I ended up DNF this halfway through.

Really tried to stay in tune with the story but I wasn’t fully invested.

This is an interesting concept for a novel, and it’s nice to see Hilma af Klint’s life and work garner this kind of specific interest.

I’m not a particular fan of her work, but I have tremendous respect for her contributions to art and find her to be an intriguing figure, particularly where she has connections to theosophy.

Her timeline is the more successfully executed of the two in the book, though also the easier one to craft. Novels with multiple authors often prove to be inconsistent in tone and quality, and thought there is no issue with tone here, the quality does feel uneven.

I liked Eben a lot, but his story had a lot of issues. And well meaning as he may be, it tough to sympathize with his feelings for Blythe, who is a truly terrible person. His work, too, though indeed well-intended, has some problems that are difficult to ignore from a plot perspective.

This book was about Hilma Af Klint and her circle of artists. I really like Hilda’s art. However, I was not used to the spiritualism in this book. I also didn’t care for the modern storyline and could have been take out. Nevertheless, I recommend it for those interested in female artists!

Deftly told dual timeline storytelling about a woman artist lost to history yet ahead of her time. Lovely character work with a bold voice, a feat for a story voiced by multiple authors! Fun and thoughtful.

I love a historical fiction story, and was so excited for this author collab by Alyson Richman, MJ Rose, and Sofia Lundberg.

One of the best things about this genre is learning a part of history that I wasn’t aware of previously. I loved the focus on artist Hilma af Klint and her talented circle.

It was so fascinating to learn about each woman as they would gather together each Friday.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-historical fiction
-lgbtq
-theme of the arts
-dual timelines

*many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy for review

This is a story where I really learned something. I admittedly don’t know a lot about art, but this story tells the tale of the first abstract paintings. In the 1900’s the art world was predominantly men but this story tells a different version. A group of women come together on Friday nights. This group isn’t just about art. This story included the occult, seances, art and tradition. This was a unique story!
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The Friday Night Club by Alyson Richman, M.J. Rose and Sofia Lundberg is a novel of artist Hilma af Klint and her creative circle. I had very little knowledge of this artist. Not only did this book expand my fine art knowledge, but it also offered a shining commitment to friendship.

Learning about these women and their astounding dedication to the occult was incredibly interesting. Their backgrounds, individual relationships with each other and with others made for a great storyline. I loved that this book was told in dual timelines. It worked well as the museum director did the investigating in the present timeline, and the past timeline came through in full color for the readers.

Readers who love art and historical fiction will enjoy this book.

Book Summary:

The world often associates some famous artworks and art styles with men. But if one were to look closer, one would find all the female artists that made up any artistic style – especially abstract.

Hilma af Klint is the true creator behind the abstract painting movement, contrary to popular belief. This is her story and the story of those that work tirelessly to uncover artistic history and facts.

My Review:

As an art and art history lover, I knew immediately that I would love The Friday Night Club. It's important to note that this is a work of historical fiction – so while there are true elements woven into the narrative, it is still largely a work of fiction.

I was surprised that The Friday Night Club had a dual narrative/timeline. One voice is set in the past (Hilma af Klint), and the other is set in the present (Eben Elliot). I honestly think the story would have been tighter and more interesting had we focused entirely on the historical element, but beggars can't be choosers, right?

Long story short, The Friday Night Club is an intriguing read, especially if you love art history with a fictional twist.

Highlights:
Historical Fiction
Dual Timelines
LGBT+
Art

Eben Elliot, the associate curator at the Guggenheim Museum, is planning to bring a Hilma af Klint (not Klimt!) show to New York. Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is recognized as the artist who first produced abstract paintings despite the recognition typically to men by art historians.

In his research, Elliot discovers that Hilma was interested in the occult and, along with some friends, would hold séances in order to bring about spirits that might help them become better artists. Hilma referred to the group as "The Five" - all women artists who had been mostly forgotten. Until now.
This book goes back and forth between Hilma, in her time (early 1900's), and Eben Elliot's work today.

This transitioning didn't work quite as well as it was intended. We didn't really need to to be told what Eben discovered and then go back in time to relive that discovery.

I did, however, really like getting some background on (to me) a little-known artist. How often have we learned of the accomplishments of women in history and learned right along side that those accomplishments were generally ignored or, worse, ascribed to male contemporaries instead?

The additional 'oddity' of being interested in occult matters really adds to the mystery and intrigue of Hilma. If the fictional narrative of authors Sophia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose is anywhere close to Hilma's real life, this calling upon spirits is quite impactful on her art. I'm now also interested in the other members of the Friday Night Club.

I definitely would have enjoyed this more purely as historical fiction, without the modern attachment. I recognize that Hilma is generally an unknown but I've read a few historical fiction novels about people that the general population isn't aware of - the book is what brings them to our attention.

Generally enjoyable, this does precisely what I like about historical fiction - brings awareness to someone who should be better known.

Looking for a good book? Art and the occult come together in the historical fiction novel The Friday Night Club by Sophia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Friday Night Club is a novel of art, history, and characters preserving the legacy of artists they love. It reminded me of The London Restoration or The Jane Austen Society. I enjoyed this one, though I admit it was more technical and historical than I initially expected. Overall, if you enjoy books about women and art history, you'll enjoy this one.

There is an important story be told here about the treatment of women artists in the nineteenth century and earlier, but this book was not the one to tell that story. With a dual timeline, one outlining the frustrations of Hilma af Klint, and the current story of Eben, an assistant curator at the Guggenheim, the emphasis on the metaphysical world of Klint and her seances caused me to lose interest. Interspersing letters with dialogue made for a bit of confusion. I’m sorry but this one was not for me. Although these authors are some of my favorites, this collaboration didn’t work. I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley.

I love reading books about historical women who time has forgotten until now. This book started slow for me, but the historical aspect of this book eventually drew me in.

Hilda af Klint is a dedicated artist. She believes in the mystical and worships spiritualism, which was very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her lover and companion Anna also is an artist and the two of them work together and inspire each other. With their friends Cornelia, Mathilda and Sigrid, they form a group that meets Friday nights to commune with spirits. The spirits inspire them to create abstract artwork that seems to ascend to the heavens.

Eben is a museum curator for the Guggenheim Museum in New York. He runs into an old flame, Blythe, at a conference in Sweden. He learns about Hilda af Klint and decides to mount an exhibition for this artist who wasn't appreciated in her own time. He and Blythe reconnect over Klint's exhibition and explore her relationship with Anna and the other members of De Fem (The Five).

The story goes back and forth between Hilda's story and Eben's. I think the novel begins slowly, and it took me awhile to get into it. I did eventually begin to enjoy the book, but it still wasn't a great book for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

This is an intriguing fictional story about the lives and art of five very unique women. It takes place in two different timelines and feels seamless. I enjoyed learning more about the undervalued talents of these friends and colleagues and more about the art world in general especially in that historical time period. I appreciated the author's note at the end as I'm always fascinated by the inspiration behind the novel.

A unique story of a women's group in the early 1900's that had the nerve to accomplish greatness in their chosen mediums. In an era where a group of women gathering together was called a salon and the women were expected to drink tea and gossip as a means of entertainment, The Five, as they called themselves, stepped outside conventions and did so much more. Based on a true story, but fictionalized here, The Five raised eyebrows and contentious outrage from the menfolk. This is a surprising good read. Why surprising? Because it leans heavily on the history of the group and their era, yet manages to educate and entertain this reader from the first page through the last. I hope you find yourself laughing with these brave women too.

I wanted to like this, I really did. I like books set in the art world, and I love books with two different time periods, which this book had both. But it was slow and meandering to me, and I just got bored about halfway through. If you are looking for a page turner, this one is not it, but if you don't mind slower books, this might work for you. For this reader, it did not work.

Authors Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J.Rose of “The Friday Night Club” have written an intriguing and captivating Historical Fiction novel. The wonderful collaboration of these amazing authors has brought to life the abstract paintings of Hilma af Klint of Sweden. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. Two distinct timelines for this story are in the early 1900s in Sweden and in the present time at the Guggenheim Museum.

In the early 1900s, men were given credit for many artistic creations and other things, but this novel is a testament that talented and creative women were capable and determined to make their mark on their world. Hilma and four other women, Anna, Cornelia, Sigrid, and Mathilda, met on Friday nights to have a seance to help bring spirits and their creativity in art and writing. These women believed in spiritual connections. This group of women was mysterious. Hilma is often dressed in trousers and a hat. These women were referred to as the “five.” Hilma is painting vividly and in abstract swirls. She feels her work won’t be accepted and wants it stored until years after her death. Both Hilma and Anna burn early papers, art, and diaries from earlier times.

In the present, Eben Elliott brings the works of Hilma to the Guggenheim Museum. He wants to find answers to questions and mysteries about the relationships and work of these women. Did Hilma work alone? When looking for funding, Eben becomes aware of the political problems that cross an ethical line for him.

I learned many things from this novel, and I appreciate that the authors describe a sisterhood of brave and determined women that made a difference in the art world. I highly recommend this novel.

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The Friday Night Club sets the stage much like other dual timeline novels that have come before. While the authors' passion and knowledge shine through, their collective voices overshadowed the story and made it difficult for me to become fully immersed in its narrative.

In the historical timeline, The Friday Night Club portrays the story of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint and her group of female painters and writers in early 1900s Stockholm. In a world dominated by men, Hilma gathered The Five (retained in the novel as De Fem)— Anna, Cornelia, Sigrid, and Mathilda — who together formed a supportive network both emotionally and artistically. Inspired by mystic visions, Hilma and Anna explored the occult through séances, hoping to tap into unseen spirits to unlock their artistic potential and guide them in their endeavors. Despite their talent and intriguing lives, The Five and their work have been largely forgotten until now.

For the present day narrative, Eben Elliot, an associate curator at the Guggenheim Museum, who, after a chance encounter with an old girlfriend whose thesis work involved af Klint, hopes to open an art show at the museum in New York to showcase the artist's work. As Eben delves into the history of The Five, he uncovers intriguing questions about the group and the financial aspects of the modern art world, leading to emotional and professional challenges.

A common problem with dual timeline stories is that one story suffers and another shines. In the case of The Friday Night Club, unfortunately, neither timeline was able to fully carry the weight of the novel. The majority of the book felt like a lengthy introduction, the stage set with potentially intriguing characters, yet it failed to provide a satisfying encounter with any of them. Additionally, the character Eben lacked a sense of authenticity, and felt both like a vehicle for the authors to even have a present day story (which I'm not convinced was a necessary plot device here) and like a woman trying to write a man. Something about him felt off or unfinished, and I found that I was having to continually remind myself who this smudgy character was supposed to be. As for Hilma herself, while I think she was certainly the most developed character of the quintet, I'm left with an uncertainty of her actual artistic genius because of the constant implications I gathered that she was passing another's work off as her own — even during her own lifetime.

One aspect that detracted from my overall experience was the authors' tendency to rely heavily on telling rather than showing throughout both timelines. Rather than immersing the characters in vivid scenes and allowing the actions and dialogue to convey emotions and experiences, the narrative often resorted to exposition and direct statements. Even the dialogue itself remained clipped and closed off. This approach creates an unfortunate distance between the reader and the characters, a common drawback in historical fiction with a dual timeline. It would have been more engaging to fully connect with the story and develop a deeper bond with the characters.

Regrettably, the book feels like an undercooked group project, leaving me overwhelmed with historical information and ultimately resulting in a bland and boring experience. However, I will say, one intriguing aspect is the contrast between the present-day Eben, who actively avoids delving into the séances and mysticism of af Klint and the other women, while the past timeline spend a lot of time devoted to and focused on those very meetings.

When you think about the pioneers of abstract art, does the name Hilma af Klint come to mind? Before the Guggenheim Museum hosted her work in 2019, few outside of her native country of Sweden were aware of her. In this dual timeline story, three authors aim to change your knowledge in a fictionalized account of her life. Hilma and a group of artists and writers they called De Fem (The Five), started meeting on Friday nights to support and explore their artistic abilities as well as their intrigue with spirits and unknown forces, which they would soon come to believe were guiding them. The story alternates to the present where associate art curator Eden Elliot learns about Hilma's art and recommends that her extraordinary and inventive work be brought to the Guggenheim. The book begins in 1933 with seventy-one-year-old Hilma packing up her inventive artwork to be sealed away for future generations, not to be opened until twenty years after her death.

How creative that a book which celebrates the joining forces of artists would be written by three talented authors: Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose. The result is seamless and well done. The Friday Night Club is a fascinating story about women who bravely worked to transcend the norms of society. Give yourself time to read it as you'll be continually stopping to Google the pieces of art mentioned as they are being worked on in the novel. You'll learn that Hilma's first abstract painting was painted five years before Kandinsky's first abstract work. Kandinsky is hailed as the father of the pure abstraction movement in the early 20th century. This book makes it clear that the movement actually had a mother.

If the history of art fascinates you, check it out.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Curator Eban finds himself looking deeper into the life of Hilma af Klimt in this dual time line novel that explores life of a woman whose work was not heralded as much it should have been for a long time. Klimt and her friends- De Fem- met on Friday nights and explored the spirit world. This is not only about art (and I found myself googling for more info about the artists and works) but also about women supporting one another. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

The Friday Night Club is a historical fiction book that explores the world of art.

In the past, the story follows a group of female painters and writers who were know as the Five. During their weekly meetings, they engaged with seances to communicate with spirits that guided and inspired their work and pushed them past societal norms. In the present, a curator at the Guggenheim Museum is working on an art exhibit for Hilma af Klint, one of the women of the Five. While researching, he comes across questions about the art world in Sweden during the 1900s and yearns to uncover the possible secrets these women have kept.

As I am not one who is easily fascinated by art, I was amazed by how much this story pulled me in and how eager I was to learn about the paintings of Hilma af Klint, who I learned during the authors’ note, was a real artist. I love the vivid descriptions of the work painted and how seamlessly the writing flowed, especially because the book was written by three authors, only one who I was familiar with prior. The seance/ communication with the spirits was a big part of the past timeline and did not peak my interest as much as I wished. Still, this is definitely a book to read for anyone who loves art and art history!

Thank you Berkley for the ARC!! Pub date: 5/16