The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is a well-researched, charming look at a bygone era.

1919 is a year of mixed emotions for most people. While the war and flu epidemic have finally passed, leaving joy in their wake, the loss of loved ones to these events has been devastating. Almost no household has escaped the consequences, and Constance Haverhill is amongst the walking wounded. She lost her mother and nephew to the recent illness and is additionally facing unemployment and homelessness. The men have returned from battle, and the jobs single women were using to earn enough to keep a roof over their heads are being taken from them and given to the returning soldiers. The ladies are told to find husbands.

Constance is steadfastly looking for a position. While she conducts her job hunt, she works diligently as a lady’s companion to the mother of an old family friend, Mrs. Fog, who was saved from becoming another victim of the flu by Constance’s devoted nursing. This time spent at a lovely seaside resort while Mrs. Fog is convalescing comes with paid room and board and is meant to recompense Constance’s dedicated service. With her patient still quite fragile from her recent illness, Constance often spends the time her charge is resting quietly exploring the lobbies and terraces of the hotel, which is how she comes to rescue Poppy Wirrall from a social faux pas. Or more specifically, from displaying a horrible lack of decorum by being a single lady attempting to eat in a public dining room by herself. It has the hotel staff and other guests in a complete kerfuffle.

Constance joins Poppy for the meal, making things marginally proper once more. While the women share tea and life stories, they surprisingly become fast friends. The practical, pretty, soft-spoken, and humbly-born Constance is the perfect counterpart to baronet’s daughter Poppy, who wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women, and runs a ladies’ motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). Poppy, her brother Harris, and her mother are living in the hotel while their country home is being refurbished. The two women enthusiastically welcome Constance into their family, and while Harris, a former fighter pilot who lost his leg in the war, can be sarcastic, self-pitying, and coldly superior by turns, even he slowly thaws in Constance’s presence.

Constance’s time at the shore is limited, though, and the moment is rapidly approaching when she will have to leave Hazelbourne-on-Sea for the working world. Yet her new friends are reluctant to let her go, and she is equally reluctant to leave them. Is it possible for her to stay and build a new life among those she’s come to love?

On the surface, this tale is a saccharine-coated look at life in an idyllic English seaside town, but woven into all that sweetness is a strong perusal of the small injustices of life and how they can be quite large to the people they affect. One subject explored in depth is women’s rights. Constance, Poppy, and the ladies of the motorcycle club all did meaningful work during the war. Constance’s intelligence and assiduousness as an estate agent led to the Mercer family properties thriving, but once the war was over, her post was given to a man, and she was stripped of her home and livelihood in one blow. Poppy worked as a courier and her courage and tenacity were lauded by many, but society expects her to give up her thrill-seeking ways to marry well. Her friends find themselves in a similar position as new laws begin to severely limit the jobs women can hold.

Sexism isn’t the only -ism tackled in this novel. Harris and many of his fellow returning wounded soldiers face a great deal of ableism. Harris used to fly at a friend’s airfield but is not allowed to anymore because of his missing leg, even though the prosthetic he wears functions adequately for his piloting needs. He is denied a position at the bank, a spot which had been held for him during the war, because the public doesn’t want to look upon the wounded. Harris is rightly furious since his feet would be hidden under the desk most of the time, and his prosthetic ensures he has only a mild limp. Many men in far greater need find themselves in the same boat. Even the mildest deformities are considered reminders of the conflict’s cost, which must be hidden away so the public can “move on”. Society’s hypocrisy on the issue – with the soldiers lauded as heroes and jobs stripped from the women while the wounded are simultaneously rejected and shunted to dark corners – is shown in all its horrific glory here.

We also get a close look at racism and elitism through Mrs. Fog’s family who disapprove of anyone not of their class or color.

The characters occasionally come close to drowning under the weight of all the points they are making, but Ms. Simonson is a good enough writer that they are able to rise up to the challenge. I found myself deeply invested in the story as our leads slowly go about their lives, building relationships and coming to realizations about who and what matters most to them. Constance and Poppy, being compassionate and clever, do this with more ease than Harris, who still struggles with clinging to the old rather than embracing the new. It takes almost the entire book for him to come to the understanding that he has to release what was in order to live in the now, and that journey wouldn’t have been possible without our two ladies giving him heaping helpings of aid along the way.

There is a romance here, but it is extremely subtle and slow-burn. The HEA literally occurs on the last page.

What keeps the book from a higher grade doesn’t occur until the 80% mark. At that point, a character we’ve grown quite attached to is shown to have feet of clay, a man who was irritating but not villainous turns out to be a complete reprobate, and a very sweet, fragile secondary character becomes a sacrificial lamb for no good reason. It’s obvious the author is trying to add last-minute conflict and drama, but it’s a completely unnecessary addition that sets up awkward situations for the future our heroines face.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club won’t be a good fit for every reader. It’s long, and those tired of social issues may find too much of that here, and the romance is sparse. However, I think fans who enjoy ‘comedy of manners’ style books will be completely delighted by this novel. I am happy to recommend it to them.

Helen Simonson’s latest novel put me in a sort of trance. The story and writing style transported me to World War I era England. But unlike much World War I fiction, I did not feel like I was reading about contemporary people living 100 years in the past. These characters seemed to actually live and breathe a different air. They were clearly not of today. I felt I was watching them through some wavy antique glass. It was not an entirely comfortable or even enjoyable feeling, which is why I have given the novel a 4/5. Wonderfully written, but a bit unsettling and disconcerting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As with many of the novels I have read lately, I found The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club to be a bit slow to get into. I feel like nothing really happened until a little more than halfway through the book. When the plot finally started to pick up, I found myself considerably more drawn in and engaged. I loved all of the well developed characters, especially Constance. I was fully prepared to be very dissatisfied with the ending until the epilogue!

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club tells the story of Constance, who joins an older woman on a trip to the seaside as her companion. Constance quickly gets drawn into a fun crowd of woman working on a motorcycle taxi business.

Simonson explores a lot in this book - how women were forced to reconcile their yet again changing roles with the men returning from war, the inner life and treatment of emotionally and physically injured Veterans, race relations, and class differences - and she does it all with beautiful, descriptive (sometimes maybe too long-winded) writing.

This book is described as a "comedy of manners," which connects for me in some ways, but not in others. Simonson's writing is more thoughtful than laugh out loud funny and I guess the comedy, in part, comes from some of the characters holding ill-informed, unjust, and racist beliefs while the main character is presented as being above those opinions. It's hard to articulate why, but this didn't work for me at several parts of the story. While I'm glad the writing made it clear that those are horrible beliefs, it felt kind of weird to present them in some cases and also for the main character to be a sort of shining example of what people should think. It left me wondering if some parts were meant to be satirical. Though, I recognize that the timing of this story aligns with people having a reckoning with some of these beliefs and I can appreciate the tackling them.

“Paradise on the English seashore.” This novel is brimming with British snobbishness, hijinks at the Peace Parade festivities, a business wager with grave consequences, and a love story with a twist. These elements create a race from start to finish!
Simonson exhibits the bold nature of the characters as Constance rescues motorcyclist Poppy Wirrall on the Meredith Hotel veranda. Several star characters appear at dinner that very evening. The humorous sibling rivalry of Poppy and Harris is woven between their incorrigible mother, Lady Wirrall, friend Tom Morris and his twin sisters, Evangeline and Guinevere. The wry banter, honesty, and discernment shown in this scene are perfect examples of the narrative to come. Constance reveals she has but the summer months to map out a plan for her future. Buckle up for a great ride!
Behind the planning of the Peace Parade, the burgeoning motorcycle club, and saving Lady Wirral’s estate, are themes of loss, women’s rights, social class distinction and prejudice. Simonson exquisitely examines dealing with loss through the guarded transformation of Harris inside and out. A new law requiring businesses to hire returning soldiers creates anxiety and anticipation, highlighting this struggle for women of the post war era. Class distinction and prejudices are exposed with snooty, haughty, maddening remarks, but handled immediately by Simonson with insightful discerning dialogue and even some rewarding groveling. Cheers for Constance as she reveals her brilliance and finds the voice to prove it, “Women should always aim to be competent rather than decorative,” says it all.
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying club, filled with analogies, witty banter, and unforgettable characters, evokes emotions from glee to outrage. Constance decides she “can’t be bitter simply because life was not a fairy tale.” Or is it? Trousers, riding goggles, and a jaunty scarf suggested, but not required.

"A woman should always aim to be competent rather than decorative." Helen Simonson writes the most charming books. This newest book follows a group of women who are fighting for work, equality, and freedoms after World War I. Told from several different perspectives, you'll find yourself wrapped up in a novel full of romance, grit, friendship, and determination. I enjoyed all of the main characters and despised the villains - a very entertaining read for historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC.

What a gem. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club gives me huge Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society vibes. Not just because of the wordy but adorable titles or the post WWII setting. Both stories immerse the reader in the scenery and present us with wonderfully fleshed out characters. I am a huge Guernsey fan so feeling myself in that comfort zone again was a treat.

Hazelbourne follows a group of people staying/working at the same hotel post WWII. They all have different backgrounds and economic statuses and a big part of the story is what life is like now for those who have and for those who lost. The main character, Constance, is unmarried and has lost her position at the home she helped run during the war. Most jobs that were done by women will be given back to men upon their return. Temporarily acting as the companion to an old family friend she is thrown into the orbit of a group of wealthier hotel patrons, particularly Poppy, the founder of the motorcycle club, and her brother Harris, a pilot who was wounded in the war. As Constance becomes closer to the siblings she begins to hope for more, take some risks, and see the lines that divide clearer than ever before.

Helen Simonson has such a classic and beautiful style to her writing. She doesn’t rush the story and lets us linger and bask and stew in every moment. This was a really lovely story, I’m grateful to @netgalley for the ARC.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson is an enchanting piece of historical fiction that takes place in England after World War I. Constance is the main character in an ensemble cast. She is spending the summer at a resort as a companion to an elderly lady she had nursed through the flu. Her family (daughter) is not really interested in an old relict like her. She is generous to Constance, though, allowing her to make friends and have a life until she must face the inevitable and find paying position. She meets Poppy, who is wealthy and the epitome of an independent woman, who along with some of her friends is using what she learned driving motorcycles during the war to own and operate a small business offering taxi and delivery services using motorcycles. There is so much more to the story. And what a story it is!

The government is passing a law prohibiting women from holding jobs men could hold. That puts a damper on the business. To boot, Polly has a brother that has returned from the war minus a leg and thoroughly depressed. When the women are at an auction, ostensibly to buy tools for their shop, Poppy find an airplane in pieces. On a whim she buys it thinking it will lift her brother out of the doldrums. It does but not as easily as she thought. This book is a journey and a fun and poignant one. Relationships shift and change as England comes back to itself after the war. It has everything: several love stories, several breakups, a woman flying an airplane (gasp!) and so much more. Thanks for the very enjoyable read, Helen Simonson!

I was invited to read the Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Random House Publishing Group-Random House. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePubliishingGroupRandomHouse #HelenSimonson #TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleAndFlyingClub

This was an enjoyable glimpse into the lives of women and men directly after WW I. There is quite a cast of characters, but the main ones are well-developed and it isn't too difficult to keep track of everyone. I liked Constance and felt sympathy for her due to the precarity of her position. Her feeling of not truly belonging anywhere and lack of security seemed realistic for the time period. The plight of women who felt useful during the war only to be cast aside once the men returned was clearly conveyed through the different women in the club. The ending seemed quick and a bit overdramatic, but overall this novel was a good read.

3.5 I had great hopes for this book as I loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand so much. While I think the premise is good- women finding their place in the "modern" world of post WWI England, it just didn't grab me. At 624 pgs, I found it overly long, bloated with a lot of cumbersome, repetitive descriptions, and a bit on the slow side. Many social issues of the day were addressed in a respectful and meaningful way. There were many social changes that occurred for women after the WWI, while a certain sector of society are reluctant to part with the old ways. It was enjoyable seeing young women break tradition and experience other things to do before settling down to marriage. There was definitely a sprinkling of nostalgic "Masterpiece Theater" charm for a bygone era that was certainly enjoyable. I think the author could have accomplished her goal with a lot fewer pages. Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC opportunity.

Loved reading this book. The characters are so fully realized and full of surprises. It is a fascinating look at post World War II Britain struggling with the rigid class and gender role changes after years years of war and deprivation.

The cover of Helen Simonson's new book, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, immediately caught my eye. The title and cover image promised a great read!

Simonson has set her book in 1919 postwar England. Men are coming back to their homes, their families - and their jobs. Women have filled those roles during the war and many of the women don't want to quit - and many of them can't afford to not work.

One of those willing to work at a much more challenging job is Constance. But right now she is a companion to an older woman, living in a luxury hotel at Hazelbourne-on-Sea.

"I was doing something important. Now we are all expected to go home to the kitchen or drawing room".

Simonson's setting is wonderfully detailed and easy to imagine. She has also captured the mores of the time period - proper behaviour, doing as you're expected, listening to your elders and so much more. The expectations of the time are so constrictive. The dialogue was so well written and fun to read. Oral jousting while not stepping out of line!

But then Constance meets Poppy and her family and Poppy turns Constance's life upside down, introducing her to other forward thinking women. Simonson does a wonderful job depicting the women's' lives, hopes, dreams, wishes and the drive to keep trying to have more and do more.

There's much more to the plot of The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club - and it's much more fun to discover it yourself. If you enjoy historical fiction, add this to the your list!

Poppy runs a taxi and delivery service and hopes to add flying lessons soon. She employs local women. But now that the men are home from the Great War, everyone expects women to go back to worrying about manners and clothes. But, Poppy refuses to relinquish what little freedom she has uncovered.

Oh! These characters are so great! I just love Poppy! But honestly, it takes all of these young characters to make this story entertaining. Each character, Poppy, Iris, Constance and Harris, have a great story surrounding them. The way these people learn to ignore the noise, so to speak, just made this book so wonderful! Talk about non-conformity!

Need an adorable tale about strong women…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

What a gem of a little novel. This is the story of post WWI England in the small seaside town of Hazelbourne. Our main character Constance is the companion of elderly Mrs. Fog who is convalescing after warding off influenza. In the small community, Constance befriends another young woman named Poppy who is fighting convention and driving a motorcycle with a sidecar serving as a taxi. Though high born, Poppy is determined to see women’s jobs remain even as the boys are coming home from war.

Stuck between worlds, Constance doesn’t quite fit in with Poppy and her childhood friends, who seem to have unlimited funds available, but as she often is forced to remind others, she isn’t Mrs. Fog’s servant either, but rather her companion. She is also a trained bookkeeper as well, having taken correspondence courses during the war and aided a large estate in keeping the ledgers. Constance frets about her future after as her position is temporary, and all the jobs seemed to be designated for the boys returning home from war. Both of her parents have passed, and she does not want to live with her brother and his wife, so figuring out her options is imperative.

Filled with a memorable cast of characters, the author doesn’t shy away from racism, misogyny, and classicism that was prevalent in the time period. Constance is such a great character, one who has a heart of gold and sharp tongue. Her sense of equity is threatened regularly due to her circumstances, but her positive outlook keeps her from being too bitter. I found myself wanting all of her dreams to come true, and literally had a visceral reaction to some of her setbacks.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and of course the author Helen Simonson for the advanced copy of the book. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is out now. All opinions are my own.

Because of my admiration of the author’s previous books, I chose to read this. It was nicely written and explored themes that were interesting, but I just could not feel drawn to it. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleAndFlyingClub for advanced digital copy.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club was an interesting read. I had trouble getting into it. It just seemed to drag on and on at the beginning. I ended up not finishing it. Might come back to it at a later time to see if it gets better. The writing was good.

I finally broke my reading slump. This book is delightful. The author has never written a series before as far as I know and I doubt she'll write one now, but I'd love to see books based on one or two of the characters of this book. A great cast of characters and interesting story. I liked that it's post-WWI since too many historical novels focus on WWII. I also don't expect to see a tv series based on this show, but I'd love that. I think it'd make a great show.

Simonson is now one of my favorite historical fiction authors, with character driven stories filled with hope. Set at the end of WWI in England, Constance is trying to find a place for herself. Not of the wealthy class, but luckier than many, Constance is accompanying Mrs, Fog to the seaside for holiday. When she meets Poppy, the spirited leader of a group of nontraditional women riding motorcycles to provide local tourist transport, Constance is opened up to a different path. Poppy’s brother, Harris, lost a leg in the war, and is struggling to find his place too, often battling for recognition as more than newly disabled. There is social commentary, historical details of the times, and more. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.75 stars

This is another amazing book from Helen Simonson! She has once again crafted an engaging story of English life in the early 20th Century. This time, it’s 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 the return of peace has impacted three different groups.
Simonson has done a great job of capturing the strict social mores that are just beginning to be loosened as the country enters the 1920s. She also weaves in enough facts to give a real sense of time and place. I loved that while everyone was glad the war was over, some missed the excitement. Simonson finds the perfect balance between the dark and the light - the depression and worries against the joy of the ride and the friendships. All the characters are fully fleshed out, and I loved all of the main characters.

I loved this book. The adventure was great and I loved reading it and feeling like I was getting sucked back in the past and it was great.