Discover the best Martha’s Vineyard books, a unique New England island that captures your heart fully. I got engaged there while reading a book on the beach, visit there annually, and continually read as many books set there as I can to recommend to you based on my special love of the island.
Whether you are a newbie, a local, or a summer visitor, these Martha’s Vineyard books, many of which are written by local authors like Jean Stone and regulars like my friends T. Elizabeth Bell and Brooke Lea Foster, will fill you with its breezy spirit and the American pride of its distinct towns, which keep everyone, from politicians to celebrities, coming back for more. Let’s get literary!
Best Books Set on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Before the Fall by Noah Hawley: suspense
- Chances Are! by Richard Russo: literary fiction
- Counting Chickens by T. Elizabeth Bell: contemporary romance
- Goats in the Time of Love by T. Elizabeth Bell: contemporary romance
- The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand: family drama
- Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster (new for 2025): historical fiction/family drama
- Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery: family drama
- Split Rock by Holly Hodder Eger: beach read
- Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand (my top pick, a #1 New York Times bestseller): historical fiction/family drama
- Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin: diverse family drama
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther: young adult romance
- Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster: historical fiction/coming-of-age
- Summer Sisters by Judy Blume: friendship drama
- The Vineyard Remains by Addison McKnight: dramatic multi-genre beach read
- A Vineyard Summer by Jean Stone: cozy mystery series
Romance reader? A few good romance books set on Martha’s Vineyard are Counting Chickens by T. Elizabeth Bell, for adults, and The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther, for young adults.
My Reviews of Martha’s Vineyard Beach Reads
Read these books in The Literary Lifestyle’s Summer Reading Challenge
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Before the Fall begins ominously, with the crash of a private plane headed to New York from Martha’s Vineyard. It’s reminiscent of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. You will hold your breath during this suspenseful intro sequence, knowing, before the characters do, what is about to become of them.
The only survivors are a painter and a four-year-old boy, now the last member of a wealthy and powerful television news media mogul’s family. The media goes wild, and accusations fly against the painter.
It’s especially good fiction for men, who will likely enjoy this novel’s corporate mysteries.
Chances Are… by Richard Russo
Chances Are is one of those rare books that makes you want to scream about it from the rooftops to convince everyone to read it.
It’s part coming of age, part mystery, and 100% Martha’s Vineyard. Three old college buddies gather on the island and wonder what happened to the college girl they were all once in love with, who went missing decades earlier.
There are great plot twists you won’t see coming, but this is not a thriller– it’s more of a literary mystery. The characters are complex, the dialogue is realistic, and the Martha’s Vineyard references are perfect.
Counting Chickens by T. Elizabeth Bell
Counting Chickens is a great escape book. It’s a plot-driven, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy filled with local references.
Remy is a concierge on the island who manages a handsome, wealthy client and a long-time friend who is interested in her affection. At the same time, she tends to her chickens and a lovable dog she inherited.
This local author perfectly captures the island’s charm. Bell has told me:
“I set my novels on Martha’s Vineyard because I wanted to share the state of what I call ‘Vineyard bliss’ with others. […] utterly relaxed and both connected to and wonderfully aware of your surroundings[.]”
The way she writes is exactly how Martha’s Vineyard feels to me. Her summer romances are light and breezy for a beach day.
Goats in the Time of Love by T. Elizabeth Bell
Goats in the Time of Love is for lovers of plot-driven books, as a lot happens during one fateful summer between Sky, a wealthy attorney escaping the big city after an engagement gone bad, and Nate, a local “goatscaper” whose goats she hires to clear the brush and open the view at her new cottage.
There’s a lot of “rich people drama,” but there’s also a lot of local Vineyard “heart,” highlighting the farms and fishing villages on the beloved island. Bell has told me:
“Martha’s Vineyard is almost a character itself in my novels, not just a setting.”
So many little touches in this summer novel made me smile, like the references to the line to get onto the Chappaquiddick ferry and the lobster shacks in Menemsha. There’s also a whole section of inspired recipes to make at the end!
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
While most of author Elin Hilderbrand‘s novels take place on her home island Nantucket, The Identicals, offers the most content on Martha’s Vineyard.
Forty-year-old identical twins were split by their divorcing parents as children. Tabitha stayed in Nantucket with their fashion designer mother, and Harper went to Martha’s Vineyard with their father. The twins became further estranged by a tragic event, the exact details of which unfold throughout the novel.
When they experience difficult events with their parents, they “switch” islands for summer.
You’ll love this New England literature’s references to my favorite spots, like the beloved coffee shop Mocha Motts.
Related Post: Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order
Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster
In Our Last Vineyard Summer, graduate student Betsy returns to her family’s Martha’s Vineyard summer home in 1978, only to find her mother planning to sell it to cover her late father’s debts. As Betsy reunites with her two sisters, secrets from a forbidden romance and the work of her activist parents dating back to 1965 come to light.
This coastal fiction effectively navigates the politics of the time without feeling too heavy or preachy. I also learned new things about both the time and the island, including the fact that Noman’s, now a local restaurant, is also the name of an island nearby! You’ll also enjoy references to Jaws, Edgartown, and Katama.
I spoke with the author about her book, and she said:
“I keep saying this is the book I was meant to write. I pulled from so many different parts of my life — my years in DC, my love of the Vineyard, being one of three sisters, being a feminist mother — and all the ways in which we endure as families even when there are secrets that shift the sands beneath us.”
Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery
In Our Place on the Island, the Campbell women gather to celebrate their matriarch’s remarriage, which serves as a backdrop for their personal dilemmas. A renowned chef grapples with her restaurant’s financial problems, while her mother copes with grief and concerns about her mother’s remarriage.
As the wedding day approaches, secrets from the past surface in dual timelines, challenging the family’s understanding of love, motherhood, and marriage.
Reading this book is like sitting on the front porch with your mother and coastal grandmother on a hazy summer day.
Split Rock by Holly Hodder Eger
In Split Rock, Annie Tucker’s life reflects the “split rock” in Lambert’s Cove in Tisbury.
After Annie’s beloved Aunt Faye dies, she inherits her Martha’s Vineyard home and dog, where she spends the summer with her three children while her husband is away for work.
The island reminds her of her young love, whom she happens to run into, causing her to consider what life with him would have looked like.
It’s a page-turner with quick pacing, a storyline full of warmth, and the charm of island life.
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand
Summer of ’69 is one of the best Elin Hilderbrand books, blending historical fiction, family drama, and pop culture into one.
The plot follows the Levin family during a monumental summer. Blair is pregnant with twins in Boston, Kirby is working on Martha’s Vineyard, Tiger is fighting in Vietnam, and only young Jessie is vacationing with their grandmother on Nantucket.
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Kennedy’s car sinks at Chappaquiddick on Martha’s Vineyard, causing the death of a woman. Additionally, a man flies to the moon amidst a backdrop of civil rights and war.
Summer of ’69 immerses you in the family’s lives and transports you to the 1960s simultaneously, making for an extremely satisfying read.
Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin
Summer on the Bluffs is unique in its diverse characters and viewpoints.
A wealthy godmother of three twentysomething women invites them to spend one last summer with her before she chooses one to whom she will give the island estate come summer’s end.
Each of these goddaughters faces life’s challenges during this time. Meanwhile, their godmother also reveals the secrets behind her involvement in their lives, which may alter their relationships forever.
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
The Summer of Broken Rules is a small-town romance novel inspired by Taylor Swift’s songs!
Meredith is a teenager coping with the loss of her beloved sister when she visits the family’s Martha’s Vineyard island farm for a week, culminating in her cousin’s wedding. Before the wedding, the family plays a competitive game of Assassin, and, in an attempt to win it all, Meredith allies with a cute groomsman named Wit.
It’s filled with warm, fuzzy feelings of lighthearted young summer love. It left me with a huge smile on my face.
Related Post: Taylor Swift Book Recommendations
Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster
Summer Darlings made me think of what the 1960s on Martha’s Vineyard may have felt like for the Kennedys in Cape Cod.
In 1962, Brooklyn coed Heddy becomes a nanny for a wealthy family on Martha’s Vineyard. As she gets an insider’s look into the lives of the rich and famous and dates various island men of different classes, she questions whether a wealthy lifestyle will solve her problems or create more of them.
There’s even some suspense amidst the salaciousness!
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
In Summer Sisters, it’s the summer of 1977. Victoria Leonard’s life forever changes when reckless Caitlin Somers offers her exclusive vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, where their friendship blooms.
Years later, Caitlin is getting married on Martha’s Vineyard. Although their friendship has faded, Caitlin agrees to be her maid of honor.
It’s a sharp coming-of-age story for every adult reader who grew up on Judy Blume books.
The Vineyard Remains by Addison McKnight
The Vineyard Remains is one of the most dramatic books I have ever read! It revolves around a longtime love triangle and baby drama among two cousins, Angela and Kiki, and the same man.
But, believe me when I say that’s only the beginning! This tale contains more trauma than I ever thought could exist on one island, including abuse, death, murder, cancer, genetics, “mommy issues,” and so much more.
It’s less triggering and more indulgent and propulsive than it may sound. And, yes, it’s also littered with island references!
A Vineyard Summer by Jean Stone
A Vineyard Summer is the second in a Martha’s Vineyard book series.
As Annie struggles to find a new home on the island and figure out who poisoned the bridesmaid at the wedding, familial tensions rise to the surface.
What I love about this series is how truly “Martha’s Vineyard” it feels. The characters’ numerous local references and New England mannerisms feel utterly realistic, transporting you to this special island.
Recap
Martha’s Vineyard is a special place that captures the hearts of residents, visitors, and readers. With historic charm and unique New England island culture, from lighthouses to the Black Dog and the Bunch of Grapes bookstore, this assortment of Martha’s Vineyard books allows you to experience the magic of the Vineyard through the written word.
If you still can’t decide which book to read next, start with my top pick, Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ’69.
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
I am so honored to see OUR PLACE ON THIS ISLAND on this list with so many fabulous reads. Thank you so much for including!!
Another missing Stephen Carter’s The Emporor of Ocean Park.
Thank you for sharing!
Another author of books set on Martha’s Vineyard is Lisa Belcastro.
Thanks so much, Bob! I look forward to checking out her work this coming Spring and Summer.
Another wonderful MV based novel not to be missed: Split Rock by Holly Eger-
Thanks so much! I still need to read that one. I will add it to my list.
Happy to find this list and would suggest the addition of Linda Cargillo’s the Boat House Cafe (book one), The Uneven Road (book two), and Island Legacy (book three).
Thank you so much! Happy to learn of more MV books.
Another book set in Martha’s Vineyard is: Our Life on the Vineyard by Kiersten Robson Holland.