We have the pleasure to join in with other bloggers to reveal the book cover of Natalie Jenner’s upcoming historical fiction book, Bloomsbury Girls. It is a sequel to her international bestselling novel, The Jane Austen Society, and it sounds delightful. We think you’ll love the gorgeous artwork too.
Last year, we picked The Jane Austen Society as our first-ever Silver Petticoat Book Club selection because we loved the novel and wanted to help spread the word about the excellent book.
If you’ve yet to read the historical fiction novel, check out our review of The Jane Austen Society on why we love it so much (you can even listen to the book with Richard Armitage as a narrator!), read our interview with Natalie Jenner, and find out more about it in our original book club announcement. If you’ve read the novel, you can head on over to download our book club discussion questions.
Now, before we get to the book cover reveal, we have the official book description of Bloomsbury Girls, and it sounds delightful! The book releases on May 17, 2022, from St. Martin’s Press.
OFFICIAL BOOK DESCRIPTION – BLOOMSBURY GIRLS
“One bookshop. Fifty-one rules. Three women who break them all.”
The Internationally Bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world.
Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare bookstore 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 fiancé 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.
COVER REVEAL: BLOOMSBURY GIRLS
An old-fashioned bookstore with cameos from authors like Daphne Du Maurier? We are definitely all in and excited to find out what happens with Evie Stone and all the new characters.
Okay, so now that you know what the new book is all about, it is time to reveal the cover for Bloomsbury Girls! And it is beautiful with striking colors.
QUOTES FROM AUTHOR NATALIE JENNER ABOUT THE BOOK
“I never intended for Evie to be a major character in my debut novel, let alone inspire my second one, Bloomsbury Girls. But as time went on, I found I could not leave her behind in Chawton with the other society members.
And then one day I rewatched a favourite movie, 84 Charing Cross Road, and I remember thinking, there’s a whole other story in here still to be told, of an upstairs-downstairs motley crew of booksellers, and right away the figures came to life.
In addition to Evie, there’s a new character in Bloomsbury Girls who is also proving difficult to now leave behind: Vivien Lowry, a vivacious but temperamental female bookseller who wants the opportunities so easily granted her male counterpart, the socially aspiring and attractive Alec McDonough, whose heart is much softer than his head.”
RELATED: Top 15 of the Best Jane Austen Quotes About Love
“As with The Jane Austen Society, Bloomsbury Girls features multiple characters and storylines revolving around one very charming location: this time, the quintessential Dickensian-type bookshop.
In addition to Evie and Vivien, there is Grace Perkins, the secretary to the general manager who is an unhappily married working mother determined to make the best of her lot, the fastidious general manager whose entire life is contained within the four floors of the shop, the recent Indian immigrant and scientist who has had to settle for a position there, the wealthy earl whose family has owned the shop for one hundred years, the footloose and fancy free manager of the rare books department (where Evie will get the run of the place in his absence), and many more.”
If The Jane Austen Society was the book I wrote when I was coming out of sadness, Bloomsbury Girls was written when I was very happy, and I hope it provides a little cheer to readers during this difficult time.”
Natalie Jenner
“There are themes around agency, new beginnings, class and gender conflict, prejudice, the art and craft of writing and, of course, plenty of workplace romance!
A couple of characters from The Jane Austen Society make an appearance, as well as a few famous literary and society figures of the time. And, naturally, there is another literary treasure hunt going on, spearheaded yet again by young Evie Stone.”
“If The Jane Austen Society was the book I wrote when I was coming out of sadness, Bloomsbury Girls was written when I was very happy, and I hope it provides a little cheer to readers during this difficult time.”
AUTHOR BIO
Natalie Jenner is the author of two books, the instant international bestseller THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY and BLOOMSBURY GIRLS. A Goodreads Choice Award finalist for best debut novel and historical fiction, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, a career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.
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Bloomsbury Girls will be on sale May 17, 2022, but you can pre-order it now! For more information, head on over to the official page at St. Martin’s Press.
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Wow, bowled over by the kindness and thoughtfulness of this post – thank you both for your support of both my books. I truly cannot wait until you read it! Stay well!
You’re very welcome! We can’t wait to read it. 🙂 And we’re always happy to support authors we believe in! Thanks for including us in the cover reveal.
This post made me really happy. I loved The Jane Austen Society and am really excited to read more about Evie. I’ll be waiting impatiently for May 2022.
Yeah, I’m super excited to read the book. Evie was one of the best characters!