Another delightful historical fiction from Natalie Jenner! I was pleasantly surprised to see Evie from The Jane Austen Society in this book. What a fun connection.

I really enjoyed this story, although it was slow to start, it really picks up when we start to learn more about our three main female characters and their lives. I was thrilled by the ending, although as a romance girl I do wish there was a bit more romance between two of the main characters who had lots of tension build up throughout the book.

3.5 Stars

Couldn’t wait to dive into this book. But, it was too slow for my liking. Loved the premise…three women from different walks of life trying to eek out a living in post WWII London as booksellers. Misogynists who refuse to see these women’s worth or take them seriously. Yes, I know very pertinent to the era but frustrating all the same. The women band together for a surprising? ending. While I found each of the three woman's stories compelling, I couldn’t connect with them. Racism and abuse are also brought into play. Visits by well known figures are also introduced.

While the writing and premise were stellar, it was just too slow moving for me. I found myself skimming some parts.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

Oh, how I love Natalie Jenner's books. The eloquence of her writing and the superb storytelling is simply delightful. These three women are captivating as they follow their path to self-discovery and discover what their futures could be if they follow their dreams.


Reviewer Note: For a while, I originally posted on my website because that was where most of my followers were, and it was the easiest for me at the time. Then my website crashed. The reviews I wrote were lost. I am doing my best to post my comments here from what I can remember. Starting 2023, I have been posting across platforms (site/Instagram, Goodreads, & Amazon) so that the reviews are in more places.

I enjoyed reading this story so much. It was a great tie in to Natalie Jenner's first book, The Jane Austen Society, and it was great to revisit one of it's characters. I love the fact that the story is focused on the women of the shop, and how they were essentially sidelined due to their gender, especially during this period in history. A great book club read, beach read, and especially for lover's of historical fiction and all things London. Highly recommend,

I thought this one was just an ok read. It kept my interest throughout, and I did enjoy the characters. There just seemed to be something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

The setting is Bloomsbury Books in London, 5 years after the end of WWII. The story focuses on three strong, independent women who work in the shop and the many problems they encounter from the men they work with. The men are responsible for making all of the shop decisions, but our three heroines know how to make things happen behind the scenes! Once again this book brings together everything I love: books, bookstores, historical fiction and authors of that time period. All in all, a very charming read.

Reading books out of order is the worst thing ever! I didn’t realize this was the second book in The Jane Austen Society when I first got it. While you could probably read it as a stand alone, it does mention characters from the first book.

Having said that, a book about books and bookstores? Witty women? Count. Me. In.

This is well done post WWII historical fiction. It tells the story of three women who work in an old bookstore with long established rules. They’re all in different family situations, and recognize that the world is moving on after the war. They meet many well known literary figures like Beckett and DuMaurier, and their horizons are expanded even further.

I enjoyed the setting and the characters especially. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this sequel to The Jane Austen Society. The author has an easy-to-read, relatable style, so it was a quick read. Honestly, I liked The Jane Austen Society a bit better, as I felt the characters had a little more depth to them. The characters in Bloomsbury Girls had some surprises to them, but I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I like to.

A worthwhile read all the same!

Having had the opportunity to interview to interview Natalie about her first book, I was so excited to have the opportunity to read Bloomsbury Girls before it’s release. The story immediately pulls you into post-war London and keeps you there right up until the end.. l loved getting tokno Vivien, Grace and Evie. Such an enchanting read!

A really great follow up to the Jane Austen Club. Such a delightful cast of characters that aren’t perfect but you root for them!

A great read that immediately pulled me into post-war London and kept me totally immersed until I read the last word with amazing characters that I wanted to know. l loved Vivien, Grace and Evie and was totally captivated by the Bloomsbury Girls. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review. I liked it so much, I purchased a copy to read again later.

Is there anything better than a book about a bookshop? I really enjoyed this follow up to The Jane Austen Society as it follows the brilliant Evie Stone on her quest to find a rare book and outsmart all the men around her who want to take credit for her discovery. With appearances from old characters and lots of details with new characters, this novel examines the following topics:

-the plight of women after WWII has ended
-homophobia
-sexism
-racism
-gender roles

It was interesting to read about women in publishing as well as famous authors. I did find the first third of the book to be pretty slow. But the last part of the book and what the women pulled off was really something!

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book although found it slow moving in parts. I did like the characters and especially the intertwining of real people from history in the telling of the story. Each character had their unique situation and outlook which were well developed. This is an historical novel and could have used more background of the culture and events of the time to a greater extent. Overall it was enjoyable.

It is 1950 and the world is changing and these three women are changing with it, which the men surrounding them may not be happy about it. The world is also changing inside of Bloomsbury Books. I fell in love with Grace, Vivian and Evie as these strong, brilliant women find their way in a world that used to be only a man’s world. They interact with other literary women of the time and with each other, while pushing the boundaries, forming friendships and showcasing the true power of sisterhood.

Thank you #StmartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vivien, Grace and Evie each have more than a financial reason to work at Bloomsbury Books, Vivien lost her fiancee in WWII and no longer feels the need to find a new potential husband, instead being determined to go it on her own as a strong, independent, single woman. Grace married her husband out of a sense of duty and tolerance. After the trauma of the War took its toll, Grace's husband has made her home life unbearable through his lack of working, resentment and anger all of which he takes out on her. Bloomsbury Books not only offers a paycheck to Grace's family, but a respite from her husband. Evie, a serious and studious girl from a rural community landed a spot at the University and excelled, working far harder and proving more knowledgeable and adept than any of her male counterparts. After her graduation she was hoping to continue at the University, but the job she deserved and had earned was given to a male counterpart. Evie had a secret, though: a rare book that had been purchased by Bloomsbury Books. Evie also had a support system and network that helped her move forward and prove her worth.

So many reasons to love this book! I loved the time period and how Jenner captured the role and plight of women after World War II; after they had been called to the workforce to serve in jobs that were vacated by men fighting and then subsequently pushed aside after the War ended. It was eye-opening how dependent women were forced to be on men during this time. I loved the book store setting and at the characters that were thoroughly developed. Add in the bit of con (nothing illegal, but moving circumstances and people into places to even the playing field!) and the appearances of famous literary people, and the result is a book a did not want to end even after the epilogue. Highly recommend for historical fiction fans.

I loved Natalie Jenner’s debut novel and this one was pretty great too! I really connected to these characters and loved following their journey. Jenner is a special author and I love her writing style. Can’t wait for the next one!

“Bloomsbury Girls” is for readers who love the smell of pages, who spend hours searching for treasures in old bookshops, and who are predisposed to the empowerment of women. In short, it is a book lover’s dream.

Natalie Jenner’s debut novel, “The Jane Austen Society”, is a much-loved international bestseller. In her second novel, “Bloomsbury Girls”, she returns to the world of books. Jenner used to own an independent bookshop so it was easy for her to come up with a setting for her second book.

The novel was inspired during the pandemic when the housebound author rewatched “84 Charing Cross Road”, a favourite movie (and book).

“Bloomsbury Girls” begins in England, on 19 December 1949, with Evie Stone, who has recently graduated with honors from Cambridge University. What follows is the story of Vivien, Grace and Evie, three very dissatisfied female employees of a quintessential old fashioned London book shop in 1950. They are engaged with a battle of the sexes with their male department heads and they band together, plan to perform a coup and try to take over the book shop.

“Bloomsbury Girls” is a tribute to the power of the written word, and a captivating read.

Another brilliant novel by Natalie Jenner. Her love of Austen and books makes me a fan. Set in a bookstore and I was hooked.

I was happy to return to the world of the Jane Austen Society and see where Evie Stone ended up. This volume follows her from university to a job in London in Bloomsbury Books. There she meets a new cast of characters (and we see some old ones) while she pursues her goal. I loved the strong female characters and the setting!