I very much appreciate that Queen Camilla has long supported literacy and reading-related causes, because I think that reading and books can make a world of difference for so many of us. And I will always have a soft spot for her online book club (now known as The Queen’s Reading Room) because it introduced me to one of my favourite authors. And I’ve been saving this book for when I needed something for escape, which came fairly soon. (2025 has been rough for all of us.) If you are a fan of historical fiction, you need to read The Secrets of Blythswood Square by Sara Sheridan!
The Secrets of Blythswood Square, Sara Sheridan
You wouldn’t suspect it, but scandalous secrets are being kept on Blythswood Square…
1846. Glasgow is a city on the cusp of great social change, but behind the curtains, neighbours are watching, and rumours of improper behaviour spread like wildfire on the respectable Blythswood Square.When Charlotte Nicholl discovers that the fortune she has been bequeathed by her father is tied up in a secret collection of erotic art, she is faced with a terrible dilemma: sell it and risk shaming her family’s good name or lose her home.
An encounter with Ellory Mann, a talented working-class photographer newly arrived in Glasgow, leads Charlotte to hope she has found not only someone who might help her, but also a friend. Yet Ellory is hiding secrets of her own – secrets that become harder to conceal as she finds herself drawn into Charlotte’s world.
As the truth begins to catch up with both women, will it destroy everything they’ve fought to build – or set them both free?
Why You Should Read This…
Although I’ve never been to Glasgow (hopefully one day), I could absolutely picture myself walking around the city while reading this. Sheridan has a way with her settings that not only makes it a character in the story but also brings it to life*. And that goes for both the city and Charlotte’s home- it feels like you are walking through her house in Blythswood Square. (It sounds like every author should do this, but not all can- this is a particular talent!)
*Sheridan’s novel The Fair Botanists also brings Edinburgh to life!
Charlotte and Ellery are nothing like each other, but I felt akin to both of them in ways that I normally don’t. Both women find themselves in a difficult position and needing to find their own way as single women in a world dominated by men. While I didn’t love seeing them go through their struggles, it was a journey that I think we all go on at some point. We have to make our own way, oftentimes against the flow, and we all react differently.
Unsurprisingly to regular readers, I loved the historical side of the novel. Not only do we learn about Glasgow’s history in the mid-nineteenth century, we also get to dip into the history of photography. Given that the methods and materials changed frequently throughout the nineteenth century, it felt incredibly realistic and only helped immerse me further. A true escape to the past!
Is The Secrets of Blythswood Square on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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