Sheepish: A Martha's Vineyard Novel

by T. Elizabeth Bell

Warm, witty, and full of Vineyard charm (plus one adorable lamb), Sheepish is a sun-soaked story of friendship, reinvention, and the messy, beautiful work of finding yourself—and love.

When tech-savvy Aly Bennett loses her job in San Francisco, she does what any self-respecting millennial in crisis would do—she hops a plane to Martha’s Vineyard. Comforted by her childhood best friend, Aly trades Wi-Fi for ocean waves, laptops for lambs, and the hustle of city life for something slower, gentler, and unexpectedly real,

As the Island works its magic, Aly crosses paths with Whit Dias, a local fisherman with a bruised and wary heart. The attraction is unexpected and undeniable. Aly begins to imagine a future that isn’t driven by apps and ambition, until the tug of her old life—and the secrets she’s kept hidden—threaten to undo everything.

Join Aly, Whit, and an endearing cast of Vineyard characters in a heartwarming, sea-swept tale of friendship, forgiveness, and finding love where you least expect it.

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2025

About the author

T. ELIZABETH BELL swapped writing legal memos for crafting sea-breezy, toes-in-the-sand novels (Goats in the Time of Love, Counting Chickens, and her latest, Sheepish) inspired by her love of Martha’s Vineyard. A beachcomber, dog-lover, wild blueberry-and-beach plum picker and jam-maker, she also dabbles in silversmithing, glittering Mardi Gras shoes, and capturing the island’s beauty through her photography (@tb.dc.mv on Instagram and @telizabethbell on Facebook). You can find her essays on creativity and inspiration in her Substack, The Creative Current.

Reviews

[Jessie Mcisaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely darling beach read that immediately transport you with vivid imagery on a vacation to Martha’s Vineyard - I loved following this sweet love story and all the characters along the way. The whole book felt like digging your toes into the warm summer sand ! Bell does it again, arguably her best!

[Dee Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve made it a tradition when I go on vacation to bring back a book that will remind me of my trip. On my recent vacation to New England we took the ferry across to Marthas Vineyard and spent the whole day exploring the Island. I expected sailboats, lighthouses and lobster but was surprised to see sheep! So when I saw the cover for this sweet romance, written by a local author to Martha’s Vineyard I had to pick it up!

A slow burn romance, an adorable lamb named Dandelion and lots of references to the magic of the Island made this a fun read.

If you haven’t been to Martha’s Vineyard it will make you want to go! And if you’ve been before, you’ll want to go back!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any Hilderbabes sad about Elin’s retirement, take a trip to Martha’s Vineyard with T. Elizabeth Bell’s latest summer romance, Sheepish! Set Up-Island in West Tisbury, you will be immersed in this magical place. From the stunning beaches to the events like the 4th of July parade and the sounds of James Taylor (and don’t even get me started on the food descriptions!), you feel whisked away to the island. I’ve been to the Vineyard enough to know which unnamed beach Aly & Whit had their picnic at and where the ancient way is where Aly goes hiking - some of my favorite places anywhere! Feel the ocean waves, taste the Liz Lemon sandwich from 7a, and see the sun setting over Menemsha. This is Martha’s Vineyard writing at its best!

[Krista Beutel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully charming, heartwarming story jam-packed with small town vibes, delightfully quirky characters, a sweet lamb who will steal your heart, and a swoon-worthy love story. I loved how the author brought Martha’s Vineyard to life so vividly and really illustrated so beautifully the challenge that comes with making big changes in life and following your dreams.

[Mary Stapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book, and my favorite of the Martha’s Vineyard rom-com trilogy entwining animal husbandry with aspirational partnering.

First, an adorable lamb is birthed under difficult circumstances in the cold wet of March on the Massachusetts island. That new life brings together an unlikely pairing of San Francisco tech gal Aly – “just visiting!” – with strong stoic fisher guy, Whit, a long-time islander with whaling ancestry to boot.

Their story follows a well-trod line of skepticism, falling hard, blissed-out, turned-out, denouement – but it is still a joy to root for this team. The characters’ emotions track their actions realistically and with intelligence. So many of the details bring the reader into today’s world as we wish it to be.

The food! Whit makes incredible pasta dishes evoking Aly’s favorite Italian hole-in-wall in San Fransisco. At one point Aly makes blueberry jam to die for. The seafood buffet at the Edgartown Yacht Club is straight out of my dreams. Plus, there is ice cream. Author T. Elizabeth Bell has thoughtfully included many of the recipes at the end of the book.

Clever turns of phrase kept me chuckling as well. As Whit tells Aly about island history that included Wampanoag Native Americans, “Of course, the tribal lands are a fraction of what they had been. No surprise there.”
“The British came.” Aly’s retort echoes what we first learned about Paul Revere.

The smart details, beautiful scenes, cute characters and gentle tension provide a great escape. When it was over, I felt the same pang of sadness that I do at the end of summer.

[Tampatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with T. Elizabeth Bell’s writing in Sheepish from the very first pages. This is my first time reading her work and I was so excited to received a copy of the book from her. Many thanks for that! Her vivid descriptions of Martha’s Vineyard—its landscape, traditions, and quirky people (none of which I had any idea about before)—make you feel like you’re right there, experiencing it all firsthand. The setting feels so real and immersive!

Whit and Aly’s relationship was a treat. Both characters are relatable and engaging, their chemistry was perfect. Their interactions were fun and watching their romance unfold was engaging and I loved it!

But beyond the romance, I really enjoyed how this book touches on themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the changes life inevitably brings- whether that be big city or small town. The way Bell weaves these themes into the story makes it not only heartwarming but also full of depth.

And, of course, I can’t forget the sweet lamb—who will absolutely steal your heart!

Sheepish is the kind of book that leaves you with a smile and a full heart - it did for me! If you’re in the mood for a charming, feel-good read with a swoon-worthy romance and a delightful small-town vibe, this is the one!

[Anne Goldbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a third time, T Elizabeth Bell delights us with a visit to the magical Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, spinning a marvelous tale that involves old and new friendships, romance, gorgeous scenery all over the island, delicious food and of course, sheep. We meet a multitude of interesting characters including a tech savvy visitor from San Francisco who embarks on a journey of self discovery, a handsome multi-talented island guy, society types from different parts of the island, and briefly, people from her two previous MV books. Bell weaves a story of entertaining adventures and local events. Along the way, Bell includes lessons on island history and dozens of ways to capture the special light on the island, including gorgeous sunsets over Tisbury Great Pond and the ocean. Whether it’s summer or not, you’ll certainly be entertained by this wonderful “beach read.”

[Elisa Speranza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The perfect literary rom-com, rich with Vineyard charm and unforgettable characters! Bell brings us into the heads—and hearts—of Aly and Whit, so we’re rooting for them from the start. Whether or not you’re on a beach, you’ll feel the sand between your toes and smell the salt air. Spot-on descriptions immerse us in the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of two iconic settings, and the fast-moving plot will keep readers up past bedtime.”

[Terri Potts-Chattaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know you are reading a good book when you consider buying a second copy because your husband keeps stealing it before you can finish reading it! T. Elizabeth Bell hits it out of the park once again with her third novel, "Sheepish." It's a joy ride, a summer vacation where you will fall in love with not only the characters but the island of Martha's Vineyard. Do yourself a favor and pick of a copy of "Sheepish."

[Roberta Miceli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy read! Especially fun if you know anything about Martha's Vineyard - lots of local references and recipes are included as a bonus.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute novel. Excellent for those of us who can only dream of living on the Vineyard.

[Elyse Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

when a man takes a guitar out, it triggers my fight or flight response.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story from Bell - I couldn’t put it down! I have been vacationing on MV since I was a child and love visualizing all of the places as I read!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute read…if you’ve spent any time on MV, you will know exactly what the author is talking about.

[Charese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 star read for me.

I really liked the aspect of the story. I like to get to know the two MCs, but I just felt that it took a longer time to get to the plot as well as the characters. All in all, it was a 3 star read for me.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like her first book, Goats in the Time of Love, this one is funny and poignant and hits a lot of the right notes about the people, places, and attitudes on Martha’s Vineyard.
Like many “wash-ashores” (which is what the people who were born here call the people who come to live on Martha’s Vineyard), the main characters in this book are torn between the high achieving lifestyle they grew up expecting and preparing for, and the slower paced more spiritually satisfying life on the Island. Martha’s Vineyard is a quirky place with room for every peccadillo. And dream.
Sheepish is great fun to read. Highly recommended!