I love that Nicola Harrison uses the almost ordinary woman (I loved that about her previous The Showgirl as well) - Hazel, the Kansas girl who didn’t have a clear plan after being orphaned and ended up engaged to someone she doesn’t love and working at a California airplane factory aiding the war effort - also this is not another work of WWII historical fiction, just the first couple of pages are set during the war for the most part this book takes on the later 40s and the women sent home after they are replaced by the returning „boys“ and especially one who has nothing to return to and no real education safe for having been a riveter … when her hopes are completely dashed she washes up in Laguna Beach only to be taken in kindly by a bartender and discovering that the oddest of odd jobs may provide the solution she‘s looking for - she is going to be an artist’s assistant. Will her Midwestern upbringing stand in the way ? Will she tease some of his life’s story out of the curmudgeonly artist ? What about the community of Laguna Beach rediscovering art after the war ?
This book was well written, engaging and fun to listen to … I went to school in California but haven’t been back in over 20 years and this was a fun visit by book !

I enjoyed this audiobook very much. It was predictable but I enjoyed the characters so much I had to find out if I was correct with what happened. There was a little bit of romance, history and mystery to keep it interesting. The narrator did a great job and I look forward to reading/listening to other books by Nicola Harrison. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

🏖️ 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🏖️

Thank you #partners @stmartinspress & @macmillan.audio for the gifted ARC & ALC

📣Calling all historical fiction readers: run, don't walk, to your nearest book store and get this book!

𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗮
𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟲/𝟮𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: During WWII, Midwesterner Hazel Francis works as a riveter, doing her part for the war effort on the west coast. After the war is over and the men come home, the women are told they're free to resume their lives to become wives and mothers. But Hazel doesn't want that life, so she stays behind in California. Homeless and jobless, Hazel finds work modeling for a cantankerous artist, and befriends a charming bartender at Hotel Laguna, who lets her sleep there after closing. Hazel is just trying to eek out some semblance of a life, and certainly doesn't expect to find herself at home amongst these eccentric Californians, or caught up in a decades-old mystery.

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Golly gee friends, this sure was swell! 😄 This is the quintessential histfic beach read and I LOVED IT! 🙌🏻 It's on the lighter side for a WWII-era novel, as it takes place on the Home Front and isn't necessarily war-centered, but I love this angle! I appreciate the feminist undertones of a woman not wanting to conform to traditional gender norms and carve her own path. And the author does a fabulous job transporting the reader through the period-appropriate characterization, language, and setting. The art community, found family, romance, and mystery components further added to my enjoyment and made this a major page-turner. Just a perfect read from start to finish, and I don't have a single criticism!

Carlotta Brentan narrated this audiobook, and she's now firmly planted on my must-listen narrator list. She really captured the time period and personalities of the characters and made the audiobook my preferred reading format for this one. ❤️

📌 Hotel Laguna is out now!

*****My review as posted to my Bookstagram account today!******

Taking place during and after WW2, Hotel Laguna looks inside women in the workforce by following Hazel Francis. Hazel was employed for her skills working at an aircraft plant during the war and as soon as it was finished, was pushed aside because the men came home to do a “man’s job”. With no family, Hazel searches for a new job and finds herself in Laguna Beach, working as an assistant / model for a famous artist. This was a slow burn read but I soon became invested in the characters. The story line was easy to follow, and I appreciated the representation of the sexism that occurred during that time. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I really loved reading about post WW2, from an outsider point of view. With a little bit of romance, a dash of mystery, and found family, this story has something for everyone.

3ish stars out of 5. I'm really having a hard time resolving my feelings on this book.

This book takes place in the 1950's but involved heavy flashbacks to the main character Hazel's life before and during the War. After losing her wartime riveter job, Hazel goes to the California coast, intent on finding herself away from the small town and ties she left during the war. She is hired by Harrison Radcliff, famed photographer, as his secretary and model. As Hazel grows attached to Laguna Beach bartender Jimmy, her boss, and other members of the community, she finds herself drawn to clearing the wrongs of the past and restarting her life there in Laguna Beach.

This book is an enticing read, full of intrigue and endearing characters.

**Spoilers Below**

My problem with this story is the eventual decision of the main character. I was not satisfied by the end of this book. I know in the industry it is standard for the main female characters to end the book "happily ever after
with the love of their lives," but I was really hoping it didn't have to go this deep. Throughout the book, you see in flashbacks the strength and independence Hazel gains being a riveter and working on planes. Oftentimes she reminisces wishing that time of her life could have continued. However, at the end of the book she leaves those dreams behind for her love with Jimmy.

Why couldn't she have both? All of the growth she did was basically washed away for Jimmy. Basically in this book she traded one small town with a finance she didn't want for another small community with a man she did want. No growth.

Besides this fact, it was a fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martins Press for the audio arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed listening to this on audio, the narroter really brought Hazel's story to life . Hazel is on quite a journey from working on airplanes during the war , to working for a very famous artist . She has grown so much over the years and meeting the artist has changed her perspective on life . Great story I would recommend to all to read or listen to .

Thank you to #Netgalley for a free copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Interest

To be honest, it was the cover that first caught my eye! It seems beach books MUST have stripes–either in the umbrella or the swimsuit–check out this copycat cover post I did that proves it! lol Plus, I really liked the sound of the story!
The Story

Like the other women who built airplanes, tanks, jeeps, and what have you for the war effort, Hazel Francis was thrown out of her job once V-J day occurred and World War II was officially OVER. Accidentally overhearing a conversation about a dud job interview leads her to Laguna Beach, California, and artist Hanson Radcliff. As Hazel begins to understand the workings of the then tiny artist-centered town, she begins to find her feet and discover what she wants in the world. Along the way she meets young bartender Jimmy and sparks fly–or do they? And what about Hanson’s younger rival, Edgar–an older man to tempt Hazel. Finally, wanna-be starlet Scarlett Rose peaks her interest in her employer’s past.
My Thoughts

It must get tiresome to read me enthuse over books that don’t have a single sour note! But this one was soooooo good–from start to finish. Hazel’s ability to deal with everything from temporary homelessness to engineering a grande finale for an art show reminds me of why we call this “The Greatest Generation.” Jimmy, living on sandwiches made out of food left on diner’s plates, all the while holding tight to his long-term vision–wow.The wanna-be starlet, who at times reminded me of a royal wife recently accurately skewered by South Park, really wasn’t THAT bad. I loved the work to create the art pageant! That was fun. But it is the relationship that happens so quickly (and so true-to-life) between Hazel and her boss, Hanson Radcliff, that really carries the story. The ending was not what I expected and that is great!

Don’t miss this gem of a story.
My Verdict
4.0

Hotel Laguna: A Novel by Nicola Harrison

I listened to the audio version.

Interesting story about Laguna Beach shortly after WWII. The story follows Hazel as she tries to find her place after losing work in the factories. The work Hazel finds has her exploring the artist community and while the characters were intriguing, the story was very slow and was difficult to get through. I was fascinated by the Pageant of the Masters but there wasn’t as much on this subject as there could have been. Hazel was a strong and resilient character but the book dragged on and could have been shorter.

4.5⭐️

As the story begins we meet our protagonist, Hazel Francis in 1946 as she lands up in the coastal town of Laguna Beach, California, out of work after being laid off from a job at Douglas Aircraft, (one of many “Rosie the Riveters”) helping build fighter planes. Hazel is a small-town girl from Wichita Kansas, having left her hometown in 1942 to do her bit contributing to the war effort in a job she truly enjoyed. Now that WWII is over and the men have returned from the front and reclaimed their spot in the workforce, Hazel finds it difficult to secure employment in the kind of work she enjoys and is good at. With no family left to go back to she ventures out on her own hoping to find her place in the world. She ends up taking a job as an Assistant to renowned artist Hanson Radcliff, whose eccentric personality takes a while to get used to. Hazel’s job description includes everything from modeling for her employer to running errands and helping out with the local art festival (Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters, an actual event that was started in 1933, in which famous works of art are depicted through on-stage performances). Radcliffe is well respected in the art scene in the area and though their association is off to a bumpy start, Hazel develops a fondness for her elderly employer. With the help of Jimmy, the kind bartender at Hotel Laguna who befriends her and Hanson who eventually arranges for her to stay in an apartment behind the local art gallery in addition to her pay, Hazel begins to feel at home in Laguna Beach. As the narrative progresses we follow Hazel as she contends with her temperamental employer, comes to know of a scandal from Hanson's past that adversely impacted his reputation and continues to haunt him and tries to help Hanson cope with his past trauma and searches for a missing painting coveted by several individuals. Hazel has a lot on her plate, with the pageant coming up soon and her feelings for Jimmy complicating matters further.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison. Hazel is an endearing protagonist. Strong and willful, she does make questionable choices and does get into a fair share of trouble but you can’t help rooting for her as tries to find her way in a world where opportunities for women were limited. The author does a wonderful job of crafting a story that gives us a sense of both time and place. I would have liked it if the segment on Hazel’s life during her stint at Douglas Aircraft would have been covered in more detail but given that the story revolves around Hazel and Hansen’s friendship, I understand why the emphasis was on Hazel’s life after the war ends. I loved the vibrant setting of Laguna Beach and the interesting cast of characters who made up the community (even the unlikeable ones). The pacing and the plot development were well executed and the ending. though bittersweet, was satisfying. Overall, this is an emotional, feel-good read with an element of mystery that touches upon themes of friendship, love, creativity and community.

I paired my reading with the superb audio narration by Carlotta Brentan which made for an entertaining immersion reading experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital review copy of this novel. I would also like to thank Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hotel Laguna is a historical fiction with a WWII-vibe. Hazel Francis finds herself stuck in her hometown of Wichita, KS. When an opportunity to be an airplane riveter in California opens up, she jumps on the first flight out and becomes known for her work ethic and ability. When the war comes to an end and the women are forced out of their jobs, Hazel doesn’t have a husband or home to go back to and she finds herself in Laguna Beach, CA desperate for work. After becoming an assistant to a famous artists, Hazel is sent to stay at the Hotel Laguna where she meets Jimmy who does his best to not only be a good friend but also a tour guide of the town.

While working for Hanson Radcliffe, Hazel quickly gets sucked into the story that made him infamous and the hunt to find a never before seen painting begins.

I really loved the relationship between Hanson and Hazel. It wasn’t quite fatherly but there was a tenderness there that melted my heart.

The ending was exactly what I wanted it to be.

Thank you for access to this ALC.

I was definitely boycotting WWII fiction for a while. It was just way overdone and there are other time periods to focus on, you know? But I'm so glad I requested this one. Hazel Francis, a California transplant from Wichita, KS, was an airplane riveter during the war, but when that ends so does her employment, In overhearing a chance conversation, she applies for a job w/ eccentric artist Hanson Radcliffe. Hazel embraces life in Laguna Beach and its artsy community, while simultaneously helping Hanson come to terms with his biggest heartbreak; a 40 year-old scandal involving a silent film star. With a sweet ending and a fun cast of characters, you will be so happy to have picked up this book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

This book had a great setup, unfortunately at 60% i had to DNF as I had just lost all interest in the characters. Way too slow, with nothing really happening in the story. It had a lot of potential it just got a bit muddled in details that didn't seem important.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hazel Frances was brought to California by Douglas Aircraft to work on airplane for the war effort. She loved being a riveter but when the war was over and the men came back to their factory positions, Hazel was let go. She did not know where she would go next only that she would never return to Kansas and her old life. She headed down to Laguna Beach and managed to talk her way into working for an infamous recluse artist, Hanson Radcliff, as his assistant. His work was the center of a Hollywood scandal when an aging film actress committed suicide after he painted her. His cantankerous nature was hard for Hazel to navigate but he pushed her into the artistic community and opened a new world to her.

I really enjoyed this story and Hazel's journey creating a new life for herself. The characters were interesting enough to keep the story moving and the artist community was a nice backdrop for the story. This is the first novel by Nicola Harrison that I have read and I enjoyed her style and pacing of the story. There is not a ton of surprises or big twists but it is a well balanced character driven story. I will definitely pick up more of her work. I had the audio version read by Carlotta Brentan who's narration was excellent. Her characters were believable, pace was steady and she was fun to listen to. All around a great combination.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ALC. What an amazing story! I loved listening to this one! The relationship between Hansen and Hazel was my favorite! Grumpy old men have a special place in my heart. Hazel is a strong independent woman and I love how the story plays out for her! There’s love, loss and a little bit of mystery that’ll keep readers hooked!!!

The war is over and Hazel has been told to stop working building war planes and head back home to be a proper wife and mother. The only problem is that she is neither of those things. Desperate to avoid going back to her small town life, she remains in California, hoping for at least one job prospect. She happens upon an ad for an assistant, putting her in the home of a well-known but crabby local artist, Hanson Radcliff. Soon she falls in love with the beach town of Laguna and it welcomes her as one of their own.

Historical fiction can be a hit or miss for me. Fortunately, Hotel Laguna was a huge hit. It helped that it was set in my favorite decade (the 1940s) and focused on some little known history, begging to answer the question what did happen to those women who didn't want to be wives or mothers. Hazel was such an amazing character. She was flawed but not stupid, and fun to follow through this story. I loved her, and I loved this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Carlotta Brentan was a fantastic narrator, and she really brought Hazel to life. I can't recommend this book enough!

I love historical fiction, especially those with strong female protagonists, but was very tired of Holocaust survival stories or women who served as spies during a war . This was the perfect antidote! Having lived in Southern California for much of my adult life, it was really fun to have this peak into the varied and storied history of this specific area. I loved the descriptions of the beach town and the mystique of the artsy town of Laguna.

The story itself is simple: strong woman helps during the war effort, but then is made redundant when the men return from the front. But, witnessing the growth and development of Hazel was a treat. She was smart and resourceful and seeing her relax into the "family" of the Laguna felt like a win.

I enjoyed the relationships among the characters, I puzzled over whether Hanson was meant to be a representative of a "real" person, and I liked the small mystery involved. This is not fine literature. This will not go down in the cannons of Western literature. But, it's a fun, not t00 serious, novel that is meant to entertain and transport the reader to the time and place of the setting - and it does that splendidly.

The voice actor was good, I was never bored, but I was never really challenged, either. This is a perfect "beach read" - it even has a bit of romance!

When Hazel Francis is no longer employed as a riveter, she feels lost and can’t understand why being a woman should keep her from doing a job she loves. She arrives in Laguna Beach homeless and jobless. When a local artist agrees to hire her as an assistant, she has no clue what lies in store. A mysterious lost painting, jealous artists, and scandal keep this adventure going. Can Hazel find acceptance and belonging in this artistic colony?

🎧 𝖠𝖴𝖣𝖨𝖮 𝖡𝖮𝖮𝖪 𝖱𝖤𝖵𝖨𝖤𝖶 🎧

✩✩✩/5

This WWII era novel follows a young girl, Hazel fresh off the assembly line as a riveter making airplanes during the war. As she tries to navigate life as an unrooted, unmarried woman in the late 1940s she ends up working for a reclusive artist. Their relationship becomes complicated once she starts unearthing secrets of his past that have haunted him for decades.

I enjoyed this book, it’s a quick read and the author captured the sun-soaked beachy vibe of Laguna Beach perfectly.

A couple of cons for me - I went into this book expecting it to be much more about Hazel’s life in the factory as a “Rosie the Riveter” but it touches very little on that. Also, halfway through, the dual POV just kind of ceases and Hazel is immersed completely in the art world of Laguna Beach. Finally, I don’t know if it was the narrator, but I wasn’t always convinced we were in the 1940s, Hazel’s independent behavior and carefree spirit felt more like the 1960s or 70s to me.

I will say, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. It’s a little historical fiction, a little bit contemporary fiction, a little mystery and there’s also a sweet romance. I think it would make a good beach read.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 @𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰 & @𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!

♡ Fave character: Jimmy

💬Fave quotes: “For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted to belong, to be part of something bigger than myself. By passing the hotel onto us, Hanson had placed the anchor of this community in our hands.”

This is the third book I’ve read from this author. I have enjoyed all of them. Hotel Laguna is a story set during and post WW2 . Hazel worked on the bombers during the war in California. Once the war was over her job was given to the men coming home from the war. She found her way to Laguna Beach and got a job as an assistant to a famous artist. The cast of characters in this book are rich and beautiful. I did not want this book to end.

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.