. We have our female main character, GiGi, returning home to Mackinac Island, Michigan. She feels this is a signficant defeat as she retreats to recover from her latest scrapes in life and love. GiGi has been a vagabound traveler for her adult life. Never existing too long in anyone place after running away with the governor's son when she was in high school. Her younger sister was the good girl who stayed in school and married, and had stayed on the island until moving with her husband to Traverse City, and while it is nearby, it is not on Mackinac Island. Mom and dad have been separated since GiGi was 5 and dad decided to leave and explore the country and find himself. GiGi doesn't know it, but mom has set her up on date with a visiting doctor, so GiGi sets mom up with a visiting author, Clive. It is an interesting story, mostly lighthearted with some dabbling in heavier topics. The referring to liberal politics by the conservative mom and grandma seems gratuitous since they don't really discuss anything? So, why? I need to thank Net Galley and Harper Muse for my advance listener copy. I gave this book 3 stars.

I technically dnfed it but I went back to it since I didn't have anything else to read and finally finished it after months.
Pros- Mackinac Island, Narrator.
cons- the story just felt kind of slow it was so hard to get into.

The setting of this novel, Mackinac Island, is what drew me into reading this story. I was looking for a light summer read to start off summer break. Summer on Lilac Island does give a lot of details about the island and it's traditions, but I found the story overall to be not that interesting. There are a lot of characters, some mediocre or predictable elements throughout, and I didn't enjoy the narration. Overall, I had lost interest and was ready for these character's stories to wrap up by the end. However, some people may enjoy the character's storylines and have a connection to Mackinac Island.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this novel and it releases on July 1, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced listening copy of Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my advance audiobook copy of Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay Macmillan in exchange for my honest review. This is out tomorrow!
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This was a fun, summer read about a few things...love, family, and how you can always find your way home. The family dynamic starts off strained, but the way Gigi and her mother Eloise reconnect at home on Mackinac Island is beautiful. There's also a love story for BOTH of them, which added an extra layer to this one.
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I absolutely loved the new beginnings that happened and how we looked at the past and gave ourselves essentially a second chance at life. This is the PERFECT contemporary beach read you need in your hands if you set foot on a beach anywhere! A solid 4 star read!

Will be posted on Instagram on July 1, 2025 at 6am Pacific Time (with edit to say out today)

The setting of this book could not have been better, BUT the story and the characters could have been better.
I had a hard time following who was who and what was happening the first 40%. From then on it just was blah. The characters were hard to like. The story followed too many people in my opinion. Everyone was just not happy with themselves which made it hard for them to have good relationships with others. Some may love it though
The narrator was so good!
Thank you NetGalley, Lindsay Macmillan and Harper Muse for the ARC of this book!

🎧 I enjoyed Kira Fixx's narration of this book and felt like she added depth to the characters. I would like to hear more books from her!

Gigi has returned to Mackinac Island the place where she grew up and didn’t feel at home. Her mother, Eloise, immediately sets her up with the new doctor. Her sister, who never expected to leave the island, has moved away with her new husband and she now keeps in touch with her mother by calling several times a day. Eloise’s husband left many years ago, greatly affecting his family. He pops back every now and then and has kept Eloise from moving on from their relationship. The women have an uneasy relationship. The men in their lives affect their changing relationships, as well.

This book explores the women’s evolving relationship and growth as individuals. Also, there is a large cast of islanders and their attitudes toward each other and the ever-present summer tourists.

The book was slow moving and perhaps it was my unrealistic expectation of a lighter, summery read, but this story wasn’t what I’d hoped for.

I had the audio book and the narrator was great – especially enjoyed her Scottish accent.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and Lindsay MacMillan for this Advanced Listening Copy of Summer on Lilac Island. This is such a great book to listen to this summer!

This book is a multigenerational family drama with strong female main characters. Alice, the grandmother, Eloise, the mother, and Gigi, the granddaughter, must all find ways towards forgiveness and healing from their pasts. They spend a summer together on Mackinac Island, where time stands still, as the only forms of transportation are horses, carriages, bicycles, and feet.

Each woman has a potential new relationship this summer, and they all must decide if starting anew is right for them. Alice has her high school sweetheart who returns, Eloise must forget her absentee husband for a new romance with a Scottish author, and Gigi finds romance in the town's temporary doctor.

I enjoyed listening to the relationships of these three women develop and grow as they begin to find ways to understand one another. I loved Eloise and Gigi's relationship drama. I'm just a huge fan of family dramas.

I loved Lindsay MacMillan's storytelling and the way she wrote these strong female characters who were strong in different ways. These characters may be related, but they had their differences.

I enjoyed Kira Fixx's narration of this book and felt like she added depth to the characters. I would like to hear more books from her.

Summer on Lilac Island is the perfect book to listen to while enjoying some summer sun. This book is breezy and fun. It's filled with drama, hope, forgiveness, and love.

The setting gets all the stars. The story, about 2 stars.

Gigi Jenkins fled Mackinac Island before she graduated and only comes back for Christmas. But, a change in circumstance has her coming back home to stay with her mother for the summer. This summer is one of change and growth for many women on the island. Some find love, some find acceptance, some find themselves.

I've read (and intentionally skipped due to terrible synopses) books set on Mackinac Island. I always kind of brace myself. As a native Michigander who has visited the island many times, it is torture when an author gets it wrong. This is not the case- the author is also a native Michigander and knows the island well. I loved the setting so much.

But... I hated all of the main characters. (The side characters were great.) It kind of put a damper on the book for me.

Although, I will say, I was so tempted to quit when I got to a chapter told in the point of view of the Grand Hotel. Ugh. Cheesy. You also get chapters narrated from the island's POV.

The setting does make it all worth it. And perhaps this will come off better in print- I listened to the audiobook. Kira Fixx narrates and she gives each character a distinctive voice. I think it made me dislike Gigi even more. Maybe.

This book has me wanting to go visit- though last time I went I remembered why it is good in theory, but not as good in actuality. Kind of like Disney. It can be so crowded that it makes it hard to enjoy. You have to wait years to forget about the bad before venturing back.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.