Reviews

Hotel Laguna by Nicola Harrison, Nicola Harrison

kncunnin's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mbenzz's review

2.0

This book started strong, but Hazel sucks. She has no redeeming qualities, and every decision she makes is more stupid than the last. Hanson is your textbook 'Grumpy Old Man With a Secret', and the story as a whole was just 'meh'.

This book is struggling with a major identity crisis. Is it WWII women's fiction? Is it a vintage beach-town read? Is it art fiction? Yes...and no. It's all and none of those things, and because of that, it fails to draw the reader in.

Overall, this was very forgettable and I would not recommend it. I'm sorry I gave it the amount of time I did.

cmankus's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

alexandrea's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

melanielee's review

emotional informative medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

elothwen's review against another edition

4.0

This was a light book that, although extremely frustrating at about the 3/4 mark, did its job and told a nice story. I liked Hazel most of the time, despite her plethora of constant mistakes and habit of thinking everything is her fault and refusing to listen to other people. Hanson was so real, but besides those two the other characters were so-so. I wish Hazel had more relevant girl friends; Scarlet was interesting but you'll see where that goes once you read. Additionally, all of the townspeople needed a little more flavor, but Jimmy was a decent love interest.

Spoiler

I almost want to give 3 stars simply because of how much "Jeanene" (what is this spelling?) annoyed me. Not necessarily her as a character—yes she was a horrible girlfriend best left behind in teenagerhood, but still—but that situation... Just irritating problem-causing stuff. I know a book is all about problems and solutions but that felt so unnecessary. Her guilt over Bobby should have driven her desire to keep away from Jimmy instead of the fact that he had a girlfriend. And then he just dumped her! I wish there had been more conversation about how they had completely different goals in life.

I genuinely was saddened (and excited) by the ending, even if I saw a lot of it coming. I don't mind seeing what's coming; in fact sometimes you better do what I see coming or else you aren't a decent fluffy historical fiction novel. The setting was whatever to me. I don't care much about California or the Pacific Coast or the beach, but it was an okay backdrop. The 1940s part was more of my interest, and the sprinkle of Old Hollywood was very much me. I really liked it, and I look forward to more books from this author.

hstone's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.0

shesalwaysreading's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Enjoyable overall but my mind wandered in parts. I’m not a huge historical fiction reader but hadn’t read this author before. I won’t read again but did like it. 

lolalu's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

gabizago's review

5.0

I love how this book depicts life before and after WWII, with a girl trying to find her purpose in life after women were no longer needed on factory jobs anymore at the end of the war. She eventually finds a job as an assistant to an eccentric painter and gets to learn about her life in Laguna Beach, and around the Hotel Laguna.