#summerreads — Public Fediverse posts

Reading Crew Reads: People We Meet on Vacation

Did you miss me? I know I haven’t been consistent with my blogs but thank you all for being patient with me and joining me back. This episode was supposed to be uploaded in July but I am not consistent, as my day one followers/readers know.

Last week, there was a devasting tornado, derecho, and hurricane level winds that burst through my neighborhood. This event was the worst natural disaster to hit our area ever. NIPSCO has had a hard time keeping up with renewing everyone’s power outages. I’m wishing everyone my condolences as our community struggles to get back to normal.

I wanted to have this podcast uploaded last week with a new one this week, but having no power delayed me again. I don’t know about you all but I’m officially done with summer…we even talk about the cons of summer in this book! My mom and I are so ready for fall weather, despite us loving to be in the pool.

Speaking of my mom this is her birthday week so help me wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below and we hope you enjoy our take on Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ET3qSeLrmKIr27isLKM0p?si=2e0152597be84109

Reading Crew Reads: People We Meet on Vacation

Did you miss me? I know I haven’t been consistent with my blogs but thank you all for being patient with me and joining me back. This episode was supposed to be uploaded in July but I am not consistent, as my day one followers/readers know.

Last week, there was a devasting tornado, derecho, and hurricane level winds that burst through my neighborhood. This event was the worst natural disaster to hit our area ever. NIPSCO has had a hard time keeping up with renewing everyone’s power outages. I’m wishing everyone my condolences as our community struggles to get back to normal.

I wanted to have this podcast uploaded last week with a new one this week, but having no power delayed me again. I don’t know about you all but I’m officially done with summer…we even talk about the cons of summer in this book! My mom and I are so ready for fall weather, despite us loving to be in the pool.

Speaking of my mom this is her birthday week so help me wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below and we hope you enjoy our take on Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ET3qSeLrmKIr27isLKM0p?si=2e0152597be84109

Reading Crew Reads: People We Meet on Vacation

Did you miss me? I know I haven’t been consistent with my blogs but thank you all for being patient with me and joining me back. This episode was supposed to be uploaded in July but I am not consistent, as my day one followers/readers know.

Last week, there was a devasting tornado, derecho, and hurricane level winds that burst through my neighborhood. This event was the worst natural disaster to hit our area ever. NIPSCO has had a hard time keeping up with renewing everyone’s power outages. I’m wishing everyone my condolences as our community struggles to get back to normal.

I wanted to have this podcast uploaded last week with a new one this week, but having no power delayed me again. I don’t know about you all but I’m officially done with summer…we even talk about the cons of summer in this book! My mom and I are so ready for fall weather, despite us loving to be in the pool.

Speaking of my mom this is her birthday week so help me wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below and we hope you enjoy our take on Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ET3qSeLrmKIr27isLKM0p?si=2e0152597be84109

Reading Crew Reads: People We Meet on Vacation

Did you miss me? I know I haven’t been consistent with my blogs but thank you all for being patient with me and joining me back. This episode was supposed to be uploaded in July but I am not consistent, as my day one followers/readers know.

Last week, there was a devasting tornado, derecho, and hurricane level winds that burst through my neighborhood. This event was the worst natural disaster to hit our area ever. NIPSCO has had a hard time keeping up with renewing everyone’s power outages. I’m wishing everyone my condolences as our community struggles to get back to normal.

I wanted to have this podcast uploaded last week with a new one this week, but having no power delayed me again. I don’t know about you all but I’m officially done with summer…we even talk about the cons of summer in this book! My mom and I are so ready for fall weather, despite us loving to be in the pool.

Speaking of my mom this is her birthday week so help me wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below and we hope you enjoy our take on Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ET3qSeLrmKIr27isLKM0p?si=2e0152597be84109

Reading Crew Reads: People We Meet on Vacation

Did you miss me? I know I haven’t been consistent with my blogs but thank you all for being patient with me and joining me back. This episode was supposed to be uploaded in July but I am not consistent, as my day one followers/readers know.

Last week, there was a devasting tornado, derecho, and hurricane level winds that burst through my neighborhood. This event was the worst natural disaster to hit our area ever. NIPSCO has had a hard time keeping up with renewing everyone’s power outages. I’m wishing everyone my condolences as our community struggles to get back to normal.

I wanted to have this podcast uploaded last week with a new one this week, but having no power delayed me again. I don’t know about you all but I’m officially done with summer…we even talk about the cons of summer in this book! My mom and I are so ready for fall weather, despite us loving to be in the pool.

Speaking of my mom this is her birthday week so help me wish her a Happy Birthday in the comments below and we hope you enjoy our take on Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ET3qSeLrmKIr27isLKM0p?si=2e0152597be84109

7 ARCs releasing across July and August, and I don't think I've ever had a run this strong. Wartime thrillers, cozy chaos, a mob lawyer doing inner child work. 📚🔪#cozymystery #bookstagram #arcreader #netgalley #bookreview #whodunit #mysterybooks #summerreads #tbrpile #bookblog #cozycrime #mystery

https://viewsshewrites.com/july-august-2026-releasea/

7 ARCs releasing across July and August, and I don't think I've ever had a run this strong. Wartime thrillers, cozy chaos, a mob lawyer doing inner child work. 📚🔪#cozymystery #bookstagram #arcreader #netgalley #bookreview #whodunit #mysterybooks #summerreads #tbrpile #bookblog #cozycrime #mystery

https://viewsshewrites.com/july-august-2026-releasea/

7 ARCs releasing across July and August, and I don't think I've ever had a run this strong. Wartime thrillers, cozy chaos, a mob lawyer doing inner child work. 📚🔪#cozymystery #bookstagram #arcreader #netgalley #bookreview #whodunit #mysterybooks #summerreads #tbrpile #bookblog #cozycrime #mystery

https://viewsshewrites.com/july-august-2026-releasea/

7 ARCs releasing across July and August, and I don't think I've ever had a run this strong. Wartime thrillers, cozy chaos, a mob lawyer doing inner child work. 📚🔪#cozymystery #bookstagram #arcreader #netgalley #bookreview #whodunit #mysterybooks #summerreads #tbrpile #bookblog #cozycrime #mystery

https://viewsshewrites.com/july-august-2026-releasea/

7 ARCs releasing across July and August, and I don't think I've ever had a run this strong. Wartime thrillers, cozy chaos, a mob lawyer doing inner child work. 📚🔪#cozymystery #bookstagram #arcreader #netgalley #bookreview #whodunit #mysterybooks #summerreads #tbrpile #bookblog #cozycrime #mystery

https://viewsshewrites.com/july-august-2026-releasea/

What if the greatest disappointment of your life became the beginning of God's greatest purpose?
https://buff.ly/vxiP2dc
#AWayThroughTheWilderness
#ChristianFiction
#SummerReads
#KindleUnlimited
#AmReading
#NewRelease
#Bookstodon

What if the greatest disappointment of your life became the beginning of God's greatest purpose?
https://buff.ly/vxiP2dc
#AWayThroughTheWilderness
#ChristianFiction
#SummerReads
#KindleUnlimited
#AmReading
#NewRelease
#Bookstodon

What if the greatest disappointment of your life became the beginning of God's greatest purpose?
https://buff.ly/vxiP2dc
#AWayThroughTheWilderness
#ChristianFiction
#SummerReads
#KindleUnlimited
#AmReading
#NewRelease
#Bookstodon

What if the greatest disappointment of your life became the beginning of God's greatest purpose?
https://buff.ly/vxiP2dc
#AWayThroughTheWilderness
#ChristianFiction
#SummerReads
#KindleUnlimited
#AmReading
#NewRelease
#Bookstodon

What if the greatest disappointment of your life became the beginning of God's greatest purpose?
https://buff.ly/vxiP2dc
#AWayThroughTheWilderness
#ChristianFiction
#SummerReads
#KindleUnlimited
#AmReading
#NewRelease
#Bookstodon

I’ve written of other worlds, but several of my books have real locations! Take a journey:
TO WONDER AND STARSHINE - short stories set in many places in our world and on others
ATACAMA - thriller horror set in both Appalachia and the Atacama Desert
DOOMFLOWER— campy horror set in Malibu in Los Angeles
GODFESTATION - atmospheric horror and fantasy set in Appalachia, as well as along the road West (Aug. 11)
My books are destinations!
#books #summerreads #thriller #horror #fantasy

I’ve written of other worlds, but several of my books have real locations! Take a journey:
TO WONDER AND STARSHINE - short stories set in many places in our world and on others
ATACAMA - thriller horror set in both Appalachia and the Atacama Desert
DOOMFLOWER— campy horror set in Malibu in Los Angeles
GODFESTATION - atmospheric horror and fantasy set in Appalachia, as well as along the road West (Aug. 11)
My books are destinations!
#books #summerreads #thriller #horror #fantasy

I’ve written of other worlds, but several of my books have real locations! Take a journey:
TO WONDER AND STARSHINE - short stories set in many places in our world and on others
ATACAMA - thriller horror set in both Appalachia and the Atacama Desert
DOOMFLOWER— campy horror set in Malibu in Los Angeles
GODFESTATION - atmospheric horror and fantasy set in Appalachia, as well as along the road West (Aug. 11)
My books are destinations!
#books #summerreads #thriller #horror #fantasy

I’ve written of other worlds, but several of my books have real locations! Take a journey:
TO WONDER AND STARSHINE - short stories set in many places in our world and on others
ATACAMA - thriller horror set in both Appalachia and the Atacama Desert
DOOMFLOWER— campy horror set in Malibu in Los Angeles
GODFESTATION - atmospheric horror and fantasy set in Appalachia, as well as along the road West (Aug. 11)
My books are destinations!
#books #summerreads #thriller #horror #fantasy

I’ve written of other worlds, but several of my books have real locations! Take a journey:
TO WONDER AND STARSHINE - short stories set in many places in our world and on others
ATACAMA - thriller horror set in both Appalachia and the Atacama Desert
DOOMFLOWER— campy horror set in Malibu in Los Angeles
GODFESTATION - atmospheric horror and fantasy set in Appalachia, as well as along the road West (Aug. 11)
My books are destinations!
#books #summerreads #thriller #horror #fantasy

Everyone says AI will change us - my stories are about who pays for that change. Less shiny tech; more human fallout. If you need a story to bend your head - this is your jam. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/ #scifi #booknerd #booksofinstagram #summerreads

Everyone says AI will change us - my stories are about who pays for that change. Less shiny tech; more human fallout. If you need a story to bend your head - this is your jam. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/ #scifi #booknerd #booksofinstagram #summerreads

Everyone says AI will change us - my stories are about who pays for that change. Less shiny tech; more human fallout. If you need a story to bend your head - this is your jam. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/ #scifi #booknerd #booksofinstagram #summerreads

Everyone says AI will change us - my stories are about who pays for that change. Less shiny tech; more human fallout. If you need a story to bend your head - this is your jam. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/ #scifi #booknerd #booksofinstagram #summerreads

Everyone says AI will change us - my stories are about who pays for that change. Less shiny tech; more human fallout. If you need a story to bend your head - this is your jam. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/ #scifi #booknerd #booksofinstagram #summerreads

Next on our Summer Kindle list:

A Certain Slant of Light

available on both Kindle and as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Slant-Light-Duncan-White-ebook

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #art #history

Next on our Summer Kindle list:

A Certain Slant of Light

available on both Kindle and as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Slant-Light-Duncan-White-ebook

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #art #history

Next on our Summer Kindle list:

A Certain Slant of Light

available on both Kindle and as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Slant-Light-Duncan-White-ebook

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #art #history

Next on our Summer Kindle list:

A Certain Slant of Light

available on both Kindle and as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Slant-Light-Duncan-White-ebook

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #art #history

Next on our Summer Kindle list:

A Certain Slant of Light

available on both Kindle and as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Slant-Light-Duncan-White-ebook

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #art #history

Variation: A Novel

"The memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under"

Sale: $4.99 to $2.49

by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.4/5 (79,054 Reviews)

#romance #books #booksky #fiction #summerreads #secondchance #ballet #coastguard #love #family #drama

Variation: A Novel

Variation: A Novel

"The memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under"

Sale: $4.99 to $2.49

by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.4/5 (79,054 Reviews)

#romance #books #booksky #fiction #summerreads #secondchance #ballet #coastguard #love #family #drama

Variation: A Novel

Variation: A Novel

"The memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under"

Sale: $4.99 to $2.49

by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.4/5 (79,054 Reviews)

#romance #books #booksky #fiction #summerreads #secondchance #ballet #coastguard #love #family #drama

Variation: A Novel

Variation: A Novel

"The memories she’s tried to forget rush in and threaten to take her under"

Sale: $4.99 to $2.49

by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.4/5 (79,054 Reviews)

#romance #books #booksky #fiction #summerreads #secondchance #ballet #coastguard #love #family #drama

Variation: A Novel

To anyone who might be curious about what I'm hoping to read this summer (I always want to know what everyone else is reading 😝). Do we have any crossover in book tastes?

https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-books-i-want-to-read-this-summer/

#Books #Bookstodon #SummerReads

To anyone who might be curious about what I'm hoping to read this summer (I always want to know what everyone else is reading 😝). Do we have any crossover in book tastes?

https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-books-i-want-to-read-this-summer/

#Books #Bookstodon #SummerReads

To anyone who might be curious about what I'm hoping to read this summer (I always want to know what everyone else is reading 😝). Do we have any crossover in book tastes?

https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-books-i-want-to-read-this-summer/

#Books #Bookstodon #SummerReads

To anyone who might be curious about what I'm hoping to read this summer (I always want to know what everyone else is reading 😝). Do we have any crossover in book tastes?

https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-books-i-want-to-read-this-summer/

#Books #Bookstodon #SummerReads

To anyone who might be curious about what I'm hoping to read this summer (I always want to know what everyone else is reading 😝). Do we have any crossover in book tastes?

https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-books-i-want-to-read-this-summer/

#Books #Bookstodon #SummerReads

Five Self-Obsessed Danes Make For A Surprisingly Fun And Sexy Summer Read

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://defector.com/linea-maja-ernst-waist-deep-review

Recognise this one?

Today's Summer Kindle Read - SAND ROSES!

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sand-Roses-Hamza-Koudri-ebook/dp/B0CKPSNLW4

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #dancers #loveandconflict

Recognise this one?

Today's Summer Kindle Read - SAND ROSES!

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sand-Roses-Hamza-Koudri-ebook/dp/B0CKPSNLW4

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #dancers #loveandconflict

Recognise this one?

Today's Summer Kindle Read - SAND ROSES!

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sand-Roses-Hamza-Koudri-ebook/dp/B0CKPSNLW4

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #dancers #loveandconflict

Recognise this one?

Today's Summer Kindle Read - SAND ROSES!

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sand-Roses-Hamza-Koudri-ebook/dp/B0CKPSNLW4

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #dancers #loveandconflict

Recognise this one?

Today's Summer Kindle Read - SAND ROSES!

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sand-Roses-Hamza-Koudri-ebook/dp/B0CKPSNLW4

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #dancers #loveandconflict

The Summer Proposal "The first time I met Max Yearwood was on a blind date. Until my real date arrived" Sale: $4.99 to $0.99 by Vi Keeland Rating: 4.6/5 (14,498 Reviews) #romance #contemporaryfiction #sportsromance #hockey #summerreads #books #booksky #kindle #love #feelgood

The Summer Proposal

The Summer Proposal "The first time I met Max Yearwood was on a blind date. Until my real date arrived" Sale: $4.99 to $0.99 by Vi Keeland Rating: 4.6/5 (14,498 Reviews) #romance #contemporaryfiction #sportsromance #hockey #summerreads #books #booksky #kindle #love #feelgood

The Summer Proposal

The Summer Proposal "The first time I met Max Yearwood was on a blind date. Until my real date arrived" Sale: $4.99 to $0.99 by Vi Keeland Rating: 4.6/5 (14,498 Reviews) #romance #contemporaryfiction #sportsromance #hockey #summerreads #books #booksky #kindle #love #feelgood

The Summer Proposal

The Summer Proposal "The first time I met Max Yearwood was on a blind date. Until my real date arrived" Sale: $4.99 to $0.99 by Vi Keeland Rating: 4.6/5 (14,498 Reviews) #romance #contemporaryfiction #sportsromance #hockey #summerreads #books #booksky #kindle #love #feelgood

The Summer Proposal

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/paper-sparrows/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Sparrows-Nathalie-Abi-Ezzi-ebook/dp/B084QK9B6T

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #musician #straydog #loveandconflict

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/paper-sparrows/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Sparrows-Nathalie-Abi-Ezzi-ebook/dp/B084QK9B6T

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #musician #straydog #loveandconflict

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/paper-sparrows/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Sparrows-Nathalie-Abi-Ezzi-ebook/dp/B084QK9B6T

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #musician #straydog #loveandconflict

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/paper-sparrows/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Sparrows-Nathalie-Abi-Ezzi-ebook/dp/B084QK9B6T

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #musician #straydog #loveandconflict

Another one for your R(ecommended) S(ummer) R(eading) List, available on Kindle as well as paperback:

https://www.hhousebooks.com/books/paper-sparrows/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paper-Sparrows-Nathalie-Abi-Ezzi-ebook/dp/B084QK9B6T

#books #bookstodon #kindle #kindlereads #summerreads #musician #straydog #loveandconflict

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

This story is set in 1956 Balboa Island, California. It’s about three women struggling with life issues that they fear will destroy them.

Milly Kincaid has moved to the island with her husband and two children. Milly fears that her husband is cheating. He is an executive on a television show in Hollywood. Milly knows that the leading lady on the show is beautiful and assumes that she is who keeping him from coming home to his family except on weekends. Milly struggles to be the perfect wife, thinking that will save her marriage. She can’t let anyone know because divorce is taboo.

Sylvia Johnson owns The Island Club with her husband. They live in a beautiful house overlooking the water with their teenage daughter. Everyone in the community envies her life. Sylvia’s husband makes a mistake that destroys their happy home.

Adele Lambert had been working at an amusement park until Milly, and her children showed up one day and cause Adele to get fired. Doing the bookkeeping and helping run the rides wasn’t the life she wanted but it was working for now.  Adele has a secret that she thinks would make her complicated and unhappy life unbearable if it came out.

The three women become friends. They learn to trust each other. They learn to believe in themselves.

This is a nostalgic look at the 50’s. A time when women went to college to get a husband. They were taught to be the perfect wife and mother. Women had an image that took a lot of work. Everything they did was for someone else. Women forgot how to live their own lives.

This was a great story about women, friendships, and family. A snapshot of the 50’s that probably only existed on television and the movies but women felt they had to be like those make-believe characters.

I loved watching the women grow and the found family aspect of this book. It was interesting to see how the women overcame their hardships and created the lives they were meant to have.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with strong female characters and the nostalgia of the 1950’s.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author and I would read more.

First published April 28, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

Books by Nicola Harrison:

The Island Club

Hotel Laguna

The Show Girl

The Island Girls

What I am currently reading:

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce – A NetGalley Book. It is so scary, I have to read it during the day.

Two Bodies are Better than One by Erica Ruth Neubauer – A book from an author I met this week. I do have another from her to read eventually.

Reviews that are coming up:

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I just watched the adaptation with Sally Fields and highly recommend it. If you loved the book as much as I did, you need to watch the movie. Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus. There I saved you from having to look it up.

If you think The Island Club sounds good, check out these reviews:

https://virginia-gruver.com/2026/03/09/so-old-so-young-by-grant-ginder/

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/07/11/murder-on-an-italian-island-by-t-a-williams/

Happy reading!

Rate this:

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

This story is set in 1956 Balboa Island, California. It’s about three women struggling with life issues that they fear will destroy them.

Milly Kincaid has moved to the island with her husband and two children. Milly fears that her husband is cheating. He is an executive on a television show in Hollywood. Milly knows that the leading lady on the show is beautiful and assumes that she is who keeping him from coming home to his family except on weekends. Milly struggles to be the perfect wife, thinking that will save her marriage. She can’t let anyone know because divorce is taboo.

Sylvia Johnson owns The Island Club with her husband. They live in a beautiful house overlooking the water with their teenage daughter. Everyone in the community envies her life. Sylvia’s husband makes a mistake that destroys their happy home.

Adele Lambert had been working at an amusement park until Milly, and her children showed up one day and cause Adele to get fired. Doing the bookkeeping and helping run the rides wasn’t the life she wanted but it was working for now.  Adele has a secret that she thinks would make her complicated and unhappy life unbearable if it came out.

The three women become friends. They learn to trust each other. They learn to believe in themselves.

This is a nostalgic look at the 50’s. A time when women went to college to get a husband. They were taught to be the perfect wife and mother. Women had an image that took a lot of work. Everything they did was for someone else. Women forgot how to live their own lives.

This was a great story about women, friendships, and family. A snapshot of the 50’s that probably only existed on television and the movies but women felt they had to be like those make-believe characters.

I loved watching the women grow and the found family aspect of this book. It was interesting to see how the women overcame their hardships and created the lives they were meant to have.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with strong female characters and the nostalgia of the 1950’s.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author and I would read more.

First published April 28, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

Books by Nicola Harrison:

The Island Club

Hotel Laguna

The Show Girl

The Island Girls

What I am currently reading:

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce – A NetGalley Book. It is so scary, I have to read it during the day.

Two Bodies are Better than One by Erica Ruth Neubauer – A book from an author I met this week. I do have another from her to read eventually.

Reviews that are coming up:

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I just watched the adaptation with Sally Fields and highly recommend it. If you loved the book as much as I did, you need to watch the movie. Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus. There I saved you from having to look it up.

If you think The Island Club sounds good, check out these reviews:

https://virginia-gruver.com/2026/03/09/so-old-so-young-by-grant-ginder/

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/07/11/murder-on-an-italian-island-by-t-a-williams/

Happy reading!

Rate this:

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

This story is set in 1956 Balboa Island, California. It’s about three women struggling with life issues that they fear will destroy them.

Milly Kincaid has moved to the island with her husband and two children. Milly fears that her husband is cheating. He is an executive on a television show in Hollywood. Milly knows that the leading lady on the show is beautiful and assumes that she is who keeping him from coming home to his family except on weekends. Milly struggles to be the perfect wife, thinking that will save her marriage. She can’t let anyone know because divorce is taboo.

Sylvia Johnson owns The Island Club with her husband. They live in a beautiful house overlooking the water with their teenage daughter. Everyone in the community envies her life. Sylvia’s husband makes a mistake that destroys their happy home.

Adele Lambert had been working at an amusement park until Milly, and her children showed up one day and cause Adele to get fired. Doing the bookkeeping and helping run the rides wasn’t the life she wanted but it was working for now.  Adele has a secret that she thinks would make her complicated and unhappy life unbearable if it came out.

The three women become friends. They learn to trust each other. They learn to believe in themselves.

This is a nostalgic look at the 50’s. A time when women went to college to get a husband. They were taught to be the perfect wife and mother. Women had an image that took a lot of work. Everything they did was for someone else. Women forgot how to live their own lives.

This was a great story about women, friendships, and family. A snapshot of the 50’s that probably only existed on television and the movies but women felt they had to be like those make-believe characters.

I loved watching the women grow and the found family aspect of this book. It was interesting to see how the women overcame their hardships and created the lives they were meant to have.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with strong female characters and the nostalgia of the 1950’s.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author and I would read more.

First published April 28, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

Books by Nicola Harrison:

The Island Club

Hotel Laguna

The Show Girl

The Island Girls

What I am currently reading:

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce – A NetGalley Book. It is so scary, I have to read it during the day.

Two Bodies are Better than One by Erica Ruth Neubauer – A book from an author I met this week. I do have another from her to read eventually.

Reviews that are coming up:

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I just watched the adaptation with Sally Fields and highly recommend it. If you loved the book as much as I did, you need to watch the movie. Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus. There I saved you from having to look it up.

If you think The Island Club sounds good, check out these reviews:

https://virginia-gruver.com/2026/03/09/so-old-so-young-by-grant-ginder/

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/07/11/murder-on-an-italian-island-by-t-a-williams/

Happy reading!

Rate this:

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

This story is set in 1956 Balboa Island, California. It’s about three women struggling with life issues that they fear will destroy them.

Milly Kincaid has moved to the island with her husband and two children. Milly fears that her husband is cheating. He is an executive on a television show in Hollywood. Milly knows that the leading lady on the show is beautiful and assumes that she is who keeping him from coming home to his family except on weekends. Milly struggles to be the perfect wife, thinking that will save her marriage. She can’t let anyone know because divorce is taboo.

Sylvia Johnson owns The Island Club with her husband. They live in a beautiful house overlooking the water with their teenage daughter. Everyone in the community envies her life. Sylvia’s husband makes a mistake that destroys their happy home.

Adele Lambert had been working at an amusement park until Milly, and her children showed up one day and cause Adele to get fired. Doing the bookkeeping and helping run the rides wasn’t the life she wanted but it was working for now.  Adele has a secret that she thinks would make her complicated and unhappy life unbearable if it came out.

The three women become friends. They learn to trust each other. They learn to believe in themselves.

This is a nostalgic look at the 50’s. A time when women went to college to get a husband. They were taught to be the perfect wife and mother. Women had an image that took a lot of work. Everything they did was for someone else. Women forgot how to live their own lives.

This was a great story about women, friendships, and family. A snapshot of the 50’s that probably only existed on television and the movies but women felt they had to be like those make-believe characters.

I loved watching the women grow and the found family aspect of this book. It was interesting to see how the women overcame their hardships and created the lives they were meant to have.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with strong female characters and the nostalgia of the 1950’s.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author and I would read more.

First published April 28, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

Books by Nicola Harrison:

The Island Club

Hotel Laguna

The Show Girl

The Island Girls

What I am currently reading:

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce – A NetGalley Book. It is so scary, I have to read it during the day.

Two Bodies are Better than One by Erica Ruth Neubauer – A book from an author I met this week. I do have another from her to read eventually.

Reviews that are coming up:

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I just watched the adaptation with Sally Fields and highly recommend it. If you loved the book as much as I did, you need to watch the movie. Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus. There I saved you from having to look it up.

If you think The Island Club sounds good, check out these reviews:

https://virginia-gruver.com/2026/03/09/so-old-so-young-by-grant-ginder/

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/07/11/murder-on-an-italian-island-by-t-a-williams/

Happy reading!

Rate this:

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

This story is set in 1956 Balboa Island, California. It’s about three women struggling with life issues that they fear will destroy them.

Milly Kincaid has moved to the island with her husband and two children. Milly fears that her husband is cheating. He is an executive on a television show in Hollywood. Milly knows that the leading lady on the show is beautiful and assumes that she is who keeping him from coming home to his family except on weekends. Milly struggles to be the perfect wife, thinking that will save her marriage. She can’t let anyone know because divorce is taboo.

Sylvia Johnson owns The Island Club with her husband. They live in a beautiful house overlooking the water with their teenage daughter. Everyone in the community envies her life. Sylvia’s husband makes a mistake that destroys their happy home.

Adele Lambert had been working at an amusement park until Milly, and her children showed up one day and cause Adele to get fired. Doing the bookkeeping and helping run the rides wasn’t the life she wanted but it was working for now.  Adele has a secret that she thinks would make her complicated and unhappy life unbearable if it came out.

The three women become friends. They learn to trust each other. They learn to believe in themselves.

This is a nostalgic look at the 50’s. A time when women went to college to get a husband. They were taught to be the perfect wife and mother. Women had an image that took a lot of work. Everything they did was for someone else. Women forgot how to live their own lives.

This was a great story about women, friendships, and family. A snapshot of the 50’s that probably only existed on television and the movies but women felt they had to be like those make-believe characters.

I loved watching the women grow and the found family aspect of this book. It was interesting to see how the women overcame their hardships and created the lives they were meant to have.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with strong female characters and the nostalgia of the 1950’s.

This was the first book I have ever read by this author and I would read more.

First published April 28, 2026

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

Books by Nicola Harrison:

The Island Club

Hotel Laguna

The Show Girl

The Island Girls

What I am currently reading:

Dark is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce – A NetGalley Book. It is so scary, I have to read it during the day.

Two Bodies are Better than One by Erica Ruth Neubauer – A book from an author I met this week. I do have another from her to read eventually.

Reviews that are coming up:

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I just watched the adaptation with Sally Fields and highly recommend it. If you loved the book as much as I did, you need to watch the movie. Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus. There I saved you from having to look it up.

If you think The Island Club sounds good, check out these reviews:

https://virginia-gruver.com/2026/03/09/so-old-so-young-by-grant-ginder/

https://virginia-gruver.com/2025/07/11/murder-on-an-italian-island-by-t-a-williams/

Happy reading!

Rate this:

The True Love Experiment "Full of big laughs, a few tears, and some seriously steamy scenes" Sale: $18.99 to $2.99 by Christina Lauren Rating: 4.4/5 (14,883 Reviews) #romance #contemporary #booksky #books #romcom #summerreads #fizzy

The True Love Experiment