A well-crafted novel that follows the main character as she returns home after too long away. It is the story or women-mothers, daughters, sisters-and it is wonderful.

I enjoyed this mother-daughter story set on Mackinac Island, Michigan that had some romance, some reconciliation, secrets and more as the two women embark on journeys of self-discovery over the course of one life-changing summer.

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.

An interesting summer story set on Mackinac Island.

Gigi, newly unemployed and broke, decides to move back to her home on the island she couldn't wait to leave as a child. Her mom is keen on setting her up with the new island doctor, hoping to keep her on the island. In return, Gigi sets her mom up with a traveling writer staying at the Grand Hotel. It's fun to watch Gigi learn to love the island and grow. An easy, summery story with a lot of grit.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Romances are not my favorite genre but I truly enjoyed this one- especially due to the setting on Mackinac Island. I have heard of the petroskis so many times and enjoyed reading about them. The island sounds like the perfect place to spend the summer. I so enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Gigi, her sister and Eloise. I also enjoyed both of the romances - unexpected, both starting as a bit of a joke. Loved the depiction of island life and small town daily activities. Lindsay MacMillan’s skilled writing kept me basking in the sunshine throughout this feel good heart warming story.
Many thanks to Lindsay MacMillan, Harper Muse and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this recently published book.

Summer on Lilac Island – Lindsay MacMillan
 
My rating – 4 stars
 
If you’re looking for the perfect summery read, look no further. This book oozes summer with its small town, summer holiday, island setting and lots of romantic storylines.
 
Summer on Lilac Island is set on Mackinac Island which is on Lake Huron in Michigan. It’s a hidden gem of America that I didn’t know existed, with a car free environment meaning you can only get around by foot, bikes or horse drawn carriages. The descriptions of the island are so beautiful and vivid, I feel like I’ve visited. From the main street with its boutique shops and food places, to the beauty of the coastline and lake. I have a new holiday destination on my bucket list!
 
The story matches its beautiful setting and is a heartwarming, character driven tale following three generations of women from the same family. Think Gilmore Girls, summer style. Gigi has run out of options. She’s broke, unemployed and has just been kicked out of her flat, so she returns home to Mackinac to spend a rent free summer living with her mum. With this comes pressures from her family to settle her free spirit, interfering islanders spreading gossip and rumours and questionable relationships with just about everyone. Although Gigi and her mum Eloise are the main protagonists, I loved that the story has multiple POVs which add depth and great character development.
 
It’s a story of self discovery and finding the best version of yourself no matter your age. The journey this family of women go on made my heart melt. The characters are relatable and real, with all their flaws and the romance is wholesome. It’s definitely worth picking up!

Thank you for the opportunity to receive an arc of this novel!

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.

The rent is free - that's a plus. Living with her mom for the summer - that's a negative. Gigi returns to Mackinac Island for the summer. She's broke, trying to pull her life together. When she left Mackinac at 18, she ran away with the mayor's son and she has a reputation. Does she try to repair her reputation all these years later, or will she choose to add to the bad girl persona?

Mom sets her up with the new doctor on the island, and when Gigi agrees to the date, she tells her mother she will arrange a date for her mother. Deal is on! We hear more of Gigi's story, her mom Eloise's story and even Gigi's grandmother's story. The island and its summer activities, the fudge shops, the tourists, the horses, plays such a great part in the book. It was also a revealing look at the full-time residents and their lives which go on after summer is over and the tourists long gone.

Set on the small island of Mackinac, this story feels like a coming of age of multiple generations of women. I felt a connection with each of the characters (except Gus- I found him unforgivable) and appreciated their POV in each chapter. In some books, this style feels disjointed but in Summer on Lilac Island I felt like it flowed so beautifully and carried the story well. I’m always a fan of chapters that come from inanimate objects and having the perspective of the Grand Hotel and the island itself was really fun. I wish there were more of those chapters! Overall, this was a really good read.

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.

Gigi Jenkins, newly unemployed and back from Florida, must return to her hometown of Mackinac Island and move in with her divorced mother, Eloise. Their strained relationship takes a playful twist when Eloise sets Gigi up with the town’s new doctor. Gigi counters by insisting her mother go on a date with Clyde, a charming Scottish author she met on the ferry. What unfolds is a summer of matchmaking antics, community events, and surprising twists; not only in romance, but in deepening family bonds.

I appreciated the vivid descriptions the author used; think salty breezes, horse hooves on cobblestone, and the scent of lilacs and fudge which Mackinac Island is very much known for. I enjoyed the leisurely pace of the story as it also was very much in tune with the leisurely pace of Mackinac. For me this story allowed the character interactions to breathe, almost inviting the island in as a character herself!

Summer on Lilac Island is a cozy, heartfelt summer read perfect for fans of character-driven, feel-good stories with a dash of romance. Its charm lies in the warm family dynamics and vibrant island atmosphere. If you're seeking rich small-town detail and emotional payoff over fast-paced plot twists, this one’s a win.

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!

**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 heartwarming journey of self-discovery, reconnections, romance and love…all on the beautiful Mackinac Island. After struggling to make ends meet, Gigi returns home to stay with her meddling and divorced mother Eloise. Both set the other up on a blind date, and both unexpectedly find themselves in the process. Told mainly from Gigi and Eloise’s points-of-view with a few surprise PoV as well, their current thoughts unfolded along with their backstories. I shared their desires for success, acceptance and love, along with the heartbeat and heartaches that went with. I thought it was a poignant story with a gorgeous setting, complex, deep and relatable characters wrapped up with beautiful prose. A great summer vacation read.
4.5 stars

Big thanks to Harper, Muse, and NetGalley for the free advanced copy of this charming story!

This was such a fun and heartwarming read. Gigi is a total free spirit—constantly on the move, both in her love life and career—clearly taking after her dad’s wandering ways. But when she hits a crossroads, she ends up back on the island she grew up on, and that’s where things get interesting.

Her mom, Eloise, has plans of her own and starts nudging Gigi toward the town’s golden boy doctor, James. In classic rom-com fashion, Gigi agrees to entertain the idea—as long as her mom agrees to go on a date herself (with a Scottish author no less!). What starts as a playful matchmaking deal slowly turns into something more real. Gigi finds herself drawn to the sweet, steady doctor who is so not her usual type—and at the same time, she’s unexpectedly reconnecting with her hometown and the people in it.

With a wandering spirit and one foot always out the door, watching Gigi wrestle with the idea of staying and maybe even putting down roots made for a lovely journey. This story has all the small-town charm, mother-daughter feels, and slow-burn romance you’d hope for.

Definitely recommend if you’re into stories about second chances, unexpected love, and coming home in more ways than one.

This book broke me and put me back together several times. This isn't just a book about mothers and daughters or friendships that turn into more. It's about growing no matter in what point of your life you are. You can always count on your mother, your family, and the friendships you gain along the way.

This is written in the third person but it felt so personal for me. I loved that we moved through different female characters and how their lives went on in Mackinac Island. The island itself is a protagonist of the book and with good reason. 

Thanks to the author's writing and the narrator's voice, I found myself transported to the story. The characters came to life through the narrator. She gave a different voice and presence to each one of the characters. I found pieces of myself in each of the characters. I laughed, I got angry, I got sad, I cried with them, so many emotions.

At first, I thought this was going to be Gigi's story in the island but her mother Eloise, her grandmother Alice, her sister Rebecca, her childhood friend Lillian, her mother's friend Diedre, and Mackinac Island herself, were all the protagonists of the story. Each of them inspiring each other, challenging each other, supporting each other, and growing at their own pace. I really enjoyed this multigenerational book and how the reveals were handled. It teaches you that we can learn at any age, we are all capable of change, be uniquely ourselves, and regain hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC/ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This is one of those books I almost liked more than I actually did. The setup is charming, the writing is easy to sink into, and it has all the right ingredients for a breezy beach read. But somewhere along the way, it just didn’t stick for me. I found myself putting it down and not really feeling compelled to pick it back up. It’s not that anything was particularly wrong with it—it just felt a little too surface-level and unmemorable to keep my attention. That said, if you’re looking for a light, low-stakes read to toss in your beach bag, this would fit the bill. It just didn’t quite hold mine.

Thank you, Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the e-arc of this book.

This is what I think is peak divorced wine mom beach read in women's fiction, with characteristically unlikeable characters and gossip, with everyone hiding secrets of their own in the small town. The characters were flawed and selfish in a way that felt true to life, but the writing didn't hit like I was expecting. It's more of a blunt, to-the-point writing style, with quite a bit of telling and not showing, along with things being repeated, which only worked some of the time.

Either way, like I always say, pick it up for yourself because you never truly know how you'll feel about it until you experience it yourself.

3.5 stars rounded up. The first half of this book was too slow for me, plus there’s a zillion characters, but I decided to stick with it. The second half was way better, tho it did feel long. It’s primarily about Gigi and Eloise, daughter and mother. They fix each other up with dates and in the end their own love for each other is rekindled.

Second chances are all someone needs at times. The premise of the story was good, the bond between a mother and daughter can be fraught with tension. There was something about Gigi that made her unlikeable. I was hoping she’d become more endearing. Overall a good book, although not my favorite summer read. .