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Liberty Island: A Novel
From the bestselling author of Haven Point comes a sweeping historical novel about the generations of a family that spends summers in a seaside enclave on the rocky Maine coastline, for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Beatriz Williams, and Sarah Blake.
1900: 28-year-old Anna Bradley spends summer days supervising three little girls, including her niece, Julia Demarest, on an island off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. There, the girls run free, pretending to be all the things society says they pirates and rum runners, treasure hunters and Roughriders.
A college graduate determined to remain unmarried, Anna is eager to establish herself independently. Inspired by the summer antics of Julia and her friends, Anna writes "Liberty Island"—a depiction of girls unshackled from the domestic sphere—under a pen name. Young readers are rhapsodic, and it is a runaway bestseller, but it’s not well received by the society matrons in her sister’s circle, who believe that books for girls should prepare them for their future as wives and mothers.
With "Liberty Island" growing in popularity, Anna’s secret is in peril, and when she’s suddenly thrown together with the former object of her affections, she must rethink everything she thought she knew about independence, marriage, and her dreams for her future.
1922: 29-year-old Julia Demarest was once proud of her aunt’s "Liberty Island" books. But as new, bohemian ideas take hold amongst her peers, she has come to see them as quaint, at best. In hindsight, her childhood summers on the island seem like more of an exile than a liberation, and her Boston Brahmin family—particularly her mother, Elizabeth Demarest—like relics of an unlamented past.
But in an effort to break free of expectations, she has ended up alienated from her family and heartbroken when a romantic entanglement with a free-spirited intellectual ends badly. When Elizabeth urgently calls her back to Haven Point, Julia is confronted by all the things she's been trying to escape, and forced to reconsider what truly brings her happiness.
A sweeping saga set in the first tumultuous decades of the twentieth century, Liberty Island is an ode to mothers and daughters, love, friendship, and the ways in which women define freedom on their own terms.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
1900: 28-year-old Anna Bradley spends summer days supervising three little girls, including her niece, Julia Demarest, on an island off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. There, the girls run free, pretending to be all the things society says they pirates and rum runners, treasure hunters and Roughriders.
A college graduate determined to remain unmarried, Anna is eager to establish herself independently. Inspired by the summer antics of Julia and her friends, Anna writes "Liberty Island"—a depiction of girls unshackled from the domestic sphere—under a pen name. Young readers are rhapsodic, and it is a runaway bestseller, but it’s not well received by the society matrons in her sister’s circle, who believe that books for girls should prepare them for their future as wives and mothers.
With "Liberty Island" growing in popularity, Anna’s secret is in peril, and when she’s suddenly thrown together with the former object of her affections, she must rethink everything she thought she knew about independence, marriage, and her dreams for her future.
1922: 29-year-old Julia Demarest was once proud of her aunt’s "Liberty Island" books. But as new, bohemian ideas take hold amongst her peers, she has come to see them as quaint, at best. In hindsight, her childhood summers on the island seem like more of an exile than a liberation, and her Boston Brahmin family—particularly her mother, Elizabeth Demarest—like relics of an unlamented past.
But in an effort to break free of expectations, she has ended up alienated from her family and heartbroken when a romantic entanglement with a free-spirited intellectual ends badly. When Elizabeth urgently calls her back to Haven Point, Julia is confronted by all the things she's been trying to escape, and forced to reconsider what truly brings her happiness.
A sweeping saga set in the first tumultuous decades of the twentieth century, Liberty Island is an ode to mothers and daughters, love, friendship, and the ways in which women define freedom on their own terms.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Audible Audio
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Virginia Hume
4 books350 followersVirginia Hume is a freelance writer and editor. Her early career was spent in politics and public affairs. She lives outside Washington, D.C. with her husband, their daughters, and one under-groomed dog.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 170 reviews
July 4, 2026
I love historical fiction, especially from a woman's perspective, so when I read the synopsis for Liberty Island by Virginia Hume, I knew I'd found something I'd enjoy. I was right.
The story centers on two narrators: Anna in 1900 and her niece Julia in 1922. These two characters were well chosen as the novel's protagonists because they're quite similar. Both reject convention and resist society's expectations of them. They're early feminists, if you will. Much of Anna's story is spent watching her niece and her niece's friends, all girls, play on Liberty Island with the absolute freedom they cannot experience anywhere else because of society's expectations of how girls should be raised and behave. Things have progressed somewhat by the time Julia is narrating, but women are still fighting for equal rights. In her attempt to do what she believes is right for herself and the suffragette movement, Julia slowly alienates her family. One young woman becomes a catalyst for mending fractured relationships in both timelines.
Several themes can be found within the pages of this family's story. Those that resonated most with me were women's independence and self-determination, the tension between tradition and progress, forgiveness and reconciliation, idealism versus reality, and, most strongly, the danger of misjudging others. Certain characters initially seemed dreadful, but as their motivations and perspectives came to light, I found myself understanding, and even admiring, the inner fortitude behind their choices.
Hume's greatest strength in this novel is her characterization, even though I occasionally grew frustrated with the characters. Let me be clear, though: it wasn't because they were poorly written. In fact, it was because they were written so authentically for the time period that I wanted to tear apart the seams of the society that confined them to what was considered acceptable behavior. They were well-rounded, three-dimensional people who felt relatable and whose motivations always made sense. Most of the supporting cast was also well developed, although two characters, in particular, shone most brightly. There were, however, a couple who felt more one-dimensional.
This isn't a thriller or a sweeping romance, so it felt slow at times, especially in the beginning. Hume's writing, however, is historically immersive and polished, and it gradually drew me in until I realized I was deeply invested in Anna and Julia's journeys. The prose is elegant but not ornate, character-driven, with relationships taking precedence over plot twists, and emotionally nuanced, trusting readers to infer feelings instead of spelling them out.
Liberty Island dug its claws into me, gently at first, until I realized I couldn't pull myself away. It's a lovely story that succeeds in transporting readers to the beginning of the twentieth century, but it's best suited for those who prefer character-driven stories over suspense and intrigue. If you enjoy Kristin Hannah, Patti Callahan Henry, Beatriz Williams, or Martha Hall Kelly, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy Liberty Island too.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓½ — Slow burn, strong payoff
I read a digital copy made available by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
The story centers on two narrators: Anna in 1900 and her niece Julia in 1922. These two characters were well chosen as the novel's protagonists because they're quite similar. Both reject convention and resist society's expectations of them. They're early feminists, if you will. Much of Anna's story is spent watching her niece and her niece's friends, all girls, play on Liberty Island with the absolute freedom they cannot experience anywhere else because of society's expectations of how girls should be raised and behave. Things have progressed somewhat by the time Julia is narrating, but women are still fighting for equal rights. In her attempt to do what she believes is right for herself and the suffragette movement, Julia slowly alienates her family. One young woman becomes a catalyst for mending fractured relationships in both timelines.
Several themes can be found within the pages of this family's story. Those that resonated most with me were women's independence and self-determination, the tension between tradition and progress, forgiveness and reconciliation, idealism versus reality, and, most strongly, the danger of misjudging others. Certain characters initially seemed dreadful, but as their motivations and perspectives came to light, I found myself understanding, and even admiring, the inner fortitude behind their choices.
Hume's greatest strength in this novel is her characterization, even though I occasionally grew frustrated with the characters. Let me be clear, though: it wasn't because they were poorly written. In fact, it was because they were written so authentically for the time period that I wanted to tear apart the seams of the society that confined them to what was considered acceptable behavior. They were well-rounded, three-dimensional people who felt relatable and whose motivations always made sense. Most of the supporting cast was also well developed, although two characters, in particular, shone most brightly. There were, however, a couple who felt more one-dimensional.
This isn't a thriller or a sweeping romance, so it felt slow at times, especially in the beginning. Hume's writing, however, is historically immersive and polished, and it gradually drew me in until I realized I was deeply invested in Anna and Julia's journeys. The prose is elegant but not ornate, character-driven, with relationships taking precedence over plot twists, and emotionally nuanced, trusting readers to infer feelings instead of spelling them out.
Liberty Island dug its claws into me, gently at first, until I realized I couldn't pull myself away. It's a lovely story that succeeds in transporting readers to the beginning of the twentieth century, but it's best suited for those who prefer character-driven stories over suspense and intrigue. If you enjoy Kristin Hannah, Patti Callahan Henry, Beatriz Williams, or Martha Hall Kelly, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy Liberty Island too.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓½ — Slow burn, strong payoff
I read a digital copy made available by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
https://www.ispeakbooknerd.com
May 19, 2026
Liberty Island by Virginia Hume
Set in the early 1900s, Liberty Island explores the expectations placed on women and girls during a time when independence, curiosity, and ambition in women were often viewed as threatening rather than admirable.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is the way it examines girls wanting access to the same freedom, curiosity, education, movement, and autonomy that boys were allowed to have without criticism. I appreciated that the story did not frame this as girls wanting to “be boys,” but rather wanting the freedom to enjoy, explore, and pursue interests without society deciding what they should be allowed to value simply because they were female.
There were several themes throughout the book that I found thoughtful and interesting, especially the conversations surrounding women’s independence, social expectations, literature, and the ways young girls were shaped by the adults around them.
That being said, this was a slower and more difficult read for me personally than I anticipated. While I appreciated the historical information and themes being explored, I struggled to fully connect emotionally with the characters in the way I hoped I would. There were many names and conversations introduced early on, and at times I found myself feeling like I was reading historical concepts being shaped into a story rather than becoming fully immersed in the story itself.
The writing is very literary and reflective, which some readers will likely love, especially those who enjoy slower historical fiction focused more on atmosphere and social commentary than plot momentum. Unfortunately, I personally found myself wanting a stronger emotional anchor and clearer narrative drive earlier in the novel.
Even so, I do appreciate the conversations this book attempts to have and the perspective it brings to the limitations historically placed on women and girls.
PUBLISH DATE: May 5, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Liberty Island
AUTHOR: Virginia Hume
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 320
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Goodreads profile: Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)
Set in the early 1900s, Liberty Island explores the expectations placed on women and girls during a time when independence, curiosity, and ambition in women were often viewed as threatening rather than admirable.
One of the strongest aspects of this novel is the way it examines girls wanting access to the same freedom, curiosity, education, movement, and autonomy that boys were allowed to have without criticism. I appreciated that the story did not frame this as girls wanting to “be boys,” but rather wanting the freedom to enjoy, explore, and pursue interests without society deciding what they should be allowed to value simply because they were female.
There were several themes throughout the book that I found thoughtful and interesting, especially the conversations surrounding women’s independence, social expectations, literature, and the ways young girls were shaped by the adults around them.
That being said, this was a slower and more difficult read for me personally than I anticipated. While I appreciated the historical information and themes being explored, I struggled to fully connect emotionally with the characters in the way I hoped I would. There were many names and conversations introduced early on, and at times I found myself feeling like I was reading historical concepts being shaped into a story rather than becoming fully immersed in the story itself.
The writing is very literary and reflective, which some readers will likely love, especially those who enjoy slower historical fiction focused more on atmosphere and social commentary than plot momentum. Unfortunately, I personally found myself wanting a stronger emotional anchor and clearer narrative drive earlier in the novel.
Even so, I do appreciate the conversations this book attempts to have and the perspective it brings to the limitations historically placed on women and girls.
PUBLISH DATE: May 5, 2026
BOOK TITLE: Liberty Island
AUTHOR: Virginia Hume
PUBLISHER: St Martin's Press
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 320
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Goodreads profile: Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)
December 4, 2025
The time period for this book is the early 1900's & the setting is in affluent Boston & Maine. The story goes back and forth between the lives of Anna & Julia. Unmarried Anna lives with her sister's family and is trying to make a name for herself as a writer. One summer she is tasked with watching over her firecracker of a niece, Julia & three of her friends. Julia is a very high-spirited child who absolutely does not want to follow the norms for how a young girl should behave. I absolutely adored this little girl's spunk. She lead her friends on many adventures that were only allowed for boys to do. As a result of numerous arguments between Julia & her brother, their mother decides to have Anna take Julia & her friends to the other side of the island to carry on with their adventures separate from the boys. It is here that Anna comes up with the ideas for "Liberty Island," a book telling of the adventures carried out by 4 young girls. The book is adored by many but is criticized by the "old-fashioned" women of the times, who are appalled that any young girl should be acting like young boys. As Julia reaches her college years, she becomes enthralled with the Suffragette Movement, as well as other liberal social idylls of that time period. She becomes caught in the middle of the lifestyle she was born into and that of those who rebel against that very lifestyle. It takes a few unexpected life-altering situations to occur for Julia to find her footing & realize what is truly important to her. I am always enamored with coming of age stories and stories depicting women with ideas of equality that were ahead of their times. This was a very worthwhile read for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Did Not Finish
June 29, 2026DNF @ p150
Early thoughts: The opening scene is delightful, four young girls trying to make footprints on the world.
Feeling: Like a nap.
I’m curious about: Am I going to remember any of these details later? *Edit Nope.
""...You are not a house cat, Julia. You are a sheepdog.” Julia finally looked up, aghast. “A sheepdog!”“Or a collie, if you prefer,” Louisa continued, unapologetic. “Any of those intelligent breeds that eat your furniture if you don’t work them hard enough.” Julia paused for an outraged moment and then began to laugh. “We have been in this dormitory for more than a month, and I have not consumed so much as a table leg!”" p17
Final thoughts: The writing is pleasant and I'm guessing a lot of readers will enjoy the characters and story. I like a bucolic story here and there, but I found this a little bloodless.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
Early thoughts: The opening scene is delightful, four young girls trying to make footprints on the world.
Feeling: Like a nap.
I’m curious about: Am I going to remember any of these details later? *Edit Nope.
""...You are not a house cat, Julia. You are a sheepdog.” Julia finally looked up, aghast. “A sheepdog!”“Or a collie, if you prefer,” Louisa continued, unapologetic. “Any of those intelligent breeds that eat your furniture if you don’t work them hard enough.” Julia paused for an outraged moment and then began to laugh. “We have been in this dormitory for more than a month, and I have not consumed so much as a table leg!”" p17
Final thoughts: The writing is pleasant and I'm guessing a lot of readers will enjoy the characters and story. I like a bucolic story here and there, but I found this a little bloodless.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
Did Not Finish
April 29, 2026This was a tough decision for me to do but there are too many books out there to read rather than continue a book that I’m just not liking.
I think this book would have worked out much better for me in print rather than audio. I should have known better since this was Historical Fiction. There were many characters and had to make a list. I started to lose interest and sadly decided to DNF at 30%.
I enjoyed Haven Point by this author so I’m definitely interested in reading more of her books, but probably not on audio, especially if historical fiction.
I think this book would have worked out much better for me in print rather than audio. I should have known better since this was Historical Fiction. There were many characters and had to make a list. I started to lose interest and sadly decided to DNF at 30%.
I enjoyed Haven Point by this author so I’m definitely interested in reading more of her books, but probably not on audio, especially if historical fiction.
November 16, 2025
A lovely return to Haven Point
November 9, 2025
Liberty Island
By: Virginia Hume
Pub date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: St. Martins Press
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the 1900’s Anna is on an island off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. Her focus as watching over three little girls will they enjoy their summer.
She is college educated and decides to write a novel under her pen name. Her book “Liberty Island” has become a bestseller, but high society does not feel the book represents women who should be ready to marry and become mothers.
Things a dual time line forwarding to her nieces story.
I enjoyed that this books is located in Maine, the time period mentioning suffragettes, mother/daughter relationships and beautiful writing.
By: Virginia Hume
Pub date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: St. Martins Press
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the 1900’s Anna is on an island off the coast of Haven Point, Maine. Her focus as watching over three little girls will they enjoy their summer.
She is college educated and decides to write a novel under her pen name. Her book “Liberty Island” has become a bestseller, but high society does not feel the book represents women who should be ready to marry and become mothers.
Things a dual time line forwarding to her nieces story.
I enjoyed that this books is located in Maine, the time period mentioning suffragettes, mother/daughter relationships and beautiful writing.
May 27, 2026
Book Review - Historical Fiction - Family Saga - Women’s Fiction
I just finished Liberty Island by Virginia Hume
⭐️ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… spending summers on the Maine coastline wrapped in nostalgia, family secrets, seaside freedom, and women quietly fighting against the boxes society built for them.
I have to say… this book completely surprised me. I expected a cozy historical family drama, but it ended up being so much more emotional and layered than I anticipated.
Did I care about the characters? Absolutely. Anna completely stole the show for me. Watching her try to carve out independence in a world determined to tell women who they should be was honestly beautiful and frustrating all at once.
Tropes included: dual timelines, family legacy, women’s independence, seaside summers, generational conflict, secret identity, childhood freedom, complicated motherhood..
These tropes… worked SO well together. The island setting especially made everything feel dreamy and bittersweet.
Pacing? A little slow in parts, but it fits the atmosphere of the story. This is definitely a character-driven historical fiction rather than a fast-paced drama.
This book made me feel: nostalgic for summers I never even lived through. It had that old-money coastal family vibe where everything looks beautiful on the surface while emotions quietly simmer underneath.
This book WILL make you want to disappear to the Maine coastline with a stack of books and rethink your entire life.
Not for readers who prefer super fast-paced plots or high drama every chapter.
I just finished Liberty Island by Virginia Hume
⭐️ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… spending summers on the Maine coastline wrapped in nostalgia, family secrets, seaside freedom, and women quietly fighting against the boxes society built for them.
I have to say… this book completely surprised me. I expected a cozy historical family drama, but it ended up being so much more emotional and layered than I anticipated.
Did I care about the characters? Absolutely. Anna completely stole the show for me. Watching her try to carve out independence in a world determined to tell women who they should be was honestly beautiful and frustrating all at once.
Tropes included: dual timelines, family legacy, women’s independence, seaside summers, generational conflict, secret identity, childhood freedom, complicated motherhood..
These tropes… worked SO well together. The island setting especially made everything feel dreamy and bittersweet.
Pacing? A little slow in parts, but it fits the atmosphere of the story. This is definitely a character-driven historical fiction rather than a fast-paced drama.
This book made me feel: nostalgic for summers I never even lived through. It had that old-money coastal family vibe where everything looks beautiful on the surface while emotions quietly simmer underneath.
This book WILL make you want to disappear to the Maine coastline with a stack of books and rethink your entire life.
Not for readers who prefer super fast-paced plots or high drama every chapter.
June 10, 2026
The leisurely pace of "Liberty Island" reflects both the novel and the island's lifestyle. It takes time for the girls and young women to find themselves, and the dual timelines of the 1910s and 1920s allow their setbacks and growth to develop naturally.
"Liberty Island" focuses mainly on Julia, a free-spirited girl who becomes a young woman over the course of the novel, and her aunt Anna, who writes the "Liberty Island" stories that are based on Julia and her friends' imaginative games at Haven Point, Maine. (Excerpts from these stories within the story delightfully reminded me of the early 20th century "Maida" series by Inez Haynes Irwin, which my mother and I both loved!)
From the suffrage movement to WWI, from the new Freud psychoanalysis to socialist movements, from corseted society to island freedom, change is a gusting current of ideas. But it's not chaotic in the way I often find 21st century change to be. Immersing myself into this early 20th century world gave me a welcome space to breathe, enjoy, contemplate, be inspired.
As Julia says near the end of this lovely and nuanced novel, "We all have only so many breaths....I only hope with my own remaining breaths, I will follow [her] example."
"Liberty Island" focuses mainly on Julia, a free-spirited girl who becomes a young woman over the course of the novel, and her aunt Anna, who writes the "Liberty Island" stories that are based on Julia and her friends' imaginative games at Haven Point, Maine. (Excerpts from these stories within the story delightfully reminded me of the early 20th century "Maida" series by Inez Haynes Irwin, which my mother and I both loved!)
From the suffrage movement to WWI, from the new Freud psychoanalysis to socialist movements, from corseted society to island freedom, change is a gusting current of ideas. But it's not chaotic in the way I often find 21st century change to be. Immersing myself into this early 20th century world gave me a welcome space to breathe, enjoy, contemplate, be inspired.
As Julia says near the end of this lovely and nuanced novel, "We all have only so many breaths....I only hope with my own remaining breaths, I will follow [her] example."
May 5, 2026
3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The cover immediately catches your eye, and I was ready to be swept off to the Maine shore. Once I read the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to dive in. A Maine setting already had me sold, and I went in expecting to absolutely love it. I do think I built it up a little too much in my head, but I still really enjoyed it…just not quite in the all consuming way I’d imagined.
Set across two timelines, the story follows a family of women whose lives are shaped by summers spent on a Maine island. In the earlier timeline, a young woman begins to question what’s expected of her and secretly writes a story that ends up drawing more attention-and pushback-than she ever anticipated. Years later, her niece is navigating her own path, looking back on those same summers with a very different perspective.
At its heart, this one leans into the bond between mothers and daughters, the weight of expectations, and what it looks like to carve out your own version of a life…especially when it doesn’t quite match what others have in mind. There’s a nice contrast between past and present, and I liked seeing how those earlier choices ripple forward.
The cover immediately catches your eye, and I was ready to be swept off to the Maine shore. Once I read the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to dive in. A Maine setting already had me sold, and I went in expecting to absolutely love it. I do think I built it up a little too much in my head, but I still really enjoyed it…just not quite in the all consuming way I’d imagined.
Set across two timelines, the story follows a family of women whose lives are shaped by summers spent on a Maine island. In the earlier timeline, a young woman begins to question what’s expected of her and secretly writes a story that ends up drawing more attention-and pushback-than she ever anticipated. Years later, her niece is navigating her own path, looking back on those same summers with a very different perspective.
At its heart, this one leans into the bond between mothers and daughters, the weight of expectations, and what it looks like to carve out your own version of a life…especially when it doesn’t quite match what others have in mind. There’s a nice contrast between past and present, and I liked seeing how those earlier choices ripple forward.
Did Not Finish
August 10, 2026I made it 35 pages. Maybe I should have given it more time, I just did not care about what was happening. I blame my library for not having anything else available!
May 22, 2026
Love the cover, it really grabbed my attention. Sadly that was the only thing that did. Too long, too slow, and too many characters who are indistinguishable from one another.
November 27, 2025
Advance copy for review thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
What a lovely book. Warm and satisfying, with threads that follow through the story. I really enjoyed this book.
The only challenge that I had, and it's important to know before you start, is the beginning. For about the first third, I did like the characters but I had trouble keeping everything straight. I don't at all mind (and in fact prefer) timeline jumping, so it wasn't that, it was more that many characters were referenced and looking back I realize that some I wasn't meant to totally know yet and some I had forgotten so I spent the first third a little lost.
But then...either the introductions died down or I finally got it figured out but whatever happened, it was wonderful after that. I loved the characters. I appreciated reading about a time period that I haven't read a lot of fiction in before. Despite the absolute mountain of historical fiction around the world wars especially WWII, I've not come across a lot from the late 1800s / early 1900s, and particularly about the experience of women's suffrage slowly moving through the nation. Of course, we look back now and it's hard to believe that anyone would have been against it, but a lot of people were. Different people, within families, people you wouldn't expect. It was fascinating.
The book is about a family (and the surrounding characters) that summers in Maine. Growing up, the girls in the family went to a place dubbed Liberty Island to have adventures, and the aunt of these girls wrote a fictionalized book about them that, at the time, was quite scandalous. Girls, having adventures? Being involved with anything so immoral as playing imaginary pirates and treasure hunters? [Clutches pearls.] The timeline switch is between these girls as children and them as early 20s adults, plus all the relevant family / friends / lovers surrounding them. The author does a masterful job (though confusing, a little, at first, see above) of slowly revealing the relationships at play, how things would play out for the adults, and the true motives behind actions.
Despite it not being an epic family saga in length, it felt a bit like one in reading, in the best possible way. We see such character development, and so many changes over the years thanks to the timelines. I finished the book enthralled with the family, and also wishing to visit Maine in the summer.
What a lovely book. Warm and satisfying, with threads that follow through the story. I really enjoyed this book.
The only challenge that I had, and it's important to know before you start, is the beginning. For about the first third, I did like the characters but I had trouble keeping everything straight. I don't at all mind (and in fact prefer) timeline jumping, so it wasn't that, it was more that many characters were referenced and looking back I realize that some I wasn't meant to totally know yet and some I had forgotten so I spent the first third a little lost.
But then...either the introductions died down or I finally got it figured out but whatever happened, it was wonderful after that. I loved the characters. I appreciated reading about a time period that I haven't read a lot of fiction in before. Despite the absolute mountain of historical fiction around the world wars especially WWII, I've not come across a lot from the late 1800s / early 1900s, and particularly about the experience of women's suffrage slowly moving through the nation. Of course, we look back now and it's hard to believe that anyone would have been against it, but a lot of people were. Different people, within families, people you wouldn't expect. It was fascinating.
The book is about a family (and the surrounding characters) that summers in Maine. Growing up, the girls in the family went to a place dubbed Liberty Island to have adventures, and the aunt of these girls wrote a fictionalized book about them that, at the time, was quite scandalous. Girls, having adventures? Being involved with anything so immoral as playing imaginary pirates and treasure hunters? [Clutches pearls.] The timeline switch is between these girls as children and them as early 20s adults, plus all the relevant family / friends / lovers surrounding them. The author does a masterful job (though confusing, a little, at first, see above) of slowly revealing the relationships at play, how things would play out for the adults, and the true motives behind actions.
Despite it not being an epic family saga in length, it felt a bit like one in reading, in the best possible way. We see such character development, and so many changes over the years thanks to the timelines. I finished the book enthralled with the family, and also wishing to visit Maine in the summer.
July 9, 2026
I had the hardest time getting into this book. I almost DNF but decided to charge through. I found all the characters and relationships difficult to navigate for quite a while; it took me about 3/4 of the book to have it all sorted out. The story felt slow and repetitive. The end is satisfying, but getting there was too difficult for my personal taste.
May 13, 2026
Excellent audio book
I gotta admit that about a quarter of the way through I thought that it was gonna be a feminist anti-men rant. BUT I kept reading and was pleasantly surprised. This historical fiction book is pro female by talking about the different ideas that were surfacing during the time frame of the book while not looking down on those who embraced a more traditional lifestyle. Loved the relationships and growth of the characters. Maine, Concord and DC are all familiar to me so that was an added bonus. Loved the reference to The Five Little Peppers.
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy.
#netgalley, #libertyisland, #virginiahume
I gotta admit that about a quarter of the way through I thought that it was gonna be a feminist anti-men rant. BUT I kept reading and was pleasantly surprised. This historical fiction book is pro female by talking about the different ideas that were surfacing during the time frame of the book while not looking down on those who embraced a more traditional lifestyle. Loved the relationships and growth of the characters. Maine, Concord and DC are all familiar to me so that was an added bonus. Loved the reference to The Five Little Peppers.
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy.
#netgalley, #libertyisland, #virginiahume
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026NO: A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Lovely cover
Idk it’s written very YA idk
Rated poorly by MF
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Lovely cover
Idk it’s written very YA idk
Rated poorly by MF
May 13, 2026
Haven Point was so much better
July 3, 2026
3.5
Slow start for me but I ended up enjoying this book (not as much as Haven Point’ but a good story nonetheless.
Slow start for me but I ended up enjoying this book (not as much as Haven Point’ but a good story nonetheless.
May 10, 2026
Too many characters who didn’t stand out from each other enough to be able to keep them straight. I never enjoy books like that.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An absolutely lovely summer read. I adored this cast of women.
May 23, 2026
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
🤍⚓️Liberty Island by Virginia Hume
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liberty Island by Virginia Hume is a multigenerational story set in Haven Point, Maine, following Anna Bradley, Meredith Demarest, and Julia Demarest as they navigate changing times, family expectations, and the complicated realities of growing up and growing apart.
Anna and Meredith share a close bond as sisters, raising Meredith’s children together while enduring the constant judgment of Meredith’s overbearing mother-in-law, who sees young Julia as wild and unruly. But Julia is strong-willed, thoughtful, and determined to carve out her own identity, even when it puts her at odds with the people around her.
As Julia grows older, the novel shifts into a moving story of self-discovery, loyalty, heartbreak, and learning that life is rarely as black-and-white as it seems. The book explores how people evolve over time and how easy it is to judge others before truly understanding their struggles.
I’ll admit, the first half moved slower than I wanted and occasionally felt weighed down by details that delayed the bigger emotional moments. But the payoff was worth it. The ending was powerful, emotional, and beautifully tied the entire story together in a way that completely changed my feelings about the book. What started incredibly slow ended with real heart and meaning.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.
#macaudio2026
🤍⚓️Liberty Island by Virginia Hume
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liberty Island by Virginia Hume is a multigenerational story set in Haven Point, Maine, following Anna Bradley, Meredith Demarest, and Julia Demarest as they navigate changing times, family expectations, and the complicated realities of growing up and growing apart.
Anna and Meredith share a close bond as sisters, raising Meredith’s children together while enduring the constant judgment of Meredith’s overbearing mother-in-law, who sees young Julia as wild and unruly. But Julia is strong-willed, thoughtful, and determined to carve out her own identity, even when it puts her at odds with the people around her.
As Julia grows older, the novel shifts into a moving story of self-discovery, loyalty, heartbreak, and learning that life is rarely as black-and-white as it seems. The book explores how people evolve over time and how easy it is to judge others before truly understanding their struggles.
I’ll admit, the first half moved slower than I wanted and occasionally felt weighed down by details that delayed the bigger emotional moments. But the payoff was worth it. The ending was powerful, emotional, and beautifully tied the entire story together in a way that completely changed my feelings about the book. What started incredibly slow ended with real heart and meaning.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.
#macaudio2026
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Pleasantly surprised! I received this ARC from Goodreads. It started out really slow and I was so bored by the pompous, wealthy people. But about halfway in, it became quite engaging. The historical plot lines emphasized the struggles women faced before they won the right to vote, and how little aspiration most women were allowed within the constraints of Victorian society and into the early 20th century. Recommended for those who love historical fiction.
June 22, 2026
Every conversational exchange was followed by a sentence explaining it lol
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
****Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****
3.5 Stars but won't round up for this one.
The ONLY thing that brought this book down for me was the absolute blast of a firehose in the face of character introductions. For about the first 20% of this book I was like "wait.. who?" It really would have benefitted having perhaps a family tree or a cast of characters that I could flip back to and go ahh okay now I know who you are talking about. Because the Clarissa, Lillian ,Rhinelander, Serena, Judith, Nora, Graham, Jerome, Elizabeth, Anna, Julia, William, Maudie, Louisa, Ruthie, Pelham, Mina, Bess ET AL was way to many characters to be thrust upon me at the very beginning. Even the greats of literature Brandon Sanderson and George R. Martin who normally have a very large cast of characters you are introduced slowly to each one.
Anna's POV was the most difficult to acclimate to simply because of all the name dropping in the beginning. I swear I'll need to go back and re read the first 20% to know what actually happened. I did enjoy hearing about Julia's antic's as a child some of her wild acts definitely made me laugh. I liked how both Anna and Elizabeth forged their own paths even with constraints against them. When Elizabeth finally stood up to Lillian I was like well the flower has some thorns after all! I Anna and Mr. Lockwood were so well suited for one another, very sweet summer moments between the two of them.
Julia was a likeable and relatable character. Growing up more conservative and fighting against it while at Haven Point, then leaning more liberal when going to college, moving away from home but seeing the eventual return back to love of family was heartwarming to see. I think the book portrayed her and Mina's "friendship" quite well. How Julia came to realize with both Pelham and Mina that they coveted her ties to family but wanted her to cut them off just to be as miserable as they both were.
"Leaves far too much to people's decency, and most aren't so decent"
Was a quote from the book describing socialism which was gaining popularity throughout the book. I think that describes it perfectly. I had to stop and reread it so I could remember to put that in this review. Louisa was one of two of the MVP's of Julia's POV and was a north star for Julia. She gave very sound advice and was a great friend. In addition to Louisa, Michael was my favorite. As soon as her was introduced to the story I KNEW he was end game. He has bounds and leaps of golden retriever energy and I could feel it through the pages. All the things he did for her made me smile and clutch the book to my chest. Such swoon worthy love.
This would be a great summer read, I almost wish I could have read it on the beach of some beautiful lakeside retreat just complete the picture the story unveiled.
3.5 Stars but won't round up for this one.
The ONLY thing that brought this book down for me was the absolute blast of a firehose in the face of character introductions. For about the first 20% of this book I was like "wait.. who?" It really would have benefitted having perhaps a family tree or a cast of characters that I could flip back to and go ahh okay now I know who you are talking about. Because the Clarissa, Lillian ,Rhinelander, Serena, Judith, Nora, Graham, Jerome, Elizabeth, Anna, Julia, William, Maudie, Louisa, Ruthie, Pelham, Mina, Bess ET AL was way to many characters to be thrust upon me at the very beginning. Even the greats of literature Brandon Sanderson and George R. Martin who normally have a very large cast of characters you are introduced slowly to each one.
Anna's POV was the most difficult to acclimate to simply because of all the name dropping in the beginning. I swear I'll need to go back and re read the first 20% to know what actually happened. I did enjoy hearing about Julia's antic's as a child some of her wild acts definitely made me laugh. I liked how both Anna and Elizabeth forged their own paths even with constraints against them. When Elizabeth finally stood up to Lillian I was like well the flower has some thorns after all! I Anna and Mr. Lockwood were so well suited for one another, very sweet summer moments between the two of them.
Julia was a likeable and relatable character. Growing up more conservative and fighting against it while at Haven Point, then leaning more liberal when going to college, moving away from home but seeing the eventual return back to love of family was heartwarming to see. I think the book portrayed her and Mina's "friendship" quite well. How Julia came to realize with both Pelham and Mina that they coveted her ties to family but wanted her to cut them off just to be as miserable as they both were.
"Leaves far too much to people's decency, and most aren't so decent"
Was a quote from the book describing socialism which was gaining popularity throughout the book. I think that describes it perfectly. I had to stop and reread it so I could remember to put that in this review. Louisa was one of two of the MVP's of Julia's POV and was a north star for Julia. She gave very sound advice and was a great friend. In addition to Louisa, Michael was my favorite. As soon as her was introduced to the story I KNEW he was end game. He has bounds and leaps of golden retriever energy and I could feel it through the pages. All the things he did for her made me smile and clutch the book to my chest. Such swoon worthy love.
This would be a great summer read, I almost wish I could have read it on the beach of some beautiful lakeside retreat just complete the picture the story unveiled.
June 13, 2026
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and want to say Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for the free copy of Liberty Island
5/10 stars for 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars....see below for the explaination.
Characters:• 0.5: Though I really enjoyed Anna and Julia at times and the side characters of Elizabeth and Louisa. I really didn't like many of the other characters and you were not supposed to like some of them I realize.
• Plot: • 0.5: This is definitely more a character driven story vs a plot driven story but I feel that over all there is a theme and story that the book moves through.
• Writing/Quality of writing: • 0: The author uses so many SAT or "Vocabulary" that I was constantly having to look up the definition. This interrupted the story and would take me out of what was happening. I think she was trying to use words of the time but it ended up coming across a bit verbose or even pretentious at times instead of relatable. And I say this as someone who reads classics and can understand them them most of the time without issue. So I don't think it's my comprehension level. Some of the words were not even used appropriately for there definitions.
•Pacing: • 0.5: I felt the book moved kind of slow and steady throughout but then at the last 30 or so pages got really interesting and cramed a lot of action in. I think I would have like to see more of that pacing throughout.
• Logic: 1: The Story is logically and clearly defined. There is nothing illogical about the world.
*Experience-0.5: The experience is fine but I think due to what I said above in the writing style. I was immersed in the story. I didn't feel what they felt and nor did I care most of the time. Sad things would happen and I just didn't care. Reveals....and Meh.
• Atmosphere (Setting/World-Building): • 0.5: I think the Jumaru/Liberty Island adventures were so fun to explore. But the rest was lacking some atmosphere
• Themes: 0.5: The author definitely had some strong themes of Woman's Suffrage and Woman's Rights and I would have liked to seen that explored in more depth. I think she tried to show how the "Liberty Island" Children's books were a part of the movement but I think it felt surface level
• Ending: 0.5: I felt like it got exciting in the last 30-50 pages and then similar to a Hallmark movie everything just wrapped up in a neat little boy. Also the relationships concluded quickly.... without trying to spoil like 0 commitment to 10 commitment in no time flat. I would have like to see those given more time.
• Intrigue & Enjoyment: 0.5: This book was fine. I'm glad I read it. I really liked the woman's rights aspects and how several of the characters pushed against the norms. The language was too Vocab heavy and took me out of the story. Some of the characters were unlikeable and in an insufferable way.
5/10 stars for 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars....see below for the explaination.
Characters:• 0.5: Though I really enjoyed Anna and Julia at times and the side characters of Elizabeth and Louisa. I really didn't like many of the other characters and you were not supposed to like some of them I realize.
• Plot: • 0.5: This is definitely more a character driven story vs a plot driven story but I feel that over all there is a theme and story that the book moves through.
• Writing/Quality of writing: • 0: The author uses so many SAT or "Vocabulary" that I was constantly having to look up the definition. This interrupted the story and would take me out of what was happening. I think she was trying to use words of the time but it ended up coming across a bit verbose or even pretentious at times instead of relatable. And I say this as someone who reads classics and can understand them them most of the time without issue. So I don't think it's my comprehension level. Some of the words were not even used appropriately for there definitions.
•Pacing: • 0.5: I felt the book moved kind of slow and steady throughout but then at the last 30 or so pages got really interesting and cramed a lot of action in. I think I would have like to see more of that pacing throughout.
• Logic: 1: The Story is logically and clearly defined. There is nothing illogical about the world.
*Experience-0.5: The experience is fine but I think due to what I said above in the writing style. I was immersed in the story. I didn't feel what they felt and nor did I care most of the time. Sad things would happen and I just didn't care. Reveals....and Meh.
• Atmosphere (Setting/World-Building): • 0.5: I think the Jumaru/Liberty Island adventures were so fun to explore. But the rest was lacking some atmosphere
• Themes: 0.5: The author definitely had some strong themes of Woman's Suffrage and Woman's Rights and I would have liked to seen that explored in more depth. I think she tried to show how the "Liberty Island" Children's books were a part of the movement but I think it felt surface level
• Ending: 0.5: I felt like it got exciting in the last 30-50 pages and then similar to a Hallmark movie everything just wrapped up in a neat little boy. Also the relationships concluded quickly.... without trying to spoil like 0 commitment to 10 commitment in no time flat. I would have like to see those given more time.
• Intrigue & Enjoyment: 0.5: This book was fine. I'm glad I read it. I really liked the woman's rights aspects and how several of the characters pushed against the norms. The language was too Vocab heavy and took me out of the story. Some of the characters were unlikeable and in an insufferable way.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Liberty Island starts out slowly. I wouldn’t say idyllic, because both Anna and her niece Julia feel constrained by the proper society they belong to, but besides Julia’s rather nasty grandmother Lillian, both are living in relatively good circumstances despite all the rights women were deprived of at the turn of the twentieth century.
During the earlier timeline, Anna is an unmarried woman living with her sister Elizabeth and her husband Jerome, and helping to care for her niece Julia. After their father’s remarriage to a woman nothing like their free-spirited mother, Anna observes what she sees as complacency and acceptance in her sister and is concerned about how precarious her circumstances as an unmarried woman are, until she experiences two things-her niece’s new refuge with her friends on Liberty Island where they are free from society’s expectations, and a burgeoning crush on Harley Lockwood.
Several decades later, Julia’s irrepressible spirit has become diminished in her search for acceptance and a place to belong, and she overlooks several people who accept her for who she is to seek out relationships with people who seem dashing and rebellious, with potentially heartbreaking consequences.
Julia was a delight as a child, so it was hard to read her storyline as an adult at times, when she so desperately wants Mina’s friendship and the love of Pelham. As a reader it was easy for me to see that Mina and Pelham didn’t care about her for her, they just wanted to mold her into someone who fit their own needs, and made her doubt her choices and herself. Meanwhile her friends Louisa and Michael were steadfast and supportive.
it took quite a ways into the book before Hume really started exploring the nuances of these two women and what they learn about Elizabeth, and what Julia learns about her sister in law Pauline, and that was the point where the book got so much more interesting. I feel like it’s hinted at earlier with how Julia and Louisa choose to be involved in the suffragette movement, but this is the point where the reader can see the different ways women had to work within the constraints of society and their marriages to protect themselves, their daughters, and their friends.
While Anna and Julia are relatively forthright and often speak their minds, Elizabeth is an unexpected revelation who shows that small and strategic acts often go unnoticed and unappreciated.
It’s not that the first part of the book is bad, it just seems like it builds up really slowly to the interesting revelations about the three women. I would recommend reading it with the even though it takes quite a bit before it’s really engaging.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
During the earlier timeline, Anna is an unmarried woman living with her sister Elizabeth and her husband Jerome, and helping to care for her niece Julia. After their father’s remarriage to a woman nothing like their free-spirited mother, Anna observes what she sees as complacency and acceptance in her sister and is concerned about how precarious her circumstances as an unmarried woman are, until she experiences two things-her niece’s new refuge with her friends on Liberty Island where they are free from society’s expectations, and a burgeoning crush on Harley Lockwood.
Several decades later, Julia’s irrepressible spirit has become diminished in her search for acceptance and a place to belong, and she overlooks several people who accept her for who she is to seek out relationships with people who seem dashing and rebellious, with potentially heartbreaking consequences.
Julia was a delight as a child, so it was hard to read her storyline as an adult at times, when she so desperately wants Mina’s friendship and the love of Pelham. As a reader it was easy for me to see that Mina and Pelham didn’t care about her for her, they just wanted to mold her into someone who fit their own needs, and made her doubt her choices and herself. Meanwhile her friends Louisa and Michael were steadfast and supportive.
it took quite a ways into the book before Hume really started exploring the nuances of these two women and what they learn about Elizabeth, and what Julia learns about her sister in law Pauline, and that was the point where the book got so much more interesting. I feel like it’s hinted at earlier with how Julia and Louisa choose to be involved in the suffragette movement, but this is the point where the reader can see the different ways women had to work within the constraints of society and their marriages to protect themselves, their daughters, and their friends.
While Anna and Julia are relatively forthright and often speak their minds, Elizabeth is an unexpected revelation who shows that small and strategic acts often go unnoticed and unappreciated.
It’s not that the first part of the book is bad, it just seems like it builds up really slowly to the interesting revelations about the three women. I would recommend reading it with the even though it takes quite a bit before it’s really engaging.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 6, 2026
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐✨
Happy Publication Day!!
When I first began this story, I wasn't sure if it would be for me. The snail's pace of the early chapters had my mind wandering. However, somewhere around the halfway mark I began to feel immersed in both timelines. The novel ended up delivering on several fronts including historical events such as women's suffrage and the collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre in 1922. Also, putting familial expectations for girls and women under a magnifying glass was central to the story as were relationships between mothers and daughters. The danger of assumptions and how they can cause distance and riffs is also examined which I appreciated because it made it easy for the narrative to shift gears once it got moving.
The first timeline begins around 1900 with the character of Anna who spends her summers supervising three girls including her niece Julia on an island off the coast of Maine. The girls run free pretending to be all the things society tells them they cannot treasure hunters, rum runners etc. Anna is 28 and has no immediate plans to marry so she is looking for a sense of independence. Which leads her to write stories based on the girls' island adventure under a pseudonym and it becomes successful. Her sister's matronly friends are not impressed with the books and fear the ideas they will put into girls' heads. The second timeline takes place in the 1920's with Julia as an adult looking back on her childhood running wild on Liberty Island as being antiquated and quaint. Her new bohemian lifestyle keeps bumping heads with the way she was raised, and she has to do some serious soul searching to find out who she is. She is called back to Haven Point by her mother and has to come to terms with hard truths and find a new direction.
I loved the idea of these girls having an island to run, play, and pretend, but what I loved even more was that this gift was arranged for them by the adult women in their lives who realized the need. When my children were young and grumpy I would often say, "Go outside and get some dirt on you it will make you feel better." The outdoors hits a reset that humans need, and I liked seeing these girls get to cut loose.
Cassandra Campbell's narration was fantastic as always. The list of characters is extensive, and she gave each one a little something different making it easy to identify who was speaking.
Despite the slow start I ended up enjoying the last half of this novel a lot. I wonder if I'd feel differently about the first half now that I know everyone better. This might be one I revisit at some point.
*Now Available*
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC and ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Happy Publication Day!!
When I first began this story, I wasn't sure if it would be for me. The snail's pace of the early chapters had my mind wandering. However, somewhere around the halfway mark I began to feel immersed in both timelines. The novel ended up delivering on several fronts including historical events such as women's suffrage and the collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre in 1922. Also, putting familial expectations for girls and women under a magnifying glass was central to the story as were relationships between mothers and daughters. The danger of assumptions and how they can cause distance and riffs is also examined which I appreciated because it made it easy for the narrative to shift gears once it got moving.
The first timeline begins around 1900 with the character of Anna who spends her summers supervising three girls including her niece Julia on an island off the coast of Maine. The girls run free pretending to be all the things society tells them they cannot treasure hunters, rum runners etc. Anna is 28 and has no immediate plans to marry so she is looking for a sense of independence. Which leads her to write stories based on the girls' island adventure under a pseudonym and it becomes successful. Her sister's matronly friends are not impressed with the books and fear the ideas they will put into girls' heads. The second timeline takes place in the 1920's with Julia as an adult looking back on her childhood running wild on Liberty Island as being antiquated and quaint. Her new bohemian lifestyle keeps bumping heads with the way she was raised, and she has to do some serious soul searching to find out who she is. She is called back to Haven Point by her mother and has to come to terms with hard truths and find a new direction.
I loved the idea of these girls having an island to run, play, and pretend, but what I loved even more was that this gift was arranged for them by the adult women in their lives who realized the need. When my children were young and grumpy I would often say, "Go outside and get some dirt on you it will make you feel better." The outdoors hits a reset that humans need, and I liked seeing these girls get to cut loose.
Cassandra Campbell's narration was fantastic as always. The list of characters is extensive, and she gave each one a little something different making it easy to identify who was speaking.
Despite the slow start I ended up enjoying the last half of this novel a lot. I wonder if I'd feel differently about the first half now that I know everyone better. This might be one I revisit at some point.
*Now Available*
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC and ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into Liberty Island really wanting to love it. The setting, the dual timelines, the focus on women finding their independence—it checks a lot of boxes for me, especially in historical fiction. And while I can absolutely see why this book works for so many readers, it ended up being more of a mixed experience for me.
The story follows two timelines—Anna in 1900 and her niece Julia in 1922—both shaped by their summers on a small island off the coast of Maine. There’s a strong emphasis on what freedom looks like for women during that time, and how that definition shifts depending on where you are in life.
Anna’s storyline was the strongest part of the book for me. I loved the concept of her secretly writing a bestselling book about girls living freely while she herself is navigating the very limitations she’s pushing against. There’s a quiet rebellion to her character that felt believable for the time period, and her perspective carried a lot of the emotional weight of the story.
Julia’s timeline didn’t hit me the same way. Her story is more reflective, looking back on those childhood summers with a different lens, but it felt slower and harder to stay connected to. I understood what the author was doing—showing how ideas of independence evolve—but it didn’t fully land for me in the same way Anna’s did.
The setting is beautifully done. You can feel that early 1900s coastal Maine atmosphere throughout the book, and it adds a lot to the overall tone. It’s immersive without being overly descriptive, which I appreciated.
That said, this is definitely a slower, more character-driven story. There were moments where it felt like it dragged, especially with some of the miscommunication between characters. It’s one of those recurring frustrations where a lot of tension comes from people not saying what they actually mean, and that’s not my favorite device.
I listened to this on audio, and Cassandra Campbell’s narration really helped carry the story. She does a great job differentiating between characters and timelines, and her delivery made it easier to stay engaged, even in the slower sections.
Overall, I’d rate this 3.5 stars. It’s well written, thoughtful, and has a lot of elements I typically enjoy, but it didn’t fully pull me in. If you love generational stories and slower-paced historical fiction focused on women’s lives, this will probably work really well for you—it just didn’t quite hit that mark for me.
3.5 rounded to 4
The story follows two timelines—Anna in 1900 and her niece Julia in 1922—both shaped by their summers on a small island off the coast of Maine. There’s a strong emphasis on what freedom looks like for women during that time, and how that definition shifts depending on where you are in life.
Anna’s storyline was the strongest part of the book for me. I loved the concept of her secretly writing a bestselling book about girls living freely while she herself is navigating the very limitations she’s pushing against. There’s a quiet rebellion to her character that felt believable for the time period, and her perspective carried a lot of the emotional weight of the story.
Julia’s timeline didn’t hit me the same way. Her story is more reflective, looking back on those childhood summers with a different lens, but it felt slower and harder to stay connected to. I understood what the author was doing—showing how ideas of independence evolve—but it didn’t fully land for me in the same way Anna’s did.
The setting is beautifully done. You can feel that early 1900s coastal Maine atmosphere throughout the book, and it adds a lot to the overall tone. It’s immersive without being overly descriptive, which I appreciated.
That said, this is definitely a slower, more character-driven story. There were moments where it felt like it dragged, especially with some of the miscommunication between characters. It’s one of those recurring frustrations where a lot of tension comes from people not saying what they actually mean, and that’s not my favorite device.
I listened to this on audio, and Cassandra Campbell’s narration really helped carry the story. She does a great job differentiating between characters and timelines, and her delivery made it easier to stay engaged, even in the slower sections.
Overall, I’d rate this 3.5 stars. It’s well written, thoughtful, and has a lot of elements I typically enjoy, but it didn’t fully pull me in. If you love generational stories and slower-paced historical fiction focused on women’s lives, this will probably work really well for you—it just didn’t quite hit that mark for me.
3.5 rounded to 4
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Historical fiction set in two timelines, the years immediately before and after the turn of the twentieth century and the WWI years and its aftermath, in Boston, Casco Bay (Maine), and Washington, DC.
The main storyline is about a family, the Demarests—and friends of that family—who summer on an island in Casco Bay, Maine, breaking with the tradition of Boston Brahmins, who usually summered in Newport, Rhode Island. I will say at the outset that I found the rapid introduction of so many characters quite confusing and it took me a long time in the book to keep the characters straight. I also found the characters rather two-dimensional, but the story was compelling.
This multigenerational story is a tale about the women’s suffrage movement and women’s desire for self-determination, and it traces the development of thinking women’s roles in society. That development is traced through grandmother Lillian’s beliefs that women have only a proscribed place in the home, to her daughters Anna and Elizabeth, who are navigating changes in society while being under the influence of their mother, and finally to Elizabeth’s daughter Julia, who is a rebel and refuses to accept the old way of thinking about a woman’s place in the world.
Elizabeth, trying to give her daughter more choices than she had, allows Julia and her friends to row to a small nearby island they dub Liberty, where they frequently camp out and have imaginative adventures. Her sister Anna, who at first glance is the more progressive, shunning marriage until later in life, misreads her sister’s intentions, thinking she is just trying to keep the spirited Julia, with whom Anna has a close relationship, out of her hair.
As I alluded to before, while I did think the story was good and I never found my interest flagging, the confusion with the characters at the beginning was somewhat off-putting, and I never really felt the characters were as fully developed as they could have been. A solid, engaging read, if somewhat flawed. Three-and-a-half stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ms. Hume for providing me with an ARC of this lovely novel, with an expected release date of May 5, 2026.
The main storyline is about a family, the Demarests—and friends of that family—who summer on an island in Casco Bay, Maine, breaking with the tradition of Boston Brahmins, who usually summered in Newport, Rhode Island. I will say at the outset that I found the rapid introduction of so many characters quite confusing and it took me a long time in the book to keep the characters straight. I also found the characters rather two-dimensional, but the story was compelling.
This multigenerational story is a tale about the women’s suffrage movement and women’s desire for self-determination, and it traces the development of thinking women’s roles in society. That development is traced through grandmother Lillian’s beliefs that women have only a proscribed place in the home, to her daughters Anna and Elizabeth, who are navigating changes in society while being under the influence of their mother, and finally to Elizabeth’s daughter Julia, who is a rebel and refuses to accept the old way of thinking about a woman’s place in the world.
Elizabeth, trying to give her daughter more choices than she had, allows Julia and her friends to row to a small nearby island they dub Liberty, where they frequently camp out and have imaginative adventures. Her sister Anna, who at first glance is the more progressive, shunning marriage until later in life, misreads her sister’s intentions, thinking she is just trying to keep the spirited Julia, with whom Anna has a close relationship, out of her hair.
As I alluded to before, while I did think the story was good and I never found my interest flagging, the confusion with the characters at the beginning was somewhat off-putting, and I never really felt the characters were as fully developed as they could have been. A solid, engaging read, if somewhat flawed. Three-and-a-half stars.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ms. Hume for providing me with an ARC of this lovely novel, with an expected release date of May 5, 2026.
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