Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

 

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare book store that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager's unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans:

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiance was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances--most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she's been working to support the family following her husband's breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she's working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time--Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others--these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

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About The Author

 Natalie Jenner is the author of two books, the instant international bestseller THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY (2020) and the forthcoming BLOOMSBURY GIRLS (2022). A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction and finalist for best debut novel, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was named one of the best books of 2020 by Amazon, was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller, and has been sold for translation in twenty-one countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. To learn more, visit www.nataliejenner.com.

 

My Review

What a great read of perseverance, living in the rebuilding after WWII in England. We follow three spunky woman as they go about their lives, and each has ended up at the Bloomsbury Books!
The three woman are, Vivien, Grace and Evie, different, of course, but forging their way in a man’s world. Yes, they have to make the tea, for me it was coffee, but these woman are talented and gifted, and we walk in their shoes!
There are a lot of twists and turns, and some hard subjects are dealt with, the author does a great job with these.
We hobnob with some famous people, George Orwell, Daphne Du Maurier, Peggy Guggenheim, Samuel Beckett, and we are there to see the delightful part they play in this read! I loved it!
A read that quickly became a page turner, and I really wanted to continue on with their lives!
I received this book through Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press, and was not required to give a positive review.