I thought this book was entertaining and well written but at times it was depressing to read. It really did seem like a 1920’s version of Sex and the City. The characters are based on real people, this is historical fiction. It takes place in New York City and touches on the women’s lives and careers. I give it 3 stars based on some of the dark content, which was not for me. But I do understand that the author was trying to depict these women’s lives accurately. Thanks Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

This is the first time I am reading Gill Paul's novels and I have to say, I actually did enjoy reading this book.

The story is set in 1920's New York--the Jazz era, the Prohibition era, the great boom and is just after the First World War. The story is based on Dorothy Parker, based on the real life Dorothy, and her friends, Winifred, Jane and Peggy. Jane is the first female reported of New York Times, Winifred is a Broadway actress and Peggy is a brilliant novelist. These four women are friends and form a bridge group and the story tells about the lives of these four women and how their friendship between them grows stronger and of couse their love life.

As this is based on the true story, the author takes the reader to the 1920's era and as a reader you can get a glimpse of what the 1920's lifestyle was really like. It was the time when women wore flapper dresses, the alcohol was prohibited, various gangs were formed and of course scandalous lives that shows us how men are still in control of the society. As a result, I actually enjoyed the author's writing. The story is told from each of the friends' perspectives, detailing about their careers, working in a men dominated world and of course their love life. I actually enjoyed reading Winifred's story as I found her story more interesting. I have to say, the author did a good job of researching about the life back in 1920's.

This book actually is like the 1920's version of Sex and the City--taking place in Manhattan New York. I actually enjoyed reading this book--worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is definitely a chick flick story. It takes place in New York City 1920’s. War is over and prohibition and speakeasies abound. Story is about Dorothy Parker, a writer, who I didn’t know much about, and found out she was definitely someone who needed people. She needed people around and she loved to be loved. Her other friends were Jane Grant who was the first female reporter for NY Times and who helped launched the New Yorker Magazine; Winifred Lenihan a very talented actress and who fell into the casting couch situation, and Peggy Leach who worked at a magazine and wanted to become an author. Story of their ups and downs with men and their friendship and life. They were a group of their own who tried to take care of each other and help each other with their problems. It was a pretty good story

I had high hopes for this book having read many books by this author and loved them. Unfortunately I found this book disappointing.

I’ve read so many of Gill Paul’s books and adored them all. I was so excited to receive an ARC from the publisher so I dove right in. This one was meh. Boring. Blah.

I didn’t care for the story. Didn’t particularly like any of the women (maybe Peggy??). It felt very flat compared to her other books. Not for me.

I did a "shallow dive" into the real characters and they were definitely characters. There is so much interesting information about them. I would have loved to see them developed more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Manhattan Girls written by Gill Paul reminds me of “Sex in the City” during the roaring 20s and Prohibiition. Manhattan Girls follows four New York women, Jane, Peggy, Dottie, and Winifred trying to make it in the professional world of men while finding a healthy relationship. Instead of sipping Manhattans like Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha, these ladies sip bathroom grain alcohol or whatever the local bootlegger is providing. This book has everything: drama, comedy and tragedy.

Things I loved about this book and there were so many.
I loved these women. I feel like I was at one of the meetings at the Algonquin Round Table or offering a password to get into one of the elusive speakeasies. I felt the heartache for Dottie as she struggles with depression, or Peggy who wants a man to appreciate her for her mind and not have to diminish her intellect so as to not hurt the male ego. I cheered for the womens’ successes becoming firsts for women in the world of literature and theater. This book was so captivating that I found myself researching the true histories of these women for whom the novel was based. There is a really nice section at the end that explains some of the history behind the women, events, and places in the novel. I wish that there would be a sequel to check up on these extraordinary women.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a gifted copy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #avonbooksuk for an advance copy of #TheManhattanGirls by Gill Paul.

This book is loosely based on the lives of four real women who live in the times of prohibition in the US. We follow Dottie, Jane, Winifred and Peggy trying to make their ambitions come true, and also trying to learn to play bridge! I found the history in the book interesting and informative, however I struggled at times to make connections with the characters.

Overall the book had some great themes and the fact the stories are formed around real women and their real histories gave the book an extra plus.

This book was very Sex in the City set in the 1920s. Focusing on four very different women who start a bridge group, we get to know them all really well. I will say that only two of them were very likeable. The book had so much potential to be really good, but for me personally, it fell a bit short.

Gosh, this book really seems to transport you back to the Jazz era in the roaring 1920’s the detail in the narrative truly takes you back in time.
Really enjoyable read, especially for fans of historical fiction.
All the main women are based on real characters, the numerous storyline’s work together well. This group of unlikely friends go through thick and thin together, a real support group to each other in a so called ‘man’s world’.
I will now read more from this author, as this was my first.

THE MANHATTAN GIRLS by Gill Paul

This is described as a 1920s version of Sex and the City and I feel that’s a fairly accurate assessment.

Dorothy “Dottie” Parker is a writer, poet and an incredibly flawed individual. She uses her cynicism, dark humor and wit to hide the fact that she can’t manage to get her shit together.

Jane Grant is the first female reporter for The New York Times. She’s married to Harold and their dream is to publish a new magazine they’ve named, The New Yorker. (Yes, that one!)

Winifred Lenihan is a successful Broadway actress who is tired of the casting-couch. She wants to do something more meaningful with her life. She’s beautiful and talented, but very guarded.

Margaret “Peggy” Leech is a magazine assistant at Condé Nast and has dreams of being a published author. She’s so busy writing her first book that she doesn’t have time for romance.

These women establish a Bridge club where they come together to drink bootleg liquor, eat canapés, gossip, celebrate each other’s triumphs and offer support in their tragedies. There are a few sensitive subjects broached in this story (some of which are on the forefront of today’s news, unfortunately) which makes it even more relatable.

I do wish there was a note regarding timelines because some chapters take place a few months or weeks after the previous one and it was a bit jarring.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s a well written and immersive character study of four very different, intelligent, independent and interesting women. Each character felt real and their storylines blend seamlessly. Recommend if you’re looking for an easy weekend read.


**ARC courtesy of @NetGalley & @AvonBooksUK

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Release Date: 08.16.22
#TheManhattanGirls #GillPaul

I enjoyed going back in time to see what it was like for women in NYC in the 1920s. What women had to go through for careers and home life. It follows 4 women through love and loss and lasting friendship. It’s very well written but some parts were a little slow for me….reading a chapter about one woman and jumping to the next…I’m not very patient I want to find out what happens! But overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.


3.5/5.

1920’s Manhattan; 4 strong women. This is a fictionalized account of real women, one of whom is instrumental in the development of The New Yorker. The Manhattan Girls is told in alternative POV and their stories all come together. I enjoyed reading about 1920’s New York and was surprised at the strength and determination these women had and their desire to not be dependent on men. They really were creating their own path! There are some tough subjects broached: alcoholism, abortion, infidelity but it makes for interesting reading!

This novel was advertised as a 1920s version of Sex and the City, with four women navigating life, love, and careers in New York City. Dorothy (Dottie) Parker is a witty, snarky writer. Jane Grant is a reporter for the New York times and trying to launch the magazine The New Yorker. Winifred Lenihan is a beautiful talented Broadway actress who is more than just a pretty face. Peggy (Margaret) Leach is a magazine assistant who wants to write novels.
These characters are based on real women and I enjoy stories set in the 1920s Jazz era so I was excited to read this. Dottie comes across as an indulgent, self-medicating, depressed person. Jane is overly nice and won’t stand up to her husband yet she is a female reporter in the 1920s? Winifred is a talented actress but she is hiding a secret. Peggy is the most likeable of the ladies and can be the mother hen to them all. The men in this book are not any better. Alec Woolcott is a drama critic and works with Jane at the New York Times but he is a horrible unlikeable man who enjoys demeaning people. Harold Ross married to Jane is a wuss of a man. Bob Benchley can be a good guy at times but he cheats on his wife and has no remorse. Eddie Parker, husband of Dottie is pathetic as a husband.
Overall, the writing is good, the story has multiple plots which come to life and intertwine with relative ease. I really did want to like this story but unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I realize there are always characters a reader may not enjoy in a story however, a reader typically connects with a character, and for me it’s how a book comes to life. I can see the story unfolding through the eyes of the character and want to see where the story is going. In this case, I was reading this story and not enjoying any of it. This is my first novel by Gill Pauls maybe his next will be more to my liking.

The Manhattan Girls
By Gill Paul

This book promises 1920s fashion, speakeasies, NY at the height of the Art Deco movement, gossip, literary discussions, romance and friendship. They say Sex in the City 1920s style. Well they are not wrong. I LOVED everything about this book. I could practically hear the jazz through the smoke filled Algonquin Round Table, the laughter and the witty repartee.

Told through four points of view we are fully immersed in the lives of the young women of Manhattan who are shrugging off the "little wives" roles of every women who ever preceded them. It's the roaring twenties and women are demanding more freedom, freedom to pursue their own careers, to shirk marriage and motherhood, to have and speak their own opinions. The men are not happy, they smirk and belittle and bully and enforce their entitled male power, because that's the way it has always been.

"Flirting is the gentle art of making a man think he's a swell guy"..."Most of them are off to a flying start"

But getting ready lads! The world is changing.

I love each of these women, they are all vulnerable in their own way, they each have flaws, but they are all so brave. Even the one I wanted to slap most of the way through the book redeemed herself by the end and I was rooting for them all.

There are some tough scenes in this book. Given the time and the struggle women of that time had to try and live equal lives, given the power imbalances that were prevalent, given the pushback against any breech of the patriarchy, you can imagine which trigger warnings apply. However it's not a sad story, the sparkle outweighs all and you will love to see how each woman grows and ultimately we get a very satisfying ending.

Publish Date: 18th August
Thanks to #netgalley and #avonbookuk for the opportunity to review this title.


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To read this is to immediately fall in love with this very eclectic group of women. Dottie, Winifred, Jane, and Peggy are unlikely friends, but find that together they can face anything that is thrown their way! I love the author's gift of describing scenes so you feel you are actually there, and you truly believe you are along with the ladies on their adventures. Simply a wonderful book!

It’s the roaring 20s and four young women are embarking on an unlikely friendship that will span the ages. Each woman is in a different season of life. Married or single, these ladies are all brilliant and trying to find their place in a clearly ‘man’s world’.

This is my first book by this author. It’s a story about love, loss, survival, guilt and ultimately friendship. I would recommend the read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gill Paul does, in this book, what she does best - immerse readers in the setting. She takes us back to 1920s New York city and introduces us to 4 women, Dorothy Parker, Peggy Leech, Jane Grant and Winifred Lenihan, who become fast friends - The Manhattan Girls. These career women have little in common, yet become a great support system for each other in a male dominated world. Stepping back in time, Paul meticulously recreates the backdrop of the ‘Lost Generation’ - a generation who’d lost the values of their past and were at a pivotal time and place, questioning mortality, defying social norms, and learning to live in the moment.

Paul masterfully offers 4 different points of view. It was a big step, and was, for the most part, successful. I did struggle with connecting to these women and wondered if it was because I didn’t ‘walk’ far enough in their shoes as I was taking them off to exchange them for another ‘pair’ just as I was getting comfortable with them.

Regardless, I enjoyed learning about the Algonquin Round Table and came to the conclusion that a century later, we’re still the same; climbing the corporate ladder, struggling to be noticed and appreciated, sacrificing way too much to get ahead, and throwing our arms up at the never ending battle.

I’ll be honest and admit that I had no idea about who these women were or their significance prior to reading this book. What I do love about Gil Paul’s approach to writing is that she gives readers enough to whet our appetite, but still leads us to the computer to research some more. What happened to these women? What legacy did they leave? A sign of a good historical fiction book is one that leaves me fulfilled but still drives me to find out more. Paul delivered. As I knew she would.

I was gifted this advance copy by Gill Paul, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Manhattan Girls tells the story of four big-name New York women of the 1920s who become friends over booze and bridge games. Gill Paul does a great job of building the friendship among Dottie, Peggy, Winifred, and Jane while portraying each character’s individual life story along the way. Each is trying to find her own definition of love, and each wants to build her own career path as well, something not easily done by women in the 20’s. I enjoyed reading this book and will be looking into Paul’s other books as this was the first of hers I’ve read.

This book had so much potential but the way it is told is beyond confusing and that makes it very difficult to enjoy. You are so busy trying to figure out what is actually going on that you can't enjoy the story.