The Allure of Martha's Vineyard: Inspiration Behind My Summer Novel Setting

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.

There’s something about Martha’s Vineyard that lingers in your soul long after the ferry pulls away. The salt air clings to your skin, and the sound of gulls and waves becomes a kind of heartbeat. That’s why I chose it—not just as a setting, but as a character in its own right.

This summer novel is a story of first love, broken trust, and a long-buried secret. And for a story like that, I needed a place that felt both intimate and isolating. A place where your past can walk right up to you at the farmer’s market or stare you down across the dunes.

And on a small island like Martha’s Vineyard, you can’t hide for long.

"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

The three best friends at the heart of this novel—Willow, Grayson, and Tyler—grew up on the island. For them, it was a playground of bonfires on the beach, lazy horseback rides, and secret midnight swims. But the Vineyard, like life, changes with age.

As adults, returning feels different. What was once carefree now feels haunted. The island holds their happiest memories—but also the one night that fractured everything.

And that duality is exactly 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 tucked into the rolling green heart of the island, where summer air smells like hay and ocean mist. It’s beautiful. Peaceful. Until it isn’t.

When a fire broke out the night of prom during a fight no one’s talked about in 8 years—it changed everything. For Willow, coming back to that same barn after her father’s recent accident meant more than just stepping in to help run the farm—it meant facing the guilt she’s carried ever since that night.

The blame on herself that she'd never been able to let go. . .

A story like this needed a place that felt personal. Where the past lives in every breeze, every trail, every shadow of a memory. For Willow, that place was Martha’s Vineyard. It’s where she first fell in love, where she felt most herself… and where everything shattered. Coming back wasn’t just about helping her dad after his accident—it meant stepping into the very place she’d spent eight years trying to forget.

"Time slowed with each passing minute, reminding her of all the wonderous 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 are funny like that. They trap you and free you in equal measure. You can drive across Martha’s Vineyard in under an hour, but for Willow, every short mile held a memory. It’s stitched into the roads, the shoreline, the barn she swore she’d never see again. On this small island, the past isn’t far behind. . . making it the perfect place for this story.

Coming home doesn’t just mean returning—it means remembering everything she'd tried to leave behind.

For Grayson and Tyler, the island is home, but it’s also the keeper of a secret neither has ever spoken aloud. . .

"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 isn’t just a backdrop—it amplifies every part of the story:

• The romantic tension between Willow and Grayson simmers under summer sunsets and ocean breezes.

• The family drama feels more raw on a small island where everyone knows each other.

• The secret at the heart of the novel grows heavier with every tide that comes in and out, as if the island itself is keeping it quiet.

And at the end of the day, when all the truths come crashing down like a summer storm, the Vineyard is still there—salt-worn, resilient, familiar. Just like the characters.

Island Scavenger Hunt

Many of the places in this story aren’t just fictional backdrops. They’re inspired by real spots across Martha’s Vineyard that you can actually visit. In this summer novel, they’ve been renamed to fit the world of the characters, but their spirit is very much drawn from the island’s most beloved places. Can you spot them in the book?

• Great Rock Bight Preserve – The secluded cove where the trio spent endless summers diving off the rocks—and where Grayson and Willow shared their first kiss.

• Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair – Full of color, laughter, and memories. It’s where Willow realizes how much she missed during her eight years away—and how her family (and maybe even Grayson) never truly left her side.

• The Gingerbread Cottages – Charming and full of whimsy, these become a highlight on Willow and Ivy’s island tour.

• Island Trolley Tour – Ivy begs for it, Willow pretends to hate it—but together, they rediscover the magic of the island.

• Gay Head Lighthouse – Windy, wild, and breathtaking. This is where Grayson finally brings Willow to reveal the truth he’s carried alone for far too long.

• The Seafood Shanty – A cozy lunch spot overlooking the harbor, where Ivy gives Willow the push she needs to stop running from the past—and from love.

• Cape & Vineyard Helicopter Tour – A stunning moment of clarity in the sky, when Willow and Grayson fly back to the island together, ready to begin again.

• Arrowhead Farm – Renamed in the book, but unmistakably the heart of Willow’s story. It’s where she grew up, where the fire happened, and where she must return to take care of her father—and finally, herself.

These places may be fictionalized in the novel, but their inspiration is real and visitable. Can you match them all as you read?

Great Rock Bight Preserve

Final Thoughts

I chose Martha’s Vineyard because it represents everything this book is about: beauty and sorrow, closeness and isolation, nostalgia and healing.

And I hope readers will feel the pull of the island just like my characters do… long after the final page.

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