Hotel Laguna
Nicola Harrison

Wanting more than an average life in a small Kansas town, Hazel heads west to Los Angeles, where she finds work as a riveter, building planes for the war effort. Once World War 2 ends, she finds herself without a job but still determined to stay as far away from Kansas as possible. She finds herself in Laguna Beach, working as an assistant for a famous but reclusive artist with a sordid past.

In addition to the intriguing story line, I so appreciated the author’s ability to set a scene and make me feel completely immersed in the setting. Many times I found myself rereading sentences just to further appreciate their beauty.

Reading about post World War 2 brought on some post covid like vibes. While I imagine living in the time of covid was nothing like World War 2, both brought on a time when most normal experiences were suspended for a while and everything seemed different when life got back to normal.

I loved Harrison’s The Showgirl so I’m not surprised at all that I loved this one too!

I am a big historical fiction fan, and was looking forward to reading Hotel Laguna. Big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC to read and review.

Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed it, but wanted more from it: particularly more character development, more nuance, and more surprises in the plot. I liked our leading lady Hazel, but I feel like we really only went surface level with her.

There was a lot of potential, and while it was perfectly enjoyable, I wish it had been more robust.

When Hazel left Kansas she said she was going to help the war effort but really she was running from an unwanted fiancé and his family. Having lost her mother Hazel was alone in the world and after making an impulsive decision she then became the fiancé of Bobby because he was fighting the war in France she couldn’t bring herself to tell him getting married was actually the last thing she wanted to do and when she did it would be the last letter she sent because soon after he would be one of the many victims of World War II. After being her own version of Rosie the riveter are in LA she wants again spontaneously decides to go to Laguna Beach. She heard it was a beautiful town and when she arrives she sees that it is sitting at a lunch desk she hears two women talk about a failed interview and decides to pick up the piece of paper the girl left on the counter with the details. When she calls the number on the slip this is how she meets the ornory Mr. Hanson Radcliffe and how she stays at hotel Laguna and meets bartender Jimmy. This book is bittersweet but leaves you with a heartwarming feeling and a definite five star read. I love historical fiction and this was a great one and although I wasn’t Hazel‘s biggest fan I found her pretty impulsive but also pretty likable. I disagreed with a lot of hazel‘s decisions but ultimately I love this book it was so good and is the reason why I look forward to reading the authors books. This is a great book and one I highly recommend. I received this book from NetGalley and Saint Martin’s pressg but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

During World War II Hazel Francis leaves Kansas to move to California and work for an aircraft manufacturer on Wartime planes for the military. With most of the men fighting in the war ladies were called up to do the patriotic duty and work at the various plants. Remember the Rosie the Riveters?
Hazel does well she is a fast learner and moves up in the ranks when the war ends the ladies that carried the load while the men were away encouraged to return to their husbands, children and boyfriends. Hazel has no one to return to and she has lost her purpose and just wants to find another job. She finds herself in Laguna Beach with everything she owns in a suitcase. Sitting at a ice cream shop counter she finds a chance at the expense of another customer. She interviews for a personal assistant position for a Hansen Radcliff who just happens to be a famous artist. She finds that Hanson is gruff and cranky and a literal pain in the butt for the money is willing to pay it just might be worth it. Hazel finds out that this may not be just what she bargained for but overtime they grow on each other, and Hazel becomes more of the community. She also learns that Hanson may have some secrets that he wants to keep hidden and people who want to manipulate him. This was a good even read that had some mystery that built up to the end. I would definitely recommend this and rated it 4 out of 5 stars.

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison grabbed my attention during the first chapter. The story is about a young woman who is strong, smart, clever, patient , brave and kind. Hazel Francis leaves her midwestern home town to go to California. It is there she works building airplanes for the war effort. When the war ends, all the women are told to go home to their husbands and raise a family. The men are back and they need the jobs. With no job and very little money she strikes out for Laguna Beach. Through the kindness of a local bartender and a bit of karma she finds work with a temperamental ‘famous’ local painter. He hires Hazel as his assistant and gives her a place to call home.

Ms. Harrison creates characters that are rich, deep and memorable. Hazel is a strong independent woman who does not let her sex define what she will do with her life. The artist, Hanson, is depicted as an odd character who has past demons to deal with in the present day. Through the course of the story both characters unfold to the reader and to each other. They definitely grow on each other. There is certainly an eccentric cast of secondary characters as well.

The settings were wonderful. While I have never been to Laguna Beach, I could easily picture it in my mind and smell the sea air. You can hear the crash of the waves and see the sunset from the hotel.

This book was very well written. While this is my first book by Ms. Harrison, I can assure you, it won’t be my last. Captivating until the very end. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.

I would like to thank Ms. Harrison, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hazel cones to Laguna beach after the war ended along with her job making air planes. She falls into a job as an assistant to a famous artist. I liked Hazel and her determination to not fall into the typical female role. Her employer is a bit prickly and mysterious about a past painting. There’s a bit of a mystery and some romance in this well written book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I realize that much of this is reflective of the time period, but the main character's inner dialogue about her self and her worth really distracted from the overarching story being told here. The "Rosie the Riveter" storyline was a beautiful one and the honesty of finding her way after the war felt heartfelt, but her own self-perception harmed what was otherwise a wonderful novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Hotel Laguna brings the reality of women’s choices for employment after WWII ended to the forefront. Not wanting to return home, Helen finds herself in Laguna Beach with no job, no housing and no friends. Taking daring chances of safety, Helen applies for a job at the home of a stranger while sleeping on a lounge chair. What awaits her is an unkept, vulgar, old man whose suggestion has her running back to the safety of the hotel. After deciding to take a chance with the elderly artist anyway, many opportunities arrive but all is not sunshine and roses.

I switched between the book and audio while reading this book. I preferred the audio, as Carlotta Brenton did an excellent job in making the words come to life. I could picture this beach town and its residents perfectly even though I have never been there. The characters were full of depth and their layers were peeled back gradually as the story progressed.

I definitely recommend this book. It is easy to read and/or a great listen. I suggest it to all readers that like historical novels, women’s literature, fun and engrossing novels and, well, everyone else too.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This was an interesting novel mainly about the artist colony in Laguna Beach, CA, after the war.

I had never read about this environment before, and not much else about art and artists, but the characters definitely fit the stereotype I expected. Hanson, the reclusive artist who has hidden from society after being unfairly portrayed in a tragedy. Edgar, ladies man and evil villain extraordinaire. Jimmy, sweet kid, bartender at the hotel after being discharged from the Army, and the main character Hazel, at odds career-wise after working in the aircraft industry during the war and then summarily displaced when the men came home.

The location itself was a supporting character in the book, as were the residents of the area. I enjoyed reading about it and the mystery of the lost painting. Decent historical fiction based in reality.

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

In 1942, 19-year-old Hazel Frances left her hometown of Wichita, Kansas and headed to California to help in the war effort working on building bombers for the military at Douglas Aircraft. Once the war ends, Hazel and all the other women lose their jobs. Having a hard time finding work, Hazel secures a job in Laguna Beach working for the famous and eccentric artist Hanson Radcliff as his model and assistant. Hazel is introduced to the area's bohemian art scene, finds friendship at the Hotel Laguna and starts to uncover the secrets of the reclusive artist she works for. She also starts to find her own identity and strength.

Author Nicola Harrison's Hotel Laguna is a very enjoyable book which captured the post-war period well and detailed what it must have been like to be in Laguna Beach during that time. Some romance and mystery added to the appeal. For fans of historical fiction, it's a great choice for a summer read.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Love the cover art!!

A wonderful read about Hazel, who worked in a factory during WW2, and how she found herself to Laguna Beach when the war ended. Not only did she find initial purpose there but truly found herself, which is what she was seeking all along. Interesting from cover to cover, and heartwarming, I truly loved reading this story! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the advanced reader copy in return for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun summer time read that is rich in descriptions that pull the reader into the story. After WWII ends and all the men come home, Hazel is stuck after leaving her Rosie the Riveter job. She makes her way to California and finds a job working with famous artist Hanson Radcliff. As she settles in, she fights to remain on her employer’s good side while fighting with what she really wants to do - fly airplanes. She’s torn on what her next steps should be. I enjoyed getting lost in this book. Hazel is a great main character and I really enjoyed her story. Great book to pick up this summer!

I loved this story so much! I have to be honest that I'm not an avid reader of historical fiction, but now I feel like I need to get the genre in my rotation more regularly. It was magical to be swept away to Laguna Beach and in the hands of such a capable heroine like Hazel Francis. Her journey was sweet and empowering and peppered with a cast of characters that I won't soon forget. Big fan of Nicola Harrison and can't wait to get to her backlist plus anything she writes in the future.

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.

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

I love reading historical fiction set in places I’ve traveled!

Several years ago we stopped at Laguna Beach during an epic west coast summer road trip to Ashland (Oregon), the Redwoods, San Francisco, and Disneyland. As I obsessively planned this vacation, I kept adding stops, and I realized I didn’t want to miss out on seeing a beach! So I picked Laguna because it seemed artsy and low key.

In addition to my travel memories, this new book’s title is reminiscent of my last blog post on Hotel Cuba!

Having worked as a riveter and other roles building fighter planes during WWII, Hazel feels aimless when the war ends and the men are back for their jobs. Not wanting to return to Kansas (which we also learn about at the beginning of the story), she ends up in the art colony of Laguna Beach where she has to start completely over with no family or friends, job, lodging, etc. Desperate, she takes a job as an “assistant” to a famous/infamous artist, which will provide adventure and stress, as she tries to find a renewed purpose and decides whether Laguna is a place she can stay.

Whether or not you’ve been to Laguna Beach yourself, this is a good summer read!

After working at an airplane factory in California during the war and with nothing to return to Kansas for, Hazel Francis moves to Laguna Beach looking for work and a new life. Desperate she takes a job working for a local renowned artist as an assistant and model. After a rough start, Hazel finds herself at home in this community and enjoying a life she never expected. It's a lovely book in all regards

I thoroughly enjoyed this peak into live in So Cal right after WWII. It’s the perfect background for this tale of renewal and hope. That’s what this story is all about - Hope. The author gives a great feel for the era while bringing in the unique culture of the area. Mix in a fantastic storyline filled with adventure and romance and it is a brilliant book escape. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early read. Add it to you TBR list asap!

Hotel Laguna is first experience of reading a novel written by Nicola Harrison. I was completely captivated by this book which is a mix of historical fiction, romance, mystery and coming of age. The characters are eccentric and quirky. The plot is compelling.....a page turner! Intend to read more of Ms. Harrison's novels. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Started out strong. I was interested and intrigued. I liked that the time period was almost like its own character in the story. I really liked Hazel and her strong personality, but actually found there were things that happened throughout the book that made me dislike her. I found that she almost became weak and boring and indecisive. Not outstanding, but would recommend.

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison, but I really enjoyed this book set in 1940s Laguna Beach.

Hazel left Kansas in 1942 for California to help the war effort. She became a "Rosie the Riveter" and worked in an airplane factory. When the war ended, so did her job but she wasn't ready to return home or to be a wife/mother. She ends up in Laguna Beach and takes a job as an artist's assistant. She quickly falls in love with the community and starts to wonder if this could be real.

I loved Hazel. That she loved working and was independent. Her working relationship with Hanson (the artist she was working for) and wanting to help everyone she met. The cast of characters were all so well developed and I loved the descriptions of both the town and everyone.

This was a unique mix of historical fiction with women's fiction and I can't wait for others to read this so I can talk about this book. Highly recommend for a summer beach read!