What a lovely World War II dual timeline historical fiction novel set in Martha's Vineyard! It seems that most current WWII historical fiction novels take place in Europe, so this was a quite welcome change.

The teenaged Smith kids, Tom, Cadence, and Briar, are being raised on the family farm by their grandmother following the untimely deaths of their parents. The kids, along with Tom's fiancé Bess, work tirelessly to keep the family farm from going under. In an effort to stay busy and share their love of books, Cadence and Bess create the Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club that meets in Grandma's kitchen or on the beach near their farm.

In present day, Mari Starwood, searching for answers following her mothers death, finds herself in Martha's Vineyard, with the reclusive painter Elizabeth Devereaux. The story of the Smith sisters unwinds over the course of a weekend. Mari is shocked to find she has personal ties to the island despite her mother's denial that she had never lived anywhere but California.

This is the story of love and loss, war and suspicions, and so much more. It is sure to be a bestseller!

A very interesting story about WW2 told through the eyes of sister’s on Martha’s Vineyard. The author’s notes at the end really added to the book. It was interesting to learn about the U-boats off the island and how Martha’s Vineyard was used as a training ground for soldiers. It is a pleasant story based on real people.

I was fortunate to read an ARC of this book. I could not put this book down! Great wholly developed characters, surprising plot. If you like very good historical books, I believe you will like this!

So I thought this book was OK, not great. I found some of the characters a little hard to follow and the story a bit disjointed. The end was fairly predictable. Putting that aside, the book did get me to the finish line feeling slightly satisfied and I can see this as a summer beach read.

Title: The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club
Author: Martha Kelly Hall
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Genre: Women's Fiction

I loved how this story was written! It was a dual timeline between WWII (1942) and present day. A woman named Mari visits Martha's Vineyard after her mother' funeral - leaving behind a non-committed boyfriend and not-so-great job in CA - to visit a famous painter named Elizabeth Devereux who agrees to private painting lessons for Mari. When Mari arrives she realizes that she may be there for more than just painting. This is where the story starts. Elizabeth begins telling Mari a story about the Smith sisters and how they started a wartime book club on the island during WWII. Their brother Tom was shipped out and the two sisters, Briar and Cadence, along with their friend Bess, are left to care for their family farm with their grandmother. Attempting some kind of normalcy, Cadence and Bess start a book club that grows popular quickly, while younger sister Briar is war-obsessed and calling the coast guard daily about seeing U-Boats. Then a mysterious man washes ashore - a spy? A German? No one knows....

As Elizabeth continues to tell the story, Mari quickly learns that she may have more ties to the island of Martha's Vineyard than just painting.

This book flowed easily between the two time periods, and was written beautifully. Be sure to read the Author's Note in the back, as she tells you how her ties to the island inspired this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! This is sure to be a best seller!!

It all started with the Smith Girls.... When Mari travels to Martha's Vineyard in 2016 to find out more information about an artist who her late mother was planning to visit, the story of Briar and Cadence during WWII is unraveled.

I loved this book! Reading an historical WWII novel, set on Martha’s Vineyard, was truly unique and the fact that many of the events actually happened, makes the book even a more valuable read. The author’s extensive research is commendable. I learned about the German U Boats sitting offshore from Martha’s Vineyard and the commandos that practiced on its shores as the terrain was comparable to Normandy’s terrain. Since my father was an Army Ranger and was part of the Normandy invasion at Pointe du Hoc, I wish I knew if he had trained on Martha’s Vineyard. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #TheMartha’sVineyardBeachandBookClub,, #Ballantine Books, # Netgalley

This was such a great story about two sisters, it had that overall feel that I wanted and worked with the story being told. The characters were what I was looking for and felt like they belonged in this. The plot has that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the historical setting going on. Martha Hall Kelly was able to create a unique story that I enjoyed reading about.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book club was a very enjoyable novel. Most World War II historical fiction novels are set in Europe. It was interesting to read a very well researched and informative novel set on Martha’s Vineyard. It is a very common tool of authors to switch back and forth between characters and time periods, often the two story lines seem incompatible. Not the case here. Although I enjoyed the story set in the 40’s more than the modern counterpart, both threads were interesting and believable.
I think this novel was clever, unique and unpredictable. Its fast pace held my interest and the sympathetic characters held my heart. I know the readers in my book club would enjoy this novel.

Loved this! Absolutely beautiful! Highly recommend this to anyone. Sometimes the “right” thing isn’t black and white and the story of Cadence and Briar shows just that.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc!

Really great story of life on Marthas Vineyard during 1942. The Smith sisters start a bookclub to help each other during the war . Tales of what happened when the military has war games and practices for the invasion of Europe. Ships, spies, and intrigue keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A new book by Martha Hall Kelly is always a welcoming surprise and this book does not disappoint. This dual timeline story based mostly during World War II on Martha’s Vineyard and the present day visit of a young woman, Mari Sherwood looking for answers about her family’s history to Martha’s Vineyard is an excellent read. The story focuses on Cadence and Brier Smith living with their Grandmother on the island struggling to keep a roof over their heads during the war, their brother Tom is in the service and she shipped overseas, leaving the two sisters, the Grandmother and Tom’s fiancée to carry on with the family farm.The sisters form a book club to keep spirits up and also donate books to soldiers stationed on the island. This book also has a few subplots involving interesting characters, this book has a little bit of everything going for it, historical fiction, the friendship and support these women had for each other, some romance and some mystery. The dual timeline story comes together in a nice, heartwarming finish.. I would highly recommend this book.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club
By: Martha Hall Kelly
Pub Date: January 1, 2025
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine

Don’t forget to read the author notes, which shows Kelly’s ties to Martha Vineyard. A dual time line told in 1942 and present day 2024. A story about two sisters during World War II and their love of books while they create a wartime book club.

Love how the soldiers were getting books. The girls, Briar and Ginny brother was in the war and they were trying to take care of the family’s property on Martha’s Vineyard.

A German U-boat is spotted in the waters as there is an army base close by. Briar is the younger sister and Ginny has hopes of being a writer in NY.
Created the book club proves to be a challenge as they want to get the books in the hands of soldiers.

A beautiful novel which I ADORED. I come from a long line of military and love books, so this one TOUCHES my heart. I would love to think that my ancestors were able to get their hands on some books.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelley, another strong book from an author we can always count on.

This book was pretty good! The title is not necessarily misleading, but it is not really accurate. There's a group of women in Martha's vineyard, but they are not the book club, the book club is for soldiers. There is also a separate timeline in the future, so in the end they do come together and that is nice. It is a decent read!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Set in the 1940s during World War II, Cadence is a local journalist who writes articles for the town paper, capturing the daily happenings in her community. Meanwhile, Briar devotes her time to investigating a mysterious man, presumed to be a German spy, who washed ashore under suspicious circumstances. As tensions rise, Briar’s search for the truth uncovers more than she expected, adding layers of intrigue and danger to this wartime narrative.

There is a book club portion of the book where books are shared with the soldiers but I really don’t see that as the heart of the storyline.

The book also features a parallel storyline set in the present day, but I found myself less interested in that portion and more drawn to the historical narrative. The two storyline intertwined at the end of the book to pull everything together nicely.

Thank you, NetGalley for supplying me in ARC of this book and exchange for my honest opinion

MHK writes excellent, well researched historical fiction that appeals to women. I know this will be just as popular as Lilac Girls and will need to order extra copies for our library.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club hit the mark perfectly. The author delves into something I knew nothing about, and that's any military maneuvers and more during WW II on Martha's Vineyard. The dual timeline is done well and has a bonus of two narrators in the 1942 timeline. The characters were well done and not hard to follow. There is love (but it's not a romance really,) and mystery (but not completely) and historical fiction (but not standing alone.) There is a focus on family as well. Ms. Kelly did this in a manner that kept me reading until I finished the book. I highly recommend The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is a dual timeline novel that intertwines stories of war, love, and the power of books. Set on Martha's Vineyard during World War II and in 2016, the novel follows the lives of two sisters, Cadence and Briar, as they face the turbulence of the war on their small island. In a bid for normalcy, they form a book club that becomes a lifeline for the women on the island. Decades later, Mari Starwood's quest for answers leads her to uncover a deep connection to these past events. This book is an emotional story filled with mystery, romance, and the strength of sisterhood.

Oh this book I just absolutely devoured. It was just so good!! I would highly recommend this to do for a fun book club. I just loved every page of it. Highly recommend!