Counting Chickens: A Martha's Vineyard Novel

by T. Elizabeth Bell

Brimming with quirky and appealing characters, Counting Chickens is an irresistible tale of friendship and love – a delightful beach read that brings a sunny summer on Martha's Vineyard to vivid life.“An infinitely fun read … I was on vacation from beginning to end.” (Brooke Lea Foster, author of Summer Darlings)

“When you hire Nest, you are hiring 24-7, personalized attention to your every need. We will ensure that you have the best possible vacation while on Martha’s Vineyard.” (Marketing brochure for Nest, a Bespoke Concierge Service)

Back on the Island after a failed marriage, Remy Litchfield is struggling to launch her high-end concierge service. Her business plan is complete down to the fresh eggs provided courtesy of her very own flock of designer chickens. What she didn’t count on was the return of her high school crush, Jake Madden, or the suggestion by her impossibly handsome and wealthy client, Eli Wolff, that he is interested in having Remy do more than his shopping. 

With the help of an escaped dog and her gang of eccentric and loyal friends, Remy must find a way to balance all the demands of her new life. But will catering to the whims of her high-end clients leave time for anything else? 

Set against the backdrop of the gorgeous beaches and quaint towns of Martha's Vineyard, this second chance romance from the author of Goats in the Time of Love rewards readers with a summer novel full of affection, humor and love.

Praise for Counting

“To read Counting Chickens is to be directly transported to the island on a beautiful summer day… I immediately fell in love with her compelling cast of characters, and as I followed their various mishaps, I found myself laughing out loud, gasping in surprise, and often tearing up with emotion….”—Julia Spiro, bestselling author of Someone Else’s Secret 

“A cast of quirky and endearing characters, chickens, and a rescued dog all in search of security, purpose, and love during a tumultuous Martha’s Vineyard summer make Counting Chickens a captivating beach read.” — Alice Early, author of the award-winning Moon Always Rises

“Bell paints a lovely, vivid picture of the vibrant, year-round island community … Remy is compelling … beautiful inside and out … a stunning protagonist…”— Kirkus Reviews

"A charming tale of one woman’s sparkly summer at the beach, Counting Chickens takes you deep into the real Martha’s Vineyard. You’ll finish loving the characters, longing for the scenery … An infinitely fun read for anyone who wants to escape to the New England summer island. I was on vacation from beginning to end.” — Brooke Lea Foster, bestselling author of Summer Darlings

“Reading Counting Chickens is like peeking through the pages of Vineyard Life magazine … An entertaining romp around the island as pleasurable as a summer’s day at the beach.

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2021

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

[Deb Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read, but perhaps because I was on Martha's Vineyard and savoring my last days of summer. A fun story with vivid characterizations. The people and places and foods and antics all relatable. A fun read!

[Megan May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet "will they, won't they" escapist chick-lit. I liked all of the characters and loved the glimpse of the locals life vs bougie tourists on the Vineyard. I read it right after I left the Vineyard, so it was a great way to extend my visit.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of summer so far! Since the pandemic, I have been reading my way through any and every escapist fiction novel set on Martha’s Vineyard. The book thoroughly immerses you into Vineyard life - from the pure bliss of outdoor showers, Menemsha sunsets with Larsen’s lobster bisque, up island ancient ways and rolling farmland dotted with stone walls, the culinary wonders of Grey Barn chocolate croissants and West Tisbury Traffic Jam, to the heaven-on-earth beach that is Lambert’s Cove. Bell’s descriptive scenery transported me to the place I am most passionate about when I could not be there myself and made my current land-locked upstate NY existence so much more enjoyable. I even added a few quintessential Vineyard experiences to my bucket list for our next trip! I loved the timely topics of lamenting the loss of Chilmark Chocolates and The Bite, Amy Schumer sightings, and Obama’s new digs. The main character, Remy, was very like-able, yet human with her flaws, and I was rooting for her to find her way until the very end! The bonus recipes at the end of the book are a treat - the waffle recipe was a hit with my very own sassy tween, much like the teenage character Morgan, and the mushroom-Remy pasta was delish! Looking forward to more tales of island life from this up-and-coming author!

[aqsa. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again - the perfect MV book. For anyone who has ever been to the vineyard and always dreaming of their return. Written that way where the author knows every street and turn, you know you’re in the hands of someone who has spent countless summers at the vineyard and loves this space as her own.

Storywise - I always appreciate when there is a good friend group. You have the romantic relationship but an equal amount of time given to the protagonist’s friends so you see her having a whole life. Loved how Remy takes you around the island as part of her job. I also like how she has a story before the island and here is where she lands and begins again. To be honest, wasn’t the biggest fan of Jake but he grew on me. Mostly because the miscommunication and his own social anxieties are real life. Missed connections are from miscommunications.

A light summer romance - that beach read story set in the most gorgeous of settings.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting Chickens is the perfect Summer read for 2021. The characters are wonderfully drawn, endearing and memorable. The descriptions of life on Martha's Vineyard are spot-on. You feel like you are actually relaxing on The Vineyard! Highly recommended!

[Andrea Wimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and sweet vacation adventure! The perfect summer getaway.

I was again transported to Martha’s Vineyard through this fun group of characters and adorable animals.

I loved Remy from the start, she was lovable, determined and so hard working. I loved seeing her fighting every day for her business and trying to prove how capable she was of being the best in what she did. She encountered very difficult situations and people along her journey but she always managed to be successful with the support of her friends. Her love for animals and the way she wanted to take care of them was so inspiring.

Jake was the cutest nerd, he was so smart and funny, he wanted to share everything he knew. His adorable awkwardness melted my heart, he was shy and ins cure about how to approach her but never gave up he wanted to support her 100% and make sure she was as successful as she deserved after so much struggle.

I enjoyed very much to see them interacting with the rest of the cast, especially Willow and Teddy, who made me laugh a lot… And I absolutely LOVED to see how Sky and Nate were doing! 😍

They had a rocky road towards being together but their happy ending was well worth it.

[Arlene Messingerlerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Counting Chickens is a fun, sexy summer romp that you will love reading any time of year, impossible to put down. I love this book.

[Scarlet S. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superior Beach Read

Are you looking for a little escape? This is the idea Romantic Comedy. Between lost chickens and lost and found love this book have something for everyone in need of a mental vacation right here and now.

[Paula M]

A truly delightful read! The author has hit her storytelling stride in this book which, just like her first novel, is steeped in place, relationships, personal dreams, and human growth. Her characters, be they sweet and good, unlikable and fatally flawed or person or fowl, are wonderfully memorable.

[Sabina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet read.

[Mary Stapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

All your senses will come to life in this sweet story that celebrates the two halves of being human – the inside and the outside. On the outside you have the protagonist, Remy, not named after the Cognac but almost as luscious. She is warm, kind, down-to-earth, and skilled at pretty much everything that matters, from cooking to being a friend. On the inside there is Jake and Jane and the brainiac world of… over-thinking. Philosophy. University. Tenure tracks. That sort of thing, but to be fair, these striving characters have a true desire to define and perhaps create lives best lived.

They all come together on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, a place of unmatched beauty. Not to mention lots of rich people and the high-end businesses that cater to them. In Counting Chickens, Remy is one of the working people. She has started her own business as a professional concierge. She makes exquisite meals, artfully arranges fresh flowers, delivers fresh eggs laid by her own flock of designer chickens, but also tends to prosaic needs like mailing left-behind items to clients who fly home on Sundays. Her friends are also creatives who sew, grow mushrooms, make candies, and add much of the fun to the story.

The workers mingle with beautiful people as each character tries to find their place. Remy finds herself both flying high in a private plane to Nantucket for the finest French lunch money can buy, but also changing her chicken’s diaper before heading out to stock her clients’ freezers for weekend guests.

What constitutes success, and in whose eye, is an underlying theme. As the characters try to navigate their life path, there are tensions in the differing approaches.

Much of the joy of reading this book comes from feasting on lobster, ogling flowers, smelling lemons and salt air, feeling the brisk wind of a sail on the pond, riding a fabulous horse bareback on the beach. The rest of the pleasure comes from thoughtful characters – from lovely Willow who reads auras to handsome Jake who ponders ancient ideas of utopia.

There are a couple of fight scenes, but this is really a feel-good summer beach read that will have you making crepes again, or trying at least. For starters there is a recipe at the book’s end.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relive your summer vacation through this book

We caught the tail end of a book signing on the vineyard this summer which inspired me to buy this book. I’m so happy that I did! The landmark references brought me right back to my summer vacation and the story is perfectly sweet, fun and engaging.

[Rebecca Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun summer read! This book captures the charm of life on Martha's Vineyard and makes me want to learn all the hidden secrets about the places and activities I have yet to discover there! And what fun insight into the life of private concierge work for the elite.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fun, entertaining read that captures the quirky spirit of life on Martha’s Vineyard, you can do a lot worse than Counting Chickens. A naked man strolls down the opening page and down the middle of State Road on his way to Alley’s General Store in West Tisbury, setting in motion a story populated by refugees of all sorts: marooned hippies, an abandoned dog, an exiled professor, a battered wife, a poor little rich girl, a flock of individually and eccentrically named Crested Cream Legbars, a diaper-wearing mother hen named Ada Queetie, all trying to fashion a life on an island associated in the popular imagination with presidential retreats, wealth, extravagance, and a certain je ne sais quoi. Amid this swirl moves the captivating Remy, who, having returned home, divorced, from her off-island life in The Lone Star State, strives to make a go of her start-up concierge business. Shuttling between the island world of chickens, old friends, moonlight on water and ever-imminent romance, and the vacation world of the frequently soulless, sometimes hedonistic and caddish summer people she works for, Remy struggles to establish an equilibrium she can live with. The story is told with humor and great affection for the Vineyard (particularly West Tisbury), which is depicted in minute, authentic detail. Sit back, sip a drink, bask in the sun, and let the lapping waves fade into the background as you enjoy Counting Chickens.

[Alice Early · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remy Litchfield, born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, has dropped out of college, suffered a divorce, and returned to the Island with a sense of failure and inferiority that even her considerable skills as an artist and founder of a concierge service she calls Nest can’t dispel. In one tumultuous summer, she juggles demanding clients and their messed-up children, a beloved flock of chickens, a rescued dog, a long-term crush, his endearing stoner brother, and a fiendishly sexy client not used to taking no for an answer. Against the backdrop of an authentic Martha’s Vineyard with its quaint homes and villages, heart-stoppingly beautiful ponds and beaches, and clogged summer traffic, Remy navigates business and personal reversals and discoveries that point her toward a new and confident path. She also spurs a wide range of relatable characters to go through their own transformations. I found myself rooting for a damaged teen, a battered wife, a drifting brother, and most of all for Remy and Jake, the couple who might or might not be made for one another, as they all struggle to figure out what’s most important in life. Even Remy’s chickens have personality and attitude. While sharing a peek at the lives of the Vineyard’s year-rounders, Bell’s COUNTING CHICKENS gives us a well-written and entertaining tale that will charm anyone who loves the Vineyard.

[Emily Cavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Counting Chickens by T. Elizabeth Bell is like peeking through the pages of Vineyard Life magazine, stepping into the beautiful homes, and spending an afternoon lounging on one of the private island beaches that require a key. Remy is a feisty and spirited narrator whose can-do attitude and enthusiasm leave the reader cheering her along as she juggles outrageous demands from her wealthy clients, competing love interests, and a looming housing crisis. As Remy attempts to make her concierge business successful, the reader gets a sneak peak into the beautiful homes and extravagant lives of her clients. From the Chicken Alley thrift store to the lobster rolls in Menemsha to the flea market, those familiar with Martha’s Vineyard will enjoy the many authentic references to island life. Those unfamiliar with the island will feel like they’ve taken a mini-vacation from the comfort of their couch. Counting Chickens is an entertaining romp around the island as pleasurable as a summer’s day at the beach.

[Tony DeSabato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished, with delight, Counting Chickens. I was hooked from the opening scene with tripping Teddy, au naturale, traipsing to Alley's for milk for his bath up to Remy and Jake reveling over fluffy Plato. I'm a retired lawyer from Phila living in Narberth, PA with a home in Edgartown for 33 years who took a crack at a novel (Brewster Flats) set on the Cape and Vineyard. I stream MVYradio non-stop when in Pa and listen faithfully when on the Vineyard. (PS. I don't think of it as an old persons station, although I am old and it is my station). Your novel's characters (ugh Eli) and twists and turns, scenes and vignettes, on-again-off agains entertained and charmed me. I smiled from cover to cover. Thank for for brightening my day.

[Arianna McNulty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I began this book over the summer, and even then I was pushing myself to read it. Once fall hit it was even more difficult. I don’t think the plot was really my style, but for anyone who likes a chill book to pick up every once in a while, it is good. The story centers around Remy Litchfield, a divorcee back on her hometown island of Martha’s Vineyard. The reader is taken with Remy on her adventures of being a concierge to the wealthy people on the island. There is also a romantic aspect as she explores new romances in wake of her divorce. One is with an old crush, another with a new client. Overall, not one of my favorites, but a fun read if you want something light.

[Elisa Speranza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly delightful! T. Elizabeth Bell is such a good writer, and this book took me back to my ill-spent 20s, running around the island, getting into and out of trouble. So many sly and hilarious Vineyard references and lovely details slipped in too. #IYKYK Remy is a relatable protagonist, surrounded by a charming cast of friends and lovers. Oh, and the food! Even if you've only been to Martha's Vineyard in your dreams, you'll love this novel.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun summer romance that I read during my vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. I give it four stars for the setting—and the hat tips to so many of our favorite MV haunts. Three to three-and-a-half stars for some of the zany characters, though I was craving more character development and less caricature. Plot was pretty predictable and a little forced. But overall a very enjoyable summer/romance/beach read.

[Juan R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down! I was immediately drawn into the characters and their stories, and I wish I knew them all in real life! It's a beautiful portrait of true friendship, love, and life on Martha's Vineyard.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an enjoyable vacation read/beach read. Purchased from the bookstore on Martha's Vineyard, I should have read while I was on vacation there. Funny, charming and now that I am back it brought back my memories of my visit. Recommend.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light read

Really a light read. I’m going to Martha’s Vineyard for a bike trip with my mom, and I loved all the local references (and the recipes too!). For those 2 things, it is a five and maybe a 3 for the story, but perfect for my needs!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read

I enjoyed the book very much except I could have done without the graphic sex scenes. I had shared this title on my blog as a book I have been reading, but removed it for this reason.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely started out like a Hallmark movie to me, but I ended up enjoying it a lot! Seems like a semi-realistic storyline and always enjoyable reading about a book that takes place in Martha's Vineyard/somewhere I dream of going.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end! Love the character development and interaction.

[Summer Rio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good will they won’t they.

[Sarah Patenaude · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute. Longer than it needed to be. Nice to recognize places on MV. A few too many huge fights & then everyone dramatically changed.

[Jessie Mcisaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet summer read!