I just finished listening to the best audiobook. Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan was such a great story.

Sweet tale about family, forgiveness, love. Gigi Jenkins returns home to Macinack Island, the hometown she grew an away from ten years before. She plans to just be there for the summer but finds her mother setting her up with the town’s summer doctor. In exchange, she sets her mother, Eloise, up with the Scottish author she meets on the ferry. As the summer unfolds, Gigi, her sister Rebecca, Eloise, and Grandmother Alice learn about life and love, acceptance and grace. Beautifully narrated from multiple points of view. Can’t wait to hear what’s next from both the author and narrator.

I thoroughly enjoyed this summertime read about Gigi Jenkins' return to her hometown on Macinac Island after leaving it for dust years earlier. With POVs from many of the characters, including the Grand Hotel and the island itself, all the storylines interweaved nicely, and I never felt like I was losing track of what was happening.
This was a great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley.

Summer on Lilac Island is a romance for three generations. A great romance for Midwesterners, as Lilac Island is really Mackinac Island (home to an island without automobiles, home to horses, bicycles and fudge).

Gigi is on the ferry to return to her childhood home and re-coup and regroup when life isn’t really working out so well for her. She meets an author on the boat ride to the ferry. Once she arrives home, she learns that her mother has set her up on a date with the towns doctor.

So Gigi agrees to go on the date only if her mother agrees to go out with the author.

I loved all the references to the island, like the multiple fudge companies and their offerings. This book brought back great memories of visiting the island with my aunt and uncle and biking around the island. The Grand Hotel really does have the world’s longest porch at 660 feet. (So probably this Michigan girl is rounding up to 5 stars because of the Michigan connection.)

The book was narrated Kira Fixx, who did a great job! (Especially loved how she did the author's voice.)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for approving my request to listen to the “advance listen” copy of Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillan in exchange for an honest review. Approximately 14 hours. Just in time for summer, publication date is July 1, 2025.

I especially loved this line in the book. Roughly, there aren’t any dull stories, only dull story tellers.

This was the perfect book for a nice long weekend. It is a good mother-daughter feel good, humorous, romp with a dash of romance. Everything you want for a summer read! The narrator was amazing and brought the fantastic setting of Lilac Island to life with charm and fun. The perfect small town setting filled with antics, mischief and a few twists with emotion at its heart. This is a lovely book for lovers of second chances, small town, summer and romance. I'll read this again, I have no doubt. Thank you NetGalley for the advance audio listen. Opinions are my own.

Beautiful tale chock-full of laugh out loud funny moments, angst, love, life-long heartache, summer love, family, frenemies, friendships, and what else????

Mackinac Island and a full-cast of well-developed, impossibly entertaining characters!

100% recommend! Great beach read!

PS: loved the narrator!

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

Summer on Lilac Island

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Family drama
Two generations finding love
Heartfelt
Small town/small Island vibes
Mending friendships/relationships


This story follows mother and daughter finding love but through both of them being match makers for one another.
Eloise (mother) finds herself needing to let go of her love for her ex husband and get herself back out there. Will she find a second chance with love?
Will Gigi, the wild card, carefree woman with a little bit of daddy issues finally find someone she can see herself settling down with?


IMO:
I kinda like how it’s narrated, it speaks in 3rd person instead of dual POVs. You get insight on just about everyone’s feelings & thoughts. AND I do mean EVERYONE.

I’ve read some books that have a 3rd person perspective but didn’t really like it. But this book I REALLY enjoyed it.

I really love the way it was written as well. I can definitely see this as a tv series one day if it caught enough attention!

Summer on Lilac Island, the third novel by Lindsay MacMillan, is an ode to Mackinac
Island, it’s geography, history, and people. Centering around Gigi (Georgiana) Jenkins and her somewhat distorted world view, the story takes place primarily over the summer Gigi had nowhere else to go and was invited home by her mother, Eloise. Having escaped the Island a few weeks before high school graduation, Gigi has wandered about the country working meaningless jobs to get by. But the last job in LA did Gigi in, financially and emotionally. While she had vowed to herself to never spend another summer on Mackinac, it is now seeming to be a safe harbor in her 29 year old’s storm.

The story shares why Gigi is the caustic, disillusioned person she is going back to when her father, Gus, walked away from his wife and daughters only to show up and stay for a short time over and over, disappointing Gigi each time. It also tells why her sister, Rebecca, is so different from Gigi.

Within this wonderful saga, the reader will be introduced to townspeople such as the showy mayor, the hardworking Tang family and their daughter Lillian, a childhood friend of Gigi’s, her grandmother Alice Klein, and her mother’s best friend Deidre and her husband Fred, the town doctor. Also, newcomers are brought on board, such as Dr. James Kentwood, a young doctor there to help Fred during the busy season, and famous Scottish author Clyde McDougall. Each of these characters have their own role to play in this pivotal summer in Gigi’s life. Their interactions reveal not only personalities, but also uncover animosities and long buried secrets.

This story is exceptionally well written. The plot is tight and often surprising. The characters are well drawn, flaws and all. The small island adrift in Lake Huron seems to symbolize Gigi who is adrift in her life. This novel embodies personal discovery, forgiveness and reconciliation, resilience, and new beginnings. Although this is the first book I have read by Ms. MacMillan, it certainly will not be the last! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 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!