Summer in Mayfair

by Susannah Constantine

Secrets are hidden around every corner…
Summer, 1979.Twenty-two-year-old Esme Munroe has finally left the Scottish Highlands for the excitement of London. Working at a prestigious art gallery in Mayfair, she meets gorgeous, worldly Suki, who takes her to the most exclusive bars and clubs in the city. But it’s easy to get lost in London’s glamour and chaos, especially when a long-hidden secret looms – will Esme discover it and who she can really trust, before it’s too late?

Genres: Historical Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2020

About the author

English fashion journalist, advisor, television presenter, author and designer.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson]

Summer 1979: Esme Munro is twenty two years old and she's finally left the Scottish highlands for London. She's working in a prestigious art gallery in Mayfair. She meets Suki who introduces her to the most exclusive bars and clubs in the city.

Although Esme is twenty two, she's still a bit naive. When she meets Suki she introduces her to a lifestyle she's never known before. The story is brimming with scandal and secrets. Thisnis an atmospheric read. It's beautifully written with a fabulous conclusion. I quite liked this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Susannah Constantine for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl Briggs]

The only good thing about this book is I bought it from a charity shop so I didn't waste too much money.
Esme was a character I couldn't relate to at all,she just kept doing stupid things all the time.
The other characters weren't really likeable either and having Elton John and Princess Margaret as characters didn't impress me.
It's great if you want to read about the art world/taking drugs at parties but not for me. Quite dull and boring.

[Cristina Argetoianu]

2.5*
First remark: the person who wrote the synopsis did not actually bother to read the first chapter of the novel or there has to be a better reason for getting the age of the main character wrong by four years

Second remark: I thought we left the idea of women “hiding” behind makeup in an attempt to try to “hide”their insecurities in the past, but I guess not. This concept was mentioned for at least three or four times. We get it, the main character is an all natural girlie🤦🏻‍♀️

the vibes of the book are pretty good, the main character however…

My rating is based on the fact that the story sort of has Gossip Girl drama, which is entertaining at times

[Darlene Chisholm]

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to see Esme as a young woman although it did sadden me with some of the choices she made, but it proved her depth of character, flaws and all. And in the end, she was finally finding her way and accepting her life and coming to terms with her relationships. I am so glad that I picked up the first book, After the Snow which led me to this one. Keep up the writing, Susannah!

[Bridget]

Summer in Mayfair by Susannah Constantine is set in London in the late 1970s, and follows Esme Munroe as she tries to make a name for herself in the art world. From a wealthy family that has had some troubles, twenty-two-year-old Esme, from the Scottish Highlands enters a world of partying, other artists, and vivid characters as she sets about reinventing herself. But as she makes a new friend, Suki, who helps her out and shows her London's sparkling nightlife, the naïve Esme must learn who she can trust...

This novel, the sequel to After the Snow, really delighted me. Told through the eyes of Esme, I was privy to the razzmatazz of London and its culture. Susannah Constantine's great writing meant that I quickly became embroiled in Esme's daily, chaotic life and all of her troubles and quandaries. The variety of characters in this scandalous story were all richly portrayed, and I was all agog to find out what would happen in the end. Having read Summer in Mayfair, I'm now keen to grab a copy of After the Snow. A compelling and satisfying read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Shelley]

I met Susannah Constantine at a blogger event a couple of years ago for the publication of her debut novel After the Snow . She was warm, friendly and just as lovely as she comes across on the television. I was therefore intrigued to read her novel and wasn’t at all disappointed. Her humour and spark shines through in her writing and this is even more evident in her second novel, Summer in Mayfair.

Summer in Mayfair is set ten years after the events of 1969 at Culcairn Castle and we return to Esme as she begins a new life, away from her home and all that she knows in the Scottish Highlands. Esme is now twenty-two and ready to make her own way in the world, ready to find her independence. She begins work in a Art Gallery in Mayfair and the transition isn’t an easy one. She misses her family and the motherly Mrs Bee and she has nothing with her except the most basic of belongings and a mysterious painting that was left to her by her mother’s lover, the Earl of Culcairn.

Esme feels out of pleace amongst the glamour and vibrancy of life in London. She soon begins to find her way and looks to uncover the mystery that surrounds the legacy left to her by the Earl, the painting. As she gradually uncovers the layers Esme begins to realise that the painting holds a greater secret than she could ever imagine, and one that may just change her life forever.

Susannah brilliantly captures London in the late 1970’s, a city on the edge of great change as it moves towards a new decade, with a new Prime Minister. With larger than life characters who bring shocks a plenty, this is a vibrant, colourful and engaging read. But Esme’s story is at the heart of the novel and it was super to be able to follow her on the next chapter of her journey.

It really won’t matter if you haven’t yet read After the Snow, but why on earth wouldn’t you grab that too? It’s rather good. Both books are available now in print, ebook and on audiobook. Perhaps something to escape into over the weekend?

[Cheryl M-M]

Esme isn’t a complete nube when it comes to the world of the upper echelon. In fact it’s fair to say her life has been influenced and determined by her mother’s friendship to a member of the gentry and her past of living her best life. Esme and her sister have gotten used to getting the short end of the stick, both in regards to their mother and the way they are treated by her so-called friends.

Esme is off to make her own way in life in London and quickly gets sucked into the glam, glitz and exclusivity. Old emotions about belonging and being unwanted surface as she slowly unravels secrets that have been hidden for a long time and for good reason.

It was quite interesting how well Constantine invoked the atmosphere of a certain era – not the late 70s it is set in per se, although the clothes and surroundings fit. It has a Golden Twenties feel to it. It has a very distinctive cultural edge combined with a certain economic prosperity. The world of landed gentry and those who inhabit their orbit crash into the world of plain old normality – more like being sucked into the Thunderdome also known as London.

In essence it’s a story about coming-of-age and comprehending that family isn’t always made up out of genetic connections, but rather a strong emotional connection.

Constantine delivers a story with depth, and yet also keeps it amusing, interesting and fun at the same time. I’d love to see that knack she has for creating a specific atmosphere create the story that is obviously just waiting to be told.
*I received a courtesy copy*

[Carole Elliott]

📚 Summer in Mayfair – Susannah Constantine ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I could give this book more than five stars, I absolutely would! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was totally engrossed from beginning to end and genuinely struggled to put it down. I just wanted to keep turning the pages as quickly as possible so I could continue following Esme’s story and find out what was going to happen next.

I became completely invested in Esme and everything that was happening around her. It was one of those books where you tell yourself, “just one more chapter”… and before you know it, you’ve read another five! 😂📖

This is the first book I’ve read by Susannah Constantine, but it certainly won’t be my last. I enjoyed her writing so much that I’ll definitely be looking for more of her books.

An absolutely brilliant read that had me hooked from start to finish. I loved it and would definitely recommend it. ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five stars — and more if I could!

[Belaraniel]

Думала отвлечься легким чтивом, а в итоге всю дорогу плевалась от коряво выписанной героини: в одну минуту у нас девушка с сознанием монашки, умная, начитанная, подкованная в живописи на раз-два. В другой — беспросветная тупица, которая глушит водку, играет на раздевание, бросается в постель к первому встречному, потому что she felt so lonely in London, кидает друзей, подводит работодателей и далее по списку. При этом Lonely in London — это своя квартирка над крутой галереей в Лондоне в Челси, работа по блату, вечеринки в Кэмдене и вернисажи с крутыми художниками. Мне бы такое лонели.
В общем, как говорят в старой присказке, тут либо трусы снимать, либо надевать крестик. Но третьего автор не дает, потому что у нее не люди, а картоночки.
Зато эти деревяшки отлично оттеняют чудесный Лондон, который не испортить даже бездарности.

[Goosegirl]

I'm afraid I couldn't finish this book. No, I could, but chose not to. I've read a lot of great, thought provoking and original novels by this ripe old age, and I just maybe have become bored by quite 'paint by numbers' plots. I can imagine if you've not read many books that follow similar patterns to this one before, and are in the mood for a simple, comforting read that you can escape into this could suffice.

However, I just wasn't interested enough in the characters, or outcome to continue after the first half. I'd probably never be able to write a book so I don't want to put down Constantine 's ability. But, I found it unoriginal and not fitting to my current reading needs or wants.

[Rebecca]

I enjoyed listening on audio. As it was set in 1979 I could imagine the lead character as a bit of a lady Diana Spencer who moved to london at the same time, although under different circumstances, they would have circulated in the same circles. The author Susannah who herself dated extended members of the royal family and spent time with them in private, gives us a glimpse into the English upper classes through this book and how they are so awfully practical but kind of useless and loveable too.

[Carol]

The writing often was preachy. The people, including the royalty, excluding Elton John, were irresponsible train wrecks who attracted disgust, rather than empathy, from this reader. The writing was filled with the trite. As I actually purchased the damn thing, I tried to read it to the end. I couldn’t punish myself that much, so I quit. The thorough knowledge of baroque and rococo art was the only reason that I gave it a second star.

[Bobbie]

This was a charming book. I do have a soft spot for stories in this time period, of this style, and Esme really appealed as a character. I did find her frustratingly naive at times but that was part of her charm. A coming of age story with just enough trials and tribulations to keep things interesting. The whole cast was very entertaining, and I'd love to read more like this from Constantine.

[Lucy]

Summer in Mayfair is a beautifully written feel good read. With vivid descriptions and vibrant characters, it's an absorbing journey back to 1979 London.
I can't believe I've not read Susannah Constantine before, I'll be going back to read the prequel After the Snow.

[Emma's Things to Read]

Scandal in 1970s London. Esme eaves Scotland and heads to London to work in an art gallery. She finds herself uncovering family secrets. Lots of parties and atmosphere

[Kim]

Premise sounded good, execution not so much

[Caz]

This book was very well written just not my usual style of writing. It did however keep me engaged throughout the book. I did enjoy following Esme with all her adventures good and bad.

[LitziG]

So disappointed. Couldn’t wait to finish.

[Joan]

light and fluffy. a who's who of London society in late 60's and 70's early . Bit of a romp through names, parties, royalty etc