Great debut book, I enjoyed the dual timeline of changing between the 50s and 70s and the exploration Ava sets off on. From the start I felt like I needed to know everything about these characters, desperate to know the story of Dovie and Gillian whilst also being caught up in Ava. There’s a real vivid nature to the writing and the details of New York and the apartment really helped me dive into this book.

A solid debut.

I found That Green Eyed Girl to be an OK read. I did struggle with it sometimes as the dual timeline meant I really had to concentrate on it otherwise I got a little confused. I did find myself rereading parts so as to get the story straight.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Completely compelling, That Green Eyed Girl revolves around the inhabitants of one New York apartment in 1955 & 1975.

In 1975, Ava receives a mysterious box of belongings and starts to dig deeper into the story of the intended recipient. At the same time, she is dealing with her mother's mental illness.

In 1955, the apartment was home to Dovie and Gillian, two women in a then-illegal relationship masquerading as roommates, and the repercussions when another woman temporarily moves in.

The narrative races along, but not without giving you a real feel for the apartment: the jazz playing, the smell of coffee brewing, how it was decorated and how the women live each day. I loved the insight into life in New York in each era and while sometimes I'd have loved a little more (for example, Dovie's exploration of the then-illicit gay scene at the time is briefer than I'd have liked), the scenes that are there are vivid and evocative while also moving the novel along.

Thoroughly recommend this for an absorbing, interesting and bittersweet read.

I loved this book from the very beginning and it kept me gripped right to the end. It is a dual timeline book between 1955 and 1975. In 1955 Dovie and Gillian are living in a flat together, secretly lovers, hiding who they truly are as they know the punishment for being discovered as lesbians. They are happy in their secret, but when a lodger comes to live in their flat, their relationship begins to struggle. In 1975, in the same flat we meet 15 year old Ava whose mum is struggling mentally and ends up in a psychiatric hospital, and whose dad is largely absent and spending time with his young girlfriend Candy.

One day, Ava receives a box posted to the apartment, containing photos of the previous residents, and mysterious letters, and she sets about trying to track down what happened and where the ex-residents are now. What follows is a story of love, loss, imperfections, and betrayal. All the characters are relatable, and very realistic in that they all have their imperfections. I was hooked on finding out what had happened to Dovie and Gillian, but also on Ava's plot line. All in all, a fantastic debut from the author, I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3,5* upped to 4
I loved the style of writing and the description of New York in each timeline. The characters are well developed and interesting.
The pace was really slow and nearly DNFed as I was struggling. It's a book that requires to be patient because the second half is compelling and interesting.
I'm not in the mood for a very sad book and I'm sure I will appreciate it more at another time.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is not a book I could really get into. With its split/duel time line it left me feeling confused.

Don't you just love it when you get so involved in a book that everything else in life falls away? This was what That Green Eyed Girl was like: I so looked forward to reading it each night. The dual timeline is deftly handled and the characters in both the 1950s and the 1970s are vivid and alive. I raise a whisky sour to this debut and look forward to what Julie Owen Moylan writes next.

The premise of this one really pulled me in - you’re following two different timelines that are connected through the same New York apartment, when that parcel arrives, secrets are revealed. There’s some content warnings that some readers might want to be aware of - check out at the end for more.

Whilst the premise appealed, I found it a really slow burner of a read. I think for the first half I wasn’t really sure where this was going - I was definitely more invested in the 1950s storyline. Whilst there were elements in the 1970s that kept me hooked, I will admit that the whole side line of Ava’s dad being a douche was a bit of an annoyance. I really liked how the two timelines converged and were ultimately connected.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Michael Joseph, and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: there’s reference to mental health and some treatments no longer recommended, and the discrimination experienced by the LGBT community ⚠️

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for advance access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of split timeline historical fiction I was really looking forward to this, especially as it took place in a more modern setting than I'm used to; the 50s and 70s. The historical fiction genre is not flush with novels that take place mid-century so this was refreshing.

Notes:
- This book tackles and realistically portrays the inability to be openly gay/bi in 1950s America for fear of not just judgment but punishment by the law. A stark reality for many of the time. This was done with real care and attention to detail.
- We see Dovie struggle with external factors as well as additional inner conflict, complicated further by the character of Judith who claims to have Dovie's best interests in mind.
- Whilst I absolutely despised one character in particular, I was fascinated by them and their actions. I needed to understand them more!

What I didn't connect with:
- I struggled with Ava's perspective, and honestly skim read a few of the 1975 segments. Whilst Ava as a character was endearing and interesting, I personally feel like the plot wasn't really moving along in this section at the same pace and it felt like the timeline was built solely around events of 1955. Parts of the narrative were a little repetitive in 1975. BUT, that being said, I know that others preferred '75 to '55, so...
- The link between the two timelines felt a little bit weak to me, no spoilers though!

Overall this was a 3.5 for me

Read if:
- you want more LGBTQ+ representation in historical settings
- you liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo / have it on your tbr!
- you want something angsty and heart-wrenching to read.

A story of lost love set across a dual timeline in New York. In 1955 Dovie and Gillian are two teachers, great friends who share a flat but who are hiding a secret from the rest of the world for fear of judgement. In 1975 Ava is living in the same apartment 20 years after Dovie and Gillian and struggling with growing up, a mentally ill mother and a father involved with a younger woman, when a box of Gillian's posessions is delivered to the flat. 1950's New York is beautifully portrayed and gives a real sense of the time as does the period Dovie spends in Paris. A really interesting protrayal of the time and a great story.

Having recently ventured into historical lgbt fiction, this one sounded very intriguing. I found it to be a very quick read - as in, it felt like no time had passed yet i'd read over half of the book in one sitting.

I loved the 2 different perspectives: Dovie in 1955 and Ava in 1975. Though the only connection between them was the fact that they'd lived in the same apartment 20 years apart, I loved the difference in the storylines. You can also see the progression in the 2 time periods - the difference in how non-straight-white-people are treated. It still shocks me that they used to electric shock people because they weren't straight.

Now, how this book made me feel?

:(

I didn’t really know where this book was going to go but I loved it. I just can’t believe that reveal, even though I was half expecting it, it still broke my heart.

A very well-written book, not at all what I was expecting.

I'm trying to fit in more historical fiction in my readings and I am glad I chose this one. The dual narrative worked very well, and I always love to see a good LGBTQ+ plot with authentic characters.

Maybe a bit predictable in some places but that didn't take away the enjoyment.

Recommended to the fan of the genre!

Thank you NetGallery and Penguin Micheal Joseph Uk for an arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Superbly written this debut novel is written on a dual time line & captivated me from start to finish.
The year is 1955 & the two teachers Dovie & Gillian share an apartment together.
What goes on when the doors are locked is their secret & one to be guarded closely, otherwise the consequences could be dire.
Julie the school secretary has a malicious streak & is jealous of their friendship.
That same apartment twenty years on is where a young girl named Ava Winters lives with her mother who is becoming mentally unstable & a father who is rarely there.
When alone in the apartment as her mum has been committed to an asylum, she receives a large box posted from France.
All it has is the apartment address on it but no name.
On opening the box she has hardly any clue who it is meant for & sets about trying to find out, as it is a distraction from her own miserable life.
It’s an emotional thought provoking read that exposes how women were treated in the 1950’s due to there sexual beliefs.
There could be disastrous consequences if they were found out & were sent to prison, or an asylum where they practiced electric shock treatment.
It’s hard to believe that in the fifties loving someone could be seen as a crime & something to beat or lock them up for.
An immersive & captivating read this book had me hooked.
A story of forbidden love, friendships & loneliness with heartbreaking results.
This was a brilliant debut novel from this author & I look forward to her next book.

This is an exceptionally good read. A novel with great female protagonists, most of whom you will love with one notable exception. There is a dual timeline with the story set in 1950s and 1970s New York both of which are superbly created by the author. The rich descriptions give a real sense of time and place.

In the 1950s, Gillian and Dovie live and work together. Their feelings for one another are delicately drawn. They are very happy together until Judith worms her way into their lives and threatens to expose their relationship if they don't let her stay in their apartment. In the 1970s, Ava lives in the same apartment with her ailing mother. Ava receives a mysterious package from Paris. Included in the parcel is a photo of a woman with the word 'liar scrawled across it. Ava sets out to uncover the meaning of this.

Beautifully written, very emotional and totally unforgettable; this is a book which thoughtfully addresses how women were treated in the 1950s in respect of their sexuality and mental health. It is such an impressive debut. I adored it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the reasons I requested this book was because it is set in New York, I was heading to New York on holiday in December last year. I envisioned me reading it whilst there but as life goes I didn't read it then. I read last week and let me tell you what a wonderful book it is.

Set in 1950s and 1970's New York and Paris about a forbidden love between two women Dovie and Gillian and features a young girl called Ava. Different characters, different life circumstances, different time periods of women journeying through life, That Green Eyed Girl is about how their stories are connected.

This book has captured my heart and my mind it's given me a real sense of what it means to love somebody, what it means to have mental health issues and what it means to be marginalised in society. It is about knowing that you are loved in a time when you feel most unloved and about discovering yourself and finding the strength to carry on no matter what. It's about making mistakes, rash decisions that alter lives forever with disastrous consequences.

I adore this book I will be raving about it for some time and have not stopped thinking about it. I implore you to pick it up. I would like to thank the publishers @michaeljbooks and @netgalley for my advanced readers copy. I'm so thankful that I've read this book now please go out and buy it!

Read this book if you enjoyed:
💚 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
💚 Want to read more historical fiction featuring women
💚 For its LBGTQ+ representation

Wow, what a debut! Such a captivating book.

This book is fabulous in so many ways:

The dual time line works perfectly. Sometimes one storyline is stronger and I find myself speed reading to get to the one I like the most, but these are both strong. Also, they cross-over and blur but in a natural way, and not one which has been forced for plot purposes only.

All the characters are well rounded. They have their flaws, and that's what makes their motivations all the more believable and the outcome so heartbreaking.

The lesbian relationship reminded me of Sarah Waters' The Paying Guests, and a secret love having to be played out behind closed doors. It's so shocking to think that their relationship was described as "unnatural" and a crime less than 70 years ago,

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an advanced copy of this book, I loved it.

Is there a book blogger out there who hasn’t wanted to get their hands on this book? I was desperate to read it but if I’m honest, I didn’t really know what it was about or what to expect, I just knew it was a story to read.

I really liked the dual timeline of the 1950s and the 1970s. They are separate stories, but the more you read the more the edges start to blur and you start to see their link and the evolution of their stories.

I did prefer the story set in the ‘50s to the ‘70s but I can’t put my finger on why. Perhaps because the protagonists are adults in this story but it’s a child in the later one and therefore closer to my age and more identifiable? Or there’s more flesh to the story? Or it’s more clear-cut whereas the ‘70s is almost more of a mystery? I’m not sure, but I can confirm it is a passionately and expertly written book.

It’s not always easy to read. The description of how LGBTQ people were treated in the ‘50s and how mentally ill people were treated in the ‘70s - two time periods that don’t seem that long ago - is hard to fathom, but I felt there was definitely a sense of respect from the author with these topics.

Overall it is beautiful but heartbreaking, warming but cold, full of love and of loss. But most of all it shows the importance of friends, family and above all else, love, in any and all guises.

I found the read went by really quickly which, in my opinion, is always a so of an enjoyable and well written book.

I loved this story f forbidden love in 1955 New York that echoed through the years to 1975 and a young girl with a mentally ill mother. The story builds slowly and the two timelines seem disconnected at first although I made guesses that were wrong, but it is intriguing and immersive and an ending that knocks you off your feet.

It’s 1955 in Lower East Side, New York where Dovie and Gillian live as lodgers, unable to show the world their real relationship for fear or recrimination. They guard their private lives fiercely until one day someone guesses out their secret.

In the same apartment in 1975, Ava lives with her mum who is suffering mental health problems that Ava dramatically tries to hide from their neighbours. One July morning, Ava is alone in the apartment and takes delivery of a box simply addressed to Apartment 3B. It contains a photo of a woman with the work ‘liar’ scrawled across her face. To seek refuge from her own crisis, Ava takes it upon herself to track down the owner of the photo, leading her to discover a chain of events with one woman at the centre of it all.

Whilst I liked this book, I didn’t love it. I felt I placed the plot stalled and some parts were predictable. Having said that, I liked the fact it was set twenty years apart and felt you got a real sense of who each character was. I would rate this book 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK and the author for the chance to review.

Oh my heart! That Green Eyed Girl certainly knows how to pack an emotional punch! I was fully taken in by this visceral yet elegant story that looks at forbidden love, loneliness, secrets, betrayals and lies. Yes, quite the heady, enticing mix. All of these elements blend so wonderfully; it’s been a while since a book has had such an impact on me.

Set in New York and told in a dual timeline format, we meet 16-year old Ava Winters in 1975 and Dovie Carmichael in 1955. When a box arrives at Ava’s apartment, she uncovers pictures and letters meant for someone called Gillian from someone called Dovie. She decides to track Gillian down and return the belongings.

In our 1955 narrative, we learn the story of the box. Dovie and Gillian love each other but 1950s American society forbids lesbian relationships. Women are literally sent to asylums. So they have to keep their relationship a secret, the smallest thing could destroy them, such as the wrong person finding out…

In both stories the impactful theme of what’s it’s like when your safe space is taken from you is explored. Ava’s struggle with her parents who aren’t there for her, for different reasons, leave us with this girl, on the cusp of womanhood, who has no direction and needs a big hug, really. Her quest to find Gillian gives her direction when she has none and means she play a part in giving hope to someone else.

All the women in this book felt so real, complex and also broke my heart. They were all so different yet sadly had loneliness in common. Despite its themes, I didn’t leave this book feeling sad. Emotionally wrought yes and there were definitely tears at some points but it was so beautifully written that you are totally enraptured.

The more I think about That Green Eyed Girl, the more I’m in awe of the subtleties in each story and how they interwove and reflect each other. This is a compassionate yet heartbreaking, nuanced read. It also happens to be Julie Owen Moylan’s debut book and it’s mightily impressive – you must add it to your TBR!