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.
Laguna Beach vacation -post from the archives!
In addition to my travel memories, this new book’s title is reminiscent of my last blog post on Hotel Cuba!
Laguna Beach by Nicola Harrison
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!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.