I loved Jane Austen Society and the sequel, so I knew I’d be captivated by this one from the start. Jenner is such a great storyteller and I loved seeing how she weaved her world together. I highly recommend these books to bibliophiles, Jane Austen lovers, and historical fiction fans!

Every Time We Say Goodbye is a good title for a song or film, or a book, but It does not really describe Natalie Jenner's novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye. This Jenner novel is the third novel in the Jane Austen Society series. I have not read the first two novels in this series, but I had no problem following the novel or the characters. Every Time We Say Goodbye works well as a stand-alone novel. There are a lot of characters and a lot of side plots, which can be quite confusing. Reading this novel as an ebook makes turning back to see the list of characters included rather difficult.

The setting is a dual timeline set in Rome, Italy. The 1943 timeline is very brief and under-developed. Without more detail, readers can be horrified but still unfeeling at the same time. More attention is paid to the 1955 timeline, which is better developed and where the real plot occurs. Although Every Time We Say Goodbye is defined by historical research, it is still fiction. The 1955 story is so well told, that many readers will likely think this novel is based on truth, while it is more historical possibility, than true. Jenner's research reveals the post WW II world of Italy, especially Italian cinema. The Vatican holds censorship authority over Italian cinema. The history of Cinecitta is good, as is the description of Nazu=I brutality and conflict between fascists and partisans,

I really wanted to like this novel more, but the lack of detail and story about the 1943 assassin meant she had no real identity. Readers needed to care about her, not just be horrified. I don't want to give away plot or spoilers, but earlier in the novel her capture is described in one way, but is described in another way at the end. The whole last chapter, the epilogue, is unnecessary. It goes nowhere, as readers already know. Every Time We Say Goodbye needs more editing to tighten the story. And a ruthless red pen to eliminate some of the side stories. Lassiter comes to mind. He is a digression that is best written out. Not every character needs a romance.

Thank you to Jenner, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Every Time We Say Goodbye” is the third book in the “Jane Austen Society” series by Natalie Jenner. I will admit that I haven’t (yet) read the previous two books, so while I was missing some “how everyone fits together” information, this book can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. This book follows Vivien, who wrote a play that didn’t get rave reviews in England, as she tries her hand at editing/modifying scripts for Italian movies. A lot happens in this book - she learns of the story of a female assassin during WWII (which the reader learns about first in flash backs), she has issues with the Papal morals codes (a bit more strict than she’s used to), and is trying to determine what has happened to her MIA fiancé. There are a LOT of characters in this book - in fact the book opens with two pages of character names. There’s also a lot of WWII historical information, which was interesting. My two main quibbles were that the side stories took away from the assassin storyline and also that there were so many characters with their own storylines (or name dropping) to also remember. Is it possible that Ms. Jenner tried to put too much into this book - I’m thinking so. However, if learning more about post-WWII Italy and the movie industry of that time is of interest to you, this may be a book to pick up.

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner is historical fiction at its best!!
The author weaves a story with incredible characters in beautiful places (hello Italy) and does not disappoint.
Natalie Jenner's Vivien (from The Bloomsbury Girls) is a struggling 1950s playwright and is given a chance to work on a movie being filmed in Rome! The movie is about an Italian woman resistance fighter during the Nazi occupation. Wow!! I loved this book.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First, what I liked about this book is that it was its unique premise and time period. I didn't know much about the Italian film industry or post-WW2 era Rome. I also liked having the list of characters to reference at the beginning. I did find it hard to get into the story and one reason was keeping up with the long list of characters and constantly flipping back to the list felt tedious. I would definitely check out other works by this author though.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

While technically the final installment in Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society trilogy, Every Time We Say Goodbye can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. Every Time We Say Goodbye follows Vivien, who has fled London for Italy after disastrous reviews of her play, where she works as a "script doctor" on a movie about a female resistance fighter who dies trying to protect her fellow countrymen from the Nazi's. Neapolitan filmmaker Prince Nino Tremonti faces scrutiny and censorship from the Catholic Church and Italian government (essentially the same thing!) as he tries to bring his fallen lover's story to the big screen. The chapters detailing this elusive hero's mission are pulse poundingly tense in showcasing the brutality of the Third Reich. A clever mix of historical fiction and reality, Every Time We Say Good bye features cameos by several true life people including actresses Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren. Vivien's fiancee David also died during the war, and Vivien caries a devastating legacy of their doomed romance. In Italy Vivian begins an affair with playboy John Lassiter, who does not let his marriage to Anita stop him from bringing a bevy of beautiful women to his bed. While full of broken hearts and intrigue, Every Time We Say Goodbye is also an expose on the failings of the Catholic Church in their dealings with the Nazi's. There's corrupt priests and cardinals who care more about money and prestige than caring for their flock, and turn a blind eye to the Nazi's invasion of Italy. Richly detailed and filled with longing, heartbreak, and second chances, Every Time We Say Goodbye is an ode to pride, prejudice, and persuasion. Jane Austen would definitely approve.

I really enjoyed Natalie Jenners first two books and was excited to get this net galley copy of Every Time We say Goodbye to read Viviens story. In this historical fiction novel we are mostly in 1955, where writer Vivien has left England when her last play has not done well, to escape to Italy. In Italy she works at a big movie studio helping fix a movie script that has lots of issues, and she also is determined to find out what happened to her fiancé who was labeled MIA at the end of the war. At the movie studio we meet lots of other expatriates who also have their own stories to tell where the author drops lots of famous names of actresses and actors who filmed at that studio in the 1950's.

Periodically we have a storyline that takes place during the war, that involves a young woman who is an assassin for the Italian resistance, helped by her boyfriend and the Sisters in a nearby convent. There are so many characters in this book that there is a 2 page list in the front of the book to help you keep track.

I always enjoy learning new things in a historical fiction novel, and here I did learn about the film industry in Italy in the 50's as well as a little about the Vatican and the Italian resistance during WW2. Unfortunately that did not offset my frustration with the multiple storylines in this book. I felt myself being pulled in so many directions that it was hard to keep track, much less become invested in any one storyline. I really wanted more of the assassin plot and much less of some of the other tangents.

Even though this is related to the other 2 books the author has published it can easily be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for the e galley in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4, Every Time We Say Goodbye is a novel of war, grief, oppression, and show business. Told in alternating glimpses from the mid 1950’s and during World War Two, this story has a lot going on. The cast of characters is fairly large and can be overwhelming at times. Vivien Lowry is a writer working on a movie script in Italy featuring a WWII assassin/heroine and dealing with the censorship of the Catholic Church. Everyone she revolves around is traumatized in some way from the war. The main theme of the story seems to be moving on and healing from all the crap life throws at the characters with each character seemingly getting their own version of an HEA. Famous writers and actresses stroll through the book in small cameos that I haven’t decided on whether I enjoyed the big names or it kind of ruined the setting for me. I really enjoyed parts of this book but other parts felt lacking in some small way. This was a better than average read for me but not outstanding. I feel like some people would really enjoy this story though. My voluntary, unbiased, and non mandatory review is based upon a free review copy from NetGalley.

What I loved most about this book was Rome in the 50s. Natalie Jenner wrote a love letter to Italians, their culture, their passions and their city.
The inclusion of real life characters was brilliant, just a small part for most like Ava Gardner and Peggy Guggenheim but they were instrumental in making us imagine the film family that existed in Rome. I actually would have liked a little more about the Scolaretta, which were small pockets of back history. Vivien was a tough one to really like and it helped that she was surrounded by much better people than her. It absorbed some of her toughness and self-centered thinking.
I actually watched Roman Holiday while reading it and this helped me imagine the clothes and attitudes of the time.
It was well written and interesting but I didn't have the 'I can't put this down' feeling. I really enjoyed Bloomsbury Girls and was looking forward to this continuation of characters but it didn't have that same warm, friendly feeling.
I will definitely pick up any new novel that Natalie Jenner writes next.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I received and started this book as an advanced reading copy before I knew it was the 3rd book in a series. I promptly put it down and read the first 2 books in the Jane Austen series: “The Jane Austen Society” and “Bloomsbury Girls”. I enjoyed both of them very much. Both Bloomsbury Girls and this book carry over characters from the previous which runs a nice thread through them. The first 2 take place in England and this 3rd has Vivien Lowry, a main character in Bloomsbury Girls, traveling to Italy. There’s a cast of real people, much as in the prior books.

I like Vivien a lot but I didn’t love this book. There were too many characters to keep track of (which I should have expected given the “Cast of Characters” list in the beginning of the book.) and the plot felt needlessly complicated.

Given that I enjoyed the first 2 books very much, I do look forward to seeing what Natalie Jenner writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

3 ⭐️

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" is an enjoyable read. Jenner takes her lovey cast of book loving ladies from England to postwar Italy's film making sets. I enjoyed the crossover of creatives outlets and Jenner's adds in cameo's of famous Italian actresses like Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida. At times she gets a little heavy handed attempting to add historical context, but all is forgiven as the plot starts to unwind. Church corruption, lost loves and assassinations keep the pages turning right to the end.

I have followed Natalie Jenner since her debut novel "The Jane Austen Society". I enjoy books that follow the same cast of characters, expanding their lives and deepening their backstory, but each book needs to stand alone. My only complaint while reading "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is that I noticed that I kept thinking that these characters have no depth. Why don't I feel connected to them like Jenner's previous books? The answer is that Jenner relies on the past two novels to create the dimension for these characters and believes that the reader will remember them. A risky gamble and what of the reader who is being introduced to these characters for the first time?

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner is a cinematic masterpiece that immerses readers in the post-war allure of 1950s Rome. Vividly weaving together the lives of a diverse cast, Jenner's elegant prose explores the complexities of love, loss, and the enduring impact of war. Against the backdrop of Cinecittà studios, struggling playwright Vivien Lowry becomes entangled in the creation of a controversial film about the female Italian resistance fighter La Scolaretta. The narrative skillfully navigates relationships, societal expectations, and the characters' wartime pasts, creating a rich tapestry of human resilience. Jenner's portrayal of post-War Italy is both glamorous and conflicted, reflecting a nation in transition. With thematic undertones of the Catholic Church's influence on the movie industry and poignant reflections on political manipulation, the novel resonates with contemporary relevance. Seamlessly integrating characters from Jenner's previous works, Every Time We Say Goodbye stands as a captivating tale that celebrates the power of cinema to tell transformative stories and encourages readers to embrace the sweet life in the face of tragedy.

This is the first book that I have read written by Natalie Jenner, but I now want to read The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls. Every Time We Say Goodbye is focused on relationships as well as the horrors of war. This novel's protagonist is Vivien Lowry, a playwright who travels to Rome in the 1950s to work on a screenplay at the Cinecittà studios. It explores her relationships with her friends, lovers, colleagues, deceased fiancé, the Vatican, and upcoming movie stars. There are two timelines - 1943 with a group of resistance fighters opposing the Nazis and 1950s Rome. Although I enjoyed the storytelling with vivid descriptions, this book explored the awful ramifications of WWII and its aftermath. I was excited for the historical fiction in this setting and time period, but there are difficult themes in this book including rape, torture, kidnapping, racism, and death.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED the previous books in the series and really looked forward to this book. However, I did not connect with this one. There were too many characters, and just too much going on to feel connected to and invested in the story. I read a lot of WWII fiction set in England, so I found post-war Italy interesting, but overall I was disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital
Copy. All opinions are my own.

I"m always interested in WW2/post-WW2 books that don't take place in Britain. This was an interesting, if at times rambling, look at post-war Rome and the variety of characters who called it home.

Courtesy of St.Martin's Press and Netgalley, I received the ARC of Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner. Continuing the story of the people from The Bloomsbury Girls, we follow Vivien as she heads to Rome in 1955, to work at Cinecitta, the primary motion picture studio in Italy. This historical novel is populated by all the major film stars of that era, plus fictional writers, producers, and the influential Vatican censors who functioned in post WWII Italy, in the shadow of McCarthy's investigation of Americans. Combining a dual timeline story of the Resistance with the impact of the lingering wartime effects, the message of remembering the past while creating a future highlights this emotional story.

I have been staring at my laptop screen for the longest time because I am struggling with how to start this review and encapsulate my whole reading experience perfectly but I’m out of the words because oh my god this book was exquisite in all aspects and definite highlight of this month for me.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A known cast of characters along with main character unknowns in this historical novel set in Italy in the 1940s and 1950s.

From London to Roma!

It's 1955 and Vivien Lowry, of Bloomsbury Girls, is still smarting from disappointing reviews of her latest play. When offered the opportunity to work as a scriptwriter at the Cinecittà studios in Rome, she accepts. Natalie Jenner, author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, beautifully brings to life post-WWII Rome and the emergence of Italian cinema.

Although it’s ten years after WWII ended, the characters are still haunted by their war experiences: losing loved ones, surviving refugee camps, and witnessing wartime atrocities. This is a multi-faceted book, one of power, surrender, survival, healing, and acceptance.

If you've read Natalie's earlier books you'll recognize many names and characters; however, this book can stand alone. I knew very little about post-war Rome and the Italian cinema, but now I’m inspired to learn more about the real people whose stories inspired this work.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Natalie Jenner's book.

With that said, I could not get into it. I honestly think it's the authors style of writing. I'm often drawn to WWII era reading. When I want to read about history it's my favorite timeline. I wish I could give the book more stars, but I couldn't enjoy it.