So when I first read–and quickly finished–The Jane Austen Society, I was hooked on Natalie Jenner’s ability to tell a story. So hooked that I was incredibly eager to read Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Girls is a sequel of sorts to The Jane Austen Society. Granted, two of the three main characters are new, but Evie Stone–the remarkable Evie Stone who is one of the founding members of the Jane Austen Society–returns in this novel, as a new employee of Bloomsbury Books. There, she meets and befriends both Vivien Lowry and Grace Perkins. Both formidable women, in their own right.

Bloomsbury Girls is a story set post-WWII in England, in 1950. A time when women were still not on even terms with men in any profession.

Grace, Vivien, and Evie navigate the ins and outs of working in a bookstore run and own entirely by men–men who unsurprisingly seem to be as good at it as they think they are.

The story being about all three women, is incredibly fulfilling in that it gives each woman their own time to shine, with their own incredible story arcs–while also bringing the three women together in friendship and camaraderie in a way only women can be.

There are some slight romantic elements to this story–just enough to satisfy. While also keeping with the tone of the book–these three women are a force to be reckoned with while also being real women–vulnerable, strong, and capable of achieving dreams even in the most unlikely of situations.

You don’t need to have read The Jane Austen Society to enjoy this book– but, it would make the experience more enjoyable.

I am so incredibly hooked on Jenner’s writing–I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!

This was an interesting book, good for fans of Jane Austin. I really enjoyed the bookshop background and the characters abs watching their arcs progress through the story.

I received an ARC of Bloomsbury Girls through Austenprose PR for a book tour. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

A historical fiction book about books? Yes, please!

Oh, this was such a cozy and quaint read. For a historical fiction, this was a vibrant and spirited read featuring women that decide to push back the norms set for them.

Set a few years after the war, London is becoming more alive than ever. And Bloomsbury Books has managed to survive in London for over a hundred years well through the war as well. Run by men and has a strict set of 51 rules. But with society recovering from the war, three women who work at the shop have plans of their own despite being ruled over by men.

While maybe not as eventful as some might expect, this book is filled with heartfelt stories for each of our main characters, including a little romance. I simply loved following and getting to know each of them. I’m all for seeing women push back against the status quo!

And what makes it all even better? We’re surrounded by books as we read this beautiful book. I adored the setting of Bloomsbury Books. The book store was beautifully described and the atmosphere was delightful and inspiring. Not only is it set in a book store, but we see a persistent theme of our main characters pushing back against the men in the store to include more female authors, besides just those that are “too popular to ignore.”

This gave me strong vibes of another favorite historical fiction of mine, Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner. Mostly in regards to the way we follow our main characters and see the experiences they face both past and present.

As I mentioned, this might not be considered eventful to some, but I found this to be a very enjoyable and captivating read. I think this would be a perfect read for those who enjoy historical fiction, women who push back on societal norms, and books about books!

This is a fantastically emotional book that makes you feel empowered, regardless of gender. It's a book on societal structures and preconceived judgements. A critique on human nature and a champion for women without being degrading on the male sex. It was more a commentary on time period and history than anything else. And a discourse on writing itself.
You would think with all of that in one book, the read may feel sluggish and heavy.
I read it in two days, regretfully putting it down each time life called me away. I turned each page anxiously, thoroughly enthralled with the fabulously written characters on the page and the determination they showed.
The literary references are intellectually brilliant. They're like little nuggets of happiness for every reading addict.
I would recommend this to readers of any gender, any genre and any time period.
There's no sex on the page, but it is referred to. For as prudish as I can be, I was never uncomfortable with the language- but I wouldn't give it a teenager to read either.

I loved this book set in a bookstore! The story takes place just after WWII. Three women are working in Bloomsbury Books. Each has their reason for working there and trying to find their place in a man's world.
We get to see alternating narrators, one of whom was in Jenner's first book, The Jane Austen Society. But, you didn't have to read that book to delight in this one.
Everything about this story made me smile from the literary figures who appear in the story and become important to the story to each of the characters development. There were strong females in this book who left me smiling from the first minute to the last.
I read and listened to this book and the narrator was delightful, the writing was wonderful and this is my favorite book of the year thus far!

Thanks to MacMillan and Macmillan Audio for my review copy of this book. All opinions are my own

I really enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls. I appreciated the look at the aftermath of World War II on women's roles and the difficulties so many women faced in the days after the war. I loved the way this one explored many characters while doing the tricky task of keeping me connected to each of them. This one was set in a bookstore & was a joy to be in that setting for so much of the book. I also enjoyed revisiting characters from The Jane Austen Society. This was a win for me.

Trigger warning: emotional martial abuse

Bloomsbury Girls is told from multiple POVs and is about three women working in a bookstore in 1950s London. It deals with gender and class struggles but also has an interesting little romance angle.

This was such an intriguing read for me. I flew through it and couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read the author’s first book, but I don’t feel that I needed to in order to enjoy this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed that the main theme of the book was that women were stronger together than they were working separately. I also like the inclusion of a “rule” at the beginning of each chapter. Each was a breadcrumb that, as the story progressed, gave me a little “aha!” moment.

I loved this book.

In 2020 I read Natalie Jenner's debut novel, The Jane Austen Society, and also loved it. I read that book with my ears and this book with my eyes, thanks to an eARC from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press.

Bloomsbury Girls takes place in the world of books in post-war London. Evie, Grace and Vivien work at Bloomsbury Books. They each have a personal as well as professional journey to take. Evie is a character who also featured in The Jane Austen Society. It was nice to see her story continuing.

All three of the women enjoy working with books, but feel confined at the same time by the "rules" of the store and the managerial style of the men in charge. The story describes the way that they ultimately make their profession "their own."

The inclusion of real historical figures such as Daphne Du Maurier and Samuel Beckett add a layer of historical interest.

Each time I opened my Kindle I was eager to return to this fully realized world that Natalie Jenner created for the readers. I am already looking forward to whatever she writes next!

3.75 stars

The charming story of three women in a London bookshop owned and run by men. Evie started life as a maid and made it to Cambridge and is now an expert in rare books. Vivien is older, confident, a little bitter -- her fiancee died in the war and his aristocratic family shunned her. And Grace, married with two kids. Her husband is unravelling mentally and becoming more and more needy and verbally abusive. Her job at the bookstore is her salvation.

The bookstore dynamic is changing. The manager has to take an extended medical leave of absence. While he's gone, the balance of power changes. The women take on more responsibility and change the look, feel and content of the shop.

There is a bit of a caper/heist feel to this one which is fun to follow. The women persevere and enlist the help of the shop owner, a titled gentleman who is one of the most decent characters in the book. Actually, most of the characters are realistically and affectionately portrayed. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this upcoming release from the author of The Jane Austen Society.

This indirect sequel focuses on the employees of Bloomsbury Books, a longstanding bookshop in London in 1950. It's a fictional story, but it includes many characters based on real authors and publishers, such as Ellen Doubleday and Daphne du Maurier.

It's a feminist narrative, and I thought the story was both inspiring and realistic. I definitely recommend it for historical fiction fans, and especially for those who enjoy books about books.

Read this if you liked The Jane Austen Society or The Dictionary of Lost Words.

This book was a wonderfully detailed account of the lives and times of working women during post-war London.

Three different women all want different things, yet they also want the same thing. They want equality, they want love, and they want control over their lives.

This was also a great look into the lives of some of the most renowned authors of that era.

I have not read the first book that started it all, "The Jane Austen Society" by Natalie Jenner, but I had no problems following this book.

Natalie Jenner certainly has a way of keeping you turning the pages!

*ARC supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author Natalie Jenne

Wonderful historical fiction. This is a follow up to the Jane Austen Society, which I have not read, but I no problem following Bloomsbury Girls. It's 1950 in London. Evie is a former domestic and now Cambridge graduate. Gracie is in an abusive marriage. Vivian suffered heartbreak after her fiance was killed in WWII. All three work at Bloomsbury Books, a venerable bookstore that comes with a fussy manager and his 51 rules. There are a number of other male characters, the most important being Alec (head of fiction), Ash (a recent immigrant from India) and Lord Baskin (bookstore owner). The book centers on the women and how they are regarded in 1950 London although there is a bit of romance. This is a quick read although it would slow down a bit when our characters had some internal musings about their lives. Each chapter started with one of rules, which was a great device. I look forward to reading more Jenner books.

#BookReview: BLOOMSBURY GIRLS by Natalie Jenner

“Life back then had seemed full of possibility and freedom, especially for the women who had taken charge while the men were off fighting.”

Grace, Vivien and Evie joined Bloomsbury Books after WWII. It’s an old fashioned and rare bookstore managed mostly by men and their inflexible ways. It was really nice that it was set at a bookstore. I liked that they talked about old books and female writers of that time like Daphne du Maurier, whose works I want to read sometime. I remember Evie from the author’s first book, The Jane Austen Society. I’m glad she’s here since I thought she was a really smart and industrious girl. Overall it was a good read though a bit slow in some parts. I learned how people tried to move on after the war.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Pub date: 17 May 2022

Thank you St. Martin's Press and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Do things always needs to stay the same because that is the way they’ve always been? Three female employees of Bloomsbury Books in post-WWII London are starting to think that they could be the change for good to help sales at their store. The store has been strictly run by men, tradition, and a dusty set of rules. Will Vivien, Grace, and Evie be able to change things up?

I had previously read and enjoyed The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Bloomsbury Girls has Evie Stone as a main character who was previously in The Jane Austen Society. It also had what I loved about that novel, great characters, story, and setting. The setting was in a book shop and there was a lot of talk about books. I loved it. Even better is when really life author, Daphne Du Maurier gives an author talk at the store and becomes a character in the novel. I LOVE Daphne Du Maurier and the talk of her works and of her as a living, breathing, authoress was thrilling.

I loved all of the characters, but especially the main female characters of Vivien, Grace, and Evie. Vivien is a beautiful woman with ambitions to move up at the bookstore and also to become an author. She also lost her great love during WWII and has a love / hate relationship with another employee, Alec. Her best friend at the shop is Grace. Grace is a married mother of two and finds that her marriage has become untenable. She has found a comradeship with Lord Baskin, the owner of Bloomsbury books. As his married, employee from a different social class, what future can that hold? Evie Stone has gone to Cambridge and has become employed at Bloomsbury Books as she is on the hunt for a rare historically significant book written by a female author. As she gets settled in, she becomes friends with her co-worker Ash. Will they become more than friends? Will Evie find the rare book and if so, what will she do with it?

I enjoyed the story as the women have to decide what they want in life and how to move forward. I also loved the discussion of women authors and rare books. I loved that characters from The Jane Austen Society were woven throughout the text as well. You can definitely read this as a stand alone novel, but it’s a fun treat for those that have read both books.

Overall, Bloomsbury Girls is a gentle story with fascinating characters and setting in 1950s England. I loved it.

4.5 stars Ok, so apparently I should have read The Jane Austen Society first. I shall definitely go back and do that as I thoroughly enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls!
3 lovely women, Evie Stone, Vivien Lowry and Grace Perkins, all work at Bloomsbury Books in 1950 post-war London. The men run the shop (mostly) but when the manager, Mr. Dutton, falls ill, the women step in to bring the store to roaring success. Many famous cameos are sprinkled throughout the novel (Daphne du Maurier, Samuel Beckett, Ellen Doubleday & Sonia Blair), and it's ending is as delightful as the entirety of the book. I love how each chapter was punctuated by a rule (there are 51 at the bookstore), and then the characters set about breaking that particular rule. The story was wonderful and fulfilling. Just what I needed. :)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

What's not to love? A book about a bookstore with 3 strong, smart, and determined women who work at that store, set in 1950 London.

3.5 STARS - Bloomsbury Girls is the story about the lives and careers of three women - Vivien, Evie, and Grace, who work in Bloomsbury Bookshop in post-WWII London. The bookshop setting is the perfect location for any book lover and through the POVs of these three women, readers get a sense of what life was like for women at the time - the limitations and expectations.

Readers will remember Evie as one of the characters from Jenner's previous book The Jane Austen Society. Initially, I only vaguely remembered her backstory, but it soon came flooding back and I enjoyed that the two books are connected. (Note: this book can easily be read as a standalone if you haven't yet read the previous book) Evie is in good company with a large cast of characters and thankfully Jenner provides a detailed character reference at the beginning of the book which I found quite useful.

I'm a big reader and stay up to date with current entertainment's 'who's who', but I'm not a big classics reader or old soul, so to speak. So, while I appreciated the inclusion of many references to pop culture, classic books, celebrities and authors of the 1950's - including Daphne du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday and Peggy Guggenheim -- many of these references were lost on me (until I dug a bit deeper - thanks Google!). They added much to the feel of the book, and I am certain readers who are more knowledgeable about that era will be thrilled with their inclusion.

This is a slower paced Historical Fiction read that is set within a London bookshop that meanders between a few POVs. A bit predictable but still enjoyable, this is a story about friendship that includes several real celebrities of the era who are woven into a story that reveals the complexity of relationships and the blatant discrimination in a few forms, with particular attention to the limitations put upon women in the 1950's.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for my complimentary digital copy of this title, provided in exchange for my honest review.

could not open this book to read because of a net galley glitch, they are aware of this and havent been able to fix it.could not open this book to read because of a net galley glitch, they are aware of this and havent been able to fix it.could not open this book to read because of a net galley glitch, they are aware of this and havent been able to fix it.

Lovers of books and reading will be entranced by Jenner’s newest book. It’s set in London and focuses on the few women employees of Bloomsbury Books, a bookstore that sells both new and rare books. WWII is over and people are resuming their lives though things have changed. Two women have worked at the store for quite some time and now a female newcomer is hired who’s a bit of an enigma.

When the manager becomes ill, the women must take over some of the managerial responsibilities. It’s a shot in the arm to women who have regularly been relegated to the role of underling. Each of the women relish the opportunity to be more involved in the running of the store.

In their new roles they meet and are influenced by some very some powerful women. These ladies are from the real world. There’s author Daphne DuMaurier, Ellen Doubleday from the publishing giant, Peggy Guggenheim of the famous art family and Sonia Blair, the widow of the celebrated author George Orwell. These women have all been in the limelight and have demonstrated the power women can achieve. They are inspirational and the ladies of Bloomsbury Books take note.

The sassy, brilliant and vibrant Vivian, the hardworking widow Grace and the recently overlooked but highly qualified Evie, become a threesome to be reckoned with. They are tired of never getting the promotions they deserved; of being overlooked simply because of their gender. They look to the successful women who cross their paths and are empowered.

One can’t help but love the ladies of the bookstore. They are memorable and remarkable. Vivian is the most striking and she lights up the page every time she shows up. The world after WWII found women who had pitched in for men serving their country were no longer satisfied with being the weaker sex. It was the start of a movement and the bookstore is just a sample of how women banded together to assert their worth.

This book was so delightful - not in the happy hour lucky way you might expect from the cover but in a beautifully understated way that makes a lot of sense. You’re rewarded for sticking with the story even if you’re not 100% sure where it’s going or how it might or might not unfold.

It’s not necessary to read Jane Austen Society but would be fun to pair.

I really like the understated way it comes together and the cast of characters is super delightful with lots of little quirks and little things that make it such a good read.