The Eights follows, slightly confusingly, four young women who are among the first to matriculate at Oxford University. They are known as The Eights because they all room in corridor eight and they quickly become inseparable despite being very different. Over the course of the novel we see how they settle into Oxford life, cope with the aftermath of the war (this is 1920) and reveal their secrets.

So far, so predictable, and in some ways this novel doesn't do anything new, but I still found it engrossing and charming. The girls are all very likeable and I was invested in their stories. I enjoyed the way we followed first one and then another and got flashes of their backstories. I also liked learning what it was like at Oxford when the first female students arrived and what they had to put up with from the men, both fellow students and lecturers.

I read this in two days and I'd have been happy to spend longer with the girls. Overall this was fun, interesting, emotional and satisfying and I'm happy I read it. Recommended for historical fiction fans who aren't looking for anything too radical.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

For many of us, we can resonate with the exciting, yet uneasy feeling of leaving home and beginning a new chapter. Starting university is one of the many potential possibilities. The Eights captures the thoughts and experiences of four young female students who are starting an education at Oxford University, a prestigious university that has just opened its doors to female students. When I say "opened", I mean left a little crack in the door. Obstacles such as misogyny, specific gender rules, the wide spreading post Great War impacts, influenza and more are mountains that these female students had to overcome. At this time in history, society, especially those less enthusiastic about female students, was consistently looking for excuses to close those doors.

Miller's characters are interesting and diverse, each bringing something different to Corridor Eight. They come from various backgrounds and have their specific individual experiences which keep this story endearing, edgy and exciting. It also highlights how first impressions can be misleading, and it really was wonderful getting to see how Marianne, Beatrice, Otto and Dora reveal more and more about themselves as you turn the pages. Historical Fiction continues to provide an opportunity to learn more about a time in history that you may or may not know much about. The first set of female students at Oxford University was something I knew very little about and really appreciated the chance to do so, especially through the eyes of these women. How brave!

Thank you to Penguin General UK for the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own. May we all continue to celebrate females striving to learn more and make great impacts in our world, as well as those who encourage them!

This is the fictional story of 4 women who are amongst the first to matriculate at Oxford University. Four very different characters from very different backgrounds, some who struggled more to get there than others. It's very much a story of the prejudice women had to put up with in an era when most men didn't believe that women were capable of going to university and that it would ruin their beloved institution.
It's very hard to write a story where there are four main characters and, by and large, Miller pulls this off. We're starting to see a lot of novels which are about strong women who climb the many barriers put up by men in the late nineteenth, early twentieth century. This is great, these stories need to be told and this book does it pretty well. My main gripe is the 'jolly hockey sticks' narrative which starts to grate after a while. I get that tone in the dialogue, that would have been a fairly accurate depiction of the way those women spoke, but it goes just a bit too far by using that tone throughout the book.
The story takes us to the end of the first year of their degree. I wonder if we'll be looking at a follow up, or two...

Women should not be allowed to go to Oxford University, or write novels on the subject - because they’re too darned good at it. @joannamillerauthor’s debut, ‘The Eights’ coming this April, has stirred a very unbecoming excess of emotion, unbalanced and overheated my brain, and made me fall utterly, eternally in love with its four heroines: Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto (in order of appearance not esteem - I cannot decide who I love most). [PR Copy]

Set in Oxford in 1920-1, ‘The Eights’ is a fictionalised account of four of the first women to matriculate as full students able to take degrees.

The women’s academic ambitions and the barriers they face, including their own sense of self-doubt and guilt, are wholly convincing, inspiring, and relatable. Their position as women finding their own way in a world very different from that of their mothers is powerful and poignant. The profound aftershocks of the Great War are heartbreaking (much blubbing on my part), but the green shoots of hope were as uplifting as a hot air balloon ride (also much grinning, and happy blubbing on my part).

Sense of place is spot on, and period details were perfect without ever overwhelming the characters at the story’s heart.

Oxford has been the setting for 8.8 million novels over the past two centuries (official made up stats), but this miraculously offers a fresh, clear-eyed and modern perspective while retaining magic and charm. It’s pure Brideshead era - a city of aquatint - but shows one of the many other sides of the city and the university. It also contains fascinating insights into women’s work and lived experience during the war, plus the suffrage movement and manages not to feel preachy.

I will probably spend the next few weeks harvesting copies of Vera Brittain and Robert Graves from secondhand shops. When I’ve finished the essay I’m meant to be writing as a current student at the university, in honour of the Eights. Obviously.

Brava Joanna - can’t wait to read it again in hard copy! Thanks to @penguinfigtree and @netgalley for the advanced copy.

This was a very enjoyable and engaging read. I loved the characters and setting and also found learning about the history of women at Oxford fascinating. This is a well researched and well constructed book I would recommend. Would make a great film!

WOW what a read I absolutely adored it (& it firmly has a place in my top 10 of 2025!)

We meet Beatrice, Marianne, Dora & Ottoline, four young women from very different backgrounds who are among the first women to matriculate for degrees at Oxford University in 1920. They become friends quite quickly as they share the same corridor (eight) even though they have different life experiences to date. Beatrice is the daughter of a famous suffragette who is looking forward to life away from her mother & the chance to make her own way & her own friends. Dora lost both her brother and fiance on the battlefield and in essence is taking his place. Marianne is the daughter of a vicar who hides the biggest secret & Ottoline, the socialite who likes the finer things in life.

I loved the storylines of life, the battles they had to overcome with hostile professors & male students, the fun and friendship. It's meticulously researched and so, so readable. I so recommend it.

In 1920, Oxford University allows women to matriculate and graduate for the first time. Amongst that cohort are Dora, Beatrice, Otto, and Marianne, all rooming on corridor eight at St Hugh’s college.

The rules are extensive, especially compared to those for their male contemporaries, and the women face both constant supervision and extreme public scrutiny.

At the same time, they are all struggling with trauma and insecurities. Otto is a socialite with an overbearing mother and older sisters, Beatrice lives in the shadow of her uncaring suffragist mother, Dora is mourning both her brother and her fiancé, and Marianne has a secret that haunts her Oxford life.

As they wrestle with the scholarly demands, rigid rules, misogynism, and gender expectations, the girls only have each other to help them choose the lives they really want.

A poignant insight into women’s gradual and hard-won integration into Oxford University.

A line in the Afterword says it all: Readers might like to know that St Hugh’s admitted men for the first time in 1986, its centenary year. I understand they were welcomed with open arms.

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.