"Every Time We Say Goodbye" is an incredibly well-researched, moving, inspiring, and beautiful book written by Natalie Jenner. The setting is described richly and with detail that helps the reader to clearly envision the setting, locations, buildings, characters, clothing, and what is happening in the story. This makes following these characters on their respective journeys a very immersive experience for the reader and also makes it easy to connect with the characters and feel invested in them and their story. Each character feels three-dimensional along with their own personalities, thoughts, emotions, and struggles as well as their respective ways of dealing with the impact of WWII and the subsequent pain and trauma. The speed of the plot is perfect and the author's writing style is smooth and full of heart and beauty. This is a story that is heartbreaking, hopeful, inspiring, and beautiful. I cannot recommend it highly enough! 5 very well deserved stars. This is a must read! Thank you very much to AustenprosePR, author Natalie Jenner, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of the cover reveal and for providing me with digital and physical copies to read and review honestly.

I have been following Natalie Jenner from the beginning. I received an ARC of her first two books: The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls and I loved both. I loved the feel-good vibes of both of those books, the quaintness feel of them, the relatable and heartwarming characters, and the general UK countryside ambiance overall. When I saw that she released a third book, as usual, I was eager to see what she was going to narrate us next. What a disappointment this was. Every Time We Say Goodbye is world apart from what she offered her readers so far, and I could not read past half of the book. The storyline is not appealing, the characters are ugly and superficial, I have zero interest to get further into this story. I was beguiled by the setting first; Rome in 1950s, the cinematographic world, the spraying of historical facts throughout,.. I was even taking notes of locations she was describing so I could visit them next time I am in Rome. But the story is not strong enough, the buildup is lacking, I gave up.

I enjoyed the story but too many characters too remember to actually enjoy the book.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher

All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else

Thanks for an advance copy of this book for review.

I had just finished Bloomsbury Girls when I saw this book on the Read Now. I found it was very slow and gave up after about 40%. I just didn't look forward to reading more about the situation.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are aspects of the story that are interesting from a historical point of view, exploring decisions that were made by various countries, organizations (such as the Vatican) and individuals with respect to WWII and protecting or persecuting the Jewish population and refugees. There are some very profound and poignant moments, when characters discover things about their pasts, their selves, or missing losing ones, and gain a better understanding of the sacrifices people made, including morally questionable decisions, and the inherent goodness that manifests in some people in times of great stress and turmoil. However, there are other moments where it feels like the author threw together a bunch of famous people, who may or may not have had close business and/or personal relationships in real life, just because she could, and created drama for the sake of drama. Overall, the better aspects of the story outweigh the lesser aspects of the story. However, I found this book to be less appealing than the previous books by Ms. Jenner that I have read.

Every time We Say Goodbye is set in 1950’s London and Paris and London. Vivian Lowry is a playwright whose Play was shut down by reviewers on the London stage. She takes a job in the Italian Cinema working on a controversial film, becoming embroiled in Vatican politics and censorship. A very large cast of characters kept me turning back to the Cast of Characters as listed in the front. Several of the characters making appearances were from Ms Jenner’s earlier books, the Jane Austen Society and The Bloomsbury Girls. While Every Time We Say Goodbye is listed as a stand alone book, I felt at a disadvantage because it had been awhile since I read the previous books and I couldn’t recall much about the reappearing characters, thus adding so some confusion. There sometimes seemed to be enough action, plots and characters to fill more than one novel!
#EveryTimeWeSayGoodbye

This is my first book I have read written by Natalie Jenner. I intend to read her other books very soon. I liked that this novel was based in post war Italy. I haven't read many historical fiction books taking place in Italy during and after WWII. I learned a lot about how much politics and the church are combined there. The church really seemed to have their hand in everything at the time. Learning about the film industry in Italy was pretty cool. The first part of the novel was a little slow for me but I loved it by the end. Characters were very well written. It was so good but so heartbreaking in some parts. I will never forget the story of La Scolaretta. That story will stay with me for a long long time. I highly recommend giving this a read if you enjoy historical fiction. 4.5 stars !!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am hesitant about fiction that weaves real, known people into a novel, as is often difficult to separate what is real from what is not. But this author touches lightly on the actual people while maintaining to story focus on the fictional ones. I'd never heard of her previous books. Yes, it works as a stand-alone novel, but I do wish I'd read them first, mainly because now I'm very interested.

She has a literary writing style, yet it's quite accessible and has a rhythm that's easy to follow.

I was engrossed by both the story and the lives of the characters, but I think what most impressed me was the author's insights into the subject at hand. Whether I was reading about screenwriting, Italy or post-WWII challenges, it "felt" genuine. This is true for offhand observations about life itself. Here are some quotes that I was moved to annotate:
"Such was the power of awe to ennoble and inspire, to subdue and control-something both the film and church were founded on."
or concerning post-war Italy:
"...the sun was setting ... above the sea and beaches where young men had once landed to rescue a country from itself ..."
or
"Our secrets are who we really are."
one last one-
"With some people, the past idd not exist because they had not been changed by it."

I am not saying I totally agree with these observations, but they were nicely thought-provoking!

There are many, many characters and the author wisely added a "who's who" type of preface. Had she not, I probably would have given up early on.

And finally - yes, this book really touched me. But as with all art, there is no way truly break down why - it simply did.

Looking forward to reading more of Jenner's work.

Natalie Jenner writes the most beautiful historical fiction novels. I really enjoyed her other books, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY and THE BLOOMSBURY GIRLS, so I'm pleased to say EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE was another fantastic offering from an author making a name for herself in historical fiction.

Set in the post WW2 1950s where Vivien Lowry travels to Italy to become a script-writer during the boom of Hollywood. It's here the novel diverges into two timelines, as we learn the effects the war has had on Vivien and the host of characters she meets, including her own love story. While her previous books had a sort of cosy happiness about them - think the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - ETWSG felt heavier, but no less enjoyable to read. I think avid fans of the genre will embrace this one, and I'll always anticipate what comes next from Jenner.

I am a huge fan of Natalie Jenner's previous books, The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls. But in my opinion, Jenner missed the mark with Every time We Say Goodbye. Jenner acknowledges that she'd had a request to write about a fan's family story and this book was the result. It's a post WW2 story about Americans making films in Italy during the McCarthy era. Fans of film making in the 1950s will no doubt enjoy this novel, but I found it read more like a dry history lesson than a story. Jenner is a talented writer so I look forward to her next novel which I hope will be more like her first! Thanks NetGalley for this arc, I hope the book does well!

An interesting look at postwar Hollywood and how stars were made. Vivien Lowry decides to move to Italy, she becomes a script writer at the Cinecitta studios in Rome. With her fiance listed as missing in action during the war, Vivien feels she can make some headway and discover where he might have died while she is in Italy. Passing through the story are Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner. Colorful look at film making in the 50s..

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing an early copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner

Every aspect of Natalie Jenner's newest novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye is a testament to the time frame it has created. From the famous actors, actresses and directors of the 1950s, the Vatican and Italy's own misguided and soulless alignment with the Nazi regime of World War II, there is something to learn on each page of this beautiful telling of both the good and the evil of the times it portrays.

The story centers around Vivien Lowry, a character in Jenner's previous novels, and her journey to discover what happened to her husband, David, who disappeared during the War and is presumed dead. Her time in Rome will be the backdrop for an unforgettable meeting of fact and fiction as she gravitates to the theatrical set. After all, Vivien is an actress and writer herself. and is personally involved with a man in the film production industry. The film industry in general is under attack by the HUAC committee in America which is hunting down presumed Communists at every level of movie-making.

Some of the most poignant moments in the book revolve around real persons such as Sister Josephine Bakhita, now a saint, and Milko Skofic, World War II doctor and later husband of actress Gina Lollobrigada . Their presence in the story along with other real people will make readers head to Google to learn more.

Every Time We Say Goodbye turned out to be an unexpected gift as it did not center around the bookshop of the previous novels. Unexpected but completely immersive.

"I'm going to eternity with two suitcases. One contains my sins and the other, much heavier, the infinite merits of Christ." - Josephine Bakhita, a former slave from the Sudan, a nun and a saint

I was excited for a chance to review Natalie Jenner’s latest novel, “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” I had traveled to Italy this year so was excited to read about a story that centers around post-war Italy during WWII and its aftermath. .

In the mid-fifties, we meet Vivien who has escaped London for Rome to write. She also seeks to find information about her fiancé, who might have been held in Italy as a prisoner of war. The novel also introduces members of the resistance—flashing back to the war. The novel draws a connection between those flashbacks and Vivien’s current narrative.

I found the characters to be full fleshed and intriguing, especially Vivien. I did not know much about Italy’s perspective during WWII and appreciated this introduction. In a fiction market with way too many WWII novels, I think this book can still find a place. Fun fact: I did not know this book was part of a series but will certainly go back to read the first two novels.

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

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
What a beautiful book: sad, moving and ultimately hopeful, I tore through it deserting all my chores. I loved it!
It can definitely be read as a standalone. It features Vivien Lowry, still mourning her lost love, who disappeared during the war. Her stage play was an audience success but the critics slaughtered it. She decides to go to Rome, where she starts as a writer fixing a script at Rome's Cinecitta Studios.
The story features many young actresses who became famous in the 1960's, which was fun for me...I remember them fondly.
The descriptions of the war were painful and beautiful in the way they were written. The ending was one of hope - great book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review
I really like the list "cast of characters) at the beginning, not that I will remember, but just to give you an idea of who's what, where. There are many conversations that are weird or that you need to read between the lines and I was confused and exhausted. There are many tragedies in this story, including specific details of the horrors of WWII, which can certainly be triggers for some of us. Vivien's story is mixed up with the people from the two previous books so the stories are best read in order because of the continuation. The end is simple and predictable with almost no backlash to the past.

I really wanted to like this book, and even made myself skim from about 90% to the end of the book just to finish it. There was nothing gripping about this story that kept me wanting to read more. I kept thinking there was going to be a twist or a turn of some kind that would pull me in, but that point never came. This read more like a diary or a memoir that simply…ends. The number of characters was overwhelming, and without the reference at the beginning of the book, I never would have been able to keep up with who was who and how they fit into the story. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, but wasn’t a fan of the story or the characters. Unless you truly enjoy historical fiction for the simple fact of telling a historically based story, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

I've enjoyed Natalie Jenner's novels and I was eager to read this forthcoming installment which peeks into the lives of the Jane Austen Society that we met in her novel of the same name. This time the action takes place in post World War II Italy. Failed playwright Vivien travels abroad to work re-writing a film script at La Cinecitta, Rome's largest film studio. She also wants to learn more about the death of her late fiance during the war.

Vivien's story is juxtaposed with the script for a film about a young girl turned assassin who is sheltered by the nuns. With references to the Hollywood Blacklists and the power of the Catholic Church, this is an intriguing story that is sure to keep Jenner's fans reading.

I really loved "The Jane Austen Society" and "Bloomsbury Girls" by Natalie Jenner. I even compiled a list of "forgotten" female authors while reading the latter. I could hardly wait for more books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, I read an advance reader's copy of "Every Time We Say Goodbye." One of the characters in the dual timeline was a young woman who worked as a sniper in WWII. Gruesome, I know, but she was a fascinating character.

I think one of the big differences between Jenner's first two books and this one is that there is no happy ending. In the post-war timeline, Vivien has been dealt a rough hand. The London audience loves her play but the critics don't. The play closes. Unable to do the work she loves in London, she decides to seek work as a scriptwriter in Italy. Going there also gives Vivien a chance to investigate where and how her fiance died. She had their baby after he left and gave him up for adoption. She has an affair with another woman's husband which seldom comes to a good end. So Vivien experiences tragedy upon tragedy, compounded at times by self-defeating behavior.

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" is a well-written book. It just wasn't the kind of story I was expecting. I'll look forward to reading Jenner's next book.

Interesting characters, story and plot. Enjoyed the read and a perfect escape for a cold winter afternoon or a nice afternoon at the beach. Thanks

I loved Natalie Jenner's prior books but had trouble connecting to this novel's protagonists and storyline. There were too many characters and besides the dual-linear timeline that straddled the line between 1950's Rome and WWII, there were side stories that drifted away from the plot.

There were moments when I was hooked and eagerly read to find out the truth about David but then another character was added and it was off to explore that tangent. Before publication, I'd suggest streamlining the story. There's a wonderful plot in there but adding so many characters takes away from the heart of the story.