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73 Dove Street
West London, 1958. 73 Dove Street is a shabby house in a shabby street.
But this boarding house’s attic room suits newcomer Edie Budd very well.
It’s somewhere to hide.
Tommie, on the second floor, is up in Soho every night.
There’s a man she’s pursuing –
whether he wants her or not.
Landlady Phyllis has thrown out her cheating husband.
She’s burned his belongings in the street.
Sometimes there’s no going back.
Three survivors living under one roof.
Each alone nursing their secret hurts – and hopes.
Because opening your heart could save or destroy you . . .
But this boarding house’s attic room suits newcomer Edie Budd very well.
It’s somewhere to hide.
Tommie, on the second floor, is up in Soho every night.
There’s a man she’s pursuing –
whether he wants her or not.
Landlady Phyllis has thrown out her cheating husband.
She’s burned his belongings in the street.
Sometimes there’s no going back.
Three survivors living under one roof.
Each alone nursing their secret hurts – and hopes.
Because opening your heart could save or destroy you . . .
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Published April 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
July 18, 2023
4.5 rounded up
The publisher describes this as “An emotionally, gripping novel set in 1950s, London“. Yes, that’s exactly what it is, and I’ll add in that it is beautifully written.
This is a novel about three resilient women. Edie Budd clutches her small, shabby suitcase and makes her way to 73 Dove Street, a scruffy neighbourhood in West London. Number 73 is a sight for sore eyes as bizarrely there’s a bonfire outside on the pavement, a mattress and assorted belongings burning away. These objects belong to landlady Phyllis Collier‘s husband who has betrayed her. Phyllis insists she keeps a respectable house and as she shows Edie her small attic attic room, she meets another resident in whirlwind Tommie. She works for wealthy eccentric Mrs Vee but there’s way more going on in Tommies life than meets the eye. At first, these three women have a little contact but eventually secrets, lies, and fear bring them all together and forcing life changing decisions.
I liked ‘That Green Eyed Girl’ but I love this latest book from Julie Owen Moylan. The characterisation of these hurt if not broken women is excellent. I like the way the Edie’s story is told via backtracking to 5 years ago and bringing it up to date and it makes you want to weep. Phyllis and Tommie seem to wear armour, the latter being vibrant and alive but both bear scars too. They have many things in common such as loss and betrayal but there’s psychological and physical damage too as well as obsessive love. However, rising above all these issues is a growing deep friendship which shines through the dark times. Parts of the story are bleak and one of the aspects that makes me sad is the shame and blame some carry for things that are not their fault. This is a very character driven novel and is a slow burner but that suits the tense and escalating storyline. There are shocks, surprises (some awful ones), there are some good plot twists too. At times, it’s funny and witty which contrasts well with the present day circumstances. I love the parts of the novel that are set in Soho which the author brings alive. The 1950s is one of the stars of the show and it’s captured so well. The fog, the chill, the gas fires, the gender specific roles, the dancing and the taffeta dresses. Wonderful!
Overall, I so enjoy being transported back to this period of time in this immersive and compelling novel. I can’t wait to read what the author imagines next. Highly recommended.
The publisher describes this as “An emotionally, gripping novel set in 1950s, London“. Yes, that’s exactly what it is, and I’ll add in that it is beautifully written.
This is a novel about three resilient women. Edie Budd clutches her small, shabby suitcase and makes her way to 73 Dove Street, a scruffy neighbourhood in West London. Number 73 is a sight for sore eyes as bizarrely there’s a bonfire outside on the pavement, a mattress and assorted belongings burning away. These objects belong to landlady Phyllis Collier‘s husband who has betrayed her. Phyllis insists she keeps a respectable house and as she shows Edie her small attic attic room, she meets another resident in whirlwind Tommie. She works for wealthy eccentric Mrs Vee but there’s way more going on in Tommies life than meets the eye. At first, these three women have a little contact but eventually secrets, lies, and fear bring them all together and forcing life changing decisions.
I liked ‘That Green Eyed Girl’ but I love this latest book from Julie Owen Moylan. The characterisation of these hurt if not broken women is excellent. I like the way the Edie’s story is told via backtracking to 5 years ago and bringing it up to date and it makes you want to weep. Phyllis and Tommie seem to wear armour, the latter being vibrant and alive but both bear scars too. They have many things in common such as loss and betrayal but there’s psychological and physical damage too as well as obsessive love. However, rising above all these issues is a growing deep friendship which shines through the dark times. Parts of the story are bleak and one of the aspects that makes me sad is the shame and blame some carry for things that are not their fault. This is a very character driven novel and is a slow burner but that suits the tense and escalating storyline. There are shocks, surprises (some awful ones), there are some good plot twists too. At times, it’s funny and witty which contrasts well with the present day circumstances. I love the parts of the novel that are set in Soho which the author brings alive. The 1950s is one of the stars of the show and it’s captured so well. The fog, the chill, the gas fires, the gender specific roles, the dancing and the taffeta dresses. Wonderful!
Overall, I so enjoy being transported back to this period of time in this immersive and compelling novel. I can’t wait to read what the author imagines next. Highly recommended.
December 27, 2023
This audio version book pleasantly surprised me.
Historical fiction based around the 1950’s (I’d say) seedy area of life involving three females who became (unlikely) friends, but all if different aspects to each other.
They live within the same building and this truly became a book I got hooked into and dragged along.
I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally strong and that was a welcome surprise.
I went in blind with this one though and I totally think it sometimes adds to a good reading experience for me rather than an expectation, if anyone knows what I mean.
Historical fiction based around the 1950’s (I’d say) seedy area of life involving three females who became (unlikely) friends, but all if different aspects to each other.
They live within the same building and this truly became a book I got hooked into and dragged along.
I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally strong and that was a welcome surprise.
I went in blind with this one though and I totally think it sometimes adds to a good reading experience for me rather than an expectation, if anyone knows what I mean.
June 28, 2023
Julie Owen Moylan does it again! I LOVED 73 Dove Street, loved it! I stayed up til after midnight (I was up for work at 6am!) last night because I’d almost finished it & then got to a point something BIG happened & I couldn’t just leave it there!
It tells the story of three women - Phyllis (owner & landlady at 73 Dove Street), Tommie (lodger & full of heartache) and Edie (lodger & running away from her life). Each woman has a story to tell about the men in their lives - stories of grief, loss and pain. I’ve both laughed & cried (and I mean genuinely I had tears in my eyes).
Julie is such an incredible storyteller, stirring up feelings and emotions for each of her characters. She is now on my “auto buy author” list. I loved 73 Dove Street so much that I’m welling up writing this review! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
It tells the story of three women - Phyllis (owner & landlady at 73 Dove Street), Tommie (lodger & full of heartache) and Edie (lodger & running away from her life). Each woman has a story to tell about the men in their lives - stories of grief, loss and pain. I’ve both laughed & cried (and I mean genuinely I had tears in my eyes).
Julie is such an incredible storyteller, stirring up feelings and emotions for each of her characters. She is now on my “auto buy author” list. I loved 73 Dove Street so much that I’m welling up writing this review! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2024
A solid 3.5
December 10, 2023
I found this to be a bit lacklustre, I think I was expecting the stories of the three main characters to join up somewhere along the way, but instead it felt like 3 separate stories that overlapped occasionally. The sense of time and place -mid 1950s London - was well done, also the many issues that women had to deal with during that time period were well illustrated. The main problem for me however, was I didn't really warm to, or indeed like, any of the characters, and for this particular story I felt I really needed to. I also found the ending so unsatisfying, it felt unfinished and frustrating, going out with a fizzle not a bang.
I'm on outlier island here, but for me an underwhelming 3 stars.
I'm on outlier island here, but for me an underwhelming 3 stars.
December 17, 2023
3.5 stars. It’s October 1958 and Edie Budd arrives at 73 Dove Street, a tired old boarding house in London. She’s running from somewhere and wants to hide away, to slip under the radar.
Well she’s come to the right place. Her landlady, Phyllis, is dealing with her own troubles, as she comes to terms with her husband’s infidelity.
Then there is Tommie, a glamorous young woman who spends her nights chasing a man who doesn’t care about her. These women keep to themselves, but slowly and surely they get to know each other….
A lovely little read, very evocative of the time. Great characters and an empowering theme about the power and resilience of women.
Well she’s come to the right place. Her landlady, Phyllis, is dealing with her own troubles, as she comes to terms with her husband’s infidelity.
Then there is Tommie, a glamorous young woman who spends her nights chasing a man who doesn’t care about her. These women keep to themselves, but slowly and surely they get to know each other….
A lovely little read, very evocative of the time. Great characters and an empowering theme about the power and resilience of women.
May 20, 2023
The story of three woman living in flats in Dove Street, London in the 1950’s.
Each of these women living a sad life and looking for a new beginning and a brighter future.
A good story that made me care about the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin, Random House for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Each of these women living a sad life and looking for a new beginning and a brighter future.
A good story that made me care about the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin, Random House for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2023
I can’t describe how delighted I was to receive this novel from the publisher and started reading with great anticipation. WOW this book certainly didn’t disappoint. I was transported back to London in 1958 - not just by the wonderful characters of Edie , Tommie and Phyllis but by the sounds ,smells ,fashions and music of the era. There were times when I just felt engulfed in the pea soup fogs of London .Told in the present and in flashbacks of Edies life you learn how these three women ,all remarkable in their own way ,come together in the rather shabby boarding house at 73 Dove Street. This author certainly knows how to write about working class women and the highs and lows that life throws at them in a world where they have very few rights and their lives are controlled by their husbands/fathers. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and it is fully deserving of its five stars ( I would give it more if I could ) I’m looking forward to more fabulous books from this author. Thank you NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.
May 10, 2024
73 Dove Street is a thoughtful, poignant, powerful read and I absolutely LOVED it!
It tells the story of three women - Edie, Tommie and Phyllis - who lived in a boarding house in West London in the 1950s. You think you’ve got the measure of each woman’s personal story until the layers of their lives are peeled away revealing so much more.
The book was so evocative of the time. I could almost feel the London fog closing in, hear the clippies on the buses, smell the open fires… Each scene was so skilfully created that I was completely submerged in the world of 1950’s London and there was certainly no escaping the difficult realisation of how women were viewed as second-class citizens at that time.
The moving backwards and forwards between timelines was really clever. It was like fitting pieces of a complicated jigsaw together - each piece slotting into place as the chapter was finished.
Julie Owen Moylan develops her characters brilliantly. Phyllis and Tommie were so much more than their hard outer shells and Edie’s shy, nervous demeanour hinted at what she might be running from. At times, particularly during Edie’s story, I felt myself racing through the pages desperate to know the outcome.
This is a story of determination, resilience and friendship. Moylan has written a beautiful, evocative book, which brings to life some of the many struggles working class women of that post-war era had to endure. It is a captivating read and I just couldn’t put it down.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishers for an advance copy In exchange for an honest review.
It tells the story of three women - Edie, Tommie and Phyllis - who lived in a boarding house in West London in the 1950s. You think you’ve got the measure of each woman’s personal story until the layers of their lives are peeled away revealing so much more.
The book was so evocative of the time. I could almost feel the London fog closing in, hear the clippies on the buses, smell the open fires… Each scene was so skilfully created that I was completely submerged in the world of 1950’s London and there was certainly no escaping the difficult realisation of how women were viewed as second-class citizens at that time.
The moving backwards and forwards between timelines was really clever. It was like fitting pieces of a complicated jigsaw together - each piece slotting into place as the chapter was finished.
Julie Owen Moylan develops her characters brilliantly. Phyllis and Tommie were so much more than their hard outer shells and Edie’s shy, nervous demeanour hinted at what she might be running from. At times, particularly during Edie’s story, I felt myself racing through the pages desperate to know the outcome.
This is a story of determination, resilience and friendship. Moylan has written a beautiful, evocative book, which brings to life some of the many struggles working class women of that post-war era had to endure. It is a captivating read and I just couldn’t put it down.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishers for an advance copy In exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2023
This book is brilliant - I couldn’t put it down and loved it from the very start. Beautifully written, I fell for Phyllis, Tommie and Edie completely. Every emotion is covered in their stories and we follow them through a sense of shame, pride, hope and love as we journey through their London of the 1950’s. Three very different women, brought together purely by an address in a poverty stricken area of London, our three main characters are trying to survive in a world full of trouble.
Julie Owen Moylan is a master of characterisation- every emotion felt, every decision taken is described so vividly - I felt like I’ve known the three women personally and have lived through their anxieties and troubles. Amazing
July 24, 2023
Without a doubt my book of the month for July - @julieowenmoylan has absolutely nailed it yet again, and if you haven’t picked up one of her books yet, please do, I promise you won’t regret it!
First of all, this story was so compelling that I read an almost 400 page read in a single sitting - I could not put it down! It’s a combination of the setting of 1950s London, which is so evocative and atmospheric, combined with how brilliantly Julie writes strong women that made me love this so much. Each of our female characters was so different but utterly compelling and easy to root for, especially Edie. There are some emotional scenes of domestic abuse, so do check TWs, but overall this is a story of fighting spirit, female friendship and starting over which left me feeling hopeful and uplifted - I just adored every second of it 👏
First of all, this story was so compelling that I read an almost 400 page read in a single sitting - I could not put it down! It’s a combination of the setting of 1950s London, which is so evocative and atmospheric, combined with how brilliantly Julie writes strong women that made me love this so much. Each of our female characters was so different but utterly compelling and easy to root for, especially Edie. There are some emotional scenes of domestic abuse, so do check TWs, but overall this is a story of fighting spirit, female friendship and starting over which left me feeling hopeful and uplifted - I just adored every second of it 👏
May 14, 2023
I loved this authors first book, so always a tad nervous walking into second book territory. I needn't have worried, as within the first few pages, I knew I was in safe hands.
Edie's story touched me from the off, and I was fully invested the whole way through. Tommie took some warming up for me, and Phyllis I was left a tad disinterested. That being said, Edie's story is one that hooked me, and had emotional power behind it. Moving, touching and oh so desperate.
There was a lot of time hopping, which I have to be honest, took me to about halfway through before I settled into it. I also would have liked to have seen more of London and where they were. A fire at the start brings it to life but then the general area gets lost- maybe deliberate due to Edie and her naivety.
Overall a good read, reflective of that time and one I'd recommend.
Edie's story touched me from the off, and I was fully invested the whole way through. Tommie took some warming up for me, and Phyllis I was left a tad disinterested. That being said, Edie's story is one that hooked me, and had emotional power behind it. Moving, touching and oh so desperate.
There was a lot of time hopping, which I have to be honest, took me to about halfway through before I settled into it. I also would have liked to have seen more of London and where they were. A fire at the start brings it to life but then the general area gets lost- maybe deliberate due to Edie and her naivety.
Overall a good read, reflective of that time and one I'd recommend.
April 16, 2023
73 Dove Street is a historical novel of women's lives in post-war London, weaving together the stories of three women who briefly live in a boarding house together.
This is more a novel of themes rather than plot, exploring subjects such as domestic violence, grief and dependency. While there's a mystery at its heart, none of the characters are ever really curious enough to engage the reader - and I found the eventual reveal pretty underwhelming. The structure isn't strong enough to hold it all together as one story: I was waiting for a step change to bring the three characters' narratives closer together, but it never came.
73 Dove Street is a novel with potential, but ultimately I found it a little underwhelming.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
This is more a novel of themes rather than plot, exploring subjects such as domestic violence, grief and dependency. While there's a mystery at its heart, none of the characters are ever really curious enough to engage the reader - and I found the eventual reveal pretty underwhelming. The structure isn't strong enough to hold it all together as one story: I was waiting for a step change to bring the three characters' narratives closer together, but it never came.
73 Dove Street is a novel with potential, but ultimately I found it a little underwhelming.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
February 8, 2024
On paper this book is right up my street, but it didn’t meet my expectations and I found it underwhelming.
Starting with the positives, 73 Dove Street is evocative and Moylan has done a great job in capturing the time period and the issues women faced. Set in post war 1950s London, the book follows three women and their individual stories of hardship and struggles in an oppressive society, but also captures their strength and resilience to fight back against the men taking advantage of them.
For me, I really struggled to get into this book. At times I found the writing stilted, and the plot obvious and unimaginative. I couldn’t warm to the characters and I thought their stories would intertwine more than they did - instead they were separate which made the overall plot disjointed. I was really disappointed with the ending, which to me was a damp squib and felt rushed.
Starting with the positives, 73 Dove Street is evocative and Moylan has done a great job in capturing the time period and the issues women faced. Set in post war 1950s London, the book follows three women and their individual stories of hardship and struggles in an oppressive society, but also captures their strength and resilience to fight back against the men taking advantage of them.
For me, I really struggled to get into this book. At times I found the writing stilted, and the plot obvious and unimaginative. I couldn’t warm to the characters and I thought their stories would intertwine more than they did - instead they were separate which made the overall plot disjointed. I was really disappointed with the ending, which to me was a damp squib and felt rushed.
October 29, 2024
I don't know if I'd call this story an "emotionally gripping novel", as the accolades suggest. I liked the story in general, but I don't think the author convinced me of the characters' personalities and much less of their psychological state in some situations.
The end was also a little strange, I can only assume it was meant to be provoking or to make the reader think, but it simply sounded unfinished to me.
The end was also a little strange, I can only assume it was meant to be provoking or to make the reader think, but it simply sounded unfinished to me.
July 25, 2023
Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of 𝟕𝟑 𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 by Julie Owen Moylan, which I enjoyed reading with the Squadpod ladies 💼
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𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧.
𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲.
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73 Dove Street is a novel centred around three women, who are all very different, yet who have been hurt by life, and by the men in their lives. But they aren't victims; they are survivors.
Our main protagonist of the three is Evie, who is running from something, though the full truth of what she is running from isn't revealed until later in the story. I did guess what she had done, but this didn't make it any less of an enjoyable read.
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𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
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My favourite of the three women was definitely Tommie. My heart absolutely broke for her at times, and for her deperate need to be loved and taken care of, despite her insistence that she could take care of herself.
Tommie and Evie made a great partnership, and they were both there for each other when they needed it the most.
I do hope Tommie gets the happy ending and fresh start she deserves.
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐳𝐳 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧... 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.
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Phyllis, the landlady, was also a fantastic character. I loved the layers of her relationship with her husband Terry, and how events from their lives and marriage are revealed as the novel progresses.
At first, of course, I was all for Phyllis kicking Terry out following his infidelity. But as time went on I did understand that their relationship was complicated. They had both experienced an intense grief, and I can only imagine the fall out that this has on a relationship, no matter how much love exists between two people.
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𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭.
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Moylan's ability to craft characters is fantastic, and these women all felt very real to me. I think most readers will see aspects of themselves in these three women, especially female readers, who may have been hurt in the same ways either directly, or indirectly through the limitations and expectations placed on women.
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𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭-𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 - 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐬.
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I also thought Moylan's depiction of the men in the story was very realistic. Her depiction of some characters as more villainous, like Frank, was fitting, and he was certainly less dimensional, because he didn't deserve the level of empathy and understanding that was afforded to other characters.
I was surprised at my change of heart towards Terry, and I loved how Moylan revealed the depths of his character, and the nuances of all the emotions he felt. He was absolutely right in some of the challenges he made to Phyllis, and I do think that the patriarcal society we live in is hard on men in lots of ways too. They aren't afforded the same allowance to grieve and show emotion.
Don't get me wrong, men created this patriarchal society we live in, and so my sympathy is sometimes limited in this regard, but I do think if men were encouraged to talk about their feelings more, and not belittled by other men for doing so, everyone would be a lot healthier mentally.
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'𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞?' 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.
'𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭.'
'𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.'
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I really enjoyed how the timeline played out, and how the story was gradually revealed to the reader through flashbacks that steadily caught up to the present day.
I'd recommend 73 Dove Street to readers who like stories that are primarily character-driven, and where the plot is revealed in more of a slow burn sort of way.
I would definitely read more from Julie Owen Moylan in the future.
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𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧.
𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲.
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73 Dove Street is a novel centred around three women, who are all very different, yet who have been hurt by life, and by the men in their lives. But they aren't victims; they are survivors.
Our main protagonist of the three is Evie, who is running from something, though the full truth of what she is running from isn't revealed until later in the story. I did guess what she had done, but this didn't make it any less of an enjoyable read.
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𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
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My favourite of the three women was definitely Tommie. My heart absolutely broke for her at times, and for her deperate need to be loved and taken care of, despite her insistence that she could take care of herself.
Tommie and Evie made a great partnership, and they were both there for each other when they needed it the most.
I do hope Tommie gets the happy ending and fresh start she deserves.
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞... 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐳𝐳 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧... 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.
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Phyllis, the landlady, was also a fantastic character. I loved the layers of her relationship with her husband Terry, and how events from their lives and marriage are revealed as the novel progresses.
At first, of course, I was all for Phyllis kicking Terry out following his infidelity. But as time went on I did understand that their relationship was complicated. They had both experienced an intense grief, and I can only imagine the fall out that this has on a relationship, no matter how much love exists between two people.
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𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭.
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Moylan's ability to craft characters is fantastic, and these women all felt very real to me. I think most readers will see aspects of themselves in these three women, especially female readers, who may have been hurt in the same ways either directly, or indirectly through the limitations and expectations placed on women.
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𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭-𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 - 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐬.
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I also thought Moylan's depiction of the men in the story was very realistic. Her depiction of some characters as more villainous, like Frank, was fitting, and he was certainly less dimensional, because he didn't deserve the level of empathy and understanding that was afforded to other characters.
I was surprised at my change of heart towards Terry, and I loved how Moylan revealed the depths of his character, and the nuances of all the emotions he felt. He was absolutely right in some of the challenges he made to Phyllis, and I do think that the patriarcal society we live in is hard on men in lots of ways too. They aren't afforded the same allowance to grieve and show emotion.
Don't get me wrong, men created this patriarchal society we live in, and so my sympathy is sometimes limited in this regard, but I do think if men were encouraged to talk about their feelings more, and not belittled by other men for doing so, everyone would be a lot healthier mentally.
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'𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞?' 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.
'𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭.'
'𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.'
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I really enjoyed how the timeline played out, and how the story was gradually revealed to the reader through flashbacks that steadily caught up to the present day.
I'd recommend 73 Dove Street to readers who like stories that are primarily character-driven, and where the plot is revealed in more of a slow burn sort of way.
I would definitely read more from Julie Owen Moylan in the future.
June 4, 2023
Julie Owen Moylan has done it again, conjured up a 1950s London so real that you almost taste and feel it. The story of three women fighting back against the cards that life has dealt them, I was utterly gripped by Edie, Phyllis and Tommie. The 1950s wasn’t an easy time for women, it was very much a man’s world with women expected to stand by without complaint. But if the man you’re tied to isn’t the man that you married, what happens next?
Opening with Edie moving into the boarding house at 73 Dove St with just a cardboard suitcase to her name, not sure where to turn or who to trust, the story of these three formidable women will stay with me for a very long time. I raged with them against the injustices that they experienced, got angry on their behalf about how their husband's word was paramount, cheered them on when they were making choices for themselves. All three women are battling different pressures and backgrounds, but they are so strong in the face of it, even when they think they are at their lowest point.
A book that deserves to be raved about when it's published next month- thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC.
Opening with Edie moving into the boarding house at 73 Dove St with just a cardboard suitcase to her name, not sure where to turn or who to trust, the story of these three formidable women will stay with me for a very long time. I raged with them against the injustices that they experienced, got angry on their behalf about how their husband's word was paramount, cheered them on when they were making choices for themselves. All three women are battling different pressures and backgrounds, but they are so strong in the face of it, even when they think they are at their lowest point.
A book that deserves to be raved about when it's published next month- thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC.
July 25, 2023
October 1958. When Edie arrives at 73 Dove Street clutching only a broken carboard suitcase and an envelope full of cash, she clearly has something to hide.
She's not the only one; the other women in this shabby boarding house in West London all have secrets of their own . . .
Tommie, who lives on the second floor, waits on the eccentric Mrs Vee by day, by night however, she harbours an addiction to seedy Soho nightlife - and a man she can't quit.
Phyllis, 73 Dove Street's formidable landlady, has set fire to her husband's belongings after discovering his heart-breaking betrayal - yet her fierce bravado hides a past she never talks about.
At first, the three women keep to themselves.
But as Edie's past catches up with her, Tommie becomes caught in her web of lies - forcing her to make a decision that will change everything.
All three women, each very different, but incredibly resilient have all experienced trauma which is so deftly and lightly drawn by Julie Owen Moylan it doesn't shy away from the realities of not only the 50s, but those which are still very present today. She does so without being literal, overly descriptive or gratuitous. This light touch is incredibly powerful and adds to the atmospheric quality of the novel. I wholeheartedly urge you to read this.
Thank you to Hannah Bright and Michael Joseph for my copy of the proof and inviting me to take part in the bookbloggers tour.
She's not the only one; the other women in this shabby boarding house in West London all have secrets of their own . . .
Tommie, who lives on the second floor, waits on the eccentric Mrs Vee by day, by night however, she harbours an addiction to seedy Soho nightlife - and a man she can't quit.
Phyllis, 73 Dove Street's formidable landlady, has set fire to her husband's belongings after discovering his heart-breaking betrayal - yet her fierce bravado hides a past she never talks about.
At first, the three women keep to themselves.
But as Edie's past catches up with her, Tommie becomes caught in her web of lies - forcing her to make a decision that will change everything.
All three women, each very different, but incredibly resilient have all experienced trauma which is so deftly and lightly drawn by Julie Owen Moylan it doesn't shy away from the realities of not only the 50s, but those which are still very present today. She does so without being literal, overly descriptive or gratuitous. This light touch is incredibly powerful and adds to the atmospheric quality of the novel. I wholeheartedly urge you to read this.
Thank you to Hannah Bright and Michael Joseph for my copy of the proof and inviting me to take part in the bookbloggers tour.
June 7, 2023
I really loved That Green Eyed Girl - mostly because of the brilliant characters and Julie has done it again here. Strong, resilient, real women so authentic they almost walk off the page.
73 Dove Street is home to three women. Phyllis the landlady whose husband's affair has just been revealed, Tommie a woman who is no stranger to the clubs of Soho pursuing a love affair with a man unwilling to commit and Edie the new arrival who is fleeing her abusive husband.
There is more to all these women than originally meets the eye and the story is perfectly paced laying out their worries, insecurities and braveries as well as the mystery at the heart of the book.
The 1950s setting is just so well done. Richly described right down to the contents of a Milk Tray box, it paints a vivid picture of post war London still carrying the physical and emotional scars of the war.
Another excellent read from Julie Owen Moylan and I’m already excited for her next book.
Huge thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy
73 Dove Street is home to three women. Phyllis the landlady whose husband's affair has just been revealed, Tommie a woman who is no stranger to the clubs of Soho pursuing a love affair with a man unwilling to commit and Edie the new arrival who is fleeing her abusive husband.
There is more to all these women than originally meets the eye and the story is perfectly paced laying out their worries, insecurities and braveries as well as the mystery at the heart of the book.
The 1950s setting is just so well done. Richly described right down to the contents of a Milk Tray box, it paints a vivid picture of post war London still carrying the physical and emotional scars of the war.
Another excellent read from Julie Owen Moylan and I’m already excited for her next book.
Huge thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy
May 13, 2025
There was a lot to love about this book, with women at the heart of it. It showed quite simply how an attraction, then romance, can gradually slip into a darker relationship, with domestic abuse and controlling behaviour being a very difficult relationship to break free from, particularly given the era the book is set (1950s).
Given this was after WWII the impact on Tommie & Phyllis was still prevalent, which made you think of different ways that those who survived may have struggled afterwards.
I did find the scene with the abortion a very difficult read, and would offer caution to readers.
The style of writing was similar to Martina Cole, with a real grasp of what London was like at that time.
I hope Edie gives a voice to those who still struggle in violent relationships and feel there is no way out, no one should ever have to suffer in this way.
My only issue is that at times, the plot was predictable, but it didn't detract too much from the overall story. I would also be interested to read more from the author.
Given this was after WWII the impact on Tommie & Phyllis was still prevalent, which made you think of different ways that those who survived may have struggled afterwards.
I did find the scene with the abortion a very difficult read, and would offer caution to readers.
The style of writing was similar to Martina Cole, with a real grasp of what London was like at that time.
I hope Edie gives a voice to those who still struggle in violent relationships and feel there is no way out, no one should ever have to suffer in this way.
My only issue is that at times, the plot was predictable, but it didn't detract too much from the overall story. I would also be interested to read more from the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2023
I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first page the author described the sights and sounds of London in 1958 so vividly I could almost see it with my own eyes.
Edie arrives at 73, Dove Street with nothing but a tired old suitcase that’s held together by string and her old leather handbag.
From that moment on so much happens I could hardly keep up and I don’t want to spoil too much by revealing too much but let’s just say the things women have to endure are so Incredibly heartbreaking.
The author portrayed 3 different women with 3 very different problems with so much love and empathy and I think a lot of realism.
This is the first book but this author but it won’t be the last!!.
From the very first page the author described the sights and sounds of London in 1958 so vividly I could almost see it with my own eyes.
Edie arrives at 73, Dove Street with nothing but a tired old suitcase that’s held together by string and her old leather handbag.
From that moment on so much happens I could hardly keep up and I don’t want to spoil too much by revealing too much but let’s just say the things women have to endure are so Incredibly heartbreaking.
The author portrayed 3 different women with 3 very different problems with so much love and empathy and I think a lot of realism.
This is the first book but this author but it won’t be the last!!.
July 20, 2023
I thought I couldn’t be more of a fan of Julie Owen Moylan than I already was, having absolutely loved That Green Eyed Girl when I read it last year. But I was wrong - Moylan is such an incredible storyteller, with an ability to bring both the setting and her characters to life with an intensity that ensures as a reader you are fully transported, immersed in this case in 1950s London and the moving story of three women that will grab you by the throat and keep you invested in their lives until the very last page.
Three very different women are united by one address - 73 Dove Street. Phyllis is the landlady, Edie and Tommie are residents. What unites them is that they have all suffered at the hands of men - Phyllis has recently thrown out her cheating husband and is struggling to adjust to life on her own, Tommie is in love with an unnamed man who clearly doesn’t love her back and is simply using her, and Edie is running away from something. The book takes us back five years as we learn more about Edie’s life and how she has ended up at 73 Dove Street, and how her life becomes intertwined with the other two women.
It isn’t always an easy read - as an exploration of the challenges faced by working-class women after the war, it doesn’t shy away from some difficult topics and I defy anyone not to feel anger about what they have to contend with, but ultimately there is a message of hope, a celebration of the strength of women determined to change their story and the power of female friendship.
Three very different women are united by one address - 73 Dove Street. Phyllis is the landlady, Edie and Tommie are residents. What unites them is that they have all suffered at the hands of men - Phyllis has recently thrown out her cheating husband and is struggling to adjust to life on her own, Tommie is in love with an unnamed man who clearly doesn’t love her back and is simply using her, and Edie is running away from something. The book takes us back five years as we learn more about Edie’s life and how she has ended up at 73 Dove Street, and how her life becomes intertwined with the other two women.
It isn’t always an easy read - as an exploration of the challenges faced by working-class women after the war, it doesn’t shy away from some difficult topics and I defy anyone not to feel anger about what they have to contend with, but ultimately there is a message of hope, a celebration of the strength of women determined to change their story and the power of female friendship.
June 18, 2025
This book deals with the lives of three different women, all connected with 73 Dove Street in London in 1958. Phyllis owns the house, Tommie is a long term tenant and Edie arrives late one night with a small battered suitcase and a secret. As the story develops, the back story of each of the three women is revealed, in the case of Edie and Tommie by “flashbacks” to their pasts up to the date that all their lives converge. Julie Owen Moylan skilfully portrays their heartbreak and the powerlessness that each of them feels, in a time when men held all the power and people turned a blind eye to their behaviour. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was on the edge of my seat as events unfolded at the end. I enjoyed the author’s first book, That Green-eyed Girl, have her third l, Circus of Mirrors on my TBR pile and have already pre-ordered Elizabeth and Marilyn, due out in April 2026
March 11, 2024
5 ⭐
Well written and captivating read.
Dual timeline of the past and present.
A story about 3 resilient women, grief and friendship.
Written in such a way you felt part of the story.
2nd book by this author and I've adored them both. Borrowed from the library and read in a day. Such a fab story.
Julie's description of the working class is done so well in the book.
Would highly recommend 💕
Well written and captivating read.
Dual timeline of the past and present.
A story about 3 resilient women, grief and friendship.
Written in such a way you felt part of the story.
2nd book by this author and I've adored them both. Borrowed from the library and read in a day. Such a fab story.
Julie's description of the working class is done so well in the book.
Would highly recommend 💕
September 21, 2025
Library Book Club pick for October. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, as I rarely opt for historical fiction. I found the author's depiction of 1950s London really vivid, and I was drawn in by the compelling stories of Edie, Tommie and Phyllis, whose difficulties really enlightened me to the plight of women in the post-war era. This book got me thinking about my grandparents' generation and how life might have been for them as a married couple.
February 16, 2025
This story steps back to the 1950s, a time when men ruled the roost, what they said their wives followed. The story mainly focuses on Edie and her controlling and violent husband, her journey after escaping him. The story also told the stories of her landlady Phyllis and another lodger Tommy. A recommended read, I listened to it on Audible.
April 23, 2025
Read this in one evening. A really well written book, a slow burner but it needed to be. I really loved the settings in 1950’s London. Best bit was the awesome characters, strong women in a world where men held all the power.
TW: domestic violence, abortion
TW: domestic violence, abortion
May 4, 2023
73 Dove Street has such a strong emotional pull. There are echoes of Graham Greene’s ‘Brighton Rock’ with some of the characterisation. Really connected with Edie and rooted for her all the way.
May 31, 2024
3.75
don’t know if i like the open end
don’t know if i like the open end
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