EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE by Natalie Jenner, while eagerly anticipated following the author's first two successes, lands as just okay for me. Jenner's signature charm and historical insights are present, but the narrative doesn't quite capture the same magic or emotional connection as her earlier works. It's a decent read for those who are fans of Jenner's storytelling, offering a familiar comfort, but it may not leave as lasting an impression as her previous novels.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Natalie Jenner's first two books in the interconnected Jane Austen Society series, but Every Time We Say Goodbye left me feeling bewildered. It was really hard to try and figure out what the focus of this book was supposed to be, and even things that could have been simple felt like they were layered in levels of obscurity. The first two books had multiple narrators within the same time period. This one is primarily told by Vivien, a character in the previous book, but it periodically is told from the perspective of a woman in Italy's equivalent of the Resistance in 1943, and it occasionally veers into another character's perspective. But the focus of the book seems to be a moving target, which is really frustrating. Vivien originally decides to decamp to Italy after negative reviews of one of her plays, conveniently timed with new information about her long presumed dead fiancé that comes from Italy. There she joins a production company and the story segues into her relationship with a man named John Lassiter and her relationship with a film star, Claudia Jones. About halfway through the book, Claudia makes a decision that takes her completely out of the storyline, and Vivien begins to question her romantic relationship. Then the restrictions of the Catholic church on the film industry and women seems to take on elevated importance. Then it seems to transition again to helping a young friend from London track down any trace of her mother, and Vivien's renewed desire to learn about what happened to her fiancé. Through multiple possible romantic entanglements Vivien ends up with doing something both completely unexpected and entirely predictable, which despite falling in love with the beauty of the country of Italy makes me feel like she could have just stayed in London to find her happiness, if she wasn't so interested in rebelling against criticisms of her. And despite being told of her independence and forthrightness, I never felt like I was let in to seeing things from the perspective of Vivien, just her frustrations with the world around her. The setting was interesting, and in a time where the Cold War and the Red Scare became a witch hunt in the United States for many people in the entertainment industry, hearing about how much control the Vatican and Catholic church exerted over the film industry in Italy was interesting, but this book was a letdown for me after Jenner's first two books. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am in support of the boycott of St. Martin’s Press. I am withholding my review until such time as this is resolved.

There is an active boycott of this publishing house due to the failure of St. Martin’s Press to ensure the safety of their Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian influencers. Over 7,500 influencers to date have signed the petition demanding that St. Martin’s Press meet the incredibly reasonable demands below.
- Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.
- Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
- Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.
Readers for Accountability recently brought to SMP’s attention the threatening behaviors displayed by friends of their employee towards multiple members of their team. This not only includes online harassment with threats of lawsuits and reporting but has extended to tracking the whereabouts of a prominent Black creator whom you chose to unfollow.
This refusal to engage with the influencers who provide SMP with free labor is both disheartening and offensive.

This was so good bit took you back to the 1950 in the blink of an eye and immersed you in Vivians world. I was so caught up in this beautifully written story that I shredded through the pages. This was a definite 5 star read for me.
I just reviewed Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner. #NetGalley
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I loved the first two books in this series so I was really excited about this one

Unfortunately it just did not work for me . It was quite different in style and topic to the first two books which were around books and love of books . This was more of a WWII story with some Italian cinema of the 1950s thrown in . Although the cinema part was interesting, all the characters and the side stories were a lot and just got tedious at times and I found myself skimming a lot

I really wish I had loved this one too

2.5 ⭐️

It's 1955 in post-war London and Vivien Lowry is a movie script writer. After a scathing review of the play she wrote, a friend convinces her to move to Rome and work for the famous Cinecitta Studio. Rome in 1955 is an absolutely beautiful setting. We get a peek into the film industry, the Vatican's attempt to censor the films made there, the glamour of the lifestyle, the Italian food and nightlife, and the close friendships that Vivian develops. We also get to see the long-term lingering effects of the war.

We know Vivien from Natalie Jenner’s previous novel The Bloomsbury Girls, which I absolutely loved, along with her first novel The Jane Austen Society. I really wanted to love this book as well, but it just didn’t live up to her other two.

There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but it helped that she included a comprehensive Cast of Characters along with a brief synopsis of each one. In her author's note she mentions a map, but apparently it was missing from my advanced reader copy. It would have helped to know all the Rome locations she mentioned in the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

Every Time We Say Goodbye
By: Natalie Jenner

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel is full of history, Rome and Hollywood stars from the 50s. Jenner brings back characters from previous books.

A steamy affair as Italy did not allow divorces during those times. Vivien is now a script- writer and Rome is filled with old Hollywood. Ava Gardener, Sophie Loren to name a few. Absolutely fascinating as Vivien gets news about her fiancé which shocks her and she struggles to move forward.

This one is out May 14. I can picture Rome as I was fortunate to travel there and can imagine old Hollywood wandering the streets.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy! You can pick up Every Time We Say Goodbye on May 14, 2024.

If you're a fan of historical fiction and drama-period pieces, this is likely the book for you. As it is, I found it difficult to immerse myself in this story and connect with the characters. For me, historical fiction has to hit in a specific way and draw me in, and I just don't think this story was for me. I read about 30 pages before deciding to DNF, due to the dialogue and character interactions.

But if you enjoy theater drama set in 1950s London, you'll likely enjoy this historical fiction work.

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner is a heartwarming and thrilling novel set post-World War II Italy. In 1955, Vivien Lowry is an actress whose female-led play has opened in the West End to applause from the audience. The reviewers are not as impressed as the playgoers and their critical notices shut down the play and ruin Lowry's dramatic career. With her future in London not looking bright, Vivien takes a job in as a script doctor working with talented actors and directors. As Vivien tries to forge a new future for herself, she also must face the long-buried truth of the recent World War and the mystery of what truly happened to her deceased fiancé.

Jenner does a wonderful job creating an inspirational story of loss and hope after World War II. Every Time We Say Goodbye had me turning the pages to the very end. This book is an easy 4 stars. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own. I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to St. Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This novel is wonderful and delights anyone interested in Rome and London around the 1950s, but also anyone who enjoys books that involve the film industry. I rarely get to read books like these, but always enjoy them when I do. I was not disappointed.

I adore Jenner's first two books and have been downright evangelistic about them. I expected to love this third endeavour just as much. Unfortunately, while the pacing and writing make it very easy to read, it completely failed to capture me and no one is sadder about that than I.

Every Time We Say Goodbye
By Natalie Jenner

This book takes place during 1943 in Italy and 1955 in Rome. It has a large cast of characters, all of whom have had to love and lose – and say goodbye in one form of another. Many discover that letting go of the past can bring new love and happiness.

The story revolves around post-war movie making in Italy under the stringent control of the Catholic church. Censorship is rampant, both in Europe and America. While having gained a great deal of freedom, women were still, in many ways, controlled by the men in their lives.

The many characters and their stories intertwine and life lessons are shared. The struggles with faith and how to lead a life for good are basic themes here. Not everyone's personal story resolves happily, but the ultimate message is uplifting.

I adored both The Jane Austen Book Club and Bloomsbury Girls and was so thrilled to receive @authornataliejenner third instalment in this series.

I do wish I had maybe refreshed my memory on her prior two books before I read this one, there have been a lot of books between them and I definitely missed a few references and forgot about a few characters and plot lines. I also read the first two books out of order so it’s been a really long time in book years since I read this one’s predecessor.

This book was not a book about books, but follows the Italian film industry post WW2. When Vivian, of Bloomsbury Books, receives some additional information about her deceased fiancés fate during the war, she packs herself off to Italy to explore the lead. Finding work as a scriptwriter in the Italian film industry introduces her to a new world. With the Vatican keeping a close watch on everything they turn out, the filmmakers will have to fight to keep their creative visions alive.

I do not have a lot of knowledge about 1950’s cinema but the picture painted of the glamour and pitfalls in this book is fantastic. The constant play for power by the Church adds an interesting dynamic and was something I had never considered coming into play before.

Hitting shelves May 14 2024.
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for letting me get an advanced look at Every Time We Say Goodbye
#bookreview #booklover #bookaddict #booknerd #everytimewesaygoodbye #bookstagram #books #booknerd #bookblogger #readforjoy #readers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readerlife

Set amidst the glamour and romance of Rome in the 50s, Jenner's latest is anything but light. After Vivien's play flops in London, she heads to Italy to work in the film industry as a script doctor, and search for information about what really happened to her fiance, David, during the war. At first Vivien seems perhaps a bit frivolous, but before long the reader realizes that her actions mask a lot of repressed anger. An affair with ties to the Bloomsbury Girls story ends with a surprising twist; secrets are revealed about David's last days, and unexpected allies help Vivien grow into a woman more at peace with herself and what she wants to do with her life. At the center of the story is a script based on a real-life woman assassin during the war, the nun that assisted her, the lover she left behind, and how the Vatican controls so much of the film industry that the production is shut down.

The last half of this book really ratchets up not only the tension, but the soul-deep questions that the characters must face about themselves, the nature of war, the lingering trauma and how that shapes how people move forward. Weighty and thoughtful but never ponderous, there's a gravity to this story that was unexpected and lingered with me after I finished. Fans of Jenner's earlier books in this series (The Jane Austen Society, The Bloomsbury Girls) will enjoy Vivien's memorable story where darkness gives way to light, despair to hope, and love gets a second chance.

After her play flops in London, Vivien decides to move to Rome to help write a script for the Italian cinema. Its 1954, but she is still haunted by the unknown details of her fiancé’s death in Italy in World War 2 and hopes to find out more. Surrounded by glamour and movie stars, Vivien comes to know a country highly influenced by the Catholic Church and still reeling from the divisions of war.
The Italian cinema world was a fascinating backdrop for this novel and I enjoyed learning more about WW2 in Italy. However, the storytelling felt disjointed, and I was confused by some of the major developments, which I won’t go into here to avoid spoilers. I really loved The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls and was so excited to read this one, but it fell a bit flat for me. I never really related to Vivien. Maybe reading it in closer succession to the other two books would have helped me feel more invested in the story, but I think it works fine as a standalone.

This well-researched novel takes you to Rome with a film director, movie stars, and a scriptwriter creating movies a decade after WWII.

Readers get a head-start with a long list of who’s who in the beginning. There are two timelines: early 1940s during the war and 1950s when everyone was desperately trying to forget the pain and sadness.

Vivian Lowry was a film cutter in the editing room in 1955 for screen plays at Cinecitta Studios, the largest film studio in Europe. While working there, she was hoping to hear positive news. Her fiancé was captured in Libya with 30,000 other men who were sent on a cargo ship to Italy. However, it didn’t stop Vivian, the 35-year-old spinster, from having relationships with other men. Everyone wished for hope in these dark times of great sadness.

The book follows an intense plot around the film makers with the heavy influence of politics and the Catholic religion upon the people in Italy during and after the war. Mussolini said, “Cinema is the most powerful weapon.” Real-life movie stars were included with Sophia Loren and also the well-known Peggy Guggenheim.

There was a lot going on and I found many parts to be complex and slow moving. However, the second half picked up with subplots that were interesting especially with Cardinal Marchetti’s manipulative tactics. It’s the third book of a series which I didn’t realize. However, it seemed to be fine as a standalone.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 14, 2024.

I received this ARC not knowing it was the third in a series, so I frantically read the first two in order to get caught up. The first wasn’t my favorite, but I got sucked into Vivian’s story in the second and third. I think my only complaint about Every Time We Say Goodbye was that the story felt forced at the end. Not everything needed to be connected, and the main flashback character’s continuity didn’t seem to quite line up. But I still very much enjoyed it.

“Every Time We Say Goodbye” is an emotional, compelling historical fiction novel set in 1950s Rome with characters still reeling from the aftereffects of World War II. The story follows Vivien Lowry, the bookseller and writer first introduced in Jenner’s previous novel, “Bloomsbury Girls,” as she seeks to uncover the mystery behind her fiancé’s death during WWII and save her faltering writing career.
While the book includes a few characters from previous novels (“Bloomsbury Girls” and “The Jane Austen Society”), it works as a standalone novel. In Rome, Vivien becomes enmeshed in classic Italian cinema – crossing paths with Hollywood stars and filmmakers, creating an intriguing setting and set of characters.
Natalie Jenner has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary authors – and this book doesn’t disappoint. It’s full of rich characters, vivid imagery, extensive historical research, and a touch of romance. Fans of Old Hollywood, WWII fiction, brilliant characters, and heartfelt storytelling will love this beautiful book.
Overall Rating: 5
Romance Rating: 5

This was a somewhat enjoyable read. I found parts related to history interesting but the romance was lackluster and there were far too many characters for my liking. I had to go back a few times just to figure who someone was in the story.

Rome, Italy - 1943 and 1955

Playwright Vivien Lowry has left England after a public thrashing of her latest play. At the urging of socialite Peggy Guggenheim, Vivien has flown to Italy to work for the Cinecitta studios, built in the 1930s by Mussolini. Now, post war, it is making movies for the general public, albeit under the ultimate supervision of the Vatican. Vivien will be working for director Douglas Curtis who owns his own production company. Vivien is not only escaping from bad reviews at home, but also doing some close hand research on the disappearance of her fiance, David St. Vincent, who never returned home from the war. He was last known to be a prisoner of war in Italy.

One of the curious things about her job is dealing with various people involved in the film industry, including financier John Lassiter, and an Italian prince, Nino Tremonti. Vivien found that both men have things to hide. Nino is currently under house arrest for a screenplay that the Vatican has censored. The topic of the movie is the story of La Scolaretta, the schoolgirl assassin. The screenplay reveals much about how the Vatican behaved with the Nazis, and that despite avoiding capture, and being hidden at a convent, the girl was publicly executed by the Germans. The Church is not happy with Nino, hence the arrest.

Vivien has come to Italy for other reasons, too. But she isn't one to open up to anyone about her past. She does, however, discover many juicy stories about the various people she meets and/or works with. Can she get over losing David? Will she find out anything about how or where he died?

From the author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY and BLOOMSBURY GIRLS, EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE is a stand alone novel, but does include a few names from the previous books. The mysteries behind Lassiter, Nino, and a Vatican cardinal who seems to have his fingers in many pots are intriguing. Vivien is a strong woman, but one who holds onto that strength from grief for David, and her other secret.

A terrific page turner, don't miss EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE by Natalie Jenner.