Set in the aftermath of World War 1 and after the deadly flu pandemic that followed this novel charmingly illustrates the struggle different classes of women had in England as they tried to make sense of lives that had been upended. Constance is a young woman accompanying an elderly woman at a seaside resort for the summer when she meets Poppy, a young woman trying to start a business for women motorcycle riders. The riders have lost jobs to returning men and are expected to go back to doing "womanly pursuits". Constance faces her own uncertain future and gets drawn into the circle of friendship and independence the motorcycle ladies enjoy. I loved the characters, the setting and the portrayal of life after the upset of what at the time was The Great War.

When Constance comes to Hazelbourne as companion to an aged not-quite-relative, she does not know she's about to embark on a quest for independence, autonomy, and adventure. Then she meets Poppy--and the other "girls" of the Hazelbourne Motorcycle Club--and is swept into a delightful summer romp full of compassion, connection, and community. Set immediately after World War I, and in the aftermath of the terrible flu epidemic, this book brings history to life, and wraps the reader in a world both familiar and unconventional. I loved all of the characters, as well as the evocatively descriptive scenes of what it was like to travel by motorcycle (and bi-plane!) in the early 20th Century.

A look at young women who experienced some freedom during World War I but that freedom is restricted once again when the boys return from the front. Simonson continues her excellent historical fiction writing.

This is a story about a group of young women who try to figure out what to do with themselves after WWI. During the war they had led productive lives contributing to the war effort but are now at a loss. Society wants them to conform and become wives and have children. Jobs that they once held are now being given to young men returning from the war. But this group intends to forge a new future for themselves.
I was excited to read this book however, I found the storyline floundering the first half. There was no hook for me that compelled me to keep reading to find out what happened with the characters.
Things really fell off for me in the last few chapters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3 stars out of 5
Available May 7, 2024

I am a fan of Helen Simonson and was looking forward to reading this. This is a look at women who were putting their lives together in the aftermath of WW1 England. During the War the women stepped up and kept things going on the home front. After the war these hard working and competent women lost their positions and were expected to go back to the way things were before the war. Big adjustment for both men and women.

Simonson takes serious social issues and addresses them through well developed characters and an interesting plot. I would recommend this.

I was so excited to read Helen Simonson's new novel, and it did not disappoint. The time period has been widely neglected in historical fiction. This novel is a wonderful depiction of the time period and the challenges faced. This book is charming while also sharing the darker sides of war and heartbreak.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club
By Helen Simonson
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
It is the summer of 1919 and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or—horror—a governess, she’s sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after she rescues the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy Wirrall, from a social faux pas.
I've read Helen Simonson's "The Summer Before the War" and loved it, so I jumped at the chance to read her latest novel.
This was a delightful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The main themes are the roles of women in post-WWI society - how they'd been given the freedom and responsibility of working to keep things moving in Britian while so many men were away fighting, but were expected to give all that up when the men returned; and the struggles between reconciling the old ways of society and women's roles and the new understanding of what was really important, and women were capable of doing.
5 stars

What a great read. Simonson examines the aftermath of WW1 on women from a variety of social backgrounds, and also on the men who survived the war. Constance, who is well educated is trying to make ends meet after her father dies and she no longer has a place to live Poppy comes from a well to do background, but is a bit of a rebel against ‘lady-like’ standards and is running a motorcycle club for women. The other women in the club are from a range of backgrounds. Mixed in are men who have had differing experiences during the war, including some who have been badly injured. While this feels like a light read, it still has explores some important themes.

Helen Simonson's writing is simply sublime. What may seem like just another World War book of female empowerment becomes a deeply insightful exploration into social classes, gender roles, and race through the lenses of characters who are both loveable and flawed.

This novel takes place in the English seaside village of Hazelbourne-on-Sea where Constance Haverhill is staying as a companion to elderly Mrs. Fog. She is a young woman with no career opportunities or husband with little chance of finding a job with the soldiers returning from WWI to claim them. While in Hazelbourne, Constance meets the inimitable Poppy, a member of the elite who defies convention by starting a ladies motorcycle club that taxies women around town and taking every opportunity to tout women, their rights, and their future. Poppy introduces Constance to her family and friends, including her brother Harris, a troubled veteran of the war who is struggling to recover from his missing leg and the change in status that has come with it. Constance soon befriends Poppy, her brother, and Poppy's club of women and is drawn into Hazelbourne's more elite society even though she is destined for the life of a poor working woman and they will live in luxury and wealth. As Constance is caught up in their world and an unexpected connection with the kind but reclusive Harris, she gathers her strength while facing an uncertain future

This book is a pleasure to read. Simonson's writing is witty, romantic, and captivating, pulling readers into the life of Hazelbourne. Constance is a unique heroine--she is not brash or overly idealistic, but a relatable young woman who is "useful." She is the girl who is always in the background, struggling to find a future for herself while relying on her enduring strength. Constance is a rather appropriate name for her. Each of the characters in the novel is interesting, relatable, and multi-dimensional. I particularly enjoyed Harris's character--his bouts of depression and stubbornness which often surfaced in sharp rebukes and unkind words. His change throughout the book was marked and lovely to watch. The sweet romance throughout the novel, while predictable, was deep and unconventional.

This book is more than it seems on the cover, and I absolutely loved the social commentary, unlikely heroine, and sweet romance. Simonson's writing is the true star of the novel, and I wholeheartedly recommend this evocative and entrancing book.

Helen Simonson's books always make me feel like I'm curled up in front of the TV with Masterpiece Theater on and a cup of tea or glass of wine in hand.

I didn't love Hazelbourne as much as Summer Before the War, but it was still utterly charming! A few elements towards the end of the story surprised me and didn't feel like they fit with the overall narrative. The ending felt a bit like a bumpy plane crash to me (very on-theme!). I wish there were about 20 more pages to wrap up more thoroughly and more time to sit with the characters post-story.

3.5

Thank you to @netgalley and @RandomHouse for this ARC. Constance is living at a hotel in Hazelbourne as a cargiver to Mrs. Fog when she runs into a trouser wearing, motorcycle riding Poppy. Poppy and her group of ladies dispatched messages during WW2. Now that the war is over, they have been displaced and it is considered unladylike to ride a motorcycle or get their hands dirty. Poppy's brother Harris has returned from war, less a limb. All he wants to do is fly and is considered an invalid. Poppy buys an old plane last minute at auction and Harris' healing has started. Harris then opens Constance's eyes to what is possible in the world. #TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleandFlyingClub #HelenSimonson #May2024 #RandomHouse

Another five star book from Helen Simonson. She has once again crafted an engaging story of English life in the early 20th Century. This time, it’s right after WWI and women have once again been relegated to the sidelines and deprived of the jobs they held during the war.
The story is told from three perspectives, each showing how different groups have been impacted by the return of peace. The first PoV is Constance Haverhill, a woman without prospects. She managed a farm during the war but was released as soon as peace was declared. She’s on a few week visit to the seaside resort of Hazelbourne with Mrs. Fog before she will need to start the search for a job. There, she meets Poppy, a free spirited woman of means who runs a motorcycle club for women. The second POV is that of Harris, Poppy’s brother. A pilot during the war, he lost his leg. Now, England wants to move on and no one wants the reminder of the damage the war wrought. The third POV is that of Klaus, a German born, naturalized English citizen. He was interned on the Isle of Man during the war and has now managed to get a job as a waiter. But his accent means he has to keep a low profile.
Simonson has done a great job of capturing the strict social mores that are just beginning to be loosened as the country enters the 1920s. Quite a few young women are fighting being forced back into the restraints placed on them before the war. She also weaves in enough facts to give a real sense of time and place. For example, the War Practices Act mandated which professions had to be allocated to only men.
I loved that while everyone is glad the war is over, some miss the excitement. Simonson finds the perfect balance between the dark and the light - the depression and worries against the joy of the ride and the friendships. “Constance was moved to see the pain, joy and anguish chase each other across his eyes.” All the characters are fully fleshed out and I came to care for all of the main characters. On the other hand, she has crafted some perfectly wretched villains.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

Set it rural post WWI England, Constance has recently lost her father and thus her home. Her brother and his wife have taken over the farm , which Constance had ably managed during the war years. Temporarily she’s agreed to be a “companion” to Mrs. Fog, who had scheduled a summer at a resort hotel. There Constance met Poppy Wirrell, daughter of a moneyed woman who owned a nearby manor that was being leased out as a convalescent home. Her brother Harris lost a leg when his military plane crashed and he was depressed with his future. Poppy owned some motorcycles that were used by local women as a taxi service. The story has a lot of twists and turns and there’s a multitude of weddings.

During the Great War, Constance managed the accounts and staff at a large estate in Surrey, but when the war ended and soldiers began returning home, she found herself brutally shifted into a position caring for Mrs. Fog, the elderly mother of the estate's mistress, as she recovered from influenza. It's in the capacity of this continued convalescence that Constance finds herself at a grand hotel in the seaside town of Hazelbourne, and, oddly enough, making friends with a group of women who turned their wartime motorcycle delivery skills into a quirky taxi service. But with more and more men coming back from the front, it's harder and harder for the women to maintain their jobs — or find new ones, as Constance learns as she prepares to leave Mrs. Fog.

This is an interesting, and generally lighthearted, look at the way women's lives changed after WWI, albeit in a very small slice of Britain. While I'm sure there will be gobs of fans of this book for that very reason, it wasn't really my cup of tea and there were a few elements of the last few chapters that felt out of sync with the rest of the book. Still, I'd recommend it for fans of historical fiction featuring women with moxie.

My first thought upon seeing the title "The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club" (by Hazel Simonson) was that this would be a fun read. My impression was so wrong because this was so much more than just a 'fun' read. Following the Great War, women were struggling to find their new place. They had found so much purpose during the war in working jobs typically for men only. Now, the women were being relegated back to the home. However, many were war widows and needed the income for survival. The motorcycle club had been borne during the war to make deliveries and wanted to continue to give the women income opportunities. The returning veterans also needed to find their places as well since so many had sustained injuries or suffered PTSD. How could everyone navigate the new society. So many social issues addressed in this book and handled in a diplomatic, sensitive manner. A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

What an amazing book! The role of women in England during and after the war is explored. Women did men’s jobs and now must return to womanly duties. Men are struggling from physical and emotional scars. The classes are distinctly divided into wealthy and commoner. Klaus, the English/German is an often silent reminder of the war. Constance is sensible, daring, and compassionate. Poppy and Mrs. Wirral are strong, modern thinkers. The motorcycle women are independent girls finding their place. There are so many interesting characters which creates a rich story! While the story focuses primarily on Constance, Harris, Jock, Sam, and Tom all add different perspectives. Mrs. Fog and Simon’s love has endured and is wonderful to experience. How will Rachel survive a continent away?

A rich historical novel, with excelellent description and detail. It has a bit of a slow burn to it at the beginning, but once I got into it, the characters were layered, deep, and interesting, and the time period ( just after WWI ) really drew me in. The nuances to the story and the lives of the characters was extremely well done. I am so appreciative to have been given the chance to read this book.

World War I is over and Constance Haverhill’s war time work as a farm manager has ended. She and other women are now being pushed back into more traditional roles. She will have to find a new way to make her living but in the meantime she has a position for the summer. She is acting as companion to an elderly family friend who is convalescing at Hazelbourne-on-Sea. While there Constance rescues an unconventional socialite, Poppy, from potential scandal. This gains her entry to Poppy’s social circle and to the Ladies Motorcycle Club. The story highlights the adjustments women and society had to make following the war. There is a lot of material for discussion, especially about class.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

Such an enjoyable historical fiction read! The only critique I have is the unusually high number of times the word hubris was used 😂

This started off and kind of remained slow, and had a little too much description for my liking. But it is filled with great characters and a glimpse into what life was like for women after WW I. They had freedom during the war, but was that just temporary?