The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

A Novel

De: Martha Hall Kelly

Narrado por: Martha Hall Kelly, Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Imani Jade Powers, EJ Lavery

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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 in this spectacular novel inspired by true events, from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

“A dreamy beach book that also sizzles with tension . . . another winner by one of the best historical fiction writers around.”—Fiona Davis, author of The Stolen Queen

2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.

1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before it’s too late?

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A dreamy beach book that also sizzles with tension . . . Another winner by one of the best historical fiction writers around.”—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

“A heart-in-your-mouth tale of family, friendship and romance as a small American island finds itself on a potential frontline of World War II.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

“Celebrates the magic of books, family, and truth as several women—bound by blood and friendship—discover their destinies.”—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

“The glorious Martha Hall Kelly’s most personal novel yet . . . with a surprising turn that will inspire readers everywhere.”—Adriana Trigiani, author of The View from Lake Como

“Iirresistible . . . the Smith girls find strength in dreams, family, the land, and in the life-changing power of books. This story drew me in, then swept me away!”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood

“An ode to the human heart and the power of books to connect us—no one writes about the sustaining cords of female friendships quite like Martha Hall Kelly.”—Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller

“I adore Martha Hall Kelly’s books. Her characters are so beautifully crafted—I can feel them in the room, ready to discuss their loves, family secrets, intrigues, adventures, and more.”—Genevieve Graham, nationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper

“Full of thoughtful and detailed prose, endearing characters, swoony romance, and thriller-worthy intrigue . . . a gift to fans of stories rooted in fascinating history and the bravery of the human heart.”—Natalie Jenner, #1 nationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

“A prime example of Martha Hall Kelly’s knack for bringing the emotional investment of historical women to the forefront, elevating the facts of what we think we know and evoking our deepest empathy . . . a heartwarming novel of audacious women inspiring hope with a dash of heartbreak.”—Sarah McCoy, New York Times bestselling author of The Baker’s Daughter

“Inspired by true events, Kelly’s new novel explores friendship, family dynamics, and the power of books to unite communities. Recommended for historical fiction readers who enjoy the work of Kristin Hannah, Marie Benedict, and Kate Quinn.”—Library Journal

A Mystery in an Island’s History

A charming coming-of-age story set in Martha’s Vineyard during World War II. There’s a murder mystery. But what I most appreciated was the epilogue because I had so many questions about details in the book. Were they really Nazi submarines off the shore of Martha’s Vineyard? Did American soldiers really camp out on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard? It couldn’t possibly be true that German sailors actually beached and breezily walked into local establishments. Facts like these about the island made me appreciate this book so much more than a simple coming-of-age story.

Fantastic story about a wonderful place and time

I loved it. One of the best I have read recently. She organized it well, really developed the characters and the setting. Although I live on the south shore of Boston and know the Vineyard well I didn’t know what it was like in 1942. But feel like I do after reading it. I loved her author notes at the end too. I cried at the end and listening to her notes. I could relate to the sisters even though they were from my parent’s generation. Well done!

Obsessed - definitely recommend

Martha please never stop writing!!! Loved this book so much! Such a beautiful and interesting story and loved all the colorful characters. Nostalgic, exciting, and unique! The narration was spot on

Great book!

Very good story! Finished in 24 hours. I enjoyed each character. Somewhat predictable, but not enough to take away from anything.

Historical references to WWII

Very enjoyable read. Interesting how the Nazi infiltration during WW II is so similar to the MAGA movement in 2025.

Don't let the title fool you!

Given the title, you might think that this is a summer beach read about the sacred bonds between avid readers. In reality, the book club was only a small part of the story. Instead, expect to find WW2 drama with a mystery of espionage that keeps you guessing until the end.

No wait...what REALLY keeps you guessing is the family drama. My brain was frantically trying to make connections and make sense of the flash-forward, modern-day characters. I hate to admit that I didn't guess correctly (shucks!), but I had fun trying.

I'm always a sucker for WW2 historical fiction and it was nice that this one was set in the USA rather than being set in Europe as most tend to be. It provides a unique perspective about the time and the place. The little I knew about Martha's Vineyard before reading this book was that it is a playground for the east coast wealthy; it was nice to learn more about the "common folk" who were born and raised on those shores.

One of the best books I've read in 2025!

Excellent,Excellent

What a great book.Gives you a glimpse of a time ,that has long been forgotten.Enjoy this amazing ,look back to a small town ,during World War Two.

Just a nice story !

Enjoyed this book following young girls during war time. I especially liked the ending and the authors notes at the end

Don’t miss this!

Martha Hall Kelly is one of my absolute favorite writers. She always pulls you, the reader into the story. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next! I am again sad to end this book as I really enjoyed each character!
Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us, the readers

Historical fiction on Martha’s Vineyard was outstanding!

History, love story, intrigue,
friendship, perspective, and charm of MV. I wish I would have read this before heading to MV!