Mini Reviews: Historical Beach Reads

 

There's nothing better than escaping in a summertime read that has a gorgeous setting that transports readers to a far away place. That's exactly what these two historical novels do; they would be perfect to get lost in this summer.

 

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison

Pages: 304

Pub. Date: April 28, 2026

Publisher: St. Martin

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author:

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "1956: On idyllic Balboa Island, just off the California coast, life seems peaceful and welcoming. But when the lives of three women begin to unravel in shockingly different ways, an unlikely friendship―and the game of tennis―may be the only thing that can save them.

Milly Kinkaid's plan to fix her crumbling marriage seems to be falling apart before it even begins. She believed that moving her young family from Hollywood to Balboa Island might entice her increasingly distant husband to come home earlier after work. Instead, he's barely coming home at all.

Society matriarch Sylvia Johnson and her husband have been pillars of their community for decades, and have just recently begun a new business venture: The Island Club, a place for members to swim, play tennis and dine in style. But when she learns that he has been risking their financial security and putting their family's future in grave danger, she's not only poised to lose the club, but the entire community she holds dear.

Meanwhile, standoffish loner Adele Lambert's entire world is on the brink of being destroyed if the dark secrets of her past and her hidden identity is revealed. Twenty years ago, she ran from a shameful scandal and left behind the only thing she ever loved. Now, terrified that the anonymity she's spent decades guarding will be exposed, but desperate to stay afloat, she risks everything to return to the game that brought her to her knees all those years before.

Set against the sun-drenched beaches of Balboa Island, with its prim and proper 1950s facade, The Island Club is a story of love, loneliness and the lies we tell ourselves―and what can be gained when the truth is finally revealed."

 

It's 1956 on Balboa Island, a small island off the California Coast. Three very different women come together over the summer, and their lives are forever changed. First, there's Milly, a young mother who has moved with her family from Hollywood to avoid the hustle and bustle of the workaholic crowd. She hopes that by living here, her husband will want to unwind more, spend more time with his family, and stop working late nights. However, he seems to have gotten worse. Then there's Sylvia, a pillar of the community and the owner of Balboa's exclusive The Island Club, This private club is where residents can swim, play tennis, and dine after paying the hefty fee to get in. All is well and good until Sylvia realizes her husband got them into a financial disaster. Lastly, there's Adele, who keeps to herself. No one really knows her backstory, but she has come to the island to hide from secrets that have plagued her for years. Her great love was tennis, and she finds herself being drawn back to the game, especially as the other women take interest in it at The Island Club, but she is worried people will find out about her past. Nicola Harrison's The Island Club is an easy summer read with a great historical setting; the tennis subplot keeps readers entertained, and all the mellow drama that ensues on this island kept me flipping the pages. Ultimately, I was rooting for the women to find their way, and I liked how they challenged society's expectations.
 
A private island on the coast of California seems like the perfect setting for a summertime read, and Harrison does a wonderful job bringing it to life in The Island Club . Each chapter is from a different woman's point of view, so that helps readers dive into each woman's backstory and what makes them tick. All three women have secrets that they are hiding, and behind the perfect facade, perhaps their lives aren't picture perfect. I enjoyed how Adele, Milly, and Sylvia's stories were interconnected by the end. The Island Club is a charming summer read for fans of historical beach reads focusing on the power of women and female friendships.

 

 

 

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom

Pages: 400

Pub. Date: March 17, 2026

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "For sale: Greek cottage. One Euro. Skye doesn’t make impulsive decisions. But when she sees a derelict Greek cottage for sale by lottery, she enters with dreams of a fresh start.

However, her heart sinks as she pushes open the tattered blue door weeks later. Can this wreck ever be her home?

Then Skye finds a bundle of letters hidden in the fireplace, their faded pages drawing her in with a story of long-forgotten love, tragedy, and unbelievable bravery.

But all the while, Skye’s own past is circling. No matter how far she goes, fate is never far behind…

This gorgeously sweeping, escapist dual-timeline novel is perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Victoria Hislop and Lucinda Riley."

 

 

 

Skye MacKinnon has won a lottery to buy a cottage on a Greek island for only one euro. The cottages date back to the 1940s and have largely been abandoned. It's up to Skye to get her cottage in working order, and once she sees the views, she is smitten. It's much different than her life in dreary England! While working on the cottage with local contractor, Andreas, she finds hidden letters dating back to the 1940s. Through these letters, Skye finds out more about the island during the war, the cottage's previous residents, and more. Broom includes chapters that flashback to the 1940s, which paint a brighter picture of the past. In addition to the flashbacks, there's also a focus on Skye, her new life on the Greek island, the other residents of the cottages, and the connection to the 1940s during WWII, when the Nazis infiltrated the island. The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom is a novel that will transport readers to sunny Greece, and is perfect for readers who enjoy historical touches in their summer reads.
 
Who hasn't dreamed of escaping to a remote Greek island and renovating a cottage? This is an ideal fantasy right here, and I loved how Broom helped readers escape to Skye's world. She added a layer of intrigue by including a tie to WWII through the hidden letters; however, it never got overly dark, and hope was always bubbling to the surface. Also, I enjoyed Skye and Andreas' relationship, as well as the rest of the residents on the island. If you appreciate beach reads with an emotional plot and a strong sense of community, not to mention a gorgeous setting, check out The House of Hidden Letters this summer.

 

 

 

In the comments below, et me know if The Island Club  or The House of Hidden Letters is on your summer TBR list.