73 Dove Street set in 1950s London

Submitted: 12th July 2023

When Edie Budd arrives at a shabby West London boarding house in October 1958, carrying nothing except a broken suitcase and an envelope full of cash, it’s clear she’s hiding a terrible secret. And she’s not the only one; the other women of 73 Dove Street have secrets of their own . .

BookTrail Travel to 73 Dove Street

Boarding Pass Information: London

Author guide: Julie Owen Moylan

Genre: historical fiction

Food and drink to accompany: not much, there’s rations still going on

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BookTrail Travel to 73 Dove Street

1950s London was a sight to behold. As soon I entered Dove Street, I could see that the war years here had not been kind. A bonfire outside no 73, women who had ended up there for various reasons and a run-down sorry sight for sore eyes both inside and out.

There were some tough women in her first novel and this is no exception. Edie, Phyllis and Tommie. Very interesting characters. In fact, I can honestly say I have never met anyone like them in a novel before. Each one had secrets to come out and boy, was it a wonderful journey to sit with them at dinner, meet them in the hallway and stumble upon those secrets.

BookTrail Travel to 73 Dove Street

What was particularly wonderful was the way the author showed us around this house, its rooms and its inhabitants piece by piece. They are different yet the same. They all have scars to bear yet are resilient and help each other.They share betrayals and dark days and there are bonds good and bad that are going to get tighter. Imagine life on a cliff edge…

The truth is that when people are tested, they often find strength in each other, in friendship and these three women go through the mill! The time they live in, the 1950s is evoked with class and style yet with crushing reality and sadness too. The fog mixes with the tears, the fashion dies with the breaking of gender taboos and the wit and charm shine through the tough times. Wait until you get to the scenes in Soho – this is London come alive!

Oh this novel put me through the ringer but I came out a better person because of it. Julie Owen Moylan doesn’t half write some captivating characters!