Review: Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

 

Bloomsbury Girls

by Natalie Jenner

About the Book

The internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world.

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare book store that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager’s unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans.

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiancé was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances–most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she’s been working to support the family following her husband’s breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she’s working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time–Daphne du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others–these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

My Thoughts

Having read Jenner’s debut, The Jane Austen Society, I was intrigued to read her second novel. After all, it does take place in a bookshop (!!!) and is set in a period I love, the early 1950s. However, this book didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

What I did love about the book was the setting. Bloomsbury Books is a character itself with its rich history and quirks. Bookworms will feel at home as they read about this delightful bookshop.

I also liked the main characters, Vivien, Grace, and Evie. Each were strong women in their own rights and endearing women to read about. They were living, breathing women, each unique and relatable in many ways. I loved reading about them learning to stand up for their selves in many aspects of their lives. It was also a treat to read about real-life literary stars of the day, like Daphne du Maurier and Sonia Blair. Such fun! 

There were several mature scenes throughout the book that took away from the reading experience for me.

Bloomsbury Girls is a fun and thought provoking look at women and literature in the post-war world. Certain scenes aside, I think this is a good book that many readers will enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.