University High alumna Nicola Harrison’s latest historical novel, “The Island Club,” follows three women whose lives are unraveling in shockingly different ways. Crumbling marriages, financial ruin and long-kept secrets all create rising tensions. But their unlikely friendship, and the game of tennis, might offer what it takes to save them.
“Setting comes first for me,” says Harrison, whose new book follows her 2022 novel, “Hotel Laguna,” set in 1940s Laguna Beach. “It’s usually a place I know and love, or a place I want to dig into. Once I do some research and discover the historical elements, the plot develops from there.”
Harrison knows Orange County well. Although born in England, her family moved to Irvine when Harrison was 14. She attended University High and still frequents her parents’ home in Westpark. Her favorite spots to relax in Irvine? “Left Coast Brewing Company and Postino Park Place,” she says. “They offer a great happy hour and a perfect place to share a cheese board with a glass of rosé.
Harrison navigates the line between work and play, especially when she returns to Irvine. “As a writer, I’m always on the lookout for a great coffee shop where I can caffeinate and write, and Irvine does not disappoint,” she says. “Favorite spots include Press & Moka, the Atrium and Wall Writers Coffee.”
Some iconic places on Balboa Island made it into the novel, including The Village Inn, Jolly Roger and the banana stands. Harrison included the tennis angle because she wanted to remind women to keep having fun. “Many women forget to play. They’re too busy mothering and working. Whether it’s giving yourself permission to try something new – pickleball, tennis, an art class, whatever – that sense of play is important and something I wanted to write about.”
Nicola Harrison uses iconic OC spots for settings in her novels “Hotel Laguna” and “The Island Club.”
