The Queen's Coronation

by Jennifer Ryan

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to take the throne, three women in her employ will discover where they belong in a rapidly changing world in this heartwarming novel from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir.

London, 1953. Buckingham Palace and the many employees vital to the smooth running of the monarchy find themselves in bedlam as the Queen's coronation quickly approaches.

Caroline Brimstone, assistant dresser to the queen, watches the queen finding the strength to rule—a woman taking charge of her future. Meanwhile, Caroline’s life is worn thin by her gambler husband, and she is barely holding on as every penny she earns seems to run out the door. When a trip to Balmoral brings her face-to-face with the man she once loved, she finds herself at a crossroads between what her life is and what her life could be. Can she, like the queen, find the strength to define her own future?

Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who positively radiates life—she's young, idealistic, and eager to become a famous singer. So when a handsome, wealthy man at the palace promises to help her on her way to stardom, she's over the moon to have such a supportive husband-to-be. And if he's asking some things of her that she's not quite sure about, isn't that just part of the glamorous life?

Miranda Miller has come over from America just in time to help with preparations as a temporary secretary in the palace. The job is a perfect way to gather information for the article she's writing about the coronation for a magazine back in New York; the article that will keep her boss from firing her because of her gender.

But as all three women discover, just because a woman will soon be sitting upon the throne, it doesn't mean that society will change overnight—and if they want to carve places for themselves in this world, they'll have to do it together.

Genres: Historical Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Jennifer grew up in the British countryside with a penchant for climbing trees and a wonderful grandmother who told her hilarious stories about the Second World War.

As an adult, she became a nonfiction book editor, first editing politics and economics at The Economist Books, and then moving on to the BBC, DK, and other publishers, editing books on health, cooking, wine, and history.

All this time, though, she harbored a longing to share her grandmother's stories about the war, and so she embarked on an MA in fiction at Johns Hopkins University. The novel that she wrote while there--The Chilbury Ladies' Choir--became a National Bestseller.

Please visit Jennifer's website for more information and free giveaways.
www.JenniferRyanAuthor.com

Reviews

[MadiG Raps · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for the arc!

this book highlights three women whose lives intertwine with the queen (and the fourth women we see glimpses of!). i felt connected to the characters and wanted all to work out and be right for them. i appreciated the variety of characters and plot lines .

that being said, this took me a while to get through and initially didn’t grip me; however, when halfway through, i was eager to finish and learn what happened to the ladies. while entertaining and good to finish, there was nothing in particular that made this stand out.

3.5⭐️

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this book Jennifer Ryan has become a must read historical fiction author for me.

"The Queen's Coronation" follows the lives of three different women in 1953 as they prepare for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Caroline, Lucy, and Miranda come from three different backgrounds but all three find themselves working at the palace as Queen Elizabeth prepares to accept the throne. Caroline is trapped in an abusive marriage with no way out until she finds out that her first love is still alive. For the first time she is able to dream of a different life. Lucy, has big dreams of being a singer. With her beautiful face, she thinks she might be able to make it if only she can find the right man to help her dreams come true. Miranda is a widow trying to make it as a journalist in a man's world. She has to do whatever it takes to not lose her job and find the next big story. All three women face uphill battles as they try to improve their lives in an age that is willing to accept a woman as Queen but not give equal rights to women.

I absolutely loved this novel. All of the characters were engaging and I was rooting for all of them to find a better life. This novel tugged at my heart strings and I was all in with the story. Of the three characters I do have to admit that Caroline was my favorite. I really felt for her. and her situation due to the time period. There were also some great villains that I wanted to get what was coming to them. It was a nice change to read historical fiction set after WWII. This is a must read historical fiction for me. A great story with romance and wonderful characters!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Amid the real event of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, three fictional women are portrayed. Caroline is in a bad marriage to save herself and her child from disgrace. But she loves her job as the Queen's assistant dresser. When her presumed dead former lover returns, can she make a life with him despite her horrible husband? Miranda is in London to write undercover articles about the monarchy and the coronation for her newspaper in NYC. This is her one chance, women are rarely given an opportunity like this. Being widowed during the war, she is closed off, angry, and very lonely. She didn't expect to fit into the palace's world, and she never expected to like it.
Lucy is new in London and dying to be a star. She meets an upper class man who promises her everything. The reader sees where this is going, but Lucy is blinded by her desire to be on stage.
These three woman, and Miranda's aunt and the Queen herself, work to make a place for themselves in a world run by men. Standing up for oneself, asserting oneself, and being independent is usually not easy for women in this period. But their stories are engaging. I worried for Lucy, was stressed out about Miranda, and I hoped so much for Caroline.
Great stories. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.

[Jackie Mulkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 52 Book Club's 2026 Challenge - #52 - Published in 2026

This book was downloaded from Net Galley as an advanced copy.

This is one great read. I am a Anglophile and a Royalist (but a southern American). This part of history is very interesting to me so I was immediately drawn in. I feel that there are 3 main characters, but Caroline is more main than the others. The characters are well fleshed out and the dialog was interesting and time appropriate. I like being able to look back to 70 years ago and see how much has changed for women. I know that the book was well written due to me getting 2nd hand anxiety for 2 of the other characters. If I am not interested in the book, I can easily just note that people are dumb or making poor choices. I had empathy for them and wanted them to not get emotionally or physically hurt.

The only reason I did not rate this book 5 stars is that I predicted a bit of what was going to happen. However, this will not affect my recommendations to read the book. The characters are well liked and formed, great dialog, chapters are a good length, the story moves along appropriately without dragging, and the length of the book is perfect.

[Kim Dague · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley for the early ebook copy of “The Queen’s Coronation” by Jennifer Ryan. I was eager to read this title having read several of Ms. Ryan’s previous historical fiction works, and “The Queen’s Coronation” did not disappoint. We are introduced to Caroline, an assistant dresser, and a large cast of characters, in service to the young queen Elizabeth I in the run up to the coronation. As a life-long Anglophile with an enduring affection for the monarchy, I loved this story.. The “up close” glimpses of royal life are so enjoyable, as are the glimpses into the lives of the people working for the queen, all with interesting storylines of their own. .A strong thread is the difficult post-war transitition that many women experienced: their efforts and work in the war effort was appreciated and valued, but post-war many women found it frustrating to return to home and hearth. I started the book in the afternoon; and raced thru it to see what would happen to each of the characters! This was a 4-star read for me, and I would highly recommend for those who like historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in Queen Elizabeth II!Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ebook! #TheQueensCoronation #NetGalley

[April Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of The Queen's Coronation. This is another wonderful book written by Jennifer Ryan. I have read all of her previous books, and they always make me feel so hopeful and happy for her characters! I love reading about the British monarchy, so this book was especially intriguing for me. I loved how the author tied the three main characters to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Being a woman during post World War II was a difficult time, and the way Ryan wrote about their lives and struggles to become more was well written and made me feel angry towards the injustice of it all. I like it when an author can make me feel an emotion an make me root for characters, and Ryan did with these women's stories. Each character had their own chapters throughout the book, and I like that writing style. However, I wish Ryan had given Queen Elizabeth II her own chapters as well. I would have liked to read her perspective of becoming queen at such a young age. Overall, a very good book with well developed characters. I will read anything Jennifer Ryan writes!

[LibraryNinja_Beritk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Jones is an aspiring singer and busy woman. As an assistant wardrobe dresser to the ascending Elizabeth Windsor aka Queen Elizabeth II, she's got her hands full creating looks and outfits for the upcoming coronation. Meanwhile, Caroline Brimstone is the assistant dresser to the Queen and wants a better life for her daughter than the one she currently lives. While these women are toiling away at creating the most iconic dress for a royal coronation, there's trouble afoot when an undercover journalist enters their realm. The story is incredible and a great 'glimpse' into the world behind the royal curtain. These three women are tied together inexplicably through a series of events that promises to leave you wanting for more. Ballantine Books is having a year with Royal fiction- and it must end up on your TBR this year.

I can't thank Ballantine Books enough for giving me the chance to read this ARC on NetGalley and provide an honest review. Absolutely incredible book- no notes.
#ballantinebooks #TheQueensCoronation #NetGalley #libraryninja📚

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
Having read several Jennifer Ryan novels, I knew what to expect and this book was no different.
There are several main characters with chapters separating their view points.
There is friendship, love, hardship, heartbreak, and women coming together for a common goal. This book is all of those things. Check.
The book also has all of the excitement of the Queen's coronation - which is great if like me you adore Queen Elizabeth. Check.
It was however pretty predictable and heavy handed on 'poor women of this day who are beholden to a man', as it was after WWII when men went back to work and women went back to the home. These three women are employed, but there are predicable challenges, unplanned occurrences, and other frustrations.
I liked it. I would recommend to patrons I know who like these kinds of books that are clean and have happy endings. I didn't like it as much as Kitchen Front.
3*

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books For this dazzling historical fiction
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

London, 1953. Buckingham Palace is in controlled chaos as the coronation approaches, and through its gilded corridors move three very different women. Caroline, the queen's assistant dresser, watches Elizabeth find the courage to define her own future while her own life is being quietly hollowed out by a gambling husband who drains every penny she earns. Lucy, a junior wardrobe assistant bursting with ambition and talent, falls for a wealthy man who promises to launch her singing career — though the cost of his help becomes less clear the closer she looks. And Miranda, an American journalist working undercover in the palace, is racing to write the story that will save her job in a newsroom that never wanted her there.

Warm, immersive, and exactly the kind of historical fiction I read to feel something. If you loved The Chilbury Ladies' Choir or The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, this is Ryan at full confidence. A coronation story that belongs to the women who made it happen.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have read Jennifer Ryan’s previous novels and have enjoyed them immensely, so I knew that this book would hopefully be an enjoyable read, I was not disappointed. The story of three women , Caroline, Miranda and Lucy along with some secondary characters are working at the royal palace in anticipation for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Each of these women have trials and tribulations due to many factors, but they end up supporting and help each other through difficult circumstances. The story’s underlying themes of women working, receiving lower wages, discrimination are all touched upon and they enlighten the story themes along with describing many details about the coronation. I enjoyed this story immensely, the story was well written and researched, and I liked all of the characters who were all strong women in different ways who cared and truly loved each other.

[Bobbie]

I want to thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan. She previously wrote the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle among others.
“All her life Elizabeth had been told how to act, but now she was the one in charge.”
This novel is about the upcoming coronation of Elizabeth. The chapters are headed by three women, all connected to the upcoming festivities. This is a very interesting inside look at Elizabeth, Philip and the royals.
Women in this era are being treated as second class citizens.
Will Elizabeth stand up and create change? Can these three women change their lives?
I really enjoyed this book.
The Queen’s Coronation is scheduled for publication 06/02/2026.

[Heather Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really enjoyable read from Jennifer Ryan - this time set in 1953 around the time of the Queen’s coronation.

The story revolves around three characters - Caroline - stuck in a loveless marriage for the sake of her daughter, working as an assistant dresser; Lucy an aspiring singer up from Cornwall and working as a wardrobe assistant and Miranda, a war widow and journalist for a New York newspaper and working undercover.

They all have their own troubles but to succeed they must confront their pasts, work together and forge a new way forward.

The story touches on the themes of the discrimination of women in their working lives and the control men had over their personal lives. It also gave an insight into palace live and the politics of the Coronation.

An interesting read, delightful characters and heartwarming as well!

One to be recommended.

[Jessie Hass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my review. I was excited to read The Queen's Coronation because I'm a huge Jennifer Ryan fan. Her newest novel has all the classic hallmarks of one of her books: alternating narrators, a rich historical setting, and resilient women triumphing.

What I loved: the inside view of the queen's coronation and the happy endings for the characters.

What I struggled with: I didn't especially like 2/3 main characters for the first third of the book. They were hard to root for. Lucy's story in particular was painful to read.

I would still highly recommend this to any history fan or Anglophile.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked all the details about the clothes for the new queen. The story gave us an inside look at how the palace was run, the decorating, the food, the grounds, and how everyone had their own specific jobs. You also got a sense of the politics among the royals and the 'help', with all the heiarchy involved. Unfortunately, I did not care for the stories of the three women. I didn't get an emotional connection with the ladies, and felt there were few surprises. While other readers might feel differently, this book was a bit of disappointment to me. I do thank Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. I imagine some will love this book.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I have read several other books by Jennifer Ryan and requested this book because of the author. The book focuses on 3 different women who are all involved at the palace for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. This book sheds a bright spotlight on the way women were expected to be demure, but also sex objects. To contribute to society during the war, but also go back into their smaller spaces once the war was over and men needed those jobs back. This book made me very mad at times and frustrated that it doesn't seem like we've made much progress in many ways from this time period.

[Reading Xennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is told by POVs of three very different women that worked at Windsor Castle around the time of Queen Elizabeth II. They all have different walks of life and experiences of working at the castle differs. This book is slow moving and focuses a lot on how women were treated differently in the late 1950s. It’s very much a character driven story. The characters are great and have lots of depth. They all have interesting viewpoints. If you’re into reading this type of book then I highly recommend this one because it is written well.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Ryan is one of my favorite authors, but this book was not my favorite of hers. I found the three POV's to be a good base for the book, but none of the characters were well enough developed to really care about. In fact, the characters were pretty one-dimensional.
The research that the author did in order to write the book was the star of the show, and was very well done.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
#NetGalley #TheQueensCoronation

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful read! Told in multiple povs by three main female characters with different lives but all working in various jobs leading up to Queen Elizabeth II coronation. The characters of Miranda, Lucy and Caroline all come to know and interact with each other along with wonderful supporting characters. This book has love, friendships, heartbreak, joy accompanied by a glorious background and wonderful history of coronations of the past. A must read for any history buff! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen’s Coronation is a charming historical fiction that follows three women behind the scenes of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation. Through Caroline, Lucy, and Miranda, Ryan explores friendship, ambition, and resilience, showing how personal struggles intersect with historic events. The novel blends rich historical detail with relatable, well-drawn characters, making the palace drama feel immediate and engaging. It’s a warm, character-driven story about women finding strength and purpose in a changing world. Easy to read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and my honest opinion.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Ryan is one of my must read authors and yet again I flew through her latest book, The Queen’s Coronation. A historical novel that really made me feel I was in the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. All the excitement, palace intrigue, and work that went into such a momentous event. The 1950s post war era was a time of change for women and we see this told through the lives of Betty, Caroline, Miranda and Lucy.
I highly recommend this novel.

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

another 3.5.

this book is told through three women, caroline, lucy and miranda, who work in the castle for queen elizabeth. they are going through their own challenges and we see them navigate it. this book fit with it being women history month and all because the three women are trying to figure to find their place in the world. a solid historical fiction book. i think the story i enjoyed the most was miranda.

[Stephanie Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Jennifer Ryan’s books so I was excited to get an ARC of her new one. I loved the theme of the story and the some of the characters were well liked. But for some reason this book wasn’t my favorite. All in all it was a good read.

[Alissa Manning-Telisak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like slipping into a simpler time—in a really comforting way.

The Queen’s Coronation follows Caroline, Miranda, and Lucy as they’re all figuring out their lives during the lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Each of them is at a different crossroads—Caroline is the dependable one who’s always taking care of everyone else, Miranda is starting to question whether her “perfect” life is actually what she wants, and Lucy is still trying to find her place in the world.

What I really liked is how the coronation itself sits in the background while their lives take center stage. You still get all those great details—street parties, decorations, that sense of excitement in the air—but the story is really about these women and the choices they’re making.

Jennifer Ryan does what she always does well: strong sense of community, easy-to-connect-with characters, and that cozy, emotional feel. If you’ve read her before, this definitely has the same vibe. It’s not super dramatic or fast-paced, but that’s kind of the point—it’s more about the small, meaningful moments.

Nothing here is wildly surprising, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s just a really solid, enjoyable historical fiction read that leaves you feeling warm by the end.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Queen's Coronation. This is a wonderful book with great characters. I love how this story shows the power and importance of friends, especially when those friends become family. The friendships take place in the months leading up to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book by Ms. Ryan.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the author's books and her latest makes the reader feel she is part of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, through the stories of three women involved with the event. A great histfic read!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from Net Galley. Review to follow

[Susan Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at 3 women's lives as they work toward Queen Elizabeth's coronation and the changes they make in their lives.