#IFTHENNEXTREADBOOKS Showcase Series: THE EIGHTS by: Joanna Miller - Author

IF…..you are in your ‘OXFORD’ era, watching movies like MY OXFORD YEAR or TV series like A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, both on Netflix or have read Pip Williams’s novel THE BOOKBINDER OF JERICHO before…..
THEN…..your next read may be THE EIGHTS by Joanna Miller

THE EIGHTS transport the reader back to the famed campus of Oxford during the time after WWI when the first female students were finally able to receive their degrees. Previous students could study at girls’ colleges there but without a resultant degree awarded for their work. Not only does Miller submerse the reader into the daily life of a student at Oxford, but clearly shows the line between going there as a female vs a male with differing strict chaperone and mingling rules as well as continued resistance and protests to the female presence. While many firmly believed Oxford would come out on the right side of history vs its rival counterpart Cambridge, yet to admit females at that time, there would still be many battles to fight there until latter day when females even headed some of its colleges, which also became co-ed themselves as well. It was a heady significant time in the country with men still recovering and shell shocked from The Great War, a ‘surplus’ of women being the headline of newspapers, and with women having won the right to vote but with continued restrictions on age and property requirements still preventing equal voting rights. The spotlight was on Oxford, with students returning to study at colleges that had served as previous military hospitals during the War and with women getting to return in celebration to retrospectively receive their degrees — even the Queen came to Oxford then to be awarded an honorary degree. Miller deftly uses the four uniquely different and dynamic protagonists to illustrate and display all of this, leaving readers with a possible modern day throwback question similar to when the Sex and the City series aired: Are you an Otto or a Beatrice? Or are you a Marianne or a Dora?

Readers won’t want to miss or wait until finishing the book to check out the end of the book where the author has not only included a glossary of commonly used Oxford abbreviations and slang, but also a wonderful timeline of important events and female achievements and progress at the University. Additionally, the author has a set of 11 book group questions on her website joannamillerauthor.com, to further enhance and enliven discussion re: the book for your next book club meeting. Miller herself also studied and trained at Oxford, bringing personal background and experience when penning her debut novel that is captivating audiences on both sides of the pond. She has even returned a third time to the University for her creative writing degree.

They say to be a great writer, it starts with being a great reader. Miller even has a separate Instagram page from her author page devoted just to her own 5 star book recommendations! It’s a gem not to be missed from this author who wears multiple hats, including part time bookseller and poet. I can’t wait to see not only what she is reading next, but also what she may be working on as her next writing project to follow up her debut novel.

Oxford has entranced the world and inspired such a prolific number of writers and film directors with its steeped history of centuries, its famous alumni and Dons like C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, and with its stunning and storied architecture including the Bodleian Library and Great Dining Hall both figuring prominently in the wildly popular Harry Potter books and movies. No doubt with this famed setting and its important landmark events being the backdrop for THE EIGHTS, this book will continue to be on the lips and lists of readers here all over the US and in the UK.

Oh how I loved being in the company of the women of the Eights! This novel is a story about the sisterhood of four ladies assigned to the eighth corridor in their dormitory at Oxford University. Some of the earliest female attendees of this prestigious university, the reader is transported to the 1920s as we witness the struggles and triumphs of these ladies. Highly recommend!

I was so excited to read this book about the first female students allowed to study at Oxford University in 1920. The story follows Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto, the four women assigned to corridor eight. They became known as The Eights. Dora lost her brother and fiancé on the battlefield of WWI. She decided to honor their memory by going to Oxford in their stead. Beatrice is the daughter of a famous suffragette who can never make her mother proud, even while she paves the way for all the women who follow her. Otto was a nurse during the war and made her way to Oxford in an attempt to forget the atrocities she saw. And Marianne is the daughter of the village pastor, who makes her way home almost every weekend. She is hiding something from everyone.

There was a lot about this book that fascinated me, but it did not hit the mark. The way the book moved between the stories made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. I was confused by some of the characters' decisions, and while the ending was exactly what I would have liked, I found myself drifting away from the book in the middle.

'You are historic figures, never forget that. The first women to matriculate at Oxford, the greatest university in the world'. Really well written story showing the camaraderie of these women at a time when women were not welcomed in academic settings.

In this brilliant new historical fiction book, readers travel to the University of Oxford in 1920, the year it officially admitted women students, including The Eights -- Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto -- who come from all backgrounds, have different motives and secrets, and form an unlikely yet strong friendship. Dora had never planned on going to university, but the deaths of her brother and fiance inspired to take their place, while Beatrice (the daughter of a famous suffragette) wants to carve out her own place in the world. Former nurse Otto is excited to return to her prewar socialite life as a distraction, while quiet Marianne is hiding a huge secret that threatens her spot at Oxford. Alternating between timelines and characters, this book brings these fascinating women to life in absolutely incredible detail, and readers will love the mix of historical elements with these unique and fascinating women. The four characters are absolutely fascinating, complex, and interesting, and their struggles, motivations, and secrets are all deeply relatable to modern readers who can find inspiration in their stories. Brilliantly written, the world-building really stars in this novel, and readers will love the incredible details that Joanna Miller includes in this immersive historical fiction novel.

A great debut focusing on the lives of some of the first women to be accepted into Oxford University. A great story of friendship, set in the interim war period. People are still recovering after the war, and no one is particularly accepting of the fact that women are at the university. We follow four women and how their lives intersect as they all board together at the university. We learn about their pasts, secrets, and romantic interests. You can tell this is written by someone who attended Oxford and did good research as you are thrown into the lingo and "Britishness" of the school and time period. As an American who is unfamiliar with all that, it took a little bit to get into, but otherwise was a great read!

1920 was a tough, yet exciting year for women. Some thought women deserved to be given the same educational advantages as men, while others thought this was absurd. Following four women, both in the past and present, the reader is taken on several journeys coming to terms and rising above the societal norm. Between losses, setbacks, gains, and uphill battles, Otto, Beatrice, Marianne, and Dora come together to not only support one another, but grow with each other.

Equal rights to education for women is a time in history that is interesting to explore, so I give credit to the author in tackling a complicated subject. Due to this, I was curious about these women’s stories.

Unfortunately, the execution wasn’t at all what I expected. The most challenging aspect in letting a book be told in four perspectives is allowing each character be their own and have their own personalities. I very much kept confusing Beatrice and Marianne constantly throughout the book. They sounded exactly the same, even though they had different backgrounds. Dora also had the same voice, but I could keep track of her better since she was had some grief to deal with. Otto was the most distinct since she has some sass. Then, the two men, Frank and Henry, was just a mesh of the same person.

The plot was extremely slow. More often than not, reading this became a chore. There were moments of interest (miscarriage, an enormous deceit, hidden secrets) that spiced the plot a little, but not enough to state the storylines were interesting. Part of the issue was the approach of telling versus showing. Showing creates more intrigue while telling slows everything down. In “The Eights”, there was more telling than showing.

The other aspect that I felt could be improved is the amount of text that focused on the historical aspect of the novel. There were moments that I was reminded of the time period, but most of the time I didn’t really feel as if I was in the 1920s with these women. The characters kept mentioning a war that recently happened, but was vague on which one, which took away from the historical aspect.

Overall, I give “The Eights” a 2 out of 5 stars due to its subject matter with the idea of the execution could be improved. Those who enjoy slow-moving plots may be able to enjoy this read, but readers need to also enjoy tell, not show approach as well

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher (PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons) for giving me the opportunity to read “The Eights”. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I just could not get interested in this selection. I tried several times to read it, but it was too wordy.

Other reviews are varied..

Set in 1920 England, the country is dealing with the aftermath of the Great War. At Oxford University, Beatrice, Dora, Otto and Marianne are the first women to be enrolled and find themselves in corridor eight. A lesser known time in history, this book is a character driven account of what it was like as these characters and difficulties they faced. I really enjoyed it!

Joanna Miller transported me to the 1920s, Oxford, England, to follow four female college students as they broke the glass ceiling to study at the famous University. The storyline and storytelling were spot on with the character development. Class divides, family expectations, and their emotional states made them feel real on the page. The young women were unlikely to become friends based on personalities and goals, but their determination and support of each other gave the group success. The historical research was well done. I look forward to my next trip to Oxford to view it firsthand. Thank you to the author and publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the ARC. I can't wait to see what Ms. Miller writes next!

The Eights follows four women, Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto, who all end up living in Corridor 8 at Oxford in 1920, the first year women were officially allowed to attend. Each of them comes from a totally different background, and their friendship is messy and real.There’s still so much sexism in their way, and the emotional weight of the war lingers over everything. Some moments felt so relevant, even though it’s set over 100 years ago.

The writing pulled me in, and the pacing was strong. I wanted to know what secrets each girl was hiding, but I was just as invested in their day-to-day lives. It made me think about how many women like them existed in history but were never remembered. If you like character-driven stories about friendship, resilience, and finding your voice, this is worth picking up.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the ARC.

in 1920, four young women arrive at oxford and forge an unlikely friendship. even as they make history as part of the first class of women allowed to matriculate in the university’s 1000-year history, beatrice, otto, dora, and marianne find their experience complicated by resistance to female students, the lingering specters of world war i and the 1918-1020 flu pandemic, and their own pasts.

sometimes the ARCs you request on a whim turn out to be the best surprises! the eights is a love letter to female friendship with a truly enjoyable set of main characters. i don’t always enjoy multiple POVs because i’m often uninterested in one (or more) of the characters, but here i was genuinely interested in all four women and their perspectives. while the eights is overly predictable at times, the friendship at its heart carries the novel. it’s a perfect read for anyone looking for historical fiction that isn’t romance-centered, particularly if you’re interested in the 1910s/1920s or world war i and its immediate aftermath from a female perspective.

"The Eights" by Joanna Miller is the absorbing story of four women from very different backgrounds who meet as part of the first cohort of female undergraduate students officially admitted to Oxford University in the fall of 1920. Drawn together not only by the proximity of their rooms on Corridor 8 in St. Hugh's College but also by the shared experience of dealing with the misogynistic hazing of male students and professors in the long shadow of World War I, Beatrice, Marianne, Dora and Otto forge an unexpectedly close-knit bond as they navigate a tumultuous first year of studies, heartbreak and secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book--the writing was fluid and assured, the characters interesting and believable. But what really made "The Eights" a standout to me was the meticulously conveyed period Oxford setting and the historical context of the trailblazing 1920-21 school year; Miller grounds her fictional world in closely-observed historical details that make her novel pop. Recommended for lovers of campus novels and historical fiction set in the "Downton Abbey" period.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Putnam for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting of Oxford University post WWI , taking the reader into the elite world of academia. My favorite genre is historical fiction and this is a book that is an example of why I love the genre so much. Many of the characters and events are actual historical figures. It is a deeply layered story with complex characters. This is a book you will savor and well worth the investment in taking the time to think, pay attention to the characters, the well written words and language. For my fellow historical fiction lovers who appreciate a well written book I highly recommend!
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity.

A lovely story of the first women to matriculate at Oxford and their challenges of overcoming sexism, post WWI PTSD, and their own personal secrets. Overall the story is a pleasant and enjoyable but feels generally low stakes. All obstacles have a fairly straightforward solution and the women basically get what they want in life. This makes for a satisfying, albeit not entirely compelling read. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed learning about these women and getting a look into the post-war world of Oxford but I wish that there was more complexity to the central relationships.

Miller’s writing is like a warm hug: vivid, heartfelt, and packed with historical details that make you feel like you’re strolling through Oxford’s dreamy spires. The misogyny and post-war vibes hit hard, but it’s the sisterhood that steals the show, even though the pacing drags a tad in the middle. Still, I was rooting for these women throughout the whole ride. If you love historical fiction with strong female leads and a side of cozy academia, this one’s a must-read.

The Eights follows four pioneering women on corridor eight at St. Hugh’s College, among the first to attend Oxford University and graduate with degrees from the prestigious institution.

Beatrice, awkward and brainy, is the daughter of a famous suffragette. She’s determined to escape her mother’s shadow and chart her own course. Dora, whose place at Oxford was originally meant for her brother, finds herself reevaluating her future in the wake of the Great War. While fending off suitors, she quietly mourns the life she once expected. Otto, from a wealthy family, served as a nurse during the war. She knows she doesn’t want to marry her intended Teddy, but her future remains uncertain. And Marianne, the rector’s daughter, is attending on a scholarship she cannot afford to lose. Of the four, she has the most at stake.

Their friendship—unlikely at first—slowly blossoms over the course of their first year. Though they face substandard accommodations, institutional misogyny, and the persistent enforcement of the "chap rules," they come to find strength in one another. Time and again, their loyalty offers solace and courage in the face of adversity. In an era of upheaval, their bond becomes a lifeline.

This character-driven novel is a slow burn. The story’s one major twist may not shock modern readers, but in the context of the 1920s, it would have been life-altering. More than anything, the novel celebrates a powerful, aspirational friendship that carries these women through a transformative moment in history.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and of course the author Joanna Miller for the advanced copy of the book. The Eights is out now. All opinions are my own.

I fear nothing happened and I won’t remember these characters, except maybe Otto. There was not much depth to the plot, and it heavily relied on simply taking place at Oxford and everyone having some trauma related to WWI without going into the war that much. There were nice moments of where the women strengthened their friendships through vulnerability, however, these moments were far and few between and not enough to carry the novel.

THE EIGHTS by Joanna Miller has received positive reviews, but I struggled with the story that profiles multiple characters across multiple time periods and in multiple settings. The "eights" are named for the corridor on which they live as new undergraduates at Oxford. Beatrice Sparks, Marianne Grey, Theodora (Dora) Greenwood and Ottoline Wallace-Kerr have different backgrounds and each needs to adapt in this tale of undergraduate life. I requested this book because of its comparisons to others I had enjoyed: Helen Simonson's The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club and Kate Quinn's The Briar Club. Somehow, though, the women in this novel seem more self-centered than the ones who worked together and developed empathy and compassion more readily in the other novels. Perhaps they are simply struggling more themselves, as Dora says, "there is a blurry spot in her vision that she assumes will evaporate as soon as she reaches adulthood and her assigned future becomes clear." Sadly, THE EIGHTS has moved to my DNF pile for now.

Beatrice, Marianne, Dora, and Otto are some of the first young women to be accepted into Oxford University in the early 1920s.
The novel is strongest when presenting the university rules for this new women’s class. She also presents a realistic story about the hardship and physical and emotional scars in the aftermath of WWI.
However, much of the time I felt I was reading The Golden Girls in their 20s instead of a story about real young women. The women were too light and fluffy to be a realistic portrayal of real women in that time period.
Recommended for readers of historical fiction.