The gilded age and NYC, two of my favorite historical fiction combinations! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about such forward thinking women during the early 1900's. The Colony Club for woman started when Daisy Harriman is unable to reserve a room at the Waldorf as an unaccompanied female. It also follows a woman who is facing opposition because she wants to become an architect in a male driven field.
I enjoyed following the paths of the women who fought against the oppositions they faced.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-reader edition of the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheColonyClub #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this strong group of women! The creation of the first women’s social club by Daisy Harriman was more than I expected. It seemed like the beginning of her lifelong work as an organizer and social reformer for causes such as women’s suffrage, tuberculosis treatment, working and living conditions, child labor laws, food purity, and more. I’d love to read more about her! Elsie de Wolfe, considered the first interior designer, and Stanford White, the architect with a controversial private life, were interesting too. But my favorite character was probably Nora, who was fictional. She depicted a single woman who worked hard to become known as an architect in her own right and her struggles to get there. She came into her own. I’ll definitely try this author again.

I really enjoyed this read, and according to the author's notes, it is based on fact, but there are some fictional characters woven into the story that make it complete. We begin by honoring the woman who really had the idea to build this Women's Club, Daisy Harriman, and she is being interviewed by a reporter about her accomplishments and how it came about. The year is 1963.

The story begins in the early 1900s when Daisy needs to return to NYC for some shopping. She can't stay at the men's club, so where can she go? What a journey we embark on to bring the Colony Club to fruition, and all the obstacles that are put in their path. This is also about a female architect and the firm that hires her, a man who saw her potential, and the tragedy that follows him. We also meet Elsie de Wolfe, an actress who changes her life and, with a great eye, becomes an interior designer, making this club opulent with style.

This is such an interesting historical read!

Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this historical fiction book. So many firsts for women from daily causes and observations to architecture and interior design. Quite the enjoyable and informative read. I would recommend.
This book was an ARC book gifted to me by netgalley and the publisher and all opinion s are my own but I suggest you read this book and form your own opinions as well.

I enjoyed reading about this strong group of women! The creation of the first women’s social club by Daisy Harriman was more than I expected. It seems like the beginning of her lifelong work as an organizer and social reformer for causes such as women’s suffrage, tuberculosis treatment, working and living conditions, child labor laws, food purity and more. I’d love to read more on her! Elsie de Wolfe, considered the first interior designer, and Stanford White, the architect with a controversial private life were interesting too. But my favorite character was probably Nora, who was fictional. She depicted a single woman who worked hard to become known as an architect in her own right and her struggles to get there. She came into her own. I didn’t love the side story with her family, that could’ve been better or just left out. I’d love to see this become a series that delves more into each of these women because I feel like I only got a taste. I’ll definitely try this author again.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review

The Colony Club by Shelley Noble is a dual timeline historical fiction. A well-known socialite Daisy Harriman is being interviewed for receiving the first ever Citation of Merit for Distinguished Service Award. She led the way in many social reforms for women and for the downtrodden.

I especially loved the fictitious character of Nora Bromley who was attempting to enter the male-dominated world of architecture.

Shelley Noble was a NTM author, but I will definitely read her again. Her attention to accuracy in details developed a truly believable plot.

Releases Oct. 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is set in the Gilded Age and focuses on two women. One, Daisy Harriman, a dynamic intelligent socialite, has an impressive ability to get things done. When she cannot stay in a NY hotel because she is an unaccompanied woman she is outraged. So she decides to fix things by organizing a social club for women. Nora Bromley, a young architect, is the other main character. She is determined to succeed in a man's field. The construction of the Colony Club, a first for women, brings their stories together.

Set in 1903 this historical novel starts with the idea of the Colony Club, a place where women can stay, as they were not allowed to stay there by themselves at the Waldorf. Great characters, interesting sub stories including a murder make this book so delightful. This was my first book I read by this author but certainly not the last.

A welcome addition to the historical fiction narratives. This book traces the beginnings of the Colony Club, the first women's club in New York City. The novel opens with its founder, Daisy Harriman, being interviewed on the history of her groundbreaking club. Interwoven are the stories of the women who contributed to its inception. Recommended for all public libraries.

This is a compelling and delightful historical fiction novel about women who literally changed the trajectory of not only wealthy socialites, but of the millions who ultimately benefitted from their determination and commitment.

Daisy Harriman, a Gilded Age socialite, leads the charge to create a “Woman’s Club, in New York City. It was to be a place to rival the exclusive men’s clubs which had excluded females. With the help of others in her set, The Colony Club was born.

The author incorporates many women into this very controversial building. Most important, Elsie DeWolfe for whom this club became a launching pad for her own career as well as the entire profession of home decoration. I became so fascinated by some of these characters that I did my own research and I was amazed to see she had designed tge interior of the home of one of my closest friends.

Most controversial was tge brilliant architect, Stanford White, whose scandalous life and death were involved in the building.

At the heart of the story is the struggle of the brilliant young woman, Nora Bromley, who dreamed of becoming a respected architect during a time when women were not welcome in this profession. This is the kind of social history that can intrigue women of all ages. I especially recommend this to social history seminars and discussion groups.

I can’t wait to share this with my reading groups and discuss the impact of the women’s work on social change.
Thank you Netgalley for this fascinating read. I really enjoyed it.

This was a new to be author with a book that sounded interesting. It is historical fiction--focusing on the creation of the actual real place The Colony Club...the first women's club in New York. The setting is the Gilded Age of New York high society. The book opens with a journalist doing an interview of Daisy Harriman--the original creator of The Colony Club. And she reflects on how it came into existence.

There are a few key narratives: Daisy, Elsie de Wolfe, and Nora Bromley. Each of them plays a key part in the creation of the club...as the creator, the first American female interior designer, and a female architect. Set amongst the story is the scandalous life of Stanford White--famous designer and architect. The author wove in many real characters amidst the fiction.

There is implied Lesbian relationship of Elsie and her partner--but it's always referred to as her partner or companion without any details. Only those who would know of the history would know their relationship.

I think Nora was my favorite character. Especially when she climbs the scaffolding! :)

I found it interesting, but it wasn't such that I couldn't put it down. It was just okay.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publishers and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

Based on the true story of Daisy Harriman and her friends this tells thee story of the first female club and the interest in social reform these women had.. Then we add the story of America's first interior designer. Finally, we have the fictional female architect who could have been any one of the few then working. All together an exceptional and fascinating read!

This book was very well done. The author did a great job of weaving together actual historical state years and fictional characters. It tells a story not only of the founding of a New York women's institution but also paints a picture of what it was like to be a woman of means and a woman without means during this time. The book was well paced. The plot always kept moving forward, and it never felt like the story line lagged.

Young women in the Gilded Age are not able to stay at all hotels. Daisy decides to create her own place. The story tells about a murder, scandal and things that threaten to ruin her dream. She works hard to keep at her dream. I loved every word!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fascinating book about some of the women involved in creating the Colony Club in New York City. I was completely unfamiliar with the club but was astonished in seeing how even the richest women in the U.S. -- (make that the wives of the richest men) were nonetheless unable to stay in hotels unaccompanied by their husbands. It was this that began the need for the creation of a women's club, which then snowballs into the need for a place for women to hold lectures, club meetings, etc. Why would anyone have a problem with such a thing? And yet, many people did.
This is the story of the creation of The Colony Club, which centers around three women, a wealthy married socialite, a middle-aged actress trying to figure out a way to support herself once her acting career ends, and a young woman of meager means trying to support herself, her mother and younger sister by becoming an architect. All three deal with obstacles, find unexpected allies and adversaries, and find their lives deeply affected by a murder that is still talked about today.

Set in the early 1900's Daisy Harrison wanted to stay at the Waldorf but was turned away because she couldn't stay without her husband. Furious, she decided to start a Women's Club where women could have the same privileges that their husbands received at their clubs. The Colony Club is formed. With the help of her friends and despite all the challenges encountered, they succeeded. It is during this time that we meet a fledgling female architect as well as an actress who changes her career. Together these women, I think, set the path for future generations of women. An interesting HF read and very enjoyable. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read, and according to the author's notes, it is based on fact, but there are some fictional characters that are woven into this book that makes the story complete.
We begin with honoring the woman that really had the idea to build this Women's Club, Daisy Harriman, and she is being interviewed by a reporter about her accomplishments and how it came about, the year is 1963.
The story begins in early 1900's, when Daisy needs to return to NYC for some shopping, she can't stay at the men's club, so now where can she go? What a journey we embark on to bring the Colony Club to fruition, and all the obstacles that are put in their path.
This is also about a female architect and the firm that hires her, a man that saw her potential, and that tragedy that follows him. We also meet Elsie de Wolfe, an actress that changes her life and with a great eye she becomes an interior designer, and makes this club opulent with style.
This is such an interesting historical read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher William Morrow, and was not required to give a positive review.

Told in two different time periods, one in Washington, DC in 1963 as women recounting the long road that they took to establish the first social club for women. The second timeline where most pages took place started in 1902 as a group of women came together to discover the need and the path to create a social club where they could come congregate and have a space that was designed just for them!

I loved this book. The characters were fantastic and I was drawn in by their will to get this project completed and make a space for women when the only space they were to be in was the home. I love reading a book about women defying the expectations of their moment in time and pushing the boundaries as to what is "allowed" of a woman. There were two women who caught my eye and I loved reading about them - Daisy Harriman, a socialite who when trying to travel to New York City without her husband is denied a hotel room and this is the beginnings of the women's social club. Nora Bromley, a young woman who had a drive outside of herself to become something at a time when women had very low expectations to "become something". She wanted to become an architect and create buildings and spaces that would help people live and heal from mainly tuberculosis.

As it is spoiled in the synopsis of the book, a murder almost halted this project completely and while I didn't read the synopsis first, it made the book shocking for me and I enjoyed reading how scandal did and always will affect things.

I love a book that grasps my attention from the beginning, but keeps me reading wanting to know where all the characters will end up. AND I love a historical fiction book that encourages me to do outside research and find out where the truth and fiction intersect. My first historical fiction read by Shelley Noble and by no means will be my last.

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

This was a very good book. It talked about struggles that women went through in the past in a very tasteful way. I would highly recommend this book if you love historical fiction books.

Fictional but realistic story about a young female architect in the early1900s and her fight for recognition in her field. Not just that, but the very real Colony Club, one of the first ladies clubs in the country and the fight the women had to prove themselves worthy of a place beyond the household. Very enjoyable read, except that the subject often changed without warning and so was confusing. I think that will probably be addressed in the final publication. I received this book free and was asked to do a review.