Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Gill Paul for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I have read many of Gill Paul's books and know she likes to write about strong woman who are well known figures - or at least people one has heard of. I also know that she fits incidents to suit her timeline and obviously the stories are fiction rather than faction.

I enjoyed this book - and like to read the acknowledgements and the 'blurb;' that's often at the back of the book before I read the actual text. I realise this would not suit everyone but it is how I would read an actual book rather than and e-book. SO I knew that events attributed to one character probably had no actual truth in them.
that part of the narrative was not necessary to me if I am honest.

I prefer not to give spoilers for the storyline - I had. of course. heard of Prohibition in the USA but had little knowledge of the times or the ways people went to to obtain alcohol.
The story is basically the lives of four female friends who start a 'Bridge Club' as their male partners have a Poker one - the chapters interweave these ladies lives and their loves and life on 1920s America which I did find interesting.

Just one spoiler for anyone who might be affected - there are references to suicide - which I felt was empathetically dealt with.

If you like Gill Paul's books then this one is for you - if you are new to them then this will be written in a style that needs persevering with

Thank you again to all involved

I am sorry to say I dnfed this book at 44%. . I usually love gill Pauls books, but this was not my cup of tea. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

A spirited portrayal of Jazz Age New York City and four independent, strong women. Gill Paul’s latest, The Manhattan Girls, brings to life New York City during the Roaring ‘20s as well as Dorothy Parker and three female friends, all apparently part of the famed Algonquin Round Table. Per usual, Paul’s prose shines, her characters are fascinating, and I loved learning tidbits of NYC history. I found myself invested far more in the stories of Parker’s friends, however, about whom I knew far less prior to reading this tale, and would have liked more of a focus on their backgrounds and futures. Also, for me, the plot/pacing really lagged about a quarter of the way through. I was ultimately glad I continued reading, but this was not my favorite of Paul’s books. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book was a luxurious little gift of a book that I enjoyed as if it was a box of my favourite chocolates. I’ve come across Gill’s writing before, on the blog tour for her book The Second Marriage which tells the story of Maria Callas, the opera singer and lover of Aristotle Onassis, and his second wife Jackie Kennedy. It was fascinating so I’ve jumped at the chance to read this book set in my favourite era, the 1920’s. What better place to be in the 1920’s than New York? This is the Gatsby era and I knew the author would do the glamour and spectacle so well. This is the time of salons at The Algonquin and we follow renowned wit Dorothy Parker and friends, My mind kept wandering to the girls of Sex and the City, but these girls didn’t just have glamour they had brains too. I loved the sparky and witty dialogue, the richness of the fashions and homes. I am fascinated by the way she blends fact with fiction, it’s so elegantly done. Now every time I think of Dorothy Parker it will be Gill’s version that springs to mind. I loved this. It had everything I want from a book set in this period - Prohibition, Bootleggers, Glamour. Yet added to that Gill brought these characters vividly to life and their friendship was so warm. I loved the girl’s ambition and drive to be given equal opportunities to their male counterparts.

A poignant & captivating story of four women & their friends as they navigate the Prohibition-era streets of Manhattan! “The Manhattan Girls” is a work of art. I adored reading about Dottie, Jane, Winifred & Peggy - all strong, independent women in an era when it was less than popular for women to have lives outside of the home. I am embarrassed to say that I failed to realize these characters all existed in real life until about halfway through the book, which made it all the more enthralling once I did. I enjoyed researching the cast of characters once I finished & reading more about their achievements & adventures. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction!

4.5 stars which I will gladly round up to 5 as I found myself totally immersed in the book and hated it to end.

Gill Paul takes you to the Roaring Twenties where the world is changing.

At the center of the story is Dorothy Parker a sharp witted, sharp tongued woman who you cant help but cry and cheer for .

Dorothy is surrounded by her friends Jane, Winnifred and Peggy all who have had their place in history.

The Manhattan Girls is historical fiction at its best that not only is about the changing world for women and those who helped shape it but friendship and loyalty.

Gill Paul is a master at writing and getting you drawn into the stories of strong women and The Manhattan Girls is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for a spell binding read.

I think it would have been incredibly helpful to have trigger warnings placed at the beginning of this novel. The book is marketed as Sex in the City in the 1920s. I was not expecting the type of content I got and think that the contents of this book can be particularly triggering and so the rest of this review will be spoiler filled because the content is my #1 issue with this book.

I did not realize until I had read the author’s note at the end that this story was based on the lives of real people. Maybe if I had heard of Dorothy Parker and knew she had attempted suicide I wouldn’t have picked this up, but I did and the book betrays her two suicide attempts in an open-door rather detailed style. As if that wasn’t uncomfortable enough, the supporting characters then gossip and almost make light of the fact of what Dorothy was going through. One states “We were just talking about suicide and I wondered if you would mind showing everyone your scars.” Well I don’t doubt that in the 1920’s (and probably even today) this exact scenario would have occurred, I don’t want to read about it in 2022. I will give the author this, she was able to flawlessly maintain a 1920s atmosphere through dialogue, particularly word choices.

I don’t want to read about the character who hadn’t had a girlfriend so he must obviously had been gay and thus a target of their jokes. I didn’t want to read about Dorothy who killed her dog because she forgot to feed it. I didn’t want to read about the sexual assault. I didn’t want to read the racist remark about the “Chinese maid” and certainly not the comment where there couldn’t possibly be anything worse than being "disabled." What purpose did portraying these aspects (whether fiction or not) in the manner chosen serve? Why not focus more on their bold and often difficult career choices? Dorothy’s friend Jane Grant was one half of the husband and wife team that created the New Yorker. Jane’s story was the one redeeming aspect of this book for me because it not only portrayed her struggles as a female journalist but the nuanced ones of being a wife of a male journalist.

I have never read a novel about historical figures and not gone down a rabbit hole of Googling their lives to see what in the story was real, what was left out and how much liberties were taken with their lives. In the case of this novel, I couldn’t wait to rid these characters from my life faster.

To make matters worse, the author included a quote by her own character (a writer herself) stating, “writers can’t be held responsible for the way readers react to what they’ve written.” So it’s my fault that nothing about this was okay to me?

Thank you to Avon Books for providing an advanced reader’s copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting novel of the family we make centered on four strong women forging careers and love in 1920s Manhattan. Each of them tell their story- Dorothy Parker, Jane Grant, Winifred Lenihan, and Peggy Leech. They've all been undesrestimated, they all face the glass ceiling and they all support each other. The best thing- these were all real people. I was familiar with Dorothy Parker but not with the others so this was the best sort of learning experience. Each of them is worthy of their own novel and I found myself googling for more info about each. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical fiction.

Four women living in Manhattan in the 1920's. It is the time of prohibition, speak easy's and it's also a man's world. These four women are unlikely friends but soon become close with their common problem which is men and how they treat women.
Once again a great read from Gill Paul. I know nothing about the 1920's. I had heard of Dorothy Parker but not of the others. I love the way that although it was prohibition they were never without alcohol.
I felt I was back in time and could actually hear the American drawl.

A 1920s Sex and the City featuring Dorothy Parker and her three friends:

Jane Grant, first female reporter for The New York Times, who is determined to launch a new magazine.
Winifred Lenihan, Broadway actress; beautiful, talented, and a casting-couch target.
Peggy Leech, magazine assistant by day, brilliant novelist by night.
It is hard to know where to start. In a way I wanted to read it quickly because I was enjoying the story so much. But instead I didn’t. I savoured the book and learning about the various women and the adventures that they had.

All four of them go through difficult times, but Paul brings the period and these most interesting women to life. I loved it.

If you are interested in this period, I would urge you to read it.

The 1920s in New York City! Right there I am hooked! The 1920s are my favorite era to read about, and with the storyline based in the city of New York there is only one thing that could top this and that would have been if it was based in Paris in the 20s.
Speakeasies, bathtub gin, women's rights, jazz, flappers, this story has it all. Centered around the sometimes tumultuous friendships between four very different women, living, working and playing in New York City. The women, Dorothy Parker, Peggy Leach, Winifred Lenihan and Jane Grant are four very real women who were a part of the "Round Table" group or "Vicious Circle"as they were sometimes called, who would meet at the Algonquin Hotel (the Gonk) during the twenties for literary discussions, flirting, joke telling and tremendous amounts of illegal alcohol consumption. When the men of the group form a poker club the women decide to form their women's only bridge club which would meet each week at a different woman's home. This brought together the four women who formed lasting bonds of friendship over very little card playing and lots of drinking.
Dorothy Parker is the main character and probably the most well known or publicly known of the four women. Here we get a look behind the scenes of her life and what went into the making of her fantastically biting sarcastic wit. Dorothy's life by no means was a calm, sedate one. Abortion, divorce, and overdoses were only a part of Dorothy's erratic life. The three other women, maybe lesser known, but equally as important lives had their own upheavals, broken relationships, career conflicts, they faced all the very real problems women of those times faced. They were smart, witty, strong-willed women trying to break through social barriers in a man's world.
I loved this book, I don't know which woman I liked the most, I think I related to Jane more than the others, her hard, practical approach and driving ambition caught me from the start. We know there was a success story in her future (if only a partial success) since the New Yorker magazine still exists today.
Overall this is just a wonderful read, interesting characters, atmospheric setting is perfect. Great for any fans of the roaring twenties. I recommend this one highly.
Thank you to Avon Books and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

Well-written historical fiction about four young women in the 1920s Jazz Age New York who are trying to develop their careers in a male-dominated and misogynistic society. Themes of sexism, power dynamics, particularly in the theatre world with men abusing their authority over up and coming actresses, and depression and alcohol use are explored in the book.

But this is first and foremost a book about the friendship between the four female friends as they try to support each other as they share mutual challenges of finding love, including self-love, and developing careers and navigating societal expectations and rampant sexism. These characters are based on real women - actresses and writers, most notably Dorothy Parker, the American poet and writer, and while I did not know anything about them, I enjoyed how diverse the characters were and how their personalities balanced each other very well. Good plot, descriptive writing that took me to the 1920s, generally well-paced, and effectively told from the four women’s points of view. A good entry to the historical fiction genre.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for an advance copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

This was so good. Set in New York in the 1920’s during Prohibition , I enjoyed every page of it and really wanted it to go on longer. It’s quite slow paced, which suit this genre perfectly, and brilliantly written. I was completely fascinated with the lives of the Algonquin crowd and the dissolute lives they led. Although this is fiction the author has based it around fact but using poetic license. The four women, as with most characters, in the book were real, and although Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Parker is the most well known Peggy Leech, Jane Grant and Winifred Lenihan did exist and the broad outline of their lives, as told in the novel, was factual. The rest as they say is fiction, and what great fiction it is.

Briefly, chatting in the Algonquin Hotel the four women decide to set up their own bridge club, the start of their friendship that saw some sad and traumatic times but tempered with happier days. Dottie was a renowned wit and poet but was in reality an unhappy woman who needed mental support as she navigated her way through trauma after trauma. Jane was much stronger and alongside her rather weak husband is fighting to set up a magazine called The New Yorker. Winifred is a respected Broadway actress who was ‘damaged’ by a casting couch rape. Peggy is looking for love whilst dreaming of becoming a published author. Together they support each other through some terrible times, broken romances, financial problems, suicide attempts and more…

The characterisations of these four ladies is just wonderful. I feel like I know every one of them intimately, their worries, their lives, their hopes and their wishes. But alongside them there is a big cast of equally well written characters but I’m singling out just the one. The most odious and revolting man I’ve seen on the pages of a novel for a while, Alexander ‘Alec’ Woollcott, and one I would happily have thrown out of a top floor window. Seriously, I hated him! It’s a testament to the writing that I felt such strong emotions towards him and some other characters. Ostensibly this is a novel about friendship and that what stood out for me was just how supportive the women were of each other, although it’s Dottie who needed the most support. A fabulous read and one I would definitely recommend. Personally I would love to see a follow up about the rest of the Manhattan Girls lives.

I have always enjoyed books by Gil Paul as he always brings to life women of history who are relatively known but not overtly. I like how he delves into their lives to help us see why they are worthy of our attention in a story. In “The Manhattan Girls”, we meet a group of women who are part of the Vicious Circle or group of writers, actors and actresses, and artists who meet at the Gonk or the Algonquin Hotel in New York City during the era of Prohibition. I admit, that as I went along, I was fascinated about each of them and had to look up the various women who met together to play bridge each week and formed lasting friendships and a support group: Dorothy Parker (Dottie), Jane Grant, Peggy Leach, and Winifred Lenihan. All different in their own way, they seemed like an unlikely quartet but that’s what made them click. The characters were multidimensional with back stories that created who they were both privately and publicly. I felt the author gave great insight by transporting the reader back to the jazz age of speakeasies, bootlegging, women’s rights, and the whole attitude of social excess. Some tough subjects were dealt with such as abortion, infidelity, alcoholism, but that made it very relatable for today. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and could not put it down. Telling each woman’s story and differing POV only added dimension. For those who love historical fiction, this is of a time period not usually talked about and yet it also features the power of women. Put this on your TBR.

Many thanks to #netgalley #gilpaul #themanhattangirls #avonbookuk for the opportunity to read and review this book.

IMO NOT PAUL'S STRONGEST NOVEL, BUT STILL WORTH READING

I have always loved everything by Gill Paul. I love how she blends history and fiction. I love how she shines a light on histories powerful (and sometimes forgotten) females. She is definitely an author that I will continue to read and love. But in my opinion, this was not her strongest novel. It never really came full circle for me.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Setting: I instantly fell in love with the setting of Prohibition New York. It was vibrant, it was colourful and it was a party to read about. So many exceptional people to follow and get to know. The city was almost a character in its own right, with its bars, theaters and hotels. It was a wonderful setting.

Characters: We follow four interesting and trailblazing women as they set out to change their fates and the cultural world. I enjoyed getting to know them all. I enjoyed getting and insight into their stories, their lives and their dreams for the future. I only wish I'd gotten even more.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

POVs: But because we get each of their stories in their own POVs, I never felt like I truly got close enough to either of them. Taking on four POVs is a mammoth effort. And for me, it never really quite came together. Because we flitted from one POV to the next, I never really felt like I got close enough to either of the women.

The latest novel by best-selling author Gill Paul, about the life of Dorothy Parker and her friends, was a disappointment. I was not dissatisfied with Gill Paul and her writing, but the subject matter.
I found the women frivolous and lacking the strength of character. They seemed to exist by hanging out at the Algonquin Club, gossiping, drinking excessively and sleeping around. (Not that I am a prude about these things!) The main character, Dorothy Parker, is a self-serving, callous individual that continues to spiral downwards and does not appear to have any redeeming qualities. I wanted these women to stand out from the men that surrounded them. I wanted to cheer for them. But sadly, they seemed to be taken in time and again in a vicious cycle of various types of abuse.
I have enjoyed reading many of Gill Paul's other books and loved the stories and main characters immensely. This book left me disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon Books Uk for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am rating this book 3 stars out of 5 only because the book is well written.
3 out of 5
Due out August 18th, 2022

An unputdownable rollercoaster of a read. The opening is atmospheric and completely absorbing. Immersive, pacy and unputdownable.

New York City, 1921, Dorothy Parker and her friends live it up after the war is over. That is basically what this story is about. A colourful, lively story of the times, where women were juggling their lives, trying to fit into a mans world.

A sow start to this book had me a bit weary and I had to persevere in order to get through it. It also skipped back and forth between the characters which made it a bit harder to read and keep up with as it didn't flow as well as I had hoped. But I did love the setting, the times and the colourfulness of the story and this did bring it to life a little bit.

Entertaining but fell a bit short at the end but having said that I enjoyed it and glad I read it.

I thought this book was entertaining and well written but at times it was depressing to read. It really did seem like a 1920’s version of Sex and the City. The characters are based on real people, this is historical fiction. It takes place in New York City and touches on the women’s lives and careers. I give it 3 stars based on some of the dark content, which was not for me. But I do understand that the author was trying to depict these women’s lives accurately. Thanks Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

This is the first time I am reading Gill Paul's novels and I have to say, I actually did enjoy reading this book.

The story is set in 1920's New York--the Jazz era, the Prohibition era, the great boom and is just after the First World War. The story is based on Dorothy Parker, based on the real life Dorothy, and her friends, Winifred, Jane and Peggy. Jane is the first female reported of New York Times, Winifred is a Broadway actress and Peggy is a brilliant novelist. These four women are friends and form a bridge group and the story tells about the lives of these four women and how their friendship between them grows stronger and of couse their love life.

As this is based on the true story, the author takes the reader to the 1920's era and as a reader you can get a glimpse of what the 1920's lifestyle was really like. It was the time when women wore flapper dresses, the alcohol was prohibited, various gangs were formed and of course scandalous lives that shows us how men are still in control of the society. As a result, I actually enjoyed the author's writing. The story is told from each of the friends' perspectives, detailing about their careers, working in a men dominated world and of course their love life. I actually enjoyed reading Winifred's story as I found her story more interesting. I have to say, the author did a good job of researching about the life back in 1920's.

This book actually is like the 1920's version of Sex and the City--taking place in Manhattan New York. I actually enjoyed reading this book--worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.