Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison is a treat! I love anything historical and lately have enjoyed reading about World War II from a woman's perspective. The main character is Hazel, a very independent and unusual woman for the times. The story takes us back and forth from Hazel's entry into the workforce of World War II to being thrust back into the role of a woman with no job security at the end of the war. But Hazel has no desire to become a housewife and mother. She enjoys what she does and wants to figure out how to continue being an independent woman and supporting herself. She ends up at beautiful Laguna Beach. With the cast of characters that brings such life to the story I think Laguna Beach is going to be a bestseller! Harrison interweaves true history of Laguna Beach and the women's workforce during World War II into the plot. Hazel gave us a true insight into Rosie the riveter and what it felt like to be a woman who was actually seen as something other than a second class citizen. On a fun side note I saw an article about artistic signs being painted in Laguna Beach currently. It was an effort to bring back the historical past of the area. The artist doing the paintings was actually Eve Plumb! That's right, Jan from the Brady Bunch!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

I absolutely loved this book. Five stars!!!
The author does an amazing job describing what happens with magical details. It keeps you intrigued and flipping the pages as fast as you can.

After enjoying reading the author's book Montauk, I was looking forward to diving into Hotel Laguna. Set in the early days of World War II, our main character is Hazel, a small-town girl, who leaves her midwestern home for the California coast to become a Rosie the Riveter to support the war effort. She finds that not only is she really good working on the warplanes but it's work that she really enjoys.

After the war ends and the men return to their jobs that the women were temporarily filling, Hazel finds herself jobless and homeless. She ends up in Laguna, California where she finds a friend and finds employment with a famous and very quirky artist, who has a very colorful and mysterious past. In this book, Hazel slowly finds her place in Laguna and finds herself.
I found Hotel Laguna to be equally compelling as I did the book Montauk. I was able to sit down and read the book in a couple of days because it pulled me right in and I wanted to keep reading it until the end.

When WWII ends, Hazel loses her job constructing bombers for the military. She has a hard time finding a job, always being told to get married, have babies. She ends up in Laguna Beach, CA, working for an eccentric artist, but not just being his assistant, as she thought...

This book made me forger everything and I got absorbed into the story. Oh it was so good. I would give it 6 stars if I could.
I just reviewed Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison. #HotelLaguna #NetGalley
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I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this title. I've read a lot of WWII / historical fiction books before, but this was unique in that it focused on the aftermath of the war. It takes place in bohemian southern California and the author does a great job of describing the times and setting the scene. Hazel is a strong feminine heroine & we get to watch her come of age. It's on the lighter side of a WWII book. I highly recommend!

I'll be posting this review to Goodreads & Instagram.

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison
1942 and we find Hazel leaving her Kansas town and heading to CA. She not only saw her boyfriend off to fight in the war but she's looking for a job that will aide them getting back to the states.
She finds a job as riveter in the airplane factories and she feels a great part of all that happens. When the boys do return the women are out of jobs and she heads to Laguna where she is able to get a job as an artist assistant.
She becomes more than an assistant and learns so much of the industry. Appreciate the work done at the shows and getting ready for the artists displays. So many celebratities and like how she falls into the sea to find peace.
Medical issues occur and she heads back to the factory and knows she's made a mistake. She returns in time for the contribute to the artist and all he meant to the community and knows where she's at is really home.
So emotional as she becomes a young woman and then heads west to contribute to the war efforts. She seems so carefree and a wandering spirit...
Like the descriptions and there are not many characters. Easy to keep track of them all as their lives mesh together.
Received this review copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#HotelLaguna #NetGalley.

Having been to Laguna Beach, I could really feel the artist vibes in the book. I enjoyed the story but didn’t really connect with Hazel or any of the characters the same as I did with those in Montauk. It was a good read with a suspense regarding a painting and a twist around its whereabouts. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I really enjoyed it! I love anything WWII related so I fell into this story easily and it was a quick read for me. Hazel was a good character to follow and I enjoyed the setting which was so different than most novels focused on this time period. . The author did a wonderful job making me as a reader feel like I was in another time and it makes me want to travel to present day as well as back in time to post WWII Laguna Beach.!

I really loved Montauk by this author so I knew I had to read this one. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. On the lighter side for a WW2 historical fiction book.

Hazel Francis is from Wichita Kansas and decides to head off to California during WW2 to join other women in the workforce while the men are away at war. When the men return, she must find work, and decides to stay in Laguna Beach,California. I enjoyed following Hazel as she navigated her life. I really thought the author did a fantastic job describing the setting of Laguna Beach and I truly felt transported. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the characters as well. A nice story. This would make a great beach read.

Out June 20.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. I will post my review on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon after it publishes.

Quick, fast read. Unique setting and plot for WW2 fiction. I did enjoy the story and for the most part it kept me reading. Did lag a little bit toward the end. Characters were likeable but a little poorly developed. I did enjoy it and would recommend I’d someone is looking for a light easy read.

I enjoyed this book. I was intrigued by the storyline and found myself unable to put this book down once I got into the story. I loved the light romance and the growth of the characters in the story.

Hotel Laguna is a fabulous story about a young girl, Hazel who moved to California during WWII to work on airplanes during the war. Oh how I loved Hazel and how she went after what she wanted and she would not take no for an answer! After the war was over, they did away with her job so she found a job with an older man who was a famous painter and he made her his assistant. I loved everything about this historical fiction!!! This is a favorite of 2023 and I look forward to more books by this author. She’s fantastic! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 2023. Highly recommend!

Laguna Beach, CA 1942. Nicola Harrison sets the scene of this fun beach read by using vivid imagery.
It’s right after WW2 ends and the country is feeling a major transition as everyone struggles to return to their old roles, or find new ones. We follow the young woman character, Hazel, as she learns who she wants to be. Along the way, she becomes the assistant to a famous local painter.
The descriptions of the scenes and paintings make you feel as if you are there. It is easy to picture peaceful Laguna Beach in 1942 and it is almost as if we are watching Hanson Radcliff paint his pictures ourselves.
I highly recommend this book along with other books written by Nicola Harrison.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Nicola Harrison for the ARC.

Hotel 🏨 Laguna by Nicola Harrison is an amazing historical story about love, learning a new job after the war and mystery. Read the story you will love it.

I loved The Show Girl by Harrison, so I had to jump at the opportunity to read her newest upcoming title and it didn't disappoint.

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison has written a beautiful, detailed novel that I found so hard to get away from.
The setting of Laguna Beach, California and the time period was described so beautifully.
The pages just come to life with her amazig characters and brilliant storytelling.
Hazel, I loved her. She is strong, independent and determined.
The descriptions of the WWII in 1942 was fascinating and intriguing.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and enjoyed taking this journey into another world.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a really good book. I do think there were parts that didn’t add anything to the plot. But over all I really good historical fiction novel.

Hotel Laguna is the story of Hazel Francis, a young woman from Wichita, Kansas. Longing for a change in her current situation, Hazel takes a chance and sets out for California to take her place among other women working in an airplane factory during WWII. Once the men return home, and their jobs are returned to them, Hazel again sets out to find her way, with only herself to count on. Hotel Laguna is a great story of perseverance, friendship, and determination. The way Nicola Harrison balances a historical fiction story while making her characters feel understood and relevant in current times is one of the reasons she is a favorite author of mine. Hazel is a young woman finding her way in often uncertain situations, and her flawed history to me is a reason to fall in love with her story. The beautiful setting of Laguna Beach, California, a mix of friendship, romance, and deceit are just a few more reasons I very much enjoyed this book. This is a perfect mix of historical fiction and a light beach read, and I loved it. Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book which is set to be released June 20th 2023, all opinions are my own.

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison is a great historical fiction that takes us to post-WWII in California.

I really enjoyed being transported to another place and time within history. Visiting California (Laguna) in the immediate post-war years was a treat. This is a locale and a time period that really could be explored more.

The author did a great job immersing the reader into the environment, the social attitudes, and the surroundings.

Hazel Francis was a joy to follow. Being a midwest transport to the west coast, and seeing her navigate society, the times, and trying to find and balance her hopes, dreams, and her heart amongst the obstacles was the best part of the book.

It was well done.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St Martins Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/20/23.

I have enjoyed Harrison’s earlier novels, but I found this a bit thinner than the others. The plot centers around Hazel, a woman who escapes her Kansas roots and fiancée during WW II to find a future in California. As tge daughter of a Norden Bombsite worker, I was fascinated by Hazel’s job building planes. I also was interested in the difficulties faced by single women when the soldiers returned.

After the war Hazel drifts to the art colony of Laguna Beach where she becomes an assistant to an eccentric artist. She finds a place in the community and makes friends. The author filled this part of the book with too much information about artists and events, that don’t move the plot along.

I felt this devolved into a simplistic romance at the end. Too many happy coincidences.

This is a nice, enjoyable read, but not the great novel that Harrison produced in the past.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC from a favorite author.