A historical fiction novel set in 1942 California. Hazel Francis moves to California and takes a job working on the aircrafts. During that time period these women were called "Rosie the Riveters". I never heard anything about the women who worked on planes during the war and it was really interesting learning about them. After the war Hazel stays in California and settles in the Bohemian town of Laguna Beach, working for an artist with a haunted past. I really loved the history, the setting, and learning about this time period. This was the perfect summer read I needed. I really enjoyed it. I've loved all the books by this author so far.

Nicola Harrison's Hotel Laguna transports readers to the vibrant and bohemian town of Laguna Beach during WWII. This book covers the role of women during the war and what happens when the soldiers come home. It's a unique look at an era oft covered in historical fiction.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you to Nicola Harrison and her team for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved every second of it and will read whatever this author publishes!

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison. Pub Date: June 20, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. In this book, the reader is transported to the beaches of Laguna during post WWII. Hazel moved here during the war to help with the war effort, but when the men returned home she was expected to go back to being a homemaker. In defiance, she stayed in California and paved her own path. I loved the growth of this character, the art scene and the beautiful imagery of this time period and place. She was able to stand up for what she wanted and overcome fears. I really enjoyed this novel. Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel. I have not read many books that take place in California after WW2. I think it was interesting and easy to read.

Hotel Laguna is an historical fiction surrounding a young girl, Hazel, from Kansas who leaves home to become a Rosie the Riveter type in California. What’s sad is that once the war is over and the men come back Hazel doesn’t want to stop. She loves her job and wants to keep doing it, but she’s told to go home and get married; to get on with her normal womanly life. I can’t imagine how many young women had this happen to them in real life.

Instead of going home to Kansas Hazel finds a job in the nearby town of Laguna Beach. It’s funny how this storyline mirrors how you can have the best laid plans and then life throws you a curveball and you keep rolling with the punches.

I enjoyed this one even if it didn’t always have the fastest moving plot line. I’d recommend it for regular historical fiction readers.

An entertaining story about a former Rosie the Riveter who heads to Latina Beach CA after the war looking for meaningful work.

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

the cover of this book is absolutely perfect for the story you will find inside. this story about a woman, Hazel, during WWII that decided to leave her life and do her part in the war efforts. i think this book is a very well done historical fiction piece with some romance. it's definitely a cute story, the only thing is it was a little slow for me and i could almost predict the way the story was going to go as i was reading it. still, a solid read!!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Nicola Harrison for this copy of Hotel Laguna. All opinions are my own and honest.

This book was definitely more than I was expecting! I put it off for longer than I want to admit, and I wish I had read it sooner. What a bingeable, fun story! I loved every minute of it, and the cover is absolutely stunning as well!

I really enjoyed the jump back in time, as I have not read a lot of historical fiction (other than historical romance), and I am pleased to say I found another author I would pick up off the shelf. I loved how this had a strong female lead, who went after what she wanted and worked incredibly hard to get there! Add in the unique mix of characters, and this story had my attention all the way through.

I switched between the ebook and audio, and thoroughly enjoyed both! Definitely recommend this read!!

Can Nicole Harrison do any wrong? Nope. Not in my book! I loved this book as much as her first. I am typically not a fan of different timelines throughout a book but this was the perfect balance. I found the character relatable and loved her relationships with the other characters in the story. I could also see this being a great movie because of the picturesque setting but also the author wrote in such a way that the characters came to life and I could see them vividly in my head. Hazel's self discovery was such an important part of the book but I loved her relationship with Hanson as well.

I loved the Hotel Laguna (and to be fair - all of Nicola Harrison’s other books too) and this just solidifies Harrison as a must purchase / must read author for me. This is the kind of author that will turn you into a historical fiction fan instantly.


5 stars! Cannot wait to read your next hit.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date 2023

First off let me just say that this cover is absolutely perfection!
Hotel Laguna is a descriptive historical fiction. I found it very easy to read and overall the ending was wrapped up nicely to satisfy me. Loved that there was a bit of romance and mystery included which kept the story interesting.

Another great read! This was a bit nostalgic and really kept my interest. Loved the stetting and characters. Overall very enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️
HOTEL LAGUNA
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: historical fiction
📖 278 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🪖🛩️🏖️🚬🎨♥️🛠️🍸💪🏼🖼️🎬✨

❤️𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲❤️

Thank you @stmartinspress @nicolaharrisonauthorfor the #gifted copy!

HOTEL LAGUNA is an enthralling historical fiction. I was instantly captivated. I love a good HF & am trying to prioritize them more this year ☺️.

It offers a unique perspective on WWII, which I always enjoy! It touched on what it was like for young soldiers & their families when they were called to war.

With vivid descriptions of the quaint town of Laguna & compelling supporting characters, it delves into themes of starting over, second chances, & found family, sprinkled with romance & mystery. I highly recommended!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ dual timeline & storylines
◽️ single POV
◽️ strong women
◽️ found family
◽️ art & scandal

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Hazel Francis, a former Rosie the Riveter, refuses to conform to traditional gender roles after WWII ends. Settling in Laguna Beach, she becomes an assistant to artist Hanson Radcliff, despite his troubled past. As she integrates into the community, Hazel finds unexpected love with Jimmy, a bartender, but she still dreams of working with airplanes. Balancing her aspirations with the newfound life in Laguna, Hazel grapples with the decision of where her heart truly lies.

Hazel became a “Rosie the Riveter” during the war, but now the war is over and she is looking for work in artsy, Laguna Beach. She accepts a job as the assistant to a well-known, cantankerous artist. This story is a little bit historical perspective, a little bit love story, and a little bit mystery. I loved the characters and watching Hazel come into her own. It also gave Stars Hollow’s Festival of Living Pictures vibes! Loved Montauk as well as the Show Girl, also by this author.

Loved the beautiful, sun soaked landscape that was painted of Southern California in this novel. Most WWII historical fiction novels I've read have told stories about women and the efforts they make to help as much as they can during the war, but rarely have I read a story about a woman who now needs to reconfigure her identity once the job she found and loved disappears. What a unique and layered story.

I loved this book and the insight into the lives of the girls and women that had to bridge the world of men during the war and what happened when their jobs were over. It was very well written and I loved that even though Hazel struggles to find her way, she uses what she can to help someone else. Great setting and characters.

The story is great for a beach read -- it has all the trappings of a beach setting and provides a mental landscape. I, personally, wanted more from this story. I was hoping for a fleshed-out story of an independent woman in the 50s, but the main character left me wanting more for her. Interactions between characters also felt forced or contrived. I really wanted to like this story -- it was my pick for book club this month, and I'm just not excited about it. I'll have to give her other book, Mauntauk, a try.

This was a fabulous story with great characters. So many features of a great historical fiction romance. I didn’t want it to end!

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison is an easy going, historical fiction novel with some romance, secrets and mystery too!

Hazel Francis leaves all she knows in Kansas for California to work at Douglas Aircraft after her fiancée heads off to War. After the War, she finds herself in Laguna Beach and begins working for a local artist, Hanson Radcliff. She finds herself enjoying the community, making friends and doing volunteer work in addition to working for Hanson. Hanson is a drinker with a secret in his past and she becomes determined to be a good assistant all while trying to dig into his past and uncover his secrets. However, Hazel has some secrets too!

I really enjoyed reading about the history of the women in the factories, Laguna Beach, Hotel Laguna, the artists communities and so much more. Although this book is a fictional novel, I love when I can read a book and take something away from it too!

I do not like reading or posting spoilers so I usually leave minimal, but summarized reviews. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy (ARC).