A review by rachael1221
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson

3.75

I wanted so much to love it. It’s got themes I love, a quirky title, and not to mention is by one of my all-time favorite authors. But this book is really Mansfield Park. From the poor-relation critique of the Cinderella story to the rich-people-get-away-with-everything right on down to the business in Antigua. It’s Mansfield Park but with a much more frank grappling with race and colonialism (which makes sense as it’s written in 2024 about 1919 and people in both times are more open about that than in 1814). Not to mention a much more appealing love interest (thank goodness!). And a club I wish Maddie Brodatt could join. But we all know how I feel about Mansfield Park.
It’s Helen Simonson, so of course it’s good. But her other books set my expectations so high and it being Mansfield Park meant I just spent most of it hopping mad. And I feel like for a title character, the motorcycle club was way too much in the background. I wanted much more of them and much less of the odious Lady Mercer. 
Oh well. I suppose Helen Simonson was bound to have a Mansfield Park too. But she’s still one of my favorite authors.