readlit247 's review for:

The Eights by Joanna Miller

5.0

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

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An exquisite novel! This is my type of historical fiction: a lesser-known moment in history that is meticulously researched; a cast of characters, each so real, one swears they are based on actual people. Miller's storytelling is so engaging; every corner of Oxford University during post-World War I came alive. I became vested in Berniece, Dora, Marianne, and Otto's success as some of the first women to be admitted to the all-male Oxford University. The women struggle with misogyny, their own PTSD from volunteering during the Great War, and the double-standards for women in higher education at that time, all while struggling with personal secrets and tragedies. The issues then are still relevant today. Not an ounce of fluff in this wonderful novel. I was hooked from the first page and did not want this story to end.