Title: Liberty Island Author: Virginia Hume Publication Date: May 5, 2026 Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Format Read: Kindle e-ARC Genre: Historical Fiction
I love historical fiction, especially from a woman’s perspective, so when I read the synopsis for Liberty Island by Virginia Hume, I knew I’d found something I’d enjoy. I was right.
The story centers on two narrators: Anna in 1900 and her niece Julia in 1922. These two characters were well chosen as the novel’s protagonists because they’re quite similar. Both reject convention and resist society’s expectations of them. They’re early feminists, if you will. Much of Anna’s story is spent watching her niece and her niece’s friends, all girls, play on Liberty Island with the absolute freedom they cannot experience anywhere else because of society’s expectations of how girls should be raised and behave. Things have progressed somewhat by the time Julia is narrating, but women are still fighting for equal rights. In her attempt to do what she believes is right for herself and the suffragette movement, Julia slowly alienates her family. One young woman becomes a catalyst for mending fractured relationships in both timelines.
Several themes can be found within the pages of this family’s story. Those that resonated most with me were women’s independence and self-determination, the tension between tradition and progress, forgiveness and reconciliation, idealism versus reality, and, most strongly, the danger of misjudging others. Certain characters initially seemed dreadful, but as their motivations and perspectives came to light, I found myself understanding, and even admiring, the inner fortitude behind their choices.
Hume’s greatest strength in this novel is her characterization, even though I occasionally grew frustrated with the characters. Let me be clear, though: it wasn’t because they were poorly written. In fact, it was because they were written so authentically for the time period that I wanted to tear apart the seams of the society that confined them to what was considered acceptable behavior. They were well-rounded, three-dimensional people who felt relatable and whose motivations always made sense. Most of the supporting cast was also well developed, although two characters, in particular, shone most brightly. There were, however, a couple who felt more one-dimensional.
This isn’t a thriller or a sweeping romance, so it felt slow at times, especially in the beginning. Hume’s writing, however, is historically immersive and polished, and it gradually drew me in until I realized I was deeply invested in Anna and Julia’s journeys. The prose is elegant but not ornate, character-driven, with relationships taking precedence over plot twists, and emotionally nuanced, trusting readers to infer feelings instead of spelling them out.
Liberty Island dug its claws into me, gently at first, until I realized I couldn’t pull myself away. It’s a lovely story that succeeds in transporting readers to the beginning of the twentieth century, but it’s best suited for those who prefer character-driven stories over suspense and intrigue. If you enjoy Kristin Hannah, Patti Callahan Henry, Beatriz Williams, or Martha Hall Kelly, I think there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Liberty Island too.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓½ — Slow burn, strong payoff
Click here to learn more about Liberty Island and Virginia Hume.
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