The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann started out really strong for me. I was drawn to the time period, the characters, and the story. Somewhere around the halfway point though things slowed for me and I found myself not wanting to finish the book. I am glad though that I stuck with it and finishing reading this one because it had a stronger finish than I was anticipating. I just wish the middle would have been as strong.

It started off wonderfully! I really thought I was going to eat this book right up, but about mid-way through, I realized it was going to be a difficult journey to the end. There was a mire of plot, character, and (in)action that made it difficult to continue, though by the time I finished the book, I was glad I had! Overall, a great fun read!

**Thank you so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book**

I had to DNF this book after 20-ish% as it became too dull to continue.

The authors writing style was okay but not at all bad. If anything, I felt like the book didn't quite know which time period it wanted to be in.
The characters were unlikeable (some intended, others not) which made the story harder to continue as Victoria seemed to be dealing with the worst of the worst people whilst also being not fantastic herself.
I'm grateful for the opportunity for reading this book but it was not my cup of tea.

I have been saving this novel for my trip to Haworth this summer, as I felt that it would suit the literary atmosphere of the Bronte's home town. Although this book is set in Boston, it still seemed to be the perfect read for a literary pilgrimage. By day I walked in the footsteps of Charlotte, Emily and Anne, heading up to Top Withins and having a glass of wine in The Black Bull, by night I tucked myself into bed with this novel and enjoyed the adventures of Victoria Swann. I found it interesting that Victoria was feeling constrained by the expectations of her publisher and needed to break out of her usual genre to write from a more authentic place. It made me wonder how many modern authors feel a similar plight, forced to produce more of the same sort of books and not allowed to move into new styles of writing or alternative genres. I enjoyed my trip immensely and this novel was a wonderful end to each day of my Bronte pilgrimage. I will certainly look out for more titles by this author.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The plot was interesting, and I liked the writing style. It started off very well, but I did lose interest in the middle.

This book shows that you can have a decent story without having great writing. The writing is very straightforward and boring, unfortunately. The premise is cute.

The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann follows a woman author in Gilded Age Boston. During this time period, women writers were considered less than their male counterparts, and there was a large discrepancy between the amount they were paid. Victoria not only wanted her work to be taken seriously, but she also wanted what she was rightfully owed. This story rings true even now for so many women still fighting for equal pay and respect.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. The plot was interesting, and I liked the writing style. It started off very well, but I did lose interest in the middle.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved this novel about finding your voice and the importance of stories to our identity, individually and collectively. Life-affirming, heart-wrenching and wonderfully enjoyable.

Thanks to Net Galley for this amazing book. Ms. Pye knows how to stick the landing. Wow. I got chocked up at the end there. Brava! Ms. Pye indeed.
If you love books about books and writing and art. Get this.
If you love books...which you must if you are here, get this.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.

This was an easy reading but I felt like I would not mark this book as a His-fic genre, more to probably a holiday read or beach read. This book although it is an easy read, but there the pace was slow then peak then slow so which is why I took me awhile to finish this book. Nonetheless this book is recommended to all who intends to be a writer. Still, I give this a four star because of the scene in the court.

P/S: this book was also inspired by pen-name Gail Thompson in 1867, as mentioned in acknowledgement.

"The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann" by Virginia Pye is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of a woman's journey during the Gilded Age in Boston. This novel seamlessly weaves together themes of feminism, self-discovery, and the power of literature, earning it a well-deserved four-star rating.

Set against the backdrop of Gilded Age Boston, the story revolves around Victoria Swann, a successful author of romance and adventure novels. Victoria's decision to break away from her publisher's expectations and share her own story marks a turning point in her life. The consequences are profound – she loses her standing with her publisher, her income, and her marriage. However, this seemingly personal decision leads her to become a champion of women's rights, aligning herself with the hard-working young women who have been her most faithful readers.

The strength of the novel lies in its exploration of Victoria's transformation and her advocacy for women's rights. Pye skillfully portrays the challenges and societal expectations faced by women during this historical period, creating a rich and immersive narrative. The portrayal of Victoria's struggle to find her true voice, both on and off the page, adds depth to the character and makes her journey relatable to readers.

The relationship between Victoria and her young Harvard-educated editor adds an intriguing dynamic to the story. As they navigate the literary establishment together, their alliance becomes a catalyst for change and liberation. The novel not only explores the power of writing and reading but also highlights how acts of defiance can lead to personal and societal liberation.

Pye's writing is evocative and draws readers into the vividly depicted world of Gilded Age Boston. The themes of revision, both in life and on the page, are skillfully interwoven, emphasizing the intimate connection between personal growth and the creative process.

While the novel is a compelling exploration of feminist themes, readers may find some aspects of the plot predictable or reminiscent of similar narratives in historical fiction. Additionally, the pacing could be uneven at times, with certain sections feeling rushed.

In conclusion, "The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann" is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that successfully combines historical fiction with themes of feminism, self-discovery, and the transformative power of literature. Virginia Pye's storytelling prowess shines through as she navigates the complexities of Gilded Age Boston and brings to life a character whose journey resonates with courage and resilience. The novel earns a solid four-star rating for its engaging narrative, well-drawn characters, and exploration of timeless themes that remain relevant today.

I love books about books and writing, so I was excited to read The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann. Unfortunately, I found it slow going and the story and characters didn’t quite click for me. I appreciated the historical Boston setting, but ended up not finishing the book. Thank you to Regal House Publishing for the Advance Copy.

A novel about a female author who starts to challenge women’s roles in society and stands up for what is right, even when it’s hard.

I thought this one was ok. I didn’t really connect with the voice/writing style so I struggled through it a bit. I also think the author could’ve done a little more research on some historical aspects.

As is often the case with historical fiction, like one may have seen in Lessons in Chemistry, it can be very difficult to write about it without our contemporary eyes making a major indent into the book. This has happened to The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann, as we follow Victoria’s predicaments with the publishing industry in the Gilded Age. It was a really nice read and I was immersed in the story nonetheless. Victoria’s character development is interesting and compelling.

This book is quite good, and I enjoyed the premise and the concept of the book. Having an author in a book is something I would always love to read! We get to see the struggle of the author, how they got take advantaged by the company etc. Whilst the book is enjoyable, I also find some part is quite boring and hard to get into. Overall, I would highly recommend it to any historical fiction fans!

I am sure this book will find it's perfect readers!

I love everything about the blurb it was just a little too descriptive and didn't have enough dialogue to draw me in... but that's just me! I would say give it a try if you enjoy this time period. It might be just the book for you! :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thought that this book was very interesting and also thought provoking. I really liked Victoria and her independent thinking.
Many thanks to Regal House Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the entire premise of the book- having the story of an author in a book will always be a good thing! Whilst I did find the book a little bit hard to get into, once I did I found it a really entertaining historical fiction. I loved Victoria Meeks/Swann as the strong female lead that pushes for what she wants. I think that the historical backdrop of women’s rights was perfect for the plot of the book.

This book started out so interesting and then quickly lost me. It felt like it was trying to do and say too much instead of just telling the story. I enjoyed it overall, but wanted it to be more concise and direct.

"Stories, as we all know, are woven into the fabric of our lives. Each book we have read and those that some of us have written, create a thicket of recollections and emotions too tangled to unravel in our minds."

Victoria Meeks is a successful novelist, something that's quite a challenge during the mid-1800s in Boston. She writes romantic adventure books under the pen name, Mrs Swann, featuring heroines who travel to the far reaches of the earth where they get into pickles, and need to be saved by a dashing hero.

But Victoria is tired of writing these books. Instead, she wants to depict reality – social issues that affect women, both ones who are privileged, like her, and those who languish in poverty. She begins to champion women's rights, like the fact that women authors are paid much less than their male counterparts. As she finds her voice on the page (with the assistance of a young and liberal new editor), Victoria also discovers more about herself.

I really struggled with this book. I liked Victoria and I enjoyed the idea of the overall story but the narrative style was just not for me. Basically, it's the 'this happened, then this happened, and then this happened', kind of style. Sometimes the story jumps very quickly between plot points without fleshing out the scenes enough that the reader can understand the characters' motivations. Some crucial bits are kind of glossed over, with just a couple of paragraphs to connect one scene with another.

I found it tough to write this review (I really don't like writing negative ones) because it's often hard to articulate my views concisely. The story is kind of sweet but I don't think that was the intention. I felt like it could have packed a much harder punch, just like the books Victoria want to write instead of her shallow, frivolous ones. Not that the book is silly, it's just that it lacked the kind of depth I would have expected a book with these themes, like gender and class inequality, to have.