My first advanced copy review! And what a great first one this was. Quite a page turner but not all in one sitting. It's remarkably detailed without boring you to tears. And you want to soak up the page.
Perspectives of four women at Oxford University in 1920, shortly after the Great War. Beautifully written about the era, the Oxford campus, the political climate regarding women's rights, and the sacrifices those people have made (or may not have depending on their privileges).

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


Literary fiction that’s bordering on being erudite, THE EIGHTS, is Joanna Miller’s debut foray into long form fiction. Her prior writings have been in poetry, award winning, at that.

Readers are invited into the ivy draped halls adjacent to Oxford University, shortly after the end of WWI. Four young women, from disparate backgrounds, come together in the same housing hall. They are the 8’s for a variety of reasons. Supposedly part of Oxford University’s first class to include women in 1000 years, Dora , Marianne, Beatrice and Otto need more than a passport to actually enter the esteemed university. The rules and requirements are “cringe”, (as contemporary students would say ), but the coping mechanisms are not so far removed from my own collegiate experiences some 50 years ago, well, minus all the imbibing…

Getting to know each character is overwhelming at the start of the novel. precariously close to info dumping. Taking time to read the author’s notes will help to alleviate some potential confusion. Also, take the time to familiarize yourself with the list of terms, especially if you’re not British or very familiar with their academic lingo from 100 years ago.

In perusing a few other reviews, I saw the words “misogynistic” and “archaic” but for me, these are contemporary accusations. In the 1920’s, post war, men and women had roles that were defined differently and in some cases, there were laws governing them. That didn’t necessarily make it right BUT it doesn’t make for misogyny; again, IMO, too bad it’s in the publishing blurb.

Author, Joanna Miller, does a very good job showing the burgeoning spirit of women into the world of academia at its most elite level. It’s an extremely complicated time in history: young men have been decimated by war, many that did return are wounded and/or traumatized without the benefit of proper psychological treatment and now are expected to resume their lives as if nothing happened - go back to school, work, girlfriends, families. Women had stepped up to fill the jobs men were forced to evacuate, or the very few unsung heroes who served in the service now were unceremoniously ignored or fired, and expected to return to their lives of tea and frippery. War had changed them all and its ongoing intrusion into the lives of each character in unique and sometimes insidious ways, is masterfully done.

Many of the events and secondary characters included in the storyline are actual historic figures or events. Weaving these into the narrative provides veracity readers will notice. The text is very classic in its construction employing complex sentences, proper grammar and punctuation, albeit with contemporary guidelines; sigh. Miller has chosen to take the high road in every avenue: no gratuitous descriptions of violence, sexual content and no foul language; kudos.
There are characters who experience rape, war trauma, social abuse, parental abuse/neglect, difficulty with relationships, and peer pressure.

THE EIGHTS is not a book you’ll flip thru quickly. I enjoyed it greatly because I like books that make me think, pay attention and invest in the characters. These four women are well drawn and I will remember two of them for a good long time. In fact, they would be worthy of a book of their own. Maybe this is Friendship Fiction with a side of Coming Of Age, just a tad older than usual. It’s WWI and it’s Historical Fiction but it’s also Women’s Fiction. Men are portrayed fairly,
I think, and this is a book that will have wide appeal for those who appreciate meat, not just fluff📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

A fascinating historical fiction about four women from the first female class at Oxford. Set after World War I, four women from very different backgrounds are brought together living in a dorm called corridor 8. Each woman has been affected by the war. One lost a brother and fiancee, one suffers from PTSD due to working as a volunteer nurse, one’s life is changed by her mother’s suffragette opinions and one had a life-changing experience on Armistice Day. Together they form a strong friendship while facing obstacles from their male counterparts, society’s expectations and their families pressures. I loved learning about this time period and enjoyed the references to the city of London. So many historical fiction novels are set in WWII, I’m happy to have a new one to recommend set in this time peiod.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

Set against the evocative backdrop of Oxford in 1920, The Eights tells the story of four women—Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne—who are among the first females officially admitted to Oxford University. Each of them carries her own baggage from the Great War and is driven by unique motivations, but what binds them is the deep, evolving friendship that forms in Corridor 8.

What I loved most about this book was the portrayal of female friendship. Joanna Miller writes the emotional highs and lows of their bond with nuance and heart—from moments of closeness and comfort to the inevitable tensions that arise when secrets surface or insecurities creep in. Watching their relationship shift and strengthen over the course of the school year was one of the most rewarding aspects of the novel.

Miller's dedication to historical detail shines through. The lingering presence of the war, the undercurrent of misogyny, the ever-present threat of influenza—it all felt grounded and real. I especially appreciated how the narrative slowly peeled back each character’s past: their lives before, during, and after the war. These glimpses gave weight to their present struggles and made their resilience even more powerful.

Overall, The Eights is a compelling, emotionally rich novel that explores friendship, grief, identity, and the cost of change in a world still healing from war. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and stories that center the strength and complexity of women’s lives.

Joanna Miller’s The Eights is a breathtaking, deeply moving novel that swept me away from the very first page. Set in 1920, at a time when women were just beginning to carve out space for themselves in academic institutions that had long shut them out, this story follows four remarkable young women who find themselves bound together by both circumstance and an unshakable friendship.

Beatrice, Dora, Otto, and Marianne—each carrying their own burdens, secrets, and dreams—become known as "The Eights" when they move into neighboring rooms in Oxford’s Corridor 8. But what begins as a simple coincidence quickly transforms into something far more profound. Through heartbreak, personal loss, academic battles, and the ever-present weight of societal expectations, these women find strength in one another, forming a sisterhood that feels both fragile and indestructible all at once.

Miller’s writing is nothing short of mesmerizing, balancing historical accuracy with raw, emotional depth. She doesn’t just tell us about the struggles these women face—she makes us feel them. We walk alongside Dora as she wrestles with grief, knowing she is only here because war stole the lives of the men in her family. We hold our breath as Marianne desperately hides a truth that could upend everything she has worked for. We ache with Otto as she tries to reclaim pieces of herself after serving as a war nurse, and we cheer for Beatrice as she refuses to let misogynistic professors and sneering male students determine her worth.

What makes The Eights so special is the way it captures the resilience of women—how they hold each other up, how they push back against a world that insists on diminishing them, and how, despite everything, they refuse to back down. It’s an ode to the power of education, to the fire that burns in those who dare to demand more, and to the kind of friendships that leave an imprint on your soul.

This novel will stay with me for a long time. If you love historical fiction that is both beautifully written and deeply resonant, if you adore stories of determined women standing together in the face of adversity, then The Eights is a book you absolutely cannot miss.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this remarkable historical fiction's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book is so far up my alley it has a home there. Academia? Check. Feminism? Check. Close female friendship? Check. Complicated characters? Check. Historical fiction? Check.

'The Eights' did not disappoint. A multi-perpsective novel about the first female class to matriculate at Oxford, 'The Eights' honestly portrays the flaws and triumphs of eight different women at Oxford and in a nation recovering from World War One. It was well-written, but highly readable and not too dark, but did not shy away from more difficult topics.

I enjoyed the whole novel and all the characters but especially Beatrice and her relationship with her mother.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

For fans of Kate Quinn (The Rose Code)! The writing was easy to follow, the storylines for the girls was rich and interesting, and their friendships were heartwarming!

"They knew they were changing history.
They didn’t know they would change each other.

Following the unlikely friendship of four women in the first female class at Oxford, their unshakeable bond in the face of male contempt, and their coming of age in a world forever changed by World War I.

Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto - collectively known as The Eights - come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship.

Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed.

Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don't always remain dead."

Grumble grumble, it's suffragists not suffragette, unless you want to use it as a slur.

This is an excellent historical fiction novel that focuses both on a nation rebuilding after war and the introduction of women at Oxford University. There was only one big issue I had and a few minor nitpicky things. The biggest issue is that the ending of the book is just an end. It's really blunt and it felt like the story would have benefited from an afterword. Just something to either talk about the real history of Oxford or where are heroines all end up. Instead, we just see the end of the school year. I get that maybe it should have felt hopeful and open-ended, but it just felt like a cut off.

I would have also liked to see more of the girls' interactions outside of each other. Otto has a social life that's only hinted at through her sneaking back in. Beatrice is part of a debate team that we don't really see or have mention of until the end. Marianne, I believe is in choir and Dora is only really defined by her grief. The history and the lives of these women as they dealt with the Great War and the danger of sexism, is so well written that it was a shame that the characters sometimes felt so wooden.

There are also several times that secondary characters like Ursala or Henry start to get built up as characters but only unravel. I wouldn't have minded some of the secondary characters getting more page time and building out the complex lives of our main characters more.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of history, it is a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

This book is about four women who were part of the first class of women admitted to Oxford to receive degrees. They are very different but brought together. They are assigned rooms in adjacent rooms in section 8 where they bond, forming a supportive quartet. We are told their stories.

A moving historical novel set right after World War I, about the first class of women to be allowed at Oxford University as a graduating class.

The four, as expected, have different backgrounds, characters, and emotional personalities. Each has been affected by the war - one lost a brother and fiance, one suffers from PTSD as a volunteer nurse, one had a life-changing experience on Armistice Day, and one's life has been shaped by her suffragette mother who had to delay due to the war. And together they have to face the misogyny of their time in history.

The four discover the bonds of female friendship and support for the first time and try to glean everything they can from their university experience while still recovering from the trauma of the Great War. I appreciated that they didn't get four conventional happy endings -- but the conclusion is hopeful for all. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found this frightfully dull. Very little happens and at times the author delves into extreme minutia on a scholarly tome or the scenery. I frequently forgot who was whom because the characters are so thinly drawn.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller imagines the lives of four of the first women who studied at Oxford University in the 1920s. I loved this time frame, just after the First World War, and felt like the descriptions of the college and community was one of the book's strengths. Unfortunately, the characters came across as wooden and stereotypical. I was never able to really connect with them on an emotional level, although they each had experienced the various traumas of the time due to war, poverty, and social mores. For me, this was only an average read. Other readers may find it enjoyable, however.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller is a compelling historical fiction read that follows four of the first women working to receive formal degrees from Oxford University in the 1920s.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but this covered a subject I haven’t read before! The misogyny, strict rules, and intense standards the women all faced were portrayed remarkably well. I also thought the portrayal of how WWI impacted the lives of everyone was done brilliantly, and I loved how Miller interwove real people with the fictional characters she created! I know that isn’t necessarily a rare thing in historical fiction, but she did it in a way that felt truly organic and seamless.

Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto all felt distinct enough that I could keep track of who was who, which can sometimes be a challenge when I read four voices all working towards a similar goal. They all had their own struggles and challenges and, often, their own unique secrets. There wasn’t one that I didn’t like, but I did have a favorite. Marianne just really tugged at my heart and I especially loved watching her story unfold.

All in all, this was a great historical fiction work that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Joanna Miller for the free ARC in exchange for my review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Penguin Group Putnam
Pub Date: 4-15-25

Thanks to @netgalley, @putnambooks, and @joannamillerauthor for the opportunity to read this eARC.

• Historical Fiction
• Post WWI 1920-1921
• Women at Oxford University

Beatrice, Otto, Marianne, and Dora room near each other in Corridor Eight. These four strangers - The Eights - soon become inseparable, sharing their hopes and secrets, as they navigate the challenges that come with being the first women to matriculate at Oxford University.

A timeless story of self-discovery, friendship, and the struggles of early adulthood, set against the backdrop of women's rights and the lingering impact of WWI.

"Despite her own pride in matriculating, she cannot help but imagine herself the winner of a relay race— being congratulated even though she only took the baton the last few feet over the line. As her mother often likes to point out, Beatrice’s generation is benefiting from years of lobbying, militancy, suffering, and protest by women like herself who refused to accept the status quo."

"A couple of weeks ago Otto could never have imagined herself part of a strange little gang like this, but the situation, though unexpected, is becoming increasingly welcome."

"Yes, Marianne is rather drunk, and is fearful and excited about going home, but these women! It is no surprise that the noun friend is derived from an ancient root word meaning to love, that it is etymologically bound to the word free. These marvelous women give her the confidence that what she is doing is right."

"Otto looks at Constance and then at Marianne. 'We don’t all go to Oxford to become Marie Curie. Most of us are ordinary people grasping the opportunity of an extraordinary education— and that goes for the men too.'"

Based on the title and cover I was expecting this to include more about rowing, but it was only a small mention. I loved the story of the friendships and learning about the history of Oxford and what struggles women had to go through to attend. I would love to see another story seeing what happens to them all later in life. A lovely story, easy to read and wonderful characters

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are fewer ~bookish things~ I love more than an incredible debut novel and that is absolutely what The Eights is.

The Eights is a historical fiction novel about four of the first women to attend Oxford University and it is so engaging and inspiring. Each of the four “Eights” (so-called because of the housing unit they’re assigned to when they first arrive) are characters rich with unique points of view and experiences, and have fully-fledged personalities.

Otto is my favorite (which will surprise no one who reads this and knows me) but Marianne, Dora, and Beatrice are all kickass characters too. Their efforts to push back against the rampant misogyny of 1920s England and seek the education they desire (and so deserve) is truly so inspirational. Their devotion to one another is a great reminder of how special female friendships are.

All four of the women have been deeply affected in one way or another by WWI and the chapters dedicated to each young woman’s back story add so much depth to the characters and the story as a whole. This debut instantly reminded me of The Briar Club by Kate Quinn, which I read and loved last year, and really gives major Kristin Hannah vibes.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and feminist stories, this one is definitely for you!

Joanna Miller's debut novel, "The Eights," serves as both a historical chronicle and a poignant reminder of the battles fought by women for educational equality. Set in the transformative period of 1920s Oxford, the novel captures the lives of the first generation of female students granted full admission to the university, stepping into academic halls long dominated by men amidst a society still reeling from the devastation of World War I.

The narrative unfolds in 1920, a pivotal moment when women were first permitted to matriculate and receive degrees at Oxford, though under a regime of restrictions that reveal the deep-seated resistance to female intellectual advancement. Miller's research illuminates the overlooked corners of this transitional period, showing how institutional structures and social attitudes created numerous barriers. She depicts an Oxford where female students face a labyrinth of "chap rules" that monitor their every movement, requiring chaperones for social events, forbidding them from entering men's rooms or hosting male visitors, imposing strict curfews, and even dictating appropriate attire.

The story centers on a group of first-year female students at St. Hugh's College, affectionately nicknamed "The Eights," each bringing distinct backgrounds and aspirations to their shared experience. Dora Greenwood arrives at Oxford still processing the loss of her brother in the war, hoping education might offer purpose amid grief. Her academic journey quickly becomes complicated by personal entanglements that mirror the broader societal upheaval, where certainties have been shattered and relationships redefined by war's long shadow.

Miller portrays the broader societal context through telling details, such as the era's infamous Daily Mail headline lamenting "A Million Women Too Many" and the subsequent "1920 Husband Hunt." This surplus of women to men, a direct consequence of wartime casualties, creates a social landscape where female ambition is viewed with suspicion and often open hostility. The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the institutional sexism these women face, from condescending professors to fellow students who openly debate whether "women have no place at the University of Oxford."

The diverse members of "The Eights" reflect different facets of women's experience in this period. Marianne Gray conceals her status as a widow and mother, illustrating the expanded roles women were compelled to assume in the aftermath of war while facing prejudice for stepping outside traditional boundaries. Beatrice, involved in the suffrage movement, connects the students' struggles to the broader political fight for women's rights. Otto, who served as a driver during the war, embodies the newfound independence some women claimed during the conflict, only to find society eager to rescind such freedoms in peacetime.

Miller's integration of historical figures like Vera Brittain and actual events, such as awarding honorary degrees to women and debates over women's suffrage, enriches the narrative. These elements offer readers both a lesson in history and a reflection on the enduring human spirit, particularly women's resilience in the face of institutional barriers. The dialogue and setting details are meticulously crafted, with period-appropriate language that enhances authenticity without alienating modern readers.

Its exploration of universal themes elevates "The Eights" beyond mere historical recreation. Through the experiences of these pioneering women, Miller examines how personal tragedies intertwine with historical upheavals, questioning and challenging traditional gender roles as society moves toward a new architecture. The novel portrays how the rigid gender hierarchy at Oxford mirrors the broader societal struggle transitioning from Victorian to modern sensibilities, with all the friction such evolution entails.

The characters' growth within these historical constraints is rendered with psychological depth. As they navigate the competing demands of academia, societal expectations, and personal desires, each woman must define success on her terms. Their collective journey illustrates how friendship and solidarity become essential survival mechanisms in an environment designed to exclude them. Miller shows how these women create alternative support networks when institutional backing proves insufficient or hostile.

Though set a century ago, "The Eights" resonates with contemporary relevance. The battles these women fight for educational equality, recognition of their intellectual capabilities, and the right to self-determination echo ongoing struggles for gender parity in academics and professional spheres. Their confrontations with institutional sexism offer a historical perspective on the persistent challenges many women still face today.

For readers intrigued by personal stories woven through historical events, Joanna Miller's "The Eights" provides a poignant look at the challenges and changes faced by women in the early 20th century. This book pays tribute to the resilience of these educational pioneers and reflects on the social transformations that continue to resonate today, reminding us that access to education and the freedom to pursue one's intellectual potential regardless of gender remains a hard-won privilege whose history deserves commemoration.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam. It is currently scheduled for release on April 15, 2025.

This is a smart, well written work of historical fiction about the first group of women to magistrate at Oxford. Featuring dual timelines and a sparse mixed media element, we follow four women as they navigate a traditionally male- only environment. Memories and reflections of WW1 are expertly layered into the story, highlighting how recent and traumatic the war felt at the time. The Eights is a
celebration of female friendship and intellect. 5⭐️!

The Eights
3.5 ⭐️

I was soooo excited when I read the description of this book—the first women attending Oxford with a close knit bond?! Yes please!

The Eights are four women who face a lot of adversity while attending male dominated Oxford in the years following WWI.

I didn’t think this one landed quite as well as I’d hoped. The story was much more focused on their romantic relationships than on their pursuit of higher education. It also felt a little choppy with all of the poems, school notices and flashbacks to the war. I enjoyed the girls’ camaraderie but I wanted more of it!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!