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Very good. Enjoyed the suspense and the build up to the conclusion. Loved getting to know all the characters and their stories. Rich in details which makes you feel part of the story. Also loved how the house is a character all of its own which gives it an extra layer. Thank you #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for the free copy.

@HarperCollins

To anyone who found this book slow at first, and wondered where in the heck it was going- you‘re not alone.I‘m so glad I stuck with it, as it‘s now up there as one of my favorites. Many of the characters will live in my heart forever. I could not put this book down once I reached the halfway point. As a bonus, the story contains recipes, many of which I plan on trying. I highly recommend this book!!

September reading wrap up from Storygraph. I had a funky reading slump in the middle of the month, but I came back strong at the end to finish 2 books right before the cutoff. I didn‘t read anything spectacular, but I did enjoy Kate Quinn‘s new historical fiction The Briar Club and Mythology by Edith Hamilton (on my TBR for too long to count!).

Post-Covid Kate Quinn wanted to write a book with greater hope than her usual HF, and this 1950s story of various-aged and background women boarding in house in the Foggy Bottoms area of DC was the result. It is different than her usual fare and gave me Elizabeth Gilbert City of Girls vibes. She infused each woman with a history highlighting what 1950s was to women, and I found it very interesting.

Despite the romanticized atmosphere of the television miniseries, the novel fleshes out the historical elements of a pre-Cold War world. A fresh college grad becomes employed in a government position to fight the 'Red Scare'. Meeting another official, he engages in a long queer affair that brings about themes of McCarthyism, Communism, lavender marriages, class, and gay rights in this literary novel.

I am a fan of Quinn and am impressed how she tackles various periods in history to tell us the stories of women. This one is told from the POV of several women & the boarding house they live in. It sounds weird, but it works wonderfully. Covering such issues in the 1950's such as McCarthy red scare, the Korean War, spousal abuse, women in sports, parenting and birth control, it was a great read. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.75/5

#TheBriarClub #KateQuinn #BookSpinBingo #SeriesLove2024 #September2024

A haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. Washington, D.C., 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation‘s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences.

Not the typical book I would read, but definitely grabbed my attention. Listen through Audible. Really enjoyed the characters in this book and appreciated the historical references, backed by the author notes at the end. Somewhat suspected the twist, but appreciated it none the less!

This is the 1st Kate Quinn book I‘ve read & I really enjoyed it! The really long chapters took a bit to get used to but it was nice to spend so long with each of the characters. I definitely didn‘t see the end coming! I‘m eager to read more of her books now!

Set in the 1950‘s amongst McCarthyism and the Red Scare, this book is both a mystery and historical fiction. The book is organized in long-ish chapters from the POV of different female characters residing in Briarwood House. I didn‘t see the twist coming, which is a rarity for me! A bonus: recipes are sprinkled throughout the book. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6289118375