Julia Bryan Thomas’ Radcliffe Ladies Reading Club is a delightful read for lovers of books and historical women’s fiction. Centered around a bookstore book club frequented by 1950s Radcliffe college students,
Thomas’s novel may be a nostalgic look at old favorites for the oldest readers or will tempt at least somewhat younger readers to pick up titles from the past. More importantly, however, Thomas brings a group of Radcliffe students to life as they enjoy literature and the sharing of reading and friendship as they face the lives of young women in an elite college during an era putting a different set of pressures on young women than those more commonly confronting them today.

Although I was much younger in the ‘50s than these students, I could hear my mother’s voice attempting to shape my thinking and expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance reader copy of this look into the past. Julia Bryan Thomas helps us see how college life has changed over the years but also reminds us of the importance of literature whatever our generation.

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So many things to like about this novel. A book club, of course, plus a woman owning a bookstore in Cambridge by the Harvard and Radcliff campuses--with an apartment upstairs! I added two books to my TBR list, Gift from the Sea and Bonjour tristesse.

Add in co-eds in the early 50s starting their freshman year of Radcliff from different classes and states. I would have liked to know what classes they *had* to take as freshmen.

Who else went to Radcliff?
Stockard Channing, Magaret Atwood, Ursula Le Guin, Gertrude Stein, Helen Keller and Caroline Kennedy to name a few.

There was a twist listening to book club owner consider books that were new, such as Lolita, Lord of the Flies and The Catcher in the Rye but then going back to the old classics of Jane Eyre and Anna Karenina. Glad I've never been in a book club that read that, over 900 pages!

What college girls wore to dances in 1952:
collegeprom

Just how big were their closets? And were there dry cleaners within walking distance of the dorms?
Did the housemother really teach the girls how to make aprons and cakes during a snow storm when classes were cancelled?

There were two issues I have with the plot, one is that book club was held with only four members--I wish more characters had been introduced. In the same vein I hoped more would be written about Alice, the bookstore owner. Maybe sequels are coming?

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an electronic advanced reader's copy.

This book follows a group of girls at Radcliffe colllege. They join a bookclub and as the year starts out they all all hopeful and fancy free but as the year progresses they face some really hard things and have to learn to become stronger than they thought they could be.

The premise of this book entails a young, single woman, Alice, owning and running a bookshop in Cambridge. She decides to start a book club that becomes a haven for some nearby college students. All women, there’s definitely some strong feminist vibes in this storyline but, this story takes a turn towards darker, serious topics.

I didn’t expect this book to have such strong bones and address such serious issues…and I don’t feel like I can even reveal what they are without giving anything away. Suffice to say, if you enjoy a good historical fiction that grips you and makes you think…pick this one up!

Do you love books about books?
Does your heart go pitter-patter for classic lit?
Do you love historical fiction with campus vibes?

If you answered yes to these, then be sure to add this book to your Autumn TBR.

✨The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Grab a cozy blanket and a steaming cuppa and prepare to be transported to Cambridge, Massachusetts circa 1954. Alice Campbell has fled across the country and found herself on a cobblestone street in front of a derelict building. She does what we all probably have dreamt about at some point—opens an enchanting bookshop that she hopes will comfort the broken hearted. Starting a book club, Alice soon befriends four college students, Tess, Caroline, Evie, and Merritt, who are each trying to navigate being newly independent during a time when the world would rather have them don aprons. A truly terrible event happens to one of the women and the threads of their friendship begin to unravel.

What Julia Bryan Thomas does best in her newest novel is weave together classics that have been handpicked by bookshop owner Alice for book club with the narratives of each character in order to remind us of how books can both speak to us independently and also bring us together. I’m only a part-time classic enthusiast, so I did not recognize many of the classics mentioned, but I think it would be a fantastic reading experience to read this and the classics mentioned in tandem. My only other criticism is that a lot of rife between the friends would have been alleviated with talking about all of the things, but I get the feeling that that comes along with this particular time period.

It’s a book about books, friendships, and independence. I recommend checking it out. The audiobook made for a cozy weekend read.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read & review this book.

A book about a bookclub at a bookstore is always an attractive premise. I enjoyed how the books they were reading paralleled the events in the storyline. The book gave you a good feel for life in a women’s college in the 1950s.

Trigger warning: rape

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read a copy for my honest opinion.

This story fell into the nice "group of people bond over books and are forever changed" trope and I enjoyed it. I loved the treatment of these 1950s women and how they maneuver their world.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me- it did not land for me. I could not connect with any of the protagonists and it felt rather obvious in what was happening.

Examining the perspectives of women in different points of their lives and coming from different backgrounds, Thomas weaves a story of growth, survival, and letting go in order to begin again. Four young women embark on their college journey in the mid-1950s, excited for their new independence and examining their next steps in their lives. Do they continue on the path that is expected of a woman in the '50s or do they break from the societal norms to live their dreams? A fateful decision leaves one woman reeling with the consequences beyond her control and forever changing the course of her life. Will she return to the live that is expected of her or will she set forth on a journey to finally be true to herself? Guided by the owner of a bookstore, working to impart both a love of literature and the courage to think for themselves, The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club chronicles the journey from adolescence into adulthood and the decisions brought on through the transisiton.

Overall, Thomas captivates the pressures young women faced in the 1950s in America. Live the life that is expected of you or forge your own path? Learn to think and dream? Or let the world tell you what you should and should not like? Thomas uses notable books to guide the journey of the women and to tell the story of their year stepping into adulthood.

I loved the premise of the book. I loved how books can be an escape historically for the treated as less than by society. The group reminded me a bit of the movie The Mona Lisa Smile, obviously with a bookish theme instead of art. It was amazing to read about women in such a misogynistic time finding their way and who they wanted to be outside of the norm. It was a bit of a slow start but I was glad I continued on with it because it was well worth it!

I was able to read this as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. I enjoyed this book about strong women, a little bookstore, and their book club. It also gave me an appreciation for being a woman today, 2023, as opposed to the mid 1950's. The Radcliffe Ladies Reading Club is an emotional and heartwarming read that will leave you with a profound appreciation for the beauty of women's friendships and the ways in which books can shape our lives. It's a testament to the enduring power of connections forged through shared experiences and a shared love of reading.

As a book lover, this one drew me in and although at times it was a slog I did enjoy it. Some issues were tricky to read but apart from that it was a good book. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to read with a passion. So, when I saw The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club, I knew I had to request it. If the title didn’t draw me in, the cover art surely did. However, after some time reading I realized the reading club was just a small part of this story and that was perfectly fine. We see a small group of main characters and their journey through freshman year of college in a time where it was still out of the norm for women to attend higher education. I enjoyed seeing this aspect because it allowed me to see not only how far we have come but also dream about what is next. The woman who organizes the book club is working on overcoming some hardships of her own and helping this group of young women is just what she needs.

The women transform in so many ways over the short timeline of this book, and the character I thought I liked became my least favorite and the one I thought I hated became my favorite. That just shows how much development we see in the characters. As the women have ups and downs, they read classic books that help them to open their minds to the situations. Some great classics were discussed and I enjoyed that as well.

This is an honest look at the strength of women and all that we have overcome and can still overcome. You will laugh, you will cry, and you may shake your head a good bit, but it is well worth the read.

I do need to include trigger warnings as there are some very sensitive themes discussed. I do feel like it will spoil the story line some if I type them out, but do be aware that sensitive topics are covered. If you need a detailed list, please feel free to message me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Julia Bryan Thomas, and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced reader copy!

Immersing readers in the realm of college life, "The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club" offers a multifaceted exploration of education, friendships, and societal roles in the 1950s.

Within the microcosm of a college campus, the narrative intertwines the lives of four girls from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds at Radcliffe in 1954. As women navigating limited career options, each grapples with distinct challenges, finding their way through conflicts and seeking support.

The journey into newfound freedom and self-discovery captures attention. However, occasional lack of depth and narrative cohesion leaves characters feeling somewhat underdeveloped. The storylines occasionally appear fragmented within the confined space, and the dialogue and actions occasionally deviate from the characters' essence.

Set against the backdrop of a quaint town bookstore and an engaging Book Club, the novel provides a glimpse into the lives of these freshmen as they delve into the works of influential female authors. Amid this, a tragic event emerges, testing their unity.

Although promising, the book occasionally falls short of its potential. While the narrative offers insights, it doesn't entirely meet expectations due to character depth and narrative coherence. Nevertheless, "The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club" remains a compelling read, delving into the complexities of friendship and identity during a transformative era.

Besides my love for bookish books, the other best thing about The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas is probably that it feels so dang realistic. I love historical fiction, and I knew absolutely nothing about the Radcliffe College part of Harvard. This is set in the mid to late 1950s, but so much of the time and place still felt like it could be a contemporary storyline. My favorite character was definitely our bookshop owner Alice, but this wouldn't have been much of a book without Tess, Caroline, Evie, and Merritt. Tess was by far the most frustrating character for me to read, and that girl could jump to conclusions like nobody's business.

The book club led by Alice is at the heart of the story but revolving around that is the girls and their college life. Each of them is so different, and it was really something to see them become friends almost immediately. At times I was slightly confused about who was who, but that could be down to the audiobook which is narrated by only one person - Tanya Eby. The character viewpoints really flow together as opposed to being broken into chapters, and at times that was a little messy for me. I was also really surprised that I wasn't more emotional while reading The Radcliffe Ladies’ Reading Club, but it sure did make me mad at times. I really enjoyed the conclusion and the different themes the author explored, and while this wasn’t a total win for me, I would still recommend it to historical fiction fans looking for a book that would make for a wonderful discussion.

This book was nothing like I expected! In a good way. I expected a book about books and while it was that, it was also so much more. This character driven novel dove into the role of women in the 1950s and the expectations and inequities they face. Friendship, womanhood, and college life in the 50s were explored and I empathized with the four women and felt like I learned something. Overall an enjoyable read.

(3.5 rounded up to a 4)

The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas is a character-driven historical fiction with feminist elements. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little over eight and a half hours and is narrated by Tanya Eby. We alternate points-of-view between five main characters.

Alice Campbell arrives Massachusetts alone, determined to turn a disheveled storefront into an amazing book store. Once open, the Cambridge Bookshop hosts a monthly book club. New Radcliffe college students Tess, Caroline, Evie, and Merritt, read books with feminist overtones in the reading club.

This book was a little slow to start, but in the end I enjoyed it. If you like slice of life kind of books--or character-driven stories--you may like this as well.

All of the girls we follow have much different backstories, but they all have familial and societal expectations on their shoulders and dreams that might not align with one or perhaps both.

Alice chose the books for the book club to help talk to the girls about what kind of people they wanted to be by looking at the different ways to be a women. The scenes where they were discussing the books felt true to life for me.

The books that are read in the book club include:
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte,
- A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf,
- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton,
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy,
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,
- Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and
- Emma by Jane Austen.

For a book being set in the mid-1950s, I was kind of disappointed there was no talk of any events from the civil rights movement. All of the characters we follow in this book are white women, and the only people of color appear to be staff members.

CW: domestic abuse, assault, sexual violence, dissociation, sex shaming, misogyny, depression, bullying, alcoholism

What an enjoyable novel. I am a huge fan of historical fiction in the vein of Beatriz Williams and Fiona Davis and I feel like this is exactly what I got. Thomas does a great job fleshing out these characters and painting what feels like a realistic portrait of life for women in the 1950s--the paternalistic and misogynistic society they were forced to exist in. This was really great, I would certainly recommend it.

Perfect for fans of Mona Lisa Smile, this story revolves around the friendship of four Radcliffe College students and the book club they form at a local bookstore. Set in 1954, this book was full of young women from very different backgrounds trying to assert their independence in a world that wants them to be wives and mothers.

Parts are tragic but the overall feeling is one of hope and a true love letter to books and reading. This was also good on audio narrated by Tina Eby. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy. I read and reviewed this voluntarily, all opinions are my own.

I really felt this book could have been a lot better. It had a good premise and ideas. A woman starting over from a divorce owns a book shop and sets up a book club with some young woman starting college at Radcliffe. Set in the 1950's. The woman are dealing with societal expectations and changing culture/morals of the time. They want different things from life. Interesting idea to pair their discussion of different books with what was happening to them. But I just felt like the author didn't pull it off. I just couldn't get into the characters and didn't really like them. I wasn't invested in what happened to them and didn't really like the choices they were making. There are some trigger warnings for this book.