Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! The Island Club is a story about three women living on Balboa Island in the 1950s whose lives are not quite as perfect (or as simple) as they seem. I enjoyed the format of alternating POVs each chapter. If you’re looking for a light beach read, this fits the bill. It was a bit heavy handed with the topical references to hammer home that this was set in the 1950s (Elvis is so handsome, isn’t he??) and I don’t think it would pass the Bechdel test if it wasn’t for Adele’s storyline at the end. Milly and Sylvia try to break out of their roles as stereotypical white privileged housewives, but their character growth fell flat for me.

In this novel we meet three very different ladies during the 1950's. Milly, Sylvia and Adele. They soon come together and we find out that there are secrets that all of them harbor. The secrets of their lives, their loves, their goals. What is interesting about their stories is the way the author
brings them together. Can these secrets cause hurt or happiness.??? The story takes place on a small island (Balboa)..the author sets the
scenes beautifully. I found myself compelled to sit and read rather than do my daily chores. I was anxious to learn the outcome of this story and
ladies accomplishments and failures.... I am convinced the reader will enjoy this story and remember these characters for quite a while...

Set in 1956 on Balboa Island, The Island Club tells the story of three women whose lives are unraveling in love, marriage, and identity, yet who discover unexpected strength and salvation through friendship and the game of tennis. Behind the island’s polished façade lies a powerful tale of secrets, resilience, and truth.

Nicola Harrison has crafted a beautiful novel about loss, love, determination, and forgiveness. I loved following each woman’s journey, their struggles, and the way their friendships blossomed so naturally.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for being able to read this ARC.

This novel truly highlights the negative experiences that women had to face; hiding secrets to save face and remain in their social circles, not being respected as much as men are, etc. The secrets and lies that tie these women together is really the heart of this book. Although some parts were slow to me I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When I first picked this book up, I was not sure I was going to engage with it, but the characters soon won me over. I enjoyed the way the lives of Milly, Sylvia, and Adele are slowly shown to the reader. I also loved how these three strong women come together at the end and change the world around them. There were scenes of strong women supporting women throughout the novel; most prevalent were when the three women share the stories of their past/current lives and then support Adele in her interview and Sylvia in keeping the club open. Another scene that stood out to me was when Walter did not show up to award the prize, and Sylvia did it instead. This novel was a comment on the lives of women in the 1950s who defied the norms of the time, and that is a great example to women everywhere today.
I thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! I'm familiar with Balboa Island having lived nearby in Mission Viejo, so many of the setting references were familiar to me. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this did not disappoint. Set in the 1950"s with era appropriate relationship problems and family secrets, Nicola Harrison pulls back the curtains of her fictional affluent families that live along this section of Southern California coastline. The seemingly perfect lives are actually complex and human after all.
Developing strong female friendships.
Overcoming personal challenges.
Dealing with spousal troubles.
Learning a new sport and enjoying the benefits and confidence it offers (tennis).
Mixed with a bit of romance.
5 stars!

3.75/5

I really enjoyed this read! I like have 3 different POVs that all interlink in the end. However, I would have liked to see more couple development in the end. What happened with them two months later? The ending felt a bit rushed.

I really enjoyed this book about three women in the 1950s. It was beautifully written, believable, and speaks to the power of support and friendship. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

An endearing novel about three women in the 1950s, the struggles they face, and the power of female friendships. An intriguing and quick read set in idyllic Balboa Island that tennis fans will enjoy.

This is one of those books where you can’t wait to see how it ends, but you don’t want it to end. Beautifully crafted, with believably flawed characters I enjoyed getting to know. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

The Island Club takes us back to 1956 on Balboa Island, just off the California coast. Honestly, the beginning felt pretty negative and I almost put the book down—but I’m glad I didn’t. Once I got to know Milly, Sylvia, and Adele, I found myself rooting for them and wanting them to do better.

Each woman is facing her own mess—marriage troubles, money problems, anger and secrets—but the way they slowly come together and support each other was really rewarding to watch. I loved how different their voices were, and how the multiple perspectives made the story feel layered and real.

Even though it’s set in the 50s, the pressures these women face still feel really current. By the end, I was completely invested in their friendship and cheering them on.

Thank NetGalley for my eARC.

Have we been sold a fairytale of flawlessness? Are we unwilling to look for the beauty and meaning in anything less than perfection? Do the three women see that the chaos, confusion, and struggles of Balboa Island life aren’t signs of failure, but signs of life? You’ll have to read to find out!

Two things are a given: (1) life in paradise isn’t any easier than life anywhere else. Just different. (2) Life on the court in the 1950s wasn’t any less stressful than it is today. Just different.

Milly, Sylvia, and Adele are diverse in their personalities and temperaments, but they discover that they share more similarities than just a love of tennis. You’ll love the sisterhood, the bonding moments, and the secrets. You may even shake your head! Perhaps you’ll be left thinking like I did, thankful for reminders that the error isn’t in my life but in my expectations and that I wasn’t built for perfection but for experience.

I love that this was inspired by French tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen. I was reaching out to Google her as soon as the narrative was finished!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book drew me in from just the description! It was a page turner and now I cannot wait to check other work by this author

Having read two of Nicola Harrison's other books, I knew I was going to like the Island Club. Her characters and descriptions are spot on and I could just see the women going about their daily lives in the 1950s. Set in Balboa Island off the coast of California, it was a great summer read. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the tennis aspect of the storyline as I know nothing about tennis, but it was very interesting to see how the women came together over the sport. Lies, secrets, female bonding, it was all in there. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

After growing up near Balboa Island and visiting it often as a child, I was excited to read this historical fiction that takes place there. I quickly got sucked into this book and did not want to put it down!

The story follows the lives of three women-Milly,Sylvia and Adele, and the hardships they encounter in the late 1950’s. The book touches on what women were going through during that time period and the pressure to precent a certain image to society. I found all of the characters to be likable and loved how supportive they were of one another.

This book surprised me in such a good way and was definitely 5 stars for me! If you loved The Book Club for Troublesome Women, you’ll really enjoy this book too! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

First off, thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.

"The Island Club" will be a great, summer beach read that dives into the lives of 3 women in the 1950s. Each is dealing with their own drama and secrets on Balboa Island, however, I don't think that any of these stories were that interesting, or shining light on any new experience that we haven't heard about time and time again from this period of time.

Would recommend if you want a quick, summery potato chip read, would not recommend if you like a little bit more meat in a historical fiction/women's fiction novel.

Welcome to Balboa Island, where the sun is bright, gentle ocean breezes sprinkle the air with its salty perfume, and secrets abound. The novel brings us to the 1950s, where we meet three women wrestling with their own struggles, pain, and haunted by ghosts from the past. However, the secrets become the tissue that binds the women together, allowing them the opportunity for redemption, healing, and emerging stronger than ever.
Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege of reading a remarkable book.

Title: The Island Club
Author: Nicola Harrison
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three women - Sylvia, Milly, and Adele - each have their own story that landed them on Balboa Island. Set in 1956 when television was in the midst of taking over American households, each lady was trying to live her own life while dealing with the day to day challenges of life in the 50s. Milly wanted the women of the island to accept her, but craved a present husband who was often an hour away at work. Sylvia presented an extravagant lifestyle since her husband owned the Island Club, but is trying to hold onto her status after learning her husband’s secret. Adele was hiding in plain sight from a scandal she was involved in years earlier. Set on a charming California island that makes you want to stroll down its streets, The Island Club will be a great escape when it’s published.

Takeaways:
1. I really liked Hotel Laguna, so I was excited to get the ARC for Harrison’s upcoming book. Harrison paints an idyllic world with her words that present vivid colors and characters.
2. Milly is depicted as what you would consider a stereotypical 1950s housewife - dressed, heels, makeup, apron tied around her waist as she prepares dinner for her husband with a smile on her face and a drink to hand him when he walks in the door.
3. Strong female characters who really come into themselves as the story progresses. A true transformation that bleeds the 1950s out and into a modern woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on April 27, 2026.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram @nicolaharrisonauthor #theislandclub #stmartinspress

Set in 1956 on Balboa Island, California, The Island Club is a richly layered novel about three women—Milly, Sylvia, and Adele—whose lives unravel in unexpected ways. Each woman faces personal crises: a failing marriage, financial betrayal, and a long-buried scandal. Their paths converge through an unlikely friendship and the game of tennis, which becomes a symbol of resilience and renewal.

Nicola Harrison masterfully captures the prim facade of 1950s coastal life, revealing the emotional turmoil beneath. The novel explores themes of female friendship, identity, secrets, and the courage to confront the past.

absolute perfection.

I picked this one up on netgalley on a whim and have been forever changed by it.

truly so well executed I will be recommending it to everyone!!