This book had me engaged, I truly, truly enjoyed it!!

I felt all the emotions while reading , felt so deeply for each of the characters, specially for the female ones. They all seemed so real, the character felt very fleshed out and I could picture them clearly in my head.

It took me a few chapters to get into the book but after that I read the rest of the book in a sitting.

The book left me wanting to listen to "As the sun sets"!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!!

I did like the book. For me, the first fourth of the book was very slow. However, I am glad I kept reading as it did pick up, and develop a plot line. I really liked Martha, and how things were starting to change for women, or at least the idea that they could change eventually. I feel sure the experiences her and the other young women were very common in the work place. Unfortunately, many of the same issues are still happening. I liked learning how important radio was during the time before TV was a household thing. I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher, for my honest opinion and review. I would recommend!

Beautifully written historical fiction about the golden age of radio. More specifically, bringing to light the discrimination and lack of opportunity for women during that time. I enjoyed the story and the characters very much.

The Radio Hour is a fabulous book by bestselling author Victoria Purman. It features brilliant female characters, meticulous historical research, and a delightful Australian setting that fans of Old Hollywood will love.

The Radio Hour is set in 1950s Australia and is a feel-good novel about the glamorous days of radio broadcasting and the unseen women whose voices deserve to be heard. The main character, Martha Berry, is unique but incredibly relatable. It’s refreshing to read about a woman who finds her purpose later in life – and succeeds.

Overall, I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted the horrible men in it to get their comeuppance and for the women to finally shine! It was such a great read.

Adaptation recommendation: While The Radio Hour could work as a movie or limited series, the setup is perfect for television. Think Mad Men, The Hour, or Julia.

Content Note: There is some sexual harassment and assault in the book. It's not overly graphic.

Overall Rating: 4.5

Disclosure: I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley and Austenprose PR. All opinions are my own.

This book was great, with quirky characters, an original premise, and a fun to follow storyline. Following the start of a new radio show, along the cusp of the beginning of tv in Australia, this was very unique.

It really grabbed my attention, and though it was a lighter read, it’s definitely not one to underestimate. Martha was a smart woman who was able to navigate through some tough work situations. Quentin? Not my favorite, and not a great choice for his job in my opinion. But it was an experience to follow Martha’s story, and to watch as events unfolded.

Really, just overall it was a great, quick, lighter read. Fun characters. An engaging story. One I really enjoyed.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @victoriapurmanauthor @harpermusebooks @austenprose . However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Martha has worked at the ABC (Australian Broadcast Company) for twenty-four years, shuffling between departments. When a new radio serial headed by a recent graduate is announced, Martha is assigned as the secretary. Turns out that Quentin Quinn is not only inexperienced, but is also a vain drunk. In an effort to keep the show from tanking, Martha takes on the show, writing the scripts and casting the actors, only for it to be wildly successful. Of course, these things cannot be kept secret for long and it threatens the role of women in the workplace and the tightly held reigns of Australian society.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is a historical fiction on a time that we tend to gloss over but a time when things were changing for so many all over the world.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Muse, and Harper Collins Focus for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

1956 Sydney could easily be mistaken for Victorian times - arcane rules for women, women who did so much taken for granted, ignored and treated with scant respect in the workforce.

Martha is an exemplary secretary and has been overlooked and her true potential never understood. Her work for a very young man with no skills at all who got the job through knowing someone spelt doom and pressure for Martha. True to her name she was not confrontational and just wanted to keep her job. However she turned the tables and created a record in the most unusual way in the office and this became the surprising and courageous part of the story, totally different to the meek and subservient manner she had been before.

The story dealt with radio in Australia and the huge effect it had on the general populace. The influence of simple radio shows was phenomenal and if it was used cleverly, could actually shape people’s attitudes and practices. It also marked the onset of television in Australia, and the trepidation that the radio world felt when it was started.

This was a brilliant topic handled very well in a very relatable story.

Wow. I loved this book! I listened to parts and read parts on my kindle, which was a fun way to experience the book. I think my favorite was listening, because this book is all about Radio Programs after World War Two in Australia. As an American reader, I found the book fascinating and entertaining, especially because Australias laws seem to differ from that of the US.

The book also has a strong feminist narrative, asserting that women often do more work than men. It’s certainly thought provoking and makes you wonder that if women had been given more opportunities in the workplace at that time, how would history be written differently.

Content warning: A pattern of workplace sexual assault is described. The description was tasteful but it did not mince words of what the women felt.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy and listener copy of this book. A review was not required.

I enjoyed spending time in Sydney, Australia during the golden age of radio. The radio industry was dominated by men, but fully supported by women who were diligently working behind the scenes. Martha was one of these women. Martha was described as being smart and bookish. Hmmm…I think I would enjoy having her as a friend.

Quentin Quinn, the quintessential male chauvinist boss, made Martha’s life unpleasant at times and rather challenging at other times. But, our smart, bookish girl was definitely up for the challenge.

Humor and snark were balanced well with some very real issues that women were facing in 1956. The delightful and skilled writing made this book a joy to read.

Martha had found that always being overly polite caused one to be chronically ignored. Martha needed confidence, which was supplied by coworkers who became the friends that she had always needed. They celebrated the highs and supported each other through the lows. What a wonderful group of characters! And, through it all, Martha learned that truth triumphed over politeness.

I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it!

I received complimentary copies of this book from Harper Muse through AustenProse and NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Radio Hour
by Victoria Purman

#TheRadioHour #NetGalley

The Radio Hour is the most recent book of Australian women’s fiction that I have read. I have recently noted enjoying books by Sophie Green and Sandie Docker. Now, I can add Victoria Purman to the list of Aussie authors whose titles will carry an automatic “I want to read that one.”

There are many things that I loved about this book. The historical post WWII, 1950s look at life for women in Australia was intriguing and involving. Women, who just as in other countries, held significant positions during that war were expected to go back home. While there, they could enjoy listening to radio soaps to break up the monotony. How these soaps were made and the world of radio production were well portrayed in these pages. Readers come to understand how these serials brought a common experience to friends and family who then discussed them.

Women who worked were often “old maids” and not given the best of the jobs. In this story, the 50 year old MISS Barry (why does her new boss keep calling her Mrs? Just one way of not paying attention or showing respect it would seem) is given the job of working with a new (and incompetent) writer of a soap that is meant to rival another highly popular one. Will is succeed and, if so, how or why? Will any radio soap prevail as TV comes to Australia?

Most importantly, the reader of this book will route for Miss Barry. If she can succeed, other women will feel that they might too.

It is easy to recommend this title to those who enjoy stories about this time with good characters and just enough plot to keep the pages turning.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for this title. All opinions are my own.

I lost myself in this beautiful story. It felt like a warm hug and left me smiling. It is a story of women supporting other women in a world of men and helping them find a voice and be heard. Martha has been working for years at the radio network and is assigned to be the assistant to Quentin Quinn as he launches a new radio serial. He has no experience and no idea of how to make a radio serial so Martha steps in. As the show becomes popular he takes the credit. Will Martha continue to be invisible or will she finally be recognized for all she does? Martha is a character that I enjoyed and could identify with. She is resourceful and resilient and vital to the smooth running of the department she worked in even when she was invisible to the men in charge. The topics she brought to the radio show are still relevant and timely and still aren’t discussed much today. I highly recommend this book to readers that enjoy books about strong women making a difference in a male dominated world.

One thing that I really love to do that helps me relax, is listen to Old Time Radio. Especially the Crimetime dramas like "Yours Truely, Johnny Dollar”, “A Man Called X”, “Nero Wolf” and “Sherlock Holmes”. Listening to the voice actors bringing the radio drama to life is wonderful.

Imagine my surprise to see that The Radio Hour is a book based upon one of my favourite pleasures.

I have been enjoying the story so much that I am going to be a little sad when it ends. The story centers around Martha, a woman who has been working at the radio station since it first begin, who doesn’t make waves and has accepted her life as a spinster.

She finds herself in a pickle when the new college hire, Quentin Quinn is hired to write a new 15min ABC drama series. She has to take matters into her hand and write the drama and give credit to her incompetent boss.

Martha has written a relateable drama, As the Sun Sets, that is loved by so many listeners. Martha showcases the limitations that had been put on women during the 1950s-60s. As the Sun Sets, touches on controversial issues like menopause, women working after wedlock, women in the workforce.

It is a great read and gives an eyeopening account of what it was like for women after the war and the harassment of men in the industry.

This is a 5 star read for those you love Australian stories and are looking for a unique story, then pick up a copy.

The audio for this book is amazing too. Well cast and narrated and worth a listen to on its own or pair it with the book.

#theradiohour #bookgram #ladysnuffy_reads #ladysnuffy #books #booknerd #endlessreading #NetGalley

I loved this gem of a novel by @victoriapurmanauthor It will definitely be one of my favorite reads this year.

Set in the 1950s in Australia, this is the story of a fifty-year-old woman, Martha Berry, a secretary at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation who is assigned to work with a male producer on a new radio serial show. But the producer is an incompetent alcoholic and Martha secretly steps in as scriptwriter - doing all the work while her boss receives all the praise.

Martha was a wonderful character. She was smart, insightful, funny, vulnerable, and so lovable. I so enjoyed seeing a vibrant older person as a main character. I will not soon forget her. I also thought there was a great cast of secondary characters and enjoyed the themes of found family, female empowerment, and friendship.

The plot was wholly engaging. It was so interesting to read about scriptwriting and recording for a 1950s radio show (think a daytime soap opera) and about what it would have been like to be a woman working in that time period in a male-dominated profession. I was very surprised to learn about the “marriage bar” which existed in the Australian public service (including public broadcasting) until 1966. This law prevented married women from working - in effect, women had to choose between work and family. It was also eye opening to see the level of sexism and harassment that Martha and her female colleagues had to contend with from some male coworkers.

I was captivated by this charming, heartfelt novel. I was cheering on Martha and her friends throughout and had a huge smile as I was reading. I didn’t want it to end.

Highly recommended!!

Thanks to @harpermuse for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

While this novel reminds me of Lessons in Chemistry, it is lighter in tone—but just as much fun. The setting was a plus for me, since I haven’t read much about Australia in the 1950s. The characters were wonderful and true. Highly recommended!

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

Radio Hour
Victoria Purman

This one was set in the 1950s, during the golden era of radio. Did you know that it was illegal for a married woman to work in Australia?… That just seems so crazy to me, it was only 70ish years ago!

Martha chose her career over marriage. She steps up, she writes some of the radio plays as a ghostwriter. Because, well, the producer she works for… He sucks to be completely honest about it. This one was an eye-opener for what women went through. Thank goodness things have come a long way since then.

This one would also be great for book clubs, I can imagine some incredible discussions coming from it.

I enjoyed reading The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

An Australian, inspirational, historical fiction set in the 1950s broadcasting world? YES, please.

Five stars to Victoria Purman for this fantastic read, The Radio Hour. Every page I was invested in Martha and all that is involved in radio serials and the office life. And the Australian aspect of it. I was invested in it all.

I especially felt drawn to the way Martha really comes to grow as a character. She comes from being the hardworking, yet quiet secretary for years to the employee that steps up, uses her voice and makes the work environment better for everyone. Especially the working women.

Martha’s character is inspiring. She gives a voice to problems of the 50s and helps readers see that they too can have a voice. They too can make a difference. At least, that is how her story left me thinking. Oh, and to remember those dreams of yours and get going!

The way Purman presents the story, the little chapter teasers, gives it that charming and fun feel that you don’t often find in historical fiction. Also how it is all tied to the radio. I just adored seeing how families came together for the serials. They way the radio brought people together overall. The simplicity of that compared to what brings people together today is magical.

Overall, LOVED IT. Highly recommend it. I’ll definitely be rereading this one. I know it’s only February but this is definitely going on my favorites list for 2025.

Content Warning: There are two instances where women go into detail of men being inappropriate in the workplace.

*I received an advanced copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.

What is your favorite TV show? I have a lot of favorites, but one of them is Only Murders in the Building. I love a good mystery that also has humor.

Martha Berry has worked in broadcasting as a secretary for twenty-four years. It’s now 1956 in Australia and television is being talked about on the horizon. While she has vast experience, she has never been promoted or seen a pay raise. She has been reassigned to a new show that will be produced by new employee, Quentin Quinn. Quentin is fresh out of school and is more interested in very long lunches that involve alcohol rather than actually working on scripts and starting the new show. Martha takes it upon herself to save the show and starts to write the scripts herself. Will Martha’s secret remain hidden?

My thoughts on this book:

• I loved this story. Martha was a great character. I loved how she is an independent woman of a certain age who has decided to take her future into her own hands.
• I also enjoyed the radio show itself. It was fun reading the different scenes of the show.
• There are also many Jane Austen references throughout the novel that I enjoyed. Martha is a fan of Austen and her works and references them often. She also references other favorite authors such as George Eliot and Charlotte Bronte.
• I loved how Martha brought daring real life scenarios into the radio screen plays such as menopause and having an Italian immigrant family as one of the main families.
• The radio broadcast has an archaic rule that if you are married, you can no longer work there. This had changed in England, but not in 1950s Australia.
• It was interesting as the book discussed how television was taking over at the time in England and the United States, but it has not yet gotten to Australia. I had not thought about how this would have changed an entire radio industry and potentially put people out of work.
• I related so much to Martha. Early in my career I had my own Quentin Quinn at work. While he enjoyed pay raises and promotions, I was doing the majority of his work while had long lunches, late starts, and would leave early. I was told, well he’s a married man. Then after I was married, well, he has a baby. It didn’t seem quite right.
• The ending was great and a real pick me up when all news seems so negative these days.
• I enjoyed the author’s note about real history in which this fictional story was set.
• There are a lot of great book club questions. This would be a great book club read!

Favorite Quote:
“But Martha was done with being polite. She was done with being overlooked and underestimated by men like Quentin Quinn, those young enough to be her son yet who acted as if she was the child.”
Overall, The Radio Hour by Victoria Purman is an excellent, inspirational, and intriguing historical fiction novel. Martha Berry is one of the best new characters in fiction. This was my first read of author Victoria Purman, but it won’t be my last. If you enjoyed, Lessons in Chemistry, I think you will enjoy The Radio Hour.

Yesterday, Victoria Purman‘s novel The Radio Hour got its US release (less than a year after its original publication in Australia). Set in Sydney in 1956, it follows fifty-year-old Martha Berry and her unexpected and ultimately impactful role in radio broadcasting. This novel highlights women’s rights and how “it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Why I Chose This Book:
I love the subject of radio broadcasting and storytelling through such a medium. When I was in college, one of my two majors was Communication, so reading about broadcasting is always interesting for me. The Radio Hour also caught my attention for its focus on working women in 1950s Australia.

What I Liked:
- Older main character than I usually read: she turns 50 towards the beginning of the book
- Dealing with unqualified, incompetent men…
- Finally getting more respect in the workplace (even if it is two decades late!)
- Martha steps up to write stories for a radio serial, often borrowing from her own life
- Drawing inspiration from other women who didn’t get the respect they deserved in their lifetime (including authors like George Eliot and Charlotte Brontë)
- Shining a light on women’s working rights, women’s health, workplace harassment, and immigrant lives
- Excerpts of Martha’s radio show, As the Sun Sets
- Humor (including the so-called Calendar Girls)
- “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Final Thoughts
The Radio Hour unfolds layer by layer into a novel that I really loved. Martha is unlike other characters I read, both for her age (50) and the fact that she’s never married or had any romantic relationship. She’s never had significant goals, and I loved watching her blossom here, after over 20 years at her job. This novel brings readers into the world of radio broadcasting, rights and challenges women faced, and how you can find yourself at any age.

This was such a charming and heartwarming story!

I loved stepping back into the 1950s and Australia’s golden age of radio, when families gathered around the “wireless” to listen to their favorite programs.

This was right before television was starting there, and people were so invested in the characters and story. I loved learning about the process of making these shows and how popular they were.

I thought it was interesting that the government had concerns about American television shows like Perry Mason and I Love Lucy airing, because they didn’t want their Australian children picking up American accents.

The highlight of the story was Martha Berry. In her younger years she had dreams of marriage, children, and a home. By the age of 50, Martha is at peace with her unfulfilled dreams, but a new one unexpectedly opens up.

She is asked to assist a new hire to write and produce a new radio drama. He is completely unqualified for the role, and rather than see it fail, Martha steps in and anonymously begins to write and produce the program. It’s a huge success and her inept boss is more than happy to take the credit, but Martha’s secret can’t remain hidden for too long.

The 50s may have been a simpler time, but The Radio Hour deftly shows that they weren’t for women in the workforce. They were frequently overlooked, underestimated, and sexually harassed or assaulted and nothing was done about it. In certain circumstances, they couldn’t work after getting married.

Martha is use to this being the case, but when she finally finds her voice and is no longer willing to be quiet or “polite,” it’s a glorious thing!

This is a delightful and entertaining tale, but it’s also a powerful one. Highly recommended.

I received a copy from Harper Muse and Austenprose PR via NetGalley, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.