Description

Soho, London, 1958. Three women. One boarding house. A secret that could shatter everything.

‘Gripping… Julie Owen Moylan vividly recreates drab, grey postwar London and her characters are convincing to the end’ THE TIMES, ‘BEST NEW HISTORICAL FICTION’

‘Psychologically astute and emotionally absorbing, this is a heartfelt read’ DAILY MAIL

‘Emotional, immersive and utterly absorbing’ JENNIFER SAINT

—-

West London, 1958. 73 Dove Street is a shabby house in a shabby street.
But this boarding house’s attic room suits newcomer Edie Budd very well.
It’s somewhere to hide.

Tommie, on the second floor, is up in Soho every night.
There’s a man she’s pursuing –
whether he wants her or not.

Landlady Phyllis has thrown out her cheating husband.
She’s burned his belongings in the street.
Sometimes there’s no going back.

Three survivors living under one roof.
Each alone nursing their secret hurts – and hopes.
Because opening your heart could save or destroy you…

—-

‘A wonderfully evocative, immersive novel that brings 50s London to life, from the smog and the nightlife to attitudes towards women . . . a vivid, absorbing and ultimately uplifting read’ SUNDAY EXPRESS

‘The sense of time and place is beautifully evocative. It’s about pride and shame and love and loss and ultimately hope’ LAURA SHEPHERD-ROBINSON

‘Once again, Julie Owen Moylan has created a world that feels completely real and vivid’ JODIE CHAPMAN

‘From the Rivoli Ballroom to the seedy nightlife of Soho, the characters leap off the page in this compelling mystery’ WOMAN & HOME

‘A beautiful story of friendship and new beginnings’ BEST

‘Gripping and atmospheric’ RED

Publisher Review

Touching, entertaining, hopeful. A vivid sense of time, place, people’s attitudes and fragilities * Sunday Times * Psychologically astute and emotionally absorbing, this is a heartfelt read * Daily Mail * 73 Dove Street is a pacy and evocative account of the struggles facing women of that era * Herald * Gripping . . . Julie Owen Moylan vividly recreates drab, grey postwar London and her characters are convincing to the end * The Times, ‘Best New Historical Fiction for July 2023 * From the Rivoli Ballroom to the seedy nightlife of Soho, the characters leap off the page in this compelling mystery * Woman & Home * An incredibly vivid rendering of post-war London and the complicated lives of three woman whose fates intersect at a boarding house as they seek to take control of their own destinies. This was an engrossing read; emotional, immersive and utterly absorbing — Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne A corker. It’s the story of three working class women in 1950’s London. It’s so evocative, you can *smell* the gas fires, the lard, the perfume, the talc, the gin. It’s bleakly honest about women’s lot at the time (not so very long ago) and the tale is deftly woven. I loved how the strands came together, very satisfying — Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding A wonderfully evocative, immersive novel that brings 50s London to life, from the smog and the nightlife to attitudes towards women. Julie Owen Moylan excels in creating female characters who the reader cares about. As the friendship between these three unlikely women grows, so does their hope for a better future. It’s a vivid, absorbing and ultimately uplifting read * Sunday Express * A vivid and propulsive story of three women and three dangerous secrets, 73 Dove Street so brillaintly and evocatively captures Soho in the 50s that I really feel I was there — Sophie Irwin, bestseslling author of The Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting I loved it even more than Julie’s debut That Green Eyed Girl. Soho in the 50s is brilliantly done, as are the female characters. Brava Julie! — Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls Powerful, poignant and so beautifully drawn – every single scene comes alive — Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man Once again, Julie Owen Moylan has created a mid century world that feels completely real and vivid. I’ve loved walking the damp postwar London streets with Edie and Tommie, chain-smoking in gin bars and watching these women grow. Julie has such a knack for setting up a story, creating a mystery that pulls you right in. A hugely enjoyable book. — Jodie Chapman, author of Another Life Set in my end of 1950s London, the sense of time and place is beautifully evocative, the ghost of the war, and the sense of societal change about to come. It’s about pride and shame and love and loss and ultimately hope — Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of Blood & Sugar Stark choices and dangerous secrets disrupt the lives of three damaged but resilient working-class women in this compelling emotional drama * Mail on Sunday * From the Rivoli Ballroom to the seedy nightlife of Soho, the characters leap off the page in this compelling mystery * Woman & Home * Brilliant! Totally immersed in postwar London. I loved every page of this wonderful novel. A mystery that keeps you guessing, difficult women and that seductive 1950s atmosphere – all my favourite things! — Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City Another fabulous read by the brilliant Julie Owen Moylan. A gripping and touching feminist read about three women in one London boarding house in 1958. Julie writes about mid-20th century women like no-one else! — Laura Price, author of Single Bald Female I loved That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen Moylan so had high hopes for 73 Dove Street and it did not disappoint. This beautiful postwar story of three working class women is so evocative and moving. Adored it. — Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things A beautiful story of friendship and new beginnings * Best * Another absolute cracker from Julie Owen Moylan. The compelling and vividly-evoked story of three brave and complex women in 1950s London. — Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl Hugely atmospheric, this haunting and thought-provoking read explores the lives of three women whose tales become entwined through a single address. Set in 1958 London, brought to life by immersive, detailed descriptions, it looks at women’s roles in a changing society. It’s a really tough read at times but written with such heart. A fascinating, bold read. Bravo Julie bravo! — Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts A brilliant evocation of the seedy side of post-war London, wrapped around a story of the power of female friendship, this is the very best kind of escapism * Bookseller, ‘Editor’s Choice’ * Gripping and atmospheric, this novel will worm its way into your heart * Red * I adored it. It’s gripping (I stayed up until 1am on a school night to finish it), moving and so wonderfully evocative of post-war London. Julie’s firmly an auto-buy author for me now, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next — Emma Hughes, author of No Such Thing As Perfect Brimming with 1950s detail and atmosphere, pacy and evocative, authentic and well-drawn. An enjoyable read * Independent * Superb * Sun *