Important and gorgeous, I learned so much in the company of the Eights – four of the first women to matriculate at Oxford – and loved every second of their company. A page turner but every line is a delight at the same time. Miranda Harte for Beatrice, please.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for an early Kindle copy of this delightful book.

The Eights by Joanna Miller is an excellent debut novel that follows four very different young women in 1920, the first year women could receive degrees at Oxford. Set in St. Hugh’s College, it explores their struggles with misogyny, activism, and the lingering shadows of World War I and the influenza pandemic. The characters are vividly drawn, their flaws and strengths making them very relatable, and the story balances their experiences almost equally. I was particularly impressed by the depth and realism of this novel and will follow Joanna Miller’s future work.

This is the story of four women who are brought together when they study at Oxford University in 1920. They are among the cohort of women who are the first to matriculate after years of women being denied the opportunity to study alongside men, a turning point in history which roughly coincided with women over 30 having the vote. They all live in corridor Eight of St Hughes, each from different backgrounds and education and come to be the best of friends, looking after and supporting each other through a tumultuous time. The recent War hangs over everything with no one in the novel unaffected by it through war work, trauma and loss and memories.

This isn't just about Oxford, it's about women and the lengths they go for each other and for themselves. It's about friendship and love and I fell in love with the four very easily.

It is witty, poignant, has a bit of a twist and is extremely well researched. It's also a really great read!
I loved this novel, already recommending it to several people.

I did so want to like this book - my granny was one of the Oxford pioneers, but it is so slow. I just could not get into it. There were so many stereotypes - the hearty women with their big shoes, not caring what they looked like and a downtrodden vicar's daughter. I am afraid I threw in the towel when 'Otto' - so brave, so strong etc - starting saying she would never complain about her menses again. Really? I feel that if this flummery had been cut and the plot had started sooner I may have enjoyed it as so many other reviews are more positive than mine.

The Eights follows four young women during their first year at Oxford University. Otto, Dora, Marianne and Beatrice are part of the first intake of women to the university in 1920, living on corridor eight of St Hugh’s College.
This book gave me a new appreciation for what those pioneering women had to go through – I foolishly imagined they’d be welcomed in the name of progress, but instead they faced misogyny in various forms, from being the victims of embarrassing pranks to outright discrimination from some of the male professors. It was fascinating to 'see' Oxford in a different time, and the book was heavily rooted in the aftermath of WW1.
Otto was my favourite character – glamorous, forthright and witty. I enjoyed the structure too – the flashbacks meant the reader gradually learned more about each woman’s secrets, and what had led them to the university. Such a lovely ending too, I was so pleased for Marianne!
Thank you to Penguin Fig Tree and NetGalley for the advance copy.

As someone who lived in Oxford, I loved delving into this book. The characters felt like friends by the end of it, which says a lot about the author’s characterisation skills. The plot was well paced and I found the whole experience of reading it a joy.

The Eights is a poignant and deeply compelling debut set against the backdrop of post-World War I Oxford, where the university first admits female students. The novel centers on four young women—Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne—whose diverse backgrounds and dreams intertwine as they navigate the challenges of higher education, societal expectations, and personal struggles in a turbulent time. With themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the pursuit of self-determination, Miller crafts a rich narrative exploring the complexities of friendship and the quest for independence in an era still marked by the scars of war and entrenched misogyny. The characters are wonderfully realized, each grappling with their own secrets and aspirations, making their journey of growth and solidarity both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The Eights is an evocative, insightful tale that beautifully captures the spirit of young women forging their own paths in a world on the brink of transformation.

A wonderful, warm and joyful debut. I loved Miller's writing style and I thought the sense of setting - 1920's Oxford - was well executed. Engaging and thoroughly researched, I would not hesitate to recommend this as a warming winter read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review

Joanna Miller's debut novel, set in 1920s Oxford, takes us on a journey through a time when the university first welcomed women.

We meet four young ladies - Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne - who become close friends as they tackle this new world together. Each has her own past, dreams, and worries.

Dora, mourning her brother and fiancé lost in the war, finds herself at Oxford almost accidentally. Beatrice, the daughter of a suffragette, wants to make a name for herself. Otto, good with numbers, wrestles with her memories of being a war nurse. And Marianne hides a secret that could ruin her future.

The story's setting is beautifully painted. Miller's vivid descriptions of Oxford's grand buildings stand tall against the characters' heavy emotions. The air buzzes with both thrill and stress. These women are trailblazers in education and equality, but they also face society's judgments and personal battles.

Themes of friendship, courage, and self-discovery run through the book, showing how their bond helps them face their fears and what society expects of them.

Miller writes in a way that's easy to read and pulls you in, mixing historical facts with stories about the characters. She deeply explores each character's feelings, helping readers connect with their lives. Sometimes, the story might feel slow because Miller spends a lot of time building the world, but this helps us understand the characters and their complicated lives better.

Some might say that a few characters seem similar at first, but as we learn more about them, we see how different they are. Their stories touch on important issues like gender equality and making your own choices that we still deal with today.

This book shows an important time in women's history and celebrates friendship during hard times. It's a great read for anyone who likes stories about strong women making their way in the world.

Transporting you back to 1920, 'The Eights' follows four young women amongst those first allowed to matriculate at Oxford University. Otto, Beatrice, Marianne and Dora all share their perspectives and struggles with University and how to navigate the post war world.

Initially, I really could not get into this story. I found some of the historical language and descriptions quite overwhelming and hard to follow as the books jumps all over the place in terms of who is narrating. Up until the half way point I also got very confused with who was who as I feel not much of their personal lives had been revealed. However, the second half of this book I loved and flew through it really quickly - hence why I haven't given this too low of a rating. Although I didn't particularly enjoy the beginning of this, I think it set up the second half nicely and I felt truly immersed in the characters by this point.

I haven't read any other books set around this time period as I am not so interested in war related stories but the war was merely a backdrop in this story not a main plot point. Something a little out of my comfort zone but I did enjoy it and this is a reason why I will never not finish a book !!!

Thank you to Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business Fig Tree, and NetGalley for this arc !!

**All opinions are my own !!**

The Eights is a novel full of warmth and humour, with strong female friendship. Immersive historical facts are mixed with fiction in a 1920s Oxford setting.

At a pivotal point in the rights of women, we meet Otto, Dora, Beatrice and Marianne, all determined, for their own reasons, to be the first women to gain a degree from Oxford. Facing strict rules of conduct, which Otto is brilliant at bending; hostility from men and navigating a postwar, depleted England, we watch each woman blossom as they find strength and a sense of belonging and validation from their new friendships. I was eager to follow the unfolding lives of each woman, wanting to get to know each better, and author Joanna Miller kept me reading late into the night as I bonded with these thoughtful, funny, strong, intelligent 'Eights'.

Joanna Miller’s debut, The Eights, is a captivating and beautifully written piece of historical fiction that immerses readers in a pivotal yet underexplored moment in history. Set against the backdrop of post-World War I Oxford in 1920, the book follows the lives of four remarkable women—Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—among the first to matriculate at the historically all-male university.

Miller’s meticulous research brings this lesser-known chapter of history vividly to life. The richly detailed portrayal of Oxford’s dreaming spires juxtaposed with the lingering shadows of war creates a compelling atmosphere. Through the eyes of The Eights, readers witness the struggles of trailblazing women navigating entrenched misogyny, lingering PTSD from wartime experiences, and the societal double standards of the era.

Each character is uniquely drawn and feels utterly real. Beatrice, the politically charged daughter of a suffragette, longs to carve her path; Dora, grieving the loss of her brother and fiancé, finds herself at Oxford in their stead; Otto, a former nurse, seeks solace and distraction from her haunting memories; and Marianne, the reserved pastor’s daughter, conceals a shocking secret that threatens her success. Their bond, forged through shared challenges and triumphs, is at the heart of this story, illustrating the enduring power of friendship and solidarity.

Miller’s storytelling is effortlessly engaging, balancing moments of heartbreak with resilience and hope. The issues faced by these women—gender inequality, grief, and societal expectations—resonate powerfully, underscoring their relevance even a century later.

This is historical fiction at its finest, offering a meticulously researched narrative. From the first page to the last, I was utterly hooked and deeply invested in the lives of these four extraordinary women. The Eights is a triumph, blending history, emotion, and inspiration into a story that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Enjoyed this evocative debut and felt completely swept up in the era. Loved how authentic it felt. Such a striking cover too.

It's 1920 and Beatrice Sparks has big shoes to fill: the ambitions of her suffragette mother for her only child and her father's expectations to fulfill them. Marianne is a timid rector's daughter, Ottoline, an ex army volunteer, is confident and sophisticated and Dora, who is grieving for her brother lost in the First World War as she imagines how married life with her beau, Charles, might have been had he not (allegedly) died in the Battle of Cambrai (1917).

The novel is essentially an assemblage of characters' personal impressions of the unfamiliar life and environment they find themselves in. There is no sense of significant action, plot or story arc. The narrative comes across as dispassionate as though the author is writing out of a sense of obligation, without any real enthusiasm for her subject.

Miller spends considerable time introducing her main characters, their background and personal circumstances. They are the first cohort of female students to enter the academic arena of Oxford University. As a group, the four girls are referred to as the Eights, because their rooms are located on Corridor Eight of their halls of residence. After the characters' personal details (none of whom are particularly likeable), the reader's wait for anything like action continues (and is never wholly satisfied) while Miller describes the architecture and interior design of the colleges the girls will frequent in their first year. She relates the students' early morning routines and their uninspiring meals at dinner time. It is only two years after the end of the War so, arguably, there are likely to still be shortages of certain foods and goods.

The constant yo-yoing back and forth between the girls' present and past lives is discombobulating, unsettling and clumsily executed. The pagination is a mess and frequently it feels as if there is content missing. Hopefully this will be put right before the final publication. As a sucker for academic-related stories and a fan of historical fiction I tried really hard to find something appealing about this novel, but ultimately it falls short of my hopes and expectations. Sorry, not for me, but I do hope other readers will find more to enjoy.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

Behold... One of my favourite books of all time!

The Eights is a recipe for everything that I love in a novel. An Oxford setting, strong female friendship, historical facts mixed with fiction and incredible writing to power the story through.

The characters of Beatrice, Marianne, Dora and Otto have a Little Women-esque feel about them and I am DESPERATE to read more from them. They complemented one another perfectly and I loved how each of the women had such different attributes. Otto made me laugh on several occasions!

A powerful and beautiful story that I can't wait to see reach readers when it's published.

I loved this eminently readable literary tale about a group of four young women at Oxford University who were the first to be admitted to degree programs in 1920.
The descriptions are evocative and the period felt fresh and real to read. Strong characterisation and a compelling story with an insightful and immpactful view on this pivotal period of time, with the shadows of world war one haunting the world. This is literary but also a propulsive and highly readable book. The underlying themes of misogyny and friendship are well handled and its a satisfying read. Perfection. I'm a fan and can't wait to see what Miller does next.

This is a great novel and I learned a lot about these women who couldn't study at Oxford. Fancy being told you can't attend university because you're a woman. it shows just how women were viewed and this is onlyi the 1920s which is scary. We've come so far yet still have far to go. It really made me think reading this. Would love to see this on the TV!

A joyful, interesting read with some gorgeous historical detail. This made me want to go to Oxford immediately

The Eights is a story of female struggles, friendship and loss centered around the lives of a group of women studying at Oxford Uni in the 1920s

While based in fact the story is a fiction and follows the lives of Otto, Dora, Beatrice and Marianne as they negotiate being among the first women to study at Oxford and a new post war world. All have their own interesting backstory which feeds into their university experience and their friendship.

I really enjoyed this. The four main characters, while each very different, were all engaging and personable and I found the history of Oxford Uni and female education there so interesting.

The narrative is threaded through with genuine excerpts from newspapers and University rules and I felt that really added to the story.

Well written and researched so you not only get a real feel for Oxford at the time but also the attitudes towards women and the emotions of a country as it struggles to free itself from the nightmare of war

Obviously, when I read the premise of The Eights – a novel set in Oxford in the early 20s, focusing on a group of four young women who will be the first to graduate with degrees – I immediately pounced on it. This literally sounds like a book made for me. I love reading about the 20s, academia, Oxford in the interwar period, early feminism, the First World War... I could go on.

To be honest it took me a little while to get into The Eights and there were a few things I wasn't keen on: the prose was a bit too jaunty and at times I almost felt like I could see the author's thinking, that historical references and emotional turning points were shoehorned into the story without feeling entirely natural. I was also sometimes a bit overwhelmed with the four POVs, which makes sense because they're all similar on the surface, and it took me longer than I would like to really get the characters.

But the story went on, my issues with the book were quietened and I ended up definitely enjoying it. It's full of lots of wonderful historical detail, and comes across as so impressively researched and such a convincing portrayal of what Oxford was like for women students in the 20s. I liked the characters and I liked reading about their dilemmas, too; the First World War hangs heavily over them, and I thought that was important and skilfully done. By the end of the book, I actually felt that I would be keen to read a sequel: because of the multiple POVs, I think this is the sort of story that would definitely benefit from readers really getting to know the characters and seeing how their lives unfold.

So I was hoping I'd love this one and I didn't but I would still recommend.