I read Natalie Jenner's first book The Jane Austen Society last year and really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised to recently be offered the chance by NetGalley to read the sequel, Bloomsbury Girls, before it was released. I have to say, I loved this book even more than the first one!

The characters were so realistic and their struggles from 1949 and 1950 are very relatable to struggles we face today. Many of the characters are fictional, of course, but several real folks were added into the mix to bring the historical fiction closer to fact than fiction. I enjoyed the female empowerment aspects of the story as well as the respect given to books and writing and authors.

This book can stand alone quite nicely, but I'd encourage anyone wanting to read this book to read The Jane Austen Society first, if possible, just to get the back story.

What a great read of perseverance, living in the rebuilding after WWII in England. We follow three spunky woman as they go about their lives, and each has ended up at the Bloomsbury Books!
The three woman are, Vivien, Grace and Evie, different, of course, but forging their way in a man’s world. Yes, they have to make the tea, for me it was coffee, but these woman are talented and gifted, and we walk in their shoes!
There are a lot of twists and turns, and some hard subjects are dealt with, the author does a great job with these.
We hobnob with some famous people, George Orwell, Daphne Du Maurier, Peggy Guggenheim, Samuel Beckett, and we are there to see the delightful part they play in this read! I loved it!
A read that quickly became a page turner, and I really wanted to continue on with their lives!
I received this book through Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

I'll be entirely honest i got this book to branch out from the typical genres i read. however i discovered it was not for me. I could barely finish it

A follow up to the Jane Austen Society, though a stand alone. I encourage readers to read Jane Austen first, as Bloomsbury Girls has spoilers!

It takes place in 1950’s post WWII London, in a male dominated world, at work in a bookshop and in society in general. The three main characters, all women, figure out the dynamics to better themselves and their situation in life. Their mission is to gain respect from the men in their lives, while achieving their goals. Includes some romantic elements, but it is not the main focus. Addressing racism and societal issues, Bloomsbury Girls is strong historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of BLOOMSBURY GIRLS by Natalie Jenner. I loved THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, so I was excited to read more from Jenner. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of a bookshop in post-WWII London, and the little tie-overs from two or three characters that appeared from TJAS. This book had romance, feminism, discussions on literature and writing, and showed women getting ahead in the workplace and out-smarting the men around them who were stuck in the past or in their own self-absorption. Watching the women at Bloomsbury Books get empowered was really great. It was a little bit of a slow read for me with some rambling passages I skipped over, but I still overall enjoyed it.

I loved the Jane Austen Society and was very eager to read this novel -- especially because it dealt with books and a bookstore. Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. Although it was a very interesting story, and aptly conveyed the increasing strength in women in the post-World War II world, it seemed too formulaic for some reason, especially portions of the ending. Nonetheless, the prose was eloquent, and it was an overall good read. I do look forward to Natalie Jenner's next novel!

I thought The Jane Austen Society was delightful so I was thrilled to be approved on Net Galley to read the author’s new book, The Bloomsbury Girls. I thought this one was even better. I loved learning more about what Evie Stone was up to as well as seeing a few other characters from the first book make appearances. The other Bloomsbury girls, Vivian and Grace were great characters as well. The setting is a delightful bookstore in 1950s London. It was wonderful watching these three women find themselves and show the men who ran the store a thing or two. Overall a great read!

I received a copy from Netgalley; this is my honest review.
FYI: Open discussions on the pros and cons of living an LGBT life in the 1950s.
-I started reading and one character kept coming back to her past, reminiscing about people she knew so I'd wondered if that story existed. After completing The Jane Austen Society, I really think reading it before this book was a great idea. It helps with its premise.
-I loved the name-dropping as I recognized many of them and that was fun.
-There's a bit of repeated information. For ex., Evie's goal in life was told 4 times by the beginning of the 60% mark.
-I liked how Ash prepared all his and Evie's outings to perfect minutia because Evie felt more comfortable. That was thoughtful of him; he can work around her quirks.
-All through the book, you can see Mr. Dutton make enormous mistakes, one after the other, except for hiring Evie. I really like the replacement rules over Dutton's, especially the last one.
-You have to laugh at Mr. Feasby. He's a man of his times but wow did he pay for it.
-Alec was a bit of an hypocrite while begrudging his friends for not telling him a secret. He had told Vivien she should forget his faux pas.
-Vivien and all her lady friends are a force to beckon. Early feminists but nothing like today.
-As this is a women's fiction and not a romance, you don't really "see" a romance going on. But, on the other hand, like the previous book, many romances are budding here and there and it's all good.
-I'm so glad justice prevailed at the end!
-I'm a little confused: Since Grace's sons were just 10 & 11, how can they be annoyed, at their young age and younger before that, by Grace's worries? They should be at least scared of the noise and the destruction made by bombs in the neighborhood.
-I would not hesitate to recommend the story and the author. I also really like the cover of the book.

The Bloomsbury Girls is work of cozy historical fiction set in a bookstore. It is a story for women who's stories haven't been told due to the privileges of men and the disadvantages of being a woman during this particular time. It is about all the great things that can happen when women put their minds together to create things of brilliance and lives that match as such.

This story also handles what it means to be discriminated minority whether due to race, sexual orientation and gender. There are multiple perspectives as the plot meanders from one to the next. And while I wouldn't say this was a fast past book by any stretch I think the leisurely pace it takes is meaningful. Bloomsbury books is full of a variety of men and women all dealing with their own challenges and yearnings, there are complex relationships, romances that relate to literature and to the time in which they lived. Being a woman in this time in the publishing industry is particularly focused upon.

As I am not a huge fan of classical literature...I just don't think i'm well read enough to appreciate many of the references and the famous authors that are mentioned in this book (and this takes up quite a bit of room in the plot) I also would have liked a little bit more emphasis and push towards the romances/relationships in the book which were some of my favorite parts.

All in all a sweet, slower paced read that I think will lean towards those who like british lit, classical authors, bookstores, the world of publishing and the hardships that come within it.

3.5 stars

This is the best book I have read this year. The author intricately weaves historical literary figures into the story to help the three female characters with their plot to ensure better futures for them.

The story takes place in1950’s post war England. It is a time when women are adjusting to men resuming their place in British workplaces and society. The female characters have all endured being passed over by less accomplished men. One of them is also dealing with a husband who refuses to work and is a controlling bully.

BLOOMSBURY GIRLS is a deep dive into a post WWII London bookstore and the complicated work lives of the three women employees. The women are more competent than the male employees but treated poorly and relegated to making tea and never receiving earned supervisory roles. I found the book often slow and filled with too many characters; I had trouble keeping track of them all. The ending seemed just too cute given all the inherent difficulties facing women in that time period. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

1950’s, novelists and woman wanting change

Set in a London bookshop in the 1950’s this is wonderful historical fiction about the employees of Bloomsbury Books, and their aspirations and the social changes taking place. Many real life authors of that time are woven into the story, adding to the enjoyment.

Evie, Grace and Vivien all work at Bloomsbury Books, a bookshop based on old fashioned values and run by men. The manager has 51 rules by which all his staff must abide, and each chapter is prefaced with one of these rules – a great way to introduce the theme of that chapter and also describe attitudes of that time. The women balk at their perceived roles in the bookshop (and society), but can they actually change anything?
Amidst the pages the reader meets famous writers of that time including Samuel Beckett and Daphne du Maurier.

Bloomsbury Girls revolves around the three strong minded women in the shop, and reflects the social norms of the time, as well as the working and personal lives of its employees, the prejudices of the 1950’s and the desire for change, and resistance by many to it. I found the writing a little protracted for my taste, but having finished it a few days ago, I now look back at the wonderfully drawn story of life for women in a man’s world.

My thanks to Netgalley and St Martin s for allowing me to review this charming book about 3 friends in the 1950s working in a book store and trying to survive in a man's world.

Cute story separated from each woman s perspective. A bit too much going on and got lost a bit but not a bad read.

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!

I truly enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls and now need to go back and read Jenner's first book.
Set in 1950 London, Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned bookstore run by men who want to keep running it the way they have for 100 years. The women in the bookstore have other ideas. Vivienne loves fiction and has many ideas about female authors who could be highlighted but is she unable to move past running the cash register and her ideas are ignored. Grace is a married woman with two young boys who needs the wages she earns in the office to help their family since her husband's breakdown after serving in WWII. Evie is a recent grad from Cambridge who was unable to procure a research job there having been beat out by a man who was less qualified.

the challenges these women deal with on a daily basis are many but together they find they can change the status quo. I didn't get wrapped up in the book right away but once I got to know the characters, I was sucked in. There are a number of men involved in the running and ownership of the bookstore and they all play a part in the women's lives. They also become acquainted with a number of famous women of the time including Daphne du Maurier, Sonia Blair (wife of George Orwell), Peggy Guggenheim, all of whom helped them out later in the book. There is also an appearance by Samuel Beckett. These outside characters add a splash of humor to a story that is at it's core is the struggle of women.

I felt like women can do anything if we only work together!! I was thoroughly delighted by this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

Sigh. I really wanted to love this but it just didn't hit the mark for me. It was fun to see our friends from the Jane Austen Society again and to see where life has taken them, and I enjoyed the setting, but I found the novel too bogged down with multiple storylines that took a while to take off. Towards the end everything was explained and solved and tidied up but it felt very rushed. I didn't love any of the characters either. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This was a delightful story with an assortment of fantastic female characters. The three fictional ladies who work at Bloomsbury Books make connections with a fascinating variety of real-life women who are connected to writing or publishing in the 1950s. Anyone who has read The Jane Austen Society will recognize some of familiar characters. I hadn’t, and while that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story, now I definitely want to pick up the author’s earlier work so I can get to know some of them better.

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner was a wonderful read! I did not want to put it down. I loved the story and the characters. It was great to watch each of the women grow and come to know how strong she is.
Each chapter was started with one of Mr Dutton’s 51 rules. I loved this! Great way to include the rules in the book.
I would highly recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

An old-fashioned new and rare book store has resisted change for a hundred years. In 1950, the three “girls” of Bloomsbury Books have plans to overturn the rules set in place by men. Various literary figures of the time help these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

I found this to be a complicated read. There was a lot going on and yet at the same time, the plot moved at a snail’s pace. I think if the focus had been on one person, or even two, I might have enjoyed it more. As it was, just when I was getting interested in one character, the focus jumped to someone else. By the end, I didn’t feel invested in what was happening.

It was also disconcerting that this was supposed to be about three women, but there were sections from the point of view of a few men. I’m not sure why that was included except as a means of sharing some insight into our three main characters.

The book references the events of The Jane Austen Society, but this isn’t exactly a sequel even though the events of this book are connected to the events of the first book. It was a bit confusing. One of the characters, Evie, appeared in both books, but by the end, I still wasn’t sure of the kind of person she was.

I think readers who enjoy books set in the 50’s and are interested in storylines of women against the world might enjoy this one more than I did.

Bloomsbury Girls is a sequel to the novel, The June Austin Society by Natalie Jenner. This novel is rich in womens powers in the 1950's in London. Grace and Vivien work at Bloomsbury Books under the strict rules of the manager, Herbert Dutton. When Evie joins the staff working on her private mission in the rare books section, the atmosphere at the bookstore makes a drastic change.
This book still relates to our times that women need to fight for equal wages and reach on a higher ladder in the workplace. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book prior to its publication for an honest review.