No 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer is a historical novel set in the 1920s in London.
No.23 Burlington Square: Blurb
London, 1927: One house. Three lives. A decision that will change everything. A powerful, unique timeslip story, perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Miniaturist, and Lucinda Riley.
On the morning of Friday 5th August, 1927, Miss Agnes Humphries - the landlady of the attractive, if-slightly-shabby, white-fronted townhouse at Number 23 Burlington Square - has a decision to make.
The rooms of the second floor lie empty, since poor Mr Blandford's unfortunate demise, God rest his soul. And Agnes must make up her mind as to who will be her new lodger... Will it be her spirited, young niece Clara, who drifts through the glamorous world of London's Bright Young Things? Or Stephen, the sensible, church-going, respectable banker who seems just to be too good to be true? Or the timid war widow named Mercy, who is clearly running from something - or someone...?
Agnes must choose between them. But what will her decision lead to? One of the choices could result in scandal, one in devastation, and one could even lead to happiness. If only she gets it right...
As all three lodgers enter Number 23, in alternate timelines, relationships are formed and destroyed, feathers are ruffled, and secrets are exposed. Three different choices. Three very different paths. And Agnes is to discover that nobody - including herself - is quite what they seem...
Miss Agnes Humphries lives at no.23 Burlington Square, her house is pack full of treasured things and memories of her dear father. The house would have been too big and expensive to run for an old spinster, so Agnes decides to become a landlady.
Now she shares her home with an elderly musician Alexander Gorsky, a trendy photographer Gilbert, and the Smiths family. When one of the lodgers dies unexpectedly, Agnes puts an ad for the room vacancy.
Three candidates apply: her niece Clara, a social butterfly who dances and parties through the night, banker Stephen who appears to be a perfect candidate, and Mercy, a war widow, who Agnes feel sad for.
It is a difficult choice, each candidate has their merits. Who would be the best fit with the permanent residents of the house?
Clara is entitled, impulsive and pretty useless. She seems to have no ambitions or aims, yet Clara is hiding a big secret. Agnes realises that offering the room to Clara would be like inviting trouble in the household, but she is family.
Clara's story takes the bigger part of the book; we watch her immersed in the world of the Bright Young Things who throw their flamboyant dress parties, and dance until the early hours, "living fast and loose, as though we don't have a care in the world". Her friend Neville ponders, "But is it really any better to die charging across the muddy field, bayonet fixed and roaring "Long live the king", than to perish as a fractured mess in a motor car?"
Behind all the flamboyance and exuberance, Clara is hiding her vulnerable side. If her big secret is outed, there will be a huge scandal, among her cosmopolitan friends and wider society. Despite appearing featherbrained, Clara is a sweet young woman who is trying to find her way in the big world.
There is a huge pressure on Clara to get married, her parents threaten to cut her off if she does not comply. Yet she belives that being happy is more important than conforming. "For a young woman who had spent a lifetime not fitting in and feeling miserable, she was damned if she was going to settle for a marriage that led to more of the same".
Young handsome Jack is always around, taking Clara to parties. His intentions are pretty clear, and he seems like a nice chap. One surely could do worse, choosing a life partner.
Will Clara be persuaded by a persistent Jack and enter the marriage of convenience, or will she pursue her impossible dream?
The narrative moves slowly, as we follow Clara, Stephen and Mercy's stories. Along the way, we discover Agnes' past, with its tragedies and disappointments.
Agnes comes across as a compassionate, intelligent and caring landlady. Her lodgers are truly her family. Her house looks stuffed, and old-fashioned, Agnes never throws anything, as every object has a meaning, or memory attached to it, from an old battered sofa where she escaped to in her childhood, to a wooden spoon that had a flattened side from years of use.
"The older woman loved things despite their imperfections, or perhaps even because of them, and fiercely believed that when people or objects were good to you, you must be good to them in return. Aunt Ag was nothing if not loyal".
Comparisons with Sliding Doors are inevitable. It might not be a sub-genre as such, but definitely a plot trend, exploring how our choices determine the outcome, almost like a multi-verse, minus the sci-fi element. The protagonists live through the alternative versions of their lives. It is a fascinating concept, which makes you look back and think, what if? (the idea which I toy with quite often).
No 23 Burlington Square is a wise, immersive read, about the paths we take and choices we make, whether they are right or wrong. It makes you believe that there are limitless possibilities and second chances. Uplifting and thought-provoking.
This review is part of the blog tour for No.23 Burlington Square.
Many thanks to Jenni Keer and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!
Purchase Link -
https://mybook.to/burlingtonsqsocial
Author Bio –
Jenni Keer is the well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year, her first book with Boldwood The House on Burlington Square will be released in October 2023.
Social Media Links –
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jenni-keer
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