The Eights by Joanna Miller

Beatrice, Dora, Otto, and Marianne are among the first women allowed to attend Oxford University to obtain a degree, in 1920. Other women have attended but not been allowed to receive degrees and there is still plenty of prejudice against their presence at the university. Their rooms are in the eighth corridor of their building and as they get to know each other, they're quickly labeled "The Eights" because of their lodgings. 

As a tight friendship develops, the women dive into their studies, and learn the strict rules that are meant to keep them from interacting too much with the men of Oxford, secrets are revealed, challenges faced, and yes, there is a little bit of romance and heartbreak. They are slightly older than most matriculating students because they did their part during WWI and each is aware that there are far more women than men of their age living in Great Britain due to the war's deadly annihilation of young men. 

When I started reading The Eights, I had a little difficulty keeping the characters straight in my head because it takes a little time to get to know them. I set the book aside for a few days and then located a notebook in which I wrote mini-bios of each of the women, which helped me separate them in my mind until their personalities became clear. And, then I enjoyed the reading so much that I took my time and just immersed myself in their world. 

I absolutely loved the friendships, the atmosphere, the challenges each faced as individuals and as women dealing with misogyny, and the historical context (what's genuine and not is described in the author's afterword). Included are a glossary, a map, and a bibliography. 

Highly recommended - Definitely one of my favorite reads, so far in 2025. The release date is just a few days away, April 15. An excellent piece of historical fiction based on real-life events, great for fans of historical fiction that's immersive, a great learning experience, and features strong friendships, excellent writing (sometimes I'd stop to reread sentences; I loved the author's unique turn of phrase) with a satisfying ending. I did a lot of googling of buildings to get a good look at the scenery and feel like I've just returned from Oxford, England. I can't wait to see what Joanna Miller writes next. 

I received a copy of The Eights from the publisher, Penguin Random House (thank you!), in exchange for an unbiased review and it's the first review book that I've requested in almost 2 years. Wow, did I choose well! 

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