A moving historical novel set right after World War I, about the first class of women to be allowed at Oxford University as a graduating class.

The four, as expected, have different backgrounds, characters, and emotional personalities. Each has been affected by the war - one lost a brother and fiance, one suffers from PTSD as a volunteer nurse, one had a life-changing experience on Armistice Day, and one's life has been shaped by her suffragette mother who had to delay due to the war. And together they have to face the misogyny of their time in history.

The four discover the bonds of female friendship and support for the first time and try to glean everything they can from their university experience while still recovering from the trauma of the Great War. I appreciated that they didn't get four conventional happy endings -- but the conclusion is hopeful for all. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found this frightfully dull. Very little happens and at times the author delves into extreme minutia on a scholarly tome or the scenery. I frequently forgot who was whom because the characters are so thinly drawn.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller imagines the lives of four of the first women who studied at Oxford University in the 1920s. I loved this time frame, just after the First World War, and felt like the descriptions of the college and community was one of the book's strengths. Unfortunately, the characters came across as wooden and stereotypical. I was never able to really connect with them on an emotional level, although they each had experienced the various traumas of the time due to war, poverty, and social mores. For me, this was only an average read. Other readers may find it enjoyable, however.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller is a compelling historical fiction read that follows four of the first women working to receive formal degrees from Oxford University in the 1920s.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but this covered a subject I haven’t read before! The misogyny, strict rules, and intense standards the women all faced were portrayed remarkably well. I also thought the portrayal of how WWI impacted the lives of everyone was done brilliantly, and I loved how Miller interwove real people with the fictional characters she created! I know that isn’t necessarily a rare thing in historical fiction, but she did it in a way that felt truly organic and seamless.

Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto all felt distinct enough that I could keep track of who was who, which can sometimes be a challenge when I read four voices all working towards a similar goal. They all had their own struggles and challenges and, often, their own unique secrets. There wasn’t one that I didn’t like, but I did have a favorite. Marianne just really tugged at my heart and I especially loved watching her story unfold.

All in all, this was a great historical fiction work that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Joanna Miller for the free ARC in exchange for my review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Penguin Group Putnam
Pub Date: 4-15-25

Thanks to @netgalley, @putnambooks, and @joannamillerauthor for the opportunity to read this eARC.

• Historical Fiction
• Post WWI 1920-1921
• Women at Oxford University

Beatrice, Otto, Marianne, and Dora room near each other in Corridor Eight. These four strangers - The Eights - soon become inseparable, sharing their hopes and secrets, as they navigate the challenges that come with being the first women to matriculate at Oxford University.

A timeless story of self-discovery, friendship, and the struggles of early adulthood, set against the backdrop of women's rights and the lingering impact of WWI.

"Despite her own pride in matriculating, she cannot help but imagine herself the winner of a relay race— being congratulated even though she only took the baton the last few feet over the line. As her mother often likes to point out, Beatrice’s generation is benefiting from years of lobbying, militancy, suffering, and protest by women like herself who refused to accept the status quo."

"A couple of weeks ago Otto could never have imagined herself part of a strange little gang like this, but the situation, though unexpected, is becoming increasingly welcome."

"Yes, Marianne is rather drunk, and is fearful and excited about going home, but these women! It is no surprise that the noun friend is derived from an ancient root word meaning to love, that it is etymologically bound to the word free. These marvelous women give her the confidence that what she is doing is right."

"Otto looks at Constance and then at Marianne. 'We don’t all go to Oxford to become Marie Curie. Most of us are ordinary people grasping the opportunity of an extraordinary education— and that goes for the men too.'"

Based on the title and cover I was expecting this to include more about rowing, but it was only a small mention. I loved the story of the friendships and learning about the history of Oxford and what struggles women had to go through to attend. I would love to see another story seeing what happens to them all later in life. A lovely story, easy to read and wonderful characters

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are fewer ~bookish things~ I love more than an incredible debut novel and that is absolutely what The Eights is.

The Eights is a historical fiction novel about four of the first women to attend Oxford University and it is so engaging and inspiring. Each of the four “Eights” (so-called because of the housing unit they’re assigned to when they first arrive) are characters rich with unique points of view and experiences, and have fully-fledged personalities.

Otto is my favorite (which will surprise no one who reads this and knows me) but Marianne, Dora, and Beatrice are all kickass characters too. Their efforts to push back against the rampant misogyny of 1920s England and seek the education they desire (and so deserve) is truly so inspirational. Their devotion to one another is a great reminder of how special female friendships are.

All four of the women have been deeply affected in one way or another by WWI and the chapters dedicated to each young woman’s back story add so much depth to the characters and the story as a whole. This debut instantly reminded me of The Briar Club by Kate Quinn, which I read and loved last year, and really gives major Kristin Hannah vibes.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and feminist stories, this one is definitely for you!

Joanna Miller's debut novel, "The Eights," serves as both a historical chronicle and a poignant reminder of the battles fought by women for educational equality. Set in the transformative period of 1920s Oxford, the novel captures the lives of the first generation of female students granted full admission to the university, stepping into academic halls long dominated by men amidst a society still reeling from the devastation of World War I.

The narrative unfolds in 1920, a pivotal moment when women were first permitted to matriculate and receive degrees at Oxford, though under a regime of restrictions that reveal the deep-seated resistance to female intellectual advancement. Miller's research illuminates the overlooked corners of this transitional period, showing how institutional structures and social attitudes created numerous barriers. She depicts an Oxford where female students face a labyrinth of "chap rules" that monitor their every movement, requiring chaperones for social events, forbidding them from entering men's rooms or hosting male visitors, imposing strict curfews, and even dictating appropriate attire.

The story centers on a group of first-year female students at St. Hugh's College, affectionately nicknamed "The Eights," each bringing distinct backgrounds and aspirations to their shared experience. Dora Greenwood arrives at Oxford still processing the loss of her brother in the war, hoping education might offer purpose amid grief. Her academic journey quickly becomes complicated by personal entanglements that mirror the broader societal upheaval, where certainties have been shattered and relationships redefined by war's long shadow.

Miller portrays the broader societal context through telling details, such as the era's infamous Daily Mail headline lamenting "A Million Women Too Many" and the subsequent "1920 Husband Hunt." This surplus of women to men, a direct consequence of wartime casualties, creates a social landscape where female ambition is viewed with suspicion and often open hostility. The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the institutional sexism these women face, from condescending professors to fellow students who openly debate whether "women have no place at the University of Oxford."

The diverse members of "The Eights" reflect different facets of women's experience in this period. Marianne Gray conceals her status as a widow and mother, illustrating the expanded roles women were compelled to assume in the aftermath of war while facing prejudice for stepping outside traditional boundaries. Beatrice, involved in the suffrage movement, connects the students' struggles to the broader political fight for women's rights. Otto, who served as a driver during the war, embodies the newfound independence some women claimed during the conflict, only to find society eager to rescind such freedoms in peacetime.

Miller's integration of historical figures like Vera Brittain and actual events, such as awarding honorary degrees to women and debates over women's suffrage, enriches the narrative. These elements offer readers both a lesson in history and a reflection on the enduring human spirit, particularly women's resilience in the face of institutional barriers. The dialogue and setting details are meticulously crafted, with period-appropriate language that enhances authenticity without alienating modern readers.

Its exploration of universal themes elevates "The Eights" beyond mere historical recreation. Through the experiences of these pioneering women, Miller examines how personal tragedies intertwine with historical upheavals, questioning and challenging traditional gender roles as society moves toward a new architecture. The novel portrays how the rigid gender hierarchy at Oxford mirrors the broader societal struggle transitioning from Victorian to modern sensibilities, with all the friction such evolution entails.

The characters' growth within these historical constraints is rendered with psychological depth. As they navigate the competing demands of academia, societal expectations, and personal desires, each woman must define success on her terms. Their collective journey illustrates how friendship and solidarity become essential survival mechanisms in an environment designed to exclude them. Miller shows how these women create alternative support networks when institutional backing proves insufficient or hostile.

Though set a century ago, "The Eights" resonates with contemporary relevance. The battles these women fight for educational equality, recognition of their intellectual capabilities, and the right to self-determination echo ongoing struggles for gender parity in academics and professional spheres. Their confrontations with institutional sexism offer a historical perspective on the persistent challenges many women still face today.

For readers intrigued by personal stories woven through historical events, Joanna Miller's "The Eights" provides a poignant look at the challenges and changes faced by women in the early 20th century. This book pays tribute to the resilience of these educational pioneers and reflects on the social transformations that continue to resonate today, reminding us that access to education and the freedom to pursue one's intellectual potential regardless of gender remains a hard-won privilege whose history deserves commemoration.

This review is of an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam. It is currently scheduled for release on April 15, 2025.

This is a smart, well written work of historical fiction about the first group of women to magistrate at Oxford. Featuring dual timelines and a sparse mixed media element, we follow four women as they navigate a traditionally male- only environment. Memories and reflections of WW1 are expertly layered into the story, highlighting how recent and traumatic the war felt at the time. The Eights is a
celebration of female friendship and intellect. 5⭐️!

The Eights
3.5 ⭐️

I was soooo excited when I read the description of this book—the first women attending Oxford with a close knit bond?! Yes please!

The Eights are four women who face a lot of adversity while attending male dominated Oxford in the years following WWI.

I didn’t think this one landed quite as well as I’d hoped. The story was much more focused on their romantic relationships than on their pursuit of higher education. It also felt a little choppy with all of the poems, school notices and flashbacks to the war. I enjoyed the girls’ camaraderie but I wanted more of it!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

Thought this was a well=written and well-researched book about an era I know little about! I am not normally much of a historical fiction fan, but the synopsis drew me in as someone with a background in academia. Though I normally gravitate towards books that are a bit more plot-driven, the characters in this book did have me captivated and I loved watching them grow and thrive as they embarked on their own adventures. We would all be so lucky to have friends and caring and selfless as The Eights! 3.5 stars.

The Eights deftly weaves a tale of four women in the first class of women matriculating at Oxford who live on the same floor. (Hall 8). Despite coming from different backgrounds, Otto, Beatrice, Dora, and Marianne are all facing the struggles of being pioneers at OXford while they and the nation begin moving forward after WWI.

It's a tale of sisterhood and what it means to be a modern woman. I loved this perspective, especially the aftermath of this war. It is an era I would like more stories about. Sometimes, the narrative perspective shifts a little quickly, and it took me a moment to figure out which of the eights was the focus. Despite that, I loved the interspersed flashbacks to the girls' pasts. They were meted out in a way that felt like slowly getting to know good friends.

This will be a hit with historical fiction fans of Kristin Hannah and Kate Quinn. It will also make a great book club pick!

Historical fiction at its best! Four women are part of the historic 1920 matriculation of women to Oxford — the first in over 1,000 years. Roomed together in “corridor eight,” this is the story of their first year, with several flashbacks to flesh out their personal context. Beatrice Sparks — almost 6 feet tall, daughter of a famous (and vigorous!) suffragette, with an appetite for politics; Marianne Gray — the motherless daughter of an English vicar; Dora Greenwood — beautiful and still grieving for the brother and fiancee who died in the war; and Ottoline Wallace-Kerr — wealthy and at odds with her family’s expectations, who keeps herself calm with mathematics. There are some secrets and some surprises — all quite realistic and perfectly embedded in the well-drawn context of the time. And for the girls, a discovery of unexpected, but deeply felt, friendship.

I say this is historical fiction at its best because it finds the right balance between the extremes of dull, historic, facts and overly sensationalized (and manipulatively emotional) story telling with a minimum of historic accuracy. There are no modern sensibilities sneaking in — but plenty of individual reactions and experiences nestled in the very real context of the day. The country had just emerged from WWI, (some) women had just gotten the vote, and now — Oxford was open to women who wanted to pursue a more intellectual path through life. I loved the many small details that peppered the prose: a new mystery author — Agatha Christie — who was set the challenge to write a novel where it was impossible to guess who did it — and succeeded; the introduction of ouija boards; stories of the Bodlein library and how the rare books were protected during the war; the second wave of influenza; the origin of Chequers (home to Britain’s prime ministers); practice trenches in the countryside; suffragette pennies, etc. A pretty interesting Oxford-style debate on whether or not women should be at Oxford at all. I loved the bits of discussions on various studied subjects. The secondary impact of the war on various people after the war was over was equally interesting — more personal, individualized, and detailed. Philosophical and ethical issues pervaded the experiences because how could they not?

I like historical fiction because, when done well, you learn about what history might have meant to the people who lived through it. The author’s note delineates fact from fiction as well as describes inspirations — with a nice bibliography on relevant sources. Also — there is a glossary at the end that I really wish I had known about before I finished! Plenty of period specific slang was used that I had to constantly look up or guess at. Now you know!

3.5 stars, rounded down
The Eights tracks four young women, among the first to matriculate at Oxford University in 1920. The four are as different as can be - the vicar’s daughter, the socialite, a factory owner’s daughter who gets to go only because her brother died in WWI and the daughter of a famous suffragette.
Miller provides each of their backstories, their fears, their secrets and their hopes. But still, I kept struggling throughout the first half to keep them straight. It didn’t help that the book often moves at a sluggish pace and lacks the necessary tension to keep my interest.
The time and place were well painted - the misogyny, the lasting effects of the war, the restrictions. The inclusion of actual “chap rules” and other regulations gave a sense of the imposed limitations. Miller does an excellent job of allowing the reader to feel like they are at Oxford. But at heart, I felt this was women’s fiction in a historical setting rather than historical fiction.
The book definitely picked up in the second half, allowing me to give it a 3.5 star rating.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advance copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an e-ARC of this book!

The Eights follows four young women as they become part of the first class of women to enroll at Oxford University in 1920. Each of them has their own struggles, but all of them must deal with the after effects of World War I and the prejudices of the men who don't believe women belong in such a prestigious educational institution. As the school year goes on, the four women (nicknamed "the Eights" because of their room assignments) grow closer and closer together, sharing secrets and traumas, and ultimately forming an unbreakable friendship.

Charming is the first word that comes to mind to describe this book. I was charmed by all four of the main characters, each in their own unique way. They were compelling and sympathetic, and I found myself continually wanting to come back to the book just to spend more time with them and dig deeper into each of their stories. I came away from the book really feeling like I had lived in that moment of time with them.

I also loved how the author captured female friendship and especially female friendship in college. It felt so accurate and time period appropriate, but it managed to remind me so much of my own college experiences--the caring for one another, the laughing together until you can't breathe--that it really moved me. Given the current unprecedented times we're all living through, reading this book was comforting and inspiring. Here are four women who, despite all of the obstacles in their way, support each other, love each other, and persist.

Honestly, I would have read a book that was three times as long as this one and followed the Eights all the way through to graduation. Probably because of that, I felt like the ending and wrap up of lose ends was a little rushed. Like I said though, that might just be because I wanted to spend more time with the characters.

If you like historical, feminist fiction this one is for you. I know I'll be thinking about each of these women for a while.

A fantastic debut novel!
"The Eights" follows four dormmates turned friends who are set to become some of the first women to receive degrees from Oxford College. This novel explores the challenges they face as they fight for their right to earn a college education at a predominantly male institution as well as the overarching struggle of returning to a post-WW1 world.
At first, keeping track of the alternating POVs of the four women was a challenge, but the author did a lovely job of giving each character such a distinct personality that soon it becomes easy! I absolutely loved the friendship that blossomed between 'the eights', named for the dorm hall they were staying in. I also loved how well-developed the characters were -we learn of their backstories through flashbacks that were effortless weaved into the story.
I've never read another historical fiction book with this specific focus - I enjoyed learning about the history of women scholars at Oxford through the lenses of these fictional women (I also recommend reading the author's note at the end - I learned a lot there too!). Overall, definitely recommend this for lovers of historical fiction.

The Eights by Joanna Miller gives insight into being the first female students at Oxford through the lives of four women. Beatrice comes from a wealthy family and her mother is a famous suffragette. Dora lost her brother and fiancé to the war. Otto served as a nurse and suffers from the horrors she saw. Marianne is the daughter of a pastor and struggles to fit in.

I recommend this book for historical fiction fans. The Eights focuses on the lives of the women as they navigate their new friendships. While the women come from different backgrounds, they become close and protective of each other. Each girl’s story and background unfolds slowly as they overcome the obstacles of a male dominated world.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved all of the characters in The Eights, I loved the writing and the language. I felt like I was learning at the same time as the Eights were, all about Oxford University and the city itself.
I really enjoyed following along with the lives of Otto, Beatrice, Dora and Marianne and I didn’t want the book to end, it could have continued on for another two hundred pages and I would have been happy!

intelligent page-turner filled with very well-written and real characters and a very strong sense of place and time. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

2025 is off to a very promising start in the historical fiction department. Joanna Miller's The Eights compels on so many levels and is a offers a believable historical setting peopled with characters you care about. It's very hard to put down.

1920 was the first year that women were admitted to Oxford University. Britain is shattered by the carnage of World War I and no one is immune from the horror. The four women who have rooms on corridor eight have made it through, and are excited at the opportunity to study on the same level as men. Of course, they face pages of social strictures that men do not, and nasty misogyny, and the contempt of many fellow students. but for each one of these women Oxford represents opportunities they cannot wait to grasp.

The academic rigor was in no way modified for women, who rarely had access to the kind of academic prep that men of their time did. The fact that so many women passed the entrance exams was a sign of their willingness to put in extra months of study in order to have this chance.

The daughter of a famous sufragette, six-foot-tall Beatrice has been mocked all her life for her size and plainness. Her greatest wish is to have friends but she is very shy about how to go about it. Dora lost her brother and fiance in the war and has decided that she will take their place at Oxford. Marianne is the quiet daughter of a vicar who has to go home every Sunday to help her father, losing precious study time. Lively flapper Ottoline is gifted in higher math, but hopes that Oxford will offer a bright social life that will help her overcome the nightmares from her wartime experiences. You will love all of them. Joanna Miller neatly weaves their stories around each other, leading a satisfying end.

The Eights is the best kind of historical fiction, with a finely created sense of place and time, peopled with characters who resonate. It's a pleasure to read and hard to put down.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy of The Eights in exchange for an honest review.