During World War II, Hazel Francis from Wichita, Kansas, heads to California to find a job that would contribute to the war effort in Nicola Harrison’s latest historical fiction Hotel Laguna due out June 20. Hazel becomes one of the “Rosie the Riveters” at Douglas Aircraft until the end of the war brings the end of her job with men returning to their places constructing airplanes. Sad because she really enjoyed her job, she hopes that some day she will once again be working on airplanes, perhaps maybe learning to fly them.

Hazel stays behind in California, winding up in the small town of Laguna Beach, home to an art crowd. She becomes an assistant to the famous artist Hanson Radcliff, a job that can mean anything from posing nude to running errands to working in a gallery he supports. Cantankerous Radcliff is beloved by the town because of his contributions to the art scene even though he lives with the anguish of a disgrace that occurred earlier in his life.

While her boss gives her constant grief, the community embraces Hazel who represents Radcliff at community meetings, finding herself becoming a key player in Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters, an actual event in which “classical and contemporary works of art are transformed by real people through costumes, makeup, headdresses, lighting, props, and backgrounds.” The annual pageant was started in 1933 interrupted only by World War II and the Covid pandemic.

As Hazel becomes more involved with the artist and the mysterious incident that keeps him home except for regular visits to the bar at Hotel Laguna, she turns to the library to find articles from 35 years ago that might shed more light on the scandal that has crippled him emotionally and driven him to drink . She learns that Radcliff had been the personal artist for fictional actress Isabella Rose, and when she died under mysterious circumstances, he and his shocking portrait of Isabella disappeared.

Was it possible that Radcliff had something to do with his benefactor’s death? Where was the famous painting that no one had seen since 1910? What can Hazel do to help her employer find peace in his declining years?

Nicola Harrison’s first book of historical fiction, Montauk, in 2019 was inspired by the many summers she visited there, and I found it to be a beautiful debut novel. A Hampshire, England, native, Harrison moved to California as a teenager and studied literature at UCLA. After spending 17 years in NYC in the magazine publishing field, she returned to California where she settled with her family.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting June 6, 2023.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

Hazel is a character with flaws which I really appreciated (I don’t care for characters who are perfect) but I found the story lacking depth. It felt like I was waiting the whole time for the story to begin. I had expected more. The ending felt rushed and everything that were resolved were too neatly.

The best part are the descriptions of Laguna Beach. I’m such an armchair traveler when I read books with settings in inspiring locations… I just want to book my plane ticket 😂

In Laguna Beach by Nicola Harrison, we are first introduced to Hazel Francis. When a misunderstanding in her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, causes Hazel to decide to leave, she answers an ad for workers in an aircraft plant in California. Soon Hazel finds herself in Los Angeles helping with the war effort. After the war when the ladies of the plant are let go, she finds her way to Laguna Beach where her adventures begin. Hazel needs to work so again; she answers an ad. Enter Hanson Radcliff. Mr. Radcliff needs an assistant. He is a well know artist, who is a recluse with a deep secret. Hanson has a reputation as a curmudgeon, hard to please and even harder to like. Hazel takes the job and soon a great friendship develops between Hazel and Hanson. They help each find answers to questions in their lives. Hazel is looking for stability and love. Hanson is looking to put to rest a rumor that he was responsible for someone’s death. Together they embark on a journey of self-discovery and understanding. They discover a true friendship and caring for each other in a way that is foreign to both. Along the way, there is a mystery to solve and many characters who help and hinder the journey of Hazel and Hanson. A good book. I enjoyed it very much.

I’m not sure what got into me, or if I just unlocked something I’ve never known about myself, but I am becoming a huge historical fiction fan and this book hit just the right spot! 😍 It’s a perfect read for a hot summer day, best read by the beach or pool, or sprinkler because my husband refuses to get a pool that would take away his beautiful lawn 🙄

After soldiers returned from WWII, women workers were forced to give back the “man’s work” and return to the homes. Women except for Hazel Francis, who made her way to Laguna Beach to find a woman’s place in a man’s world. Finding work with a local renowned artist with a secret past of his own, she finds herself torn between her love of airplanes or trading it for a world of paintbrushes and art shows. 🖼️

I completely escaped into this one. Picturing the beautiful beach and small town of Laguna in 1946. Getting lost in Hazel’s world was a dream. About halfway, maybe a bit before, a mystery starts to develop that really drew my interest. Between Hazel finding her way and discovering secrets from the past, I did not want it to end!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review! Full review on my IG @manis.and.manuscripts prior to pub day!

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison

Hazel Francis has had some hard times. At nineteen, with both parents dead, she gets herself in a bind, gets herself out of the bind by fleeing, but has deep regrets for her words and actions. Her good luck is that she finds a job at Douglas Aircraft as one of the many “Rosie the Riveters”. Hazel excels at this work and is rewarded for her hard work by getting more aircraft work that challenges and satisfies her. While most of the women she works with look forward to getting back to their men, their families and their more traditional pre war lives, Hazel would love to keep on doing what she is doing and learning more skills. Alas, once the men come home, all the woman are told to go home and leave the men's work to the men. Now twenty four years old, about all Hazel can find is cleaning jobs or other "women's work", she has no where to go since she's a pariah in her hometown, and her money is running out fast.

By a stroke of good luck, Hazel ends up in Laguna Beach and is hired as an assistant by a famous grumpy artist, a man who is demanding one moment yet generous and entertaining the next. Walking on eggshells around this man seems like good idea but Hazel seems to put her foot in it constantly while working for this man. Often she goes home (a small room that comes with the job) wondering is she still has a job. Part of Hazel's job is helping with the Pageant of Arts and I spent a lot of time reading about the real thing and looking at amazing photographs of past festivals.

Hazel spends her spare time with handsome bartender, Jimmy. She even thinks there might be a future there until she finds out that isn't so. Having that friendship turn precarious and never knowing for sure if she's going to lose her assistant job, Hazel longs for her days in the aviation industry. She's determined not to be forced into a traditional women's mold but she's not sure what she can really do in the future.

Personally, I kept longing for the story to have spent most of its time during the days when Hazel was employed at Douglas Aircraft but that is all in the past by the time the book starts. What the women did during the war, taking of the industrial, high precision jobs of men, is so interesting to me. When it comes to art, the artworld, and artists, I can't help my mind wandering and that's what happened here for me. Hazel is so determined and persistent and I liked her a lot, she is a very admirable character. Jimmy is a catch if he was available to be caught and he makes for a great friend if feelings can get over being hurt. I'm very happy with how the story ends. 3.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

A post war story that includes the sense of found family in the midst of an acclaimed art world! It was wholesome and a bit healing at times.

This was a really interesting read but I felt like I didn’t feel overly connected with the characters which made it hard for me to love.

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 copy. All thoughts are my own.

I eat up any historical fiction set during WWII, so I jumped at the chance to read this. I thought Harrison did a wonderful job immersing you in the story. The setting was so vivid; I felt like I was watching it all play out like a movie in my head. I enjoyed following Hazel. She was tenacious, and I loved her determination to live on her terms. I liked her relationship with Hanson. It started rocky, but the respect and love that grew between them was so sweet. Hazel's romance with Jimmy didn't wow me, but I thought it was cute. There were also some moments where I thought the plot felt clunky, but overall I enjoyed this, and I think it would make a great summer read.

This book turned out to be something I had not expected. According to the cover, I was expecting a beachy, fluffy story. Wrong! You cannot judge a book by its cover. (though it's something I often do!) It is a truly interesting historical novel.

Hazel Francis is a young woman who works at the Douglas Aircraft plant during the war. When the war ends, she is jobless and goes to California, hoping to find a life and a purpose for herself. She ends up in an artist community, working for a crusty old artist as an assistant/model.

I love the setting, it exists. The town is full of quirky characters. Hazel soon finds her place in the town. The artist she works with, Hanson, comes complete with an interesting backstory. I learned about The Pageant of Masters. It is an “art festival” where the townspeople recreate famous paintings with real people. It still happens to this day, going on for 90 years!

The plot is a bit of a slow burner but it is interesting. I like watching the relationship between Hazel and Hanson evolve. There is a bit of a mystery, which unravels throughout. There is a small Hollywood element. It all comes together nicely. It's an even balance between a character-driven and plot-driven tale.

I have mentioned many times, I love historical novels for the fact that I always learn something. Rather than learning by reading historical facts, it's learning by storyline. This book does not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Hotel Laguna tells the story of a brave young woman looking to make a fresh start in Laguna Beach after working in an airplane factory during WWII. Once there, she secures a job as an assistant to a well known artist setting her life on an interesting ride.

This book had a really fun set of characters. The plot was strong and the writing was so vividly descriptive you felt as if you were on the beach right along side them. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last.

This was on the lighter side of historical fiction so I think it will appeal to more readers. If you’re not into historical fiction, just know you are still in for some humour, interesting friendships and of course, a little romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It was somewhat predictable, but I didn't mind. Like the main character, I'm from Kansas and ended up in California. I'm very familiar with Laguna Beach which made the story that much more enjoyable for me. I could easily visualize all the places as they were described and it was interesting to 'see' the town in 1946.

This is a great beach read!

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 historical fiction book. This was a total page turner for me. I was so engaged in Hazel and Hanson that I didn't want to put the book down once I started reading. Hazel is working at an airplane manufacturing company, as she wanted to make an impact with the war effort. When the war ends and the men return home she ends up out of a job. She ends up in Laguna Beach, California. A small town and a community of artists. She is determined to find a job to make money.
She gets a job with a local artist as his assistant.
Hazel is strong and definitely has a mind of her own, although she starts to rethink her ideas about love and art.
History, friendship, mystery, romance.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

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.
This novel is due out June 20, 2023

I did not enjoy this book at all, I barely finished it because it dragged on in my opinion. It made numerous references to the main character's body and what she looked like compared to others. That was only a part of the things I did not enjoy, but I couldn't list the rest as there are many.
However, I will say that this has an interesting plot and recommend it to people who love good historical fiction about women and their roles after WWII. I will say this though the main character is insufferable.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: June 20, 2023

Rating: 3.5 stars

I was really torn with how I wanted to rate this. This is my first book by Harrison and it won't be my last. I loved her writing because I felt that I could easily slip into the past with how she described things. I enjoyed that it didn't focus solely on WW2 but focused on life after the war. I found that Hazel was before her time but found myself rooting for her as a fellow woman.

The biggest thing that I disliked is that around the 30% mark of the book, it started to drag and go in circles. I wish there was more to the plot or more about the "Rosie the Riveters".

Overall, perfect for fans of historical fiction, woman's fiction, beach reads, character driven stories, limited plot

DNF'd at 9% -- I struggled to connect with this story due to stilted language and didn't have enough patience to keep pushing through to see if it got better. Here's hoping this book finds its audience, which does not include me.

This was a good take on a historical fiction book. I loved the setting and time period and admired the courage of women like the main character.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book.

In 1942, Hazel Francis leaves Kansas for California to do her part in the war effort. When the war is over, all female employees are released from their positions. Unable to go home for various reasons, she heads to Laguna Beach, a place she heard others speak so fondly of. With nowhere to go and no way to earn a living, she is introduced to artist Hanson Radcliff and begins working as his model and assistant. As Radcliffe ends his life, Hazel does all she can to fulfill his last wishes.

I enjoyed this story and the neat way it ended. Hazel was relatable as she was always concerned about her next step. She, like other girls of the era, felt the guilt of dating a boy who was going away to war only to break his heart. Hazel fit into the Laguna Beach crowd seamlessly and it was fun to watch her get to know herself. Nicola Harrison always tells a complete story that leaves no unfinished endings - there is always a resolution. It is always nice to see side characters fully developed with backstories and personalities of their own. I will always be up to reading any novel Nicola Harrison writes.

During WWII women were called to work and help the men across the seas, Rosie Riveter and support the war effort. At the end of the war women were again displaced by men returning home from the war and expected to go back to fulfill the woman role in the home. Many could not do this and looked for something else to fulfill that feeling of becoming something more. This novel follows Hazel on her journey from helping to becoming something more for herself in the world. Hazel Francis finds herself at loose ends, when she loses her job building airplanes, as WWII comes to an end. Out of work and with no family to return to, she makes her way to Laguna Beach and finds a job with an elderly broken artist. She has to learn to deal with his eccentric personality, but finds comfort in the people she meets in the small beach town. As she slowly learns his story, she tries to help this broken man and finds it very difficult not to feel affection with him. She’s young a naïve and gets herself into more than one mess, but slowly adapts to the lifestyle and involves herself in the community, falling for a local young man, Jimmy. Really enjoyed the characters, setting and the role of Hazel in going after what she wants.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher.