The Island Club: A Novel
Apr 2026 · Sold by St. Martin's Press
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5 reviews
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352
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About this ebook
"The Island Club is a Carrie Soto is Back meets Big Little Lies delight that will exceed all reader expectations!" —Lynda Loigman
"A story of the power of friendship, the defiance of societal expectations, and the finding of one's true self." — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author
An unputdownable novel of loves lost and found, shocking secrets—and the power of female friendship.
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.
"A beautifully written nuanced story that explores the power of female friendship." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
"The perfect summer read . . . for anyone who loves a smart, juicy escape!" —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author
"No beach bag will be complete without this." —Steven Rowley
"A story of the power of friendship, the defiance of societal expectations, and the finding of one's true self." — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author
An unputdownable novel of loves lost and found, shocking secrets—and the power of female friendship.
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.
"A beautifully written nuanced story that explores the power of female friendship." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author
"The perfect summer read . . . for anyone who loves a smart, juicy escape!" —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author
"No beach bag will be complete without this." —Steven Rowley
"The Island Club is a Carrie Soto is Back meets Big Little Lies delight that will exceed all reader expectations!" —Lynda Loigman
"A story of the power of friendship, the defiance of societal expectations, and the finding of one's true self." — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author
...
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Ratings and reviews
5 reviews
Kristina Anderson
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May 16, 2026
The Island Club by Nicola Harrison is a delightful beach read with a vivid 1950s Balboa Island setting. I really enjoyed following Milly, Adele, and Sylvia, whose shared love of tennis brings them together as each faces challenges in her marriage. The female friendship was one of my favorite parts of the story, even if their bond developed a little quickly. Overall, this is a charming mid-century novel that’s perfect for the pool or beach and a solid 4-star read for me.
Jane Ward
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April 28, 2026
The Island Club is an Historical Novel by Nicola Harrison set in 1950’s Balboa Island, just off the California coast. Secrets, scandal, and truths are revealed. Harrison’s characters are down to earth, realistic but at the same time interesting and unusual . The character’s lives are full of carefully hidden secrets, scandals, and love. I was thinking of this author a few days ago and her book Montauk which I thoroughly enjoyed and wishing for another of her books. Wishes sometimes come true!
julie barrett
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April 28, 2026
-This story starts with the woman's' names and you learn a bit about each of them from how they got to the island, to what they are doing today. Each has their own secrets that come to light over time. Like the island as it's a cool place, something for everyone to do. Sylvia and her spouse own the club house and run the tennis courts also. When she learns what her spouse did she takes things into her own hands to recoup and to be able to stay on the island. Adele is the new female tennis
About the author
NICOLA HARRISON is the author of Montauk, The Show Girl, Hotel Laguna and The Island Club. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Stony Brook University. Prior to writing novels she worked as a fashion journalist in New York City. Now she resides in Manhattan Beach, California, with her husband, two sons and a high maintenance chihuahua named Lily.
NICOLA HARRISON is the author of Montauk, The Show Girl, Hotel Laguna and The Island Club. She is a graduate of UCLA and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Stony Brook University. Prior to writing novels she worked as a fashion journalist in New York City. Now she resides in Manhattan Beac...
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