This is a good book. The main character is Maddie. Maddie is a mother and a college professor. She gets a letter that states her grandmother is dead. She hasn’t seen her grandmother since she was little. Her father had told her she was dead many years ago. She learns so much of her family history when she goes to her grandmother’s home. She finds out she has an uncle. She finds out all that matters is family.

I always enjoy Jean Stone's books set in New England. The quaint, historic fishing village of Menemsha is a side of Martha’s Vineyard that tourists don’t always see. Maddie Clarke’s late mother was born on the Vineyard, and Maddie hazily recalls childhood visits to her Grandma Nancy’s cottage above Menemsha Harbor. Maddie is going to visit the cottage and sell it so she can get back to her teaching job hopefully as a tenured professor. She discovers she like living in this small community. It pulls her as nothing ever has. A wonderful story that weaves in some history of the Cape Cod area and the Native Americans who settled there long ago.

A beautiful story with a great setting.. I enjoyed following along on Maddie’s discoveries about her family but most of all her self discovery.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Up-Island Harbor focuses on Martha’s Vineyard with an emphasis on the island’s Native American heritage. Madelyn (Maddie) Clarke’s life takes a surprising turn when she receives a letter from an attorney representing her maternal grandmother’s estate wherein she learns that her grandmother died recently. Thinking her grandmother was dead (as told to her by her father) she had few memories of the years she spent with her grandmother. The book was slow to begin with, yet I persevered and finished it. This book was not what I thought it would be and was disappointed. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setting and it is always a good story of someone inheriting property that needs their help or that explains some of the history of the family. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character, Maddie, but their were others that were very likeable and kept me reading.

The story writing was good and I enjoyed reading it but the twist toward the end of the book was not believable. It’s hard to imagine that being done to get someone’s attention.
There were parts of the book that dragged somewhat. The description of the island was well done. It was easy to picture what the author was describing. Maddie, the main character, was not my kind of person. I found her hard to connect with for many reasons. I wish more had been included about Joe. He was the character I liked the most.
This is book one of at least two books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this new book.

What an enchanting story of family and commitment. Having grown up on The Cape, I felt the author captured the essence of this vacation destination. The small town feel and neighbors respecting and helping each other came through in the pages. Evidenced by Maddie's numerous visits to the ER. The doctors and nurses got to know her. Her lawyer and his family welcomed she and her son and father with open arms. There's a bit of mystery and intrigue, so by with h the beginning of a relationship for Maddie. I'd live to see a follow up story for thus one as I hated to see it end!

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Net Galley and the publisher all thoughts and opinions are the honest truth.

An amazing, heartwarming and many layered story. The beautiful description of the island pulled me in and the mix of interesting characters kept me glued to the pages. There are secrets, lies, and mystery that Maddie has to unravel and then come to terms with. Truths are revealed and there was wonderful character growth through the book. This was a fun, intriguing and entertaining read with sweet romance. I really enjoyed it.

College professor Maddie receives a letter. Telling her that the grandmother she thought died many years ago has recently died and she has inherited her home and properties. Obviously upset over the fact that the grandmother she thought had died, has been alive all of these years Maddie heads too Martha's Vineyard to meet with the lawyer handling this case. Maddie learns that she is 1/2 Native American and her intuition tells her she's being watched. But who would be doing that? Neighbors her ex, who? As Maddie continues to learn more about the past and her family history, she has even more questions. As her series of unfortunate mishaps (and somewhat unvelievable) continue
to keep her on the island for an extended period of time, she continues her quest for more answers. This is a story with a lot of twist and turns, some are fascinating, some are a little unbelievable, but in the end it makes a great story About family, about history, about new directions.

Up Island Harbor is the first book in seasoned author Jean Stone’s new Up Island series. This story revolves around Maddie Clarke. Maddie’s mother was born and raised up island Martha’s Vineyard. Once, Maddie and her mother Hannah visited her Granma Nancy every summer. However, when Maddie’s mother was killed by a hit and run driver her father never brought her back. In fact, Stephen Clarke had told Maddie that her grandmother had died when she asked a few years after her mother’s death if she could visit her granma on the island. Imagine Maddie’s surprise when she receives a letter from her grandmother’s attorney telling Maddie that she is the sole heir and asking Maddie to come to the island.

As Maddie learns about the extent of her inheritance, including unknown things about her ancestry, there is a series of unfortunate circumstances that occur. Maddie meets some good people along the way, however, the more she learns the more she wonders if she can really trust anyone there.

This is a well plotted story that maintains an air of mystery until the closing chapters. With interesting characters and a very special setting, I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I loved this book! Up-Island Harbor is a delightful and complex story of family, secrets, hurts and forgiveness, heritage, and new friendships. I loved the various characters (Maddie, Brandon, Rafe, Rex, and all the new friends Maddie was making), and the bit of mystery added an element of intrigue. I also enjoyed learning a bit about the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and the Wampanoag. Her books always have so much detail and so many layers! Having read Jean Stone’s previous series, Vineyard (not necessary to get the whole story here, but a good series for readers who enjoy this book), I enjoyed reconnecting with a few characters from those books. I’m very excited that this book is the start of a longer story and I look forward to the next book!

I've enjoyed Jean Stone's Martha's Vineyard-set books, so I was looking forward to Up-Island Harbor. The family story was interesting, though it went slowly and didn't really grab me. I also didn't love Maddie's character. It picked up more at the end, though it was a bit strange. There is a fair amount of discussion about the Wampanoag tribe and their history/culture/customs, and that was my favorite part of the book. Since first novels in a series can be slow as they introduce characters and backstory, I'll read the next book to see how that one lands for me. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for the advance digital copy!

Up Island Harbor by Jean Stone is an escape to the idyllic island of Martha’s Vineyard! This is the 1st book in what appears to a series and I am looking forward to the next installment! I liked that the author sprinkled in characters from her previous Vineyard series, allowing readers to check in on how things have progressed. However, rest assured that this novel is stand alone and does not require any prior knowledge to fully understand the storyline and relationships between characters.



Set on Martha’s Vineyard, I loved being transported to the island when I can’t be there myself! I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the island - places, scenery, the food, the people. I’d love to know more about how the author researched Wampanoag culture for her work and hope that is included in the notes once the novel is released. The novel takes the reader on a journey through loss, love, and family, with many unexpected turn of events!



Stone’s writing style is similar to that of Nancy Thayer, who writes novels set on the neighboring island of Nantucket. If you are a Nancy Thayer fan, I would encourage you to give Jean Stone and the Vineyard a try!



Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!

Up-Island Harbor by Jean Stone
Starts with Maddie and she's going to Martha's Vineyard, where her grandmother lived. She lives with her son Rafe and her father in western MA.
When she arrives she meets neighbors who all knew her grandmother and some even knew her mother. Maddie recalls going there as a young girl and never understood why she never returned. Her father told her the grandmother had died. So she is quite taken aback when the letter from the lawyer informs her that Nancy just died Lisa, a neighbor tells her how she found her.
Love the discussion about the three sisters when it comes to planting as I've tried that method in my own garden. It's a New England kind of thing, I think.
Love the interjections about the local Indian tribe and all the shocking things she learns about it all. She becomes concerned when she breaks an ankle falling down a sand dune. then the fire. Love how she goes through the grandmothers items and what she treasures about them all. So many loose ends.
So many scary moments and the story wraps up at the end with so many pieces in the puzzle for you to finish solving the mysteries. Great story.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#UpIslandHarbor #NetGalley.

Maddie's world takes an unexpected turn when she receives a letter from her maternal grandmother's lawyer, revealing an inheritance she knew nothing about. Traveling to the island to claim her legacy, Maddie is shocked to learn her grandmother had only recently passed away, debunking her father's claim that she had died years ago, following her mother's death.

As Maddie delves into her grandmother's world, she encounters a tapestry of individuals who cherished her grandmother, stirring questions about her own identity and future. Torn between her life as a college professor and the allure of her newfound heritage, Maddie faces dilemmas from all sides: her father's expectations, an unwelcome ex, and her son's growing fascination with his roots.

The novel culminates in a poignant, though somewhat predictable, conclusion that guides Maddie toward clarity in her choices, marking a journey of self-discovery and familial bonds.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really lovely book. I enjoyed it a lot!

This book was a fun read.

Maddie received a letter from her maternal grandmother's attorney, letting her know that her grandmother had left her an inheritance, so Maddie goes to the island to attend to her grandmother's bequest. When Maddie realizes her grandmother just died, rather than having died decades ago, she doesn't know what to do about the lies her father told her after her mother died.

The story continues on with Maddie learning more about her heritage and meeting people who loved her grandmother. Her attitudes about the island vs. her possible tenure at the college where she teaches become blurry as she continues to wonder who she is. With a father wanting her to do one thing, an ex who is there but not wanted, and her beloved son who seems to be interested in his new heritage, Maggie has some issues to decide.

The ending was powerful, if a bit anticipated, and helped Maddie with her decision making.

I've read other books by Ms. Stone, and have enjoyed them too. They are wonderful for relaxing with the book, taking a day for yourself.

Up Island Harbor is an interesting book with a nice setting and likable characters. Maddie, a college professor, left her home in Green Hills to go to Martha's Vineyard after receiving a letter from an attorney stating that her grandmother has died leaving Maddie her estate, a grandmother she has not seen since her mother's death forty years ago. Her father, also a college professor, told her when she was ten years old that her grandmother had died. Confused, she left without telling him or her college age son know where she was going. Maddie's life is turned upside down as she discovers lies and secrets withheld from her, concerning her whole life, including her grandmother, her mother, and her heritage. Why would her father do that? This multilayered story unravels like layers of an onion as she meets and gets acquainted with locals and discovers things that she didn't know or remember, some of which come back to her. She has lots of decisions to make complicated by mishaps, including an obnoxious ex, and eventually has to include her family. I did not think that Maddie handled things well at times even considering all the shocks dealt her, but she did grow as the book progressed. There are surprises and revelations that complete the book in a satisfactory way and is a nice read with a great setting and island history with a touch of romance and a bit of mystery. I was happy to find out this will be a series.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

Maddie discovers her family has been hiding something when she inherits her grandmother Nancy's property on Martha's Vineyard. I enjoyed this mostly for the Vineyard setting because frankly Maddie didn't engage me. It's a tad trope-y. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It will make a good read for a beach day.

Book Review: Up Island Harbor
Stars: 4 x 5
Author: Jean Stone
Publisher: Kensington
Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC

What a complex book of family, secrets, hurts and wants. It was a delight to read. Madeline Clark’s life is turned upside down when she receives a letter from a lawyer. Her grandma has recently passed away and has left her estate to Madelyne. Maddie travels to the Up Island Harbor on :Martha’s Vineyard to quickly sell the cottage but as Maddie’s settles in for a bit, her memories are returning. Maddie originally thought her grandma had been gone years ago but apparently that did happen. Maddie decides to stay and find out about her family and why she thought her grandma was already dead, As Maddie learns about her family past and present she also starts to learn more about herself and who she really is. I won’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil anything. I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to more books about Maddie’s adventures on The Vineyard.
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