Constance is trying to figure out how to support herself as an unmarried woman post WWI. Now that men are returning from war, women are losing their freedom to work. As she is working as a companion to Mrs. Fog, who is staying at a hotel in Hazelbourne, Constance meets Poppy, who runs a motorcycle taxi service that is run by women. She also meets Poppy's brother, Harris, who is fighting his own battles.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I loved The Summer Before the War, so was really excited for this one. While I enjoyed it, I didn't love it like I did with The Summer Before the War. Part of it was that there was overall very little motorcycle and flying club. Yes, there were motorcycles, and yes, there was a plane and various plot points with it. However, there was not really this women's club aspect that I was expecting from the title, especially with the flying club. I did love Constance as a protagonist - she was so determined and such an easy character to cheer for!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & The Dial Press/Random House for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

When I saw Helen Simonson was the author, I knew I had to read this, and I was not disappointed. I have loved her other two books, and this one is just as good. All are standalones and I urge you to seek these out after reading "Hazelbourne": "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" and "The Summer Before the War."

Although it took a little while for this story to get going for me, much like a motorcycle or airplane engine, once it finally “caught” I couldn’t put it down. It takes place in the summer of 1919, just after WWI when the men return from the front and the women are expected to go back to the kitchen or drawing room.

Constance Haverhill is a wonderful main character whose friendship with Poppy Wirral, founder of the Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, helps her to emerge from the grief of losing her mother. She must work to support herself, unlike Poppy and several of her other new friends. The need for employment after Constance’s job as a companion to elderly Mrs. Fog is soon to end, is one of the plot threads of this charming story. The writing is beautiful, and I loved the story with all its subplots and historical aspects that bring this time period to life.

Cleverly written with witty banter and subtle double meaning, themes of feminism and women’s independence are woven throughout this delightful historical novel. It is both a coming-of-age story and a tender romance. But more importantly, it is also a commentary on the period’s classism and racism and the emerging struggle for women’s rights. Not to be missed!

It's the summer of 1919. After Constance Haverhill has to give up her cottage and her job now that the men are returning from war, she serves as a lady’s companion in Hazelbourne-on-Sea. Here, she joins the social whirl that includes a girl who wears trousers and operates a motorcycle taxi and delivery service. Constance also meets Harris, a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle. The new friends soon realize that all are not welcoming. The freedoms they gained during the war could be revoked at any minute. Will the women have the courage to stand up for their rights and be true to themselves?
I liked the cultural references. It was interesting to hear how people lived and functioned duing this time period.
The cultural stereotype against women was infuriating. However, I appreciate that the author is time appropriate.
Despite the interesting story, I didn't connect with the characters or plot. I felt like I was looking into the story from above rather than participating with the story from the inside.

It was such a surprise to see a new book from Helen Simonson! This book was so cute and so engaging. The characters were fun and I found myself rooting for them in every way! Can't wait for the next one!

When I saw Helen Simonson had a new book out I jumped to read it, since I loved her first book, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I wasn’t able to get to it right away.
I finally had the chance to get to this and it was well worth the wait. This book is just as charming as Major Pettigrew. Helen Simonson introduces us to a phenomenal group of women in 1919 living in Hazelbourne, England. They’ve taken on the jobs of men while the men are on the frontlines and now that the men are back, the women are meant to marry and stay home. For Poppy Wirrall, that’s not a life. Poppy runs a motorcycle club that works as a taxi service and is hoping to add flying lessons for women. When she meets Constance Haverhill, a companion for an elderly woman, she immediately brings this quiet young woman into her group. The group changes how Constance sees herself and the way she is treated by the family for whom she works.
This book is a look into life back in 1919 when classism was abundant and it features the women (and men) who weren’t scared to break ceilings and push boundaries to show the world that women were just as capable as men.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club hit the shelves on May 7th.

After a slow start, I really found myself enjoying this novel. It is filled with so many lovely lessons in a story that blooms beautifully like a tight bud to a radiant rose. I was left a little hanging at the end of the standard chapters, but delightfully happy to find the book concludes with an epilogue. Don't give up on this one until you give it a good chance. It won't disappoint.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title. I highly recommend it as a great read for historic fiction readers and those who enjoy thumbing their nose at traditional stuffiness.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an Advanced digital Reader Copy of this book to review. I don't usually enjoy reading Historical Fiction, but I really loved this story. It takes place in the Summer of 1919. We find ourselves at a beach community where a young lady has been sent to care for a family friend who is recovering from the flu at a hotel. Constance, the young lady, meets other young ladies who are unconventional due to the fact that they had to work men's jobs while the men were off at war.... unfortunately, the men have started to come home and want their jobs back. I didn't want to put this book down, I enjoyed it so much!

Helen Simonson has touched upon a part of historical fiction that we don't really visit very often.
The period after World War I and focusing on what was happening to women at this time.
A feel good picture of women fighting to keep their independence now that things are back to "normal" with the men home

Delightful. This one will make you laugh. Every woman should know someone - or have a girlfriend - like Poppy. She's full of ideas and adventures, and oblivious to "proper" behavior ... in a good way. She's described as "respectful but firm" so she somehow gets what she needs and gets away with the rest

It's a reminder of one's "place" in society in years gone by, and how inventive a woman had to be to live larger than constraints. You'll fall in love with Poppy and the women she pulls into her orbit.

Enjoy this bit of history and culture, along with the descriptions of places - and the adventures that turn up.

I’m sure this is a lovely book but I think it’s wrong book, wrong time for me. I couldn’t keep track of all the characters and stories.

I waited a bit with my review of this book because I couldn't decide on my opinion about it.
At first glance, it had everything that always attracts me as a reader - the time and place of its plot - England after the First World War, the social changes taking place at that time and an interesting plot.
Unfortunately, I had trouble maintaining interest for the first part of the book, though the second part I enjoyed truly.
Again, everything I like was there, but maybe that was the problem.
The author covered many important and interesting topics in this novel, but there was too much of everything.
From the title, I assumed that the action would focus on social changes, the emancipation of women at that time and the government's renewed attempt to push them to their pre-WWI positions. And that would be enough for one book.
However, on the other hand, I spent a nice time with the characters of this novel, even though the villains were presented without nuance, a bit satirically or grotesquely. The author leaves no doubt for us to see who is good and who is bad person. :)

I really wanted to thank the Author for the ending/ conclusion of the story, because I remain an incurable romantic.

Many thanks to Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

This is my first book by Helen Simonson. Major Pettigrew"s Last Stand was quite popular when it was written. The story line and descriptions of the surroundings were great. Really gave one a sense of the location. The story got better as I went along.

I wanted to like this book. The premise sounded interesting and even though I'm burned out on WWII books, I thought this one would be different. However, this book is so similar to some other books I've read. I even tried the audio version which is very shrill and not good. Maybe others who still like WWII books will like this one but I just couldn't finish it.

This wasn't a favorite of mine by Simonson. The premise was promising but there were too many characters and they weren't different enough to keep them straight in my mind. It was just a bit lackluster overall and needed some tightening up. She is still an author I would always pick up though.

This was the first time I had read a book by this author. It was a beautifully told story with characters, both strong and resilient and others that had flaws and were not as likable. WWI has ended and Constance finds herself out of work now that the men have returned from the front. She finds a temporary arrangement as a lady's companion for her mom's family friend. Upon their arrival at Hazelbourne-on-Sea, to convalesce, Constance meets Poppy. Poppy is a spirited, wealthy owner of a motorcycle taxi and delivery service run and staffed by women only. Constance is quickly swept into Poppy's eclectic group of friends. It is here she also meets Harris, Poppy's brother, who was a pilot and lost his leg during the war. He is also struggling to find how he will fit into a world that does not want ugly reminders of the damages of war.
At times it was a bittersweet story of the changes and aftermath of a long, costly war. Poppy faces the challenge of losing her business to the War Practices Act that requires only men can now be in employed in jobs once filled by women during the war. It was realistic, sometimes sad, but overall, an uplifting story of friendship and perseverance. I received a complimentary eBook from Netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is an uplifting, women empowering women story, with a bit of romance thrown in as a group of young women after WW1 decide to take on the men which of course was unheard of at the time and create not only a motorcycle club, but gasp, learn to fly planes. With women during that time who were meant to be seen but not heard, their voices become fodder for the males who cannot seem to deal with their intelligence, stamina and strength.

When Constance Haverhill, the companion of an elderly woman meets Poppy Wirrall a rich socialite who lives at the same luxury hotel Constance is staying, they befriend each other. Constance is searching for a job and Poppy who would prefer having a job takes her under her wing and not only tries to help her but introduces Contance to her motorcycle club which she started for women only.

Socially beneath her, Poppy begins to teach Constance not only about the mechanics of motorcycles but also teaches her to drive one. As Constance becomes friends with group members, she begins to see there is a whole world for women which she knows absolutely nothing about. But it seems to be only for those who can afford it, not for her. She sees these women stand on their own two feet without a man and decides she needs to emulate that behavior.

With a keen sense of math, Constance begins assisting Poppy's family with bookkeeping as well as befriending Poppy's brother, Harris who was injured during the war. Constance's world opens up as Poppy decides to buy a plane and wants Constance to learn to fly it. With Harris' help, these women begin to outshine the men in the area and that is not good. You see, there are some men who would do anything to make sure these women fail.

But these strong women will take them on even if that means losing their own battle just so they can win their own personal war. Regardless of what anybody thinks.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is a story of women during tumultuous times, stepping up, learning lessons, some very hard, having to choose between the love of a challenge and the love of a man. During that period women were told they were basically a piece of property to the men, with no minds and certainly no ambition other than spending money. Boy were they in for a shock!

Thank you #NetGalley #TheDialPress #HelenSimonson #TheHazlebourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club for the advanced copy.

This is such a great story, I enjoyed every minute of it! The relationship between Poppy and Constance was just what I needed right now. Strong female characters and a great plot. Highly recommend!

This was an enjoyable and cozy read. Despite occurring directly after WW1 and dealing with post-war issues the story stays light without minimizing. There was nice character growth and a sweet ending that tied things together nicely.

The First World War is over and England is struggling to return to normalcy. That means the women who stepped up during the war are now expected to retreat to their homes and housekeeping duties. Poppy Wirrall is from an aristocratic family in Hazelbourne. She is outspoken and determined to keep the airfield and the motorcycle taxi service that operated during the war, running. Her plan is to have women continue to work for these businesses and remain productive, working members of the village. Unfortunately, the officials and the local men are opposed to women continuing to work outside the home and they favor the hiring of men, especially the newly returned veterans.

Constance Haverhill recently moved to Hazelbourne as a companion to an elderly woman. Constance had previously been working for a large estate as a manager, but she lost her job and small cottage and is now looking for a permanent position when her companion job ends. Poppy is happy to take Constance under her wing and introduces the young woman to the society girls in Hazelbourne. They like to party, to gossip and some like to race motorcycles. Poppy’s brother Harris returned home from the war with his own set of problems. He must deal with people’s new perceptions of him and his abilities and this puts an edge on his behavior. Poppy has good intentions, but she may not be able to realize her dreams of continuing with the motorcycle and flying businesses.

Simonson is pitch perfect with her portrayal of social etiquette. The condescension and presumed superiority of the upper class is on full display. She captures the difficulties of post-war life. Not only are the veterans forced to deal with their future options once the fighting has ended, but there’s the anxiety and stress that add to their struggles. The topic of women's rights are also among the issues examined. A number of the women show daring and skills that are considered far beyond the capabilities of a female. The women who look to Poppy for employment are faced with uncertainty and even Constance has few options for supporting herself. The rich may have a safety net, but not everyone is so lucky.

This is a novel strong in setting and character. The differences between Poppy and her friends and Constance and the working girls, is pronounced. Set in a time when women had few options and the social strata had sharp distinctions. One can almost picture the later episodes of Downton Abbey as the novel proceeds. Delightful and insightful; a winning book for lovers of historical fiction.

It's unusual to get a historical fiction set between the wars and The Hazelbourne Ladies are the perfect change in pace. While some of the plot was predictable, I loved going on the ride with them as they fought for equal rights in the changing world in the wake of the first world war.