The Mayfair Bookshop: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and the Pursuit of Happiness

I admit I've never read a book by Nancy Mitford but as a writer myself I'm always interested in how others find inspiration. This book shows that. She lived a sad, complicated life with occasional spots of joy in times we can only imagine. I gave it 4 stars because the ending was too abrupt.

Great story. Well written. Engrossing. Couldn't put it down.

Despite knowing that Nancy Mitford was a charming wit, I didn’t expect this book to be so refreshingly uplifting. Kudos to the author for achieving this, especially while writing during our darkest of times.This book is such a worthy exploration of searching for happiness despite everything—I want to give it to ALL my friends. And the narrator’s voice perfectly captured Nancy’s tongue-in-cheek ways. Definitely worthwhile.Whatever you think you know about the Mitford sisters, this book as told by Nancy and with a modern mystery at its core, reveals the surprising twists and turns as Nancy experienced them, somehow bringing these women even more alive to me. Also, it helped me heal a bit, knowing that I differ widely from some of my family and friends on current politics--in fact, don't we all have those we differ with right now, one way or another? I wasn't expecting to be touched so closely with that aspect of the book, but it was healing to see a more truthful version of the divisions within Brittan as demonstrated by the history of this family. But don't get me wrong, this is a story to fall deeply for, all the way through, not just a political primer. Its what I love about historical fiction, helping me understand my world as it develops, even as the historical characters explore their own, as it develops.

In the past several years, I've become very interested in the Mitford sisters and their stories. Nancy is the best-known author and this book focuses on her life. I find it fascinating that these six sisters are so different from each other and never had any formal education and yet many of them grew up to be authors. This book describes Nancy as an adult, starting in her young adult years of being one of the Bright Young Things in London through her experiences in WWII and its aftermath. The title refers to the bookshop where she worked, mainly during the war. Although she was born into the aristocracy, her family struggled financially while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. As historical fiction, we can't assume that the descriptions of her relationships with her husband or sisters is totally accurate, but it seemed realistic. I couldn't put the book down!

The Mayfair Bookshop is an engaging, witty tale about two fascinating women penned by a master storyteller. Merging two timelines seamlessly together, Eliza Knight skillfully brings to life the complicated, tumultuous world Nancy Mitford inhabited during one of the darkest times in modern history. From page one, the reader is transported into Nancy’s life. We see her first as one of the Bright Young Things, then as a budding novelist, followed by the sad realities of her unhappy marriage and eventually landing at the legendary bookstore where she worked during WWII. As the novel unfolds, the modern-day heroine, Lucy St. Clair, uncovers a mystery that connects her directly to Nancy and ultimately changes her life forever. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, dual timelines, fascinating women and good writing, this book is not to be missed! I highly recommend!

The Mayfair Bookshop is a winning story about two intriguing women, told in two story lines, by a wonderful author and storyteller. Ms. Knight weaves a story of the complicated Nancy Mitford and her family and a young, dedicated book curator, Lucy St. Clair on a quest to resolve a mysterious inscription Ms. Mitford left in a book. The mystery will connect to two across the decades and bring Lucy to her own crossroad. Will she learn from the lessons of the past? I enjoyed the two story lines and experiencing the parallels between Nancy and Lucy. If you like historical fiction, captivating women and excellent writing, I recommend you read, The Mayfair Bookshop.

It was hard to get involved in the story

Great historical story about the famous Mitford family, especially Nancy. Interesting and sad, but a great insight into the British upper class, WWII and its destruction, and the ways people coped. Loved the two perspectives the story is told through.