Cover Image: Bloomsbury Girls

Bloomsbury Girls

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Member Reviews

A slow, dreamy visit to Bloomsbury Books. It's post WWII 1950s London and three amazing women work in the bookstore amidst the men who are resisting change at every turn. I was immediately immersed in the time period and in the lives of Vivien, Grace and Evie. A lovely historical fiction novel to read when you want to be fully engaged in a lovely story.

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This book was such a pleasant surprise to return to after a lengthy absence. My only regret is not finishing it when I started it. The characters are we developed and time period appropriate, with so many wonderful person characteristics as to make them each memorable. This book is going to sit in my thoughts for a long time.

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Bloomsbury Girls is an exquisite and enthralling novel that pays tribute to the influence of literature, women, and friendship. It is an ideal selection for admirers of historical fiction, books about books, and Jane Austen. I would earnestly endorse it to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted story with remarkable characters and a touch of history.

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I really enjoyed this book and am so thankful to have an early copy! You'll love it, especially if you are a histoical fiction fan! Thank you so much to netgalley for this advanced readers copy!

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Any novel portraying female authors is at the top of my list. Bloomsbury Girls did not disappoint. The second I. The Jane Austen Society and it’s a must read. It’s a journey through books that will make your heart smile.

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I enjoyed this slow burn historical fiction set just after WW2. Strong female characters and a book store - what’s not to love!

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I loved this book. I loved the characters and the pace of the story. Thanks Net Galley for an advance copy. I have recommended to my book club and my mother who loves reading tooQ

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I really enjoyed this story about the women and pushing themselves in a man's world bookstore. Very descriptive and you felt you working right along with these women. Great story.

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Such a darling book! I couldn’t put it down. It was just what I needed on a nice family getaway. Such rich history and captivating plot and so well written. Loved it!

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This was an interesting look at historical lies in a fictional way. I found it interesting, and was constantly surprised with the flow of the book.

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What a wonderful book with great characters! I absolutely loved this book and I will look forward to her next new book to be released so I can read it too. Thank you for such a great book!

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Bloomsbury Girls is the second in the series The Jane Austen Society and often references the events and characters of that book. While reading The Jane Austen Society first isn’t necessary, I would recommend starting with that one.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and while some of the male supporting characters were a little hazy for me at first, the three women central to the story: Evie, Vivien and Grace were strong and defined. The period directly following the end of WWII was a time of transition for women, who had stepped up during the war and filled jobs the men vacated while they were off fighting, only to be expected to move aside once the war was over to let the men fill those power positions once again.
While I loved the concept of this book, enjoyed the setting of the bookstore and find this time period after the Second World War quite interesting, the characters and storyline failed to really grab me until about the last third of the book. I’m glad I stuck with it, as I really loved the ending! The women in the story rise up and take what they want, and I enjoyed how the group of women came together to become a powerful force.
Though I found this book slow-moving, if you’re a fan of historical fiction, post-war London, books about books and bookstores, this story might be for you.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Another delightful historical fiction from Natalie Jenner! I was pleasantly surprised to see Evie from The Jane Austen Society in this book. What a fun connection.

I really enjoyed this story, although it was slow to start, it really picks up when we start to learn more about our three main female characters and their lives. I was thrilled by the ending, although as a romance girl I do wish there was a bit more romance between two of the main characters who had lots of tension build up throughout the book.

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3.5 Stars

Couldn’t wait to dive into this book. But, it was too slow for my liking. Loved the premise…three women from different walks of life trying to eek out a living in post WWII London as booksellers. Misogynists who refuse to see these women’s worth or take them seriously. Yes, I know very pertinent to the era but frustrating all the same. The women band together for a surprising? ending. While I found each of the three woman's stories compelling, I couldn’t connect with them. Racism and abuse are also brought into play. Visits by well known figures are also introduced.

While the writing and premise were stellar, it was just too slow moving for me. I found myself skimming some parts.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

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Oh, how I love Natalie Jenner's books. The eloquence of her writing and the superb storytelling is simply delightful. These three women are captivating as they follow their path to self-discovery and discover what their futures could be if they follow their dreams.


Reviewer Note: For a while, I originally posted on my website because that was where most of my followers were, and it was the easiest for me at the time. Then my website crashed. The reviews I wrote were lost. I am doing my best to post my comments here from what I can remember. Starting 2023, I have been posting across platforms (site/Instagram, Goodreads, & Amazon) so that the reviews are in more places.

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I enjoyed reading this story so much. It was a great tie in to Natalie Jenner's first book, The Jane Austen Society, and it was great to revisit one of it's characters. I love the fact that the story is focused on the women of the shop, and how they were essentially sidelined due to their gender, especially during this period in history. A great book club read, beach read, and especially for lover's of historical fiction and all things London. Highly recommend,

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I thought this one was just an ok read. It kept my interest throughout, and I did enjoy the characters. There just seemed to be something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

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The setting is Bloomsbury Books in London, 5 years after the end of WWII. The story focuses on three strong, independent women who work in the shop and the many problems they encounter from the men they work with. The men are responsible for making all of the shop decisions, but our three heroines know how to make things happen behind the scenes! Once again this book brings together everything I love: books, bookstores, historical fiction and authors of that time period. All in all, a very charming read.

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Reading books out of order is the worst thing ever! I didn’t realize this was the second book in The Jane Austen Society when I first got it. While you could probably read it as a stand alone, it does mention characters from the first book.

Having said that, a book about books and bookstores? Witty women? Count. Me. In.

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This is well done post WWII historical fiction. It tells the story of three women who work in an old bookstore with long established rules. They’re all in different family situations, and recognize that the world is moving on after the war. They meet many well known literary figures like Beckett and DuMaurier, and their horizons are expanded even further.

I enjoyed the setting and the characters especially. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

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