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Our Place on the Island: A Novel
For decades, the Campbell women have reunited at the family’s rambling seaside cottage known as Beech House to celebrate life’s many occasions. But this year, they will be called back to Martha's Vineyard for a celebration of a different their beloved matriarch Cora is getting remarried. And all the town gossips are calling him the one who got away, years ago…
For renowned chef Mickey Campbell, this wedding isn’t just a welcome excuse to return to the place she first learned to cook at her grandmother’s side. It’s also a chance to regroup while she figures out a way to tell her smoldering head chef boyfriend that she’s mismanaged their restaurant into the red.
Mickey’s mother, Hedy, is still mourning the passing of her adored father three years earlier, and she isn’t sure she’s ready to welcome a new man into the fold—and she’s not certain her own thorny relationship with her mother will weather the storm of her upcoming marriage.
But everyone knows a woman’s heart holds more than meets the eye. For Cora, drawing her daughter and granddaughter back to Beech House isn’t just about a ceremony, but a chance to reveal a history she has kept close to her heart for decades. As the days leading up to the wedding unfold, secrets of Cora’s past come to light—a secret that will cause three generations of Campbell women to question marriage, motherhood, and ultimately learn to savor the delicious joy of following your own heart.
Told in dual timelines on the sumptuous beaches of Martha's Vineyard, OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND is the sparkling, romantic story of the season.
For renowned chef Mickey Campbell, this wedding isn’t just a welcome excuse to return to the place she first learned to cook at her grandmother’s side. It’s also a chance to regroup while she figures out a way to tell her smoldering head chef boyfriend that she’s mismanaged their restaurant into the red.
Mickey’s mother, Hedy, is still mourning the passing of her adored father three years earlier, and she isn’t sure she’s ready to welcome a new man into the fold—and she’s not certain her own thorny relationship with her mother will weather the storm of her upcoming marriage.
But everyone knows a woman’s heart holds more than meets the eye. For Cora, drawing her daughter and granddaughter back to Beech House isn’t just about a ceremony, but a chance to reveal a history she has kept close to her heart for decades. As the days leading up to the wedding unfold, secrets of Cora’s past come to light—a secret that will cause three generations of Campbell women to question marriage, motherhood, and ultimately learn to savor the delicious joy of following your own heart.
Told in dual timelines on the sumptuous beaches of Martha's Vineyard, OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND is the sparkling, romantic story of the season.
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First published June 13, 2023
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About the author
Erika Montgomery
4 books356 followersA card-carrying cinephile and native New Englander, novelist Erika Montgomery currently lives with her family in the Mid-Atlantic. Her next novel, OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND, comes out June 13th, 2023 from St. Martin's Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
January 22, 2023
To the author, Erika Montgomery: Thank you for not taking me totally on the journey I anticipated. This story was gently steered into lovely places that brought me back to my own journey. It is sentimental and sweetly romantic. Thank you for the brightness this story invoked.
This book will be released on June 13, 2023.
My thanks to the author and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for my Advance Readers Edition of this bright and sparkling book. #Goodreads Giveaway
This book will be released on June 13, 2023.
My thanks to the author and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for my Advance Readers Edition of this bright and sparkling book. #Goodreads Giveaway
May 11, 2023
A beautiful love letter to cooking!
Centered around the power of food and set on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, this dual timeline is a delicious read.
If that isn’t enough of a reason for you, read on!
Author Erika Montgomery gives readers a glimpse of the life of a chef and restaurant owner and incorporates all the things we associate with summer and food: cocktails on the beach, a wedding, family secrets, and a summer romance.
I loved the opportunity of a second chance romance, the tension of a workplace romance, the growing pains of a blended family and owning a business, the small-town gossip, the love of cooking, and the intergenerational relationships. I loved the spotlight on doing what’s right, not what’s comfortable. In a me-centered society, this ‘old-fashioned value’ was refreshing. Most of all, I loved the atmosphere; the summer breezes, clambakes, and family being pulled together at a summer house.
“Beech House was the one place heartbreak and hurt couldn’t stick. Water to the world’s oil - the two refusing to mix. All these years later, does she dare to think its healing magic might still work?”
As you can see, I loved this book! I feel like I’ve dined at Piquant and experienced a 5-star meal.
Assembled in the perfect proportions and served with love, this is one book you’ll want to throw in your beach bag! Find out if Beech House still holds magic.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Centered around the power of food and set on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, this dual timeline is a delicious read.
If that isn’t enough of a reason for you, read on!
Author Erika Montgomery gives readers a glimpse of the life of a chef and restaurant owner and incorporates all the things we associate with summer and food: cocktails on the beach, a wedding, family secrets, and a summer romance.
I loved the opportunity of a second chance romance, the tension of a workplace romance, the growing pains of a blended family and owning a business, the small-town gossip, the love of cooking, and the intergenerational relationships. I loved the spotlight on doing what’s right, not what’s comfortable. In a me-centered society, this ‘old-fashioned value’ was refreshing. Most of all, I loved the atmosphere; the summer breezes, clambakes, and family being pulled together at a summer house.
“Beech House was the one place heartbreak and hurt couldn’t stick. Water to the world’s oil - the two refusing to mix. All these years later, does she dare to think its healing magic might still work?”
As you can see, I loved this book! I feel like I’ve dined at Piquant and experienced a 5-star meal.
Assembled in the perfect proportions and served with love, this is one book you’ll want to throw in your beach bag! Find out if Beech House still holds magic.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Read
October 26, 2022Dear readers, while A SUMMER TO REMEMBER was my homage to movies, OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND is my love letter to cooking, and the power of food--to bring us together as family and friends and, just as often, to send us falling headfirst into love.
Set on the eve of a surprise wedding, and told in a dual-timeline on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, this book’s recipe is a perfect one for anyone looking for a swoony, flavorful beach read. While the novel’s main ingredients are its heaping cups of romance between its big-hearted-characters, I made sure to spice it with plenty of family drama and secrets, a dash of island gossip, and several splashes of summertime cocktails.
I can’t wait to share OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND with you all--and I hope you find it as delicious to read as I did writing it!
Set on the eve of a surprise wedding, and told in a dual-timeline on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, this book’s recipe is a perfect one for anyone looking for a swoony, flavorful beach read. While the novel’s main ingredients are its heaping cups of romance between its big-hearted-characters, I made sure to spice it with plenty of family drama and secrets, a dash of island gossip, and several splashes of summertime cocktails.
I can’t wait to share OUR PLACE ON THE ISLAND with you all--and I hope you find it as delicious to read as I did writing it!
May 22, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 13, 2023
Three generations of Campbell women; Cora, Hedy and Mickey (Michelle) have summered at Beech House, the family-owned estate on Martha’s Vineyard. Although it’s been three years since the women were together, the last time being at the funeral for Cora’s husband (Hedy’s father and Michelle’s beloved grandfather), they all reunite once more for the upcoming nuptials of Cora, the family matriarch. But rumours are swirling because Cora is marrying Max, the handyman who worked on the Beech House kitchen many years ago, and who, it is claimed, Cora had feelings for during her marriage. Hedy faces conflicted feelings about the marriage of her mother after the death of her father, and Mickey, too, is trying to avoid the imminent failure of her new restaurant. While all the women struggle with upcoming changes, they hope an escape to Beech House will give them the courage to move forward.
Erika Montgomery’s newest romantic fiction novel, “Our Place on the Island”, is the perfect summer read. The three female protagonists take turns moderating the story, which also spans two time periods (the 1940s and 1999). The Island is representative of not only the physical geography of the location of Beech House, but also the generous kitchen island built exclusively for Cora, by Max, that inspired Mickey’s culinary career.
Mother-daughter relationships, and all that they entail, are at the forefront of Montgomery’s novel, however it also manages to encapsulate the struggles women faced after the end of the Second World War, while also including snippets on cooking and home renovation. There is something for everyone in “Island”, and readers will not be disappointed. Montgomery’s first novel, “A Summer to Remember” was released in 2021, so “Island” is a long time coming, but it certainly was worth the wait.
A light-hearted page-turner, Montgomery’s creative style and deeply beautiful settings offer a delightful escape. “The Island” is the perfect novel to enjoy while sitting outside with the sand in your toes and a cold drink in your hand!
Expected publication date: June 13, 2023
Three generations of Campbell women; Cora, Hedy and Mickey (Michelle) have summered at Beech House, the family-owned estate on Martha’s Vineyard. Although it’s been three years since the women were together, the last time being at the funeral for Cora’s husband (Hedy’s father and Michelle’s beloved grandfather), they all reunite once more for the upcoming nuptials of Cora, the family matriarch. But rumours are swirling because Cora is marrying Max, the handyman who worked on the Beech House kitchen many years ago, and who, it is claimed, Cora had feelings for during her marriage. Hedy faces conflicted feelings about the marriage of her mother after the death of her father, and Mickey, too, is trying to avoid the imminent failure of her new restaurant. While all the women struggle with upcoming changes, they hope an escape to Beech House will give them the courage to move forward.
Erika Montgomery’s newest romantic fiction novel, “Our Place on the Island”, is the perfect summer read. The three female protagonists take turns moderating the story, which also spans two time periods (the 1940s and 1999). The Island is representative of not only the physical geography of the location of Beech House, but also the generous kitchen island built exclusively for Cora, by Max, that inspired Mickey’s culinary career.
Mother-daughter relationships, and all that they entail, are at the forefront of Montgomery’s novel, however it also manages to encapsulate the struggles women faced after the end of the Second World War, while also including snippets on cooking and home renovation. There is something for everyone in “Island”, and readers will not be disappointed. Montgomery’s first novel, “A Summer to Remember” was released in 2021, so “Island” is a long time coming, but it certainly was worth the wait.
A light-hearted page-turner, Montgomery’s creative style and deeply beautiful settings offer a delightful escape. “The Island” is the perfect novel to enjoy while sitting outside with the sand in your toes and a cold drink in your hand!
April 4, 2023
This would make a great beach read! Set on Martha's Vineyard and full of a love of family this story is a tale of three generations of women and their ties to their family home. The book is filled with a love of cooking (which kept me hungry) and I loved "Cora's Kitchen" and the closeness it built between grandmother and granddaughter. The book is told in two timelines and it set around the grandmother remarrying at the family home and a second chance romance.
The book is sweet, but there are conflicts and hurdles as well as life-changing decisions to be made. Cora, the grandmother, is a strong woman with a good head on her shoulders. Wish I had her cooking abilities! The granddaughter, Michelle (Mickey), has a great deal going on in her life, and is being faced with some hard truths.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 23, 2023.
The book is sweet, but there are conflicts and hurdles as well as life-changing decisions to be made. Cora, the grandmother, is a strong woman with a good head on her shoulders. Wish I had her cooking abilities! The granddaughter, Michelle (Mickey), has a great deal going on in her life, and is being faced with some hard truths.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 23, 2023.
November 8, 2023
3.5 stars
Our Place On The Island was a pleasant enough read, but for me, it was nothing special. If you love a second chance romance, this may be the book for you. The story covers three generations of women in one family: Cora, the grandmother, Hedy, the mother, and Michelle/Mickey, the daughter. Hedy wasn’t in the book very much; the other two women were really the focus of the book.
Two timelines were explored in depth: 1948, featuring Cora as a young married, trying to fit in with her husband’s “in crowd” on Martha’s Vineyard; and 1999, with Mickey, an accomplished chef, realizing she has mismanaged (financially) her well-regarded high-end restaurant in Baltimore. Cora is getting remarried and Mickey and Hedy both show up on “the island” for the occasion.
The 1948 timeline was my favorite. Cora had a working class background and felt out of place in the country club atmosphere in which she found herself. I felt her frustration and awkwardness. Her love of cooking is her saving grace. I enjoyed reading about the process of getting her kitchen updated and customized. Her gradual friendship with the craftsman, Max, was sweet, and I wasn’t surprised at the eventual path it took many years later.
While I received the eARC from NetGalley, I wound up listening to the published audiobook by Vibrance Press. The narrator, Sara Hannan, did a nice job with the many voices.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was quite late to it. All opinions are my own.
Our Place On The Island was a pleasant enough read, but for me, it was nothing special. If you love a second chance romance, this may be the book for you. The story covers three generations of women in one family: Cora, the grandmother, Hedy, the mother, and Michelle/Mickey, the daughter. Hedy wasn’t in the book very much; the other two women were really the focus of the book.
Two timelines were explored in depth: 1948, featuring Cora as a young married, trying to fit in with her husband’s “in crowd” on Martha’s Vineyard; and 1999, with Mickey, an accomplished chef, realizing she has mismanaged (financially) her well-regarded high-end restaurant in Baltimore. Cora is getting remarried and Mickey and Hedy both show up on “the island” for the occasion.
The 1948 timeline was my favorite. Cora had a working class background and felt out of place in the country club atmosphere in which she found herself. I felt her frustration and awkwardness. Her love of cooking is her saving grace. I enjoyed reading about the process of getting her kitchen updated and customized. Her gradual friendship with the craftsman, Max, was sweet, and I wasn’t surprised at the eventual path it took many years later.
While I received the eARC from NetGalley, I wound up listening to the published audiobook by Vibrance Press. The narrator, Sara Hannan, did a nice job with the many voices.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was quite late to it. All opinions are my own.
Read
May 18, 2023You’re invited to a wedding, so pack your bags for Beech House, Our Place on the Island, a family estate at Martha's Vineyard. A family drama of three generations of women—Grandmother Cora, daughter Hedy, and granddaughter Mickey, the book is narrated in two in timelines, and the central plot is Grandmother’s second chance romance.
Author Erika Montgomery has written more than a love story. Conflicts and problems arise among the three head-strong and determined women. Put them all in one house, and guess what happens! When faced with difficult life issues, the women are forced to seek each other’s wisdom and support. Within the narrative, the reader sees the complexity of female relationships but also the powerful connection of family.
The writing is smooth and expressive and the prose is powerfully moving. The characters are well-developed, and each of the three women has her own place on center stage. Interwoven are subplots: the connection of the three women to this family beach home and their love of cooking. By the end of the book, I, too, was a member of the family. This novel reminds us that family is what challenges us, what changes us, and often what we need to save us. It's a story of growth, of loss, and of love. A perfect beach read!
Author Erika Montgomery has written more than a love story. Conflicts and problems arise among the three head-strong and determined women. Put them all in one house, and guess what happens! When faced with difficult life issues, the women are forced to seek each other’s wisdom and support. Within the narrative, the reader sees the complexity of female relationships but also the powerful connection of family.
The writing is smooth and expressive and the prose is powerfully moving. The characters are well-developed, and each of the three women has her own place on center stage. Interwoven are subplots: the connection of the three women to this family beach home and their love of cooking. By the end of the book, I, too, was a member of the family. This novel reminds us that family is what challenges us, what changes us, and often what we need to save us. It's a story of growth, of loss, and of love. A perfect beach read!
April 18, 2023
A great storing starring fun characters and food! Lots and lots of delicious food. Michelle "Mickey" Campbell returns to the island for her grandmother's surprise wedding with a lot on her mind. Her mother Hedy cannot believe that this wedding is taking place. Cora, the matriarch however, provides lots of background with flashbacks to a story of the ages.
If you like a beach read, love delicious food and family drama, Our Place On the Island is for you!
#STMartinsPress #STMartins #OurPlaceOnTheIsland #ErikaMontgomery
If you like a beach read, love delicious food and family drama, Our Place On the Island is for you!
#STMartinsPress #STMartins #OurPlaceOnTheIsland #ErikaMontgomery
June 15, 2023
My first read by Montgomery but nor my last. I really enjoyed this read. Hands down even with the little bit of drama, I mean keeping secrets, this book kept me turning pages. I love a good weeding with good food, and I love two Chefs at the top of their game. this is a must read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.
February 11, 2023
The real star of this book was the food! Didn’t help that I was hungry while reading it. I had an intense desire to eat chowder and clams.
This was a simple tale of three generations of female family members, whose connection to the summer house and island was integral to who they were as people. There was conflict, realistic marriages and the tension of performing the right moves in social situations to make others happy.
The dual timeline was interesting, 1948 affluent summers sound very similar to more modern day ones. Endless rounds of tennis, lunches, beach’s, parties and cocktails. Storylines were never padded out enough or expanded on which made it hard to feel any care for the characters. There was more love and attention given to the food and the kitchen island! It was a pleasant, easy read.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
This was a simple tale of three generations of female family members, whose connection to the summer house and island was integral to who they were as people. There was conflict, realistic marriages and the tension of performing the right moves in social situations to make others happy.
The dual timeline was interesting, 1948 affluent summers sound very similar to more modern day ones. Endless rounds of tennis, lunches, beach’s, parties and cocktails. Storylines were never padded out enough or expanded on which made it hard to feel any care for the characters. There was more love and attention given to the food and the kitchen island! It was a pleasant, easy read.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
January 3, 2023
It's so wonderful to start a brand new year with a really excellent novel. Erika Montgomery once again and quite effortlessly transported me with her evocative story about three generations of women and their connection to a family estate on the lovely Martha's Vineyard. This women's fiction piece toggles between past and present with all three women taking center stage. Also front and center lies the meaning of the beautifully presented setting and how it's intrinsically woven into the fabric of all three women's lives.
Montgomery's writing is so smooth and seamless; the moving prose rich with meaning and beautifully constructed. With themes of family laced with the complexities of mother/daughter relationships. The duality of past vs. present and how eventually everything comes full circle. The price of failure and the beauty of redemption and hope. The characters were all so interesting, charming, and human that you just couldn't help to root for them while being completely engaged in their plight. The novel also reminds us that the places we hold dear to our hearts have changed us and will forever continue to shape us when we need them to most.
Our Place on the Island provides enchanting romance, and lasting friendship, with just the right amount of real familial drama that is always scored with undertones of unconditional, lasting love. This is a story of maturation and growth, loss and triumph, that - and I just can't say it enough - is written so beautifully it was hard for me to put down and I barely did. I finished and was so enamored with the characters and their journeys that I picked it right back up in the evening and re-read parts that stuck with me. I think that's the best part about this book, it will stick with me and goes straight to my list of re-reads. This author made me an insta-fan with her debut novel, this one solidifies my position as a super fan who will read anything she publishes. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have read this great story.
**Our Place on the Island generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Montgomery's writing is so smooth and seamless; the moving prose rich with meaning and beautifully constructed. With themes of family laced with the complexities of mother/daughter relationships. The duality of past vs. present and how eventually everything comes full circle. The price of failure and the beauty of redemption and hope. The characters were all so interesting, charming, and human that you just couldn't help to root for them while being completely engaged in their plight. The novel also reminds us that the places we hold dear to our hearts have changed us and will forever continue to shape us when we need them to most.
Our Place on the Island provides enchanting romance, and lasting friendship, with just the right amount of real familial drama that is always scored with undertones of unconditional, lasting love. This is a story of maturation and growth, loss and triumph, that - and I just can't say it enough - is written so beautifully it was hard for me to put down and I barely did. I finished and was so enamored with the characters and their journeys that I picked it right back up in the evening and re-read parts that stuck with me. I think that's the best part about this book, it will stick with me and goes straight to my list of re-reads. This author made me an insta-fan with her debut novel, this one solidifies my position as a super fan who will read anything she publishes. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have read this great story.
**Our Place on the Island generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
June 19, 2023
I really enjoy stories about women and their relationships with each other so this tale of a woman coming back home for her grandmothers wedding and the dynamic between three generations of women and their friends on the island was so enjoyable. I loved how it unfolded around kitchens and food and how it also came together in the same setting.
February 25, 2024
Renowned chef Mickey Campbell has been written up in The Baltimore Sun, naming her a “Thirty Under Thirty”. This should put her restaurant over the top, but with overdue notices piling up, is it too late? She hasn't told her partner, chef and boyfriend about the trouble they're in and she is afraid that will be the end of them. When she gets a call from her mother telling her that her grandmother is getting married, she heads off to the familial vacation home, Beech House, on Martha's Vineyard, putting everything else on the back burner. It's been over a decade since she has been to the place where she grew up and created so many memories with her grandparents. She and her mother have a strained relationship, but when three generations of women come together under one roof for this once-in-a-lifetime family event, they become bolder, stronger versions of themselves. With secrets being revealed, new love, and healing, this will be an unforgettable summer.
This was a perfect poolside read with a wonderful summer beach setting, great characters that I loved and wanted to be happy, and all those New England foods that I love. This was a dual timeline story, one is set in 1948 and is Mickey's grandmother, Cora's story. The second is 1999, where we meet Mickey, her mother, her friends and boyfriend. I enjoyed both of these storylines equally and my heart broke for all three of these women. They all had their own baggage and regrets and I wanted them all to be happy. Much of the story is set in Cora's kitchen in the cottage. It showed how food and cooking were such a huge part of her life and in turn, the family. I liked seeing Mickey heal over creating food and cooking with her grandmother. This was a beautiful story, well written and developed. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats, equally. I listened to more of the book and the narration by Sara Hannan was well done, with individual voices and expression to make this story come alive. I highly recommend it.
This was a perfect poolside read with a wonderful summer beach setting, great characters that I loved and wanted to be happy, and all those New England foods that I love. This was a dual timeline story, one is set in 1948 and is Mickey's grandmother, Cora's story. The second is 1999, where we meet Mickey, her mother, her friends and boyfriend. I enjoyed both of these storylines equally and my heart broke for all three of these women. They all had their own baggage and regrets and I wanted them all to be happy. Much of the story is set in Cora's kitchen in the cottage. It showed how food and cooking were such a huge part of her life and in turn, the family. I liked seeing Mickey heal over creating food and cooking with her grandmother. This was a beautiful story, well written and developed. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats, equally. I listened to more of the book and the narration by Sara Hannan was well done, with individual voices and expression to make this story come alive. I highly recommend it.
May 28, 2023
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).
Our Place on the Island was a moving story about three generations of women who gather together at the Grandmother’s large beachside cottage for her upcoming wedding. The story is told in dual timelines – then when Cora is a young newlywed who moves into Beech House in Martha’s Vineyard and now as she is set to marry her second husband.
The characters are all well-developed with interesting backstories. Mickey is Cora’s Granddaughter who shares her Grandmother’s passion for cooking. She is a celebrated chef who has started her own restaurant. The restaurant has recently received rave reviews and business is booming. Mickey dreads telling her family that there is trouble with her business.
Hedy is Mickey’s Mother and is shocked to see her mother remarrying only three years after her father’s death. Hedy’s relationship with Cora is strained and she marvels at the relationship between Mickey and Cora. With a successful business of her own, she hasn’t given much time to relationships since the breakup of her marriage years ago. The groom’s son has caught her interest however.
The story of this family kept me engaged throughout. The author does a great job in describing the beauty of this area’s landscape, and contrasts this to the sometimes pompous style of the area’s residents. I appreciated the romances in the book and the satisfying conclusion.
This is a wonderful summer escape read for those readers who appreciate Women’s Fiction and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Our Place on the Island was a moving story about three generations of women who gather together at the Grandmother’s large beachside cottage for her upcoming wedding. The story is told in dual timelines – then when Cora is a young newlywed who moves into Beech House in Martha’s Vineyard and now as she is set to marry her second husband.
The characters are all well-developed with interesting backstories. Mickey is Cora’s Granddaughter who shares her Grandmother’s passion for cooking. She is a celebrated chef who has started her own restaurant. The restaurant has recently received rave reviews and business is booming. Mickey dreads telling her family that there is trouble with her business.
Hedy is Mickey’s Mother and is shocked to see her mother remarrying only three years after her father’s death. Hedy’s relationship with Cora is strained and she marvels at the relationship between Mickey and Cora. With a successful business of her own, she hasn’t given much time to relationships since the breakup of her marriage years ago. The groom’s son has caught her interest however.
The story of this family kept me engaged throughout. The author does a great job in describing the beauty of this area’s landscape, and contrasts this to the sometimes pompous style of the area’s residents. I appreciated the romances in the book and the satisfying conclusion.
This is a wonderful summer escape read for those readers who appreciate Women’s Fiction and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
June 5, 2023
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
Cora, Hedy, and Mickey are the women in this story told through their POVs. They are grandmother, mother, and daughter. Hedy and Mickey are called back to Beech House on Martha's Vineyard when Cora decides to get remarried in her seventies. I loved that Cora was doing what she wanted. I like reading stories when people find love later in life. Cora also has a POV set in 1948 that shows how she came to the island and how her first marriage was. I was so surprised and happy with how this plot line came along. Some characters surprised me, while others I liked right away. There's a food plot line in this book that made me hungry while reading. Mickey owns a restaurant and learned to cook from Cora and the bonding that happened in their kitchen was so relatable to me cooking with my grandmothers. I also liked Hedy's growth - as a mom and daughter. The dynamics in these different mother/daughter relationships kept the book interesting and engaging. I enjoyed this author before and I can't wait to read her again.
Cora, Hedy, and Mickey are the women in this story told through their POVs. They are grandmother, mother, and daughter. Hedy and Mickey are called back to Beech House on Martha's Vineyard when Cora decides to get remarried in her seventies. I loved that Cora was doing what she wanted. I like reading stories when people find love later in life. Cora also has a POV set in 1948 that shows how she came to the island and how her first marriage was. I was so surprised and happy with how this plot line came along. Some characters surprised me, while others I liked right away. There's a food plot line in this book that made me hungry while reading. Mickey owns a restaurant and learned to cook from Cora and the bonding that happened in their kitchen was so relatable to me cooking with my grandmothers. I also liked Hedy's growth - as a mom and daughter. The dynamics in these different mother/daughter relationships kept the book interesting and engaging. I enjoyed this author before and I can't wait to read her again.
August 23, 2023
Cora Campbell is a fish out of water in 1948 as a newly married woman on Martha's Vineyard. She grew up in a blue-collar community, worked as a waitress, and has nothing in common with the people who live on the island. They are rude and judgy, and she isn't comfortable with their behavior. Her husband, while sweet, is often gone for business, and is, essentially, one of them. He desperately wants her to fit in and leave her past behind her. Cora worked at her uncle's restaurant and is an expert cook, so when her husband renovates their beach house, she is excited to revamp the kitchen. Enter contractor Max Dempsey, who attends to Cora's needs and understands her like no one else. They form a bond as he builds the kitchen of her dreams. Fast forward to 1999, and Cora's husband is dead and she is remarrying none other than Max Dempsey at their family home on Martha's Vineyard. Her daughter, Hedy, isn't quite sure how she feels about this, and her granddaughter, Mickey, is coming along for the wedding but is hiding secrets of her own. Erika Montgomery's Our Place on the Island captures the story of three generations of women, and family secrets; it's a sweet summer romance.
Read the rest of my review here:http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
May 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
Somehow, I overlooked this book when I first received a copy and have just read it now. I urge you not to put off reading this well-written, feel-good story about food, family, and romance.
The novel alternates between two timelines – 1948 and 1999, and three generations of women: Cora (grandmother), Heddy (daughter/mother) and Mickey (granddaughter). The story revolves around Cora’s remodeled kitchen (including a cutting-edge island) in 1948 on Martha’s Vineyard and Mickey’s highly acclaimed new restaurant in Baltimore in 1999.
As another reader said, this is “a beautiful love letter to cooking” and a collection of recipes at the back of the book would have been perfect. In addition to all the delectably described dishes, the writing often skillfully referred to food in similes, analogies, and metaphors.
I read Montgomery’s A Summer to Remember when it came out in 2021 and now with this one, Montgomery has become an author I will automatically put on my TBR list.
Somehow, I overlooked this book when I first received a copy and have just read it now. I urge you not to put off reading this well-written, feel-good story about food, family, and romance.
The novel alternates between two timelines – 1948 and 1999, and three generations of women: Cora (grandmother), Heddy (daughter/mother) and Mickey (granddaughter). The story revolves around Cora’s remodeled kitchen (including a cutting-edge island) in 1948 on Martha’s Vineyard and Mickey’s highly acclaimed new restaurant in Baltimore in 1999.
As another reader said, this is “a beautiful love letter to cooking” and a collection of recipes at the back of the book would have been perfect. In addition to all the delectably described dishes, the writing often skillfully referred to food in similes, analogies, and metaphors.
I read Montgomery’s A Summer to Remember when it came out in 2021 and now with this one, Montgomery has become an author I will automatically put on my TBR list.
June 15, 2023
What an absolute surprise this book was reader friends! Grab Our Place On The Island, your best sunnies, a cool drink, a floppy hat, and settle into a comfortable chair in the shade! This is the weekend read you’re packing on your next vacay…or your backyard/park/pool! ☀️ I loved multigenerational, immersive romance with a touch of mystery set at Martha’s Vineyard. It’s the perfect summer read to take you away, even if you’re not on the water.
Mickey worked hard her entire life to make her dream of running and owning a restaurant come true. Working side by side with her partner and boyfriend Wes seemed a perfect fit. Somewhere something went wrong and now she’s no longer in the kitchen, and behind on the bills. She’s delayed telling him, not wanting to spoil the glowing reviews being published. Before she can she receives a call from her mother, Hedy. Her grandmother, Cora is getting married in SIX days at their family home, Beech House.
Told from multiple points of view, and going back in time, we learn the complicated history of these three women. This is the story of how people make sacrifices within their relationships, about social hierarchy, and the cost of choosing not to adhere to those norms. It’s the story of women connected by their love of cooking and food, a common language deeply rooted in a home and place, the salt, and earth. It’s about reconnecting, second chances, at any age.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press @stmartinspress Erika Montgomery @erikamontgomeryauthor and Netgalley @Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Mickey worked hard her entire life to make her dream of running and owning a restaurant come true. Working side by side with her partner and boyfriend Wes seemed a perfect fit. Somewhere something went wrong and now she’s no longer in the kitchen, and behind on the bills. She’s delayed telling him, not wanting to spoil the glowing reviews being published. Before she can she receives a call from her mother, Hedy. Her grandmother, Cora is getting married in SIX days at their family home, Beech House.
Told from multiple points of view, and going back in time, we learn the complicated history of these three women. This is the story of how people make sacrifices within their relationships, about social hierarchy, and the cost of choosing not to adhere to those norms. It’s the story of women connected by their love of cooking and food, a common language deeply rooted in a home and place, the salt, and earth. It’s about reconnecting, second chances, at any age.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press @stmartinspress Erika Montgomery @erikamontgomeryauthor and Netgalley @Netgalley for the advanced copy.
July 16, 2023
Captivating, heartfelt, and sentimental!
Our Place on the Island is an enchanting, tender tale that sweeps you away to the idyllic Martha’s Vineyard and immerses you into the lives of three generations of women from the Campbell family and all the wounds, secrets, smiles, tears, hurt, compassion, strength, and loyalty that surround them.
The prose is reflective and sweet. The characters are kind, considerate, and concerned. And the plot using a past/present, back-and-forth style, intertwines and unravels into a charming tale of familial dynamics, drama, emotion, secrets, love, loss, duty, heartbreak, introspection, passion, tradition, and new beginnings.
Overall, Our Place on the Island is a nostalgic, absorbing, uplifting tale by Montgomery that highlights the complex ties that bind us as family and reminds us that happy-ever-afters come in all different forms but rarely resemble those we read about in fairytales.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Our Place on the Island is an enchanting, tender tale that sweeps you away to the idyllic Martha’s Vineyard and immerses you into the lives of three generations of women from the Campbell family and all the wounds, secrets, smiles, tears, hurt, compassion, strength, and loyalty that surround them.
The prose is reflective and sweet. The characters are kind, considerate, and concerned. And the plot using a past/present, back-and-forth style, intertwines and unravels into a charming tale of familial dynamics, drama, emotion, secrets, love, loss, duty, heartbreak, introspection, passion, tradition, and new beginnings.
Overall, Our Place on the Island is a nostalgic, absorbing, uplifting tale by Montgomery that highlights the complex ties that bind us as family and reminds us that happy-ever-afters come in all different forms but rarely resemble those we read about in fairytales.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2023
Beech House is a family cottage and sanctuary on Oyster's Point in Martha's Vineyard. With Montgomery's vivid descriptions, the glorious setting itself is a central character in Our Place on the Island. This beautiful novel is the multi-generational story of Cora, her daughter Hedy, and granddaughter Mickey. It spans the decades from 1948 to 1999 with the history of the house within their family and the lives of the women.
A special kitchen in Beech House was re-designed when Cora moved to the Vineyard as a young bride in 1948. As events unfolded over the years, the sensory imagery surrounding the kitchen, the cottage, and the coast was stunning for me as a reader. I was intrigued and immersed in the mystery, secrets, and romance in the lives of the women from start to finish. Montgomery's writing is everything I savor and enjoy in an engaging summer read, lovely atmosphere and relationships of women connected as family and legacy.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.
A special kitchen in Beech House was re-designed when Cora moved to the Vineyard as a young bride in 1948. As events unfolded over the years, the sensory imagery surrounding the kitchen, the cottage, and the coast was stunning for me as a reader. I was intrigued and immersed in the mystery, secrets, and romance in the lives of the women from start to finish. Montgomery's writing is everything I savor and enjoy in an engaging summer read, lovely atmosphere and relationships of women connected as family and legacy.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.
May 9, 2023
Our Place on the Island is a heartwarming story of three generations of women. It takes place on Martha’s Vineyard in two timelines, post World War II and the 1990s. I absolutely loved the 1948 storyline. Cora is a newcomer to the island trying to fit into the summer society there. She loves her husband, but is attracted to the cabinetmaker who is redoing her kitchen. The food descriptions are so good they will make you hungry. In the 1990s Cora is the matriarch with a middle aged daughter and a young granddaughter who is a chef. There are secrets and misunderstandings.
On a final note, I love reading books where the setting is Martha’s Vineyard. In this one there is a slight mention of the Black Dog. There is also quite a bit of discussion relating to the differences between the rich summer people and the islanders. The exact setting does not seem as important as the characters. Definitely needs to be a summer type colony, but there was not enough specific description to say it had to be Martha’s Vineyard.
On a final note, I love reading books where the setting is Martha’s Vineyard. In this one there is a slight mention of the Black Dog. There is also quite a bit of discussion relating to the differences between the rich summer people and the islanders. The exact setting does not seem as important as the characters. Definitely needs to be a summer type colony, but there was not enough specific description to say it had to be Martha’s Vineyard.
July 27, 2024
This was such a sweet book! I love a book with alternating timelines and this one kept me turning the pages quickly. The book is full of second chance romance, a deep love for cooking, and family coming together!
June 17, 2023
Mickey Campbell's new restaurant is a hit with everyone even the critics but she has let herself down by getting behind on bills. When she gets an unexpected phone call saying her grandmother is getting married she takes off hoping she'll be able to come up with a solution to her problems. While there with her mother and grandmother the three revisit history hoping to make things right between them. Each wants something to help them change the way things are but will they be able to trust themselves enough to move forward? Follow along on this heartfelt journey these women take its definitely worth the emotional ride.
June 19, 2023
This was such a fast read. The two timelines and 3 generations weaved together so well. I wanted to be on the island while reading this.
The characters were so well developed and had such interesting backgrounds to add to the book.
I highly disliked the nosy neighbours by the end but they still added to the story.
I'll definitely be checking out Montgomery's other book, A Summer to Remember.
Thanks to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
The characters were so well developed and had such interesting backgrounds to add to the book.
I highly disliked the nosy neighbours by the end but they still added to the story.
I'll definitely be checking out Montgomery's other book, A Summer to Remember.
Thanks to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
June 8, 2023
Our Place on the Island is the second book written by author Erika Montgomery. After reading A Summer to Remember and enjoying it like I did, I was thrilled to have received a widget from St. Martin’s Press inviting me to read Our Place on the Island. This story takes place on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a dual timeline story that centers around 3 female generations of the Campbell family. Cora, the grandmother, Heady, the mother, and Michelle or Mickey as she’s called, the granddaughter. They all come together at their family cottage called Beech House in preparation for Cora’s second marriage. This family learns that it’s never too late to start a new chapter in life. This was a great read, I loved both the location and the characters. The love and connection that these women felt for each other was both beautiful and inspiring. I felt such deep respect for Cora, the way she chose to live her life after being treated the way she was by the islanders. She always made the best of it. And to have felt such an attraction to Max but never to have acted on it was highly respectful. She was a remarkable woman. This is a great story and it’s one I’ll be recommending to all my reader friends. I’d like to thank Kejana Ayala, Marketing Coordinator at St. Martin’s Press for the invite and NetGalley for the arc. I really enjoyed reading this and I’m giving it a 5 star rating. I look forward to reading more by Erika Montgomery in the future.
Read
June 12, 2023Three generations of women gather at their home in Martha’s Vineyard for this heartwarming story. The home - Beech House - has been in their family for generations and they are gathering one more time to celebrate the wedding of Cora, the matriarch. Cora and her daughter Hedy have a tempestuous relationship and Hedy’s daughter Mickey has always been closest to Cora. As the women reconcile with the changes in their lives and the changes yet to come they each gain a greater understanding of one another. Secrets slowly come to light during the book and attitudes change. This is an uplifting story set in an idyllic setting. If you like a character driven plot this one is for you. From the mouthwatering recipes to the beautiful landscape and the various interesting characters you will find this is a perfect summer read.
May 16, 2023
Many thanks to St Martin’s Press for the ARC giveaway of “Our Place on the Island”. I was ready for a light beach read and was pleasantly surprised by the interwoven stories of believable characters in settings I could actually visualize with food I wish I could have tasted! I wish only the best to all three generations of Campbell women — when can we expect a sequel? 😉
June 11, 2025
So good!!!! The back and forth timelines and different POVs made it so hard to put down I just needed to figure out what happened. Love young Max, sad that he and Cora had to wait so long for their happy ending but so glad they got it!
June 14, 2023
I couldn't finish this book fast enough!!!!! I loved this so much! Made me feel like I was at the Beech House with all of these characters. I loved how it went back and forth from 1948 from the grandmother's perspective and then back 1999 to the present. I also loved that it was a generational story, grandmother, mother and daughter. Just made my heart happy.
May 5, 2023
Books set on the Cape, when done right, are just so good. This is a perfect beach read, which I did here in Hawaii.
The food, the location, the mother daughter relationships, the friendships, it was all done so well. It was the perfect amount of sweet.
And, boy was I hungry every time I picked it up!
The food, the location, the mother daughter relationships, the friendships, it was all done so well. It was the perfect amount of sweet.
And, boy was I hungry every time I picked it up!
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