I wasn’t a fan of this book at all.
The synopsis wasn’t correct.
I hated the main character and felt bored throughout the book

An enjoyable read that tells the tale of a posh young woman in London throughout the summer of 1979. Margaret Thatcher has recently been elected, and initially a naïve Esme has to navigate a world full of punks and drugs.

Esme has a job in a gallery in Mayfair that also offers her accommodation. The story is fun and full of interesting, quirky characters, and the ways in which they interact with one another adds an extra layer to this wonderful book.

A wonderfully written book, that allows us the escapism we all so desperately need.

This was quite a light novel. A good read for holiday by the pool or beach. Nothing too taxing. The main character annoyed me a little and non of the characters were very deep. An easy read.

Esme isn’t a complete nube when it comes to the world of the upper echelon. In fact it’s fair to say her life has been influenced and determined by her mother’s friendship to a member of the gentry and her past of living her best life. Esme and her sister have gotten used to getting the short end of the stick, both in regards to their mother and the way they are treated by her so-called friends.

Esme is off to make her own way in life in London and quickly gets sucked into the glam, glitz and exclusivity. Old emotions about belonging and being unwanted surface as she slowly unravels secrets that have been hidden for a long time and for good reason.

It was quite interesting how well Constantine invoked the atmosphere of a certain era – not the late 70s it is set in per se, although the clothes and surroundings fit. It has a Golden Twenties feel to it. It has a very distinctive cultural edge combined with a certain economic prosperity. The world of landed gentry and those who inhabit their orbit crash into the world of plain old normality – more like being sucked into the Thunderdome also known as London.

In essence it’s a story about coming-of-age and comprehending that family isn’t always made up out of genetic connections, but rather a strong emotional connection.

Constantine delivers a story with depth, and yet also keeps it amusing, interesting and fun at the same time. I’d love to see that knack she has for creating a specific atmosphere create the story that is obviously just waiting to be told.

This was a charming book. I do have a soft spot for stories in this time period, of this style, and Esme really appealed as a character. I did find her frustratingly naive at times but that was part of her charm. A coming of age story with just enough trials and tribulations to keep things interesting. The whole cast was very entertaining, and I'd love to read more like this from Constantine.

This was fun and frothy escapism = perfect for the beach - I very much enjoyed - thank you for the review copy.

This was a lovely story, well written. I’ve not read a book by this author before. Perfect read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Summer in Mayfair by Susannah Constantine is a gorgeously compelling and atmospheric tale that will sweep you away to the glitz and glamour of London in the summer of 1979. The perfect book for summer, this is a quick and easy read that I enjoyed immensely.

Twenty six year old Esme has left the Scottish Highlands for the excitement of London. Working at a prestigious art gallery in Mayfair she meets the beautiful Suki, soon finding herself caught up in the glitz, glamour and chaos of 1979 London. But when a long hidden secret looms, will Esme be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late? And who, if anyone, is she able to trust?

I loved getting to know Esme as she discovered this new and colourful social scene that was different to anything she’d ever known before. Her naivety as she navigated her way through this vivid and sometimes dangerous world was as frustrating as it was endearing. But it is Esme’s naivety, especially when mixed together with a mystery to be solved, that adds to the atmosphere and excitement of this gorgeously written story.

Summer in Mayfair is a captivating historical drama that is full of mystery and suspense. I didn’t realise when I started it that this was the second in a new series of books, but that didn’t take anything away from the story and I felt it read very well as a standalone. The ending left enough scope for a sequel and I hope Susannah Constantine will revisit Esme again at some time in the future.

A highly entertaining summer read that I would recommend.

Summer in Mayfair by Susannah Constantine is set in London in the late 1970s, and follows Esme Munroe as she tries to make a name for herself in the art world. From a wealthy family that has had some troubles, twenty-two-year-old Esme, from the Scottish Highlands enters a world of partying, other artists, and vivid characters as she sets about reinventing herself. But as she makes a new friend, Suki, who helps her out and shows her London's sparkling nightlife, the naïve Esme must learn who she can trust...

This novel, the sequel to After the Snow, really delighted me. Told through the eyes of Esme, I was privy to the razzmatazz of London and its culture. Susannah Constantine's great writing meant that I quickly became embroiled in Esme's daily, chaotic life and all of her troubles and quandaries. The variety of characters in this scandalous story were all richly portrayed, and I was all agog to find out what would happen in the end. Having read Summer in Mayfair, I'm now keen to grab a copy of After the Snow. A compelling and satisfying read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Summer in Mayfair is a beautifully written feel good read. With vivid descriptions and vibrant characters, it's an absorbing journey back to 1979 London.
I can't believe I've not read Susannah Constantine before, I'll be going back to read the prequel After the Snow.

The author's name didn't ring a bell despite having watched Trinny and Susannah back in the day. This is a rip-roaring tale of a posh young womn let loose in London in the summer of 1979. Margaret Thatcher has just been elected, there are punks and drugs everywhere and, at least initially, Esme is rather naive. Luckily she has a job in a gallery in Mayfair, with accommodation, thanks to her sister's godfather. There is a colourful cast of characters and many adventure for Esme. I'm sorry that I managed to miss Susannah's first novel. This second one is good escapist fun.

What I thought of the ebook

Within the first few pages of this ebook I couldn’t put it down, however, once I reached around three chapters in, I felt I knew enough about the characters and was started to waiver slightly. But as I was about to consider putting the book down, another twist occurred that managed to keep my interest.

The book is really well written with lots of details allowing you to get to know not only the characters but the nooks and crannies of where they live work and party. I found most of characters really interesting, and a few annoying, but I suspect that was the point. The main

Esme is a complex character, with a deeply routed back story making her choices in the book hard to swallow at times. I think we see how she grows throughout the story making rash decisions that completely change the course of the narrative and makes for a surprising outcome.

The other characters are at times somewhat stereotypical, with a short for money bar worker and a posh little rich girl, that seem to behave in the way you often see them portrayed. Although I liked these two characters, I felt it was a shame that you didn’t get to know them beyond these stereotypes.

You also have a few celebrity drop ins throughout the book. I feel that really they are unnecessary, but I suppose add a little bit of intrigue to Esme and her family background, and how connected she is and has been throughout her life.

Although I enjoyed the easy reading aspect of this book. The story just didn’t captivate me as much as I expected it to. There were snippets where I thought, oo this looks to be getting interesting only to be slightly disappointed that they were over so quickly. Overall I would say its a nice read, but perhaps slightly too detailed at times which made it feel very long.

Link to review online - https://www.yeahlifestyle.com/ebook-review-summer-in-mayfair-by-susanna-constantine/

This is a great summer read.

It’s instantly engrossing and the characters come alive right from the beginning so you want to keep reading.

Esme has lived quite a sheltered life in the Scottish Highlands and at boarding schools. She heads to London to work in an Art Gallery. Unlike lots of young women in her social circle, she isn’t using this as an opportunity to go husband hunting among the wealthy, she actually has a passion for art having grown up surrounded by antiques.

Esme leaves Scotland with a hopelessly unsuitable wardrobe. Her Laura Ashley dresses are more suitable for tea with the vicar than socialising in London. She also bring a box that has been left to her by the Earl of Culcairn.

This a compelling and intriguing story full of scandals and secrets. Lots of atmospheric detail it’s a great read.

This was a nice to escape to the hot sticky summer of 1979 with Esme Munroe and the upper class set of Mayfair. It was an enjoyable easy read, with a good twist at the end. It is full of colourful characters who I enjoyed meeting but at the end I was left wishing that I knew them better. Maybe it was just me, but I found some of the narrative a bit thin, and themes under developed. The ra-ra set and their behaviour annoyed me, but perhaps that was the point. There are however some lovely moments, great descriptions of fashion, and cameos from Elton John and Princess Margaret, giving this book enough hook to make it worth reading. Definitely one for a summer holiday easy read.

I met Susannah Constantine at a blogger event a couple of years ago for the publication of her debut novel After the Snow . She was warm, friendly and just as lovely as she comes across on the television. I was therefore intrigued to read her novel and wasn’t at all disappointed. Her humour and spark shines through in her writing and this is even more evident in her second novel, Summer in Mayfair.

Summer in Mayfair is set ten years after the events of 1969 at Culcairn Castle and we return to Esme as she begins a new life, away from her home and all that she knows in the Scottish Highlands. Esme is now twenty-two and ready to make her own way in the world, ready to find her independence. She begins work in a Art Gallery in Mayfair and the transition isn’t an easy one. She misses her family and the motherly Mrs Bee and she has nothing with her except the most basic of belongings and a mysterious painting that was left to her by her mother’s lover, the Earl of Culcairn.

Esme feels out of pleace amongst the glamour and vibrancy of life in London. She soon begins to find her way and looks to uncover the mystery that surrounds the legacy left to her by the Earl, the painting. As she gradually uncovers the layers Esme begins to realise that the painting holds a greater secret than she could ever imagine, and one that may just change her life forever.

Susannah brilliantly captures London in the late 1970’s, a city on the edge of great change as it moves towards a new decade, with a new Prime Minister. With larger than life characters who bring shocks a plenty, this is a vibrant, colourful and engaging read. But Esme’s story is at the heart of the novel and it was super to be able to follow her on the next chapter of her journey.

It really won’t matter if you haven’t yet read After the Snow, but why on earth wouldn’t you grab that too? It’s rather good. Both books are available now in print, ebook and on audiobook. Perhaps something to escape into over the weekend?

Summer 1979: Esme Munro is twenty two years old and she's finally left the Scottish highlands for London. Shes working in a prestigious art gallery in Mayfair. She meets Suki who introduces her to the most exclusive bars and clubs in the city.

Although Esme is twenty two, she's still a it naive. When she meets Suli she introduces her to a lifestyle shes never known before. The story is brimming with scandal and secrets. Thisnis an atmospheric read. It's beautifully written with a fabulous conclusion. I quite liked this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Susannah Constantine for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this as part of a blog tour.

This was a modern take on the sort of novels Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins are famous for - posh girl making her way in the world, complete with parties, Society types and sex.

Esme is a bit naive and needs to grow a thicker skin to make it in the 80s London art world.

She's landed a job and a temporary home courtesy of her sister's godfather, an art dealer who lives with his flamboyant partner is Kensington.

Making friends as an adult is hard, and Esme struggles to find her place and her tribe.

Susannah Constantine (of Trinny & fame) is an enjoyable writer and knows her world of privilege and picking a few things up in Harrods well.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It’s 1979, Esme Munroe is leaving Scotland for the big smoke.

When she arrives in London, starts working at a well known art gallery in Mayfair. Where the worldly Suki also works.

But she finds herself getting lost in this fast and frantic pace of life as she finds her feet.

Will Esme be able to discover who she can trust and unveil any secrets about herself??

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a great Summer read - I read in the garden during the hot weather we had a little while ago and it was the prefect accompaniment

Historical fictions is probably my favourite genre and I enjoyed the descriptions and back story of the characters. Loved the story too

A great summer read

An excellent summer read that I enjoyed.
I liked the descriptions, the historical background and the characters.
The plot is well crafted and it kept me hooked.
I can't wait to read another book by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.