Hat Trick

by Lisa Kusel

The extraordinary story of two women and the man who came between them, from the acclaimed author of Other Fish in the Sea . Mona and Hannah were best friends in high school, but they let their friendship slip away in the aftermath of a complicated love triangle with Peter, a man ten years older. Now in their thirties, Mona is a Hollywood movie producer and Hannah imports African goods for her store on the Northern California coast. In an ironic twist of fate, the two women and Peter cross paths again on the exotic island of Zanzibar. When they meet again, the bonds of love, guilt, and responsibility that kept them tied to one another are brought to the surface. Told in alternating voices and taking readers from California to New York to East Africa, Hat Trick is the richly compelling story of three people reunited -- or forever divided.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 13, 2005

About the author

I’m both an avid reader as well an an author, which is why I like hanging out on Goodreads. The reader in me really enjoys combing through other people’s book reviews. I so appreciate when folks I follow or are friends with recommend new authors, or cheer me on when I begin a book they themselves loved.

The author in me is just as grateful for the community here. Whether you loved, liked, or flat-out hated one of my books—I’m just thrilled to see my stories being read; connections being made.

The books that I've written include the novel HAT TRICK; OTHER FISH IN THE SEA, (a collection of linked stories); RASH, my wildly funny memoir about running away to (and from!) Bali; and THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT, a sexy psychological thriller that came out in July 2024.

My newest book is titled LONG WAY DOWN. It's a thriller about a young woman named Deni Rydell who believes that marrying into an uber wealthy local family will make all her dreams come true. As you might have guessed...oh, man, is she ever wrong. It comes out October 21, 2025. I can't wait for you to read it.

When I’m not volunteering at my local food shelf, meditating or cooking, I can be found wrangling words (as well as my crazy cat, Dave) at my desk overlooking Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.

Welcome to my world. Oh, and please follow me on Instagram @lisa_kusel

Reviews

[Misha · Rating 1 out of 5]

BookList: When it comes to love and friendship, the past can truly come back to haunt us. When powerful film-producer Mona and her old high-school friend, Hannah, a health-nut import-store owner, run into one another in Zanzibar, they must figuratively and literally face the man who drove them apart. Peter, a suave journalist 10 years older, wooed and bedded both women back when in high school. But he was Hannah's boyfriend then, and when she found out about Mona's betrayal, their friendship was severed. Hannah, it turns out, never really got over Peter, and now these feelings are crippling a new relationship with her loving boyfriend, Luke. The African backdrop provides an unusual setting for this light and airy romantic melodrama, although the novel is weighed down by clunky descriptions and pinched dialogue. Still, Kusel does well with the details of these tangled relationships, and the story picks up nicely as the trio moves toward a complex reconciliation. For fans of prime-time soaps. -- MishaStone (BookList, 06-01-2005, p1753)

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim. It was entertaining and not particularly deep.

[Theresa]

Great book by local GV/NC writer!