There is no better time to read a coronation-themed novel than in 2023! I have been waiting for Jennifer Robson’s new novel for an embarrassingly long time, and I’m thrilled that it is finally available. (If you have taken a look at my Royal Historical Fiction reading list, you may have spotted it.) This book is one of the must-reads of 2023, so I will not keep you. Today’s Book Bite is all about Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Coronation Year, Jennifer Robson
It is Coronation Year, 1953, and a new queen is about to be crowned. The people of London are in a mood to celebrate, none more so than the residents of the Blue Lion Hotel.
Edie Howard, owner and operator of the floundering Blue Lion, has found the miracle she needs: on Coronation Day, Queen Elizabeth in her gold coach will pass by the hotel’s front door, allowing Edie to charge a fortune for rooms and, barring disaster, save her beloved home from financial ruin. Edie’s luck might just be turning, all thanks to a young queen about her own age.
Stella Donati, a young Italian photographer and Holocaust survivor, has come to live at the Blue Lion while she takes up a coveted position at Picture Weekly magazine. London in celebration mode feels like a different world to her. As she learns the ins and outs of her new profession, Stella discovers a purpose and direction that honor her past and bring hope for her future.
James Geddes, a war hero and gifted artist, has struggled to make his mark in a world that disdains his Indian ancestry. At the Blue Lion, though, he is made to feel welcome and worthy. Yet even as his friendship with Edie deepens, he begins to suspect that something is badly amiss at his new home.
When anonymous threats focused on Coronation Day, the Blue Lion, and even the queen herself disrupt their mood of happy optimism, Edie and her friends must race to uncover the truth, save their home, and expose those who seek to erase the joy and promise of Coronation Year.
Why You Should Read This…
Robson is a talented author, and I love how she was able to build three independent stories and weave them together around the Coronation. Edie, Jamie, and Stella are all at different points in their lives and careers, and the upcoming Coronation affects all three in very real ways. With limited space, Robson still gives each protagonist their deserved time- I appreciated that I felt like I was getting to know all three characters and following their Coronation journey.
I adored the Blue Lion and would LOVE to stay there. It was essentially a separate character and the novel would not have been the same without it. Because I know several people going to the 2023 Coronation, and follow many others who will also be there, I’ve seen a lot of chatter about where to stay, where to go, where to eat, etc. The Coronation Year perfectly encapsulates the idea that even though the last Coronation was 70 years ago, we can very much connect with it in the same way.
The pacing was excellent, and because I was able to read in Jan/Feb/Mar 2023, it is even more perfect timing with KCIII’s coronation!
And if you are interested in learning more about the upcoming coronation, you can find my Coronation Chronicles series here!
Is Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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