*The Radio Hour* by Victoria Purman is a delightful and heartwarming novel that captures the quiet strength of an often-overlooked woman stepping into the spotlight. Martha Berry is an endearing protagonist, and her journey from invisible worker to unsung hero is both empowering and inspiring. Purman’s writing is sharp and engaging, filled with wit and warmth, while beautifully exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of workplace dynamics. The dynamic between Martha and the charmingly clueless Quentin Quinn adds both humor and tension to the narrative. This is a wonderfully uplifting read about finding your voice and claiming your rightful place in the world.

The Radio Hour by AUDIO by Victoria Purman is the kind of cozy book I love. It is not a mystery, nor is it a romance. It takes place in Australia after World War II. Immigrants are moving in and women are looking for more independence. The heroine, if you will, is one Miss Martha Berry, who has worked for twenty-four years as a secretary for the public radio station in Sydney. It is the age of radio, with serials, other sorts of drama, music, and so much more. The station is launching a new serial, primarily aimed at women, which will be fifteen minutes, five days a week, twice a day: midday and evening. They have hired a new writer/producer: Quentin Quinn. Quinn is so taken with his success that he doesn’t seem to realize that work has to be done. So, rather than see the whole thing go up in flames, Miss Berry hires the actors, and starts to write the scripts herself. Fortunately Mr Quinn arrives late every day and after a prolonged lunch is too “under the weather” to remember what he has written. It is an immediate hit.

Martha, growing tired of the man-led industry starts to insert some things, subtly, into the script that are women’s issues which are never spoken about. Instead of being outraged, the audience is thrilled and responds with letters of praise, often outlining their own issues. Martha is getting stronger by the day with these successes. She has been quiet and subservient for most of her fifty years and it is growing old. With support from cast members, she grows more bold. She is a wonderfully understated character. Thankfully, most women alive to day would have trouble identifying with her, although there are definite hints of #Metoo. It is a delightful listen, with interesting characters who harken back to those in the later years of radio. A nice bit of historical fiction.

The book is narrated by Jennifer Vuletic, who does a wonderful job voicing not only Martha, to perfection, but also the other characters. She does this without depending on ridiculous voices, but still keeps them real. She is a joy to listen to.

I was invited to listen to The Radio Hour by Harper Collins Focus. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollinsFocus # JenniferVuletic #VictoriaPurman #TheRadioHour

This had some interesting storylines, but kind of drug on too long. I enjoyed the historical aspects of it the most (women not being allowed to work after marriage in the 1950’s and people starting to notice that things needed to change). Easy, (mostly) light-hearted read.

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.

The narration is AMAZING on this one. The narrator transports the listener into Australia and their society. I was surprised by the range of voices and tones, even given the radio show with the various actors.

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 DLC. All opinions are my own.

This book was just okay for me. At first, I found myself bored and uninterested, but as the story progressed, it gradually grew on me. The highlight was definitely the narration—she did an excellent job bringing the cast of characters to life. While I’m not particularly interested in radio production, I did find learning about its history in Australia to be quite fascinating.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, and Harper Muse, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

Thank you to the publisher HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse as well as NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Starting this one off by saying Narrator Jennifer Vuletic is immensely talented and brought this novel to life from the beginning. Engaging, fun, and authentic voices filled each minute and helped build a strong image of the book in my mind as I listened.

Overall, I thought this was a great novel. I haven't read anything quite like it before and felt I actually learned a thing or two despite this being fiction. Prior to reading this book I hadn't heard much about Australia's golden years of radio broadcasting- this book was great insight in a creative way.

If you don't find yourself rooting for Martha by the end of this one, you probably just don't have a heart. Loved seeing her trajectory as a character and the many other characters who brought depth, fun, and warmth to the book. This was a treat to listen to and I will consider reading more by this author in the future.

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 do not know a lot about the history of radio, especially the history of radio in Australia, but I enjoyed reading about 50-year-old Martha Berry and her experiences working as a secretary for a man tasked with creating a new hit radio show.

I found myself drawn into the story and the characters, especially the female workers. However, I felt like the beginning was a bit too drawn out and repetitive. I was ready to move on and get to the main premise of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about women’s role in the broadcasting industry. The narrator was wonderful as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This started out slowly as Purman set the scene and described how radio worked in the 50s, which made me wonder if I would enjoy this, but once the story got going, with Martha’s work coming into focus, the story was fascinating. I loved getting to know Martha and the Calendar Girls and the way they dealt with the stereotypes of women in a male-dominated field (as almost all were at the time). There was some humor but this was mostly a serious story with serious situations that can and do still happen today. Martha’s character development is so well done and I loved the ending of the story. Don’t skip the notes at the end; it was interesting learning which stories were true.

This book was a delight to read. I picked it up after a particularly heavy read, and is was just the heartwarming book I needed.  Even in this day and age, most working women can identify with being overlooked or unseen in favor of a male counterpart. In 1950s Australia, women were still forced to quit work if they marry. At 50 years old, Martha Berry is still unmarried and works at the Australian Broadcasting Corp to support her widowed mother. Television hasn't quite taken off in Australia yet, so radio shows are the lifeline of entertainment. Martha is assigned as secretary to a new hire, Quentin Quinn, who is supposed to write and produce the new serial drama, As the Sun Sets. But Quentin is young and clueless. He knows nothing about producing a radio show, whereas Martha has worked in every department at the ABC. So, while Quentin disappears for long boozy lunches, Martha takes matters in hand and secretly starts writing a script and hiring actors. Quentin coolly takes the credit assuming he's a script writing genius when he's passed out drunk. As Martha starts gearing the script to the things that matter most to women, it becomes harder for Quintin to be believed.
I really enjoyed Martha as an older protagonist. She juggles work and caring for her mother, as she reflects on the things that have passed her by, such as marriage and children. She's been content to be overlooked until she realizes that her career is the one area where she can take charge and flourish. Her love of reading translates well into script writing, and she finds not only is she good at storytelling, but listeners connect with the characters she creates. The novel's other characters enhance the novel, too. I especially like how Martha mentors the young secretaries she works with, "the calendar girls," April, May, and June. As heartwarming as the novel is, it does touch on aspects of sexual harassment in the workplace, albeit in a very tactful way. Its inspiring to see Martha recognize her worth, find her voice, and turn the workplace upside down.

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 had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of this story. The Narrator, Jennifer Vuletic has a perfect voice for this 1950 story and truly brought the characters to life. Life was so different for women working in the 1950s than it is today and the story did a great job showing the roles of women in the workplace. I loved the character Martha and her relationship with the calendar girls. She is a wise and strong woman working in radio just before television takes over Australia. I enjoyed listening to As the Sun Sets clips just as listeners would have tuned into their radios to hear the episodes.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!

I adored this book. I really enjoyed learning more about the behind the scenes world of radio in 1950s Australia. Martha was such a likeable character and one who you cheered on throughout the story. I loved the supporting characters too like the Calendar Girls and Mrs. Tilly, as well as the radio stars. The villain bosses were villainous, but they got what they deserved in the end. This book reminded me a lot of the Chilbury Ladies' Choir and Jennifer Ryan's historical fiction-- and interesting backdrop and time in history with a cast of colorful, smart and headstrong women.

This book looks at the golden years of radio broadcasting in post-war Australia. Martha Berry is fifty years old, a spinster, and one of an army of polite and invisible women in 1956 Sydney who go to work each day and get things done without fuss, fanfare or reward. A long-time employee of the country's national broadcaster, she's assigned to work as a secretary on a brand-new radio serial.

This is the second book in a row I've read, or listened to in this case, that takes place in the 1950s although they're totally different locales and storylines but still a reminder of how strict things were in that decade. In Australia women weren't allowed to work after they got married, especially if they worked for the public broadcasting service which is funded by the government. Apparently that restriction was in place until 1966. I enjoyed getting to know the various characters and really liked how each chapter was introduced with the phrase, "Chapter #, in which ...." followed by a synopsis of what would follow. I loved Martha; she reminded me of some of my older co-workers at the start of my working years. Hearing how listeners became so involved in the lives of the actors reminded me of my friend's mother and her neighbours only they were watching television soap operas. Lots of topics covered that still resonate today.

The narrator, Jennifer Vuletic, did a good job with the different voices - characters of different ages, male and female - but I found her rendition of the older ladies, Martha's mother's friends, to be a bit on the screechy side.

My thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: February 4, 2025

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me Lessons in Chemistry vibes. Set in Sydney, Austrailia in 1956 at a the national broadcasting network. The main character is 50 year old, Martha Berry who has worked throughout the broadcasting company for several decades. Even though the book highlights how difficult it was for women to work in a safe enviroment during this era, its also the story of Martha's great success through her own hardwork and support of her group of friends! Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me to read this book!

I absolutely loved this book! Martha Berry our main character is a single woman of a certain age, (50) the age where a women in the 1950's begin to disappear and no one really notices them anymore. Martha is a secretary for radio broadcasting and has worked nearly half her life under the direction of men. This has suited her to a point, she has been told to smile politely and not complain even when she has been wronged or taken advantage of by her bosses. But Martha has received a new boss, Quentin Quinn a drunken ill equipped puppy who has no idea how to write, create and produce the new radio program he has been hired to produce: 'As The Sun Sets'. As weeks go by Martha becomes alarmed at how little writing Quentin is producing for the new program. Martha loves her job and the actors that have been hired to read the scripts. In order to save not only her job by theirs she secretly begins writing the scripts for the radio serial and passes them off as Quentins work. As the show becomes more and more popular and Quentins head swells alarmingly with the attention and celebrity he supposably has created, Martha starts to think what it would be like to take the credit she so justly deserves for creating such a popular and loved show. Martha must make a bold decision in order to be true to her new found self. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator Jennifer Vuletic was absolutely perfect for this story. Every character was a delight with her voice behind it. This book was one of my favorites so far this year. Very highly recommended. 5 solid stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for a chance to listen/read and ARC version of this wonderful book.

I absolutely loved this book until the last few chapters. It was like a cozy hug! Martha Berry is a wonderful character, and her adventures are engaging and feel true to the time. The snag for me came towards the end where it felt like things came together and tied up too neatly. I was rooting for a happy ending, don’t get me wrong, but it felt too pat. The audiobook narrator’s voice is excellent, I felt like it had just the right plummy old-timey tone to it.

Title: The Radio Hour
Author: Victoria Purman
Narrated by: Jennifer Vuletic
Publisher: Harper Muse
Length: Approximately 9 hours and 59 minutes
Source: Audiobook Review Copy from NetGalley. Physical book review copy from Harper Muse as part of the Austenprose Book Tour. Thank-you!

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!

• I loved listening to the audiobook version of this book. The narrator was wonderful, and she especially did a great job with the voices in the radio broadcasts.

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.

I thought this was superb! Thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook, narrated brilliantly by Jennifer Vuletic. I loved the whole concept, the characters and the sheer solidarity of the women. The story is lots of fun and also very representative of the zeitgeist. This is the first book I've read by Victoria Purman and I am really looking forward to sampling more of her work in future.

Good book! 3 stars. Martha reminds me of someone I know. I feel like we all have a Martha! I love that she is always fighting for all the women in her life. Times then were much different for women but she didn’t care. Great story!