This was the first time I had read a book by this author. It was a beautifully told story with characters, both strong and resilient and others that had flaws and were not as likable. WWI has ended and Constance finds herself out of work now that the men have returned from the front. She finds a temporary arrangement as a lady's companion for her mom's family friend. Upon their arrival at Hazelbourne-on-Sea, to convalesce, Constance meets Poppy. Poppy is a spirited, wealthy owner of a motorcycle taxi and delivery service run and staffed by women only. Constance is quickly swept into Poppy's eclectic group of friends. It is here she also meets Harris, Poppy's brother, who was a pilot and lost his leg during the war. He is also struggling to find how he will fit into a world that does not want ugly reminders of the damages of war.
At times it was a bittersweet story of the changes and aftermath of a long, costly war. Poppy faces the challenge of losing her business to the War Practices Act that requires only men can now be in employed in jobs once filled by women during the war. It was realistic, sometimes sad, but overall, an uplifting story of friendship and perseverance. I received a complimentary eBook from Netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is an uplifting, women empowering women story, with a bit of romance thrown in as a group of young women after WW1 decide to take on the men which of course was unheard of at the time and create not only a motorcycle club, but gasp, learn to fly planes. With women during that time who were meant to be seen but not heard, their voices become fodder for the males who cannot seem to deal with their intelligence, stamina and strength.

When Constance Haverhill, the companion of an elderly woman meets Poppy Wirrall a rich socialite who lives at the same luxury hotel Constance is staying, they befriend each other. Constance is searching for a job and Poppy who would prefer having a job takes her under her wing and not only tries to help her but introduces Contance to her motorcycle club which she started for women only.

Socially beneath her, Poppy begins to teach Constance not only about the mechanics of motorcycles but also teaches her to drive one. As Constance becomes friends with group members, she begins to see there is a whole world for women which she knows absolutely nothing about. But it seems to be only for those who can afford it, not for her. She sees these women stand on their own two feet without a man and decides she needs to emulate that behavior.

With a keen sense of math, Constance begins assisting Poppy's family with bookkeeping as well as befriending Poppy's brother, Harris who was injured during the war. Constance's world opens up as Poppy decides to buy a plane and wants Constance to learn to fly it. With Harris' help, these women begin to outshine the men in the area and that is not good. You see, there are some men who would do anything to make sure these women fail.

But these strong women will take them on even if that means losing their own battle just so they can win their own personal war. Regardless of what anybody thinks.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is a story of women during tumultuous times, stepping up, learning lessons, some very hard, having to choose between the love of a challenge and the love of a man. During that period women were told they were basically a piece of property to the men, with no minds and certainly no ambition other than spending money. Boy were they in for a shock!

Thank you #NetGalley #TheDialPress #HelenSimonson #TheHazlebourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club for the advanced copy.

This is such a great story, I enjoyed every minute of it! The relationship between Poppy and Constance was just what I needed right now. Strong female characters and a great plot. Highly recommend!

This was an enjoyable and cozy read. Despite occurring directly after WW1 and dealing with post-war issues the story stays light without minimizing. There was nice character growth and a sweet ending that tied things together nicely.

The First World War is over and England is struggling to return to normalcy. That means the women who stepped up during the war are now expected to retreat to their homes and housekeeping duties. Poppy Wirrall is from an aristocratic family in Hazelbourne. She is outspoken and determined to keep the airfield and the motorcycle taxi service that operated during the war, running. Her plan is to have women continue to work for these businesses and remain productive, working members of the village. Unfortunately, the officials and the local men are opposed to women continuing to work outside the home and they favor the hiring of men, especially the newly returned veterans.

Constance Haverhill recently moved to Hazelbourne as a companion to an elderly woman. Constance had previously been working for a large estate as a manager, but she lost her job and small cottage and is now looking for a permanent position when her companion job ends. Poppy is happy to take Constance under her wing and introduces the young woman to the society girls in Hazelbourne. They like to party, to gossip and some like to race motorcycles. Poppy’s brother Harris returned home from the war with his own set of problems. He must deal with people’s new perceptions of him and his abilities and this puts an edge on his behavior. Poppy has good intentions, but she may not be able to realize her dreams of continuing with the motorcycle and flying businesses.

Simonson is pitch perfect with her portrayal of social etiquette. The condescension and presumed superiority of the upper class is on full display. She captures the difficulties of post-war life. Not only are the veterans forced to deal with their future options once the fighting has ended, but there’s the anxiety and stress that add to their struggles. The topic of women's rights are also among the issues examined. A number of the women show daring and skills that are considered far beyond the capabilities of a female. The women who look to Poppy for employment are faced with uncertainty and even Constance has few options for supporting herself. The rich may have a safety net, but not everyone is so lucky.

This is a novel strong in setting and character. The differences between Poppy and her friends and Constance and the working girls, is pronounced. Set in a time when women had few options and the social strata had sharp distinctions. One can almost picture the later episodes of Downton Abbey as the novel proceeds. Delightful and insightful; a winning book for lovers of historical fiction.

It's unusual to get a historical fiction set between the wars and The Hazelbourne Ladies are the perfect change in pace. While some of the plot was predictable, I loved going on the ride with them as they fought for equal rights in the changing world in the wake of the first world war.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ebook ARC. I enjoyed the history of the women's work during the war and their attempts to continue, as well as class relationships, how some leaned into them and others allowed the war to manage them to dissipate.

I enjoyed my time with this book but it often felt to drag on. I love the Downton Abbey vibe that Helen Simonson's books offer, I suppose I just wanted more conflict. I also felt like the "villains" in this book didn't get what they deserved and that's a let down. IMHO- The book is good, just not great

I loved this book. I find that with most of the historical novels coming out lately that I’ve read, I tend to get turned off by the ‘hand-waving’ of consequences for breaking the social mores of the time. (This is also why I couldn’t watch a very popular Canadian mystery series – I tried watching a couple
episodes with my mom and found myself gibbering at the screen.)

BUT I DIGRESS. The characters in this book are well aware of both the social mores and the
consequences for breaking them. Even in 1919, class and sex mattered far more than we can
understand on a gut level. So it was refreshing to read a novel that understood that.

The plot also made sense and it’s just a nice book all around. (That is not derogatory at all. Sometimes you just want ‘nice’ and low stakes.)

Definitely recommend this!


#TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleandFlyingClub #NetGalley

Read this Story if you like:
* Historical Fiction
* Multiple POV's
* Hotel Seaside Settings
* Brave Woman
* Coming of Age
* Little bite of Romance

Summer 1919 right after WWI and women have once again been relegated
to the sidelines and deprived of the jobs they held during the war.
The story is told from three perspectives, each showing how different
groups have been impacted by the return of peace. The first PoV is
Constance Haverhill, a woman without prospects. She managed a farm
during the war but was released as soon as peace was declared. She’s on
a few week visit to the seaside resort of Hazelbourne with Mrs. Fog before
she will need to start the search for a job. There, she meets Poppy, a free
spirited woman of means who runs a motorcycle and soon to be flying club
for women. The second POV is that of Harris, Poppy’s brother. A pilot
during the war, he lost his leg. Now, England wants to move on and no one
wants the reminder of the damage the war wrought. The third POV is that
of Klaus, a German born, naturalized English citizen. He was interned on
the Isle of Man during the war and has now managed to get a job as a
waiter. But his accent means he has to keep a low profile.
Three different perspectives on how people were affected by the war and the
aftermath.

I loved Helen Simonson’s first two books, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (2010) and The Summer Before the War (2016), both of which my book group read and enjoyed. I was excited for this book and it did not disappoint. Constance is a thoughtful and interesting heroine who is at a crossroads in her life as the story begins. Meeting a group of young women who worked as dispatchers during WWI and have now started a motorcycle business gives Constance much-needed friends but also role models as she tries to figure out how she should make a living. The characters are well-drawn and interesting while the lingering effects of war are depicted realistically. I have not stopped recommending this since I finished reading it.

This is Simonson at her best. Deep and wonderful characters and terrific dialogue. Once again we find ourselves in post WWII England with vets, a German waiter and women who now find themselves in a country trying to recreate prewar culture in a world very much changed. A great read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction of women pursuing independence after WWI - driving motorcycles, flying planes, and trying to make their own way rather than relying on marriage. Endearing characters, great story. Enjoyed every page!

This was such a sweet and delightful book. It had a unique time and setting, in a post-WWI English seaside town. The challenges the characters faced in the post-war recovery period were poignant, and I thought the author dealt well with issues of class, gender and race without being too heavy-handed about it. The friends and fringe characters in this book were wonderful, and though there was some sadness, it had a happy ending. I would recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WWI is over, England is trying to return to normalcy but normal has different definitions depending on your social status. This story revolves around the titled and aristocrats, with a nod to the average men and women working as librarians and mechanics. Constance Haverhill is at the center of everything although not always in the most admirable ways. Being bright, competent and possessing business skills fails to secure her gainful employment as the men return from war and replace the women who have competently performed during the war. She has been demoted from running the finances of an estate to becoming a Ladies companion. She is the glue in this story.

The story finds Constance at The Meredith Hotel in Hazelbourne-on-Sea amidst a cast of varied and diverse characters. Klaus Ziegler, a waiter of German heritage, believes he is lucky to have a position despite horrid treatment by his superiors and some of the hotel’s guests. He remembers how things used to be and tries to recreate what was - his side story broke my heart. Of course there is a simpering hotel undermanager who is so easy to dislike. Poppy Wirrall, is everything Constance is not, wealthy, brash, adventurous and outrageous. She is going to be the impetus that drives this story, all the ups and downs. Harris, Poppy’s fighter pilot brother, lost a leg and much of his will to continue. He is also going to be a major player in this story.

You can see where this story is going but getting there is a very slow ride. There are many characters and many side stories and each adds value. This was not a book that I could “rip” through. Simonson doesn’t flinch from exposing the inequality, rascism, bigotry, misogyny and a host of other uncomfortable truths which were prevalent in 1919. The writing seems to be authentic to the time and therefore slightly stilted. The situations at times are hilarious and at other times tragically frustrating. The descriptions of time, place, thought and emotions are beautiful in their detail.

Another triumph for Helen Simonson. Many thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for a copy.

I enjoyed this story so much I didn't want it to end!
This post-WWI story illustrates how the war affected so many lives; from German immigrants to wealthy British aristocracy to injured veterans to working-class people, even Commonwealth citizens from India -- all are reflected in this terrific story.
The main character is a young woman. Constance, whose family has fallen on hard times, and is forced to earn her own way in the world. As the story begins, she is the paid companion to an older woman who is spending the summer in a seaside hotel. Through a complete accident Constance makes friends with a local baronet's daughter, Poppy, who runs a taxi service where all the drivers are women. Poppy plans to add flying lessons to the service as well; hence the book's title: The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. Poppy has an ulterior motive for including flying lessons as her older brother Harris, who was a fighter pilot during the war has returned with one leg amputated and tremendous guilt gnawing at him because he was the only survivor of his plane crash. Poppy thinks being around an airplane (or aeroplane, as the British spelled it then) will help to pull him out of his deep depression and help him get back to caring about life, and their estate.
There are so many different characters and sub-plots in the book it's impossible to name everyone here but suffice it to say they are all interesting and complex and Simonson has you rooting for the underdog, no matter who it is.
I grew so fond of Constance's character that I found myself getting angry at the way she was treated by some of the horribly snobby and condescending characters in the book, I wanted to give them a piece of my mind! Now, if my getting that caught up that isn't a sign of a really good story, I don't know what is!
I haven't read any of Simonson's other books, but I'm adding them to my TBR right away. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

While this may be Helen Simonson's 3rd book, its my first time reading her - and I enjoyed it! The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club a captivating read. It is a smooth blend of history, camaraderie, resilience with a small bit of romance thrown in.

Brief synopsis: Constance Haverhill is a young woman navigating the uncertainties of post-war England. She's been displaced from her job and home and reluctantly accepts a position to be a lady’s companion. Her world grows upon meeting the spirited Poppy Wirrall. This is the spark thats lights a journey of empowerment as they establish the Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club.

My thoughts: Set in England in the summer of 1919, the novel explores the aftermath of World War 1. Society has changed, people have changed, but the old values quickly reassert themselves. Women who were allowed to drive trucks and work the land during the War now have to give up those positions for returned servicemen. And many of the menfolk have come home battered and broken, physically and emotionally.

Simonson's cast of characters are interesting. I really loved trouser wearing, Poppy. She operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women and runs a ladies’ motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy’s brother, a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle, who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. The women of the Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.

Simonson addresses social issues of the times - Where small missteps can land one as a social outcast., the elite were generous until or unless their generosity might somehow impact their respectability or resources and there were many restrictions on women working (the War Practices Act). If I were to compare this read with another I would say: It is an Austen-style novel of manners combined with a feminist look at post-war lives in Britain. (it's obvious this clash opens the doors to humor)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House sharing portrait of life in a changing world where cold reality often collides with individual dreams and established expectations!

𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

Apologies as this has been published, but April precluded me from having it read on time. ♥️🥹 Thank you author, publisher and @netgalley

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙯𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙮𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗
by Helen Simonson
432 pages
@thedialpress
May 7, 2024

Helen Simonson has been a favorite author of mine as I was delighted by her debut novel 𝙈𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙬’𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 when I read it. Her new bestselling historical fiction should be read by everyone. This novel has an appealing cast of characters coming to terms with the reality of the aftermath of World War I as women lose newfound freedom and soldiers return home with new scars to heal.

Read this if

🌎 you enjoy historical fiction
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 enjoy a diverse cast of characters each with obstacles to overcome
🏍️ you enjoy enjoy stories about independent women
☮️ enjoy reading a post-war story about the postwar homefront and reclaiming community with all of its pitfalls and biases in a small community as a microcosm to the world at large. We also see postwar and wartime England from a German’s perspective living in this village- the prejudice and hatred faced by him during and after the war ended.
Women were replaced by men in the workplace - they lost the jobs they had throughout the war as soldiers returned from battle. The Hazelbourne ladies continued to strive and to show their community their skills and abilities by operating a motorcycle club including a taxi service and dreaming of opening a flight school for women.

I will be recommending this to everyone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5

Readalike authors (in my opinion based on characterization and storytelling). If you like these authors, you should read Helen Simonson's books (there are more, but these strike me):
Alexander McCall Smith
Fredrik Backman
Ann Patchett

#literaryfiction #historicalfiction #worldwarihistoricalfiction #hazelbourneladiesmotorcycleandflyingclub #helensimonson #arcreads #bookreviews #currentlyreading #amreading #boonstagram #mustreads

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, by Helen Simonson, is the kind of historical fiction that makes learning history not just interesting, but delightful. Contrasting the strictures of social class in post WWII England, with the upper class holding on to tradition that no longer works for anyone, especially their daughters, with a generation of women who filled all jobs while men were away fighting the war makes for built in conflict generally, but Simonson brings that conflict home with the wonderful men and women she creates.
Our protagonist, Constance Haverhill, has been orphaned and cast out from her family’s farm for no reason of her own. The rules of primogeniture meant that her brother inherited everything, and she was left to figure out how to get along on her own. Sent to the seaside as nursemaid to the matriarch of the family where her mother was in service creates an opportunity for Constance to understand her own skills and talents, even as she battles proper conduct for a young lady. When she is befriended by Poppy, an heiress in her own right, but also a believer in the power and talent of women, Constance learns that there are many gray areas when considering what is right and proper for men and women alike.
This book was captivating, endearing, frustrating and a wonderful reminder of how far we’ve come. I didn’t actually think I could enjoy a “war” book so much! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the review copy of this excellent book. The book was released May 7, 2024

Having enjoyed the previous two books by Helen Simonson, I was looking forward to The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. But for me, this was a 3.5 read. I think the story started strong, but with more and more characters added in, I started feeling that the plot gets bogged down and drawn out. Ultimately, I couldn't click with it. I would have enjoyed more focus on just the ladies involved in the motorcycle club and their life experiences during and just after WW1.