Wow. This book floored me with its stunning complexity and interwoven storylines. My favorite thing about Natalie Jenner’s writing style is the expertly crafted balance between unflinching, emotional depth and cozy, hopeful lightness. Her books always make me feel as if I’m stepping inside a BBC period drama.

Every Time We Say Goodbye has a secondary World War II timeline, woven between the central 1950’s chapters, so it’s simultaneously about the war and about the aftermath a decade later. The main character, Vivien, is a writer who travels to Italy when she’s asked to work on a screenplay at an Italian movie studio. But work isn’t the only reason Vivien says yes to the trip. She’s still haunted by her fiancé’s death during the war, and determined to uncover what really happened to him while he was in Italy. I absolutely loved Vivien’s emotional journey and the touch of romance in the story, too. I honestly couldn’t guess what would happen next at any given moment! As a screenwriting fellow, and someone with two film degrees, my inner film geek had too much fun with all the cinematic Easter eggs, classic movie star cameos, and Italian Neorealism references.

One of my grandfathers, as well as a great-grandfather and great-uncle, fought in World War II, so I’ve always been fascinated by the bravery and determination of the people who lived in that era, as well as the impact the war had on the “greatest generation.” Every Time We Say Goodbye truthfully captures this moment in history without ever losing hope or lingering gratuitously on the darkest aspects of the war. I can assure you this book will uplift you with its triumph of the human spirit, even though it might make you a little emotional at times. It’s a beautiful story about healing and finding peace without forgetting important lessons from the past. An all-around fantastic read and one I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

***Thank you to MacMillan Publishers and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye to review.

Set in Rome in 1955, English playwright Vivien goes to the Italian based movie set to help rewrite a script. She is also on the hunt for her fiancé from WWII and finds love and friendship in a city recovering from war and fascism, as well as being under the authority of the Pope and censorship.

Author Natalie Jenner wisely takes a character from her previous book away from England to a time and place not used much in historical fiction. I loved the setting and time period and how the vibrations of the war were still being felt. I'm not sure this is a standout book for me, but I really enjoyed how different it was and the well written characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

I am a big fan of Jenner’s previous works, so I was excited to read the latest in her Jane Austen Society series. This time she deals with a relatively unknown part of history, the years after WWII when Hollywood came to Italy. I loved the glimpses of old Hollywood living la dolce vita! My favorite parts of the story were the flashbacks to the Italian partisans during WWII; they have always fascinated me. Their exploits aren’t as well known as the French Resistance but they were just as important to the Allied victory. This book is perfect for those who love the behind-the-scenes of the golden age of movies and those who love Italy!

Jenner's latest once again brings a vibrant cast of characters to life—including cameos from her previous two novels (The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls) and by classical Hollywood cinema's leading ladies.

The story takes place in post-war Italy where a group of American and British expatriates become entangled in controversy while making a movie about a female Italian resistance fighter during the occupation called "La Scolaretta," the Schoolgirl assassin. Her story makes up the dual narrative.

Meticulously researched, this novel demonstrates how impactful art is not only to preserve our history, but as a medium to communicate to the masses as well as entertain.

Every Time We Say Goodbye is a cinematic novel of love, art, grief, and of confronting the past to face the future.

This book had a good premise but... I was highly disappointed. It didn't hold my attention. I found it monotonous and somewhat boring. I hate to say that about any book.

It could be that I don't like the setting but that is the one thing I loved. A great setting will usually override a bad plot for me. Not this time.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Of all the women in Jenner’s previous title, BLOOMSBURY GIRLS, Vivian was my favorite, so I was excited to see her get her own story, especially since she still needed to find closure regarding her fiancé’s death during the war.

In this book, Vivian jets off to Italy to work in the post-war film industry. It’s important to note that these years were a complex time where people were almost manic to forget the darkness and destruction of the previous decade. Nowhere is this desire stronger than in Italy. Jenner captures the atmosphere superbly. From the moment Vivian steps off the plane, she (as well as the reader) is immersed in a world caught between the desire to live for the moment and the rules of society (which in this case, are set by the Vatican). Rome is a city rebuilding – making it the perfect setting for Vivian as she tries to find herself.

Over three hundred-plus pages, Vivian navigates a love affair with a mysterious American, fights with the Vatican over censorship, uncovers a mystery regarding a famous Italian actress, and learns the tragic story of an Italian partisan. She also discovers what happened to David and can say goodbye. There’s a lot of conversation about religion, children, war, and loss as Vivian and the other characters in the book come to grips with their post-war selves.

I had only one complaint – which keeps me from giving it 5 stars. I am Catholic. While I had no problem with Jenner pointing out the leadership’s hypocrisy, I wasn’t thrilled with how she handled the subplot about Claudia’s decision to become a nun. The way Claudia’s choice was kept secret, as well as Vivian’s reaction to it, made it seem as though dedicating your life to the church is a bad thing when it’s a spiritual calling.

Overall, however, I would recommend this book.

I loved the setting of this book, but unfortunately that’s where my love ends. I didn’t find the story or characters engaging, and I struggled to finish it. I enjoyed the previous 2 books, but this one fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I unfortunately wasn’t able to finish this book. I had a hard time getting into it, and it just didn’t interest me. Thank you so much to St Martins Press and NetGalley for my copy!

I enjoyed this story of Vivien and her role of screen writer after WW2. She needed to find something new when her latest play she wrote had critics shutting it down. She left her life in England to join a film company in Italy as a writer to fix scripts. She also wanted to find out what happened to her fiancé who never came home from the war. The movie making world included many famous names from that era so that was interesting to read. There were multiple storylines woven through this book and in the beginning it took a bit to sort all the characters and stories out. The ending of the book and how the characters wrapped up their storylines was satisfying and I was happy for the conclusion.
The author created all fictionalized characters or characters inspired by real people and you can tell the depth of research that was done to be able to write about the complicated political world of Italy and the Vatican after the War. If you are looking for a post-WW2 or WW2-adjacent book, this would fit the bill.
Thank you to Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Will share review on Goodreads, Book Bub, and Twitter now and post to Amazon and Barnes and Noble when it is published. At the end of the month, the book will be included in my monthly wrap-up.

Set in the 1950’s, Vivienne Lowry is the sole playwright in London with a play currently on stage. The audience loves it, but not the critics. Seeking to redeem herself and her craft, she takes a job as a script editor for a film studio in Italy, which has become the hot spot for filming. There she rubs elbows with Hollywood elite - it was fun hearing those stories within this story! As she makes new friends, she questions how she has let herself be defined solely by work. She is also haunted by what really happened to her fiancee during the War, and is stuck in the past and unable to move in the present. Written with Jenner’s usual beautiful prose, the descriptions of the place, food, and activities transports the reader to Italy in 1955. A beautiful story - I highly recommend. And it was fun seeing a few old “friends” from her prior bookshop books, but this can easily be a stand-alone. Out May 14, 2024 - be sure and pick it up!

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner, the third installment in the Jane Austen Society series, is a captivating novel that delves into themes of love, art, grief, and memory. This exquisite read beautifully explores the complexities of confronting the past and embracing the future. With its charming wit and stylish prose, this novel is a heart-wrenching and engrossing masterpiece that left me wanting more.

4.25/5 stars

As a continuation of the characters showcased in The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as I did its predecessors.

Set in 1955, Vivien Lowry faces challenges as she begins her career as a playwright with a commercially successful opening in London only to be panned by reviewers. At the recommendation of a friend, she moves to Rome and takes a position as a script doctor on a major film shooting at Cinecitta Studios. While there she meets lots of interesting characters, both famous and infamous, and she takes the opportunity to close a chapter in her life by searching for clues as to what happened to her deceased fiancé during the war.

I enjoyed Vivien’s complexity as a strong, independent woman of her time who has to deal with her vulnerability in her not-so-successful romantic entanglements. This is a story of growth, both personal and professional-wise and learning to see and seek out what’s best for her. It’s also a fascinating look at Italy as she strives to recover from her war wounds and look to a brighter future.

Very well done and not at all surprising from this author.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the free early arc of Every Time We Say Goodbye for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This book centers around Vivien, who we met in Bloomsbury Girls. Following her career as a playwright, she ends up in 1950's Rome hoping to be a part of successful film making. 1950s Rome is having its own post WWII issues with the Catholic church having a say in filmmaking. Amidst all of this, there is a dual timeline of war that may have something to do with Vivien's dead fiance. This book was a bit darker than the other books in this series, but it was still so beautiful. Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for a chance to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Jane Austen Society is back with this 3rd book in the series. Our favorite characters make appearances but the main focus is on Vivien Lowry. She’s in Rome in 1955. As a playwright, she has authored a fabulous play but it is soon shut down by the Catholic Church. As the past rises up , Vivian tries to navigate what happened to her fiancé in WWII and learn how the past has dictated the future. Secrets, famous actors and directors are all part of her story.

I wanted to like this story. But it unfortunately felt like it was all over the place. Too many characters, too many story lines and it didn't seem to flow. Some aspects of the story lines were interesting, I just wish everything had connected better and made more sense. This was my first book by Natalie Jenner.

This is my third novel by Natalie Jenner and I floundered so HARD with this one. I honestly couldn't even finish it. Maybe it's just one that I'll need to come back to at another time. I'm honestly not sure.
It just felt quite different than the first two in this series. Love this author, however.

Absolutely adored this novel! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, but can be hard to get right. The detail and description in this book blows it out of the water.

I was a big fan of Bloomsbury Girls and was happy to learn of this sequel. My own affinity for London in general and Bloomsbury in particular over Rome in general and the Vatican in particular no doubt influences my partiality to Bloomsbury Girls, but it was a pleasure to meet Vivien Lowry and many of the other characters again. The vivid descriptions again immerse the reader in the time and place, and the recurring cameos by Peggy Guggenheim, Daphne Du Maurier, and more are a treat. There is, admittedly, a lot going on in this book, with layered and interconnected plots, and you do have to pay attention to keep it straight. But even when vigilant, the way some things would be wrapped up was not evident (the Cartier watch!). One regret: I wish we had seen more of Vivien as playwright. Much is made about the fact that she is one—her poorly received production sets the entire book in motion—but she readily abandons it to flee to Rome and is quickly absorbed into other pursuits. Maybe in the next installment . . .

Well, this book seals the deal: I need to become a Natalie Jenner completist. I'd previously read (and loved) The Bloomsbury Girls (my podcast review: (https://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023-03-20-bookshops/). Grace, Evie, and Vivien stole my heart, and I was delighted to spend more time with Vivien — and to learn more about her past. In The Bloomsbury Girls, Jenner gave us an insider's look at the workings of a London bookshop. She brings the same attention to detail to Rome, Italy, and the movie biz. She's a pro at weaving relevant details into the plot so it never feels like research plopped on the page. Instead, we're right there with the characters, experiencing their everyday lives — and their heartbreaks and triumphs. If you like a heroine with fire and intelligence with a side of heartbreak, Vivien is the girl for you, and you will love this exploration of her new adventures.

This is a powerful story about love and loss, finding purpose, and learning to live again. Some of the members of the Jane Austen Society appear in this story, as do the Bloomsbury Book "girls." 1943 Italy plays a major part in the story's past and 1954 Italy in the present. The Vatican, the Italian film industry, Hollywood, the Red scare in the U.S., and lots of wartime secrets make for a fascinating story.