The cover is stunning! I was attracted to reading Bachelor Girl because the description compared it to the secrets in Lilac Girls and The Alice Network which are two of my favorite books. I have also liked the New York Yankees from watching games with my grandfather in the 1950s. For me, I think the author tried to do too much in her plot which made the novel too long.

I'm usually not into reading historical novels but this one caught my attention so I gave it a chance. It was not what I expected and a little boring for my personal taste but the overall history of the book was interesting and the strong female lead was great. It's hard to make two different points of views work in a story and I didn't like it too much in this one but it wasn't the worst book I've read. Recommended to people who enjoy historical novels.

What a lovely look into historic NYC and baseball, two of my favorite things! This book is more than just NYC and baseball - it's a very realistic portrayal of the time, starting in 1918 and going through 1939. Bachelor Girl depicts real life, complete with taboos and secrets (homosexuality, prohibition and alcohol, women's rights, abortions, inter-racial relations, etc). The prose is well written and fluid, and the characters are well developed and seem genuine. The story of Bachelor Girl draws you into a world long lost, where women were only gaining their independence and loving who you want was still hidden.

3.5* and just under 4*
I liked “Orphan 8” and as soon as I knew this author had another book out, I got hold of a copy.
I enjoy reading historical fiction and since I grew up in Manhattan with a dad who was a Yankee fan and taking me to games when I was a child, I knew I had to read this book. It was not a disappointment.
I like that the author wrote a few pages in the end about what was true and what was not. I like when this is commented on.
I enjoyed the characters and how the author tied it up in the end.
What’s holding me back from more stars? Not sure other than my thoughts that if one was going to use real, historical figures, then the whole relationship between two main fictional characters just didn’t fit well with me.
That aside, I’m glad I read it and I did enjoy the story.

If you like historical fiction, baseball, and strong female protagonists, this book is for you, I found myself looking forward to picking it up in between meetings at work, which is always a sign of engagement as a reader. It is told in alternating narrations by the two main characters and the story is weaved together flawlessly. The descriptive writing about old NYC was charming and endearing.

Thanks Touchstone and netgalley for this ARC.

Alkemade has a masterpiece with this one. All the drama, twists, and historical detail that makes a book great.

As storied a franchise as the New York Yankees are this was a story that I've never heard mention of in my years of watching baseball. The owner of the Yankees leaves part of the team and other pieces of his fortune to an unknown actress. Even searching online found very little mention of this story so I was intrigued to read the story. While fictionalized (some of the names were changed), I found this to be an interesting theory into the relationship between Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and Helen Winthrope. This book also looks into society at the time of Prohibition and tackles many issues including homosexuality, race relations, and women's rights.

I was interested in this book because I like stories about old New York. This book covers the period from 1918 to 1939. I was somewhat familiar with Jacob Ruppert, the wealthy owner of both the Ruppert Brewery and the New York Yankees, because I live near the site of the old brewery. Unfortunately, what I thought was going to be historical fiction turned out to be soap opera.

The book is written in alternating chapters from the points of view of Helen Winthrope, an actress, and Albert Kramer, Ruppert's personal secretary. Ruppert was an old friend of Helen's father and he helps her by supporting her career as a theater manager and producer and, as we learn in the prologue, he leaves her a fortune when he dies in 1939. Helen and Albert become friends and Helen hopes for more, but Albert is homosexual. In fact, Albert's chapters focus on nothing but Albert's sexuality and lovers (which doesn't include Helen).

The book has a little about Babe Ruth, the Yankees, homosexual life in the early 20th century, prohibition, racial discrimination, struggling small theaters and a not-at-all surprising twist. However, none of this amounts to much despite the excessive length of the book, and the story gets soapier as it progresses. I did finish this book but it wasn't what I expected or wanted.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I love historical fiction and this book was great. Set between 19-18, 1939, with a baseball theme. We go back and forth between Albert and Helen’s chapters and I enjoyed both main characters.

With regular season baseball just around the corner, Bachelor Girl by Kim Van Alkemade is sure to catch the attention of baseball fans. Set in the golden age of baseball, and the cusp of the Yankees acquiring before Babe Ruth, Bachelor Girl follows the lives of one seemingly quiet bachelor, Albert, and one equally sedate bachelorette, Helen. However, both Albert and Helen have personal histories that are quite scandalous for the time.

Bachelor Girl is loosely tied to the life Colonel Jacob Ruppert, former owner of the New York Yankees, and his bequest to and unknown actress upon his death. Val Alkemade attempts to develop a connection to Ruppert and a fictional Helen. Their connection is another big puzzle piece in Helen’s life and the reveal of this connection, which occurs late in Ruppert’s life, is not as deftly handled as Helen’s initial secret. Ruppert doesn’t play a big enough part in Albert’s or Helen’s life to have much influence in their daily lives. He’s painted as a man with a lot of money to throw around and once he throws his money into a venture, he leaves other people to manage it. If he had more hands-on involvement in Albert’s and Helen’s projects and lives, better connections and relationships may have developed between the three of them making the reason behind Ruppert’s bequest and his true connection to Helen more emotional and real.

While the title of the novel is Bachelor Girl, Albert’s story is the one that shines the brightest and examines the history of the gay community in the New York City. Albert’s life, lived in fear of being discovered, is fascinating and terrifying. Val Alkemade creates a tension in the story as Albert moves between his professional life and personal life, as daily he must choose who to reveal his true self to. While some of Albert’s story is jarring, there are grains of truth in this historical fiction novel. Albert’s story is more intriguing and refreshing as it is a love story that is not often told in mainstream fiction and becoming one that is fighting to being told more often.

On the flip side, Helen’s love story is one that is told time and time again. Trying to find a new way to tell the story of the young girl wronged by the older man can be difficult. Once Van Alkemade deftly reveals Helen’s first secret near the start of the novel, Helen’s journey to find love is plodding and predictable. It doesn’t feel as fully formed as Albert’s. While her true love is equally as scandalous as Albert’s, it doesn’t feel as dangerous as it should for the time. And as the novel comes to close and Helen’s story comes to an end, it doesn’t feel as joyous as Albert’s due to lack of character development of Helen’s love interest who just pops in and out of the story when Helen doesn’t have as much access to Albert.

Beyond the individual love stories that develop through the course of Bachelor Girl, readers also see how difficult times and situations can cause one of the most beautiful friendships to form between people. There’s a notion that men and women cannot be friends that is thrown out the window in Bachelor Girl and while Albert and Helen’s friendship may be seen as quite unconventional, it provides some of the brightest moments in the story as they strive to understand what they can give each other despite the differences in who they truly love.

Bachelor Girl is an enjoyable historical fiction novel. Told from two different points of view, readers gain insight into two different love stories and a unique friendship that binds two people together during difficult personal times. While Helen’s love story isn’t quite as satisfying as Albert’s, the duo of Helen and Albert together and their long-lasting friendship and understandings of each other needs will stick with readers beyond the final pages of the Bachelor Girl.

(This review appeared in print version The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) on April 1, 2018.)

I cannot praise Kim Van Alkemade enough. She has a way of bringing historical fiction to life. Her characters are rich with beautiful descriptions and a story line that brings you into the story. Beautifully written.

My review for this book can be found on my GoodReads account. The link to that account is https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly.

Jacob Ruppert the owner of the Yankees and whose family were the owners of a brewery (Knickerbocker Beer) is one of the central characters in this historical fiction.

The book begins with the reading of Jacob Ruppert's bequest to Helen Winthrope in 1939. The young unknown actress is now the owner of the Yankees and a wealthy heiress. Flashback to 1918 and New York city comes alive during the Jazz age. We meet Helen on a more intimate basis as well as Albert Kramer, Jacob Ruppert's personal secretary. Helen is an out of work actress when Ruppert takes her under his wing. It is through Jacob that Helen meets and forges a strong bond with Albert. But there are secrets between them, two of which we learn of immediately, that of Albert's homosexuality and Helen's inability to have children due to an illegal abortion and a life saving hysterectomy. It is Rupport who is the puppeteer managing the lives of the two protagonists and it is his secret that isn't divulged until the end of the book. Told in alternating chapters, Helen and Albert tell their story.

This novel gives us a glimpse into another world, so different from today, yet for those years, modern. During the 20 years this takes place we follow the edicts of that time...prohibition, racism, along with the fact that homosexuality was illegal. The depth of the emotions displayed by these characters so stunningly presented, at times brutal while also tragically heartbreaking. To be honest, it is Albert's story that seems to overtake the novel, it would seem as if Helen is a bystander, even though she is the one whose story this is, she is the "Bachelor Girl."

Growing up in the 50's I lived several blocks from the Yankee Stadium, never knew its history until I read this book. My thanks to NetGalley and Touchstone for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. Play Ball!!!!

4 stars

This was a great historical fiction novel! I was completely absorbed in this story and finished this book pretty quickly, considering it is a long one.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints from Helen and Albert and each one had their own distinct voice and each story was engaging. I liked how the novel is inspired by true events and it really gives a realistic view of NYC in early decades of the 20th century.

This is just good old fashioned storytelling and something that you can just sit down and read for extended periods of time. Many times I found myself reading long past the time that I wanted to and kept saying “one more chapter”. I would highly recommend this book.

Bachelor Girl was a heartwarming story of love and secrets set in NYC in the 20's and 30's. The story touched on a lot of forbidden subjects, homosexuality, abortion, prohibition and racial discrimination.

Unlike others, I enjoyed this book up until the oversimplified ending that read as if Kim Van Alkemede ran out of steam when writing her own book. A book that took a fictionalized look at the life of Jacob Ruppert, the original owner of the New York Yankees, and his bequest to a mysterious woman 35 years his junior. Van Alkemede winds a fantastical tale of love, loss, and redemption when she literally throws everything possible into this book and hopes that she does not lose her readers along the way.

While trying to hold to the known truths of a secretive man, the author introduces Helen Winthrop, a bachelor girl, who is determined to work and live life on her own terms whether it is as young girl kissing a boy that her mother disapproves of or refusing to marry solely because it is what is expected. What Helen did not realize is that as she is trying to live her life, there are secrets kept from her that will ultimately change her trajectory and take her down a path that she is little prepared for yet knows, by a gut instinct, what is right.

While attempting to keep the shock factor alive, Kim Van Alkemede introduces characters and situations that try to keep the book all-inclusive, but also has the tendency to add the “was that really necessary” vibe that has bothered other readers.

After reading this book, you will have to do a brief dive on the man that was Jacob Ruppert and decide for yourself what his story was. No one knows for sure the relationship between Ruppert and Winthrop since her only public remark was that they were like father and daughter, yet curious minds want to know more, and thus was the jumping off point for this author.

I received an e-arc of this book from TouchStone via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

As described on Amazon: From the New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8 comes a fresh and intimate novel in the vein of Lilac Girls and The Alice Network about the destructive power of secrets and the redemptive power of love—inspired by the true story of Jacob Ruppert, the millionaire owner of the New York Yankees, and his mysterious bequest in 1939 to an unknown actress, Helen Winthrope Weyant.

This description captured my attention and I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, I found that it was not a fit for me. I imagined that the book would focus primarily on Helen but found that Albert, Jacob's personal secretary was. I didn't connect with either character and therefore struggled to find a hold with the story.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book - it just wasn't a story that worked for me.

What's not to like about a book that revolves around love, New York City, Baseball and the good ok days in NYC.

Bachelor Girl is a sweet and heartwarming novel that is based on a true story of one of New York Yankees early owners. This story also touches the subjects such as female rights, homosexuality, abortion, and racial discrimination. This an incredible work of fiction touched my heart and will stay with me for a long time.

The novel takes place in a wonderful town - New York in early 1920s. After a long illness, Helen along with her mother and little brother are invited to the Yankees game by their family friend - Colonel Ruppert. While at the game, Helen meets and falls deeply in love with Colonel's personal secretary - Albert. Since that day Helen's life changes. Overnight, from an unknown actress, she becomes a theater manager, play producer and finally Colonel's companion. As years go by Albert and Helen's relationship grows as well, but the secret that Albert hides from the world keeps them apart. However, Albert is not the only one with the secret that can shock New York's society.

This marvelous novel is perfect for historical fiction lovers like myself.

3.5 stars

Baseball, historic NYC - two things I always enjoy reading about. This was about more than baseball and NYC, though. This book was definitely a very realistic portrayal of the time 1918 - 1939 with an depiction of some of the taboos of the time - homosexuality was hidden, alcohol was prohibited, abortions were illegal and racial discrimination was the norm.

Based on the real person, Jacob Ruppert, an intriguing man , a wealthy man, owner of a brewery and owner of the NY Yankees, the man who built Yankee Stadium and bought Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox. While a lot of the plot is focused on Rupert and his business endeavors, the story is told in alternating chapters of two other main characters, Helen Winthrope, an actress whose career has been cut short and Albert Kramer, personal secretary to Ruppert. They are taken under Ruppert’s wing as he furthers their careers. They all have secrets and while we know early on Helen’s and Albert’s secrets , it isn’t until the end that we learn Ruppert’s ,although I guessed it before it was revealed.

I enjoyed the story, the time and place and the characters. I couldn’t help but compare it to van Alkemade’s first novel. Although they are very different stories, this one lacked for me the intensity and the emotional depth of “Orphan Number Eight”. The book description was misleading in my opinion saying that this book was “in the vein of “The Lilac Girls” or “The Alice Network”. I didn’t see any real similarity. It was, though, definitely a fascinating look at the times. While I liked her first novel better, I will look for what she writes next.


I received an advanced copy of this book from Touchstone/Simon and Schuster through Edelweiss and NetGalley