Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher - I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have been reading more Australian authors lately and they have not been disappointing! This book was a surprise and delight. I really enjoyed how well the author fleshed out her main character, Martha Berry, a 50 year old "spinster" who secretly takes over writing a radio serial in the 1950s due to her boss's incompetence. Martha expertly rises to the occasion and manages to touch a lot of hearts and lives in the meantime. I liked learning about Australia in the post-WW2 era. Not sure if the premise is entirely believable but the ride was fun and moved along at a decent pace. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a sweet but not too saccharine historical fiction novel.

I was instantly charmed by The Radio Hour and soon drawn into the world of its main character, Martha Berry. About to turn 50, Martha’s been working at ABC, the big, state-owned Australian broadcasting corporation, for decades and knows all the ins and outs of radio production.

Shunted from department to department, Martha’s always been there when another secretary has left to get married – there are no married women at ABC. She’s sensible, pragmatic and knowledgeable – everything her new boss isn’t. That’s Quentin Quinn, fresh-faced and twenty-something, on his first ever radio serial, As the Sun Sets.

Radio dramas of this kind were popular entertainment for those at home – often a break in the housewife’s busy day, the stories and characters adored equally. But waiting in the wings is a threat to this happy status quo – television. Quinn is soon out of his depth. He’d much rather be writing an action show with cops and robbers, not a soap following the lives of a butcher, his wife and daughter and the people who step into the shop.

Quinn starts the day late, spends long lunches out drinking and leaves early, while the first airing of As the Sun Sets looms closer and there’s still no script. What’s Martha supposed to do? A fond reader of the classics, Martha knows a thing or two about storylines and characters, to say nothing of the things that women at home worry about. She’s well liked by her mother’s friends and joins their conversations on the verandah when she returns from work. And then there’s April, May and June, the three young secretaries she befriends at ABC. She lends an ear to their worries and they welcome her advice.

Martha’s led a quiet life at home with her widowed mother and has never pushed herself forward for anything. But once’s she’s helped select the cast and booked the recording studio, she can’t let the show down. Before you know it Martha is writing for As the Sun Sets, pretending to an increasingly drunk-on-the-job Quinn that the scripts are all his work – she’s just typing them up.

On the surface The Radio Hour is a light, feel-good read, and it captures so well the 1950s era and values. But the casual misogyny dished out on a daily basis to the female staff, the sexist management structure and the predatory behaviour of some of the men towards the young women in their midst will make your blood boil. How Martha and her female colleagues fight back gives the story something to cheer about, but you know it’s going to be a long haul.

Victoria Purman has obviously done some homework and references real people as background figures, such as, Gwen Meredith, a well-known writer of radio drama and role model for Martha, and the ‘had enough’ character, Joyce Wiggins is inspired by real-life producer Joyce Belfrage. The author even worked at ABC in her early career as a journalist, though quite some time after the events of her novel. This all shines through in a story that brims with authenticity and interesting radio production detail.

I enjoyed The Radio Hour immensely. I loved Martha and her friends and will certainly look out for more by this author – she’s got quite a backlist of historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Radio Hour is a four-star read from me.

This novel is often compared to Lessons in Chemistry. It is another story of life in the 50s and the discrimination and harassment women faced. This story is set in Australia, in the radio broadcasting industry. Unbelievably, until the 60s it was illegal for women to work in government if they were married.

But it's not a polemic, it is a nicely told story with great characters who grow and develop over the course of the book. Martha is 50, lives with her ailing mother, and has worked for the public radio station for decades - without either a promotion or a raise. But she is the one everyone relies on, and her quiet competence is evident. Her consciousness is raised a bit by a couple encounters with legendary female broadcast figures (based on actual women).

She is assigned as script girl to a new daily soap opera. These shows are wildly popular but disdained by the male management. It turns out the new producer is a mess -- he is young, inexperienced, egotistical, and has a drinking problem. Guess who ends up taking over and secretly writing the scripts?

The unfolding of events if humorous, entertaining and sometimes poignant. There are some good men in the book in addition to the bozos. It was wonderful watching Martha come into her own. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this charming story about the golden age of radio in Australia.The characters the story were a delightful read looking forward to reading more by Victoria Purman.#netgalley #harperfocus

Many thanks to the Author, Harper Muse and netgalley for the arc in exchange of my honest review! All opinions are my own.

"The Radio Hour" by Victoria Purman is a charming story about love, loss, and the power of music to bring people together. The novel follows Martha Berry, a dedicated secretary at ABC for twenty-four years. Now fifty, she finds herself working for Quentin Quinn, a young man who is clueless about writing and producing a new radio program called "As the Sun Sets."

Martha, realizing that Quinn has no idea how to create a good show, boldly decides to ghost-write each episode. This decision leads to the show's huge success, while Quinn receives all the praise. Martha, however, remains behind the scenes, frustrated but determined to help.

Purman's writing is warm and relatable, effectively transporting readers to Australia in the 1950s and '60s—a time when women were often expected to be silent supporters in the workplace. Through Martha’s character, we feel her love for her mother, Violet, who suffers from arthritis, adding depth to her life story.

Each chapter starts with a clever teaser, maintaining interest and anticipation. The book brought back fond memories of listening to radio dramas like "Blue Hills," connecting the past with present feelings.

Overall, "The Radio Hour" is a delightful and heartwarming read, celebrating the strength of women and the joys of storytelling. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a heartfelt historical novel!

I truly enjoyed this sweet treat of a book! Martha is totally my hero! She lives by the beat of her own drum it is determined to see anything she does in life become a success if not more! Picture it 1950! 💖 We have our female lead character working at a broadcasting center in Australia! Martha takes it into her daily agenda to see the ultimate breakthrough of As the Sun Sets! Which is a radio serial drama!

Fangirl moment! I am a total fan of historical radio shows! There's just something about them that were so wholesome yet so witty! Voices lending a general pick me up in every day to day life activities! 💞

Martha wants to see everything go right and even though she has to deal with Quinton Quinn who has a tendency to be....... What's a kind way of putting this?........ Overfilling his own glass with how awesome he is! LOL he's a truly entertaining character in the sense of literature but I give Martha credit I cannot work with the guy in real life LOL 😂 (the author did a fantastic job writing all the characters! I kept putting together old movie stars in my head to give them rules as I read each page and chapter!)

Like any character Martha has flaws and she definitely at some point doesn't believe in herself as much. But that is what makes a character great! When you don't believe in yourself and you don't want to be perfect you become a masterpiece! 🎙️

All in all this was a very entertaining read! I wish I could take some actors back from the 1950s and say "Hey look at this book!" The flow of the writing really grabbed me! It wasn't all jumbled together it was all absolutely perfect!

Bravo! 😎

This is the first book I've read by Victoria Purman...and it won't be the last! A truly enjoyable story with well developed characters who are so loveable (except Quentin Quinn!!!). Set in the 1950s when radio shows were all the rage and TV was just being introduced - Purman expertly portrays how women have to fight to raise the glass ceiling, in addition to putting up with sexual harrassment from their bosses - interesting how a lot hasn't changed!

This was an excellent book! I will look for more from Purman!

Martha Berry, our protagonist, is fifty years old, with a long career as a secretary in the radio industry, loyally working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's public broadcaster, in the years after WWII. Witty and bright, Martha has spent those years being an invisible force, keeping her bosses in line and on their toes without seemingly even understanding how important she is to the running of the radio. She joins the staff of a new radio serial, and soon must face the fact that a woefully unequipped pup has been put at the helm. As Martha saves the show, she finds herself writing scripts and casting actors, soon running the show in all but name. As events-- and hijinks-- unfold, Martha has to decide if she is content remaining invisible or if she finally wants to be seen.

I could not put this book down! I love that it focused on a mature woman and showed everyone has room to grow and change. The actors on the radio show were a delight, and Martha's young friends, other secretaries at ABC, brought new perspectives mixed with the concerns of the young and beautiful. Martha acts as a guiding older sister to her coworkers, and I appreciated the space for Martha to share her own wisdom and build her confidence. The book is beautifully crafted, with realistic, down-to-earth people, excellent dialogue, and a plot that pulls you in. It could be it's own radio drama!

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. It seemed to drag in a lot of spots, I definitely did not need to read so many of the scrips from the radio show. I also did not need to be reminded at every turn, that most men are pigs.
It was interesting to read about the golden era of radio and how people loved their soap operas. I am old enough to remember listening to my share off kids shows on the radio. Where the story bogged down for me, was so much repeat statements about everything. I had hoped to enjoy the story of the ladies of radio, but it became a male bashing book and kind of ruined what should have been a delightful story about women overcoming the men who tried to rule everything, including passing a law that no married woman could work.

The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
Pub Date: 2-4-25

Thank you @netgalley, @harpermusebooks, and @victoriapurmanauthor for this eARC.

"Funny that she had been surrounded by people whose job it was to talk, to get others to talk, to write so others could talk. But she’d never had a voice of her own."

Spend some time in 1956 Sydney, Australia, with Martha - described as Spinster, Secretary, and Loyal Daughter. Can we all agree that 'spinster' should be a word we remove from our vocabularies; although, it certainly helps set the scene!

Martha has spent her adult life working diligently at ABC, the national broadcaster in Australia, since they began broadcasting in 1932. She is professional and efficient, with experience working for many different producers.

On the cusp of ABC embracing television, Martha is tasked with supporting Quentin Quinn, who will be producing a new radio serial drama, As the Sun Sets.

Quentin Quinn is far more adept at going to lunch, drinking, and praising himself, than he is at actually completing the tasks required to successfully produce this new program - casting, writing scripts, etc.

Martha is keen to ensure As the Sun Sets is a success, so she quietly takes things into her own hands. This is where the story truly picks up. It's quite enjoyable to follow Martha's relationships with her mother, their neighbors, the cast, and fellow ABC girls - April, May, and June.

This work of historical fiction certainly makes me appreciate when I was born and all the women who paved a path for the rest of us so we don't have to deal with similar career limitations and blatant misogyny.

Don't miss the Author's Notes!

#theradiohour #victoriapurman #harpercollinsfocus #netgalley

Loved Miss Berry. Didn’t love the writing style so much. Lots of repetition about women’s roles vs men’s. Represented the time period well and the plight of a single woman in the 1950s.

Such a great historical fiction! I loved the writing. Nothing about the story felt forced and the character work. I would highly recommend

Victoria Purman has created a very likeable heroine in Martha Berry, long suffering ABC radio employee. One can't but help to cheer Martha on as she has to deal with a young and totally inept new production manager. Taking matters into her own hands, Martha begins writing the scripts for a new radio drama which results in great success. Martha has to hide in her boss's shadow as she lacks the confidence to let radio management she's the power behind the throne.
That is the main issue with this otherwise lively novel. Martha's low self confidence that the narrator attributes to the patriarchy of the 1950s, which may be partially true. But there were certainly women who stood up for their rights during this same time period in the entertainment industry. Martha too makes constant comment about her age as a road block to any kind of success. These two elements made this story a bit jarring to read.

I haven't finished the book yet but I enjoy it after a quarter of the book. I thought the book was slow-paced but maybe I was too impatient to find the interesting things from the book. And, what made me interested was when I realized this book is about equality between men and women, especially at that time post-World War.

The main theme of radio was also interested me. I don't listen to the radio the way people in this book did. I never listened to radio drama so I never knew the excitement of waiting and listening to it. I only used the radio to listen to music played by the radio stations to accompany me riding my bike to and back from my campus.

How the book tells about radio drama production, especially the script writing intrigued me. I thought it could help me improve and explore my writing because it's my job.

This book was the first book plotted in Australia and post-World War, if I'm not mistaken. So, this book helped me expand my reading list.

Until 51% of the book I read, I can say I enjoyed it enough. Hopefully, I can read it until the end when the book is released and share my review on my bookstagram account.

Good luck with the book! May many readers enjoy it as I did ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse, and the author, Victoria Purman, for the ARC of The Radio Hour.

Victoria Purman’s The Radio Hour is a delightful and heartwarming journey into post-war Australia, offering readers a charming glimpse into the golden age of radio broadcasting. Set in 1956 Sydney, the novel brings to life an era when radio was a cornerstone of entertainment, and Purman shines a much-deserved spotlight on the women who worked behind the scenes, often invisible but instrumental in shaping the stories that captivated a nation.

Martha Berry, the fifty-year-old, unassuming protagonist, is a relatable and wonderfully crafted character. A spinster by society’s standards, Martha is one of the many hardworking, quiet women of her time who keep things running smoothly without recognition. It’s when she is assigned as a secretary to a new radio serial, As the Sun Sets, that her life takes an unexpected turn. Faced with a clueless young producer, conservative censorship, and a quirky cast of actors, Martha finds herself ghostwriting scripts to save the serial from cancellation.

What’s so refreshing about this novel is the way Purman balances humor and wit with the deeper, more poignant themes of self-discovery and empowerment. As Martha secretly pens the serial’s scripts, she becomes the voice of ordinary women across Australia, bringing authenticity and relatability to the airwaves. The evolution of Martha’s character—from the quiet secretary to a bold, creative force—makes for an engaging and uplifting read.

The behind-the-scenes look at radio production is both amusing and insightful. Purman vividly captures the often chaotic, unpredictable world of broadcasting, where one word—like pregnant—could send censors into a frenzy. There’s a lightheartedness to these moments, but also an underlying commentary on how women like Martha, despite their talents and contributions, were so often overlooked in favor of male colleagues.

While the novel is filled with lively characters and funny moments, it’s Martha’s journey of self-realization that truly resonates. As she struggles with whether to keep her role a secret or step into the spotlight, readers can’t help but root for her. The tension around her potential exposure adds an exciting element to the narrative, pushing Martha to question what she truly wants from life.

If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that some of the secondary characters could have been explored in more depth. There are moments where the supporting cast feels a bit one-dimensional, though this doesn’t take away from the charm of the story.

Overall, The Radio Hour is a wonderfully nostalgic and empowering read, celebrating the women who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in a male-dominated industry. Victoria Purman crafts a charming narrative filled with humor, heart, and the kind of quiet rebellion that comes from stepping into your own power. It’s a book that reminds us that even the most "invisible" of women can have a profound impact—both on the world around them and on themselves.

Victoria Purman creates a fabulous cast of characters with The Radio Hour.

I feel like I know very little about Australia and I enjoyed a book about radio with a setting of England several years ago (then name escapes me). And what a great cover!

Miss Martha Berry is our main character. (The point of view stays with this character and the timeline does not jump around.) Martha is assigned as secretary to a new addition to the company, Quentin Quinn. Martha starts covering for Quentin's ineptitudes ...

Again, Martha Berry is just a loveable character. What a great book! Highly recommended.

I also loved the Authors note where Victoria Purman slips in some actual folks from the archives of Australian radio. Kudos.

Many thanks to NetGalley for introducing me (yet once again) to a new to me author. I'll be looking for additional books by Victoria Purman. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse publishing for approving my request to read the advance review copy of The Radio Hour in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Feb 04, 2025. 352 pages.

I really liked the idea of this book. But it was not a book for me. So I did not finish it . Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Yet another wonderful book and read form Victoria Purman. This is a book about the golden years of radio and it takes you on a through the times and when 50yo Martha Berry wrote the plays for radio after the war. It is such a great read with plenty of humour but also shows the extraordinary strength women had to have when working for egotistical men.

This is a great read that will take you on a ride, through the ups and downs. You will laugh and cry, you will feel the emotions of the story and you will love it. I enjoyed every minute of this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a marvellous, insightful, informative and splendidly entertaining book The Radio Hour is! Author Victoria Purman’s journalistic skills shine through as she takes readers back to ABC Radio Sydney in the 1950’s. Her characters are utterly believable and mostly likeable, though there are two particularly unpleasant people who have a key role in this story, both of them men and both mysoginistic. They serve to showcase the way women were treated in those days, a time when you were expected to resign from work if you married and heaven forbid you get pregnant. Martha Berry owns the page with her calm approach to addressing problems, including the fact that her new boss is both wet behind the ears and utterly incompetent but also a raging drunk and the epitomy of laziness. I loved that his incompetence led her to take the leap from just being a secretary to actually writing and casting As The Sun Sets, the series he was hired to create. I loved that his ineptitude allowed her to showcase her own fabulous talent. While this story is fiction, it definitely brought history to life for me and is yet another Victoria Purman book for my keeper shelf.

Liked the idea a great deal but the writing was a bit too heavy handed for me and I did not finish. Sorry!