This was a really enjoyable piece of historical fiction. It’s about four young women who are among Oxford University’s first intake of women in 1920. (Women had been able to study at Oxford prior to that, but they weren’t allowed to graduate). It was fascinating learning about the restrictions that were placed on them by the college and how differently they were treated from male students. Yes they were Oxford students, but they were not equal.

Ottoline, Beatrice, Dora and Marianne all come from very different backgrounds but become fast friends when they are assigned to Corridor Eight of St Hugh’s College. Each has their own secrets or private griefs which we will gradually learn about. Ottoline is haunted by her experiences as a nurse during WW1. Beatrice is struggling to emerge from her mother’s shadow. Dora is grieving the loss of her brother and her fiancé during the War. And enigmatic Marianne has her own well hidden secrets.

As well as life at Oxford, the plot encompasses many other aspects of life in the early 20th century, among them the suffragette movement, the Spanish Flu epidemic and the ongoing impact of WW1.

It’s a really easy and interesting read that I tore through in one sitting. I enjoyed it very much.

What a great debut novel from Joanna Miller, having spent time studying at Oxford University she certainly picked topic she could write about from experience. Although of course her protagonists are from a different era. The town and university certainly comes to life with her wonderful descriptions.

It is the early nineteen twenties and Theodora, Marianne, Beatrice and Ottoline are four of the first intake of women allowed to study for a full degree at Oxford University. These four young women find themselves all with rooms on Corridor Eight of St Hughs College and they soon become friends with the nickname 'The Eights.' As the novel progresses the reader learns about the backgrounds and the secrets they each have. With the many social expectations of the time the women find strength in one another, as they struggle with not only academia but also heartbreak. Despite so much against them they refuse to be beaten.

Having throughly enjoyed 'The Eights' I am hoping to be able to read more in the future from this author. This debut was such an emotive and compelling read, which I highly recommend.

https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/ebook-384-pages-genre-fiction-literary.html

The Eights by Joanna Miller

I pre-ordered this book as soon as I read the blurb because there was so much about this story of four pioneering women who attend Oxford University and are the first cohort to gain an actual degree. The four women arrive at Oxford in a time of great upheaval. The First World War has ended and women have just been awarded the vote. Beatrice comes from a progressive family, with a suffragette mother who attended Oxford herself despite being unable to graduate like the men. Beatrice is very political, obviously a feminist and is used to being noticed, as she’s usually the tallest woman in a room. Marianne is a scholarship student, but she seems to have secrets. She returns home every other weekend and struggles financially but she is determined to get her education. Ottoline (Otto) comes from a wealthy family, but is haunted by her war experiences after volunteering for a nursing role. She found it so distressing that she had to be redeployed as a driver, giving patients transportation rather than working on the front line. She’s had symptoms of PTSD ever since, but also feelings of shame that she couldn’t do her duty. Dora also struggles with the consequences of war. She received a letter from her fiancé Charles’s regiment to inform her he’d been killed, then only two weeks later her brother George also lost his life. She still sees Charles wherever she goes and being so close to his university only serves to keep him at the forefront of her mind. These four girls are assigned to a corridor where the rooms start with the number eight, giving them their affectionate nickname. This seemingly random allocation starts strong friendships as the girls help each other negotiate their university work, their memories of the war and being taken seriously by their male counterparts.

Oxford University is the oldest English- speaking university in the world, having been founded in the 11th Century. The first colleges for men were fully established 200 years later and the Bodleian Library opened in 1602. Women were only starting to be interested in an Oxford education in the late 1800s and four women’s colleges were established, however even after years of negotiation to do the same courses as men, women had to be chaperoned to lectures. I was amazed to read that despite doing exactly the same exams, women could not be awarded degrees and dons would still refuse to teach them. I couldn’t imagine doing all that work, then having nothing tangible to show for it. It must have been soul-destroying. The author’s story begins after women got the vote and it took until 1920 for women to become fully enrolled at the university as men had been, a ritual called matriculation. The author lays out this facts at the beginning of the novel, which is brilliant for setting the scene generally but also allows us into what is an exclusive world with it’s won language and culture. She separates her book into the named terms - such as Michaelmas or Hilary - and lays out the dress code and rules, different for men and women. She also lets us into what the exams are called and has a glossary at the back in case you get lost. This is such a world away from my life, even though people from my school went to Oxford, it was definitely not for the likes of me. I’d have definitely been a scholarship student and way out of my depth. Finally she splits her first chapter between the four girls so we get a really good sense of who they are and where they’re from.

This is a real character led novel from Joanna Miller and she creates a similar feel to those novels I loved as a girl such as the Little Women series or What Katy Did At School. With both of those novels I felt like these characters would be great fun to be friends with and I loved the scrapes they got into and the character building lessons learned. This has all that, but with great emotional heft and real, gritty issues from that time period. I loved how the characters developed over time and how each of the friends supported but also changed each other with their different backgrounds and perspectives on the world. I felt Marianne’s predicament strongly, in that she’s landed with three friends who are reasonably comfortable financially. I felt it when they all swapped presents for Christmas, but Marianne couldn’t afford to buy them anything, so instead created a framed favourite poem for each of them. Her offerings are always from the heart and she’s definitely the most thoughtful and most serious of the girls. She also has the hurdle of illness to climb over, as well as whatever takes her home on weekends. The others notice that she’s never managed her reading so what is she doing? She has the constant fear of not passing the year and losing her scholarship and is preparing herself for the eventuality of only spending one year there. Ottoline is probably her opposite, in fact if it wasn’t for her love of maths she might be tearing about London with her sister and the rest of the Bright Young Things. There’s the rather imperious side to Otto, such as the way she’s always scuttling into tearooms and the nickname ‘Baroness’ that she earned in the war. However, there’s a softer side too and that terrible sense of failure she still feels, but she definitely comes through for Marianne when she contracts flu. Otto proves capable of dealing with bodily fluids, cooling Marianne in the bath and even washing her down with a damp cloth. She is even the first to uncover Marianne’s secret and guards it ferociously.

Beatrice is living with the weight of her mother’s success, both as a student of Oxford and a suffragette. She is a woman of ‘considerable reknown’ and this has given Beatrice an interesting childhood. She now has several hobbies - writing letters to politicians and watching debates in the commons, propagating orchids and being able to read Ancient Greek. She seems the perfect fit for Oxford but has never really lived in close proximity to other young women or lived anywhere but the family home in Bloomsbury. Two key events in the book seem to shape her future. She meets a young woman called Ursula who is outspoken, political and wears men’s clothing, which is much more comfortable than women’s. Beatrice is bowled over by her new acquaintance and is determined to wear men’s shirts and ties from then on. There is also the ceremony for her mother who will finally be awarded an Oxford degree. There is a push and pull constantly between who Beatrice is and where she has come from; does she accept and enjoy the legacy of her mother, or does she move away from it? Through her we learn about some of the worst aspects of the suffragette’s fight, particularly the way some women were treated as protestors and prisoners. Dora is a delightful girl from the country, who comes to university rather old-fashioned in her longer skirts and waist length hair, when hemlines are rising and hair is being shingled shorter than ever. Yet she’s weighed down with the early throes of bereavement and has come to Oxford in the hope of feeling closer to the memory of her fiancé who should have come to Queen’s College. She wants more than to pour tea, play whist and prop up her mother who’s grief is inconsolable. Dora will perhaps change the most and with a terrible shock to come, Dora may have to make a decision between the new life she has created or her old one.

I loved every moment I spent with these young women. They are all equally interesting and important so I couldn’t pick one I gelled with most. I loved Beatrice’s awakening, her straight forward manner and her bravery. Otto made me laugh and became so much more nuanced than the spoiled rich girl she could have been. Dora’s gentle strength is admirable, especially when it is tested. Marianne is the dark horse of the group, but she’s surprising and has a strong sense of what is right for her. This is a favourite time period for me so I loved the clothing, the outings, the rising tide of women wanting more from life than a ring and motherhood. These women are the birth of who we are now and I think the author was really successful in portraying issues that are still relevant. As we see women’s rights being eroded and the misogyny on social media, this is also about how men treat women. Whether it’s the control wielded by a father figure or professor, the deception and double-standards men use to manipulate women, the sexual predator or abuser, taking a chance moment or a position of power to commit violence. I believe that just the chance to pursue their education with the freedom men take for granted, is a huge step for the women in terms of status but also self-confidence. However, it is the friendship of these four women, first and foremost, that helps them grow. Their unflinching support and understanding of each other is beautifully drawn and brings to mind something I’ve always said to women on my ‘authentic self’ workshops; men may come and go, but it’s the women in your life who will hold you up’.

I absolutely loved this book and stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this as I really couldn't stop reading!
The idea of following the first cohort of Oxford students who were accepted as full students (as opposed to those tolerated at the University) was clever as it allowed the plot to be about the women and the challenges they faced as students, and in a post WW1 World, without also having to have them fight for recognition.

I felt I really got to know the Eights really well and all of their back stories were heart breaking in their own way. I liked the very gentle inclusion of real people into the story and felt this worked rather than being 'name dropping'.
As well as the story of four women forging their futures I also found this to be a great book to show how damaged *everyone* was by the war - whether they fought on the front lines or not.
In my mind this makes a great companion piece to Alice Winn's In Memoriam as well as being great for people who like The Testament of Youth (book and film) and also The Bookbinder of Jericho. It is also makes me hope for a revival of Jessica Swale's play Bluestockings.

This is an astounding debut and I can see it being high on my books of the year list

This story focuses on 4 women attending. Oxford after the war it shows the difficulties, prejudices, women faced.
We follow Otto, Marianna, Beatrice and Dora. They all have their own reasons for being there. And we see the world through their eyes and the changes that have taken place in their lives. There is also much about women's suffer age.
It is an interesting and well told story. Well researched and puts the reader right there.
All four women are trying to find their way and we see friendship as and bonds forming and witness their hopes and dreams.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

I enjoyed the story of The Eights. The 1920s time period isn't an era I have read a lot in so it was great to have a fresh historical setting. Thank you for the arc.

This was a joy to read. I loved all four main characters so much, their courage, and determination and their absolute friendship.
It was beautiful.

What a fabulous book!
Following the story of Dora, Beatrice, Otto and Marianne who are among the first women to study at Oxford university after the end of the First World War.
Beautifully written and incredibly moving, I was fully immersed in the lives of the four main characters as they navigated the rules and regulations of university life. Rules, of course, that only applied to them as women.
The author has clearly done her research and she brings this part of history to life in the most interesting and compelling way.
Thank you to Joanna Miller, NetGalley and to Penguin for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

The story of four women who have lived through the First World War and then meet up at Oxford University as some of the first women allowed to study and be awarded a degree. I loved all the characters, enjoying particularly the female perspective of that time in history. I was almost unable to put it down, but my enjoyment turned it into one of those books you never want to end. A really worthwhile read.

I really enjoyed this book. Rosie and Seb live in the sleepy seaside town of Waverly, where Seb has achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming the head teacher of the local comprehensive school. Abi, a young single parent has moved to the town to work in a new restaurant and make a better life for her kids. When she and Seb come face to face it is clear they have met before and both do not want the reason to become public. This is a story of how gossip can escalate and change the lives of the people involved forever.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

A superb novel!

In 1920's Oxford, history takes place when the University admits women for the very first time. Four young women are placed in neighbouring rooms in corridor eight and are thereby referred to as 'The Eights'. Not only is it a first for the university, it's a definite first for these young women who come from all walks of life; will they settle to academia and, more importantly, will academia accept them?

What a fantastic read. I loved everything about it. Despite being set over a century ago, I found it to be so relevant to life today. How long and hard women worked to get suffrage and yet, in 2025, we seem to be getting it all taken from us far more easily. Quite apart from that side of things, this was an enthralling novel which kept me glued to it from the beginning to the very end. Highly recommended and easily meriting all five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

This is historical fiction at its best, full of historical detail but never bogged down by it, and a thoroughly entertaining read featuring four women who I fell in love with.

Set in 1920, the book follows four women in the first female cohort admitted as full members of Oxford University and allowed to take degrees. Beatrice, Marianne, Dora and Otto arrive at St Hughs and all have rooms on Corridor Eight. Despite considerable differences in both background and outlook they become the firmest of friends as they learn to navigate this male-dominated environment, and all the challenges that presents, as well as to live in a country still coming to terms with the irrevocable changes wrought by World War I.

As we follow them through the academic year, we learn more about the women and you will take each of them to your heart as you learn how the war has impacted them and the individual challenges they have faced - and in some cases, the secrets they keep.

This is a book that resonated personally with me as Miller brilliantly brings to life Oxford, the town where I was a student and where many of the university traditions mentioned still continue to this day - and the story also features Berkhamsted, the town where I currently live.

But what makes this book such a delight is that Miller brilliantly combines a well-researched and fascinating snapshot of the time, a key moment in women’s history, with four characters who it is a joy to get to know. I loved these women, I loved their determination and resilience - and am grateful for the path they forged. But most of all I loved their relationship, a true testament to the power of female friendship.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I was a bit disappointed in this book and didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. It seems to be well researched and I liked the inclusion of real people such as Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby.

I found it a bit of a slog at first but it does pick up towards the end.

My difficulty with the book was the 4 main characters. I felt they were rather thinly drawn and identified by one characteristic - Dora 's beauty, Beatrice's height, Marianne's secret and Otto the rich one. I was not invested in any of the women and was not really bothered about what happens to them. I kept getting Dora and Marianne mixed up. Part of Marianne's secret was easy to guess and the other parts about the farm hand and then Henry seemed both unlikely and convenient.

The book ends quite abruptly I think and although I do not rate this book particularly highly, I would read a Further Adventures of the Eights. about their lives after university.

What a lovely read. I'm such a sucker for historical fiction and this one was right up my street. A feminist tale about strong women wanting more out of life. I would absolutely recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this one. It is set in 1920, the first time that women are allowed to study for a degree at Oxford University, previously they have been allowed to study, but wouldn't be able to get a degree.

The story follows four women all living on corridor eight, so they become known as The Eights. The Great War has not long ended, and all are affected by it to varying degrees, it is always there in the background, and often in the foreground.

The Eights consist of Otto - a socialite with a head for figures, Dora, who lost both her brother and fiance in quick succession, Beatrice - the daughter of a prominent suffragette and Marianne - the daughter of a vicar, who returns home once a fortnight for the weekend. Their characters are well drawn, and I found myself drawn into their dramas, and rooting for them. They encounter plenty of kickback from men at the Uni, but also a lot of support. With so many surplus women, they feel the need to be able to support themselves if the need should arise. I loved the cameos from Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby. While the are some romantic subplots, the main thrust of the novel is the strong ties of female friendship forged between these women, something that is often lacking in novels today. Would recommend, especially for anyone with an interest in this era.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

this was a lovely moving read that really transports you back and full of interesting well written threads that are pulled together. Fully recommend for any fans of historical fiction

This story about a group of women on corridor 8 at Oxford university has a great sense of time and place. The depiction of post world war one Oxford and the effect on everyone is really sad.
I did feel it needed a bit more plot to drive it as a historical fiction though.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

'You are historic figures, never forget that. The first women to matriculate at Oxford, the greatest university in the world'.

It's 1920, England, the aftermath of the Great War still lingers yet it is time for celebration, Beatrice, Dora, Otto and Marianne are some of the first women to be officially enrolled at Oxford University. Allocated to the corridor 8 rooms, the women are encouraged to mingle with each other but the daily trial of navigating this male-dominated institution quickly forces them to rely on each other, 'This is not how she imagined Oxford; not as a place where women are mocked and derided for wanting to learn'. As the year progresses, it becomes clear that 'The Eights' have each brought more than a thirst for learning with them, they have secrets that might just hold them back from really achieving.

'The Eights' is an enjoyable story that imagines how the first, matriculated, women students got on at Oxford. The book not only focuses on the strength of female friendship, forged in a male-dominated and somewhat unwelcoming environment but it also highlights the ongoing effects of WW1 on both the town, country and its citizens. I enjoyed Miller's use of mixed media to highlight some of the college rules and articles about lady students to give a greater depth of context. I did find it hard, at times, to keep track of who each character was and what their background story was. However, Miller's endnotes are robust, giving a guide on her research process as well as the many ways a reader can dive deeper into this topic.

'We don't have to prove we deserve to be here anymore. We just have to get on with living'.

Wow! What a year it’s been already for my favourite genre of historical fiction and here is another gem to add to that list!

The Eights is primarily set during the academic year of 1920-21 (with a few “flashback” chapters to give further insight into each of the main characters’ lives): the year Oxford University allowed women to matriculate for the first time in its history and the first year it granted degrees to women.

We meet Otto, Beatrice, Marianne and Dora, who share their university accommodation on Corridor 8 and soon become firm friends and known as ‘the Eights’. The girls all come from different backgrounds, have different personalities but they complement each other beautifully and soon form a firm bond. As we follow them through the academic year, we see their friendship blossom, see the highs and lows of their lives and learn more about who they are, where they have come from and also the secrets they hide. I couldn’t have loved one girl more than the other. They are all wonderful in their own way.

This novel is just stunning. The writing is exceptional and it conjures up that post war era beautifully: both the joy of living and the guilt of survival as well as the scars the First World War left behind. It is also a novel about growing up, about the love of friends helping to accept yourself for who you are and just to make it the perfect read, there is also a little bit of romance. It is one of those books that makes you proud of being a woman, of what women of the past have fought for and achieved so we can have today.

I will be buying the hard copy next week when it’s published: I want to cherish this one on my bookshelf!

Set in Oxford in 1920. Much controversy when the first women were accepted for degrees at Oxford University.
The story follows four very different women, Doris, Beatrice, Otto and Marianne, all with differing reasons as to why they sat the exams for Oxford. They meet at their lodgings on corridor 8 and they soon become the best of friends, supporting each other, though studying for different degrees.
Interesting and fascinating, the author describes life and its difficulties for the four women and the prejudices and extreme rules that they face - they must be chaperoned and must be dressed in a certain way.
Throughout the novel, the author brings in details of the individual women's lives before entering university which brings the characters to life.
A great read. A thoroughly enjoyable historical novel and the author's meticulous research adds to the feeling that I so wanted all of them to succeed.