Salt Air, Secrets & Second Chances: Why Martha’s Vineyard Was the Only Place This Story Could Happen

Some stories need an island. This summer novel is one of those.

Martha’s Vineyard leaves a lasting impression. The salt air clings to your skin while you feel at home. This unique atmosphere is why I chose it—not just as a backdrop, but as a character in its own right.

This summer novel centers on first love, broken trust, and a long-buried secret. To tell this story effectively, I required a space that felt both intimate and isolating. A place where your past can confront you unexpectedly—be it at the farmer’s market or across the dunes in the evening light.

On a small island like Martha’s Vineyard, evading your history is nearly impossible.

"After driving off the ferry and rolling down her windows, Willow was enveloped by the salty air. Living by the water in Mystic didn’t hold the same vibe, one that instantly made her homesick as she soaked in the Vineyard’s presence. She was home." -Where It All Began

Childhood Magic Meets Adult Realities

At the heart of this novel lies the connection between three best friends—Willow, Grayson, and Tyler. They grew up on the island. To them, Martha's Vineyard was once a playground. Images of bonfires, beach days, and midnight swims envelop their memories. However, years have a way of changing things.

As adults, their feelings about returning home shift dramatically. What was once a carefree environment now feels shadowed. The Vineyard holds their happiest memories but also that fateful night that shattered their friendship.

This duality is precisely why I chose it.

"But a cloud hung over all those memories, since Tyler and Grayson had been a part of so many of them." -Where It All Began

The Farm, The Fire & The Fallout

Willow’s family horse farm is nestled in the green heart of the island. The summer air carries the scents of hay and ocean mist. It seems serene and beautiful—until everything changes.

A fire broke out the night of prom, during a fight no one has discussed in eight years. It shifted everything significantly. For Willow, returning to the familiar barn after her father's recent accident meant more than just stepping in to help run the farm. It meant confronting the guilt she'd carried ever since that night.

The burden of blame she could never let go…

This story needed a place that felt deeply personal. A location where the past vibrates in every breeze, every trail, and every shadow. For Willow, that site was Martha’s Vineyard. It’s where she fell in love, where she felt most alive, and where everything crumbled. Coming back wasn’t just a visit to help her dad; it was stepping into the location she had tried to forget for eight long years.

"Time slowed with each passing minute, reminding her of all the wondrous places she had loved so much growing up, giving her snapshots of her past. Her parents’ horse farm by one of the island’s salt ponds just down the road from the ocean had been nothing short of idyllic—floating between serene pastures and scenic shorelines, Willow had the best of both worlds." -Where It All Began

A Place You Can’t Escape… or Forget

Islands hold a peculiar power. They can trap you while simultaneously giving you freedom. You can traverse Martha’s Vineyard in under an hour. Yet, for Willow, every short mile echoes with memories. The roads, the shoreline, and the barn she vowed never to revisit all recall her past. On this small island, history remains close, making it the perfect stage for this story.

Returning home isn’t just about coming back; it’s about revisiting everything she'd tried to leave behind.

For Grayson and Tyler, the island is home, but it also guards a secret they have never spoken of.

"The gentle waves drifting in and out of the cove whispered secrets of their past and reminded her that their love had always been her rock guiding her toward a destiny she could no longer deny." -Where It All Began

Sneak Peek of Where It All Began! CLICK HERE to read on!

Why This Setting Matters

Martha’s Vineyard serves more than just as a backdrop—it elevates every facet of the story:

• The romantic tension between Willow and Grayson simmers under summer sunsets and gentle ocean breezes.
• Family drama feels more intense on a tight-knit island where everyone is connected.
• The heavy secret at the novel's core grows with each tide, as if the island itself is keeping it concealed.
  
  

When all the truths inevitably come crashing down like a summer storm, the Vineyard remains—salt-worn, resilient, and familiar. Just like the characters themselves.

Island Scavenger Hunt

Many locations in this story aren’t merely fictional settings. They are inspired by spots across Martha’s Vineyard that you can visit. In this summer novel, they have been renamed to fit the characters’ universe, but their essence draws from the island's cherished spots. Can you identify them in the book?

• Great Rock Bight Preserve – The secluded cove where the trio spent countless summers diving off the rocks—and where Grayson and Willow shared their first kiss.
• Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair – Filled with color, laughter, and memories. This is where Willow realizes how much time has passed during her eight years away—and how her family (and possibly even Grayson) remained by her side.
• The Gingerbread Cottages – Full of whimsy and charm, these become a highlight during Willow and Ivy’s island exploration.
• Island Trolley Tour – Ivy insists on it, Willow pretends to dislike it—but together, they rediscover the magic of the island.
• Gay Head Lighthouse – Wildly windy and breathtaking. Here, Grayson finally reveals the truth he’s been keeping in silence.
• The Seafood Shanty – A cozy lunch spot overlooking the harbor, where Ivy nudges Willow to stop avoiding her past—and love.
• Cape & Vineyard Helicopter Tour – A stunning moment of clarity in the sky, as Willow and Grayson return to the island together, prepared for a fresh start.
• Arrowhead Farm – Renamed in the book, yet it stands as the heart of Willow’s story. It’s where her childhood unfolded, where the fire occurred, and where she must return to care for her father—and, ultimately, herself.
  
  

These places may be fictionalized in the narrative, but their inspirations are real and can be visited. Can you identify them all as you read?

Great Rock Bight Preserve

Final Thoughts

I chose Martha’s Vineyard because it embodies everything this book represents: beauty and sorrow, connection and solitude, nostalgia and healing.

I hope readers will feel the island’s pull just as my characters do, long after turning the final page.

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