Reviews

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

carpentd's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kerrynicole72's review against another edition

inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

sambolin's review against another edition

Just couldn’t get into it. Whether it’s a bit of the dry start or not the right mood… I couldn’t bring myself to pick this one up. 

jomabede's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

theglorifiedbabysitter's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

marinaemoore's review against another edition

4.0

This book really crept up on me. It’s definitely a slow burn, but I fell in love along the way.

I’d consider this a challenging read. There’s a lot of characters and information to keep track of, and each page contains a lot of information.

jkimber's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

azivkovicc's review against another edition

5.0

A wonderful tribute to the power of women and female friendship. 

Also very happy that Vivian did not end up with Alec!

cwalter01's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Things wrapped up a little to easily at the end, but overall a good read.  Last 100 pages went by quickly 

gabmc's review against another edition

3.0

Three excellently written female characters: Grace, Vivien and Evie all work for Bloomsbury Books - a bookshop in London in 1950. Store Manager Mr Dutton has established 51 rules for the shop - and the story is told through chapters based on each rule. In a time where women were considered to be lucky to be working and where their working lives were ruled by men, the three friends find solace in each other. Grace, Vivien and Evie are all very different - Grace is working to support her family after her husband came back from WWII with PTSD. Viv is working to support herself after her fiance was killed during the war. And Evie is in the first class of women to graduate from Cambridge - she is working at Bloomsbury Books to uncover a very rare book. One thing I really enjoyed was that the women got to meet some of the literary figures of the time: Daphne du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Samuel Beckett, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell) and Peggy Guggenheim. And of course what's not to love about a book set in a bookshop!