Martha Hall Kelley, one of my favorite historical fiction novelists, delivers another captivating tale in The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club. The title is a bit misleading—it isn’t really about a book club—but what unfolds is far richer and more intriguing.
The dual timeline begins in 2016, when Mari Starwood travels from California to Martha’s Vineyard with nothing but a name on a scrap of paper. There she meets Elizabeth Devereaux, a reclusive painter whose family story reshapes Mari’s understanding of her own past.
The heart of the novel, though, lies in 1942. Sisters Cadence and Briar Smith struggle to hold their farm together while U.S. troops train on the island and German U-boats prowl offshore. Their lives are complicated by Cadence’s forbidden romance, Briar’s obsession with the war, and the arrival of a mysterious stranger amid whispers of espionage.
Kelley beautifully balances historical detail with a suspenseful narrative. I was fascinated to learn about the Vineyard’s wartime role and the miniature books soldiers carried overseas. Ultimately, this is a story about women—their resilience, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds. Sweeping and atmospheric, it’s another reminder of why Kelley is a standout in historical fiction.
** Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Ballantine Books for a review copy. Opinions are my own.