Shelley Nobel’s The Colony Club is a well-written and researched story of three women who took Manhattan by storm in the Gilded Age years of 1905 - 1907. Society woman Daisy Harriman, theatrical and literary agent Elisabeth “Bessie” Marbury and and Elsie de Wolfe were real people. Daisy Harriman relates the story of The Colony Club to a journalist in the 1960’s, after she received the a Citation of Merit Award from President Kennedy. I found this dual timeline perfect for this particular story.

In 1905, Harriman decided women should have their own “club” - similar to the mens’ clubs which women were barred from joining. She envisioned a club where women could meet, hold classes, spend the night, read and discuss issues of the day. To get the ball rolling, she enlisted the support and help of Bessie and Elsie, along with several of her wealthy women friends.

I had never heard of these three incredible women and so I was quickly hooked on learning more about how they managed to create and build The Colony Club, the first all women’s club in Manhattan. Bessie was known as the leading female theatrical agent in America and Europe and Elsie made her fortune as an actress. However, her mediocre acting skills were overshadowed by her incredible taste and vision for interior design. Elsie eventually gained fame as America’s first professional interior designer. They knew people in the arts, the theater, the society world which opened many doors for Harriman's project.

The women were friends with famed architect Stanford White. He was quite a character - a brilliant, sought after architect whose designs included Madison Square Garden. White designed The Colony Club and hired Nora to oversee the construction. You will have to read the book to see how this turned out. And, how White died in what became known as the Trial of the Century.

Nora, the other man character in this story, is a fledging architect who helped make Daisy’s dream of the Colony Club a reality. She is a compilation of the few successful women architects of that time. She was spunky, determined to succeed and talented. At times, her frustration and naivety got to me but, overall, she was a magnificent addition to the story.

The descriptions of high couture, gorgeous homes, travels to Europe for one season and to their “second” mansion in the Hamptons for another, gives the reader an armchair glimpse of how the wealthy lived in the Gilded Age. The luxurious lifestyle was juxtaposed by Nora’s life of poverty, her dedication to her mother and sister, scrimping for every cent so she could advance her career and her loneliness. Women were not easily accepted in the male dominated field of architecture in the 1900's. Nora's experiences, though, echo what some women experience today as they attempt to crash through the glass ceilings in some professions. Yet, when it all came together it was as perfect as a story can be.

There is so much more I’d like to share about this wonderful novel but I don’t want to give too much of the story away. I will close by thanking Shelley Nobel for introducing me to some strong, incredible women who grabbed change by the hands and made it happen. I was so impressed by the positive changes that can attributed to the women of The Colony Club, especially the"Mink Brigade". I was blown away reading about the society women, marching on the outside perimeter during the Shirtwaist Strike of 1909, wearing their mink coats as a shield to protect the women marchers.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an advanced digital copy of The Colony Club. This is my honest review of a novel I enjoyed from page one through the excellent Author’s Notes at the end.

If you are a fan of the TV show “The Gilded Age”, you will love this book.

I love historical fiction, and Shelley Noble brings these real-life society matrons to life as they forge ahead and open their own women’s club.
Stanford White, notorious and infamous architect of that time, is hired to build “The Colony Club” with the help of his new draftsman, a woman named Nora Bromley. Nora is not part of society and is not even comfortable working in society, but endears herself to the woman, especially Elsie De Wolf, sans actress and new interior designer on record. Nora finds that these ladies have a lot more to offer than frivolity. Noble writes a character that you are rooting to succeed.

When Mr. White is murdered, it seems the club might cease to exist, but never underestimate determined women, whether in or out of society.

The Colony Club
by Shelley Noble
Pub Date: October 1, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble comes a thrilling historical novel about the inception of the Colony Club, the first women’s club of its kind, set against the dazzling backdrop of Gilded Age New York.
The thing I like most about historical fiction is the research that goes into providing an enjoyable experience to learn more about something I never knew existed. Great book!
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. I would love to see this turn into a series so I can read more about these fascinating women.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read The Colony Club by Shelley Noble. Excellent! I loved reading this book and learning about these amazing women and all they accomplished.

I love reading historical novels with feisty female protagonists. Well, THE COLONY CLUB delivered them by the dozen.

It was great fun reading about the planning and building of this New York institution. The founding members were committed to being more than ornaments in high society. As I read the book,it played out in my mind as a season of The Gilded Age TV series, but with female “ movers and shakers,” not robber barons.

The Stanford White scandal was something I was vaguely familiar with, but I enjoyed this fictional look into his life and architectural practice.

This will be a rewarding summer read for fans of historical fiction who have read one too many WW2 era novels.

Excellent story. I loved this book - the characters and the content. Well done research and a fantastic job on women architects. I highly recommend it.

In 1902 New York the Waldorf refused to rent a room to Daisy Harriman because she was an unaccompanied woman. Daisy set out to create a club where women could stay and relax, similar to long-standing clubs for men.

This book is written as a journalist's 1963 interview of the older Daisy as she describes how her idea grew into The Colony Club. It is a fascinating mix of basic historical fact and characters along with supplemental fictional accounts of the process and the characters who made it all happen. The author seems to capture many of the issues faced by women who wanted to travel alone and independent women who were beginning to move into areas such as architecture and interior decoration.

I recommend the book and thank Net Galley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to review it and provide an honest opinion.

I liked the intermingling of real characters and fictional characters; this was a story I was not aware of. The descriptions of place (NYC) added much to the book and even as someone who has only visited the city, I felt I could imagine the scenes being described.

Nora's relationship with and need to continually support her ungrateful family was my least favorite part of the book. It seemed to pop up periodically as a way to keep Nora's innate goodness and perpetual roadblocks to success as key to the story.

I particularly liked the latter portion of the book when she moved in with her coworker and coworker's aunt as it focused less on Nora's problems with the nasty male colleague. Overall, I feel like I need to know more about Stanny's trial, as the fall out revealing his personal perversions seemed a bit overplayed in the story -- maybe it did happen that way 100+ years ago and my 2024 perceptions are off.

I really enjoy Shelby Noble books. They are always well written and engaging. This one was everything I expected.

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!