This is historical fiction at its best, full of historical detail but never bogged down by it, and a thoroughly entertaining read featuring four women who I fell in love with.

Set in 1920, the book follows four women in the first female cohort admitted as full members of Oxford University and allowed to take degrees. Beatrice, Marianne, Dora and Otto arrive at St Hughs and all have rooms on Corridor Eight. Despite considerable differences in both background and outlook they become the firmest of friends as they learn to navigate this male-dominated environment, and all the challenges that presents, as well as to live in a country still coming to terms with the irrevocable changes wrought by World War I.

As we follow them through the academic year, we learn more about the women and you will take each of them to your heart as you learn how the war has impacted them and the individual challenges they have faced - and in some cases, the secrets they keep.

This is a book that resonated personally with me as Miller brilliantly brings to life Oxford, the town where I was a student and where many of the university traditions mentioned still continue to this day - and the story also features Berkhamsted, the town where I currently live.

But what makes this book such a delight is that Miller brilliantly combines a well-researched and fascinating snapshot of the time, a key moment in women’s history, with four characters who it is a joy to get to know. I loved these women, I loved their determination and resilience - and am grateful for the path they forged. But most of all I loved their relationship, a true testament to the power of female friendship.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I was a bit disappointed in this book and didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. It seems to be well researched and I liked the inclusion of real people such as Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby.

I found it a bit of a slog at first but it does pick up towards the end.

My difficulty with the book was the 4 main characters. I felt they were rather thinly drawn and identified by one characteristic - Dora 's beauty, Beatrice's height, Marianne's secret and Otto the rich one. I was not invested in any of the women and was not really bothered about what happens to them. I kept getting Dora and Marianne mixed up. Part of Marianne's secret was easy to guess and the other parts about the farm hand and then Henry seemed both unlikely and convenient.

The book ends quite abruptly I think and although I do not rate this book particularly highly, I would read a Further Adventures of the Eights. about their lives after university.

What a lovely read. I'm such a sucker for historical fiction and this one was right up my street. A feminist tale about strong women wanting more out of life. I would absolutely recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this one. It is set in 1920, the first time that women are allowed to study for a degree at Oxford University, previously they have been allowed to study, but wouldn't be able to get a degree.

The story follows four women all living on corridor eight, so they become known as The Eights. The Great War has not long ended, and all are affected by it to varying degrees, it is always there in the background, and often in the foreground.

The Eights consist of Otto - a socialite with a head for figures, Dora, who lost both her brother and fiance in quick succession, Beatrice - the daughter of a prominent suffragette and Marianne - the daughter of a vicar, who returns home once a fortnight for the weekend. Their characters are well drawn, and I found myself drawn into their dramas, and rooting for them. They encounter plenty of kickback from men at the Uni, but also a lot of support. With so many surplus women, they feel the need to be able to support themselves if the need should arise. I loved the cameos from Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby. While the are some romantic subplots, the main thrust of the novel is the strong ties of female friendship forged between these women, something that is often lacking in novels today. Would recommend, especially for anyone with an interest in this era.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

this was a lovely moving read that really transports you back and full of interesting well written threads that are pulled together. Fully recommend for any fans of historical fiction

This story about a group of women on corridor 8 at Oxford university has a great sense of time and place. The depiction of post world war one Oxford and the effect on everyone is really sad.
I did feel it needed a bit more plot to drive it as a historical fiction though.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

'You are historic figures, never forget that. The first women to matriculate at Oxford, the greatest university in the world'.

It's 1920, England, the aftermath of the Great War still lingers yet it is time for celebration, Beatrice, Dora, Otto and Marianne are some of the first women to be officially enrolled at Oxford University. Allocated to the corridor 8 rooms, the women are encouraged to mingle with each other but the daily trial of navigating this male-dominated institution quickly forces them to rely on each other, 'This is not how she imagined Oxford; not as a place where women are mocked and derided for wanting to learn'. As the year progresses, it becomes clear that 'The Eights' have each brought more than a thirst for learning with them, they have secrets that might just hold them back from really achieving.

'The Eights' is an enjoyable story that imagines how the first, matriculated, women students got on at Oxford. The book not only focuses on the strength of female friendship, forged in a male-dominated and somewhat unwelcoming environment but it also highlights the ongoing effects of WW1 on both the town, country and its citizens. I enjoyed Miller's use of mixed media to highlight some of the college rules and articles about lady students to give a greater depth of context. I did find it hard, at times, to keep track of who each character was and what their background story was. However, Miller's endnotes are robust, giving a guide on her research process as well as the many ways a reader can dive deeper into this topic.

'We don't have to prove we deserve to be here anymore. We just have to get on with living'.

Wow! What a year it’s been already for my favourite genre of historical fiction and here is another gem to add to that list!

The Eights is primarily set during the academic year of 1920-21 (with a few “flashback” chapters to give further insight into each of the main characters’ lives): the year Oxford University allowed women to matriculate for the first time in its history and the first year it granted degrees to women.

We meet Otto, Beatrice, Marianne and Dora, who share their university accommodation on Corridor 8 and soon become firm friends and known as ‘the Eights’. The girls all come from different backgrounds, have different personalities but they complement each other beautifully and soon form a firm bond. As we follow them through the academic year, we see their friendship blossom, see the highs and lows of their lives and learn more about who they are, where they have come from and also the secrets they hide. I couldn’t have loved one girl more than the other. They are all wonderful in their own way.

This novel is just stunning. The writing is exceptional and it conjures up that post war era beautifully: both the joy of living and the guilt of survival as well as the scars the First World War left behind. It is also a novel about growing up, about the love of friends helping to accept yourself for who you are and just to make it the perfect read, there is also a little bit of romance. It is one of those books that makes you proud of being a woman, of what women of the past have fought for and achieved so we can have today.

I will be buying the hard copy next week when it’s published: I want to cherish this one on my bookshelf!

Set in Oxford in 1920. Much controversy when the first women were accepted for degrees at Oxford University.
The story follows four very different women, Doris, Beatrice, Otto and Marianne, all with differing reasons as to why they sat the exams for Oxford. They meet at their lodgings on corridor 8 and they soon become the best of friends, supporting each other, though studying for different degrees.
Interesting and fascinating, the author describes life and its difficulties for the four women and the prejudices and extreme rules that they face - they must be chaperoned and must be dressed in a certain way.
Throughout the novel, the author brings in details of the individual women's lives before entering university which brings the characters to life.
A great read. A thoroughly enjoyable historical novel and the author's meticulous research adds to the feeling that I so wanted all of them to succeed.

A thoroughly absorbing book charting the first year of the first women to matriculate at Oxford University in 1920. Each of the four main characters gradually unfurls, as the reader slowly learns their life’s story and how that impacts them.

The narrative sits in the long shadow of the Great War and charts the constant battle for acceptable by male students and dons alike, leaving me both inspired and appalled in equal measure. I was cheering each of the heroines on throughout, and was left wanting very much to know what would happen next…

This is a fantastic read - I was so surprised to find out this a debut novel! The characters really stay with you and the descriptive writing really evokes the times, 1920s at Oxford University- as it finally accepts women and a group of them begin a life long friendship. A great satisfying read

The Eights definitely isnt my usual type of read, but my gosh, I loved spending time with Dora, Otto, Marianne and Beatrice during their first year at Oxford in 1920.
The books follows the four as they embark on their first term and beyond, mixing facts about the inclusion of women into the University as well as the fiction of the characters we follow.
The friendships between the characters were brilliant with ups and downs, and the multiple POV certainly helped me fall in love with each of them.
The throwback chapters interspersed throught really helped to understand each of the women too.
I would call this a quiet book, but I was hooked and I read it with a smile on my face.

The Eights follows four very different young women during their first year at Oxford, while also being among the first female students allowed to study at the prestigious university.
It gave a realistic-feeling portrayal of the era with some great characters and a very well-written storyline.

What a book! I'm bereft to leave The Eights behind. This is so much more than a story about the first women to matriculate at Oxford; it's a beautiful story of female friendship. So honest, raw and moving but also deliciously funny! I'm so sad to say goodbye to them. Even if you don't think this book is for you, give it a go and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and although not based on real people the way the 1920’s were described felt very real. The author clearly did her research.

The pacing felt a little slow and I couldn’t get into this as quickly as I expected to which was a little disappointing.

Overall a decent read and lots that was enjoyable.

This is a beautiful story that is fictional but based on the true figures of change after WW1 when women were finally allowed to study for degrees at Oxford university.
Set in the days both during and after the first world war, the suffrage movement and a period of real change for the whole country (& the world), The Eights are the four women who reside on the eighth corridor; Dora, Marianne, Otto & Beatrice.
This book is amazing, covering both the horrors and deep scars of the war, and the beautiful female friendships forged between four very different but equally brave and admirable characters. It portrays a unique tipping point in time for so many reasons, capturing the attitudes and struggles of this era beautifully.

1920, Oxford England and four very different young women are amongst the first women to join the hallowed halls of Oxford University. On corridor eight of St Hugh's Dora, Beatrice, Marianne and Otto are placed in neighbouring rooms little knowing what a special friendship they would build. Sometime you know you are going to enjoy a book within a few pages and that how I was with this one, it’s clear the author has undertaken meticulous research and it shows.

Briefly, Dora is there to honour the memory of her brother and fiancé who both died during WWI, Beatrice hopes to make her mother notice her, Marianne is from a less wealthy background and wants a better life and Otto needs to prove to herself that she isn’t just a worthless socialite. We follow the women through the trials and tribulations of their first year at St Hugh’s.

I love how much of this book is based on fact, albeit our four ladies are all fictional. It’s still shocks me to think that it took so long, and a World War, for Oxford university to open it doors to women and enable them to matriculate. It’s clear there was still a lot of opposition to this decision, in fact the misogyny was quite open. The rules and regulations that had to follow were strict and Dons were still permitted to refuse them admission to their lectures. I loved all four of the women, despite all opposition, not only from members of the university but also from some of their families, they remained strong, determined and loyal to each other. This was a very enjoyable historical fiction novel and I’ll certainly be looking out for the authors next book.

4.5⭐️

It is 1921 and finally women are able to fully enrol as members of Oxford University. However student life is complicated as the women are required to adhere to a vast number of rules and restrictions, unlike their male counterparts. The rules of the college govern every aspect of their lives including: their dress, behaviour, curfews, compulsory attendance at morning chapel and dinner while living in college. Dons can refuse to admit them to lectures. They must request permission to return home, for trips and outings and are allocated chaperones, even for benign activities such as afternoon tea and a picnic in the park.

Dora, Otto, Beatrice and Marianne are from very diverse backgrounds and have had a range of experiences during the First World War. They are placed in rooms on corridor eight at St Hughes College and despite their differences form a tight friendship group. The Eights follows their first year as students in Oxford, navigating their new friendships, while undertaking intense study alongside burgeoning romance, living with post-war trauma, grief, loss and separation from their families.

The amount of research the author undertook is evident. As an Oxonian I enjoyed descriptions of 1920s Oxford and recognised all of the locations. I wish I could visit The Good Luck Café in Cornmarket street. However, I found the pacing of the story rather slow. I did not find the writing as engrossing as I had hoped. I would have liked more dialogue and to follow the foursome to a greater extent in their day-to-day lives as Oxford students. While the flashbacks helped to shape the characters I felt the contemporary storyline suffered.

I recommend Singled out by Virginia Nicholson, cited in the author’s bibliography for anyone interested in the so-called two million ‘surplus women’, left after the huge number of men killed in World War I.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Netgalley and Joanna for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice, Dora, Marianne and Otto are known as The Eights. In 1920 England, just after the First World War, these ladies are some of the first women ever to matriculate at Oxford University. They form an unlikely friendship, but one that gets them through both difficult and happy times at university.

I found this book really quite wonderful. It was intelligent, empowering and insightful.

I don't usually read books that are character driven, as I prefer something with a juicy storyline (usually gothic mysteries, thrillers, etc). However, I am always interested in learning more about women's history, female empowerment and similar topics!

The four main characters have been crafted well and I felt as though I really got to know them. The way Joanna writes really draws you in, so I felt a part of their world. I also really appreciated the ending - I couldn't stop smiling!

Typically this wouldn't be a 5-star read for me, but I knocked off half a star because between 50 and 70% of the book I did feel a bit bored. It was slow and I was struggling to stay interested in their stories. However, this is entirely on me because I'm not used to stories like this.

I wish Joanna every success with The Eights and would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in historical fiction, women's fiction, academic and British history.

Although women had been able to study at Oxford University since the 19th century, October 1920 marked the first time they were able to matriculate (or be formally admitted). In her new novel, The Eights, Joanne Miller imagines the stories of four fictional women who were part of this historic moment.

Beatrice Sparks, Theodora Greenwood, Marianne Grey and Ottoline Wallace-Kerr refer to themselves as the Eights because they occupy the four rooms on corridor eight of St Hugh’s, one of the Oxford colleges that is admitting female students. They also each have a name with eight letters, something which pleases Otto, who is a mathematician and loves the number eight. Otto’s family and friends, who are wealthy socialites, are surprised by her decision to study for a degree rather than concentrate on making a good marriage, but Otto is desperate to prove herself after feeling that she failed as a VAD nurse during the war.

Beatrice is the daughter of a suffragette and has grown up in the shadow of her formidable, overbearing mother. For her, university means independence, freedom and a chance to lead her own life at last. Theodora – known as Dora – is also grateful for the opportunity she has been given, but at the same time she feels a sense of guilt knowing that her brother, who was killed in the war, was supposed to be the one to go to Oxford. Dora also lost her fiancé in the war and she’s still struggling to come to terms with both tragedies. The final member of the Eights is Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a widowed vicar. Marianne seems to have led a sheltered life compared to some of the other girls at St Hugh’s, but she has a secret that she’s determined to keep hidden.

The Eights describes the experiences of these four young women during their first year at Oxford. There’s not really an overarching plot – more a series of episodes – but I didn’t have a problem with that as I was so absorbed in the lives of the four main characters. My favourite was probably Marianne, but I liked and admired all of them and enjoyed watching their friendships develop over the course of the year. The women all face a different set of challenges and struggle with self-doubt – about fitting in, coping with the work or living up to expectations – and it was good to see them grow in confidence and overcome some of the obstacles in their way. I liked the use of flashbacks to provide background information about each woman and the very different paths they followed that led them to Oxford.

Obviously I wasn’t at Oxford in 1920, so I have no idea how accurate the book is – all I can say is that the setting feels very authentic and it’s clear that Joanna Miller has done her research. She weaves historical detail throughout the novel, often beginning chapters with a real newspaper excerpt or a set of university rules and regulations (which illustrate the double standards in the way male and female students were treated). There’s a glossary at the end, as some readers may be unfamiliar with the academic terms used in the book, many of which are unique to Oxford. There are also some cameo appearances from real-life authors Vera Brittain and Winifred Holtby, who are attending Somerville College, one of Oxford’s other women’s colleges.

My only real criticism is that I found Marianne’s secret far too easy to guess and would have preferred to have been surprised by it, like the other students were. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and loved getting to know the Eights. It would be good to meet them again when they return for their second year at Oxford!