As enjoyable as a set of tennis at the club with cocktails to follow. I'm from Southern California and know Balboa Island quite well but I learned a few things from this novel. I loved the period setting, and the themes pf betrayal, secrets, and friendship are always timely.

It’s always a pleasure to read a book about friendship especially one where people come together in spite of perceived differences to help each other. The island Club is such a book - and I read it in one day because it simply captivated me. Sylvia, Milly and Adele are three women who share their hearts and souls and bond together to save Sylvia’s tennis club. This is a charming book. You won’t want to miss reading it. I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 ⭐️

The Island Club was a nostalgic and emotionally layered story set on 1950s Balboa Island. It followed three very different women whose lives were quietly falling apart. As secrets surfaced and facades cracked, they found unexpected strength in each other. I relished in Nicola Harrison’s glamorous, heartfelt, and reflective narrative. Despite this being a slow-burn novel, I loved how Harrison captured friendship, reinvention, and letting go of who you were to become who you’re meant to be into an atmospheric and immersive read—I really felt transported to 1950s Balboa Island. The characters, especially the three women, were well-developed and compelling in their own ways. While the story was more emotional than plot-driven, and the pacing a bit slow at times, I still found it satisfying overall. The themes weren’t entirely new, but they were explored with depth and warmth. It’s a thoughtful, character-focused novel with a rewarding emotional arc.

Much thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my feedback.

I have enjoyed all of Nicola Harrison’s historical fiction and “Island Girl” is no exception.

I am unfamiliar with Balboa Island so was intrigued to read a novel centered around these majestically-described location. The novel connects three different women (Milly, Adele and Sylvia) who face a variety of struggles including marriage difficulties and financial fears. I thought each woman was portrayed in a way that avoid stereotypes and I appreciated how the women grew stronger as their friendship grew.

Like Harrison’s previous work, the reader is able to appreciate women who persevere even while they make a few (or many) missteps.

A four star read.

Thanks to Net Galley, the author and a the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

This is a fun book that reminded me of the style of Taylor Jenkins Reid! I really loved this story about the 50s, women, friendships, and of course tennis. The story was told from different characters perspectives and I loved the way the women’s friendships blossomed. Millie, Sylvia, and Adele were all strong women who all tried to hide secrets that were ruining their lives. When they learned to open up and share with each other, they learned what true friendship was about. The book was written with many references to things that happened or were popular in the 50s. I learned about the Lindy dance, and there were quite a few references to political happenings of the time. Also a lot of references to foods a 50s housewife would make, activities a family of that era would share- so much fun!! This was a NetGalley early release for me and I enjoyed it a lot.

I just finished reading The Island Club by Nicola Harrison and I am so disappointed.....the book had to end! I really enjoyed this book and thought it was easy to read and I really felt as though I knew these charaters. The storyline kept me wanting more. I would love to read a sequel to find out how the rest of the story would go as these women continue to grow!
Loved the book!
G. Melton

The Island Club is as novel centered around the experiences of three women on Balboa Island in the 1950's. Millie is trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage with a husband who is often away for work - and who may or may not be engaging in an illicit affair with a Hollywood starlet. Sylvia is battling to maintain her social status while her husband gambles away their fortunes, putting their home and their island club at risk of repossession. Adele is an ex-professional tennis player living a reclusive life on the island away from her past. The novel begins with a focus on Millie's relocation to the island with her family and goes on to tell a heart warming tale of these three women coming together to learn the importance of having people to trust with your secrets and your heart. This novel kept piquing my curiosity throughout and I often found myself wondering about Millie and what would happen next. Overall this was an excellent novel and I would highly recommend to readers searching for heartwarming, emotional novels that include topics of misogyny, gender roles of the 1950s, social inclusion and exclusion, and exploration of self.

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

Oooooh this book was a delicious summer read to enjoy by the pool. I'm a sucker for "rich people behaving badly" and we get that in spades here. I didn't love one of the storylines, but the others were intriguing enough to persevere.

Glamorous, gripping, and gorgeously written.
The Island Club swept me away to a summer retreat full of secrets, scandal, and strong women. Nicola Harrison delivers the perfect mix of historical drama and emotional depth — I couldn’t put it down.

ARC Review: The Island Club by Nicola Harrison
Pub Date: 4/28/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Format: Kindle - ARC gifted by St. Martin’s Press/Nicola Harrison via NetGalley — thank you! All opinions are my own.

The Island Club pulled me in right away, I went from reading just a few pages to halfway through the book in less than a day. It takes place in 1956 on Balboa Island, California, and follows the lives of three women whose stories start to fall apart in very different ways. Milly is trying to fix her marriage by moving her family to the island, but her husband keeps staying out late and avoiding home. Sylvia is a respected figure in town and helps run the new Island Club with her husband, but she finds out he’s been hiding financial problems that could ruin everything they’ve built. Then there’s Adele, who keeps to herself and has a big secret from her past that could destroy the quiet life she’s created.

I read this from a Saturday to a Sunday, I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is fast-paced and easy to get into. The characters aren’t always likable, but they feel real. They’re dealing with tough stuff, making mistakes, and trying to hold it together, which made it really relatable. One quote that stood out to me was: “At some point in your life someone’s going to come along and take a shit in your pool, and you can either sit around and cry about it or you can clean up the mess and get on with your life.” That pretty much sums up the tone of the book—messy, honest, and hopeful.

Even though the story takes place in the 1950s, the problems these women face, like marriage issues, money troubles, and hiding parts of yourself, still feel really familiar today. I liked how the story showed women supporting each other, even in small ways, during a time when they didn’t have much power. It reminded me of books like The Wedding People and The Names. If you like stories about people dealing with real life and all the messiness that comes with it, this is a good one to pick up. There’s a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and a lot of emotional moments.

The only small issue I had (aside from a few lines of untranslated French—I really wish the author had included translations) was that I spotted what seemed to be a missing word in one sentence. It was easy to move past, but it did catch my eye.

The Island Club is a great summer or beach read. It’s emotional, a little dramatic, and shows just how strong women can be, even when they feel stuck or unseen. I really enjoyed it and would definitely read more from Nicola Harrison.

Three women, separated by age and status, cross paths and find more than they could have ever imagined they believed they deserved. An ode to true female friendships and what honesty can bring into your life. I really enjoyed the character development. A book that could have easily bored me or made me cringe, considering life in the 1950s and the nuclear family and expectations, but instead I fell in love with the characters and I feel like I really experienced their inner mind and thoughts. A hopeful story.

I enjoyed this read. It takes place in the 50’s on an island and explored a lot of topics. Sexism, bankruptcy and believe it or not the sport of tennis! Initially, I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it got better. It was a good read.

Three women, all with a huge secret of their own come together through the love of tennis. They learn the power of true friendship and how important family is even in the most trailing times.

Milly, Sylvia, and Adele not only took the term friendship, they made it in to something more. The Island Club shows readers what it means to turn hard times into a positive aspect and realize that it always gets better.

A true 5/5 star read! This book not only had me on the edge of my seat the entire way of trying to figure out certain aspects and details, it also warmed my heart because of how much these three women grew together through their own issues. Nicola Harrison proves that with women uplifting women in a men ruled world, anything can be conquered. I throughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone!

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

A fun beach read set in the 1950s on a little beach town close to LA! Predictable but is that a bad thing? I enjoyed the journey of these three woman: Millie, Sylvia, and Adele.

The Island Club was a little different than what I normally read, which was honestly a breath of fresh air. I was looking for the perfect summer read, and this definitely hit the spot.

Centered around three women on Balboa Island who connect at the Island Club, this book gives you a look into the 50s and each woman's life. It's nice to read about strong women coming together, especially in that time.

I definitely recommend this if you want a quick summer read.

The Island Club follows as 3 women navigate family, secrets and friendship on a gorgeous island of the cost of California in the mid 50s. The women's love intertwine as they try to keep what is important to them close while getting to know and trust each other.
I really enjoyed this story for it's focus on female friendships. It took a little bit for me to get into because of the time setting and language used but it wasn't that long and it really immersed me into the story once ai did get used to it. It's easy to forget how things used to be for women and reading about these ladies trying to have some sort of control- you couldn't help but root for them. I would definitely recommend this book to friend and think it would be a great summer/beach read.

I've read all of Nicola Harrison's books so was thrilled to get a copy of the Island Club. Set on Balboa Island, the story depicts the lives of three women, each having their own secrets. Milly, the housewife, raising her two children in a complicated household. Adele, the loner, that wants to be forgotten for past trangressions. And, Sylvia, the wealthy country club owner, who made a better life for herself, only to watch it come crashing down. The story shows the resilience, acceptance and the way friendships make us stronger. I was sad when it was over!

Thanks to netGalley for the advanced copy

I loved this book! An enjoyable look into the lives of 3 women on Balboa Island in 1956 and how those lives begin to intersect. Perfect summer read.

I adored this story! I enjoy the sport of tennis and I enjoyed reading about the island community. The story was easy to follow along and I enjoyed all the characters and following their families.
Nicola has written another wonderful story that readers will love!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I loved this book soo much I didn’t want it to end. Set in the 1950s on the island of Balboa. We follow the story of 3 women Sylvia, Millie and Adele. Each woman has secrets and end up helping each other.