The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

About the book

2016: Mari Starwood, aged thirty-four, is still in mourning following her mother’s passing as she ventures to the famous island of Martha’s Vineyard, located off the coast of Massachusetts. Traveling all the way from California with only a name written on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the renowned yet reclusive painter of the Vineyard. Once Mari arrives at Mrs. Devereaux’s breathtaking waterfront estate under the pretense of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to reveal the tale of the Smith sisters, former residents of the property. Through the unfolding narrative, Mari uncovers a connection to the island that goes beyond her imagination.

1942: The Smith siblings—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old wartime enthusiast Briar—are confronted with the daunting challenge of maintaining their struggling family farm during World War II when the U.S. Army descends upon Martha’s Vineyard. With the sightings of German U-boats near the island’s shores by Briar, and Cadence finding herself in an unexpected romance with a sworn adversary, their peaceful lives are thrown into chaos. In an effort to find normalcy, Cadence and her close friend, Bess, establish a book club that gains popularity and influence as they connect with a prominent New York publisher who could make Cadence's aspirations a reality. However, their endeavors are jeopardized by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and rumors of a spy within their midst. Who among their tight-knit island community can they rely on? Can this small book club alter the course of the war . . . before it's too late?