Susan Branch Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams Book Review

Susan Branch Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams Book Review will let you in on a cozy little secret.  The secret is that this book is absolutely amazing.

“Before Julia Child there was only onion dip.” ― Susan Branch

I originally got the book from the library…but I couldn’t return it because I loved it so much.  I knew I had to get my very own book to keep because it’s a work-of-art.  

Who is Susan Branch?

If you don’t know who Susan Branch is, you will be amazed by what you’ve been missing out on.  She’s simply a national treasure.  

Susan started out by writing cookbooks.  These aren’t your ordinary cookbooks.  Each page is beautifully illustrated.  All the illustrations in them were painted by her, and each page was HAND-LETTERED.  

Yes, you read that right.  Susan hand-lettered all the words in each cookbook before there were computers that took someone’s handwriting and made a font.

When she had to make a change to a page of the book, she would have to use white-out and write over it.  Susan Branch’s cookbooks are some of the most beautiful books you will ever own.

Susan Branch’s Heart of the Home Cookbook Series was an immediate hit and propelled her into creating other products based on her signature look.  

What’s New with Susan Branch:

I was so happy to hear she decided to write about her life.  Finally, she gives us a glimpse into her world and tells her story in stages.  

Susan Branch wrote three memoir books and, Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams is the middle volume.  I decided to profile this book because it was my favorite one of the three.  She also wrote The Fairy Tale Girl and A Fine Romance.  

Book #1 – The Fairy Tale Girl was written based on the diaries Susan Branch wrote in her early 20’s.  She was born and raised in California, and this memoir is set from the 1950s until the 1980s.  In that time she talks about her family, meeting the man she eventually marries, and the start of her recipe creating and art career.  

The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations, quotes and you get to know her family, friends and love interest like you were part of her history.  

Book #2 – Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams is the book I will be reviewing, and you will read my thoughts on it below.  

Book #3 – A Fine Romance is about Susan’s romance with her true love and takes you along on a two-month journey to explore the English countryside.  

She visits her artistic and literary hero’s homes, Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen.  This book is filled with photos, illustrations, and even a few recipes.  

You will probably want all three books.  I know I did.  I loved the books so much, I sent a copy to each person on my gift list that I knew would enjoy them as much as me.

If you like all things cozy, I have a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 1,500 like-minded souls.  It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug.  Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Here’s the Susan Branch Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams Book Review:  

If you’re looking for a cozy book that will transport you in a different world, then this is the book for you.  It’s absolute magic.  

The second book of the trilogy follows Susan Branch on an adventure that involves listening to her heart.  After experiencing heartache in the first book, Susan remembered a place that felt like home when she visited it years before.  

She wanted a two-month break from the world she grew up in and having the constant reminders everywhere she went that broke her heart.  Susan decided to spend two months on Martha’s Vineyard to heal and explore a different world.  

While riding with her realtor to look for a house to rent, the realtor stopped at a home that was going up for sale on the way.  On impulse, Susan bought the house.  No inspectors, no price comparisons and knowing no one in the area –  she changed her life forever in an instant.  

Susan walks you through creating a cozy cottage from a house that had seen better days with photos and illustrations.  

Living in California her entire life and never experiencing the seasons, she gives you a glimpse of what it’s like to live on an island and embrace every season for better or worse.  

Her love for Martha’s Vineyard shines through every page, and you find yourself cheering her on as she rebuilds her life one step at a time.  

Here’s a peek inside the book…

What I loved most about this book is how she used her talents to create a career that she loved and how each step of the way unfolded.  

The only sad part of getting this book is that eventually, you will finish it.  If you are anything like me, you never want it to end.  

If you’re looking for encouragement to start over and change your life, this book is the perfect way to find your wings and fly.  It’s the perfect book to get lost in on a rainy day.  

You can follow Susan Branch on Instagram here

To follow Susan Branch on Facebook go here.  

We’ve reached the end of the Susan Branch Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams Book Review.  I hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know in the comments below if you read any of her books in this series and how you liked them.  

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