The Shakespeare Sisters

by Juliet Greenwood

Four motherless sisters, raised by a distant father in a crumbling, ivy-choked country estate. A terrible war on the horizon that will tear an ancient family apart. Stratford-upon-Avon, 1940. Rosalind Arden , born into one of the oldest families in England, has grown up running wild through the walled gardens and secret passages of historic Arden House, known to have once been frequented by Shakespeare himself. But centuries of squandered wealth have left the family destitute, and Papa Arden plans to replenish the coffers by securing hasty marriages to the highest bidder for Rosalind and her sisters. Passionate and headstrong, Rosalind is quickly running out of ways to avoid this fate. But then war comes to England , and not even Arden House can remain untouched. As food shortages grip the villages and England is shrouded by black-outs, Rosalind is unexpectedly swept into the orbit of soft-spoken aspiring architect Guy Thompson … just weeks before he’s sent to fight. Heartbroken, Rosalind knows she can’t return to the golden prison of Arden. With little more than a leather-bound book of Shakespeare in tow – a secret bequest from her mother – she runs away to London. There, she throws herself into the war effort, photographing the heart-wrenching aftermath of the blitz – building a life for herself she never thought possible. Until death comes to Arden and Rosalind is called home to devastating news. With Guy having inexplicably cut contact and her father on the edge of ruin, Rosalind must choose between the life she has made for herself and saving her beautiful, broken Arden House, home to the man who has only ever tried to bend her to his will… A heartbreaking and unforgettable story full of mystery that will have you reaching for the tissues. Perfect for anyone who loves Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Dinah Jefferies. What readers are saying about Juliet Greenwood: “I really loved this book – I picked it up to read on a sunny afternoon in the garden and read it in a single sitting, swept away into the world the author created . This is my new favourite from this very talented author, and I recommend it most highly.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A story of female solidarity and friendship, brilliantly written … What I love about Juliet Greenwood’s books is the way her fiction is set in the past yet feels so very contemporary. She creates stories around timeless issues that never fail to strike a chord, and her books quickly draw you in and are really hard to put down .” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A truly lovely read.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “ Top-notch historical fiction in the tradition of Sarah Waters or Tracey Chevalier… This book is authentic historical fiction … Highly recommended… Not enough stars.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “I adored this book from Juliet Greenwood, a wonderful heroine, a gorgeous landscape and a plot to carry you away .” Faith Hogan, bestselling author of The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club “Absolutely loved it ." Heidi Swain, bestselling author of The Secrets Seaside Escape “This book is well written and so descriptive that you can imagine yourself there ... I highly recommend this book it’s a great read.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Fiction

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

Juliet Greenwood is the author of seven historical novels, her latest being with Storm Publishing. She has long been inspired by the histories of the women in her family, and in particular with how strong-minded and independent women have overcome the limitations imposed on them by the constraints of their time, and also with the way generations of women hold families and communities together in times of crisis, including WW2.

After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever, and more recently as a freelance editor and proof-reader.

She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store.

Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dog walking in all weathers, camera to hand.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind Arden lives near the village of Brierley at Stratford-upon-Avon and in the county of Warwickshire, with her father Leo and stepmother Alma. Rosalind has three sisters Bianca, Cordelia and Kate and two brothers Will and Jamie. Her father is proud of his ancestry, one of the oldest family's in England and the great William Shakespeare once stayed at Arden House.

The house is old and it’s in need of extensive repairs and the tenant cottages in the village are just as bad. Mr. Arden’s solution to his money problems is to find his daughters rich husbands, Bianca is busy planning her wedding and her father has picked out a suitable candidate for Rosalind.

Rosalind has told her father she will never marry him, he’s a creep and her father won’t listen. Rosalind meets Guy Thompson, who she does fancy and her papa forbids her from seeing him. Leo Arden’s is consumed by keeping his estate and he’s too conceited and vain to admit he’s being selfish. England is on the brink of fighting in another war, when it begins, Will, Jamie and Guy enlist and men from Brierley. Miss. Parsons is the local school teacher and she runs the museum and she decides it’s time to give the sisters their leather bound works of Shakespeare and within the pages each will find a hidden message from their departed mother.

Rosalind moves to London, she takes photographs of the awful destruction caused by the German bombs and sells them to a women’s magazine. Like all English families it’s only a matter of time before they lose a loved in the war, Rosalind returns to Arden House, her stepmother needs her, her frail father might have no choice but to sell some of the estates land and Rosalind waits to here from Guy.

I received a copy of The Shakespeare Sisters by Juliet Greenwood from NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The first book in the series focuses on Rosalind, living in Brierley, and her trying to find the hidden message from her mother between the pages of Shakespeare’s Comedies, moving to London and the long war years. I liked the characters of Rosalind, Alma, Guy, Kate, Jamie, Miss. Parson’s and all are charming. The history of Arden House, found on the grounds are; a possible Roman mosaic, jewellery and an Anglo-Saxon burial ground. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and four stars from me.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

How lovely to be transported for a few hours to a world before mass media where life was much simpler! I loved being in the Stratford-upon-Avon area and immersing myself in Rosalind Arden’s life. Born into one of the oldest families in England isn’t as glamorous as it seems and Papa Arden has big plans for Rosalind and her sisters. Hoping to secure hasty marriages for his four daughters, he offers them to the highest bidder. Little does he know how determined Rosalind is to avoid this fate. As World War Two looms, she comes upon a secret gift and is resolute to pursue her own destiny.

A lover of all things Shakespeare and a novice photographer myself, I was captivated by this story. In my travels, I’ve walked the Shakespeare BirthplaceTrust gardens, toured the homes and imagined myself there, so it was easy for me to transport myself to the setting. Add to this my love of historical fiction and you can see why this one was a winner for me. I enjoyed a headstrong female main character who was brought to her knees as she faced a life-changing choice as much as I enjoyed the mystery.

Will Rosalind find true love? Can London offer her what she’s yearning for? Will the golden prison of Arden lure her home?

My only challenge was the pacing. Despite that small issue, I felt that Greenwood celebrated Shakespeare at the heart of every page. Rosalind’s journey is one historical fiction lovers won’t want to miss.

I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, a saga but, well written and centered around sisters as we follow them through their experiences. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvel of a WWII histfic novel set in England. I was so taken by Rosalind and her sisters, the impact of war on their family, her new life photographing the impact of the blitz, and being called home again afterward.

I loved the characters, the expertly drawn era, and the author's graceful telling of how war changes English life and the family at historic Arden House, once frequented by Shakespeare.

Highly recommended for histfic lovers, those gripped by the blitz, and readers who value tales about families who survive war.

[Brianna Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good strong female character and this book definitely had it! I was so glad to see Rosalind stand up for herself multiple times and stick to it. I was glad she got the romance that she truly deserved and their family estate turned out to be just fine.

🌀Synopsis
Rosalind is determined to have her own life. Which is contradictory to what her father wants as he’s ready to marry her off to the highest bidder. Instead, Rosalind joins the war effort. She finds a passion in her job and loves what she’s doing. On top of that, she is in love with another man. Now she has to choose between saving their estate and the man that she loves.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

WW2 historical romance book one.

Arden House 1940,
A tiny village Brierley-in-Arden just outside Stratford upon Avon.
Rosalind Arden along with
Sister's Kate, Cordelia and Bianca and the rest of her family.
And this first in the new series focusing on Rosalind, with her having a big crush on Architect Guy Thompson, her father's choice of marriage is monster Henry Luscombe but she will only ever marry for love.
War is looming and Guy is sent away to fight that see's Rosalind take off down to London and when death brings her back to Arden House can the beautiful broken home be saved.
This book has such brilliant storylines, that are heart-breaking and unforgettable to read right through that are going to touch readers as we find Rosalind a very strong willed woman coping with this war and waiting for Guy to come home alive and well.
It's a pull at your heartstrings read and hopefully we wont wait long for book two is this beautiful series and find out more from the Shakespeare sisters i certainly will look forward to more.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright. Here are the things that checked the boxes for me:

- Shakespeare references throughout
- female photographer during WWII (I cried a lot, y’all.)
- women supporting women
- small town people banding together

I wanted to love this book. Shakespeare and a WWII romance? I was all in, except that I couldn’t get into it. I would say this book is primarily about Rosalind’s growth, except that she grows very little throughout the book, even though it’s timeline spans several years, including a war.

As a photographer myself, I wish I loved Rosalind more. But her primary attribute was flat stubbornness, and I just wanted more from her. She prides herself in being unchanged when others around her have changed. Guy was a wonderful love interest, but we saw so little of him, and we didn’t really get to see the relationship between Guy and Rosalind develop. It’s a bad case of telling, not showing.

I deserved a trigger warning for Henry Luscombe. And that’s all I’ll say about that.

Alma and Lucy were my favorites. And Jamie. They had the most character development, and as a reader, I felt more connected to them in their pain and triumph because of that growth factor. And maybe because the conflicts that they navigated were more realistically fleshed out, compared with the rest of the book and what the other characters faced.

There’s more I could say, but I’ll finish with this—while presenting a nice story, the title leaves the impression that this book is about the sisters and their relationships to each other or their respective journeys. But no. It’s just about Rosalind. I wanted more of the sisters and even more of Jamie and Guy. So while this book definitely checked some good boxes, it missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Juliet Greenwood for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel has all ingredients necessary to make a romance: love, unreturned love, forbidden love because of social class differences. For me it was all unfortunately rather predictable as far as all those feelings were concerned. However, a mystery evolves, some of the characters' interests in photography, archeology, Many references to Shakespeare made this novel rather interesting. Well written, this story should appeal to readers of romance.
I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from NetGalley and Storm Publishing and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four girls, sisters, named after famous female Shakespeare Characters. A step mother who is trying her best and a father who is distant, curmudgeonly and simply wants them to conform to society and his wishes.

Rosalind, is the main character in this book. She lives in the crumbling family home on an estate full of crumbling tenant cottages. The only way for them to survive is to marry rich husbands. That is what her sister Bianca has done. Rosalind has other ideas.

Those ideas do not tie with her fathers. Discord reigns in the house amongst them all and with the threat of war it seems all their lives are going to change forever.

Rosalind finds herself in London. With her camera and an idea of recording the war, but events find her back at home and she decides to seek out the truth of the war from those a bit further away from the major cities. Trouble is her father is still insistent on her future with one man.

This is a book packed full of family harmony and disharmony, the relationships between sisters is paramount to setting the scene for future novels. There is romance in this book, under the shadow of war, and whether to marry for money or duty. As the Second World showed women were starting to have more of a role in society and could quite easily find themselves on the same level as their male counterparts. Rosalind wanted a relationship that reflected this, her father didn’t.

The first book I have read by Greenwood and whilst it’s pace didn’t really change and I found quite a slow methodical read, it was a good start to a series introducing us to everyone. I just wonder whether it started too late in the main characters lives, I would like to have learnt a bit more of their history before we got to the starting point of this novel.

Good historical fiction if that is your thing.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shakespeare Sisters, set during WW2, is centred around one of the oldest houses in England, Arden House, the residence of four sisters, Bianca, Cordelia, Rosalind and Kate, and their brothers Will and Jamie, Papa and Step Mother, Alma. I initially thought the book would be about all four women, however, it is primarily Rosalind's story and is narrated by her.
We learn early on that there is an air of mystery surrounding Kates's parentage, which never really gets solved, the other girls see her as a sister and that is that. The four girls are each presented with a Shakespeare novel, which their mother instructed happened at ' the right time before she passed away.
The book picks up pace after the first few chapters, it's well written but I felt the ending was quite rushed.
I enjoyed it but I wanted to know more at certain times and I wished it would have delved into the lives of the other three sisters more. Binaca married a tyrant but we never learned what that was really like for her, we never get to grips with Kate and how she really feels or what at all was happening in Cordelia's life.
Alma is a good character but with an air of mystery and secrecy that left me wondering about things that were never addressed at all.
It was quite frustrating at times, this book had so much more potential, however, it was still an enjoyable read.

[Aftan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rosalind and her sisters live in a village where they are known for their ancestry and connection to Shakespeare. Her father, a bit of a kook, is so wrapped up in this legacy that his children are named after some of Shakespeare's famous characters. He is also short on cash so as one does during the early 1900s he focuses on marrying off his daughters to the highest bidders. But that is not what Rosalind wants and the upcoming war is the perfect out.

The story follows Rosalind as she navigates moving away from what society and her family expects of her into the new and modern world and mindset that is forming.

All in all, the basis and outline for this story is fantastic. But it falls short. The title promises a story of sisterhood and following the lives of these sisters with unique names. Instead, it follows Rosalind at a fairly shallow level. I kept turning the pages looking for the rest of the story and the depth. I unfortunately did not find it.

[Krissy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first 25% of the book spans from June 1938 to August 1939 and was painstakingly uneventful.

Rosalind and her family are introduced, their late mother leaves the daughters books of Shakespeare that supposedly hold messages for each of them, the eldest daughter (read: the “obedient” one) gets married, and Rosalind engages in instalove with a guy named Guy.

This reads more like a Bridgerton novel than a WWII historical fiction book. The language doesn’t seem to match the time period.

I kept stopping after every chapter to reread the book summary, which is very enticing, and found myself wondering when the war was going to start. The idea of the book has promise but I can’t bring myself to continue reading it. DNF at 25%.
Thank you to NetGalley for my digital ARC.

[Julia Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narration/Audio:
I enjoyed the tone and overall reading of the narrator, especially when Rosalind was the only Shakespeare sister in the scene. The narrator did make the reading sound natural and did give a lot of personality to each character. However, when Bianca, Kate, or Cordelia were also in the scene it became hard to know who was talking. It seemed like the narrator used the same voice for each woman. Although later on in the book I did notice that Kate had a deeper range than what was used for the other sisters. I would say in general though the narrator bled voices in almost all the characters. Older women sounded the same depending on the scene, Jamie and Will at times became interchangeable. I just wish there was more diversity in voice so that the characters stood out rather than feeling like a mish mash of the same people.

Story:
There’s a lot to unpack with this story, so I am going to do my best to keep it concise.

Sisters: At the beginning it was unclear who was the main focus of this book and over time it quickly became Rosalind. Aside from Bianca, all the sisters are remarkably independent for the time period they find themselves in, so when WWII arrives they take the opportunity to leave home and create a life for themselves. I did find them to be rather similar in presentation and personality. Maybe aside from hobbies, there weren't a lot of differences I initially noticed between Kate, Cordelia, and Rosalind. In fact, Cordelia and Kate become barely side characters as the story continues. And I think Cordelia didn’t really even need to be in the story. I do like that the family is connected to Shakespeare but the plot line doesn’t play into the story as much as it should given the name of the book. At the beginning the sisters are given books that are related to their names and have secret messages from their deceased mother. I genuinely don’t think we ever learn what the messages were except for Rosalind. There’s more I could say, but I’ll move on for brevity sake.

Romance:
The romance between Rosalind and Guy starts off as Instalove. Despite rare communications during the war their love remains strong through WWII and the recovery period afterwards. I wish that Rosalind and Guy had more history than just a quick romance. It doesn’t at all seem plausible that their love would survive 5+ years based on the little interaction they had. We barely get to know Guy, too, so it’s hard to root for their union because it’s just barely a thing throughout the story. In all honesty, I almost wish that after the war Guy would have moved on and the second half of the book was about Rosalind picking up the pieces of her life and striking out on her own. That sort of plot line would’ve matched the build up of Rosalind’s character better than her clinging onto a barely-there romance. The ending is really sweet and is exactly what you’d hope for, I just wish we could’ve gotten more depth with the Guy/Rosalind romance.

Time Jump:
Any time jump is hard to do and this book didn’t do it well in my opinion. I often think that if the time prior to a time jump isn’t the prologue, then the story isn’t going to get the breadth it needs to fully flesh out characters and plot lines. The first half of this book is prior to WWII and the second half is immediately after WWII. Yes, so much happens off page during the war that it almost makes the rest of the book land flat. The first half of the book felt almost boring and then the second half had tons of potential but the time jump sucked all the nuance out that could’ve added depth to that portion of the book. Will dies and rather than feel sad you almost feel relieved because the first half of the book builds him up to be an absolute menace. To me, this book could fall into the category of “this could’ve been two books.”

There is so much potential with this book but it seems that due to the limitation of being jammed into one book, rather than two, a lot of the story and characters were watered down and not as strong as they could’ve been. I gave this book 3 stars because overall I really liked a lot of elements of the story.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

War is on the horizon in a village on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon, and four sisters Rosalind, Kate, Cordelia and Bianca are too busy squabbling about who they will marry and not really worrying about the prospects of war looming on the horizon, living where they do they feel quite remote from any possibilities of war. Their family consists of the girls, their brothers, and their father and stepmother, Rosalind quite recently discovered her real mother died from the influenza after WW1. Her passion is photography, and after discovering a possible roman artefact in the grounds, near an ancient burial mound, she is soon there taking photos. When she is taken to see the anglo saxon remains at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, she is so excited, finding herself really drawn into the history, taking pictures, and doing excavations she feels really involved. When war is declared, she decides she must do more and volunteer with some other young women, and soon she is living in London, where she comes across some terrible sights, and also some good friends. But once again her camera comes out and soon her photos are used to show people what it is really like during the Blitz, as they are published in a women's magazine. The local museum in the village is very proud of her work and soon has an exhibition showing lots of her photos. After the war finishes, Rosalind is forced to return to Arden House to help with the running of the house, finding things are vastly changing, especially by her brother in law, who wants to build new roads and houses. What will happen to the burial mound and roman artefacts?

I liked the fact that Rosalind was a very strong-willed and opinionated young woman, determined to do what she wanted and not what her family would like her to do. Her father's not the same after suffering a family loss, but still doesn't realise that Rosalind is capable of much more than he gives her credit for, her being a "mere girl." Her stepmother is almost frightened of him and won't speak up to him. What will Rosalind do for the best, both for herself and everyone in the village? But will it be enough for Rosalind? Will she find happiness herself, or will all the changes happening stop all her plans?
It is a really interesting story, full of intrigue, relationships, and horrors of the war. I found Rosalind to be a really strong character, determined to pursue her dreams and get out of life what she wants and not what she is told to do.
I really hope there are more stories to come about Rosalind and her sisters, I would love to know what the future has in store for them all. A well deserved five star read.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her customary & effortless aptitude for storytelling, in The Shakespeare Sisters, once again, Juliet Greenwood immediately engaged me, transporting me this time to Warwickshire & to Arden, the ancestral home of the eponymous sisters. With the threat of WW2 looming, the fate of both the house & the four sisters hangs in the balance. What follows is a panoramic story following the fortunes of these young women as each, in her own way, finds her way in a world thrown into terrible conflict.

Greenwood’s strength, when writing women, lies in her gift for never sentimentalising or stereotyping them. Rosalind, the central character, is a gem. Her innate sense of herself as a woman who trusts her instincts (even when the odds suggest she might be better off listening to people who appear to know better than she what is good for her), is what marks her as a brave feminist & remarkable heroine. A woman we root for & identify with.

In a world where women are expected to defer to men, Rosalind Arden fights for her independence. She resists the bullying of a coercive man who will stop at nothing to bend her to his will & destroy everything she holds dear. In the process she defies her family & their more subtle but nevertheless, equally tyrannical expectations of her. A talented photographer, Rosalind escapes to London where she sets about creating an in-the-moment record of the lives of women living in the midst of the devastations of war & in the process, potentially sowing the seeds for her future autonomy.

There is love story too; a poignant, rateable one laced with truth & just the right amount of romance. (This is literary historical fiction; Rosalind & Guy’s liaison is far, far more than a mere romantic romp.) While the relationship is very real & adds depth to the story, at no time does it overshadow it or the essential, determined strength of Rosalind herself.

Collectively, the four sisters are a delight; each one cleverly based on characters from Shakespeare (who of course created a myriad feisty woman happy to buck the system!) And at the heart of the story is a mystery. Four copies of Shakespeare stories, gifts from the women’s mother when she died, hinting – temptingly – at what the future has in store for these fascinating characters. And for us! (Cliché alert! I cannot wait to find out what happens next!)

Highly recommended & not enough stars!

[Jennifer Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shakespeare Sisters by Juliet Greenwood

A World War II era historical fiction with a feminist flair, The Shakespeare Sisters delves deep into the aristocratic patriarchal world of England. Bound by a sisterhood that is not only family, the sisters each are expected to fulfill different roles defined by their father. Three of the four break from tradition and by supporting the war effort are able to alter their predetermined path and embark on something new and self-actualizing.

Rosalind Arden is no stranger to family expectations and traditions as Arden House is steeped in them. She feels tied to the responsibility of being her father’s daughter and conforming to his plans for her future while fantasizing about a new life of her making. As an impending engagement to a wealthy and abusive future duke tightens around her, Rosalind takes her future into her own hands and sets of for London. Here she is able to become her own woman, find a career, and pursue her actual love interest. Unfortunately, Arden House will call upon her once again and she will have to use her wits carefully to not be ensnared in a plot to take away her independence.

This was a wonderful story that highlights women who were willing to shatter gender norms and take control of their own lives. The war effort allowed many women to contribute and also to find the gratifying possibility of work and independence where previously there had been none. Three of the four sisters break the mold and set a standard as early second wave feminists. There is a little romance which keeps the story light, but most importantly does not weigh down the plotline with quintessential love and woe. Rosalind is very much her own woman and it is seen in every relationship she forms. The strong female protagonist role was very well done and refreshing. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in return for an honest review.

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Juliet Greenwood’s books ever since I read Eden’s Graden. The Shakespeare Sisters is a lovely family saga that takes place during WWII.

The Shakespeare Sisters is about the Arden family a down on their heels aristocratic family with a crumbling Tudor mansion trying to survive without a lot of money. The sisters are Bianca, Rosalind, Cordelia and Kate all named after Shakespeare’s famous female characters. The Arden estate is near to Stratford-Upon-Avon and the famiy has a rich history with ties to Shakespeare, or so they like to think. The patriarch Leo is determined to marry his daughter’s off to rich men to assist in the rehabilitation of Arden House. Rosalind rebels. Then WWII starts. Rosalind’s two brothers arrogant Will, and sensitive Jamie join up as does Will’s friend Guy Thompson. Guy and Rosalind have an attraction to each other that Rosalind’s father is not happy about as he has decided Rosalind should marry their neighbor, a rich aristocrat. Sadly Henry is a boorish man that Rosalind dislikes immensely. Usually daughters like Rosalind would have little choice but to obey in this era, but the War opens opportunities for Rosalind that she would otherwise not have. Rosalind uses her skills as a photographer to go to London and capture the true suffering and bravery that Londoners endured during the Blitz.

The story takes place before, during and after WWII.. I enjoyed the setting and the characters had depth and the storyline was compelling. This was another great story by Juliet Greenwood and I look forward to her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

[Alessia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel was a delight to read. The prose was beautiful and the book practically reads itself. I finished it in record time.

Despite The Shakespeare Sisters being four, the story focuses primarily on Rosalind and the life she want to forge for herself in a world plagued by the war and by a patriarchal view of women, their place in society and who gets to decide for them. I deeply felt for Rosalind and her struggle against a domineering, extremely stubborn old fashioned and full of himself father whose goal in life to marry his children in the most advantageous of ways to perpetuate the family name and replenish the coffers of their country estate…which gave a Pride and Prejudice feel to the story, despite being set in a completely different era.

I found fascinating the way the author wrote about the generational gap (which isn’t as black and white as one might think) and specifically the mass constructing of homes (gentrification) in country estates and villages which is not necessarily a good thing.

If I may be allowed one little critique, I wasn’t entirely sold on Rosalind’s whirlwind romance. It was perhaps a teensy bit rushed and I am still debating if it was truly necessary. It might warrant a reread.

Nevertheless I have truly enjoyed this delightful 4.5⭐️/5 novel and I truly hope we’ll see more of the Arden sisters.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley UK

[Julia Justiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the outbreak of World War II, with her autocratic father fixated on saving the crumbling Arden estate by marrying his daughters to the highest bidder, Rosalind falls for commoner Guy Thompson, a school friend of her older brother. Guy yearns for a career as an architect, while his father wants him to run the family business, but as war breaks out, both Guy and Rosalind’s brothers are caught up in the fighting. Disowned by her father when she refuses to wed a wealthy but slimy duke’s heir, Rosalind flees with her beloved camera to London, where she works for a women’s magazine, documenting the effect of the blitz on the stalwart Londoners who remain. But when her older brother is killed and her injured younger brother inherits, she feels obligated to return to Arden to help him recover and run the estate he never wanted. There, she works to protect Arden from the schemes of her older sister’s industrialist husband, who wants to destroy the centuries-old village common land and forest to build vacation homes for the wealthy. Though the description of the gradual decline of the wealth and influence of old landed gentry seems to belong more to a post-World-War I world than that of World War II, I suppose the disappearance of that way of life did not happen overnight. And when Guy comes back into her life, Rosalind has to make a difficult choice between the heritage she tried to escape and ultimately returned to save, and a new way of life.

[Kae Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ust lovely. A charming tale with a hint of Jane Austen that brings English village life, WWII, feminism, archaeology and a sweet love story together in a way that made it impossible to put down.

🗓️ The Shakespeare Sisters will be available 23 May 2023

Read this if:
📖 You love Shakespeare
🗝️ You appreciate well-researched historical fiction (WW2 era)
♀️You love reading from a female perspective

Official summary:
Four motherless sisters, raised by a distant father in a crumbling, ivy-choked country estate. A terrible war on the horizon that will tear an ancient family apart.

Some more thoughts:

📚 The plot takes us from the period immediately before the second world war, through it and to the year after yet somehow the story maintained a sort of cosy feel for me.

🙋 All very well developed characters that I found myself wanting more of, I hope there will be further books focused on the Shakespeare Sisters as it does feel set up to do so.

📍Primarily countryside near Stratford-upon-Avon and London

👩‍🎓 An easy, comfortable read that is also a great palette cleanser. Doesn't shy away from the horrors of war but also not overly graphic.

I enjoyed this far more than I expected to. The writing is compelling and the characters relatable and charming. I really hope there will be further books focusing on the other sisters.

[Elaine Thatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Juliet Greenwood book that I have read, it wasn't my favorite of the two but was still good. I expected The Shakespeare Sisters to be a bit more of a cozy novel, a Shakespeare-focused view of life in the country during WWII. Boy did I get that wrong.

To save the family home, Rosalind, like her sisters, is to be married off to men with money and titles. Set to be married off to her neighbor instead of the man she cares for, Rosalind rebels. Traditionally, she would have had no alternative options, but with the increased need for women staffers due to WWII, Rosalind flees to London and uses her skills as a photographer to fund her life. Capturing the hardships and terror of Blitz-torn London, Rosalind finds new depth and meaning to life.

Overall, I loved this book, however, I felt like Rosalind's growth arc was stunted. From a sheltered country girl to a woman who captures the horrors of the Blitz, I would assume Rosalind would grow up more, but emotionally and mentally she is hardly changed from the character you meet at the start of the book. Though having not lived through the Blitz, maybe that did happen.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for a fair review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the Arden family who have an estate in Brierly in Arden. It starts just before the start of World War Two when there was a lot of uncertainty as to whether we’d soon be at War again. The family consists of Will, Jamie, Rosalind, Cordelia, Bianca and Kate. Their father is worried about the estate and so wants to marry off his daughters to wealthy men with connections who can help him keep things afloat regardless of whether his daughters love or want to marry these men.
This book follows Rosalind and what she does during the War and afterwards. Rosalind’s father decides she should marry Henry Luscombe who Rosalind detests and he’s determined to get his own way even banishing Rosalind from her home if she doesn’t comply.
I really enjoyed following Rosalind’s adventures and seeing her stand up to her father. I look forward to reading more about the Arden family and following her brothers and sisters stories in the future.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ended up being an enjoyable book, but it was a bit long. It could have been shortened without sacrificing the story line. The beginning was a bit boring and I almost stopped listening a couple of times. However, as the story went on, it became more engaging and it soon became apparent that it was a story of good versus evil. The book takes place just before, during and after WWII. It revolves around a family that lives in an old house (Arden House) in need of repair that was reputed to have once belonged to Shakespeare. The family is composed of an controlling father of daughters and two sons along with the children's step-mother. His main concern is securing financially advantageous marriages for his daughters to be able to restore Arden House without much concern for their happiness. It was sad to see how little choice many women at that time had and what they had to do at the behest of the men in their lives. But, it also showed the resiliency of many. No sex or profanity.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Set in the village of Arden, a father is desperate to marry his daughters (all named after Shakespearean characters, hence the book title) off to wealthy gentlemen so he can save his land and property. Daughter Rosalind is determined not to be a pawn in his plan and wants to make her own way as a photographer and make her own decisions regarding marriage. When war breaks out, she flees Arden for London - will her father be able to save their home, and will Rosalind be able to be her own person?

A slow burner, it felt as if it took a long time to get going, and then when it did, it glossed over some parts incredibly quickly - the war seemed to last minutes. Some interesting characters and ideas (I loved the local museum and it's curator!), with an equal amount of incredibly unlikeable figures.

[Crystalrainbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still missing this book now that I have finished it and do hope that there will be a sequel.

I was a bit worried at the start of reading as my knowledge of Shakespeare’s works is not vast, but this didn’t matter at all. I loved the feisty Rosalind and could, through the skill of the author, put myself in her shoes, especially at the start of World War Two. I kept praying that she would make the right choice for a life partner too.

Having read another review that said the reader was swept away into the world of the Shakespeare sisters, I would completely agree. A great read that has me wanting more.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I was drawn to the premise of this book, I ultimately struggled to connect with the story. The initial chapters felt disjointed, lacking a cohesive flow and a central character to embrace fully. However, my perspective shifted significantly when I reached Chapter 20. It was there that the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place, and I found myself wholeheartedly rallying around Rosalind and her journey toward independence.

Despite this positive turning point, I couldn't help but notice that several storylines seemed to remain unresolved, leaving a sense of incompleteness. Nevertheless, I'm grateful that I continued and completed the book.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this eCopy to review

I really enjoyed Greenwood's The Shakespeare Sisters. The characters were well developed, with a good setting and the plot was well paced. I really rooted for Rosalind to find a way to defy her father's and stepmother's wishes and follow her heart to marry for love. Her character really develops from being an innocent child to a grown up young lady through her work in London during WWII delivering food to soup kitchens and gaining independence through her photography work.

I lovely feel good story

[Courtney H · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5 stars, rounded up)

Content warnings: war, attempted rape, loss of a sibling

Rosalind Arden is a modern woman trapped in 1940s England. She's expected to marry for money to help the crumbling Arden estate stay afloat, but she is more interested in photography than wooing a suitor. Her heart belongs to a man her father wouldn't deem suitable for marriage, and the men her father deems suitable are diabolical. Rosalind grapples with whether to follow her dreams or to reduce her life to what is expected of her.

Her older sister Bianca has already married for money, but her husband's scheming may ruin the entire Arden clan. But when war strikes, the sisters' worlds will be forever changed.

Recommended for readers who enjoy English family sagas.

Representation: women with careers in WWII

I received an electronic galley copy and an electronic audio recording of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read the review here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmav...

[Libby Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For readers of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley, this book will be one of your favorites. Sisters (all named for Shakespearian characters) are under the control of their domineering father who wishes to see them all married for financial reasons. At the start of WWII, all the family's lives will be changed (including the sister's brothers). The devastation on people's lives and the future of this family all will be decided. A historical novel that will keep you reading until the end.

[Sheelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely saga set in the backdrop of WWII . Rosalind is a strong independent woman torn between the breaking the shackles of docile duty and tasting the freedom of London, and the scandal of love between social classes. This really was Rosalind's story, the other Shakespeare sisters were really only secondary characters and possibly have their own stories to tell in future books