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kelly_inthe419 's review for:
Bloomsbury Girls
by Natalie Jenner
I loved Jenner’s prior novel the Jane Austen Society and thanks to bookstafriend @ddermo5217, I was finally able to read Bloomsbury Girls last month. It did not disappoint. I love books about books and bookstores and I was happy to see Evie Stone back in this follow up story. She’s graduated from Cambridge but thanks to a scheming grad student, her long dreamed of position as a research assistant is snatched from her grasp and she’s left jobless – and homeless – in post WW 2 England.
Enter Bloomsbury Books where Evie’s Sotheby’s connection helps her land a job in the rare books department at Bloomsbury. At Bloomsbury, Evie meets the quick witted and fashionable Vivien Lowery and unhappily married Grace Perkins. Together, these three strong women bond through a shared desired to shape their destinies in a work environment – and world – dominated by men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story as the three women navigate their personal and professional lives and I loved all the bookish references. The plot also introduces us to a number of female authors as well as women in the publishing industry including Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Peggy Guggenheim, Ellen Doubleday, and the indomitable Daphne Du Maurier, who is a hoot.
This is definitely a character driven story, which I gravitate towards, but may start a bit slow if you’re looking for a fast-paced story. The characters, including both the likable and unlikable male characters, really bring the book to life under Jenner’s deft touch. The ending, while somewhat predictable, was perfect. I would definitely recommend this to book lovers, fans of women’s or historical fiction, and anyone looking for heartwarming story. And while I don’t know that you “have” to read the Jane Austen Society before reading Bloomsbury Girls, it definitely helped me better understand Evie and her motivations and the backstory of her love for rare books.
Enter Bloomsbury Books where Evie’s Sotheby’s connection helps her land a job in the rare books department at Bloomsbury. At Bloomsbury, Evie meets the quick witted and fashionable Vivien Lowery and unhappily married Grace Perkins. Together, these three strong women bond through a shared desired to shape their destinies in a work environment – and world – dominated by men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story as the three women navigate their personal and professional lives and I loved all the bookish references. The plot also introduces us to a number of female authors as well as women in the publishing industry including Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Peggy Guggenheim, Ellen Doubleday, and the indomitable Daphne Du Maurier, who is a hoot.
This is definitely a character driven story, which I gravitate towards, but may start a bit slow if you’re looking for a fast-paced story. The characters, including both the likable and unlikable male characters, really bring the book to life under Jenner’s deft touch. The ending, while somewhat predictable, was perfect. I would definitely recommend this to book lovers, fans of women’s or historical fiction, and anyone looking for heartwarming story. And while I don’t know that you “have” to read the Jane Austen Society before reading Bloomsbury Girls, it definitely helped me better understand Evie and her motivations and the backstory of her love for rare books.