Fallout

by Eleanor Anstruther

In the winter of 1982, fifteen-year-old Bridget has had enough of Thatcher’s Britain, enough of family secrets, and enough of being invisible. Armed with a fierce sense of justice and a sharper tongue, she runs away from home to join the women of the Greenham Common Peace Camp, one of the most iconic protest movements in British history.

But Bridget’s disappearance shakes more than her own life. It cracks open the fragile world of the parents she left behind: a conservative mother on the brink of an unexpected love affair, and a father who has spent a lifetime hiding who he truly is. As the three collide on the protest lines―armed with placards, secrets, and unlikely hope―they must face the truths they’ve spent years avoiding.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction, Queer, Fiction, Adult

250 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

Eleanor Anstruther was born in London, educated at Westminster School and studied History of Art at Manchester University where she was distracted from finishing her degree by a trip to India. She was lost and found for the next twelve years, starting a commune and travelling the world before finally settling down to write her acclaimed debut novel, A Perfect Explanation, (Salt Books) which was long listed for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the 2019 Not The Booker Prize. Her latest novel, In Judgement of Others, (Troubador) is available now. Founder of The Literary Obsessive, she’s grown a significant following on Substack where she champions indie lit fiction, serializes her work before taking it to print, and runs the popular interview series, 8 Questions.

Reviews

[Kimberly Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallout is a novel on fire from the inside. It moves with the quiet force of something long-held finally spoken. A daughter steps out of the frame of her life, and the shock of that movement ripples through everything that was arranged to stay still. What fractures is not only a family structure, but the stories they believed would keep them safe.

Anstruther writes with clear, unflinching tenderness. She understands how desire can knuckle under restraint, how grief travels through generations without language, how a single act of refusal can open a door and a wound at the same time. Each character is rendered with patience. No one is redeemed in a tidy way, yet each is recognized.

This book should be required reading. It asks what we inherit without choosing, and what we’re willing to risk to become more fully ourselves. I found myself reading slowly, and often more than once, wanting to stay inside the honesty it made possible.

I’ll be pressing this into other hands for a very long time.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up in the Netherlands and I remember the threat of nuclear weapons and the ban the bomb protests in the early 1980s here. I didn’t know much about the Women’s Peace Protests at Greenham Common in the UK though and have never realised it was this huge. It was good to learn more about it and I liked this novel’s activism and feminism. I missed a bit of nuance though and some characters weren’t very believable to me.
Thank you Empress Editions and Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Lyndsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a left-leaning UK GenX-er, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of Fall Out. Based around the early days of ordinary women protesting against US nuclear weapons at Greenham Common, the story follows 15-year-old suburban schoolgirl Bridget, her social "awakening" and how this "fall out" affects her family and other acquaintances (all with their own issues).

I was around Pauly (Bridget's brother's) age at the time of the story, but I remember the 80s pretty well. Unfortunately, it seems the author doesn't, despite being of a similar vintage. I don't need my "historical fiction" (*weeps*; this is my childhood) to be completely accurate (it is fiction after all) but to place a story in a recent past that readers will remember and get things wrong just diverts attention from the story (although I didn't think much of that either, more on that later). OK, let's tick these off:
• Bridget supposedly went to CenterParcs when she was younger (this is mentioned twice). So, this would have been some point in the late 1970s? Quite the mean feat of time travel, as the first CenterParcs didn't open in the UK until 1987.
• trampolines - they might be ten-a-penny now but, believe me, NO ONE had a trampoline in back garden the early 80s. The only place you saw them were on TV at the Olympics. This made me roll my eyes on its multiple mentions.
• Birds Eye ready meals - microwaves weren't a thing until the mid-80s. You'd have boil in a bag and dehydrated Vesta meals instead.
• VHS recorders - in the early '80s, hardly anyone had video recorders as they were very expensive (although Beta max were a bit cheaper). And you certainly didn't have a library of films like Pauly did.
• McDonalds litter (or "MacDonalds", as it's erroneously called in the book) - I have no idea if Surbiton had a Maccies in 1982, but the chain wasn't quite as ubiquitous then so I doubt they contributed to litter much.
• Years 7-11 - We called them first to fifth year well into the 90s
• Ozone layer - shoehorned in at the end as yet another social issue for Bridget to be clueless about, but considering this wasn't reported until about 1985, you can't blame her really.

In addition to this, there were many embarrassing typos, including a "stationary" cupboard - I mean it's certainly not moving but I don't think that is what was meant. I only hope that this is an uncorrected proof, and a decent editor has been through and questioned/corrected these items.

I hate to be pedantic, but these inaccuracies add to a general air of inauthenticity to the suburban life portrayed here. Everyone seems a caricature, like the author doesn't really know how "normal" people act. The multiple issues each character has seem forced, and everything is easily tidied up at the end.

Bridget is bovine. She just lets things happen to her, so it seems dreadfully out of character for her to suddenly decide to stay at Greenham Common after only being there a few hours. Her sudden awakening is used as an abrupt vehicle to bring in what feels like the only piece of the book that feels like it's been researched. The early Common parts are the only parts that feel alive, like the women linked around the fence. However, even these parts descend into farce, with the main female characters dressed (and arrested) in fancy dress at one point.

Sorry, I just didn't connect with this story at all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kate Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the winter of 1982, 15 year old Bridget is tired of her family’s secrets, and the perfection her mother wants their family to project. Flyers on the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp catch her attention, and when an opportunity arises, she runs away to join the protest. But her running away impacts her whole family as her father’s secrets come to light and her mother discovers parts of herself she never had to face before. As the metaphorical fallout of Bridget running away (to protest the literal fallout of nuclear weapons), will her family be able to pick up the pieces?

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐ ARC Review | #Fallout | #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Eleanor Anstruther for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fallout wasn’t a book I would typically pick up but it caught me off guard in ways I didn't expect.

Set in Thatcher’s Britain during the winter of 1982, this novel drops us into a family already quietly cracking at the seams. When fifteen-year-old Bridget runs away to join the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp at RAF Greenham Common, her disappearance detonates more than just household tension... it forces each member of her family to confront truths they’ve buried for years.

What struck me most was how personal this story feels. Yes, it’s political. Yes, it’s rooted in the nuclear disarmament movement. But at its heart, this is about identity and about trying to figure out who you are when the world (and your family) has handed you a script that doesn’t quite fit.

Bridget is fierce, raw, and unapologetic in her anger. Her father’s quiet repression feels heavy on the page, and her mother’s transformation is, in many ways, the most compelling arc of all. Each character is wrestling with something deeply private, and Anstruther handles those struggles with a sharp, sometimes darkly funny edge.

The writing has bite. It’s emotional and provocative without ever feeling melodramatic. There’s a simmering intensity running through it like everything could combust at any moment which makes sense given both the political backdrop and the emotional landscape of the family.

Would I normally reach for a socially conscious novel set against the backdrop of 1980s nuclear protest? Probably not. But this one proved that sometimes stepping outside your usual genre pays off.

[Emily Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down.

Being born in 2000, I had never heard of Greenham Common, much less the women’s camp, and this book seemed like the chance to learn about something that was an important point in feminist history. Unfortunately, it just didn’t resonate with me at all.

Although the Greenham aspects seemed incredibly well-researched, there were some anachronistic references (at least based on my knowledge) which pulled me out a bit. The bits at Greenham felt very real and grounded so it was clear that was where the author’s passion lies.

I also found the writing to be incredibly repetitive; why do we need to be reminded yet again that Annabel’s sister has lots of kids, “more than enough for the two of them”?

The plot was very thin and for a short book, surprisingly meandering. I felt like there were too many characters’ POVs and it may have been stronger if we stuck to the core family. Alternating between Bridget, Janet, Roy, Annabel and Kate was just too much for such a short novel.

The final part was most gripping and although everything was resolved a bit too quickly for me, I did like the ending.

Thanks to Empress Editions and NetGalley for the ARC copy!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect this would do numbers in the book club side of things, however, except for the historical details dotted about, it missed the mark in a few places for me.

While the plot circulates around one key event (the Greenham Women’s protest), the sheer amount of characters involved and introduced and swept along with their own events and worries causes the plot to stumble and skim over some of the more nuanced points. There’s just so much happening and the POV changes every few characters so a solid footing is difficult to come by as things are happening so quickly and in immediate succession.

It’s a thought provoking read despite that, potentially bleak in places given the compounded futility the women experience and push through. Practically every hot button issue makes an appearance in this book and some are given significantly more focus than others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Micronova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallout by Eleanor Anstruther
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 stars

I’m feeling some kind of way about this novel.

I was enlightened and educated on the women’s peace camp and the Greenham Common peace movement.

But, I was bored the entire time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I recognize what the author did here, with the play on words. The fallout not only refers to the bombs that are to be housed and the shelters in people’s home’s BUT also the fallout (consequences and effect,) that this moment in time has on all the characters lives.

But, I was bored out of my mind.

For me, some of these characters just weren’t believable. Namely Bridget. She’s 15 at the start of this book. If this were my child, I would have kicked her butt into next year. Instead, I’m to believe she rebelled against her parents and lived in the peace camp? (So much more but I don’t want to spoil anything.)

I was bored and couldn’t take some of these characters seriously.

This book wasn’t for me. Upon perusing some reviews, I see that it most definitely is for some people. The characters didn’t leap off the page for me and it was not a page turner. Three star rating because it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Empress Editions for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publish date: April 21, 2026

[Jackie Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallout is the perfect title on so many different levels.

Useful context setting. ‘The Personal is Political.’ It’s 1981 and a group of women seek to raise awareness about the Government’s decision to install a base on Greenham Common to house cruise missiles which will carry nuclear warheads in the event that Russia engages in nuclear war.

Good start. Chapter One. Bridget has gone missing. Her teacher arrives at her home to say Bridget went to Greenham Common as agreed by the note her father had signed to give permission. Her family are confused. Her teacher had hoped Bridget had made her way home.

Bridget a teenager who is getting to the stage in her growing up when her parents are no longer the ones with all the answers. Her father is preparing them all for potential nuclear bombing and her mother is going along with anything he wants to keep the peace. Bridget has the opportunity to accompany a teacher and another school pupil and her Mum to visit. She fakes a note for a visit to the Tate Gallery but her father believes it is not safe to go to London and her mother wants her to visit her grandmother. So Bridget sneaks out early on the morning of the trip. She doesn’t think she will be missed and will be likely home before her family start wondering where she’s gone.

Miss Annabel Jenkins is the art teacher who has encouraged Bridget to attend the Greenham visit. We learn a little about her past and current frustrations.

Bridget’s eyes are well and truly opened by the women protesting against the bomb. She had no idea that women could be different from her family mould of grandmother, wife and mother. For the reader unaware of the politicised 1980s and Bridget this is a consciousness raising lesson in history. A female Prime Minister, yet so many elements of women’s lives restricted by men, the patriarchy.

A time when difference is sniggered at and reviled. Ignorance from the media or the playground dictating how someone should behave, think and act. Ray Reynolds is an army veteran and already had his own house by the time Janet (Bridget’s mother) met him. He is getting everyone geared up to stockpile items for the nuclear ‘fallout’ - even creating a commode for the shelter by cutting a hole in a chair for a bucket to go beneath. But this is more than a satirical tale of the extreme fear the US and UK leaders want to create of the Russian threat to the West it is about different aspects of feminism yet several interwoven family stories.

For the Reynolds family, the Hilpertons and Annabelle Jenkins ‘the political is personal.’

For a relatively short book there were perhaps quite a few characters who were represented in a limited way so that they seemed almost like caricatures.

If you liked Jennie Godfrey’s List of Suspicious Things or her soon to be released The Barbecue at No 9 you will feel the same nostalgia for the time in which this is set. Before mobile phones and the internet…

[Simon S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallout by Eleanor Anstruther is an illuminating celebration of the women of Greenham Common.

Bridget is fifteen: self-conscious about her maturing body, largely friendless, and pouring herself into her art classes. Her mum, Janet—a dinner lady at her school—has settled into a domesticity which Bridget sees as stifling. Her father, Ray, much older than her mother, has a secret life outside their home, returning late with traces of makeup on his face.

It is the early 1980s, and the Cold War is heating up again. The government has issued instructions on how to prepare a domestic nuclear shelter, which has galvanised Ray to obsession. Following agreeement that US nuclear missile launch sites can be built on UK soil, a gathering of concerned women forms at Greenham Common, a tract of public land seized for this purpose.

As the women’s acts of resistance gain publicity, women in Bridget’s circle begin to get involved, and her visit to the site changes her life forever.

The women of Greenham are brought vividly to life by Anstruther. They arrive by many different routes, but share a belief that the proliferation of nuclear weapons—Mutually Assured Destruction as a deterrent—is male posturing and violence at its extreme. Many have direct experience of this, and understand how it plays out. They are determined to prevent escalation.

Through Bridget’s awakening, we see the bonds of sisterhood, the shared rejection of entrenched patriarchy, and the personal freedom fostered by the Greenham camps, which shaped so many lives. We also glimpse the emotional and practical machinery required to sustain the protest: the wins, the losses, and the tensions that threaten to divide the camp even as it withstands mockery and disdain from the press and the establishment. This is where the book’s real strength and heart lie.

I really enjoyed this book as a whole, but was slightly less convinced by the family’s struggles. They felt retrofitted with contemporary gender politics that sat a little awkwardly alongside the 1980s bigotry depicted elsewhere in the novel.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The achievement of thousands of British women in getting the US to remove nuclear missiles from a common in Berkshire has been lost in the annals of time.
Author Eleanor Anstruther, who describes herself as a gnostic, anarchist and aristocrat, takes us back to 1982. A typically "whatever" teenager, 15 year old Bridget, is fed up with her family. Mum Janet, a dinner lady, is forever cleaning and bustling; dad Ray is present but absent in spirit, and weirdly seems to wear lipstick at night. Seven year old Pauly doesn't seem to do much except eat chocolate.
Bridget sneaks off to Greenham Common with her art teacher and a few others. Her parents think she's at an art gallery. Having had no previous interest in Cruise missiles, the reason for the peace camp being set up, Bridget finds she likes the freedom and friendship. She decides to stay. This doesn't go down well with her parents.
Life at the camp is brutal. The Thatcher government sends in bailiffs to remove the women's belongings and bedding, while police and troops watch and do nothing except catcall. The different parts of the camp are destroyed time and time again but the women refuse to be bowed. They show how easy it is to get past the perimeter fence and into the area where huge silos will hold the missiles. Eventually the campaign pays off. The Supreme Court gets involved and a disarmament agreement is signed between the US and Russia. President Gorbachev cited the Greenham women's protest as his motivation.
Towards the end Anstruther's characters in the peace camp start to fracture in their unity as various other political factions start to take priority. The focus is less nuclear disarmament than feminism and women's rights.
Meanwhile Bridget is the forcing function in the stifling and strained atmosphere of her family where no-one speaks the truth or confronts reality.
The writing is very engaging, pulling you in and making you feel part of the narrative.

[Ian Payton · Rating 3 out of 5]

(DNF@33%)

A coming-of-age story, intricately and accurately observed, set around the Women’s Peace Camp around the Greenham Common air base in southern England in the early 80’s, where thousands of women banded together to protest against US Cruise missiles being stationed at the base in rural Berkshire.

Bridget is a disaffected teenager who manoeuvres her way onto a school trip to join the Women’s Peace Camp during their “Embrace the Base” protest (an actual historical event from December 1982 where 30,000-35,000 women surrounded the 9-mile perimeter of the base, in a peaceful and moving demonstration of solidarity).

Set in the context of the Thatcher/Reagan era, with the looming threat of the Cold War, this was heavily nostalgic for me, as I was an impressionable teenager at the time, and lived 10 miles from Greenham Common.

However, I only got a third of the way through the book before having to give up and set it aside. I desperately wanted to enjoy this book, as the setting was so evocative of my youth. And I found the character observations, and the depiction of early 80’s Cold War concern, insightful and enjoyable. The characters of the adult women, their domestic relationships, and their own aspirations, were all astute and sensitively depicted.

But the plot moved far too slowly for me, and there was very little tension. At a third of the way through the book, I just didn’t care what happened. And this is a real shame, because the setting and events are rich and historically important, and I liked all of the characters. I just couldn’t get engaged.

Thank you #NetGalley and the author for the free review copy of Fallout without obligation. All opinions are my own. Apologies for the DNF.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallout by Eleanor Anstruther is a quietly explosive family drama set against the real-life Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp in 1982. What starts as fifteen-year-old Bridget running away to join the protest quickly becomes something much bigger—a reckoning that forces her entire family to confront the secrets they’ve been living with for years.

I loved how the story expands beyond Bridget. Her mother’s unexpected transformation and her father’s tightly controlled fear of nuclear fallout (both literal and personal) add so much depth. No one is neatly redeemed, but each character feels painfully real and deeply human.

The political backdrop adds urgency, but the heart of the novel is about inheritance—silence, identity, and the courage it takes to finally break both. It’s sharp, tender, and emotionally layered. A few slower moments kept it from five stars for me, but overall this was a powerful, thought-provoking read.

The writing is sharp and darkly funny in places, but it’s also incredibly tender. There’s a quiet intensity running through the book, like something long-suppressed finally breaking the surface. Some sections moved a little slower for me, but I genuinely admired what this novel set out to do and how fearlessly it did it.

If you love character-driven historical fiction with complicated families, political edge, and deeply felt emotional reckonings, this one is worth picking up. It’s messy and honest in all the right ways.

Thank you to NetGalley and Empress Editions for this eARC!

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallout is a thoroughly enjoyable novel that gives a snapshot of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp through the eyes of one family.

Bridget is a typical teenager - isn't particularly happy at school where her mum works as a dinner lady, isnt particularly happy at home where her dad has taken Mutually Assured Destruction preparations very much to heart and doesnt really know what to do with her life after school.

That is until a leaflet for Embrace the Base at Greenham Common is posted through her door. Bridget just likes the graphics but when she shows her art teacher her use of the leaflet as her art project a whole new life opens up before her. At Greenham Bridget fits in; she feels a purpose. So what if she's 15 and her family don't understand - she's not going home.

As Fallout progresses the effect of Bridget's decision begins to have ramifications for mum, Janet, who has put her own dreams aside for her family and dad, Ray, who has his own secrets.

Fallout is a real page-turner of a novel. The characters of the family and the women, who kept the camp going in the face of abuse and violence, just leap off the page. I loved this book. Only being a scared teenager when Greenham began, I knew very little about the camp. It has prodded me to read more about these remarkable women who never gave up fighting.

Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley, Eleanor Anstruther and Empress Books for the digital review copy.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

Eleanor Ansthruther has done a good job making this both an entertaining and informative story. I somehow hadn't heard of the Greenham women before so I really enjoyed the setting. Even though I'm a very late 90s baby, I felt this novel captured life in 1980s Britain well. Mixed with complex characters, everything felt really authentic. I love how the story focused on struggles from multiple characters, rather than just one person.

"Bridget had preferred her life when she was nothing, before she had to choose though it wasn't a choice, her body had chosen for her and all the world had followed, saying she'd better dress like a girl now, she didn't want to put the boys off. But what if she did. What if she wanted to put everyone off."

I really appreciated the story tackled social issues that are still so relevant today. Unfortunately I don't feel as though I clicked with the overall story as much as I hoped I would, but I think that's just due to my personal preferences. I believe this will be a great read for those that enjoy historical feminist tales with a mix of fact and fiction.

"An endless stream of women, a crowd of every female face that could be on the high street, watching telly, cooking dinner, but instead they were here, finding their place on the fence, miles from houses and shopping and cleaning and yet they kept coming."

[Samantha Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came away from this novel having learned a great deal - I enjoy historical fiction but the 80s (to me, at least) don’t feel particularly historical. How wrong I am! I valued the insight it offered into grassroots activism and the dynamics of community-led movements. The way it explores collective action and shared purpose felt especially resonant, perhaps even more so given the current climate.

Through fifteen-year-old Bridget, encouraged by her art teacher to join the protest at Greenham, we’re given an intimate view of both the activism and the tensions surrounding it. As she immerses herself in the camp, Bridget encounters a broad spectrum of political beliefs and personalities — from open-minded liberals to uncompromising leftists and anarchists. She also witnesses firsthand the force used by authorities and the realities of state and police power during the demonstrations.

FALLOUT is deeply political, yet it never feels heavy-handed. Its understated humor and emotional honesty keep the story grounded. I found the first few chapters to be a bit of a ‘settle in’ section, but I found that the narrative found its stride quite quickly and then it felt like a surprisingly swift read.

Thanks to Eleanor Anstruther and Netgalley for the advanced read. All opinions are my own.

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a vivid story of a group of the early Greenham Common protesters, from teenagers to grandmothers, and the family members who stay behind as they go to the camp. Their experiences are very true to what I have heard from Greenham women over the years and experienced myself in other activist circles, with both the excitement and the frustrations well captured. I was not surprised to learn from the afterword (somewhat inaccurately titled as an epilogue) that the author had personally interviewed several Greenham women while researching the book.

The characters are well drawn and feel real. They are not always likeable, but even when flawed, the reasons for their actions and attitudes are generally plausible. There are some surprises along the way, with some characters proving to have hidden depths and others disappointing us.

Towards the end, I felt a little too much time was taken to wrap up all the different arcs, but it was not a major issue. There were also numerous instances of incorrect spelling and punctuation throughout my ARC. Some of these may be a deliberate attempt at a stream of consciousness effect, but if so, it did not work for me. Others, such as the repeated misspelling of Vera Lynn's name, are clearly inadvertent; I hope these will get picked up before publication.

[Ella (The Story Collector) · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the winter of 1982, fifteen-year-old Bridget discovers the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, and runs away from home to escape her prim mother and closeted father. At Greenham, she learns about people from all different walks of life, but she cannot reconcile with her mother’s passivity and her father’s secrets. Bridget’s disappearance sends shockwaves through her family, with some unexpected and dire consequences.

I found this book incredibly interesting. I knew nothing about Greenham Common (to my shame) and found the women’s commitment and experiences at the camp fascinating. What was most interesting in this novel was that none of the women are truly there because of the missiles. This, of course, plays a part and acts as a focal point for their protests, but really they’re all there for their own reasons, whether they are seeking an escape, independence, or a community that accepts them for who they are.

I loved the variety of characters. I didn’t think much of Bridget herself (though she is only a teenager so can be forgiven for her ignorance and selfishness), but I loved the rest of them women and really enjoyed their stories – especially Janet.

My only niggle is that, according to this book, virtually every feminist is apparently queer?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallout is a blend of fiction, and the social history of early 1980s Britain. Bridget is 15, shy and friendless. She is a “good” girl, but dreads turning into her mother. In December 1982, a leaflet is posted through the letterbox. That one insignificant event will change Bridget, and the course of her life forever. That leaflet was a quiet battle cry. Embrace the Base hoped to have enough bodies, so when their hands were linked, the nine mile perimeter at Greenham Common Base would be surrounded. Not in anger or aggression, but by a peaceful show of strength and unity.

Fallout is the story of Bridget, and of all the Greenham women. It is the story of a mass awakening, of strength and courage. Courage in facing up to the establishment, standing up against the law, whilst not breaking it, for what you believe in. Also courage in a private sense. The courage to be exactly who you are; of not worrying what others think, while being true to yourself and being happy in your own skin.

It is a fairly short read, but it has a huge impact. Bridget’s family dynamics, are blended seamlessly with the politics of Thatcher’s Britain, to make a gripping and intense book. Anyone with an interest in this era of our history, and/or feminist fiction will be engrossed, as I was.

[Cas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a great deal in this book, particularly as I hadn't heard of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp before! I think there is great value in learning about how this community activism worked (especially right now).

We get a particular snapshot through 15 year old Bridget's conservative family after she runs away to participate in Greenham herself. Bridget meets a wide variety of people and is introduced to various perspectives on both Greenham and the history leading up to it by her new peers, ranging from pleasantly liberal women, stringent leftists, and anarchists. She also sees the violence of the state and the police during her time at Greenham.

FALLOUT is intensely queer and political, while also maintaining ightness due to its dry humor and grounded authenticity. I admittedly found it a bit slow and difficult to follow in the first few chapters, but once it hit its rhythm, I quickly flew through the rest of it! If you have never heard of the Greenham Common, like myself, I really encourage you to pick up FALLOUT as your introduction to it.

Thank you to Eleanor Anstruther for providing me with an eARC of this book for review!

[J Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very appropriate title on many levels for what happens in this story.
This is a superb story set against the background of Margaret Thatcher's Britain in the early 1980s. It c3ntres around the Peace Camp outside the RAF base at Greenham Common and the interactions that members of two families have with it. Although this is a work of fiction, according to the acknowledgements at the end of the book, it contains several incidents that actually happened.
Eleanor Ansthruther's writing here is wonderful, with lots of emotions evident as well as beautiful descriptions and bags of humour. It casts a strong light on the perceived "conventional" role of women, particularly wives at that time, and the clear need for change, which did eventually come. I was in my mid 30s and married at the time this is set and I did come across some wives who were in similar circumstances of home life to those described in the book.
This tale is well outside the range of books that I normally read. Despite that,I enjoyed it, found it very thought provoking and I'm very glad that I had the opportunity to read it.

[Gwennypenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridget is fifteen, it's 1982, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the women are all going to Greenham Common to protest the nuclear missiles being stored there.

Bridget finds herself at the Women's Peace Camp, encouraged by a teacher and a friend, and after deciding to stay, she finds her people and a purpose and meaning in her life.

But Bridget's exploits don't just allow her to find herself and be honest with those she loves. Her whole family's life is upended as secrets come out and their lives will never be the same again.

I LOVED this book. It's a great coming of age story set against the backdrop of Thatcher's Britain, and as the story unfolds and the lies everyone tells themselves unravel, this family of three finally get to become themselves and no longer hide who they really are.

The characters are relatable and their stories familiar, and the whole novel makes you feel at if you're there at the Women's Peace Camp protesting alongside all the Greenham Women.

Thanks to Netgalley, Eleanor Anstruther, and Empress editions for the arc.

#fallout #eleanoranstruther #netgalley #empresseditions #greatreads

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely didn’t know what to expect with this one… but I was pleasantly surprised!

I’ll admit (slightly embarrassingly!) that I didn’t actually know the real story of the women at Greenham Common. A couple of chapters in I found myself straight on Google to check it was a real event - it was! I couldn’t believe I’d never heard the full story before.

What I loved most was how the book cleverly makes you think it’s all about Annabel… then Bridget… then Kate… and on it goes. Just when you think you know whose story you’re following, it opens up into something bigger. I found myself completely invested in all of them and the intricacies of their lives.

Seeing how Greenham Common changed each of them - in different ways - was honestly the best part. The solidarity, the shared purpose, the way they slowly found themselves through fighting for something that mattered… it was powerful without being preachy.

I really did enjoy it. Thank you for a great read NetGallery - appreciate having this story in my heart.

[Miriam Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

*With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC*

I was happy to get an advance copy of this book, which is set in Surbiton and Greenham Common in 1982/1983 - I was just a baby then, but the world it describes felt familiar to me, and enticing. I was also happy to learn more about the legendary women’s camp on the Common.

However, I kept getting pulled out of the story by historical inaccuracy, which made me doubt the research of the rest of it. Protagonist Bridget mentions a Center Parcs holiday several times - Center Parcs didn’t open in the UK until 1987. She goes to the school office and asks for colour photocopies of flyers, when colour photocopying was not commonplace in offices and schools until the mid to late 1990s. It feels nitpicky, but for this elderly millennial it was a bit of a deal breaker as it broke the spell and reminded me repeatedly that the book was fiction.

That aside, the story is well crafted, the writing is good and propulsive, and the setting is an unusual and clever one. I’d still recommend it.

[Silverboggle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this one- a book based around a history I had lived through, watching the women of Greenham Common, on our TV news nearly every night, defying the Thatcher government over the siting of nuclear weapons. However, the story itself felt a bit forced- more about marking out deliberate character arcs and shoehorning in certain life events than about keeping the plot or characters real to life. I liked the exploration round Greenham and it’s women. I disliked the slowness of the plot, and the careless anachronisms. Photocopying at school made me laugh- I was still using Banda machines to create worksheets for my classes in the late 80s and early 90s! I also went to the UK’s first Center Parcs in its opening year (1987) so Bridget wouldn’t have been holidaying there when her brother was a baby!
Overall it’s not a bad book if you suspend any idea it’s accurate- but it’s also slow moving and easy to put down so not one I’d particularly recommend .

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the digital ARC.

[Helbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the Greenham Common peace movement, Fallout explores the shifting roles of women in early 1980s Britain through a multi-character narrative. It effectively portrays both younger and older generations as they question traditional expectations around marriage, motherhood, and identity, while also addressing attitudes toward sexuality with nuance.
The novel maintains a good pace, and the storyline kept me engaged throughout. The setting is particularly evocative, especially for those of us with any kind of personal or historical connection to the period. (I would have been around 5 or 6 at the time the novel was set)
The prose felt a little uneven at times, and I needed to reread certain sentences to make sure I'd fully understood. This, in addition to several typos —likely due to the advance copy —occasionally disrupted the reading experience. That said, I think Fallout offers an insightful look at a time of social change, balancing an engaging narrative with thoughtful themes.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Bridget runs away from home to Greenham Common, joining the women’s peace camp that became one of the most iconic protests of the 1980s. It’s a premise with real potential, and there are moments, (especially the scenes set at the camp itself) where the writing genuinely shines. You get a real sense of the atmosphere there, and I found myself wishing the book had stayed within those gates a lot more.
My main issue was that there’s just too much going on. There are a lot of characters, and the story pulls in so many directions that it starts to feel unfocused. I struggled to connect with any of them, and found Bridget’s parents’ reaction to her running away unrealistic.
I also noticed a few things that didn’t quite ring true for general life in the 80s, small details, but they pulled me out of the story. There were also some grammatical errors that a tighter edit would’ve caught.
That said, I genuinely didn’t know much about Greenham Common before reading this, and I came away wanting to find out more.

Thanks to Empress Editions and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jonathan Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallout by Eleanor Anstruther

It’s the early 1980s and fear of the nuclear consequences of the Cold War strikes at the consciousness of The British Public.

Nowhere is this more acute, than at Greenham Common, the proposed site of American atomic warheads on our green and pleasant land. A peace camp emerges made up of women feeling compelled to resist such an intrusion.

But is this defiance against military proliferation, the sole momentum behind their actions? For Bridget Reynolds, on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday, it presents an opportunity to escape her trajectory of underachievement and join a movement of the free spirited and unrestrained. This is her chance to rage against the male dominated establishment and become part of something bigger than her alone.

It’s the 1980’s, but the right to protest, the membership and motivations of followers feels just as relevant today.

#docs.reading.room

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book giving a “snapshot” of the history of Greenham Commons, which is a story of feminist activism. Based true events in England in the 1980s when a group of woman attempted to prevent the installation of American cruise missiles.

This is a coming-of-age novel. Fifteen year old Bridget runs away from her dull town and uptight parents to join the Greenham Commons protest. What she finds is a dizzying world of people some like her and some so unlike her. This opens Bridget’s eyes to the diversity of the world and the need to preserve this. In the meantime, the secrets Bridget’s family has hidden emerge which also shows that underneath our skins we are all striving for acceptance.

The writing is uncomplicated and terse which contributes to the success of this book.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Empress Editions for allowing me to read this great book.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book, I cannot belive Greenham Common protests were 43 years ago I rember this well admiring thw women of the peace camp . This story is about Bridget, she is fed up of her families secrets and the facade of perfection her mother is trying to protray. Bridget is 15 and during the winter of 82 she runs away to join the Greenham Common protests.

What Bridget does not know is the effect on her family this will have - secrets of her father, things her mother does not want to face. This is a bit of a nuclear fall out or tsumani for Bridget's family and can they move forward from this.

Political, family secrets, coming of age and really now an event in history we can all learn from.

Readers do not have long to wait due for publication April 21st 2026 - recommended read on lots of levels.