Natalie Jenner has done it again! This was stunning. The plot was well-paced and captivating to the very end. The characters were well-developed and intriguing. I can't wait for more from Natalie. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Bloomsbury Girls is an epic of a novel. Taking place in 1950's London this story revolves around three very strong, determined women who work at Bloomsbury Bookstore. When the male owner takes ill, the girls step in and changes abound....or do they?
I savored this book and was rewarded with a very fine work of historical fiction.

I will now seek out Natalie Jenners previous book "The Jane Austin Society".

I enjoyed the author's previous work "The Jane Austen Society", and was very happy to read her latest, "The Bloomsbury Girls", picking up with the character of Evie, as she leaves Cambridge to start work in the post-war years. What a perfect book for booksellers this delightful novel is! Loved the setting of old-fashioned Bloomsbury Books and all the fussy, chauvinistic men there who have their apple-cart all upset by their smarter female colleagues! The call-backs to famous literary folk of the day are fantastic too! Highly recommend. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary DRC, which did not influence my review or opinions.

Thanks. To NetGalley, publisher and author for an advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

WOW! This book is SO GOOD! It is moving, thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, heartwarming, full of hope, poignant, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Bloomsbury Girls", I was whisked back in time to early 1950s England, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

I have previously read "The Jane Austen Society" by Natalie Jenner, and it is one of my favorite books, and Ms. Jenner is one of my favorite authors! Her writing style is vivid, visceral, and full of heart. Her passion for writing jumps directly off of the page, and, as the reader, I am immediately pulled into the story from the very first moment. Her characters feel like such real people, and I can only imagine the amount of thought and research Ms. Jenner puts into her story. She seamlessly weaves history and historical fiction together...and I simply could not put this book down!

This story surrounds three women: Evie, Vivien, and Grace. All three women are incredibly strong, intelligent, brave, passionate, and hard-working. Sadly, all three of them are often overlooked by the men around them, and are unfortunately not given the same opportunities as men. I do not want to spoil anything plot wise in this review, as this book truly is a must-read. But, I will say, Evie, Vivien, and Grace do not allow anything or anyone to get in their way. They stand up and fight for what they want, and for what they believe to be right. While the three women are different, they have much more in common than meets the eye at first, and they are there to support one another through the good, bad, and everything in between. I hope to see their stories continue!

So many famous historical figures are woven in throughout this story, and the way each person ties into the story is very powerful. I truly think this is a book for book lovers as well!

Some books you want to keep reading to find out what happens next, and some you want to slow down so the story never ends...this book is both of these!

If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! I found myself turning the pages into the early hours of the morning to see what would happen next, and I absolutely can't wait to read what Ms. Jenner writes next.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I adore books about bookstores and this one was no exception. It was very interesting to read the rules of the shop in that time period. Quite different from how retail workers are expected to be these days. I'm not as much into romance books, but I do like comparing and contrasting the different relationships shown in the book. Overall, it's a very nice snapshot of this point in time.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Books for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

I have read Natalie Jenner's previous novel The Jane Austin Society, and I liked how the author made connections between the two books. This story involves a book shop called Bloomsbury Books. All of the main characters-Vivien, Grace and Evie-work at the book shop. I also liked how the author used some of the literary figures of the time in this book. As a reader, I really enjoy reading about how they lived and their possible conversations. I really enjoyed this book!

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. If you loved The Jane Austen Society, you will love this follow up!
Evie Stone from the society leaves small town life and emerges in London after studying at Cambridge. She pursues a job at Bloomsbury Books where she meets a cast of characters that rivals the society members. We are introduced to the shop girls-Vivien and Grace as well as the surly manager, Mr. Dutton, whose medical condition requires him to leave the shop, and the women get a chance to lead. In constant competition with the men in the shop, the ladies use their skills and smarts to increase revenue and improve upon Mr. Dutton’s famous “rules.” Each chapter opens with one of his rules and promptly expands on how that rule was broken by an employee. With lots of excitement and even some subterfuge, we are immersed in the story of these women and their quest to outsmart the men once and for all.

This book is a wonderful work of historical fiction set in post WWII London and the sense of place is spot on. I loved everything about this one and highly recommend!

Bloomsbury Girls is among the most delightful books I’ve read this year. The story of three strong young women employed at Bloomsbury Books in 1950’s London, the plot, in general, revolves around the burgeoning feminist leadership in the shop.

There’s Vivien, a writer herself, who works in fiction at a fraction of the wages of her male colleague and erstwhile paramour, Alec. Then there’s Grace, the downtrodden wife of her unemployable husband, who is the managers secretary. And, finally, there’s Evie, a woman who was passed over by a man for a position at a prestigious university, despite the rigor of her research. She’s assigned to cataloging the rare books, of which there are thousands.

Evie is also on the hunt for the first edition of The Mummy, the first science fiction book written by a woman. And when she finds it, the real whirlwind of the story starts. This research is described in extensive, fascinating, historical detail.

There are a lot of characters and romances in this book, and every detail is wonderful. Every single character, fictional or based on historical information (like the widow of the late George Orwell, Daphne de Maurier, Samuel Becket, Ms. Guggenheim, to name but a few of the historical figures) leaps out of the pages before the reader’s eyes. One sees the three protagonists grow into their own selves, with identity and confidence emerging as the story unfolds. (And I’ll say no more about the intrigue that is the essence of this wonderful journey, as that would be venturing into spoiler land.) Every character who graces the pages of this book, male or female, major or minor, even a cat, has so much depth and contour that I didn’t want the book to end.
But, alas, stories end, and when I read the last page I kind of sighed and said to myself, “What a wonderful book.”

I was fascinated by Evie’s search for The Mummy and the historical details about it. The research for this, and, I am certain, all the historical figures who appear in this book, was spot on. There’s nothing made up about the historical facts that weave in and out of this book.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you, thank you, to Natalie Jenner. I can’t wait to read your first book and the books that follow this one. I’d give ten stars if I could.

Writing: 4.5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4.5/5

I loved this book — a great story that manages to combine a fascinating bit of history and early feminism with a literary mystery, historically accurate relationships, insightful writing, in-depth characters, and some great historical characters tossed in (Peggy Guggenheim, Daphne DuMaurier, Samuel Beckett to name a few)!

The story: three women are working at Bloomsbury Books in 1950. Vivien Lowry is a budding novelist with skill, drive, and determination who bristles at the male dominated store where nothing (including any promotion for women) has changed in years; Grace Perkins is married with two sons and grateful to have a job at all as her husband is an unemployed malcontent — “a difficult man, needing the whole of daily life joylessly cut into pieces to fit his unpredictable moods;” Evie Stone (my favorite) has one of the first Cambridge degrees bestowed on a woman but is denied an academic position in favor of a less-skilled man who will nonetheless manage to capitalize on her work. She has a wonderful plan in mind, though, and her position at the bookstore is not an accident!

What I loved about this book is that it depicts an accurate, not overly dramatized, portrayal of life for intelligent woman who sought to live outside the restrictive norms of the day. The three primary female characters each have their own talents, motivations, and personalities — and through them we can understand the experiences and frustrations of different women in this time period -- because after all, not all women are the same, then or now. I absolutely loved Evie’s passion for literary history and bringing neglected (not obscure!) 18th century women writers back into print. The author (who once ran an independent bookstore herself) knows her stuff and it comes out with delightful depth in every aspect of the story. I also appreciated the fact that, while a few of the men were simply two-dimensional jerks, many of the others were more ignorant than mean, and the author included some nice analyses of the motivations different men had for behaving the way they did and adhering to what were, after all, the norms of the time. Tossed into the mix were a gay male couple and a high-caste Indian gentleman in charge of the science section of the bookshop — all facing their own issues resulting from not fitting into the expectations of the time.

This is what I call a new breed of women’s fiction — there is some romance (though the developing relationships are formed based on compatibility and mutual trust and admiration rather than looks and money) but romance is but one component of a happy life, not the only ultimate goal. The book did have the requisite happy ending and while it may not have been completely realistic, surely it’s nice to enjoy the possibility.

Bloomsbury Girls is a book about friendships and women empowerment. It’s a book about taking action when you are not satisfied with your lot in life.

This book was fun and made me laugh out loud many times. It had great characters, and some very interesting women from the literary past. The story was well written and well researched, just a bit too much history and back story given for my taste.

Thank you Net Galley and Saint Martin Press for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

#NetGalley #Bloomsbury Girls

What an incredibly delightful story. I did not read the Jane Austen Society though it is on my TBR so this was my first introduction to any of the characters within this book. That being said, it took nothing away from this story not having read the other book first.

The Bloomsbury Girls revolve around three very strong minded women working for a London bookstore of course named Bloomsbury Books in the 1950’s. This is during a period in time where women were considered second class citizens and incapable of managing things on their own without the guidance of men. With many wonderful characters and beautifully descriptive locations throughout London, this book was a joy to read.

Natalie Jenner is an incredibly talented author that brings to life the time period, locations and people. I truly enjoyed all the textures of the plot and the characters. Natalie Jenner is a must read author and I will be watching out for her books from now on.

Thank you #netgalley and #stsimonpublishing allowing me to read and early copy of this book.

In 1949 in Cambridge, England, Bloomsbury Books is a stuffy, conservative bookshop in a time when "new opportunities for women were still being rationed along with the food." Shop employees, only three of whom are female, are expected to adhere to all of the 51 posted rules.

Grace is a married woman who supports her young sons and unemployed, emotionally abusive husband as secretary to the General Manager, and whose suggestions about how to improve sales are generally ignored. Vivien, who lost her fiancé in the war and who works in the cashier's booth, is outspoken, ambitious, and a secretly aspiring writer. And precocious Evie, a character from the author's previous book, The Jane Austen Society, is a talented cataloguer and Cambridge graduate who dreams of rediscovering and reprinting the works of neglected women writers from the past. The Bloomsbury men--owner, General Manager and department heads-- hold all the power and and are generally resistant to change. But as the book progresses, their relationships with their female colleagues slowly march into new territory.

What I most appreciate about the book is the exquisite character development. Each of the women and most of the male characters mature and change over time, which is crucial to the advancement of the plot. The last 25 percent of the book is an ultra-satisfying, quick-moving revelation after the slower pace and dense prose of earlier chapters. And as a bonus, there are many cameos throughout the book by real-life literary figures of the day.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

This is a fabulous historical fiction read and I highly recommend it. The story covers several women after the end of WW II when the men have come home and the women are once again asked to settle for less than their male counterparts. Rather than settle, these women work towards their future and goals and this is their story.

Full of friendship, sweat, tears and some of famous figures of the time, this story is full of hope, perseverance and hard work. These are the types of women that have paved the way for rest of us and I loved seeing them shine in this book. I highly recommend this for the Historical Fiction lover.

Natalie Jenner’s sophomore work, Bloomsbury Girls is even more delightful than her debut novel, The Jane Austen Society. Although several characters have cameos,Bloomsbury Girls is a stand alone read.

Set a in post-war classic English bookshop on the cusp of major social and class metamorphoses, Bloomsbury Girls tells the story of three women and how they break with the typical societally-shackled gender roles to find their happiness.

This book also tackles subjects such as class, race and sexuality and how the characters are set to reform stuffy English social mores. I loved how this novel is also a brief history of lesser-known 19th and 20th female writers and their contribution to literature and society. Using real-life figures such as Peggy Guggenheim, Daphne du Maurier and many more recognizable literary players of the time, Jenner weaves a beautiful tale of women, friendships and their passion for creating and publishing literary works in 1949/50.

Bloomsbury Girls was an engrossing read and makes one long for the bygone era of cozy bookshops with overstuffed chairs, a cup of tea and two biscuits.!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of a bookshop and three women who have been marginalized by society and the era they live in. They also work at a place where there are so many rules it’s stifling. The rules are a bit if a hoot to read. You could never have some of these today.

Evie Stone, who featured in the Jane Austen Society, is the first woman permitted to graduate from Cambridge University. Yet, she cannot get work in her field as those jobs always go to men. Vivien is very ambitious and works harder than any of the other characters, yet she cannot get ahead because a woman can only be a shopgirl. Grace is stuck in a loveless, abusive marriage, but she cannot leave as a women, she is not paid enough to support herself and her children in her own. They all want more and are determined to get it even if they have to break some of the bookshop’s fifty rules.

The characters were engaging, likeable and well developed. It was also nice to have strong female leads who won’t be bullied or accepting of how they are treated. I really enjoyed the interactions with famous people of the time, such as Daphne Du Maurier and Samuel Beckett. I also really liked that some characters carried over from the Jane Austen Society.

The book is very well researched and I was engrossed in the story. If I was to nit pick, the book could have been a wee bit shorter. Four and a half stars.

Having read the first book by this author, I was extremely excited to see that there would be a sequel. And when I learned that the focus of that sequel would be on the character of Evie, I was downright thrilled. This story actually stands on its own as a fantastic read and it is not necessary at all to have read the first one (although you should, it's AMAZING).

I am in love with writing by Natalie Jenner and especially in the way she writes historical women's fiction. She gets it all right! Character development is spot on, and we both know and root for each of the 3 Bloomsbury girls. It is no small feat to have three strong women characters and develop them so well that we understand them and their actions (and sometimes their inactions) so well. The setting is described in such great detail, but not in a way that makes you want to skip ahead to get to the story. You are placed in that little bookshop and the area of London (and the time, don't forget it's the 50's) with such skill that you feel like you could look up from the book and see the shoppers entering the store. The thing I think Ms. Jenner does best is weaving a story that pulls all the disparate characters and storylines together into a rewarding read. The pacing and tension were masterfully spread out to keep you turning pages and the writing was so good.

If I had one thing at all to say that tripped me up a bit, it was the language used in the voice of Evie. It might very well have been on purpose, as someone who comes from a lower class could very well have improved her language and then at times when flustered fallen back into her lower-class speaking. However, it was the one thing that wasn't as seamless as everything else in the book, so it took me out of the reading just a bit. It's such a minor thing, I hesitate to add it, but I do try to give honest feedback, and it was something that struck my attention.

I am delighted to have read this book (and its predecessor) and recommend you read it too. You won't be sorry!!

[I was given an ARC version of the book for my honest and unbiased review]

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner is the absolute perfect novel for anyone who looks back nostalgically on the days when bookstores were an integral part of the retail experience. Whether at big stores like Barnes & Noble or my own local Book Revue in Huntington, LI (that recently just closed- cue tears) I spent many afternoons browsing through their aisles and finding some of my favorite books that have stayed with me for decades. By the time I got to the last page, the main characters felt like personal friends and I was sad to leave the world Ms. Jenner so vividly created. Highly recommend!

Bloomsbury Girls is a wonderful read, filled with gossipy tidbits and insights. The story revolves around three female employees of a postwar London bookstore who each have their own reasons for working there in spite of the male dominated management. Vivian wants to write and get published. Grace works because her husband won’t. Evie is on a quest to find a lost but potentially extremely valuable book written by a woman during the period when women had to publish anonymously. The male characters are defined as they interact with the women both in the shop and outside. This reader loved how the author wove real persons into the narrative in substantial ways. This is a book not to be missed by any serious fiction lover. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of Bloomsbury Girls. When I started the book and realized that one of the characters was from The Jane Austen Society, I decided to re-read JAS to refresh my memory. (I loved it just as much as the first time.) It wasn't really necessary, as this book could very much be a stand-alone story. I consider Bloomsbury Girls to be more historical fiction than women's fiction. I loved the London bookstore locale, and the author brought the diverse staff of the store to life. There were minor characters who were literary figures of the time, and I enjoyed learning a little about their lives. The whole book was very atmospheric, and I felt immersed in the post-war London time period. I think it would make a great choice for book discussion groups. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from the author.