Arrival at Copper Pond

In 2016, Mari Starwood, grieving her mother's death, arrives on Martha's Vineyard for a mysterious painting class with the reclusive Mrs. Devereaux. The island's charm and the enigmatic invitation hint at hidden family ties. Mari's outsider status and her mother's cryptic notes set the stage for a journey into the past, as she seeks answers about her heritage and the meaning behind the names "Cadence" and "Briar."

Sisters and Secrets

Flashing back to 1942, we meet the Smith siblings: practical Cadence, unconventional Briar, and their brother Tom, the family's anchor. Their lives on Copper Pond Farm are shaped by the war, the loss of their parents, and the guidance of their indomitable Gram. The sisters' contrasting personalities—Cadence's ambition and Briar's eccentricity—create both friction and deep loyalty, while Tom's impending departure for the Army looms over their fragile stability.

Wartime Vineyard Life

The Vineyard is a microcosm of wartime America: soldiers train on the beaches, social hierarchies persist at the Bayside Club, and the Smith girls work to keep the farm afloat. Cadence dreams of a literary career in New York, while Briar finds solace in model-making and war strategy. Their friend Bess, a wealthy runaway, becomes entwined in their family, bringing both support and complications. The war's reach is felt in rationing, fear, and the ever-present threat of loss.

The Book Club Begins

Seeking solace and connection, Cadence, Bess, and Briar—joined by Gram and Margaret—form the Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. Their meetings, held on the sand with homemade flags and borrowed books, become a lifeline. The club's mission expands: they collect and create books for soldiers, sparking a movement that will echo far beyond the island. The club's camaraderie offers a counterpoint to the uncertainty and grief of wartime.

U-Boats and Unseen Dangers

Briar's sharp eyes spot German U-boats lurking offshore, but her warnings are dismissed as fantasy. The war's shadow grows darker as rumors of spies and traitors circulate. Briar's discovery of a mysterious Nazi ring and incriminating photographs in a neighbor's belongings deepens the sense of threat. The sisters' world is no longer safe, and trust becomes a rare commodity.

The Mysterious German

When Briar rescues a half-drowned man from the beach, the sisters are thrust into a moral crisis. The man, Peter, claims to be a German medic and a pacifist, desperate to defect and reunite with his daughter in America. Harboring him puts the entire family at risk of arrest and disgrace. The sisters, divided between compassion and fear, must decide whether to trust him or turn him in.

Books for the Troops

The book club's project to create pocket-sized books for soldiers catches the attention of influential women and publishers. Cadence's literary ambitions are buoyed by the possibility of a job in New York, while the club's efforts bring hope to the troops and pride to the island. The initiative becomes a symbol of the home front's resilience and the power of stories to sustain the human spirit.

Love, Loss, and Letters

Cadence's flirtation with the enigmatic Major Gilbert, leader of the British commandos, grows into a complicated love. Bess discovers she is pregnant with Tom's child just as he ships out, and the sisters must navigate the challenges of secrecy, class, and societal judgment. Letters, telegrams, and columns from the front—and the lack thereof—become lifelines and sources of anguish, as the war's toll becomes personal.

Betrayals and Burdens

The sisters' world is rocked by betrayals: a neighbor's hidden Nazi sympathies, the theft of a crucial radio, and the revelation that someone close may be a spy. The family's decision to shelter Peter becomes increasingly perilous as the authorities close in. The sisters must confront their own failings and the limits of their loyalty, even as the war's violence draws ever closer.

The Spy Among Us

As the U-boat prepares to extract a spy from the island, suspicion falls on several characters: the charming Major Gilbert, the troubled Tyson Schmidt, and even Peter. A tense showdown reveals Tyson as the traitor, indoctrinated by his family's Nazi ties. In a violent struggle, Peter kills Tyson to protect the sisters, and the family is forced to cover up the crime, burying both the body and the secrets that nearly destroyed them.

Fire and Farewell

The aftermath of Tyson's death brings both relief and devastation. The family home is nearly destroyed by fire, and Bess, forced by her mother's manipulations, leaves the island to give birth in Boston, severing ties with the Smiths. Tom is reported killed in action, plunging the family into grief. The sisters, now truly alone, must find the strength to rebuild and honor the memory of those they have lost.

Harvest and Homecoming

The war ends, and the island celebrates. The sisters, with the help of their community, save the farm and continue the book club's legacy. Tom, long presumed dead, returns home with amnesia, a living testament to endurance and the power of love. The family, though changed, is made whole again, and the bonds of sisterhood and friendship prove unbreakable.

The Legacy Unfolds

In the present, Mari learns the truth: she is the granddaughter of Tom and Bess, the last of the Smith girls. The farm, threatened by developers, can only be saved if she claims her inheritance. The story of the sisters, their courage, and their book club becomes Mari's own, as she must decide whether to embrace her legacy and fight for the land and the family she never knew she had.

The Last Smith Girl

Mari, overwhelmed by the weight of history and expectation, nearly flees the island. But the pull of family, the memory of her mother, and the promise of a new home draw her back. With her grandmother by her side, Mari chooses to stay and fight for Copper Pond Farm, determined to honor the legacy of the Smith girls and the enduring power of books, love, and community.

Characters

Cadence Smith

Cadence is the eldest Smith sister, driven by dreams of a literary career in New York but bound by duty to her family and the farm. Her intelligence and wit make her a natural leader, but she is often torn between personal ambition and familial responsibility. Her relationship with Major Gilbert is marked by longing and uncertainty, and her journey is one of self-discovery, sacrifice, and ultimately, the embrace of her own voice and legacy.

Briar Smith

The middle sister, Briar is a war-obsessed tomboy with a genius for puzzles and a deep sense of justice. Her unconventional ways and sharp tongue often alienate her from others, but her loyalty to her family is unwavering. Briar's discovery of the Nazi ring and her role in exposing the spy are pivotal, and her psychological complexity—marked by loneliness, resilience, and a longing for acceptance—drives much of the novel's tension.

Tom Smith

The Smiths' beloved brother, Tom is the family's protector and moral center. His enlistment and presumed death in the war devastate the family, but his eventual return—wounded and changed—offers hope and healing. Tom's love for Bess and his role as father to their child create a legacy that endures through generations.

Bess Stanhope

Bess flees her privileged but cold upbringing to find belonging with the Smiths. Her romance with Tom and her pregnancy place her at the heart of the family's joys and sorrows. Forced by her mother to give up her child and sever ties, Bess's journey is one of loss, resilience, and eventual reunion with her granddaughter, Mari. Her artistic talent and warmth leave a lasting imprint on the family.

Gram (Virginia Smith)

The sisters' grandmother, Gram is the backbone of the family, providing strength, comfort, and moral guidance. Her practical wisdom, generosity, and belief in the power of community sustain the family through hardship. Gram's death marks the end of an era, but her influence endures in the values she instilled.

Major Gilbert

The British officer in charge of the commandos, Major Gilbert is both a figure of authority and a source of romantic tension for Cadence. His mysterious past, including time as a German POW, makes him a suspect in the spy plot, but his integrity and love for Cadence ultimately prevail. His proposal and the gift of a necklace symbolize hope and new beginnings.

Peter Muller

The German medic who washes ashore, Peter is a man torn by conscience and circumstance. His desire to defect and reunite with his daughter tests the sisters' compassion and courage. Peter's actions—saving the farm, killing Tyson in self-defense, and helping the family—redeem him and highlight the complexities of war and forgiveness.

Tyson Schmidt

The neighbor's grandson, Tyson is revealed as the spy, shaped by his family's Nazi sympathies and his own sense of alienation. His betrayal and violent end underscore the dangers of fanaticism and the high cost of war. Tyson's character serves as a cautionary tale about the seductive power of ideology and the pain of lost belonging.

Margaret Coutinho

A friend and book club member, Margaret provides stability and comic relief. Her relationship with Peter offers him a chance at happiness, and her loyalty to the Smiths is unwavering. Margaret's move to the Midwest and her new life with Peter symbolize the possibility of healing and new beginnings after trauma.

Mari Starwood

The modern-day protagonist, Mari's quest to understand her mother's past leads her to the truth of her own identity. Her journey from outsider to heir mirrors the struggles and triumphs of the Smith sisters. Mari's decision to claim her legacy and fight for Copper Pond Farm brings the story full circle, affirming the enduring power of family and place.

Plot Devices

Dual Timeline Structure

The novel alternates between the 1940s and the present, using Mari's quest as a frame for the historical story of the Smith sisters. This structure allows for gradual revelation of secrets, the impact of the past on the present, and the ultimate convergence of the two timelines as Mari claims her inheritance.

Epistolary and Column Inserts

The inclusion of Cadence's newspaper columns, letters from the front, and telegrams provides insight into characters' inner lives, advances the plot, and offers social commentary. These devices also foreshadow key events and reveal hidden motivations.

The Book Club as Symbol and Catalyst

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is both a literal gathering and a metaphor for the power of stories to unite, comfort, and inspire action. The club's evolution—from a refuge for the sisters to a national movement for soldiers—mirrors the characters' growth and the transformative potential of community.

The Mystery of the Spy

The search for the spy among the islanders creates tension and suspicion, with red herrings and shifting alliances. The eventual unmasking of Tyson as the traitor is both a plot climax and a commentary on the dangers of hidden hatred and the complexity of loyalty.

Inheritance and Legacy

The question of who will inherit Copper Pond Farm—and what it means to be a Smith—drives both timelines. The farm itself is a symbol of endurance, memory, and the responsibility to honor those who came before.

Analysis

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a sweeping, multi-generational novel that explores the enduring power of sisterhood, the moral ambiguities of war, and the redemptive force of literature and community. Through its dual timelines, the book examines how the choices and sacrifices of one generation echo through the lives of their descendants. The story's heart lies in the resilience of women—sisters, friends, mothers, and daughters—who, in the face of loss and betrayal, find strength in each other and in the stories they share. The book club, both literal and symbolic, becomes a vehicle for hope, resistance, and healing, reminding readers that even in the darkest times, connection and creativity can light the way forward. Ultimately, the novel is a celebration of legacy: the land, the books, and the love that bind generations, and a call to honor the past by forging a future rooted in courage, compassion, and the willingness to "raise hell" when heaven cannot be moved.

Last updated: June 16, 2025