Natalie’s approach to storytelling, drawing inspiration from themes like joy, loss, love, regrets, and discovery, which are integral parts of the human experience, makes her work truly exceptional.

Every Time We Say Goodbye not only captures the charm of a Roman holiday but also delves into the profound themes of survivor’s guilt and redemption, prompting readers to contemplate how history and the past can both empower and hinder us.

This is a captivating journey into the heart of 1950s Rome, during the golden age of cinema. The novel beautifully intertwines the glamour of the film industry with the lingering shadows of World War II, creating a rich and evocative reading experience.

The protagonist, Vivien Lowry, is a compelling character. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience as she navigates her work in the film industry and confronts her past is both moving and inspiring. Jenner's writing skillfully brings the world of Cinecittà Studios to life, with its vibrant characters and bustling atmosphere. The historical backdrop is meticulously researched, and Jenner seamlessly weaves together fact and fiction.

What I particularly enjoyed:

The vivid portrayal of post-war Rome and the burgeoning film industry.

The exploration of themes such as love, loss, memory, and the enduring power of art.

The well-developed characters, both real and imagined.

Jenner's elegant and engaging writing style.

I really enjoyed this book! It was an engaging read from start to finish, and I found it incredibly accessible. The writing was easy to follow, and I appreciated how the story kept me hooked without feeling overwhelming. Overall, it was a great experience, and I definitely recommend it!

I enjoyed this third companion novel that began with The Jane Austen Society. I learned quite a bit about Italy in the post-WWII era. The peek into the vibrant Italian film industry and the involvement of the Vatican in life at that time was very interesting. I also enjoyed the seeing the lives of women as they began to become more independent after the war.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this novel.

I love a good historical fiction when I learn about new things! Loved learning about Italy during and following WW2. The film productions and the role of the Vatican in the act of censoring was really fascinating.

However, I didn't connect with the characters and felt that the multiple timelines were a little clunky!

My thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

As a huge fan of historical fiction books … and especially those that are set during WWII, this one did not appeal to me as much as I had hoped. It was interesting to learn about the film industry in Italy of which I knew nothing about. I did not connect with the characters or the story. I struggled to continue plodding through the pages until I got to the end. So, unfortunately for me it was not a pleasant read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Adult Fiction
Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
Italy
Mystery
Romance
Travel
War
WWII

This was a good historical fiction read! Loved the plot of this book! Thought it went very well with the setting and time period that the story takes place and had an interesting plot that kept me hooked in and invested! I did struggle with connecting with the characters and the actions they take through the story I just wasn’t as invested in them as I wish I had been. Overall an enjoyable read!

I enjoyed Natalie Jenner's previous books so looked forward to this one as well. While the themes and storyline are darker, this will not disappoint readers of her other books. For readers new to her historical fiction, this will be a welcome addition to their reading choices. This is a standalone novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are solely my own.

This book did not end up being for me. I tried to start it many times and my attention was just not sustained enough. Maybe I will attempt to read it at a different point in the future.

Natalie Jenner’s Every Time We Say Goodbye is an evocative novel that explores the enduring bonds of love and friendship across time and distance. Set in post-World War II England, the story centers on a group of characters brought together by circumstance, whose lives are forever changed by love, loss, and the difficult choices they must make.

Jenner’s strength lies in her ability to create characters that feel authentic and deeply human. At the heart of the story is Grace, a young woman torn between following societal expectations and pursuing her true desires. Surrounding her is a richly drawn cast of friends and family, each grappling with their own struggles in a world still reeling from the war's aftermath.

The novel shines in its exploration of complex relationships and the quiet resilience required to rebuild after heartbreak. Jenner deftly weaves together themes of forgiveness, sacrifice, and the courage to let go, crafting a narrative that is as tender as it is bittersweet.

The prose is lyrical, and Jenner’s attention to historical detail immerses readers in the world of post-war England. The period’s challenges and cultural shifts provide a poignant backdrop for the characters’ journeys. While the pacing occasionally slows during introspective moments, these pauses enrich the emotional depth of the story.

Fans of introspective historical fiction, especially those who loved Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society, will find Every Time We Say Goodbye a moving exploration of love and the choices that shape our lives. It’s a story that lingers, reminding us that goodbyes are often the beginning of something new.

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner is set in 1955 and tells the story of Vivien who is making her way in the movie industry in Italy as she works to reconcile herself to the fate of her fiance who died and as part of that process coming to understand what happened.

I found this story to be very readable and I enjoyed the substory of the Catholic Church of the 1950s. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner is set predominantly in 1950s Italy. Its main story followed Vivien as she transitioned from a London playwright to a cinematic writer at Cinecitta Studios.
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but found this book hard to connect with. I felt it jumped around in the storyline making it hard to empathize with the characters.
It was interesting to read about the Italian movie industry and the influence of the church on it.
Overall I would give Every Time We Say Goodbye 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I tried several different times to read this, and could never get past being bored and disconnected from the characters. DNFing at 10%. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

Stunning cover! What we all written historical fiction novel. Thanks for the #gifted arc in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved Natalie Jenner first 2 books. So I wasn’t disappointed in reading her next offering. Love this writing!!

Every Time We Say Goodbye was a mixed bag for me.
I enjoyed the historical back drop and learned things I didn’t know about 1950s Italy. I had no idea that Italy became a hub for American filmmakers at that time.
I thought there was interesting commentary on the papal role in that industry as well. I could talk for a bit how intriguing this all was (and makes me want to learn more about).
For some reason, I didn’t feel connected to the characters. The romance didn’t work for me. There were moments that I kind of cared and then I wouldn’t think twice about it when I wasn’t reading the book.

All in all, a 3.5 stars from me. Mostly because it stuck with me more than I expected.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a feee copy in exchange for an honest review. :)

Set in the 1950's in Italy, "Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Natalie Jenner is an interesting peek into the film industry of that time. Full of personal conflict and morality, eccentric characters, love, and betrayals, this novel was delightful. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them both, especially the first one (The Jane Austen Society). I had high hopes for Every Time We Say Goodbye, as it carries on the story of one character, Vivien. Sadly, I found the book quite disappointing. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and can usually appreciate books that have multiple plot lines and jump between times. Not so with this one.

I learned quite a bit about the post-World War II film industry, censoring by the Roman Catholic Church leaders, and about how the Italians were so divided during and after the War. However, the characters were very difficult to connect to. There were several storylines at once, which is usually not problematic, but they felt poorly linked and the characters of each were never explored in a way that I felt connected to any of them. A kidnapping felt random and left an unsatisfying plot hole that was never closed.

This was an unsatisfying read. One that I wanted to be done with about midway through. I hate to write reviews that aren’t complimentary, because I know so much work goes in to every book. However, I cannot recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

The writing was very well thought out and put together when it came to historical research, I felt I was right there with the Italians and Vivien enjoying everything Rome has to offer. There were many moments I felt Jenner was reaching out and forcing us to stop and think about what the victims of the Nazis must have endured and how we cannot let history be repeated again. All of the women characters proved to be incredibly strong including the Scolaretta. I was in fear of what they could have gone through and wondered what I would do in her situation.

The beginning dragged a little too long and I would have wanted to hear more from previous characters to see how they are doing, including Evie and Grace (possibly through letters), but other than that, once the pace picks up, I was soaring through each page wanting to know if Vivien would ever find her David.

Thank you to MacMillan Publishers, Natalie Jenner and NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm a huge fan of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, so I was very excited to read Every Time We Say Goodbye and continue Vivian's story. I don't think it had quite the same magic as the first two, but I did enjoy it. I did love the happy ending, and I wish there had been more focus on the characters involved in those storylines throughout the book instead of the time spent on other things.