The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

I read a lot of Historical Fiction - often set in WWII - so I appreciate it when I find a book that gives a different perspective of how war impacts people. In her latest book, author Martha Hall Kelly brings her readers to Martha's Vineyard and tells a story that is inspired by real people - some from the author's own family.

Told in two timelines, the modern storyline in 2016 grabbed my attention initially but ended up having very little page time. The bulk of the story is set in 1942 which focuses on sisters Cadence and Briar who start a book club on the island. And although the book club features in the title, it plays a minor role. Instead, we see the impact of war on small-town Americans. There's also an element of mystery, family drama and romance (insta-love), but I had hoped for more depth in all these elements. 

What I loved in this book is the 'found family' that these women create with each other! I also appreciated how this American author acknowledged the crucial role Canadian soldiers played in the war - particularly in the battle of Dieppe - which is too often ignored.

This story is set in a turbulent time when the enemy was quite literally on the doorstep, but it is told with a light hand. With a beautiful setting, blend of history, small-town life, love and loss and an ending that ties up neatly, this is a good pick for readers who enjoy lighter historical fiction reads based on real-life experiences.

My Rating: 3 stars

Author: Martha Hall Kelly

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: DoubleDay Canada (PRHC)

First Published: May 27, 2025

Read: May 20 -25, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: Two sisters living on Martha's Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women—a spectacular novel inspired by true events from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

2024. Mari lands on the storied shores of Martha's Vineyard, fresh off the heels of her mother's funeral, with plans to meet the famous painter, Elizabeth Devereux. She is there to paint, but few understand why the notoriously reclusive Ms. Devereux would agree to take Mari on. It soon becomes clear that her teacher brought Mari there for a She holds the key to Mari's past and among this magical island's sandy beaches and the shimmering ocean, the history of her family and their fateful connection to this place becomes clear.

1942. The Smith sisters, still reeling from the explosion of war and their brother's enlistment, are left to care for their family's Martha's Vineyard property—alone. Briar, the rambunctious younger of the two, begins to suspect that a German U-boat lurks on the horizon, spying on a neighbouring Army base. Ginny, the eldest, dreams of being a writer in New York and falls headlong into a passionate romance with a British Navy Officer. When they start up a book club that pores over Armed Service Editions, what begins as an attempt to bolster the war effort by getting books into the hands of soldiers becomes a powerful means of connection for the women who have been left behind to fend for themselves. But when a German soldier washes ashore, one who claims to have knowledge of their brother's whereabouts, paranoia seeps Who can they trust? And who among them is telling the truth?

Traversing time to tell a remarkable story of the power of literature to unite communities, acclaimed author Martha Hall Kelly's epic novel explores one of America's most renowned locales and its role at the forefront of the greatest war humankind has ever known.