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The Mayfair Bookshop: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and the Pursuit of Happiness Paperback – April 12, 2022

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 771 ratings

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One of Hasty Booklist's Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Novels!

USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight brings together a brilliant dual-narrative story about Nancy Mitford—one of 1930s London’s hottest socialites, authors, and a member of the scandalous Mitford Sisters—and a modern American desperate for change, connected through time by a little London bookshop.

“An absolute must-read!”—Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author The Last Bookshop in London

1938: She was one of the six sparkling Mitford sisters, known for her stinging quips, stylish dress, and bright green eyes. But Nancy Mitford’s seemingly dazzling life was really one of turmoil: with a perpetually unfaithful and broke husband, two Nazi sympathizer sisters, and her hopes of motherhood dashed forever. With war imminent, Nancy finds respite by taking a job at the Heywood Hill Bookshop in Mayfair, hoping to make ends meet, and discovers a new life.

Present Day: When book curator Lucy St. Clair lands a gig working at Heywood Hill she can’t get on the plane fast enough. Not only can she start the healing process from the loss of her mother, it’s a dream come true to set foot in the legendary store. Doubly exciting: she brings with her a first edition of Nancy’s work, one with a somewhat mysterious inscription from the author. Soon, she discovers her life and Nancy’s are intertwined, and it all comes back to the little London bookshop—a place that changes the lives of two women from different eras in the most surprising ways. 

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

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Starring Adele Astaire Can't We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe The Queen's Faithful Companion
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Mayfair Bookshop is a moving, touching tale of a Bright Young Thing turned bookseller/author and her quest to find fulfillment, inspiration, and love in the chaos of the WWII home front. Eliza Knight brings Nancy Mitford to life as an appealing and uncertain young heroine in the days before she is burnished by fame and success—you cannot help but cheer her toward her destiny!"
Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code

“Take one fascinating family, add in a legendary bookshop and a few Bright Young Things and you have the bookish equivalent of chocolate cake: a delightful treat. Nancy Mitford had an extraordinary life and Eliza Knight skillfully manages research, legend, fact and fiction to bring us a truly absorbing novel.” — Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author

“A fascinating view of a pivotal moment in history told from the perspective of an extraordinary woman at the heart of it all. Filled with intrigue, heartbreak, passion, and daring, Eliza Knight beautifully celebrates the life and influence of Nancy Mitford. Vivid and unforgettable!" — Chanel Cleeton, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

"A romantic and moving love letter to bibliophiles everywhere, The Mayfair Bookshop offers a testament to the magic and power of books and bookstores to shine light on our darkest hours. Beautifully written and featuring a colorful cast of characters and delightful cameos, this historical novel is not to be missed."  — Laura Kamoie, New York Times bestselling author of My Dear Hamilton and America's First Daughter

"Eliza Knight’s wonderfully descriptive novel is a window into the riveting life of Nancy Mitford, not as an untouchable socialite, but as a woman who has her share of struggles on a very real, very relatable level—an absolute must read!" — Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

"The force of nature that was Nancy Mitford dazzles in The Mayfair Bookshop, first as one of society's 'bright young things' between the World Wars and then as a wildly successful writer. Both Nancy's razor-sharp wit and hidden heartaches make for riveting reading!"  — Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of A Most Clever Girl

"Knight brings vividly to life the war years, the troubling associations of Nancy Mitford's aristocratic family, and the ripple effect of their misdeeds throughout England and beyond. A rich portrait of a fascinating woman, The Mayfair Bookshop hits all the right notes: intrigue, great heart, and hope. Not to be missed!" — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Next Ship Home 

The Mayfair Bookshop gives us not one, but two engaging heroines to truly root for. Knight has created a captivating look at life’s pursuit of love, literature, and dreams both realized and dashed set against a devastating war that divides sisters along the lines of political ideologies. Told with the wit and spunk of Nancy Mitford herself, Eliza Knight’s immense talent shines on every page." — Renée Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces

"Eliza Knight’s sympathetic and utterly believable portrayal of Nancy Mitford is the icing on this fabulous cake of a novel where present-day romance, a literary mystery, and the lives of England’s most controversial sisters keep the pages turning in this delightful and perfectly constructed story." — Janie Chang, international bestselling author of The Library of Legends

"Eliza Knight’s The Mayfair Bookshop takes readers into the legendary Nancy Mitford’s head, and more importantly her heart...Twining two timelines together, Knight reminds us that women and books have the power to shape the world, and we have the power to forge our own destinies—even in times of extreme adversity." — Sophie Perinot, award-winning author of Medici's Daughter

"Channeling Nancy’s verve and quick wit, Eliza Knight’s The Mayfair Bookshop showcases the complex reality behind the glittering Mitford myth, exposing the dark divisions in the breezy pre-war world of the Bright Young Things. Taking readers from country houses to the London Blitz, The Mayfair Bookshop is an homage to Nancy’s timeless truth: that the pursuit of love, in all its forms, is worth fighting for." — Bryn Turnbull, author of The Woman Before Wallis

"Eliza Knight’s The Mayfair Bookshop delivers a deeply human portrayal of the fascinating Nancy Mitford, bringing to vivid life the story of a woman pulled between the expectations of family, society, and the desires of her own heart. Woven with an intriguing modern timeline, this story brims with complicated relationships, infamous characters, heartbreak and, ultimately, triumph. Moving and compelling, this is a must read!" — Kristin Beck, author of Courage, My Love

"A wonderful depiction of the legendary Nancy Mitford and her sisters in their element – both united as Bright Young Things and torn apart by love and war. Along with its added touch of mystery, The Mayfair Bookshop will keep you curled up and turning the pages." — Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms

"Witty, brilliant, and deep, Nancy Mitford comes fully, poignantly to life in this meticulously researched literary mystery. If you ever wondered what it was really like to be a Bright Young Thing in London between the wars, this book is for you." — Kerri Maher, author of The Paris Bookseller

About the Author

Eliza Knight is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles. She is known best for her novels, My Lady Viper, Prisoner of the Queen, and Ribbons of Scarlet. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., and the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed. Knight lives in Maryland with her husband, three daughters, two dogs and a turtle.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (April 12, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063070588
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063070585
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.97 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 771 ratings

About the author

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Eliza Knight
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Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Escape into history for courageous heroines, irresistible heroes and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, a co-host on the History, Books and Wine podcast and a co-host for the true crime podcast, Crime Feast.

While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.

Look for STARRING ADELE ASTAIRE a story full of glitz and glam, delving into the life of Adele Astaire, a spirited and talented woman who served up smiles and love both on and off the stage—with and without her also famous brother Fred Astaire— along with a determined young dancer with rags-to-riches dreams. Coming in June 2024, THE QUEEN'S FAITHFUL COMPANION.

For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com

If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:

http://historyundressed.com or her history podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com

To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:

Twitter: @elizaknight

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfiction

Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
771 global ratings
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5 Stars
Well worth your time!
Eliza Knight's, The Mayfair Bookshop, is a well-written historical novel loosely based on Nancy Mitford, who authored The Pursuit of Love. The stunning landscape of England during WWII, and the war's effect on the English is fully absorbing. Two women, one in the past and one in the present, are connected through The Mayfair Bookshop. Both of these characters come alive on the page - particularly Mitford. Anyone who enjoys reading historical novels will be greatly entertained by this engaging story.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2022
The Mayfair Bookshop is an engaging, witty tale about two fascinating women penned by a master storyteller. Merging two timelines seamlessly together, Eliza Knight skillfully brings to life the complicated, tumultuous world Nancy Mitford inhabited during one of the darkest times in modern history. From page one, the reader is transported into Nancy’s life. We see her first as one of the Bright Young Things, then as a budding novelist, followed by the sad realities of her unhappy marriage and eventually landing at the legendary bookstore where she worked during WWII. As the novel unfolds, the modern-day heroine, Lucy St. Clair, uncovers a mystery that connects her directly to Nancy and ultimately changes her life forever. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, dual timelines, fascinating women and good writing, this book is not to be missed! I highly recommend!
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2023
This book is about a bookwriter during WWiI. Nancy Mitford is the one who has a family of 6 sisters and 1 brother. Two of the sisters and her mom favored hitler and visited with him. They were following his facism and gave speeches. Nancy had a rough time in her marriage. Her husband was a drunken cheater and she had trouble trying to get pregnant. She worked at the Heywood Hill book store.

The story is written with a dual time line. The story takes place in the present thru the character, Lucy St Clair who works at a book store curating books for people. However, her favorite writer is Nancy Mitford. Her mom had an original book from Nancy which had a note Inside to Iris. It becomes Lucys obsession to find out who she is to Nancy.

The book is written with complicated relationships, heartbreak, intrigue during a devastating war. But, Nancy had a passion to find her fulfillment, inspiration and love.
I recommend this book. The author did a great amount of research and it is written very well. So, if you like reading books about WWII and historical fiction give this one a read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2022
In the past several years, I've become very interested in the Mitford sisters and their stories. Nancy is the best-known author and this book focuses on her life. I find it fascinating that these six sisters are so different from each other and never had any formal education and yet many of them grew up to be authors. This book describes Nancy as an adult, starting in her young adult years of being one of the Bright Young Things in London through her experiences in WWII and its aftermath. The title refers to the bookshop where she worked, mainly during the war. Although she was born into the aristocracy, her family struggled financially while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. As historical fiction, we can't assume that the descriptions of her relationships with her husband or sisters is totally accurate, but it seemed realistic. I couldn't put the book down!
12 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023
This was ok but not my favorite book.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
Very well written dual narrative story about Nancy Mitford, a famous socialite and author. One narrative starts in the 1930's and the other in present day. The author keeps the reader engaged as she tells about the ups and downs in Nancy's life I highly recommend this book and hope to read more by this author.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2022
I admit I've never read a book by Nancy Mitford but as a writer myself I'm always interested in how others find inspiration. This book shows that. She lived a sad, complicated life with occasional spots of joy in times we can only imagine. I gave it 4 stars because the ending was too abrupt.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2022
The Mayfair Bookshop is a winning story about two intriguing women, told in two story lines, by a wonderful author and storyteller. Ms. Knight weaves a story of the complicated Nancy Mitford and her family and a young, dedicated book curator, Lucy St. Clair on a quest to resolve a mysterious inscription Ms. Mitford left in a book. The mystery will connect to two across the decades and bring Lucy to her own crossroad. Will she learn from the lessons of the past? I enjoyed the two story lines and experiencing the parallels between Nancy and Lucy. If you like historical fiction, captivating women and excellent writing, I recommend you read, The Mayfair Bookshop.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Jean Gale
1.0 out of 5 stars Rubbish!
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2024
I have to wonder whether this book was self-published?
Tried to give it a chance by continuing to read long after realizing that it held no interest, but finally gave up
One person found this helpful
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