I was a fan of The Jane Austen Society, so I would have read whatever Jenner wrote next. Once again, she has written a lovely cozy story. This book details the challenges women faced in the mid1950s finding worthwhile, well paying jobs. Sexism is ingrained in society and the only women who escaped it were those with their own money.
We meet three women - Evie Stone, one of the first female graduates from Cambridge, Grace Perkins, a wife, mother and main financial support of her family and Vivian Lowery, who lost her fiancé during the war. They come together at Bloomsbury Books, a new and rare bookstore. The store is led by Mr. Dutton, an older man who resists any attempt to modernize the place. Jenner’s strength is her ability to create realistic, engaging characters. I wanted to see these women succeed and pull one over on the men who discounted their abilities.
To be clear, I view this as women's fiction that takes place in a prior period rather than historical fiction. I expect historical fiction to teach me something about the time. This is a well done character driven story, but it taught me nothing new about the time even though it included actual writers of the 50s.
And once again, someone has seen fit to use “girls” in the title to describe adult women. Argh!
I loved the device of starting each chapter with one of Mr. Dutton’s 51 rules for the shop. And following up with the chapter’s drive being based on that rule. The book moves along at a nice steady clip with no down time.
I found it interesting that the author’s inspiration came from watching 84 Charing Cross. It’s always fascinating where an author draws their inspiration from. Jenner was also an independent bookstore owner.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley

My Interest

Although it had flaws, I LOVED author's previous book, The Jane Austen Society. Natalie Jenner can tell a wonderful story! I've always been a book store fan and a London bookshop--I read Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road in high school and have been in love ever since.

The Story

"But the war had a way of slipping back through even the thinnest of cracks in a fractured world. Women such as Vivien and Grace had hope for a fresh beginning for everyone' but five years on, new opportunities for women were still being rationed along with food."

"Instead, Evie Stone was back to cataloguing books. But she did not look dismayed as she sat there....For all her aspirations. Evie was most comfortable alone, surrounded by these simple physical objects that held far more exploration, and explanation of the world outside than she had ever acquired from people."

Evelyn "Evie" Stone is back from the previous book, The Jane Austen Society. She's had a meteoric rise from maid, to friend of a movie star and on to being one of the first female graduates of Cambridge due to her academic discovery that let to saving the last home of Jane Austen. Now thanks to a jealous fellow student, she is out of academia and cataloging rare books at Bloomsbury Books, owned by the very lovely Earl of Baskin (who reminds me more than a little of an Earl of my own creation in a work in progress of my own). 

"Ambition is all well and good, but there are some parts of everyday life that one should never miss." (Lord Baskin)

"Vivien wrote to keep pace with a talent that had been fostered in private and unsupported by the external world....talent was something no one could take away.....the gift was also her enemy. Its ease of appearance masked the diligence and self-control required to master it."

The  other "Bloomsbury girls" (as women were still called circa 1950) include Grace, the wife of a man destroyed by the war and forced to "go out to work" to support her husband and sons. Grace lives up to her name. She is lovely and hard working. Then there is Vivien who rose a bit above herself in getting engaged to the Earl of St. Vincent who was killed in the war. Like Princess Diana she wears a Cartier tank watch--a gift from her late fiance. She is also secretly a writer--doing so in a steno pad she hides under the cash register.

"Rule No. 7. The reputation of the shop must never be called into question in any forum, public or otherwise."

"...hard work and diligence were not always enough. The girls of Bloomsbury Books made sufficient wages to survive and nothing more."

Meanwhile, Bloomsbury Books is run on the overbearing rules of it's manager, Mr. Herbert Dutton, and one of his rules starts each chapter. Mr. Dutton is suffering ill health. The other men in the shop include Frank, who is always away on buying trips (interesting--same name as in 84 Charing Cross Road) and the "Golden Boy" of the shop Alec who oversees fiction and is fully a man of his time. There is a retired "sea captain" -type who looks after history and recent immigrant from India, Ash, who is in charge of science. Lord Baskin appears when he wants. He has used the store to get over his bad marriage. The Bloomsbury "girls" do not head departments. They make tea, encourage customers, and ring up sales. The store carries a pitiful few books by women.

"...was a reminder not to leave everything behind--to not become so focused on the future that what made you special in the first place had to be forged all over again."

"But what if it all goes right?"

The "girls" are fed up. An unusual incident brings Daphne Du Mauier and Sonia Blair (aka Mrs George Orwell) and a few other real people into their fictional lives. Change is about to rock Bloomsbury Books. And, once again it is a "find" of Evie's that will make it happen. Gentlemen of Bloomsbury Books, hold onto those bowler hats!




My Thoughts

Unlike in the Jane Austen Society, where the author got carried away with modern Woke-Speak a time or two too many, my only "oh, brother" moment was when it was mentioned that Vivien referred to Ernest Hemingway and Henry Miller as "The misogynists." I truly did laugh. The word was never mentioned when I studied both in a class in college as long ago as the '82" so I'm thinking it a bit much for '49 or '50.

Never mind that blip--I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I especially enjoyed letting light in on the dastardly doings of academics which are largely unknown to those outside that realm. Time they were revealed! This story uses a sort of intellectual #metoo moment to show the skullduggery and dirty dealings that eggheads (as academics were commonly called back then) used to get ahead and get full professorships or endowed chairs at universities--even universities far, far, down the food chain from Cambridge.

I liked the quiet dignity with which Grace coped with her situation and found her one friendship in the book (not that with the other "girls") to be completely believable (no spoilers). Grace, Evie, and Vivien all grew in very believable ways. I liked the women the "grew into" over the course of the story. I especially liked the moment that comes to nearly everyone with experience in which the fight for it to be "what" you know (or the talent you have) to matter more than "who" you know ceases to rankle so much and you allow people to step and in and make calls or whatever on your behalf. That's a valuable one, no matter if it does still grate on the nerves.

I thought the great secret in manager's office to be totally believable, too. I've been in libraries, and around rare book collections, rare book dealers, and auctions of the same (and similar professions) all of my working life. The secret worked--it was not at all a modern p.c. element. I also thought Evie's personal life was completely believable. I felt for Ash--I helped an engineer from Congo enroll in a welding program this week. It's still there today, so I thought Ash's situation and responses good, too. The whole book just "worked" well to me. It is still a light read and meant to be. I like that in many books. All of those statements, no matter how they may sound, are high praise from me.

I can't wait to see what happens to Evie's career next! Surely, book three is in the works?

My Verdict
4.0
Additional Comments

"He lived in a state of constant anticipation--of the next weekend shoot, the next charity ball, the next commemorative ceremony." [I doubt it!]

Obligatory aristocratic title mistake: An Earl's younger son is "the hon." not "Lord." Think Prince William's cousin, "The Hon. Edmund Spencer" of today. And, Lord St. Vincent would never be referred to as "Lord Albert St. Vincent."  If the Earl's name is "Albert" he would commonly be referred to as "Albert St. Vincent." Think "Hugh Westminster" of today.

"Poor [Noel] Coward can only play in three keys," Lady Browning [said to Vivien] "and poor Clarissa can't sing in any of them...."

Clarissa Spencer-Churchill was absolutely entitled to call herself that--it was her name. But like the other descendants of Lord and Lady Randolph [Spencer-] Churchill, she (and her Uncle Winston), only used "Churchill."

"She chewed thoughtfully on the end of her pencil...."

There is an epidemic of pencil chewing in fiction at the moment. I've never seen anyone above the fourth grade do this!

Note: One confusing point. According To Richard Mead's book, General Boy: The Life of General Sir Frederick Browning, "Boy" Browning was known as "Tommy" in the family. "Lady Browning" as Daphne Du Maurier was referred to in the book (it was her title and her due, of course) refers to her husband by this name once. I think this was possibly a bit too obscure for most readers. I at first thought they'd made a mistake and confused "Boy" Browning with his Palace co-worker Alan "Tommy" Lascelles. I was wrong. I do not think many would know this name though. I still feel "Boy" would have made more sense or better yet, simply "my husband.

In Chapter 20 a word is missing: "At 7:00 p.m. the staff were all gathered together about the front cash _______" Cash register? Cash desk? Cash office?

Courtesy of Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, I received the ARC of Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner..This story is set in post WWII London, where three young women are employed in a unique book store, owned and run by men. The power of words, especially those of women, centers this novel as Vivien, Grace, and Evie learn to realize their futures. Three cheers for the Bloomsbury Girls!

DNF @ 20%. Too much slinging around of names and endless references to people I had no idea who the author was talking about. I just couldn't get into it. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The women of Bloomsbury Books are hoping to make something more of themselves in a post WWII London. When they realize that they are under appreciated as well as held back by men who are both old fashioned and determined to make a name for themselves no matter who they step on…Grace, Vivien and Evie take matters in to their own hands. When their boss suddenly my takes ill and there’s a managerial shake up in his absence, the ladies set out to prove that they can and they will succeed.

I love the message in this story that women can and should be treated fairly in the workplace. I love that these women are smart and strong and determined. The one thing that was lacking for me was that I felt no emotional connection to the characters. I also would have liked to see a more thorough conclusion.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Natalie Jenner for early access in exchange for an honest review. I loved immersing myself into a bookstore in London.

Setting - 4/5
Characters - 4/5
Storyline - 4/5
Pacing - 3/5
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of Bloomsbury Books in post-WWII England. The main characters are complex and well-developed. The power of female friendships is an overarching theme throughout this book. The one thing that was a little challenging was the pacing of the book. At times, I was happily reading through it and other times I felt bogged down by the backstory and too many facts and history thrown in. It threw off the pacing and enjoyment factor at times. Overall, however, a very enjoyable read. 3.5/5 stars

The world of 1950's London is changing but you would never know it at Bloomsbury Books. It is still stuffy, traditional, and run by men and the manager's 51 rules that must be obeyed. The women of the shop are ready for a change. Encounters with rich, female literary figures help unite the women in a plan to change their future and the future of Bloomsbury Books.

I enjoyed Natalie Jenner’s debut novel The Jane Austen Society and was excited to dive into Bloomsbury Girls, the tale of three shop girls working at a male-run century-old bookstore in 1950 London.

Evie Stone (one of my favorite characters from The Jane Austen Society) is a studious girl who, after losing out on a deserved Cambridge fellowship to a man, comes to Bloomsbury Books with a mission: to find and buy back a rare book written by a woman that the bookstore has forgotten about. Grace Perkins, classy, dedicated, and composed on the surface, is trapped in a difficult marriage. Vivien Lowry is a sharp-tongued, brilliant, and trendy woman who is hiding a pain of her own: she lost her upper crust fiancé in the war.

England in 1950 is a man’s world and the men who run Bloomsbury Books, confident in their male privilege, have no idea what is coming at them when these three women band together. The backstage workings of a bookstore are brought vividly to life as Evie, Grace, and Vivien, through friendship and a common goal, become determined to level the playing field and, against impossible odds, take their rightful place in the business world.

I enjoyed the male characters, too, from the fussy Mr. Dutton with his list of rules (each chapter begins with a rule—such fun) to the scientist from India, Ash, who admires Evie. Over the course of the story, we meet some of the literary superstars of the day, including Peggy Guggenheim, Samuel Beckett, and thrillingly, Daphne Du Maurier.

My only quibble is that the novel has so many characters, there isn’t enough time to devote to each of them. I wanted to be inside Evie, Grace, and Vivien’s heads more often, and to get to know bookstore owner Lord Baskin and Alec, the head of fiction, better. These characters are so intriguing I’d love to see each of them get their own book.

A delight from start to finish, Bloomsbury Girls is a book for book lovers everywhere, a thought-provoking, heartwarming, seamless blend of history and historical fiction about three strong, brave, intelligent women who stand up and fight for what is right and won’t let anyone stand in their way. Highly recommended.

Set in Post-WW2 London, Bloomsbury Girls takes us through the journey of a group of coworkers in a book shop. When a mysterious, quiet young woman shows up for a job in the rare books section, it changes everything for the other two women working in the store.

Bloomsbury Girls was a much slower read compared to other books I’ve read this year, but that doesn’t take away from how good this was!

The women were all lovely and relatable, despite the time period difference. Their struggles with a male dominated workplace are still unfortunately true today

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishing for the ARC of this.

I have mixed feelings about BLOOMSBURY GIRLS, similar to my feelings about THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY.

Natalie Jenner does such a great job at creating a cozy atmosphere and I appreciate feel-good reads. However, I'm sorry to say that the somewhat old-fashioned storytelling doesn't quite work to keep the reader's attention. In places, the narrative feels bogged down by telling. I also found the romance to lack chemistry.

If you loved THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, then by all means, pick this one up. And rest assured, the two novels stand alone and you aren't missing anything if you didn't read THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY first.

The bookshop aspect is perfectly charming and will delight many readers.

Ultimately, and despite my minor misgivings, I do recommend BLOOMSBURY GIRLS if you are looking for a leisurely-paced cozy read.

Bloomsbury Girls, by Natalie Jenner, is a cozy work of historical fiction that should appeal to those looking for character-driven, warm-hearted, historically detailed stories.

I found it too dull and plodding for my taste, and while the character portraits are carefully wrought, they weren't enough to keep me engaged in the story. Neither was the historical detail, such as the presence of real figures of literary history, but which all felt too consciously pasted on top of the story to educate me; nor yet the prose, which I found rather insipid.

I haven't read The Jane Austen Society, the author's first book, and Bloomsbury Girls is something of a companion/sequel to it - it certainly can be read and understood on its own, but if you already enjoyed The Jane Austen Society, the presence of some repeat characters should be a nice discovery.

I'm clearly in the minority in not loving this book, but unfortunately I just found it relatively slow and inactive, without enough character interest - the central point of the book - to keep me invested. It's a period I know enough about to be interested in, but too much to avoid being irritated by how awkwardly and ostentatiously displayed the historical research was.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A book that tells the story of women in the workplace, describing how work was for them in the 1950’s and doing an excellent job of weaving their struggles into a fictionalized work that focuses on three women, Vivian, Grace, and Evie. While vastly different on the one hand, the women all are in the same struggle of being accepted in the workplace as equally competent and candidates for work equal to that being done by the men.

It is also a celebration of bookshops back in the day where you might have authors in to read from their work followed by questions and answers, along with multiple floors of books. The reader who is thinking of visiting this bookstore can imagine spending several hours wandering from floor to floor, examining books.

The author includes some cameo events between the women and some famous authors of the day including Samuel Becket and Daphne DuMaurier, as well as others with connections such as the widows Mrs. Doubleday and Mrs. George Orwell along with Peggy Guggenheim and a famous film star. They are remarkably approachable in this novel and befriend the women of the bookshop, recognizing the same struggles they face regarding work, freedom to advance, expectations, and pay inequality.

The pace is consistent and works well as it maintains the reader’s interest without feeling rushed. Most chapters highlight one of the three women or two of them together as the story progresses to its conclusion which is thoroughly satisfying. The issues found throughout the book are realistic and will remind any woman who lived through that era of something she experienced. For me, it was making the tea for the office. In the book it is automatically assumed the women will make the tea for “elevenses”. Realization dawns on them that this is one small way in which society has them behaving in a predictable way. For me, it was a counseling office in the seventies and making the office coffee, but the expectations and resulting resentment were the same. We resolved our issues when we complained and the men suggested a two tiered payment for monthly coffee with those who made the coffee paying a reduced rate. I always thought it interesting that when we instituted that system, the coffee was made by all the men, the women opting to pay a bit more. The book has an interesting observation regarding tea that you will find in the final chapter.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advance copy for this review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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I really LOVED The Jane Austen project and this newest book by Canadian author Natalie Jenner has been one of my most anticipated books of 2022! I am happy to report it did not disappoint! Set in post-WWII London and following the lives of three women who work at Bloomsbury Books, a very old school, male-dominated sphere.

Each of the women find an escape working at the bookstore and a freedom to follow their own dreams. I enjoyed so much that Evie from The Jane Austen project features so prominently in this story. There are several references to her work and the people from that book. It was also fun to see cameos from famous authors of the day like Daphne Du Maurier and George Orwell's widow.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction book featuring strong women fighting for their place in a changing world. Highly recommended, especially for fans of The Paris bookseller or The Mayfair bookshop. Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advance review copies!

Unfortunately when I requested Natalie Jenner's book, 'The Bloomsbury Girls, I did not realize it was a sequel to a book I had not gotten around to reading as of yet. That said, it really did not matter as The Bloomsbury Girls is also a fantastic stand alone novel. Ms. Jenner is gifted in bringing the characters and their setting to life and making you feel right at home in their world.

Although this book ends with a women empowerment vibe, there are many strong make characters though out that make this book appealing to both sexes. I will definitely be reading her first book, The Jane Austen Society soon, and urge everyone to pick up at least one of these books. You will breeze through it without a thought on where the time went!
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I really loved reading this book, the three main characters are all interesting and the author does a good job of developing relationships in the shop with various characters. I love the plot of the three women working together to outsmart the men and take over the shop, after years of being underpaid and not given opportunities that the men have.

Bloomsbury Girls centers on the day-to-day events of the bookstore Bloomsbury Books in London, post World War II. While there are a host of characters of different means, the book lasers in on the three women who work there: Vivian, Grace, and Evie.

The story begins with the introduction of Evie (Evelyn) Stone to the store when she arrives to interview with general manager, Herbert Dutton. Unfortunately, Mr. Dutton suffers a medical episode while she’s in his office. Impressed by her calm in an emergency and knowledge,she is hired to help organize and catalogue the 3rd floor collection of rare books. Vivian is promoted to head of fiction when her counterpart, Alec, takes on Mr. Dutton’s duties while he is on extended medical leave. Grace, working for her own sanity while her unemployed husband is at home, finds escape in the bookstore from a life that isn’t what she wished it to be. As the story progresses, we see the strength of these women in a time when the promotion of women over men is not given a thought. In fact, the stuck in a rut ways of the males in the store struggle to keep up with not only the changing world, but the changing of women’s place in the work force.

I did not read Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society, but I do know from clues in the book that several beloved characters are within the pages of Bloomsbury. The story has peaks and valleys of interest to me as a reader. I found myself some days devouring more pages and some days pages were as slow ass molasses, but in the end, I took delight how the story wrapped up. It was a different historical fiction for me as this one was set several years after the conclusion of WWII. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #nataliejenner #stmartinspress #bloomsburygirls

Bloomsbury Girls takes place in London in 1950 and is the the story of three women who work at Bloomsbury Bookstore.
Evie, Vivien and Grace have a great work ethic but never seem to receive promotions in this make owned bookstore.
Don’t want to give anything away but the story has a great ending. I do wish I had read The Jane Austen Society before this one
but will be reading it soon!
This was an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for the ARC ebook version of this book.
Will be posting a review on Goodreads, BookBud and Amazon.

Bloomsbury Girls is my first book to read by this author and it won’t be my last. I haven’t read the first book in this series, The Jane Austen Society, but that wasn’t an issue. A historical fiction about three women, who enter the work force when it was previously a male dominated time, these women are inspiring and make me wish I wasn’t retired as I’d try to find a bookstore like theirs to work at. This book will not disappoint any reader.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

It is London in the 1950s and the fine old establishment, Bloomsbury Books, is about to celebrate it's 100th year. While things have changed for its employees in the past years they haven't changed that much. There are female staff members now. Grace is the office "mom", she keeps things running smoothly and makes tea. Vivian, who lost her fiance' in the war, is a "modern" woman with innovative ideas about selling fiction. Evie, who's bright academic future was undercut by a male student, is in charge of the rare books. When the manager of the bookstore is taken ill and has to take a leave of absence things begin to change a bit more.

This is a review of a digital galley provided by NetGalley.

Bloomsbury Girls
Natalie Jenner

After the rave reviews and success of The Jane Austen Society the Divine Ms. Jenner has done it again! Bloomsbury Girls is smashing and this brilliant author deals with office romances, coworker conflicts while promoting girl power. The novel begins right at the beginning of 1950 a few years after The Jane Austen Society ends and stars one of the main characters from the book, Evie Stone, fans will remember the maid who catalogued the entire Chawton Library.

The backdrop is impeccably researched and gives the audience a genuine armchair experience of 1950s post war London still battle scarred but healing. Ms. Jenner has also outdone herself with the easily read, flawless flowing narrative that gives readers that fabulous fly on the wall view of the read where they know things that characters are scratching their heads about. But don’t think there aren’t any AH HA!, moments because there are plenty. There are also some really famous cameo appearances plus some memorable returning characters from the previous novel. Speaking of the characters, they are superb, some larger than life, some who just think they are and some that will pull at heartstrings but all imperative to the telling of this tale. And of-course it’s the Bloomsbury Girls, Evie, Grace and Vivien who are the real stand-outs and will steal the show along with reader’s hearts. Fans of WWII fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction and stories staring strong female leads with unsinkable attitudes will stay up all night to finish this amazing work of fiction.

Looking for somewhere to belong after losing her fiancé to the war, Vivien Lowry a secret aspiring writer, hoped Bloomsbury Books would be that place. But she soon learns that like everywhere else in post war England women who during the war were considered essential workers now five years later found themselves, like her, pushed once more into the background.

Married (unhappily) with two small sons Grace Perkins took the job as secretary to the GM at Bloomsbury Books to help make ends meet which now with her husband practically unemployable is a godsend. The job also gives her time away from her husband’s recent more volatile mood swings and for the female camaraderie in a male dominated workplace and world that she finds in her good friend Vivien’s company.

Little did the women know that the winds of change had just arrived in the form of unassuming Evie Stone from the small village of Chawton England, a recent and one of the first women graduates of Cambridge, one of the founding members of The Jane Austen Society, a girl who wants to conquer the world. With her impeccable research and a little help from her friends she just might know the way do it. Now all she has to do is jump all the hurdles that life and men have thrown at her.