3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story of a group of women attending Oxford university together following the First World War. These women dealt with all of the misogyny they encountered from teachers to fellow students, and even their families. There was so much trauma following the devastation and death from the war & this book brought that to foreground. I appreciated how these women kept their spirits high and they bond to each other tight as they navigated a new world while discovering who they each wanted to be.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

This novel kept me engaged in the stories of the women who first got into Oxford. The women were from different backgrounds which helped to keep the story interesting. I enjoyed the insight into Oxford and how it operated in the 1920s. The women had a lot to prove and faced a lot of hurdles to keep up with what Oxford expected.

The aftermath of WW1 was also prevalent in their stories, grief and societal norms. Women did a lot of jobs during the war and then suddenly had no jobs and it added to them feeling unimportant. I applaud their bravery at being the first women to matriculate. The friendships that formed were what made the novel flow.

This was a wonderful historical fiction with a topic I was not familiar. I am glad I read the novel and thank Netgalley for the chance to review the book.

Oxford 1920 when the first women were allowed to enter. The women had quite a few very strict restrictions on them - their dress, where they could go, who they could talk to, and especially being around the men. These women were fictional characters not based on the real women who were the first to attend Oxford. I would have preferred something based on the real women who first entered Oxford.

The characters all had background stories that were slowly unfolded in the book, which were more interesting than the actual storyline.

I got a flavor of that time period and the bravery of these intelligent women facing a lot of restrictions on their lives. Overall I felt the book was too slow and I was hoping for more to happen.

My thanks to Net Galley and GP Putnam Sons for an advanced copy of this e-book.

I had learned about this novel long before it was published and knew that I wanted to read it. I was absolutely thrilled to be given an advance e-galley.

I could not wait to sit down and begin this novel. I went on to savor this one and find it easy to give it an excellent review.

WWI led to devastation and a reorganization of British society. Many men died; many women were unlikely to marry. Social changes came as with the suffrage movement and (finally) the admittance of women to Oxford degrees. (Prior to this, women could attend but would not formally graduate).

This engrossing historical novel follows four women from this time period who were known as "the eights" because of the corridor that they lived on at their Oxford College. Readers meet Beatrice, Marianne, Otto, and Dora. Each has their own history and backstory.

Beatrice is the daughter of a very politically active mother who was an absent parent. Readers learn that it was difficult for Beatrice to confide in her mother. Beatrice s studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics).

Marianne is a cleric's daughter. It is clear that she is hiding something. Marianne is also less financially well off than some of her peers.

Otto is part of a family with socialite sisters. Her parents would like her to marry. Otto is studying Mathematics.

Dora has had two major losses from the war. Both her brother and fiance died. These men would have been at Oxford had they lived. Dora feels that she is there in their place. Dora is studying English.

The world of Oxford in this time period is engagingly portrayed through many characters in addition to these four. I cam to care very deeply for the eights and did not want the book to end. It is my sincere hope that Miller is penning her next novel even as I write this.

Note that there is a helpful glossary at the back of the book for those who are unfamiliar with British higher education.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this title. All opinions are my own.

An impressive and captivating debut featuring a long-ago period in history yet chronicling events that are still relevant today
An engaging story featuring characters whose struggles & emotions were real & relatable.
Some unexpected twists too!

With thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this e-ARC.

A solid 4 stars

The Eights by Joanna Miller is a historical fiction novel centered around 1920-1921 at the University of Oxford. "The Eights" are Dora, Beatrice, Marianne, and Otto - part of the first class of women allowed to be admitted at Oxford. The four women have very different backgrounds but come together as their friendships form despite their struggles with school, personal relationships, and the aftermath of World War I.

I loved how accurate this felt, without coming across as try-hard. The misogyny and hardships the women dealt with felt very real. The academia world seems so exhausting to me, especially at a prestigious institution such as Oxford. I've dealt with misogyny as an engineering undergrad and can't even imagine dealing with this over 100 years ago. I appreciated that the author included notes and a glossary at the end, since some of the British-isms were lost on me.

What a beautiful debut novel from Joanna Miller, I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.

Recommended for those who love historical fiction books about friendship, academia, and perseverance; and especially recommended for women everywhere.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

Four female students: Dora, Marianne, Bea and Otto are finally able to attend the prestige Oxford University in 1920. However, the aftermath of the First World War, family ties and secrets as well as living in a still male dominated world. These four strangers-turned-friends quickly learn to rely on each other when they are all they have.

THE EIGHTS takes readers back to Oxford in 1920, where everyone is still coping with the aftermath of World War I. For the first time ever, the world-famous university is accepting women as students—not only to study at the institution, but also to be awarded their degrees, despite the misogyny that still runs rampant among some of the students and faculty. The story follows four very different young women over the course of the transformative 1920-1 school year; they all live together on Corridor Eight, soon earning them the nickname "The Eights."

Outspoken and politically-minded Beatrice is the daughter of a famous suffragette, and she sees Oxford as the chance to pave her own path, in terms of academics, career, and social life. Glamorous and lively Otto looks forward to balancing her socialite lifestyle with her pursuit of a math degree, yet she can't shake the trauma she endured working as a nurse during the war. Practical and organized Dora never intended to go to university, but after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, she's attending Oxford in their place. And finally, reserved and intelligent Marianne, the daughter of a village pastor, who fears she won't last at Oxford—but she just might, as long as she keeps her biggest secret from everyone around her. Can the group's newfound friendship survive this tumultuous, transformative time in history?

This was a wonderful read! I think even readers who don't usually gravitate towards historical fiction will find something to enjoy here. I was quickly immersed in the world of these remarkable women, and so enjoyed following their journey. While some of the characters may seem stereotypical on the surface initially, like archetypes of students you might encounter in a story about college (i.e. the academic one, the social butterfly, etc.), there is much more to them than meets the eye. They are all richly and vividly drawn, each with their own unique voices and stories to tell! I particularly liked the choice of using multiple third-person POVs, with flashbacks interspersed throughout to add even more depth to these characters. In general, I just appreciated how character-driven this story is. Readers truly get to see The Eights "come of age," learn more about themselves and each other, and forge an unlikely yet enduring friendship during an important moment in time. Joanna Miller also does an amazing job of bringing the setting to life—I got a real sense of time and place from start to finish, and the story is so well-researched, full of fascinating details. Overall, THE EIGHTS was a thoughtful, compelling debut that I would definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

The Eights features four women who are among the first female students to matriculate at Oxford. The four women have different backgrounds and past trauma, and it was interesting to read about each of their experiences. On the flip side, four perspectives is a lot to track, and I found myself getting a bit disconnected with the storylines jumping around.

It's clear that Joanna Miller did significant research for this novel, and I appreciate her ability to weave in factual information. I learned a lot about a piece of history I previously knew little about.

Set in 1920s England at the conclusion of World War I and when Agatha Christie had published her first serialized novel, Miller focuses on the first women who are officially admitted to Oxford University. The four rooms on Corridor Eight are accounted for -- Six foot tall Beatrice Sparks concludes that she resembles a "rotund Tudor courtier in a Hans Holbein portrait" sporting the required square cap and commoners’ gown that have been worn by students for four hundred years. Beatrice’s mother, Edith Sparks, is a disciple of Sylvia Pankhurst, a militant suffragette, a woman of considerable renown who believes in equality for women in education. Beatrice, an only child, is dismissed by her powerful mother, but she adapts some of her mother’s liberal teachings, talking with her classmates about things “modern women” should discuss, like contraception. Marianne Grey is the daughter of a pastor whose precarious finances cause her to envision a life teaching Sunday school and composing the parish newsletter for her father. She must depart on weekends to tend to her father who is unwell. Theodora “Dora” Greenwood is at Oxford only because both her brother and her fiancé did not survive the war. If they had, Dora, of excellent posture and neatness personified, believes that she would “likely be spending her days pouring tea, playing whist, or being paraded at church.” Lastly, is the spirited Ottoline “Otto” Wallace Kerr whose mother is furious that she refused a proposal and whose father does not take her studies seriously, although she is the rare woman pursuing a mathematics degree.

Although the undergraduate body consists of over five hundred women (and four thousand men), the women are mocked and derided for wanting to learn. Women lack the full rights of men; they cannot participate in decisions at the highest level, and many clubs and publications are closed to them. Further, the women are constrained by the strict Intercollegiate Rules for Women Undergraduates. As Dora remarked, "if we want to do anything remotely exciting, we have to get permission and pay for a chaperone." Yet, this foursome persevere in the face of male disrespect and in the aftermath of a world changed by the Great War.

Although Miller has written an historical novel, many of these women’s grievances are still present a century later. Woman may be able to vote, but they continue to be deprived of equal opportunities and equal pay. Miller has written a novel that brilliantly melds fiction with fact. The character driven narrative is engaging and charming, and the prose is lyrical as one would expect from a distinguished poet. Thank you Penguin Group and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this rewarding novel.

Women know well the uncomfortable experience of being the sole woman in a hostile environment. Women also know well the validating experience of being surrounded by women who lift you up and support you during the good and bad times. Miller has written a universal story centering on four women (the "Eights") who are so bold as to choose to join the inaugural graduating class at Oxford in 1920. The women's varied experiences pre, during and post-WWI are still fresh and underly their determined efforts to become educated and independent women in a society that values neither unless you are a man. Highly recommended to lovers of literary fiction and historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and PenguinGroup Putnam.

“The Eights,” by Joanna Miller, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 384 pages, April 15, 2025.

It is 1920 and for the first time, female students are admitted to Oxford University. Four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. They are known as The Eights.

Beatrice Sparks is the daughter of a suffragette. Marianne Grey is a vicar’s daughter. Ottoline Wallace-Kerr, called Otto, was a nurse during World War I. Theodora Greenwood, who goes by Dora, lost both her brother, George, and her fiancé, Charles, in the war.

As they arrive for their first day, the woman are subjected to nasty remarks by male students, and numerous restrictions imposed by the university. The accommodations are subpar and often the lecturers are misogynists.

There are flashbacks to their lives before the university. They each had a traumatic event in their past. The narrative jumps around so at times it is difficult to keep straight which person is which. The slow pacing is an obstacle to finishing the book.

I rate it three out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Eights is about 4 women in the group to first matriculate at Oxford. I wish I had liked this book more because the setting, history and topic is so interesting. But, I just couldn’t connect with this book. I felt that there was too much meandering between characters and story lines and nothing that really drew me in. The most engaging parts were when the author wrote about the women in connection to what they were studying and their individual passion (or lack thereof) for their chosen subjects. And, while I am used to reading books with a non-linear timeline, I wonder if the 4 background chapters about each woman might have been better placed in the beginning of the book so it gave more foundation to each character. There are some things that happened that didn’t really add to the story (especially about Beatrice and the suffragette rally) that I wasn’t sure why they were in the book. And, all 4 women have either awful, absent or deceased mothers. Not sure why that would be.
I believe I am in the minority about my feelings about this book as other people have written great reviews. Sometimes, a reader and a book just don’t click and I think that is the case here. But, having said all that, it’s an okay book with some interesting facts and perspectives on what it was like in England and at Oxford after World War One. It’s worth a read for that reason and maybe you will like it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing a free advance copy e-book for me to read and review.

The Eights by Joanna Miller is a captivating novel!
A well written story that was so hard to put down.
I loved everything about this novel!

Definitely a read for lovers of literary and historical fiction.

I do love the plot of this story- it follows 4 women who live in the same dorm at Oxford University in 1920 (when Oxford first allowed women to enroll) and are referred to as “The Eights”. They have startlingly different backgrounds and personalities, and over the course of their time at Oxford their friendships forge into something reliable and sound.

As much as I love the concept and story, I really struggled with this book. The first half was very very slow. I frequently found myself zoning out WHILE reading, which does not happen often for me. That being said- this could potentially be attributed to the time period it is set in. It is also a very literary piece of writing. Very descriptive, thorough, and formal. Fortunately, the ending did redeem it a little and draw my interest back in. I chuckled and smiled at the way it came together so wholesomely. Happy publishing day!!

Thank you NetGalley & Putnam for the eARC!

A not-to-be-missed women’s historical fiction based on the first female undergraduates allowed to matriculate to Oxford University post-World War I. Coming from disparate backgrounds, four women find themselves sharing the same 4-room corridor at St. Hugh’s College in 1920. As they live in Corridor 8, they come to call themselves The Eights and form a tighter collective friendship than any of them could have imagined.

There’s wealthy socialite Otto Wallace-Kerr, the youngest of four sisters, who comes to Oxford to spite her controlling mother who would rather she just marry and cares not a whit about Otto’s mathematical prowess. Beatrice Sparks, the only daughter of a famous women’s suffragette leader, towers at 6 feet tall and fights her sense of both insecurity and unworthiness as a result of her mother’s constant disparagement and neglect. Beautiful Dora Greenwood has come in lieu of a place meant for her brother, who died during the war two weeks after Dora’s fiancé, who she met during his officer training in her hometown. Dora still grieves their loss and feels not academic enough to have deserved a spot at Oxford. Kind-hearted Marianne Grey has come to Oxford on scholarship, which she needs to continue to afford to attend, and goes home every other weekend to help care for her ailing, widowed Rector father.

The pervasive misogyny at Oxford, with many men hostile to the admittance of women, pervades their campus experiences, academic work, and feelings of worth. The women feel both a powerful need to be the best they can be to show women worthy of attending, while also feeling socially curtailed by the strict separation of sexes imposed. Even their college caps and gowns sag in comparison to the smart outfits of the men. But their collective spirit and constant ability to find fun wins the day.

They also confront deeply held secrets, many from the war time, which only draws them closer together. The specter of World War I lingers poignantly over all – from injuries sustained from the undergraduate men who fought as soldiers, the family losses to war, war-time romances, and harrowing memories by the women who worked with the injured in war time London.

The very best one can hope from women’s historical fiction, and based mostly on real events and stories, you feel as if you for the first time truly understand a historical era. I also felt flooded with gratitude for the many unsung heroines who broke down gender barriers that so dramatically benefitted generations of women who followed them.

Thanks to Penguin Group, Putnam, and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

The Eights by Joanna Miller ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This character-driven novel focused on female friendships and breaking barriers. I wanted to love this one, but for me, it was a little bit too slow and the characters felt a little too stereotypical and merged with one another.

I loved the mixed media aspects and seeing some of the rules that the women had to follow highlighted the barriers placed on women just to learn. I also enjoyed the post-war world Miller crafted and found it added depth and empathy to those that served, survived, or never returned, and how that affected others.

Fans of historical fiction with meticulous research, strong female bonds, and books about academia may enjoy this one.

This book has everything that I enjoy in a good historical fiction:

1. It’s set in a time that I know very little about.
2. There is a unique point of view. In this case focusing on the women attending Oxford instead of the more common topic of the Pretty Little Things. Also, as someone who has read a Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, her inclusion in this story was perfect and not overpowering.
3. It is incredibly well researched. This is obviously a topic the author is passionate about.
4. There are interesting characters who are both familiar due to their complex humanity and foreign due to the fact that they are rooted in their time.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an early copy.

The Eights by Joanna Miller is a slow-paced historical novel about love, loss, and the people we can become when given the space and the sunlight to grow. Dora, Marianne, Otto, and Beatrice are four of the first young women to matriculate at Oxford. Living side-by-side in corridor eight for their first year as Oxford students, the four women who start off as strangers quickly become a family.

Taking place in the shadow of World War I, The Eights does not shy away from the horrors of history. There is not a scene in the book that is not shaped by the events of the era, whether that be the Great War, the Spanish influenza epidemic, the fight for women’s suffrage, or something else. Nothing is sugar coated or misremembered as fun; every character we meet carries a scar, physical or emotional or both.

I do wish that more of the character growth had happened on page — for Dora and Marianne in particular, it feels as though they disappear and don’t return until they have completed their arc off-page. I also wish we had seen more of the girls as friends; so many of their scenes feel like they are just recapping instead of showing us the actual happenings.

That said, I enjoyed the writing itself quite a bit. I thought the descriptions were lovely, and it was clear that a lot of research and a lot of love went into this story. There was a lot of compassion for all of the characters, and I’m so happy that it ended with hope for the future. I wish the stakes had felt higher throughout the book, but all in all, I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I feel like I learned a lot about the first four women who attended Oxford. This book is very informative, but also has a good storyline that keeps you rooting for these characters.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.