In this follow up to her incredible debut THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, Natalie Jenner delivers a heartfelt story about the importance of friendship, the strength of love and the impact of the written word.

There is so much warmth and comfort in Jenner’s writing. Her characters are written with such depth, I found myself swept into their lives with ease. Vivien, Grace and Evie have all led very different lives, but when they come together as colleagues at the primarily male-dominated Bloomsbury Books, they find that working together is the best way to ensure their voices (and their ideas) are not only heard, but taken seriously.

BLOOMSBURY GIRLS is set in post-WW2 London and the city is as much a character as the people. The description of the settings are so vivid and detailed, readers really feel transported to another time and place. I also really loved the cameos from some of the greatest female writers of that time.

While this isn’t exactly a sequel, I would definitely recommend that you read Jenner’s first novel before diving into this one. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance reading copy.

I requested this book not realizing that it was the second-ish in a series.

Because this is a sequel, a lot of the characters were new to me. It started off a bit difficult to understand all the relationships. However, I enjoyed reading, but I definitely would recommend picking up the first book prior to this one so there isn't that initial learning curve!

Though this one was very well written and it caught my attention very early on, it didn’t hold it. I put this one down a few times before finally finishing it. I saw it featured so often on Bookstagram and was really excited about it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Girls had a lot of things I usually love in books -- a book about books, an old bookstore. London and a few amazing women, but this one missed the mark for me. I was bored reading it and I just couldn't keep my attention.

A story both powerful and enchanting. Rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an enjoyable read centering around a London bookstore in the 1950's which will delight those readers who search for a feel-good story with no violence, no tears and no explicit sex scenes. At a time when male dominance in the workforce was common, three unique female employees join together to outfox them all and realize the dream they share as well as conquering love on their own.

Delighted to include this title in ‘Lives Lived,’ my latest round-up for Zoomer magazine’s Books section highlighting new and noteworthy historical novels (see mini-review at link)

I must admit, in theory, Bloomsbury Girls should not be for me. However, this is one of the most well-written and heart-warming books that I’ve read in I don’t know how many years, and I ended being incredibly invested in Evie, Vivien, and Gracie, more so than any characters I can remember. Evie in particular reminds me of myself and this book has made me reconsider the way I look at my own future. (No small feat!) And to “meet” so many incredible authors from the past? So well done!

Reading this book has been such a lovely reading experience. This isn’t a racing storyline, what-happens-next novel, but rather one that develops in its own way and time. And that warmth and cosiness makes for the best kind of reading. A lot of authors who attempt this type of novel end up drifting into boring territory, but I couldn’t stop reading. Jenner has brought this bookshop to life, and all of the women and men who spend their time there.

Read if you like: books about books, The Jane Austen Society
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I absolutely loved the Jane Austen Society and this book was just as delightful. While not necessarily a sequel, it takes place after the book and it would be helpful to read The Jane Austen Society before if you want to understand some things better.
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The book follows three female employees of Bloomsbury Books-Evie, Vivien, and Grace. I loved all three characters and their love for books, as well as their kindness towards each other. I also loved reading about the real people connected to the literary world, especially Daphne du Maurier.
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The book looks at women in publishing, the literary world, and the post-war workforce and how hard women had to work to be taken seriously.
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CW: sexism, misogyny, racism, homophobia, sexual content, domestic abuse, xenophobia.

As the world adjusts to post WWII, London is slowly coming back to life. The women held it together and many men have heartbreakingly not returned. Centered around a charming century old shop called Bloomsbury Books, three lovely women struggle to find their place in this strange new world. Vivien is a beautiful, talented writer whose wealthy fiancé went missing along with her future plans. Grace is married with two feisty boys and a husband that has become an unmanageable angry shell of his former self. She would rather be at the bookshop than at home. Evie, one of the first females to graduate Cambridge is a shy brilliant young woman who discovers first love and a literary mystery that can change their lives. As they live and work amongst the men of the shop the women realize they want more than fetching tea and standing at the register. These women want to rock the literary establishment by changing the way books are sold. This small, witty cast of characters revolve their lives around books, publishing and the literary salons of the time. As they meet and befriend some famous figures the women gather the confidence they need to carry on. Not exactly historical fiction but felt like it. This novel has quite a lot of characters and is literally all about books. I loved it.

I absolutely did not want this book to end, I loved it so much. I adored Jenner’s first book, The Jane Austen Society, and I was worried this could be a sophomore slump, but this book far surpassed my expectations, and in my opinion is so much better. Natalie Jenner is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Taking place post WWII in a hundred year old bookshop, named Bloomsbury Books. The general manager, Mr. Dutton, runs the shop with a set a rules that employees must live by or be fired. Dutton, believes that women should not be promoted and they are best on the floor and making tea for the male employees, much to the dismay of the women and some of the men working there. Vivian, who lost her fiancé during the war, is made acting fiction manager when Mr. Dutton, take an extended leave and Alec is made acting General Manager. This action sets in motion things that will forever change the bookstore and the people who work there.

We also have a guest from The Jane Austen Society, Evie Stone who comes to work at the shop, but there might just be other motives for her working there. There are lot’s of appearances from famous authors and women who supported their famous literary husbands that help facilitate the progress of this story and make it all the more charming.

I cannot say enough of this book. It was so much fun to read this story, and I could not help rooting for these Bloomsbury Girls from the very first page. Jenner’s description’s are beautiful of this old book shop and the surrounding area of London. There is, mystery, romance and just about something for every reader out there. This will likely go down as one of my favorite books of this year.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A bookshop, Bloomsbury's Books in London, is the book's setting. It is mostly about the women who were employed there.

Vivien, whose fiance was killed in WWII, is a beautiful woman with many issues with the management and house rules, all 5 1 of them.

Grace, married with two sons had to go to work after her husband was unable to. Suffers from PTSD and is not a very nice man.

Evie Stone, got the job at the bookstore so she could look for an obscure book, the first edition of The Mummy.

Each chapter starts with one of the 51 rules of the bookstore which are broken by the store's women. Because of the rules, the profits are not what they should be. The Earl, Lord Jeremy Baskin feels that with the women, things can change for the better. But how to get them past the stuffy men at the store? With original ideas, the women team up to try to make the store a success. Along with their female friends, such as Ellen Doubleday, widow of the American publisher, Sonia Blair, widow of George Orwell, and Peggy Guggenheim, American heiress, also playwright Samuel Beckett, and author Daphne du Maurier.

I was not expecting to like the story, but as I read on, I was proud of the women for standing up to what they believed in and not backing down to the men in an age where women were to be at home and not working with the public. By the end of the story, I was hoping that the women got what they achieved.

The book is character-driven, historical detail notwithstanding, and tells a believable story of strong women in a man's world and how they overcome that.

I enjoyed this book by the author of The Jane Austen Society. I loved the variety of well-developed characters and all of their different personalities, as well as the various romantic sub-plots. Although it's not based on a true story, many real historical figures from the world of writing and publishing are featured, which I found interesting. While I wouldn't say "I couldn't put it down," it definitely held my interest throughout. It's 4⭐ from me. 🤓

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a cARD of this book.
A post WWII English bookstore. My favorite setti ng. Delightful book and different enough from all the others to allow me to love it.

I've been on a winning streak with books lately, and here's another one. This book is like 84, Charing Cross Road on steroids. Not to say that this is an epistolary novel, because it's not. But it IS a book about very different people working at a London bookstore around WWII. Almost every character is a book unto themselves, without being stereotyped. Almost everyone has a secret of one sort or another. The title refers to the three women of the story, and how they navigate what is still very clearly a man's world, and ultimately turn it upside down.

Real authors and people connected to the literary world are brought into the book, and used as pawns, in a way, in the "war" between men and women working in the shop.

I have only two negative things to say about this delightful book. One, I was expecting and hoping for one particular relationship to head in a certain way and it didn't, so I like to believe it did. Secondly, I'm devastated that I can never read this book for the first time again. It was funny, sweet, mysterious, suspenseful and entertaining. I found it hard to put down and savored every word.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are given freely and are mine.

I love this book and this story. So well written, it is delightful and sweet with lots of girl power! A wonderful book that makes you feel good and tell your friends about it! Thank you @NetGalley@BloomsburyGirls@StMartinsPress

My favorite biblio-novel of the season is Bloomsbury Girls (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99) by Natalie Jenner, set in a London bookshop in 1950. The old-fashioned shop, owned by an earl, has 51 “rules,” for its staff to follow. But rules are made to be broken, in this case by three female employees—Vivien, a bookseller; Grace, an administrative assistant; and Evie, a cataloguer—who have been plagued by the pervasive sexism of the time. Readers (like us) who enjoyed Jenner’s 2020 novel, The Jane Austen Society, will recall some of the characters, including Evie, as well as Mimi Harrison, a Hollywood star and Austen aficionado; and Yardley Sinclair, the helpful Sotheby’s expert. Several real-life literary characters like Daphne Du Maurier, Sonia Blair, and Samuel Beckett also make an appearance in the story, as does a rare first edition of The Mummy! (1827). Bloomsbury Girls is thoroughly enjoyable, full of energy and spirit—and best of all, gets the bookish details right.

Absolutely fabulous sequel to "The Jane Austen Society". I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. The characters were better (even though some were the same from the first book, they were better developed), the story was even better, and the flow was better. There was so much to discuss about the characters, plot, and setting.

TIP: It is not necessary to have read "The Jane Austen Society" in order to understand or enjoy this book.

Excellent book club pick or summer read!! One of my favorites this year.

Bloomsbury Girls is a bookish story of 3 women searching for, and working for, their dreams. Avid fans of literature and stories about the changing post-WWII culture will find something to love in this story that nods to the bravery of the female sex and the binding strength of friendship. The story is wonderfully presented in audiobook form with narration by Juliet Stevenson, who applies the perfect theatrical interpretation of the characters with voice and accents.

Natalie Jenner’s omniscient narrative style shines in this story! With all-knowing nods and tidbits, phrases foreshadow events in the story and color character interactions with wit. Each of the characters plays a key role in the story, from the three main women to the tiniest side character. They are united by the most unlikely heroine, Evie Stone, whose determination and fortitude underpin the plot in fabulous ways.

The establishment of the Bloomsbury shop rules, as penned by the inimitable manager Herbert Dutton, is a clever part of the novel. Each chapter is preceded by one of the rules, which relates in some way to the action of the story. The rules are defied by most of the characters, and upheld by some, which allows for quirky and funny situations.

While this book is considered to be historical women’s fiction, it does have a few different threads of romance, too. All contrast neatly, with one a comical friends-to-lovers situation; another a longstanding friendship with the possibility of more; and still another first love with seemingly opposite, romance-isn’t-for-me (until now) with a darlingly clueless couple. These interactions and the strong friendship forged between Evie, Grace, and Vivien serve to highlight the overarching theme of being known and accepted.

Content note: for my inspy reader friends, please note this is a general market title. It has a couple closed door romance scenes that are candidly referenced in conversation, and a depiction of homosexuality with some minor characters.

Thank you to the publisher and Austenprose tours for the audiobook review copy. This is my honest review.

There are great ratings for Natalie Jenner’s books, so it appears it’s me, not her. With that being said, I found “Bloomsbury Girls” to be boring and it failed to captivate me. I just may not be the target audience, so I threw in the towel, Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy for review.