Strong writing kept me reading this book otherwise I might not have finished it as I did not like the Mitford sisters - except for Deborah - at all. Their views on life, fascism, communism, and how they treated other people were downright scary. This book was definitely well researched and it showed in the storytelling. The book made me want to do more research on the Mitford sisters - a sign to me of a good book. I wish the Author's notes at the end of the book were a bit more extensive. I would have liked to know what happened to the sisters with having to google them. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this book.

Thank you for this ARC.
The Mitford Affair follows the lives of three of the six Mitford sisters: Diana, Unity, and Nancy.
None of the characters are necessarily likeable. While that is usually not the issue for me, I failed to find much that kept me reading. The characters had depth, which is good, but I found myself not interested in them, which I did not expect at all, but that may be an issue of my own.
Another problem for me was that the narrative was tiring in the first hundred pages. This book featured short and cool chapters alternating between the three sister's points of view. I think what threw me off that both Unity‘s and Diana‘s chapters were solely focused on fascism and their worship for Hitler. There was balance needed. I did not feel a real connection with the characters, they felt distant and forced. What happened was that the first person narrative had no real value to the story; there was more distance and confusion created than had there been a third person narrator. I was not able to differentiate the narrating voices at times. This problem may have resolved around a third into a book, but it was too late for my tastes by then.
While the story itself didn’t have much to engage me, I can appreciate the research and the writing that went into the crafting of this book. The discomfort of reading about their stories felt very real and challenging. While I can't say it's a book I thoroughly enjoyed, I did like that I was reading something that was out of my comfort zone.
Overall, this may be a good book, but not for me. I didn’t have the energy to go in depth with this book. Thank you however for the opportunity.

The Mitford Affair is an interesting peak into the lives of the Mitford sisters. I had gone into this thinking that all the sisters would have POVS, but only Nancy, Diana, and Unity have them, which I think is fair as many dramatic moments surrounded them. I applaud the author for doing a good job in characterizing these women and their complexities. I definitely had a hard time sympathising with Diana and Unity because of their political leanings, but overall I think they were well-done characters. The writing is much better compared to some of Marie Benedict's books that I had previously read. It is more fast paced and it also managed to capture my attention eagerly that I couldn't put the book down. Overall, a solid read and definitely something to pick up for readers who are interested in the Mitford sisters.

I've enjoyed reading about the Mitfords in the past and liked Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict, so I was excited to read The Mitford Affair. I was disappointed that we only got perspectives from Unity, Diana, and Nancy. It was hard to read Unity's and Diana's sections because both were focused on their worship for Hitler, fascism, and Nazis. I think Decca's perspective, as someone who is on the opposite end of the political spectrum, could have made the book feel more balanced.

Though this book didn't work for me, I still plan to read Benedict's future books and I'm sure many historical fiction lovers will enjoy this book.

The Mitford Affair is set in England and Germany in the years leading up to WWII. The Mitford sisters are highlighted in this historical novel as political tensions are high and the sisters find themselves on opposite sides. So much is going on at this chaotic time in history, Marie Benedict, as always, deftly handles all of this tumult and presents us with the Mitford family members’ roles.

I have never read one of Marie Benedict's books before, but she is very popular with customers. This seemed like an excellent title to start with because I loved the miniseries The Pursuit of Love based on Nancy Mitford's book. I have been desperate to find out more about her since finishing it.
The author did a great job of really bringing these historical figures to life and exploring the connections between the members of this family. It was hard to read about the families support of Nazis. There were times when it was hard to pick this book up because the people in it were actual monsters.
However, this really just speaks to the writers talent, and I am so glad to have read this work! I know it will be IMMENSELY popular with fans of her work and other readers as well.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict delves into the lives of three of the real-life Mitford sisters: Diana, Unity, and Nancy. It covers the years leading up to and including WWII when Diana and Unity were fascists to the point that they cozied up with Hitler.

Benedict’s writing reflects the deep research that went into this novel. To her credit, she does not shy away from making Hitler a major supporting character. His presence loomed large in Unity’s world. Benedict also chooses to include the juicier bits of speculation about Unity’s behavior in Germany and let’s just say it doesn’t seem implausible.

It all makes for fascinating reading with Nancy as our guide watching it all tragically unfold into WWII. This is the novel that was waiting to be written about Diana and Unity and I couldn’t imagine it in more capable hands than Marie Benedict’s. Highly recommended for historical fiction fans, those who enjoy reading about complex women, and anyone who can’t get enough of the fascinating Mitfords.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I think this would be a great book to recommend to people who enjoy historical fiction.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

"The Mitford Affair"
A Novel | By Marie Benedict

“The Mitford Affair” tells the story of a British aristocratic family in the years leading up to WWII.

I had not heard of the Mitford family. They are an intriguing, while disturbing, group. I was attracted to the book because of the author. Marie Benedict does an excellent job of researching history and capturing the essence of the culture and time surrounding her subjects.

The Mitfords were related to Winston Churchill’s wife. They were an upper crust, Kardashian type, British family. There were six sisters and one brother. Their home life as children seems dysfunctional by today’s standards. The girls were not allowed formal education and were left on their own to educate themselves. The resulting personalities were unique to say the least. Benedict focuses her storytelling primarily on three of the sisters. Diana was the one most noted for her beauty who had married young to the heir to the Guiness fortune, and shortly thereafter became involved with the leader of the British Union of Fascists (BUF), and pursued having influence over Hitler. Unity was the odd duck of the family who become overly infatuated with Hitler. Nancy was the most principled of the three, who wrote novels that thinly veiled the nefarious activity of her sisters, and had to ultimately choose between protecting her family and protecting her country.

I would recommend this work to anyone who loves Historical Fiction, anyone intrigued by WWII history, and to book clubs who enjoy discussing human nature.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the privilege of reading an advance release copy of “The Mitford Affair."

#TheMitfordAffair #NetGalley
#historicalfiction
#mariebenedict

The Mitford Affair
by Marie Benedict
Pub Date: January 17, 2023
Sourcebooks Landmark
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I must say, that whenever I see Marie Benedict has a new historical fiction out I have to read it! I enjoy learning about women in history.
As with previous books by Marie Benedict, this story is character-driven and told with crisp prose. It is intriguing and engaging. It involves a view of two sides and a subject that brings a conversation to the table.
The story is driven mainly by three sisters. Nancy is a novelist who tries to mend the bridge between Diana and Unity who fall out of grace with the family. Diana makes a scandal with her divorce from a Guinness tycoon, whom she leaves for a leader of the British Union of Fascists. Diana, with her sister Unity, shares the same vision of joining the BUF. They see it as a bright future for Britain with so many unemployed people. Diana is ambitious in her dreams of building up the BUF to becoming the prominent governing political body in Great Britain; and uniting Great Britain with Germany in this common political cause. Great book about a time and women I never knew! 5 stars

3.75 (rounded up to 4) - I always get excited when I see a new Marie Benedict book. She always picks such interesting (and perhaps lesser-known) women to write about.

Set between World Wars, the book follows three of the six Mitford sisters: Unity, Diana, and Nancy. A prominent family at the time, they were well known for their support of the Communist, Fascist, and Nazi parties. If these sound like uncomfortable characters to read about, they are. And yet, Marie Benedict manages to humanize them (although that's not to say they're easy to love).

I applaud the research and the writing that went into this book. I don't think I could have stomached writing Unity's storyline in particular. And yet, the discomfort I felt is what I enjoyed most while reading. It was challenging, unsettling, and yet impartial. It was an intimate look at this family who may or may not have known what was to come in the next war.

The story itself didn't engage me as much as the other books I've read by the author. I'm sure a lot of this has to do with not finding the characters likable or their politics and outlooks agreeable. While I can't say it's a book I thoroughly enjoyed, I did appreciate reading something that brought me out of my comfort zone in this way. Unlikableness aside, these characters made for a thought-provoking read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a free digital ARC to read and review.

This book follows the lives of three of the six Mitford sisters - Diana, Unity, and Nancy. Diana decides to upend her life and divorces her wealthy husband. She marries a radical fascist leader and becomes enthralled with the fascist movement. Unity joins the Nazi's in Germany and becomes one of Hitler's inner circle. Nancy watches the chaos of her sisters and tries to bring a calming influence to all.

This book featured short choppy chapters alternating between the sister's points of view. I did not feel a real connection with the characters, they felt distant and forced. The story was interesting, particularly Unity and her obsession with Nazism. However, overall, not a story a would re-read or recommend.

I so enjoyed another wonderful story based on a true family! The Mitford sisters and their interaction with each other and Germany made for an intriguing story of taking sides, family and the dynamics surrounding them. Oh my what a lives they lived. Thank you #SourcebooksLandmark#NetGalley#TheMitfordAffair

Set between World War I and World War II, the Mitford affair chronicles the real-life Mitford girls, society girls in England’s heyday. Nancy, the oldest, becomes appalled by her sisters’ political beliefs, their support of Nazi fascism and their endeavor to bring fascism to England. Benedict once again manages to fictionalize little-known material to share it with readers who will be hooked.

Marie Benedict has done it again! She keeps us up on women we should have learned about much earlier and didn't because very little or in some cases, nothing, was ever written about them.

The Mitford Sisters of London were the up and coming young women of their day - until some of them veered into the path of Nazi Germany and Fascist England. Journalist Ben Ben Macintyre describes the sisters as "Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover; Nancy the Novelist; Deborah the Duchess, and Pamela the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur." Diana divorces her husband and marries someone who is a member of the Fascist party, while Unity is rumored to be Hitler's mistress. Nancy, an aspiring writer, chooses to use her writing career to try to bring the sisters back from the brink of chaos. The other sisters have disowned Diana and Unity. Diana and Unity go so far as to become spies for the Nazi regime. Nancy reaches the point in her life where she must determine where her loyalties lie - with her family, or with her country.

Based on the lives of the Mitford sisters and the choices they made. Nancy is a novelist and has plenty of inspiration from her family. Her sisters Diana and Unity establish strong ties with the Fascist party and Hitler and the Nazi party. Nancy must figure out where her loyalty lies; her family or her country.

Absolutely breezily and alluringly written. Benedict explores 6 infamous sisters mostly through the ideas of Nancy who is against at Diana’s falling in love with a facist. One is sucked into the world of British society as WWII gathers

With this book, Marie Benedict tackles the Mitford sisters. In the 1920s and early 1930s, they were known for being part of The Bright Young Things. But as the decade went on, they became more known for their political and romantic affiliations. The story alternates between Nancy, Unity and Diana. Diana was married to Bryan Guinness, but divorced him to be with Oswald Mosley, the head of the British Fascist movement, even knowing he would never leave his wife. Nancy, afraid of being an old maid at 29, marries Peter Rodd, who was an alcoholic. And Unity goes even further than Nancy into the fascist fold, becoming a devotee of Hitler.
I found all three sisters unlikeable. Every now and then, Benedict inserts a niggling doubt into Unity’s thoughts about the Nazi Jewish solution. It was impossible to tell if this was based on fact or an attempt to make her less despicable. Diana seems willing to do anything for the love of a bad man. And Nancy, supposedly the heroine of the story, dithered for ages about turning in the information she had about what Diana and Oswald were up to. But the people I really have problems with are the parents. I give Benedict credit for tackling a story when the main characters are not easily relatable.
The pacing of the story was also uneven. I got bored reading about how many teas Unity had with Hitler and how often she put on her Nazi uniform. It wasn’t until the end that the story truly got interesting.
My preference for historical fiction is to have more facts interspersed into the story. I found it difficult to get a feel how popular BUF really got and what kind of threat it represented, for example. At the end of the book, I had multiple questions still unanswered. It would have also been helpful if she provided information on how the sisters lives eventually turned out in her Author’s Note.
My thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Nancy Mitford is one of 5 sisters and a brother. Their family is one of England's elite families who learns quickly the jump from social glory to moral depravity isn't quite as large as they think, In the beginning, they were just dealing with the everyday social events, parties, debutant balls. However, with her sister, Diana, divorcing a Guinness for Mosley, the leader of a Fascist party in London, and her other sister, Unity's obsession with Hitler, the family propels itself headfirst into the political issues of the day, How far is too far? Where does the line between quiet objector and willing participant end and begin? For Nancy, she is quite unsure. Caught up initially in the requirements of the time period, getting married, having children, she thinks all of this fascist, communist, Hitler nonsense will blow over. There is no way her sisters are involved in the Nazi party. Surely they wouldn't go that far. Right? As the world moves into the beginnings of WW2 and she is faced with the atrocities all over Europe, Nancy must figure out where her loyalties lie, to her sisters she hardly recognizes anymore, or to the world as a whole?

I enjoyed this look into the Mitford family, the sisters in particular. It was difficult to stomach how closely Diana and Unity were intertwined with Hitler and the Nazi party, fascists and saw nothing wrong with it. The author did a great job writing about each sisters account and especially in Unity's account, felt the commitment to her ideals and leader, however misguided they were. I only tired of Nancy's back and forth, do I, don't I share information against my sisters. It dwindled on too far. Really interesting look into this family that really existed and highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction in this era

This character-driven novel focuses primarily on three of the six Mitford sisters in the inter-war period. The women's lives and viewpoints are fascinating. I greatly enjoyed this historical fiction novel.