OVERVIEW
This is the second book I have read by Martha Hall Kelly. But there was something so personal about this novel due to the presence of book clubs, book lovers, and book readers! Plus, the magical setting of Martha's Vineyard during WWII created a perfect combination for a historical fiction novel!
Yes, of course, this is another WWII book! With books at the center of this novel, how could I resist reading another WWII historical fiction novel?!?!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
Martha writes beautifully, vividly, and descriptively. She is a writer who helps you use all of your senses to imagine exactly what takes place in this novel.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This was a dual timeline story with 1942 main characters of friends/sisters on Martha's Vineyard during WWII: Cadence (older sister), Briar (younger sister), and Besse (friend). The 2016 main characters were Mari (a young painter) and Mrs. Devereaux (a famous painter).
The secondary characters are Gram (Cadence and Briar's grandmother), Tom (Cadence and Briar's brother), and Margaret (another friend).
The tertiary characters are the extended friends, family, tourists, visitors, Army officers and soldiers, and "Islanders" on Martha's Vineyard (a beautiful character in its own right).
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is typical of what so many American families endured during WWII. Their child(ren) went off to fight for our freedoms in Europe, Africa, or Asia. The main communication was the radio, with little detail about specific individuals, so the families worried yet had to carry on at the home front. I cannot imagine the fear and anxiety!
The locations were: Martha's Vineyard, almost exclusively.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I had no idea that German U-boats were so flagrant, visible, and close to our shores during WWII. My family lived on the West Coast in Los Angeles and had rationing and blackouts, but nothing as terrifying as Martha's Vineyard!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Lovely!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Great title!
HIGHLY recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
336 pages
Ballantine Books
FUTURE release date: 5/27/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNING: War, sexual situations, mild cursing, classism, pregnancy, medical content, death, gun violence
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
1 comment:
So happy you enjoyed it, Dorothea!
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