What a delightful read. This is an uplifting story about women making a stand and finding their voice. Through the creation of a women's football club, the women discover the joy and freedom of the game. As the training sessions progress, the women build a bond that helps them cope with adversity and strengthen their resolve.
Beautifully written, with engaging characters. Highly recommended.

When I saw Frances Quinn was releasing a new novel that has all my favourites (football, historical fiction, and feminism.) I knew that this would be one would be a keeper (no pun intended).

The Scandalous Ladies Football Club was definitely an uplifting story during Victorian England of women becoming empowered and independent. I felt myself getting frustrated on behalf of the characters, struggling to find their place amongst men telling them "no."

I did like the shorter chapters and the switching between the past and present to give Minnie's story more background, but there is a little that could've been cut from other parts and still hold up well.

I probably enjoyed this story more because of my background in sports and love for historical fiction, but I believe historical fic and feminist fic fans will enjoy this read.

I absolutely loved The Lost Passenger which was one of my favourite books of last year so was excited to read The Scandalous Ladies Football Club. I’m not a football fan so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this as much as The Lost Passenger but I loved it! It’s set in the 1890s when women’s place in society is so restricted that the idea of them playing football is completely scandalous. I loved the Victorian setting and felt completely immersed in Minnie’s life. Minnie Newton is a school teacher, hiding a secret, who decides to set up a ladies football club in North London which changes her life in many ways. It is loosely based on the British Ladies Football Club set up in the mid 1890s and it was so interesting to read about everything from the women’s outfits to the obstacles they faced just to play football. The characterisation is excellent and I loved Minnie, Grace and Harriet. The novel is an excellent reminder of the lack of rights women had during this time and I felt so angry on their behalf throughout. It’s also a story of the power of female friendship and solidarity, it’s filled with hope and I was sad to finish it.
A wonderful novel that will no doubt be one of my books of the year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

From kick-off to the final whistle, this is a triumphant, heart-lifting read about friendship, resilience and rewriting the rules. I stayed up far too late to finish it as I couldn't put it down! Minnie, Grace & Harriet are such superbly written, well-rounded characters, but it really feels like you get to know every character in this book with all their quirks and root for them to overcome the odds which are stacked against them in late Victorian society. The story is perfectly paced as well as superbly written - I absolutely loved it, Congratulations Fran, you've knocked it out of the park again!