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.