Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau

by Sheena Wilkinson

They’ll find you love even if they can’t find it for themselves.
April McVey hasn’t a romantic bone in her body. So how has she found herself at the door of Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau, job application in hand?

Matchmaker Martha hopes the lively Irish girl will breathe fresh air into a business struggling to keep with the times amid the tumult of 1930s Britain.

So when lonely widower Fabian arrives at the bureau, the pair’s matchmaking skills – and professionalism – meet their first true test.

Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau is a charming and witty romantic comedy about friendship, loneliness, and the unexpected places where we find fulfilment.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Irish Literature, Fiction, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2023

About the author

Described in The Irish Times as 'one of our foremost writers for young people', Sheena Wilkinson is the author of eight acclaimed YA novels. She has won many awards for these, and for her short fiction. Her first adult novel, Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau, a historical romantic comedy, is published by HarperCollins Ireland.

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau is the first novel for adult by Northern Ireland author, Sheena Wilkinson. Martha Hart, widowed by the First World War after only eleven days of marriage, was so moved by the plight of injured, disabled and disfigured returned soldiers, she eventually opened Mrs Hart’s Matrimonial Bureau in Easterbridge to find them partners amongst the post-war surplus of grieving, widowed or involuntarily single women of Yorkshire.

Caring for her bedridden mother meant she left running to an assistant whose abuse of her position left the business run-down, and the interviews for a new assistant leave her doubtful she will find the right person. Miss April McVey, though, formerly of Lisnacashan in Northern Ireland, and now living with her aunt and widowed mother in Manchester, seems to have the right attributes and attitude to help refresh the business.

In her interview, April proves to be charming, honest, sensible, sensitive, resourceful, literate, fresh, and interested in people: she has the required sympathique. April is quite definite about not wanting to marry, so won’t follow the previous assistant. She’s not averse to hard work, but she does challenge Martha with the changes she suggests, including a name change to True Minds Marriage Bureau. Her match-ups, though, turn out to be successes.

After three years as a widower, provincial solicitor Fabian Carr is at his wits’ end with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Prudence. He moved them from London to Easterbridge where they would be closer to his sister Felicity, and away from reminders of the cancer that took his beloved Serena. But Felicity is too busy with her writing to bother much with her niece, and Prudence is now on her final warning at her third boarding school in three years.

Fabian’s second encounter with Miss April McVey entails her bringing Prudence home after she turns up, having again absconded from St Lucy’s, at her aunt’s home, where April is renting the attic bedroom. This self-possessed young woman so impresses him, he sets out to court her. April would happily find him a wife, but isn’t interested in being one.

The revamp increases business and Martha is pleased with her new employee until April makes a poor decision that puts her in danger and potentially damages the reputation of bureau. Meanwhile, April worries about her landlady, Fabian’s sister: strange behaviour, financial problems and an association with possibly the wrong people…

As well as some sweet matches, there are a couple of twists and surprises in this truly delightful historical rom-com. More from this author will be welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book, which I recommend. My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...

[Breige · Rating 4 out of 5]

April McVey has left her home in Lisnacashan and has moved to Easterbridge to join Mrs Hart at her marriage bureau. Mrs Hart is hoping her new younger Irish employee will revive her business, which was originally set up to find wives for war veterans. April thinks she will be good at matching people together, even if she has no plans to ever wed herself. She moves in with author Felicity and gets to know her brother Fabian and his daughter Prudence. But things don’t always run smoothly for April: she makes a few mistakes at work, Felicity is acting very weird and things turn a bit complicated with Fabian. Will April be able to sort everything or will she leave Easterbridge?

I loved this book! I read the physical book as well as listened to the audiobook, which was fantastic. The narrator does a great job of the accents & I was compelled to keep listening

The story fun and light, even when some more serious topics are being tackled. The matchmaking is just one element of the story, it touches on loneliness, how women were expected to act in 1930s and the growing tensions in Europe to name a few other issues

April is a tenacious character, I loved rooting for her. She’s plucky and independent, taking chances on herself and others and really knows herself. I enjoyed seeing her settle and make friends in Easterbridge, I enjoyed how all the cast of characters crossed paths and interacted with each other

A delightful and charming historical novel. If you liked Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce then this is for you!

[Hedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fictions is definitely my thing. From the first pages I already knew it is going to be great read. I loved the heartwarming atmosphere in this book, its definitely entertaining, intriguing and a very engaging book. It is a page turner and i really enjoyed reading this all the way until the very end.
This new novel by Sheena Wilkinson is set in the 1930s in Britain.  April McVey is from Northern Ireland and after his fathers death she and her mother had to move in with Aprils aunt. Her big wish was to find a job, find her own place to live and become independent.
When she gets a job in Mrs Hart´s Marriage Bureau, her dream comes true. She moves to another city and into a new home.
Although April keeps saying she has no interest in getting married herself, she has excellent insticts for matchmaking and running a business. But Martha Hart dont believe April is not interested in her own marriage, especially when a widower and true gentleman Fabian comes on the scene.
I liked all the character especially April, she is fierce, energetic, forward thinking and unstoppable She is honest and speaks from her heart. 

[Catherine Booknooksandlatte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by being honest and saying that I don't normally read romantic novels and if I had not been invited to receive an advance copy of this book, I may well have missed such a wonderful reading experience.

Set in the 1930's in the little town of Easterbridge, Mrs. Martha Hart a wartime widow tries to bring life back to her Marriage Bureau. Created originally to help match injured war veterans in finding a life partner. After caring for her mother in her final years, the Bureau is in dire need of a new lease of life and an enthusiastic assistant.

Vivacious April McVey is in her late 20's and feels like she is the only woman that has absolute no interest in getting married and settling down. Having left her home town of Lisnacashan in Northern Ireland with her mother following the death of her father, she grabs the chance of a new job and life in this little market town.

Mrs. Hart's Marriage Bureau is not your standard romance novel. The characters are wonderfully developed and not just the main characters. There are so many unexpected twists and turns. Darker moments interlaced with so much humour. I fell in love with the characters and felt like screaming at others. Sheena completely transports you to the 1930's and I could not put this book down. I highly recommend this book to those that avoid romance novels as though based on a Marriage Bureau this novel offers laughter, tears, anger, shock and twists a plenty. It has completely changed my outlook on this genre.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau published March 2nd with Harper Collins Ireland and is described as ‘a charming and witty romantic comedy about friendship, loneliness, and the unexpected places where we find fulfilment.’

Delightful, entertaining and cosy would be three words I would use to describe Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau. Set in the 1930s, with a host of wonderful characters, Sheena Wilkinson has captured something really wonderful with this book. As the name suggests it is a story about a marriage bureau based in a rural town in England. Martha Hart lost her husband during the First World War after a very short marriage. Over time the idea blossomed to start an agency of her own, one where she could help men, injured through war, to find suitable women to marry. These women would look beyond their disabilities and see the man for his true self. The agency had muddled along for years, but now Martha wants to shake it up a little. She needs to hire a new assistant and, as luck would have it, she discovers the perfect candidate in April McVey.

April flies through the interview and Martha is secure in the knowledge that she has chosen well. April is from Northern Ireland and has a different approach, with some of her methods jarring to Martha but she also has drive and passion for the job. This burst of new energy reinvigorates Martha and together they make some small changes in order to drive more business their way.

April makes it clear from the very beginning that she has no interest in marriage. Never short on suitors, she has always been more focused on her career. Her own family history has left its mark and now April wants to create a new home, a new life for herself as an independent woman. But, as the days pass by, April begins to question her choices and attempts to understand what it is she is truly looking for.

Sheena Wilkinson has written a very astute tale, depicting that specific period of history with a great sense of authenticity. Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau is a novel that feeds the reader’s need for comfort and joy, while also highlighting relevant societal themes of loneliness, financial woes, grief and so much more. That sense of pre-war unease, as the influence of Fascism starts to take hold, filters through the plot adding a heightened awareness of what lies ahead for these people whose lives we share for a brief time.

Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau is a very engaging and joyful read. It is a book that traverses all generations with an elegant tale written in such an immersive style. Full of heart, it is a gorgeous, uplifting and sincerely charming read.

[Mary Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feel good story of match making in the 1930s. Mrs Hart employs April to help revive her Marriage Bureau business. Eastbridge in England becomes April’s new home and her Northern (Ireland) accent brings a lighthearted humour to the story. A soft romantic novel that throws in a feminist slant on a number of issues.

[Iona Sharma]

A queer book! And very charming. I wish it had spent more than a couple of pages on the resolution, though.

(edit: worth noting as a content note that a sexual assault is part of the plot of this book)

[Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars..quite enjoyable but ending felt a bit rushed.

[Naomi Fearnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly enjoyable book and I couldn’t help but fall in love with April, she is so lovable and this story had me gripped from page one- easily a 5 star!!

[Terry Kinane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely easy read just what I needed!!

[Laura Hannaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story.

The story gives life and a new perspective on England and Europe in the mid-1930s.

The writing was funny and rich and I would highly recommend it.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three-and-a-half stars, rounded up. Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau is a charming romance, though arguably, it's more focused on character development and self-discovery than it is any one couple. Fortunately, I liked the main cast (i.e., the eponymous Martha Hart, her colleague April McVey, siblings Fabian and Felicity Carr, and the adolescent Prudence) as well as the various side characters. I think the protagonists are each clearly drawn from the outset and I felt invested in their growth and their desires for their own lives. I appreciate that the text lets the characters err and even when I found myself frustrated, I understood their decisions. I'm a sucker for homosocial relations, so I loved the evolving dynamic between April and Martha as they navigated one another's personal and professional boundaries. It's satisfying to watch them build a lasting friendship just for its own sake, but given the narrative context, I think it lay the groundwork for their respective futures quite effectively. The alternating perspectives made for a more compelling story and the writing is strong, though for my part, I could've done without Mrs. Hart's "ghosts."

I'm glad that the story circled back to some, if not all of Mrs Hart's (and Miss McVey's) clients, successful or not, because I really enjoyed their stories and all that they revealed about the setting. I don't think I've read (m)any historical romances set in the 1930s, but Sheena Wilkinson brings that period to life quite vividly through the plot, dialogue, etc. I wish there'd been more time with Felicity because she's a fascinating character, but I imagine the text had to keep its distance to preserve a sense of mystery. I completely understand, given the circumstances, and yet I'm wondering if it made the conclusion a little less impactful than it might otherwise have been. I assumed from the outset that April is queer, though it seemed as likely that she might be aromantic and/or asexual as lesbian, and I got the sense that Felicity would've been more interested in Hanna than Erich if she were (romantically or sexually) interested in any of her friends from Germany. In many ways, their relationship follows the basic principles of matchmaking--namely, that people need little more than a shared interest/goal and some magic to start a life together--and it's no different from Martha and Fabian's in that respect. Still, I would've liked to see more of them as a prospective couple! Before April moves out, they commiserate over shared experiences of sexual violation, laugh together during a tipsy walk home, and dine together, so there's enough to justify their mutual pining. I wanted just a little more before they arrived at love, but on the other hand, I believed it.

Perhaps it's simpler to say that Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau left me wanting more, and I don't think there's a greater compliment for a novel. It's hard to sum up, but if you're interested in a slow(ish) burn romantic dramedy set in 1930s England, then pick this up. I really enjoyed it!

[Nick Garlick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charmer. I’m sitting here wondering whether that does proper justice to the book, but I really can’t think of a better word. And with charm something in short supply these days, that makes it all the more of a lovely achievement.

Mrs Hart set up her bureau after the First World War, to help maimed and injured soldiers find a wife. Now, in the mid-1930s, she hires young April McVey to breathe new life in to the business. Does she ever!

Soon we’re introduced to Felicity, a writer of children’s stories and romantic tosh for magazines; her widowed brother Fabian and his sulky daughter Prudence. Not to mention the bureau’s clients: all individuals, all lovingly drawn. And plain-speaking April, from Ulster, with a knack for cutting through propriety without - almost – ever offending anyone.

And it brings these characters to life without a single knowing post-modern wink to say, ‘Boy, aren’t we better than this lot of old-fashioned fogies?’ It takes them – and their world – seriously. A world where people take tea, use surnames when addressing anyone but close friends, and an ‘understanding’ is not a code word for the swingers’ lifestyle. It brings a bygone age to life without the knowing, willful eccentricity of Lessons in Chemistry (a book I happen to love, by the way).

It's a story that moves along at a brisk pace, with every event made perfectly believable, and all the plot lines brought together at the end in a satisfyingly warm glow of a knot. These characters have earned their happiness, and when they find it, you don’t begrudge them that for a second.
An absolute charmer.

[Rachael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this book until a friend sent me a signed copy. I'm so glad she did as it was such an enjoyable read. Set in 193os England, the story revolves around a marriage bureau in a small town run by war widow Martha. Recently moved from Northern Ireland, 28-year-old April finds employment alongside Martha, bringing a fresh perspective to the business. April is a brilliant character and endears herself quickly to the reader. Her feminist perspective is a welcome challenge to some of the more antiquated views held by other characters.

The reader is also introduced to a number of side characters and I especially enjoyed the clients of the bureau. It has a quirky cast of characters and these were definitely the strongest element of the book. The story also features a number of darkers issues like the rise of Fascism in both England and Germany, Jewish refugees, and sexual assault.

I think the synopsis is a little misleading as it suggested Fabian Carr's arrival at the bureau was a major part of the plot. This isn't how the reader is introduced to him and he doesn't visit the bureau until much later. To be honest, he's one of the least interesting characters. The romance is secondary to the friendship and companionship but I do think knowing there's a wlw as well as a mlw romance would have improved my reading experience even more. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.

[Alessandra Bassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First there is the review in Italian then the English one –
Prima c'è la recensione in italiano poi quella in inglese
4
Letto in inglese.
Piacevole, ironico e abbastanza insolito. La storia è centrata su una agenzia matrimoniale gestita da una vedova di guerra e dalla sua assistente. È interessante l’ambientazione nell’Inghilterra del periodo fra le due guerre mondiali: la vita non è certo facile, nonostante il sollievo per la fine del conflitto, della paura, delle devastazioni e delle vite rovinate. In altri paesi europei le difficoltà sembrano ancora più gravi, ci sono molte tensioni e succedono cose preoccupanti. Tutti quanti hanno sofferto per le morti di familiari e amici, per le perdite di vario genere, e dalla guerra molti sono tornati vivi ma mutilati o segnati irrimediabilmente da ferite fisiche o da traumi terribili. L’orgoglio aiuta, come è evidente per entrambe le protagoniste, ma è importante anche l’aiuto che le persone si danno a vicenda, nonostante il fatto che gli inglesi sembrino fare una fatica tremenda a esprimere emozioni e desideri, e di fronte al rischio di perdere la loro dignità possano quasi preferire la solitudine. Quasi! Perché ovviamente l’ironia aiuta a cavarsela e a trovare soluzioni creative.


4
Read in English.
Pleasant, ironic and quite unusual. The story focuses on a marriage agency run by a war widow and her assistant. Interestingly, the setting is England in the period between the two world wars: life is certainly not easy, despite the relief at the end of the conflict, fear, devastation and ruined lives. In other European countries the difficulties seem even worse, there are many tensions and worrying things happen. Everyone has suffered the deaths of family and friends, losses of various kinds, and from the war many have returned alive but maimed or irreparably scarred by physical injuries or terrible trauma. Pride helps with this, as is evident for both protagonists, but the help people give each other is also important, despite the fact that the English seem to have a tremendous difficulty in expressing emotions and desires, and when faced with the risk of losing their dignity, they almost prefer solitude. Almost! Because of course irony helps people cope and find creative solutions.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Fair warning, this review is mostly an exercise for me to understand why I ended up not liking this book. It reflects my personal reading experience. It is not meant to be a commentary on the value of the book or its author.***

I started off really enjoying this story. The premise of professional matchmaking in the years between the wars, and the youngish woman bringing her more modern ideas on compatibility to the firm was an intriguing concept.

The main characters had plenty of room for individual growth and for building relationships with each other.

However, I feel like that growth never truly happened. I found myself getting more irritated with the four main characters as the novel progressed. The youngest (April) is 29, but somehow they all acted like opinionated, secretive, or impulsive teenagers.

The romances just sort of happened without any depth. The narrative of the book tended to jump forward without much warning, often times skipping scenes that would have contributed to character development. And the feminist message didn’t really cover any new or thought provoking ground.

TLDR; Eh, it just didn’t work for me.

[Erin Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins for a DRC of this book)

I read the description of Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau and immediately wanted to request it. I absolutely flew through this novel in about 2 days. It has everything I love in a novel, history, romance and beautiful descriptions of the countryside. This is the perfect cosy read to curl up with at night and has been a wonderful balm for the soul.

April has travelled from Northern Ireland to Manchester and then on to Easterbridge in Yorkshire to help Mrs Hart to bring her marriage bureau into the modern age in 1930s Britain. The characters are warm, charming and the female characters are very ahead of their time especially April and Felicity who eschew traditional expectations of getting married and settling down and they just live the life they want to.

I really related to April as I am also a Northern Irish girl who is finding her feet and searching for community in Yorkshire. Plus all the Northern Irish isms made me feel right at home.

I've heard once that your home library should be like a pharmacy and this book is the perfect balm for the soul.

[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really pleasant book that read very easily and with themes that even in this day and age are relevant such as women's rights, refugees and the state of the world.

Another theme was loneliness and the need to belong. Surprisingly, even those who suggested others to join a club to expand their social life didn't take their own advice. I didn't expected how things turned out in the end, most of which I had not seen coming. And yet I am not really happy with how the majority of the characters ended up being couples. Despite this being set in 1934, it was as if that was the only way to find their way in life.
With that I was happily cheering on the ladies who turned their lives around in different ways, such as the lady taking in refugees for lodgers or the one who started working as a governess.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yorkshire in the 1930's. Martha Hart runs a marriage bureau, and at the beginning of the story she hires the energetic April McVey to help her out. The two women don't always see eye to eye, but they get on well and do what they can to help the single people of Easterbridge. April lodges with artist Felicity Carr, and through her she comes to know Felicity's widower brother and daughter. They all become friends, but some might become more than that.

This was a great read and it reminded me a bit of "Dear Mrs Bird", one of my favourite series. It is fun and light, but there are some very dark undertones as well, with men not respecting a no and Hitler marching in Germany. The characters are great, I loved every page and it brought me out of the reading slump that I felt coming on. I highly recommend this book, and especially the audio book with Melissa Vaughan. She did a great job.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a lovely book that immediately sucks you in. I couldn't stop reading and if I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it.
If you're like me, you'll see hints of where it'll all go very early on - or rather, you'll HOPE desperately for it. I said to my friend 'if [insert spoiler] doesn't happen I swear I'll scream'
Needless to say, it all did happen exactly the way you dream it will when you're reading. It's set up in such a sweet, subtle, lovely way, and the payoff of every character's story and happy ending is beautiful and satisfying. I got this from a Blind Date With A Book thing, and I am so, so pleased I picked it up. I won't forget this story for a long time and if I do, I'll know it's high time to reread it.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this story since I read the first pages and fell harder when April quote an author who's not well know but I love.
This is a comedy of manner, a story of lonely people who are indipendent but don't know that maybe there's something missing in their life.
There's Martha who matches veteran and woman who are considered "Surplus", April who is searching indipendence, Fabian and his sister
It's sweet, its poignant and it does not shy away from topics like fascism, the damage of the war, woman indipence.
An excellent book that I strongly recommend.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Amanda Geard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart uplit at its best! Loved this utterly unique and quirky tale set in a 1930s marriage bureau in northern England. April McVey is the most MAGNIFICENT character, if she were real (and I felt she was) I would have to claim her as a best friend :). Her Northern Irish turn of phrase is gorgeous, and I adored the juxtaposition with Martha's (Mrs Hart) middle class Englishness, which was charm itself.

Twists and turns, plenty of laughs, and a brilliantly-written historical setting. Five cheery stars from me!

[Esther Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected, kind, fun, thoughtful

I really enjoyed this book.
The characters were well written, the setting of the story was clear, 1930s pre and post wars. The side stories were lovely, and I especially loved how it didn't follow the normal narrative.
The writer is definitely a champion of strong women and of love. Not only that, but a strong sense of write and wrong. Very well written. I love a book that literally changes my mood to suit a characters. It shows how engaged I am with the story. Loved it!

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and found it very hard to put down. A real page-turner, the characters were wonderful and so authentic. The ending turned out just as I had hoped it would but that was never obvious or guaranteed. I had to keep reading late into the night to make sure. I'm not normally drawn to historical reads but I loved the era and the setting and will definitely be keeping an eye out for Sheena's next romance novel. Highly recommend!

[Beth Duffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to this book through a shop window last year and then when I found out that the author was from northern ireland and that she would be having a book signing, I knew that was the moment I would buy this book.

However, I was not expecting that ending. To be honest, I wanted April and Fabian to get together, but overall, I am not too bothered by it. I thought this was a great book and only took me a couple of days to read. I was glued to it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and it's the kind of novel that wouldn't usually be my cup of tea. I have a Nordie husband and friends, so I really enjoyed the use of words like 'scundered', etc. No 'mustard' that I noticed! A lovely story about a feminist Northern Irish fish out of water in the 1930s who finds herself, in every sense, in a Northern English town. Give it a go!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was kind of obvious what everyone’s sexuality it wasn’t a big reveal, but it would’ve been way better if april was aro because that’s what it seemed like she was and it was clear that the author was going to have her get with felicity but she was written as aro. also the ending felt rushed, like the buildup was so slow and then everything happens all at once, but it was a good read

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy book best read under a blanket with a cup of tea. If you’re a fan of Dorothy Whipple or EM Delafield, this reads a bit like fan fiction! I found the ending a tad underdeveloped (to believe April wouldn’t have struggled with a queer twist is outlandish for 1930s Yorkshire, even for me!) but I thoroughly enjoyed reading.