The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

A Novel

By: Helen Simonson

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Helen Simonson

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Historical fiction of the highest order . . . an absolute joy of a book, warm and romantic, and with so much to say about the lives of women in the years following World War I.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

A timeless comedy of manners—refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside—about a generation of young women facing the seismic changes brought on by war and dreaming of the boundless possibilities of their future, from the bestselling author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

A PARADE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

It is the summer of 1919, and Constance Haverhill is without prospects. Now that all the men have returned from the front, she has been asked to give up her cottage and her job at the estate she helped run during the war. While she looks for a position as a bookkeeper or—horror—a governess, she’s sent as a lady’s companion to an old family friend who is convalescing at a seaside hotel. Despite having only weeks to find a permanent home, Constance is swept up in the social whirl of Hazelbourne-on-Sea after she rescues the local baronet’s daughter, Poppy Wirrall, from a social faux pas.

Poppy wears trousers, operates a taxi and delivery service to employ local women, and runs a ladies’ motorcycle club (to which she plans to add flying lessons). She and her friends enthusiastically welcome Constance into their circle. And then there is Harris, Poppy’s recalcitrant but handsome brother—a fighter pilot recently wounded in battle—who warms in Constance’s presence. But things are more complicated than they seem in this sunny pocket of English high society. As the country prepares to celebrate its hard-won peace, Constance and the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms they gained during the war are being revoked.

Whip-smart and utterly transportive, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is historical fiction of the highest order: an unforgettable coming-of-age story, a tender romance, and a portrait of a nation on the brink of change.

©2024 Helen Simonson (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Simonson expertly probes cultural tensions hindering her characters’ efforts at post-war reinvention, including the immense human cost of combat, the hypocrisy of letting women work during wartime but not afterward.”—Shelf Awareness

“Simonson knows a good era when she sees one, so Hazelbourne is set in a seaside town just after World War I, with romance and women chafing under the constraints of society after war showed them what is possible when they’re given the chance.”—Parade

“The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club is an absolute joy of a book. Warm and romantic, it also has so much to say about the lives of women in the years following World War I. This is historical fiction of the highest order—pleasurable and smart.”—Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

Well done

Novel set after WW1. Well written concerning the class struggles after the war where women had worked and still needed jobs after and the upper classes had to struggle with the social changes affecting their previously privileged lifestyle. Think Downton Abbey in novel and you will enjoy it.

Escapist reading at it's best

A superb book about residents in a seaside town in England following WWI. The story is dazzling in conveying the social and cultural norms of the times before women's equal standing in the country through the lens of some swashbuckling women operating a motorcycle taxi service. There are many subplots with both conformists and nonconformists adapting to changing times in the early 20th century. The narrator is excellent, able to voice discerning characters uniquely. I didn't want this book to read.

The role of strong women and honest men

It was interesting to find out about the history in England of men & women in the aftermath of WWII.
The social mores among the British classes were changing. Men and women struggled to retain their dignity in the face traditional responses to changed circumstances.

Enjoyable, meaningful and delightful read

The characters grew on me, the social setting of post WW1 was well depicted.
I loved that the author created relatable characters without resorting to excessive violence.

Surprised by how much I loved it

My husband picked out this book for me at a little bookstore we had never been to before. It was a “staff pick” in the front window and its cover was unique and striking. He picked it up and we read the description together, both individually deciding our home library needed this book. I usually read nonfiction—memoirs and such—so this book was a bit out of my norm. But it’s cast of characters, premise, and cover, thoroughly intrigued me, so I started reading it while my daughter napped one day. I couldn’t put it down and purchased the audiobook so I could easily finish it and not neglect my family or schoolwork. This is the kind of story that I believe will stay with me for a while, characters that I will think of frequently and already miss. I loved the writing style and underlying themes, so I will definitely read every other book by Helen Simonson. If you want a book that’s cozy but still teaches you about England in 1919, feminism, classism, the work after WW1, and the importance of strength of character, look no further.

Engaging at every step

Loved this book! Felt a bit like a post WW I Jane Austen novel. Touched on many social issues while keeping you engaged in the story throughout.

Great storyline and beautiful ending.

I enjoyed the weaving of history into the story as well as the characters and lovestory.

Just no words!

Increíble novel. Wonderful writing. I can’t use my lame review vocabulary to describe this novel so I’ll just stop. Please read.

economic vulnerability of women

The story is written in linear time rather than flipping back and forth for different characters as with so many current books.

Historical facts and details

I loved it all - the detailed characters, the creative storyline, the historical research and the narrator.