Thank you William Morrow, #partner for the finished copies of The World’s Fair Quilt and Where the Rivers Merge and MBC Books, #partner for the finished copy of The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, in exchange for my honest reviews. Thank you also to Libro.fm and PRH Audio for the gifted ALCs.
These are some historical fiction books I actually read over the summer and while I posted about them over on Instagram, I never shared my thoughts about them here on my blog. I did all on audio, which was perfect as historical fiction on audio is my favorite!
THE WORLD’S FAIR QUILT by Jennifer Chiaverini
PUBLISHED: April 1, 2025, William Morrow /Harper Audio
Summary:
A timely celebration of quilting, family, community, and history in this latest novel in the perennially popular Elm Creek Quilts series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini.
As fall paints the Pennsylvania countryside in flaming colors, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson is contemplating the future of her beloved Elm Creek Quilts. The Elm Creek Quilt Camp remains the most popular quilter’s retreat in the country, but unexpected financial difficulties have beset them and the Bergstrom family’s stately nineteenth-century manor. Now in her eighth decade, Sylvia is determined to maintain her family’s legacy, but she needs new resources—financial and emotional.
Summer Sullivan—a founding Elm Creek Quilter—arrives to discuss an antique quilt that she wants to display at the Waterford Historical Society’s quilt exhibit. When Sylvia and her sister Claudia were teenagers, they had entered a quilt in the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. The Bergstrom sisters’ quilt would be perfect for the Historical Society’s exhibit, Summer explains.
Sylvia is reluctant to lend out the quilt, which has been stored in the attic for decades, nearly forgotten. In keeping with the contest’s “Century of Progress” theme, the girls illustrated progress of values—scenes of the Emancipation Proclamation, woman’s suffrage, and labor unions. But although it won ribbons, the quilt also drove a wedge between the sisters.
As Sylvia reluctantly retraces her quilt’s story for Summer, she makes an unexpected discovery—one that restores some of her faith in this unique work of art and helps shine some light on a way forward for the Elm Creek Quilts community.
My thoughts:
This is the latest book in the Elm Creek Quilt series — book 23 in the series!! — and trust me, you don’t need to read these books in order…I have not. I’ve read a few and have really enjoyed them. Though I will admit, each time I do pick one up, it makes me wonder why I haven’t read more of them! I really do need to make these books a priority – each one I have read has been so good! I love the way the author weaves historical aspects into the story. This book takes us to 1933 to the Chicago World’s Fair, a time and event I have not read much about!
Audio thoughts:
Brilliantly narrated by Christina Moore, who has narrated the entire series!
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WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE by Mary Alice Monroe
PUBLISHED: May 13, 2025, William Morrow / Harper Audio
Summary:
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe comes her highly anticipated Where the Rivers Merge, the first of two epic and triumphant novels celebrating one intrepid woman’s life across multiple generations in the American South.
1908: The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. A free spirit, she refuses to be confined by societal norms and spends her days exploring the vast property, observing wildlife, and riding horses. But the Great War, coastal storms, and family turmoil bring unexpected challenges to Eliza, putting her on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era.
1988: At 88, Eliza is the scion of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She’s fought a lifetime to save her beloved Mayfield and is too independent and committed to quietly retire and leave the fate of the estate to her greedy son. She must make decisions that will assure the future of the land and her family—or watch them both be split apart.
Set against the evocative landscape of the twentieth-century Lowcountry, Where the Rivers Merge is a dramatic and sweeping multigenerational family story of unyielding love, lessons learned, profound sacrifices, and the indomitable spirit of a woman determined to persevere in the face of change in order to protect her family legacy and the land she loves.
My thoughts:
I’ve been reading this author for a long time and loved her 1st foray into historical fiction. The issues she tackled here – conservation and love of land – as well as the generational family saga have me itching for the second book in this duology ASAP! I fell deeply in love with these characters and cannot wait to reunite with them soon. The author’s love of the American South comes through quite clearly here and I am so eager to see what happens with the next installment. This book is equal parts educational and powerful and one I just know I’ll be rereading and recommending!
Audio thoughts:
Narrated by Jenna Lamia and Cassandra Campbell with the author reading the author’s note. The narrators do a fantastic job voicing the characters and I hope if it’s appropriate, they are back for book 2.
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THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD BEACH & BOOK CLUB by Martha Hall Kelly
PUBLISHED: May 27, 2025
Summary:
Two sisters living on Martha’s Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club for women in this spectacular novel inspired by true events, from the New York Timesbestselling author of Lilac Girls.
“A dreamy beach book that also sizzles with tension . . . another winner by one of the best historical fiction writers around.”—Fiona Davis, author of The Stolen Queen
2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.
1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before it’s too late?
My thoughts:
I’ve now read everything this author has written, and she is absolutely a must-read when it comes to HF. I did not know much about Martha’s Vineyard in relation to the war before picking this book up. A little mystery, a little romance and a lot of history…so good! I even loved the nods to the early days of publishing!
Don’t be fooled by this light and breezy cover, this book is a bit heavier than the cover might lead you to believe. Even though we don’t see a battlefield, this is a WWII story and we see the impact this war has on our characters. This is the type of story I love, the type of war book I have really come to love and the author does such an amazing job getting that point across.
If you are looking for a good book to sink your teeth into, one that is just a little different than the war story you’ve read before, this is the one to pick up!
Audio thoughts:
A full-cast narration, which fit the book perfectly. The narrators – Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Imani Jade Powers and EJ Lavery, with the author voicing the author’s note – were all amazing!!
Have you read any of these books or do you plan to?
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