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?

©2025 Martha Hall Kelly (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Martha Hall Kelly’s tale of the home front is simply irresistible. Coming of age in dangerous times, 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

“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

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

Interesting viewpoint

I enjoyed the story about the island and the challenges with WWII as well as the spy element. Also the book club and how they were able to solve a problem

Such a wonderful compelling story.

Such a wonderful historic fiction. It was compelling and romantic and I finished it in four days. Lovely!!

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.

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!

Not really a beach read

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Bookclub: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ historical fiction…..World War II and the power of storytelling. A mysterious family secret …. Five star read

Realistic location

Slow moving it dragged a bit but good ending and characters were relatable good history lesson

Very satisfying

sentimental look at the sacrifices of the people of in WWII in Martha’s Vineyard. Guaranteed tears.