Book Buzz: The Island Club
Happy August, neighbors!
We are officially in the last chapter of our summertime dreams, and it’s almost time to start thinking about back-to-school shopping. Gasp! If you think it’s way too soon, then allow me to introduce you to your new favorite read as the perfect distraction!
In June, I had the pleasure of meeting this month’s author, Nicola Harrison. Her book signing event at Blue Atlas Marketplace on Balboa Island was quaint and idyllic, and full of women who all shared the same desire—to talk about the juicy details and strong female friendship bond over wine, champagne and light snacks. Because I read this book in the weeks prior (and fell in love with it!) I just had to meet her! I knew immediately that this story needed to be shared with you, and it’s truly the ideal read to round out our summer.
Neighbors, may I present, "The Island Club!" Its backdrop is Southern California’s very own Balboa Island, set in the 1950s and it features the slow, unraveling lives of three women turned unlikely friends. Yes, despite this book being sun-kissed with family, fun, Balboa bars, and cocktail hours on the patio, it’s also full of gossip, lies, secrets and longings. It’s juicy and fun and all things summer, which makes for the perfect blend of historical fiction that we need to romanticize about what life on the Island was once like. Bal Week, beauty pageants and parades highlight BI’s prime time, but the street names, the ferry and neighborhood camaraderie make for a heartfelt read.
Let’s get into it!
First, there’s Milly. Her husband works in television in Hollywood, but Milly needed an escape from LA life for herself and two children and thought moving to Balboa Island would give them the peace and family time they all needed. She was also hoping it would make Lloyd actually want to come home most nights…she’d even settle for some nights.
Silvia and her husband, Walter, are Balboa Island pillars and they founded the Island Club just off Balboa Island. It is a tennis club with a pool for the wives and kids, and fine dining for its Newport Beach residents. What Sylvia doesn’t know is that Walter is up to his ears in debt because of it and owes quite a bit of money to some really bad men.
Finally, Adele. She is the only female tennis instructor at The Island Club and keeps to herself. She has a dark secret from her past that is threatening to bubble to the surface if she’s not careful. Despite her skill, she refuses to have her photo taken or be in the news in any way. She does not want anyone to know who she really is, and more importantly, what she’s done.
Their three lives all intertwine, and as the secrets spill out, the game of tennis may be the only thing that can help stop them all from falling apart.
The Island Club beautifully mingles drama and heart, while sweeping you away with the 50’s nostalgia of our dreams. So, neighbors, I hope you have a refreshing glass of rosé on hand as you dive into this deliciously refreshing read.
Happy reading!
Jill Gunderson
@ThatShelfLove
