About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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?
My Review
I won’t go into a full description off the storyline since the synopsis above does it so well.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I was very impressed. The storyline is told through two different timelines - 2016 and 1942. Mostly, it’s the 1942 era we primarily read about. The author did an excellent job of capturing the time era, the people, and the tragic events of wartime.
Martha Hall Kelly wrote a beautiful novel with realistic characters. I could feel the pain and heartache each one went through during a very difficult time.
This poignant, heart wrenching tale tugged on all my emotional heart strings. The author succeeded in transporting me into the book. It completely captivated me, and I couldn’t put it down.
By the end of the book, I was in tears. It stuck with me long after I read the last page. If I could give the book more than five stars, I would. It will definitely be on my “best book” of the year list. Words can’t even describe how much I loved this book. This new-to-me author has quickly become a favorite.
As a sidenote: I love the cover. I think it's beautiful and unique.
Disclosure: I borrowed this e-book from the library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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