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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
Oh, how I enjoyed this book! Set in post WWII in 1950 London, Bloomsbury Girls is an enchanting, engaging and evocative book about three young women and their dreams, hopes, loves and struggles in a man's world. But it has that something special which sets it apart. Natalie Jenner writes with a beautiful passion which really comes through in her meticulous research of the era which includes mentions of beloved literary figures and vivid descriptions of the time.
Bloomsbury Books is the type of bookstore which would enthrall me to no end with its nooks and crannies and new books but particularly old and rare ones. I would happily go on The Mummy hunt with Evie and have tea and conversation with Grace and Vivian, the three main characters. They are all employed at the bookstore for different reasons and face challenges both at work (especially with swirling male angst) and outside work. Mr. Dutton has a stringent list of 51 rules which set the tone for each chapter (clever!). We also catch glimpses of romance and home life in the fast-changing world of the time.
Rabid Historical Fiction readers as well as those who have yet to fall in love with the genre should not miss this. It grabbed my heart more than many do and held on tight.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this stellar book. I am besotted with Natalie Jenner's writing and cannot wait to see what she writes next!
Bloomsbury Books is the type of bookstore which would enthrall me to no end with its nooks and crannies and new books but particularly old and rare ones. I would happily go on The Mummy hunt with Evie and have tea and conversation with Grace and Vivian, the three main characters. They are all employed at the bookstore for different reasons and face challenges both at work (especially with swirling male angst) and outside work. Mr. Dutton has a stringent list of 51 rules which set the tone for each chapter (clever!). We also catch glimpses of romance and home life in the fast-changing world of the time.
Rabid Historical Fiction readers as well as those who have yet to fall in love with the genre should not miss this. It grabbed my heart more than many do and held on tight.
My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this stellar book. I am besotted with Natalie Jenner's writing and cannot wait to see what she writes next!
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
A delightful read about the impregnable resolve women must have in order to overcome adversity and thrive!
This novel is a follow-up to The Jane Austen Society but can be read as a stand alone. The story follows three women who all end up working at Bloomsbury Bookstore in London. All three have faced failure and adversity, but find comfort and strength at Bloomsbury Books. As the story unfolds, readers find how each woman ended up at the store, and how each one begins to change after the store manger suffers a heart attack and is rendered homebound for a few weeks. During his convalescence, the women work together to have one of the most successful events and more sales than the store has ever seen.
Once the manager returns, however, things go back to the same mundane events and the store suffers a sharp decline in sales. Meanwhile, one of the women has found a rare, first edition book that she's been searching for since her days at University. This discovery allows the women the leverage they need to improve their lives and allow them to bring the store to its full potential.
This novel is a follow-up to The Jane Austen Society but can be read as a stand alone. The story follows three women who all end up working at Bloomsbury Bookstore in London. All three have faced failure and adversity, but find comfort and strength at Bloomsbury Books. As the story unfolds, readers find how each woman ended up at the store, and how each one begins to change after the store manger suffers a heart attack and is rendered homebound for a few weeks. During his convalescence, the women work together to have one of the most successful events and more sales than the store has ever seen.
Once the manager returns, however, things go back to the same mundane events and the store suffers a sharp decline in sales. Meanwhile, one of the women has found a rare, first edition book that she's been searching for since her days at University. This discovery allows the women the leverage they need to improve their lives and allow them to bring the store to its full potential.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Continuing the story of one of the characters we met in the story Natalie Jenner began in "The Jane Austen Society", Evie Stone is now in Cambridge. After a colleague cheats his way into the position she should have received, Evie leaves Cambridge to work at a book shop where she gradually gets involved with the other staff, two of them who are completely underappreciated women. One is having an on-off relationship with the assistant manager. The other is a mother of two struggling with her husband’s untreated PTSD and his increasing violence towards her.
Other store employees are: a young scientist from India who researches and manages the scientific books collection, a wannabe writer, a mostly absent buyer who travels to estate sales for new books, and a former member of the Navy, jealously guarding the history books from anyone’s interference.
There is personal drama, flagging sales which are dealt with handily by the women who change up displays, and start author talks for customers. Naturally, the men are jealous, and after more drama, there are happy endings for the women.
Natalie Jenner succeeds in creating another cozy, warm book that made me happy by the time I got to the end.
Other store employees are: a young scientist from India who researches and manages the scientific books collection, a wannabe writer, a mostly absent buyer who travels to estate sales for new books, and a former member of the Navy, jealously guarding the history books from anyone’s interference.
There is personal drama, flagging sales which are dealt with handily by the women who change up displays, and start author talks for customers. Naturally, the men are jealous, and after more drama, there are happy endings for the women.
Natalie Jenner succeeds in creating another cozy, warm book that made me happy by the time I got to the end.
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes