Let me first state for the record, I had not read “The Jane Austen Society” prior to reading this book. I have since found out that “Bloomsbury Girls” is a continuation of the life of one of the characters from the first book. Although this book can stand on its own, it is quite possible that if I had read the first book, I would have enjoyed this one more. I did find it to have quite a slow pace though. A little too slow at times.

This is a historical fiction novel that takes place in a 100 year old bookstore in England during the early 1950s. It’s not really centered around historical events per se, but more related to authors and the literary world back then, including the struggle female authors faced to be treated seriously and have their books read. The female lead characters also face the same struggle while working in the male run bookstore.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me with an advanced copy.

Bloomsbury Girls is the delectable telling of how three extremely different, but cunning young women and five miscalculating men interact in the Bloomsbury Bookshop in postwar London, 1950. Bloomsbury is home to the British Museum, the University of London, and the Bloomsbury Bookstore where general manager, Herbert Dutton and his 51 Rules have been in charge for 20 years. He now employs quiet but forthright Cambridge graduate, Evie Stone; Grace Perkins escaping from her unreal life with Gordon, a war survivor; and Vivien Lowry, “an orphan in a storm with no social connections.” Jenner’s cast of characters includes politicians, aristocrats, American socialites, writers, and publishers, all intertwined with a gossipy thread. Jenner’s narrative creates endearing characters readers will care about; strong females who support and encourage each other and bookstore events with newsworthy surprises! There are also entanglements and budding romances which create great anticipation for readers and Evie’s secret mission leads readers on a wonderful “book chase.” With the fate of the bookstore, marriages, and mysteries waiting to be revealed, there are lots of reasons to celebrate and read The Bloomsbury Girls

For fans of 84, Charing Cross Road, Bloomsbury Girls is a feminist book about a bookstore under rigid male leadership who are stuck in an 1800’s mentality in post-war London. 3 women have come together under unique circumstances to work in the bookstore and they are all fighting for their voice to be heard, some louder than others.

There were a number of mentions of the author’s previous novel, The Jane Austen Society, which I haven’t read yet, but has been on my TBR since it’s release. It has now moved its way up my list.

Brilliant read!

A sparkling companion to The Jane Austen Society, riffing off Evie Stone, the young servant who’d secretly catalogued the family library at Chawton Great House. After those amazing days Evie had attended Girton College Cambridge and attained first-class honours. Being rejected as a research assistant Evie came to work with an influential bookseller, Bloomsbury Books & Maps. It’s post war England. Women and equality might have been good enough for the war years but in the 1950’s things aren’t so clear. Along with two other women, she will challenge the status quo male dominated workplace, with Evie leading the way in the search for another literary jewel.
I could waft lyrically about this story, but truly all you need to know is that this is a fabulous read. It was wonderful to encounter favorite characters from the Jane Austen Society, and really, a pleasure all round!

A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I loved The Jane Austen Society, so when I heard Natalie Jenner had another book-related novel, I said yes, please! Bloomsbury Girls takes Evie Stone from Jenner’s first novel, and places her, along with a strong cast of characters, in the book shop Bloomsbury Books. Jenner does an admirable job of transporting the reader back to post-WWII England as many strive to find new lives in the ever-changing aftermath of the war. Class distinctions and the place of women and minorities in a new world are explored amid the bookshelves of a grand, but struggling bookstore. And for the bibliophiles among us, there are plenty of interactions with publishing notables and favorite authors. (My favorite, Daphne DuMaurier, plays an integral role.) The struggles of a society are mirrored in the microcosm of the bookstore. Characterization is a strong point of this book. Main and supporting characters alike are fully developed.

Bloomsbury Girls is an outstanding general market novel that I won’t hesitate to recommend. Filled with historical detail, societal issues that make one think, and characters to love, it is a recommended read.

A splendid story. A bookshop in London hasn’t changed much, according to a set of stodgy, stuffy rules. But all that changed with a health crisis, a new hire, and an elusive valuable book. I loved the synergy of the novel and how the women bonded. I loved how the shop fell apart when the women revolted. I also loved how Evie, Vivian, and Grace planned, schemed, and implemented their plan.
In 1950, patriarchy was still predominant in England, but women were rocking the boat.

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner is the book you need after loving The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and her previous novel, The Jane Austen Society. Both were five star reads for me and I loved this book too. This story is set in a bookshop in London after wwii and it's full of all things bookish. Bloomsbury Books is where the characters work but a love for literature is woven even deeper into all the characters' lives. A couple of characters are aspiring writers but my favorite part was the character pop ins with names you recognize. A classic author we all know makes an appearance along with wives of major publishers too. I really loved that a few of the characters from The Jane Austen Society turn up in this book and Evie even has an integral part in the story. Bloomsbury Girls has so much to offer for book lovers and especially historical fiction readers- a bit of romance, lots of gumption, a rich setting and women banding together in an incredible way. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Bloomsbury Girls is out now! Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for my e-arc!

I really liked Bloomsbury Girls. The story setting is in 1950 England and features three very different woman. Evie is great and smart, love her. Vivien is amazing, strong and vivacious. Grace is a determined and a hard worker. They all work at Bloomsbury Books. They know or meet very famous people. I enjoyed the story and the outcome was amazing, what these three ladies accomplished, with a little help from their friends made for an exciting ending.
#BloomsburyGirls #NetGalley

I give Bloomsbury Girls 4 stars for its Literary good read.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction fans.

Bloomsbury Girls is a historical novel set in post-war London. Bloomsbury Books is a wonderful, old fashioned bookstore that needs just a bit of change. That change may come in the form of three female employees: Vivien Lowry, an ambitious and forward thinking young woman whose fiance was killed in World War II; Grace Perkins, a young mother who is working to support her family; and Evie Stone, a bright, very young woman who didn't find her place in academia.

I wanted to read this book because I love historical fiction, especially books centering on this time period. I worked in bookstores for years, sell vintage books, and found the bookstore setting immensely appealing.

This is such a lovely, engrossing book! I can't believe I haven't read The Jane Austen Society, which evidently is linked to this story, but now I clearly have to.

The author does a wonderful job at setting the time and place. She has three distinctly different protagonists, but they are all fully realized characters, appealing and interesting in their own way. I found Vivien's story particularly compelling and especially enjoyed her storyline - which included meeting literary figures like Daphne Du Maurier.

I like the framework of the novel, with chapters that begin with a rule from the bookstore, i.e. "Rule No. 27 Fraternizing with customers outside the shop is strictly prohibited" (eBook location 1311). Of course, the following chapter relates to each rule.

I have already started telling friends about Bloomsbury Girls, which I enthusiastically recommend for fans of historical fiction, especially for anyone who loves bookstores and a bookish setting.

This is my first book by Natalie Jenner, and now I need to read the Jane Austen Society after it being mentioned in this book.

In this book, set just after the end of WWII at Bloomsbury Books, which is a seller of new and rare books. Through the course of the book we get to know Evie Stone, Vivian Lowry, and Grace Perkins, All three women have secrets and their own reasons for working at Bloomsbury Books.

Evie was among the first group of females to graduate from Cambridge University. After being turned down for a research position with a professor, she finds herself at Bloomsbury Books. Her reason for being there, if her hunch is right, could change her life.

Vivian Lowry lost her fiance in WWII and is just trying to survive. She has aspirations of being a writer and is determined to outdo her male coworker, Alec.

Grace Perkins didn't plan to work at Bloomsbury Books. She has two small children and a husband with his own problems. A chance walk past the shop and the advertisement in the window led to her applying and being hired.

Getting to know these women and their stories made for such a good read. The sprinkling of well-known literary figures throughout was a treat. I also loved how each chapter started with a rule that governed the operations of the shop.

As the novel progresses and the ladies bond, we see them pull together to accomplish something virtually unheard of at the time.

I enjoyed this novel and the characters. I cannot wait to read the next book written by the author.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All views are simply my honest opinion.

Wow--What a fascinating book of a London bookshop and the women who work in a man's world of books, publishing and literary events.

I adored all the characters and I was invested so early on. The fact that multiple literary moguls like Daphne du Maurier and George Orwell's wife are included in the story. Such determined characters were the best part of this novel.

I love Natalie Jenner's books and this one doesn't disappoint either. Thank you so much to Netgalley for my advanced readers copy.

Natalie Jenner is quickly becoming an auto-buy historical fiction author for me. I really enjoyed The Jane Austen Society, and I was excited to read this book because it features a few characters from Jenner's first book.

I really enjoyed this one. Jenner's writing is engaging and focuses on women's stories. Specifically, her books focus on stories about women breaking out of the confines of their time. This book touched on many issues I found compelling -- shell shock, learning to be open to love, first love, trying to make a name for yourself in a male-dominated field, etc.

I recommend this book to readers who like Kristin Hannah's historical fiction, Kristin Harmel, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society-esque books.

L Bloomsbury Girls is a spin-off of the author's first novel The Jane Austen Society since it continues the story of Evie Stone from where she left off in the first book. There are enough references and explanations that I did not have to read the first book to enjoy Bloomsbury Girls. However, fans of the first book will certainly love this one too.

This book starts slowly, building its characters and its momentum like a train. It then picks up speed and comes to a very satisfying end. So many themes run through this book: post-war effects on men and women and their roles in society, friendships, feminism, racism, gender equality, love of literature, books, and bookstores.

All three women who work at the bookstore, Vivien, Grace, and Evie, have dreams of their own thwarted by circumstance and the very fact that they are women pushing for change after their country has survived WWII. I thought Vivien was confident, self-assured, and stuck; Grace was stoic, wise, and long-suffering, while Evie was brilliant, motivated, and awkward. Together, they discover their strengths and the real possibility of accomplishing their dreams.

I thoroughly enjoyed their stories, their individuality, and their tenacity. Post-war London was a great setting. The bookstore, too, was almost a character in itself, undergoing change along with the arc of the characters. I couldn't help but root for these women, whose talents were undermined and overlooked simply because they were women.

Fans of women's fiction who love stories that take place in bookstores, and post-war London will have much to love about this one. Well researched and including real historical figures, this novel is entertaining and a testament to the power of female friendships.

Pub date: 5/17/22
Genre: historical fiction
In one sentence: Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned rare bookstore in postwar London - until the women on staff decide to start making changes.

I love books about bookstores, and Bloomsbury Books was the perfect setting for this novel. The women on staff inspired me - I especially connected to Vivien and Evie. It's easy to forget how male dominated publishing and bookselling have been over the years, and this story reminded me of that fact. In this novel, the women succeed because they work together (with a little help from real life luminaries Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, and Peggy Guggenheim). This ended up being a 3.5 star read for me because it was a little long, but I look forward to reading more from Natalie Jenner.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful story full of books, historical figures, and strong women when times were changing. It was wonderful to experience this time period through this author’s great writing.

Thank you St. Martin Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC to review. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise. ~

Thank you to Natalie Jenner, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Bloomsbury Girls was published on May 17, 2022.

Bloomsbury Books is a bookstore in central London managed by Mr. Dutton, an older gentleman who believes the best way to run the business is through a long list of rules that are not to be argued with. In his employ, are two women, Grace Perkins and Vivien Lowry. Their recent hire, Evie Stone, has taken the position with one goal: to find a book that she undersold at auction while helping The Jane Austen Club back home.

The day-to-day functions of the business are suddenly put in jeopardy when Mr. Dutton collapses and is put on leave. When the employees are put in charge of the store, many changes take place. There is a bevy of well-known authors who make appearances and the store turns an actual profit for the first time in a long time. When Evie is fired for following the rules after an important customer complains that she wouldn't help him, it sets off a storm in the women of the shop and no one is prepared for what happens next.

I loved this book and found the characters endearing. I enjoyed the characters from Jenner's first novel, The Jane Austen Club. The characters were well-developed and interacted perfectly. Each went through their own traumas and learned how to rely on the others for help. I enjoy it so much when an author is capable of creating characters I could see myself being friends with. I cannot wait to see what Natalie Jenner comes out with next.

Thank you to Netgalley, Natalie Jenner, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest review. The subject matter of this book being a bookstore in England, women's roles in society, and famous female authors and figures from the 1950's, it sounded right up my alley. I am a big Brit Lit nerd, so it was fun reading especially about Lady Browning aka Daphne DuMaurier, I have read and enjoyed many of her books. I also loved that we got to see some of the continuing stories of characters from Jenner's first book The Jane Austen Society. I loved hearing about the female authors who had a massive impact on fiction and writing and publishing. Yet, I feel like I should have liked this book more than I did, and that was a similar feeling I had when reading The Jane Austen Society. This book was not one that I found myself compelled to pick up and read and continue on. The plot felt like it all moved along slow and steady, but the most exciting parts did not come until the end, and they ended up being what I wanted fleshed out more, then some of the things that occurred in the beginning. In the end it was historical fiction that I liked, but didn't love.

I am obsessed with this book! I loved reading about post-World War II London and feel is often a time that is not explored nearly as often as it should be. The women in Bloomsbury Girls are incredible. Well done!

The trio of main characters in Natalie Jenner’s Bloomsbury Girls aren’t girls at all; they are women, each of them competent and accomplished. In post-World War II England, however, Vivien, Grace and Evie do not enjoy the same opportunities granted to men. In the world of Bloomsbury Books, the shop they all work in, they must abide by the prominently-displayed list of 51 rules set by stodgy general manager Herbert Dutton (sample: “Rule No. 21: Staff shall not peruse other departments without permission”), who is definitely the kind of man who would think of his female employees as girls.

Evie, a brilliant young woman with a degree from Cambridge, figured her academic future was set, until she missed out on a position that went to a less-competent male rival. Vivien’s fiancé was killed in the war, while Grace is married, but unhappily so. Constrained by Dutton and his right-hand man, Alec McDonough, the women must operate in a world where “new opportunities for women were still being rationed along with the food.” Together, they dream of a future where they call the shots.

Bloomsbury Girls features cameos by real-life figures of the period, like Daphne Du Maurier and Peggy Guggenheim, adding some historical spice to the story. (Would Samuel Beckett really have propositioned one of the bookstore employees? He was known to have love affairs, so perhaps.)

I really enjoy reading novels set in this era, a sort of transitional time when the war was over but Britain was still very much dealing with the aftermath. Despite the horrors of the war, many women had experienced a sense of freedom and possibility as they were allowed to hold non-traditional jobs while the men were away, but not everybody wanted to step right into a domestic role once the fighting stopped. Each of the three female employees of Bloomsbury Books has to deal with being dismissed and belittled by men, and it’s satisfying to watch them team up and discover the power of sisterhood. However, the male characters in Bloomsbury Girls are anything but cartoon villains; the reader gradually comes to realize that the constraints of the era affect them as well.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a charming historical fiction set in 1950s London and is a follow up to the Jane Austen Society book, but can be read as a stand-alone. The story is set in Bloomsbury Books, a new and rare book store that has been running for a hundred years. It is run by men that are set in their ways. The general manager created 51 unbreakable rules that all employees must abide by, and they especially chafe the women working at the store.

The story concerns three women who are all dealing with their own problems - stifling creativity, a bad marriage, and mysogeny stunting an academic career path. The women interact with various literary figures of their time as they work together to achieve their goals.

I really enjoyed this book. It provides great insight into the time period and it was fun to imagine what the literary figures would have been like as they interact with the workers at the book store. The author did a great job of creating the main characters and it was wonderful to see how they worked out their problems and came up with creative solutions. The minor characters provided good foils for the women, and it was nice that the author didn't make the men into one-dimensional bad guys. They were clearly a product of the times and the author did a great job of depicting why they thought and acted like they did.

This is a heartwarming story that will give you all the good feels. If you're looking for a book that will give you a good hug, this is the one for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.