Wonderful historical novel mostly set at the end of the world war. The main character is grappling with losing her war time job and society’s idea of what a women should do. The setting is perfect for summer reading.

This book was wonderfully enjoyable, transporting me to Laguna Beach and into a story with rich characters to care about. The way the story meanders through various plot lines had me engaged and wanting more. I definitely would recommend this novel, even if it’s not something I’ll be thinking about for years to come. It’s interesting and really weaves together romance, mystery, and history seamlessly.

During WWII, Hazel worked in a factory building airplanes. Once the war was over, she no longer had a job. Alone in the world, she finds herself in Laguna Beach, where she takes a job as an assistant to a famous artist. She quickly finds a community in Laguna Beach. As life throws her challenges, she learns that her new town is full of people who are willing to help.

These are always the hardest reviews to write- the one where I can basically only describe my feelings as "meh". I can't put my feeling on what kept me from loving it. It just was very okay for me. Maybe part of it was that I found it very predictable.

The audiobook is narrated by Carlotta Brentan. No complaints about the narration.

I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book. It took me a second because it flashed to the past and then future for a little bit but then I understand what was happening and when. I love the relationships between the characters. I also enjoyed the entire story line. The ending made me so happy and a little sad. This story was well told and I loved every bit of it.

Absolutely lovely read. A wonderful mix of great characters, history and the art world. Will recommend this to my book club!

Hotel Laguna does a wonderful job of showcasing the unfortunate ways Americans treated women after the men came home from WWII. I enjoyed reading about Hazel's story, from building planes in WWII to working in the art world after the war. It's a shame that women were so easily replaced after their hard work to keep the military, and the country, moving, but I was glad to see Hazel land on her feet.

I received an advance audio copy. All thoughts are my own.

I picked up Hotel Laguna because I had not read a “Rosie the Riveter” story yet and so I was interested in this historical perspective. The main character, Hazel is a somewhat adrift young woman during WWII who finds her purpose when the men leave and she is allowed to work in the factories. However, when the men come home, her new freedom is shut down and she is expected to go back to the pre-war ways and find herself a nice husband and start a family. Instead, she finds the artist community of Laguna Beach, and a job posing for a famous artist.

I thought this was a fun historical fiction summer read; that being said – it is a beach read as the story, while thoroughly enjoyable, is a bit predictable. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narrator.

This is a 3.5 rating for me, but because it was fun to read it’s rounded up to a 4.

Thank you Netgalley and McMillian Audio for the chance to review

Another book where I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. It really shouldn’t be the case, but it seems like I’m playing Russian roulette on whether I’ll actually like a new book nowadays.

I liked the main character, Hazel, a lot. She was headstrong, independent, ambitious, and persevering. I like to think I saw myself in her, which helped me feel more engaged with the book.

I found the story interesting, but I wish there had been a little more character development with Jimmy. He was always there, but I don’t feel like I got enough of him to see the chemistry between him and Hazel blossom.

I thought what happened with Hanson was predictable, so there wasn’t any surprise for me with his character. I still think it a unique story, and I would certainly read more by this author.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I requested this book because I love Historical fiction and this book didn't disappoint.

This story revolves around Hazel Francis and her life after World War II. There are a lot of great characters in the book. I also loved the narrator. I would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who loves Historical Fiction.

3.5 stars
Leaving her small town in Kansas, Hazel Francis wanted to find her way in California after losing her riveter job after the war ended. She winds up in Laguna Beach, where fate put into the employ of a famous artist Harrison Radcliff, who has a deep secret hanging over his head. There she meets Jimmy, a bartender and finds her heart is being tugged by love.

AS she and Harrison become closer, she learns his secret and becomes instrumental in clearing his name after Harrison passes away. Her dreams of working on aircraft disappears as her love deepens for Jimmy and the bucolic community she lives in.

A lovely ending brings this sweet book to a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Nicole Harrison, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ability to listen to this story, due out June 20, 2023.

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator is great - does a wonderful job of changing her voice subtly for the different characters. The story appealed to me partly because I'm from Kansas and now live 5 miles from Laguna Beach - interesting coincidences. Part of my enjoyment of the book was because I'm so familiar with Laguna Beach and could easily visualize everything as the story unfolded.

This is a great beach read!

This is the story of Hazel Francis, a young woman during WWII who left Kansas after her family died and she sold their home. She settled in Southern California, working as a riveter at Douglas Aircraft. The company provided meals an housing - and it was interesting that the women had to share beds with another woman who was on the opposite 12 hr shift. After the War ended, the women were all let go since the men returning home needed their jobs to support their families (and the women were expected to return home to housekeeping and babies).
This was not a possibility for Hazel and she drifted to Laguna Beach on with the hope of securing a job as an artist's assistant. Her employer, Hanson Radcliffe, was a dominate force in the Laguna Beach artist community, and supported his fellow artists and the city in it's various activities. This grumpy old man, offered some peace to Hazel in the midst of learning her new role as an assistant and model. Hanson was also an active participant in the annual Pageant of The Masters (which continues today), and assigns Hazel to take his place with the preparation.
Side stories in the novel include a romance and a mystery as Hazel tries to help a friend who's grandmother was a model for an unseen painting by Radcliffe. The mystery was engaging and I loved the way it was resolved.
This is definitely a beach read. The romance was predictable from the get go, and I found the characters a little too stereotypical. I'm not sure why the author chose to have alternate timelines in the first part of the book and I do not feel that it added to the story. It could have stood with a linear timeline. The narrator's voice was flat and I felt that she didn't understand what she was reading as there was a lot of hesitancy in the narration. I think the audio version would have been enhanced with the addition of a male narrator as well.
I received this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Macmillan audio. The opinions expressed are my own.

I liked Hazel's character and especially liked the parts where she worked on airplanes and how she wanted to be a working woman. When there is no longer a need for women riveters, she ends up in Laguna Beach. I also liked this part as she supported the famous artist Hanson Radcliff, and there is a bit of underlying mystery about his past. Hazel meets others along her journey, and this is an overall enjoyable book and great summer read! The narrator is fantastic for Hazel's voice and the storyline!

Hazel is working at an airplane manufacturing company when the war ends and the troops are coming home. With the men returning to work the women that have been working are sent on their way to go back home, bake, get married and have children. Afterall it is 1946 and women have no real reason to continue working. Except Hazel doesn't have a home to return to. She did have a companion that went to the war but unfortunately he didn’t make it back. With her life savings by her side Hazel sets out to leave Kansas and gain her footing in California.

Hazel quickly sees life in California is not like it was in Kansas. A job she is promised isn’t there when she arrives. Desperate to find work Hazel answers an ad for an assistant position. Hazel’s new boss is a grumpy, old man that was once a renowned artist, Hanson Radcliffe. Working for Hanson is challenging to say the least but with no other options Hazel is determined to make it work until something else arises.

This is an awesome Historical Fiction choice for summer reading. It was so well done as far as the plot, the characters and capturing how life was post war for many women. I adored Hazel, she was so beyond her time in her decisions and what she was yearning for.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

This was the first novel I’ve read by Nicola Harrison. And I have to say that I LOVED this book. In general, I enjoy books that are set in the 40’s, but this wasn’t my usual genre. So I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a negative review on this book about the sexism in the story but I was pleased that Harrison highlighted the sexism that women experienced in that era. During the war it became necessary for women to take on the jobs and roles that were usually held by men. We recognize that those jobs would be given back to men upon their return from fighting for their country. But we often fail to recognize that many women were also in need of jobs. It was assumed that the women would get married and have children and become housewives. It was also assumed that the women didn’t need the jobs but the men did. I loved that this story brought to light the situation of the mc being alone in the world and the homelessness that she experienced when women were no longer allowed to keep their jobs.
I also enjoyed the plot surrounding the art community. I have rarely seen that in the books I’ve read and added something new for me. Overall, I thought this was a great read with the interesting time period, characters, a bit of romance and some drama thrown in. Definitely 5 stars

Set in 1946 hazel is out of a job and no where to go now that the war has ended. When she over hears a couple of girls talking about a famou artist needing an assistant and hazel jumps at it! How ever being an assistant isn’t what she thought it was gonna be. As she digs in to the past she find a tragic history behind a famous panting painted by none other than her boss! In this story you find out the true alone with what becomes of your self when you let things happen

Thanks netgallery for my arc of this amazing story

This book was fantastic. I listened to the audiobook and really loved the narration. This book was the perfect amount of history, suspense, romance etc. It was so many different genres, all in one book. The arts themes were interesting but no too technical. This was a perfect summer read.

1942: Hazel Francis is wanting to make an impact with the war effort. Things don’t seem to be going her way until she leaves Kansas and ends up in Laguna Beach, California. The job entails 7 days a weekend is labor intensive, but Hazel is determined.
I love a book about a heroine and she moves forward after she is fired from her airplane factory work, when the men come home. She now must find a new direction. She ends up working as a model and assistant to a powerful man.
A wonderful story with a little bit of mystery, romance and Hazel finding herself. Its amazing how one can reinvent themselves in a world that they never dreamed of.
This was a fun novel with rich details. I have enjoyed all of Harrision’s books. I highly recommend this one as well as Montauk and The Show Girl.

Such an incredible and unique story. I was so eager to see what happened in the lives of these characters. I find myself wishing there was more of their story now that I’m done with the book. Such a feel good, uplifting read.

Hotel Laguna is a great story set during WWII during a time when women were working in the factories because the men were overseas. When the war ends Hazel finds herself out of her factory job and no where to go. She ends up in Laguna Beach working for a contagious famous artist.
You fall in love with Hazel and all of her mishaps along the way. She is so endearing.
This is the first book I have read by Nicola Harrison, but I hope not the last.
Thank you Netgalley and McMillian Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this historical fiction.