I just finished a great book that left me wanting summer. Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan gave me all the feels.

Oh my gosh! I was so so excited to be back on Mackinack Island! My most favorite place in the whole wide world!
So much so that I wanted to idk SMH at GiGi. She really made me tired at first. But I read on to see if she would change her attitude towards the Island. Maybe?
Her grandmother is a hoot.
The author has described this Island perfectly! I could almost smell and taste their wonderful fudge! Nothing quite like Mackinac fudge.
I loved most of these characters instantly. I enjoyed their quirks and yes even the their stubborn side.
I hated to leave the island once again and these characters will leave you thinking about them long after this is over.
5 stars from me for a wonderful visit on my favorite island. I recommend to visit in person however because it does have a special charm about it.
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review of this book. All opinions expressed are mine.

The absolutely best book to get your hearts ready for a fun summer book! I sit here in -10 degree weather and needed this book. I cherished the characters and the setting was beautiful,. Such a great book!

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.

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.

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!

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

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

A summer that was unexpected, full of enlightenment, and facing things, that has been needed to be faced for a long time. The town might be the same at the end of the story, but the changes in the people were inspiring. Lindsay MacMillian writing made me feel like I was right there, with the laughter, the blushes, the embarrassments, the pain, and how they all got to who they are at the end of summer.
I received an ARC from Harper Muse through NetGalley.

This is a charming book about a charming old- fashion island. I have visited Mackinac Island many times, frequently staying at the Grand Hotel. It has always seemed to be a magical place. ( I guess this makes me a proud "fudgie")The island is an integral aspect of the book. In fact. It has its own first person chapters that provide a unique commentary on the lives of its residents.Yet behind the beautiful scenery, fudge shops, and elegant afternoon teas,is a town of people who live year round on the island. The story provides a glimpse into the lives, thoughts,and secrets of these residents.

Relatable characters of mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, and friends are richly revealed through first person narratives. As these voices alternate and intermingle, readers come to know how the characters think and interact with each other. Sometimes a plot event is described by one character, then commented on by another, providing rich insights into the various personalities as well as the story.The only person who doesn't get a set of first person chapters is the doctor, who is the love interest of the protagonist. He is featured in conversations, but readers don't get insights into his private thoughts. Also, the one one gay character fit the plot, but it did seem a bit forced to include that character trait.

The themes of finding what you want in life, appreciation of home and family, and the.joys/ tribulations of small town life are just right for a romance novel that also has more " meat" than readers typically find in this genre.

even the cover of this book took me in. and i was so drawn in by it and hoped the book captured the beauty that the cover did for me.
and it indeed did that and so much more im glad to say.
Gigi Jenkins is heading back to Mackinac Island not in a good place. but she just has to make it through one summer surely she can do that. surely her already fraught relationship with her mother can do that. just so she can lick a few wounds, just for a little while. right?
but this town has a way about it, a way of charming you. and it has this effect on Gigi too.
the scene setting and locations in this book gave me vivid imagery in my own mind of the layout and places we were told of. Lindsey really gave me a gorgeous picture of it all(and id like to go there please). but coming home isn't without its hard parts. there is lost time and lost talks that need to be had. there is past hurts and past wounds that need to be healed. some reunions will feel worse than others, but all will mean something to Gigi. it will take courage though, to come to a place she felt she just wanted to be away from. but is she about to discover more than just new shops or members of the community. is she about to discover the greatest thing of all...love and rediscovering herself.
the interactions between Gigi and her mum was something i was waiting for each time it came around. i new i just wanted to scoop them both up and together. but what they were going through both light and shade felt so very real to me and like i was watching these two with my own eyes, and hearing their thoughts somehow.
the island feels like the kind of place we can only dream of being part of. to be accepted and enfolded into the way of life and by the community i think must feel rather wonderful.
this book had me all the way through. and the emotion i was drawn to just from the cover continued to grow and strengthen throughout over the characters and the plot this book gives them.

Gigi Jenkins had to come home to the place she couldn't wait to get away from.

She didn't know how it would work being with her mother since they really didn't get along.

When she arrived, her mother was already getting on her nerves. She had made a blind date for Gigi.

Gigi said she would go on the date if her mother would go on a date with an author she met on the ferry.

Her mother surprisingly agreed.

How did both of these dates turn out and how did Gigi and her mother's relationship turn out?

Find out everything in this heartwarming book with great characters and set in Mackinac Island.

You will want to be on your way to Mackinac Island as you read about its magic and beauty.

A lovely summer read - but just a bit too long and too many characters to keep straight. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Summer on Lilac Island is the perfect summer read! I have always wanted to visit Mackinac Island and now feel like I have, as well as meeting some very interesting characters. The storyline is such a fun uplifting story with plenty of twists and turns told with humor and wit. I definitely recommend Summer on Lilac Island as a delightful summer read.

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.

**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 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!

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! 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.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day. I thought it was well written and it had a great storyline. I loved following the characters through this book. I would definitely recommend this book.

As an only child, I’ve always been a bit envious of sibling relationships. Summer on Lilac Island was filled with such beautiful interactions between sisters and mothers and mothers of mothers and daughters and even some surprise characters, that I felt truly invested in this tiny island filled with loving people all trying to figure life out in their very human (and sometimes very funny) ways.

This was an easy to read and follow summer story. The characters were all likeable and not so complicated that I couldn’t remember them. It got a it long for me towards the end but, wrapped up nicely with a happy loving storyline.