Twenty-three Burlington Square has a vacancy and it's up to Agnes who shall take over the room. Three candidates have inquired and each of them would bring something to the home but Agnes is torn. The widow, Mercy seemed so desperately in need of a helping hand, the banker Stephen would cause her no worries and then there was her niece Clara who may be more work to manage than running the household. As much as she would love to say yes to all three, Agnes must make a decision. Told in a "Sliding Doors-esque" manner through alternate timelines we get to see what each of the choices would mean for Agnes, the other residents of No. 23 and how one small choice in life can pivot your whole world in another direction. I love the concept in this book, the idea that one small step on another path could change your life's journey but I struggled to settle into this book. The pacing was very slow and some of the characters were hard to love, including Agnes herself. As the book progressed on I was more invested to know the characters paths and where their No. 23 journey brought them it just took me a while to invest. Great concept and well-written. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's London, the late 1920s, Agnes has to choose between three possible lodgers for the second floor vacancy of her house at Burlington Square. What would life at No 23 look like if she chose her niece Clara? Or the banker Mr Thompson? Or the young widow Mercy Mayweather?

The events unfold three times, interspersed with flashbacks to Agnes's youth as well as the background history of the three possible lodgers and the already existing lodgers of No 23. Each "lodger-timeline" reveals secrets that make you hope Agnes will choose the timeline with the most "perfect" outcome for all involved.

All in all a pleasant read that kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know all the secrets and, of course, wanted to see the HEA. But, I thought the whole story dragged a bit in the middle, which was probably because I didn't like some of the characters as much as I wanted to.

One house...three lives...a decision that will change everything...

What a delightful tale this was! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and quite honestly didn't want it to end. And when it did, I suffered a sorry case of book hangover (which I do for only a handful of books) as I so wanted to climb back into the pages and relive it all over again.

The premise was intriguing and as you follow the story of the three lives therein, the story takes on a "sliding doors" narrative in which there are three different scenarios and three possible endings. And of course the era was a delightful one between the two wars of the roaring twenties when women were starting to be recognised in their own right with the handful of those shining their own respective lights in this endearing tale.

London 1927: Sixty something spinster Agnes Humphries has lived at No 23 Burlington Square all her life. She grew up as a child there, lost her mother there, raised her younger sister there and nursed her father until his demise there. The house is jam-packed full of memories of the life she knew and the one she longed for. Every crevice, every surface holds a memory for her and sentimental fool that she is, holds onto everything that highlights a memory of something she holds dear - whether the item is related to the memory or not. Such as, the newspaper headlining the Whitechapel murders bears the date that her sister Daphne took her first steps. Neither are related but it holds a memory just the same.

Then after the death of her father, Agnes was rather at a loose end and living alone in the sprawling home in Burlington Square when she decided to rent out not just the rooms but entire floors of rooms to others in the hope that she will find a family in her tenants. The attic rooms were rented out to young Gilbert Adams who does something with cameras; the first floor is home to Polish musician Alexander Gorski while the basement rooms housed the Smith family, mother Jemima, her husband Nicholas and their daughters Matilda, Ellen and Frances. Poor Jemima has virtually been pregnant since their honeymoon with baby number four on the way. The ground floor is Agnes' own residence while the second floor was Mr Blandford's until his sudden demise and thus paving the way for a new tenant.

Now Agnes has a conundrum. She has interviewed two deserving prospective tenants. Firstly, Stephen Thompson whose position a bank clerk lends a respectability to No 23. Then there is Mrs Mercy Mayweather, a young war widow who is all alone in the world and doing her best make ends meet at the glove counter at Pembertons. But her sister is expecting her to let her rooms her wayward niece Clara Goodwin whose impulsive behaviour has confounded her parents to the point she has been banished from the family home under a cloud of mystery. So who is the more deserving? Who needs the rooms the most? And who will fit in at No 23 Burlington Square the best?

So on 5th August 1927 Agnes takes up her pen, dips it in ink and writes out a letter offering the room to one of the three after which she gets young Gilbert to take it to the postbox for her. The tale is then divided into three parts in which each prospective tenant is given their own narrative becoming the protagonist and thus taking up residence in the second floor rooms of No 23 Burlington Square. Within each part, a story unfolds of possible scenarios that all meet one another at the end to make a more than satisfactory and very clever conclusion. The entire tale ends with one more scenario of that particular day when Agnes' own story becomes the highlight offering yet another happy ever after.

I really didn't know what to expect when I began this engrossing and entertaining tale but I'm so glad I ventured to pick it up. The entire tale is a riot from start to finish, particularly where young Clara is concerned, making you laugh, cry and basically just enjoy sharing the Kensington residence with these handful of colourful characters and their secrets. Peppered throughout each of the respective narratives are the odd chapter revealing just a little bit more about Miss Agnes Humphries and her own secrets. The story is so cleverly plotted that while we start with one of the three, we are left wondering throughout the mystery of the last prospective tenant. Because although each part is unique in how each one is the successful applicant, all three are carefully and cleverly interwoven throughout the other parts in some way or other. It really is incredibly genuis.

So much is at stake with the promise of which of the applicants to offer the room to that the story takes us on a journey of love, kindness, trust, duty and a chance to redeem oneself. But above all, is friendship. The tale is so endearing, so heartwarming that is so immersive I simply could not - DID NOT! - want to put it down. The characters are a mixed bunch and some you aren't quite sure what to make of them however by the end you do get the measure of them, some of whom you come to love. I didn't like the flightly Clara at the beginning and loathe to have the rooms given to her but hers was the most enthralling part of the tale and by the end I really grew to love the enchanting yet self entitled young woman.

While this book is historical in nature, being set in 1927 and thus some flashback scenes to some further key points in history (such as the Whitechapel murders, Queen Victoria's passing and the Great War) it doesn't really feel like an historical tale and has more of a contemporary feel. That is no bad thing because the entire tale is so engaging and compelling from beginning to end that I enjoyed every flipping minute of it! Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't feel Clara's was too long at all (although it was the longest). In fact, I enjoyed her tale the most with Mercy's a close second. Stephen was not a character I warmed to at all but his was a story that was an imperitive part of the tale.

Every so often, a book comes along that just makes you feel as its sheer blend of magic and brilliance. I completely loved this addictive and immersive read that really made you feel as if you too were one of the tenants of No 23 Burlington Square.

A well deserved 5 stars!

I would like to thank #JenniKeer, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #No23BurlingtonSquare in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

A sort of historical sliding doors: each choice will change something and each candidate has secrets.
What will happen ?
A compelling and gripping read, a well written story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this sliding doors historical story, which is full of secrets and plenty of twists and turns. Agnes Humphries is choosing a new lodger. Will it be her wayward niece Clara; sensible bank clerk Stephen; or the young widow Mercy? The novel takes us through the three scenarios and in each one we peel back the layers of various characters uncovering their truths and secrets. Threaded throughout is Agnes’s story and that of the other lodgers at No. 23. Everyone has something they’re hiding and each of them can reflect on that past and think, what if?
All in all, a super engaging read that kept me turning the pages at every opportunity.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

This story takes place in London and is set in the 1920’s after the war. Where everyone is trying to find their places. Agnes decide to rent out her house and goes about choosing tenants.
The author wrote Agnes character so well and all the tenants were so interesting.
This is a uplifting book about second changes and about all the possibilities and the choices we make.

Und hierum geht es auf Deutsch: Wir sind im Jahre 1927 in London, im Burlington Square, einer schönen Wohngegend der oberen Mittelklasse. Eine gute Adresse, und so gibt es für das freie Zimmer in der Nummer 23 gleich 3 interessante Bewerber, aus denen Agnes Humphries aussuchen kann. Agnes selbst ist eine liebenswerte, etwas exzentrische Dame um die 50, die schon ihr Leben lang im Burlington Square lebt. Sie hat nie geheiratet, obwohl es eine große Liebe gab, und kümmert sich anstatt um eine eigene Familie um die Bewohner ihres Hauses. Daher ist die Wahl eines neuen Mieters wichtig – er oder sie muss passen zur Hausgemeinschaft. Agnes hat nun die Qual der Wahl: soll sie ihrer Nichte Clara den Vorzug geben? Ist schließlich Familie, und die beiden lieben sich. Andererseits ins Clara eine junge Frau aus reichem Elternhaus, deren Lebenssinn anscheinend daraus besteht, nachts mit anderen „Bringht Young Things“ durch die Clubs zu ziehen und nichts als Unruhe zu stiften …. und die gerade von zuhause rausgeflogen ist … nicht so toll…. Dann gibt es Mercy, eine junge und sehr sympathische Witwe, die vom Land kommt und sich in London ein neues Leben aufbauen will. Und dann gibt es da noch Stephen, den Banker, der zumindest ein regelmäßiges Einkommen verspricht.
Für jeden der drei würde eine Wohnung im Burlington Square eine bedeutende Wende in ihrem Leben geben, und alle drei haben auch so ihre eigenen Geheimnisse, die sie mitbringen, bzw., die sie überhaupt nach London verschlagen haben. In diesem Roman nun spielt die Autorin alle drei Szenarien durch: wir begleiten sowohl Clara, Mercy als auch Stephen durch ihr erstes halbes Jahr im Haushalt von Agnes und ihren anderen Mietern. Das Witzige dabei ist, dass ein Schwung anderer Dinge / Ereignisse immer gleich bleibt, und wir somit in drei verschiedenen Geschichten die anderen Hausbewohner von unterschiedlichen Seiten kennenlernen.
Ich fand das echt spannend und eine faszinierende Idee. Als erstes spielt die Autorin die Story mit Clara durch, und ich muss sagen, das war eigentlich mein Lieblingsstrang. Dadurch, dass Clara die Wohnung bekam und mehr oder weniger in der Obhut ihrer Tante gelandet ist, hat sich ihr weiterer Lebensweg total geändert. Sie hat ihre Rastlosigkeit abgelegt und zu sich selbst gefunden. Ah, und gerade, als es wirklich spannend wurde, war dann dieser Teil der Geschichte auch schon wieder zu Ende und wir waren wieder zurück bei Agnes, die nun Stephen einziehen ließ. Und auch für Stephen sollte dies ein absoluter Wendepunkt im Leben werden. Der Kerl ist ein Gauner, aber er kann sich dem positiven und warmherzigen Einfluss seiner Landlady und Mitbewohner nicht entziehen und durchläuft eine Transformation. Am Ende werden wir noch Mercy als neue Mieterin erleben, und auch ihr Leben ändert sich komplett.
Ach ja, und natürlich kommt auch die Liebe nicht zu kurz. Die Autorin schreibt selbst: „No. 23 Burlington Square is full of twists and turns, secrets and lies, all woven together by three powerful love stories.“.
Mein Fazit: War spannend. Mal was anderes. Coole Idee mit den drei Timelines. Und ein kleiner Spoiler, es gibt am Ende einen Epilog, und es wirf klar, welche Timeline „gewonnen“ hat, und wie es weitergeht. Und noch mal Spoiler, ein paar Dinge aus den beiden anderen Erzählsträngen tauchen auch wieder auf: manche Dinge sollen einfach passieren und sind so gewollt 😊.
Das Buch ließ sich super flüssig durchlesen, auch für mich als Nicht-Muttersprachlerin war es ein page-turner. Und so viel Herz. So viel einfach Gutes. Das war richtig schön. Ich mochte eigentlich alle Charaktere, sie waren alle einfach echt und mit Liebe dargestellt.
Ich werde mir die Autorin auf jeden Fall merken. Das war eine Gute-Laune-historischer-Roman mit einer coolen Story und ganz viel positiver Energie.
Herzlichen Dank an den Verlag und an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar!

I don’t know where to begin so I’ll start at the end: I loved this book. No, more than loved!

In it, we follow Miss Agnes Humphries – the landlady of the attractive, if-slightly-shabby, white-fronted townhouse at Number 23 Burlington Square – as, on the morning of Friday 5th August, 1927, she decides which lodger to choose for the rooms that are now empty.

In three alternate timelines, we find out the consequences of each possible choice. Only one of these leads to happiness, but how can she make the right decision when not everyone – or, in fact, no-one – is what they seem to be?

All characters are so vividly portrayed that they felt incredibly real, and the house is described in a way that it became a character in itself rather than a simple background. If you told me that I’ve been to 23 Burlington Square instead of having just read about it in a book, I would believe you!

As for the three timelines that explore what would have happened had Agnes chosen one lodger over the other, I found them so engaging that I couldn’t turn the (digital) pages fast enough! I was completely invested in the future of the characters. I felt, at turns, protective, suspicious, hopeful, amazed, joyful… this book is a true rollercoaster of emotions!

I don’t always like when a book ending is too tidy because life is not like that, and not everything finds a neat resolution so that it can be shelved away. In some cases, however, it works, and this is one such case. By the last sentence of the novel, every loose end is tied, and it is done in such a clever way that it doesn’t feel forced at all.

An intriguing well-plotted.novel about a boarding house. The characters and their development make the story! Compelling and original. Agnes must decide what longer she wants to have join her in home full of curiosities. An enjoyable read!

Burlington Square is the third book I've read by Keer, and the third book I've given five sparkly stars.

The storyline was such a brilliant concept; Sliding Doors meets the past, as Keer takes us on a captivating journey through London circa 1927 and the goings on at the boarding house of landlady Agnes Humphries.

I found the book to be moderately paced, compelling and full of intrigue.

As the story unfolds it splits into three parts and we're treated to the story being told from the POV of Clara, Stephen, and Mercy. But who does Agnes choose to rent her room to, what will it lead to, what path should she choose?

Oh my, Jenni Keer, where on earth did you magic up the plot of this utterly wonderful novel? I am awe-struck by your ingenuity in coming with up with this stunning story and by the consummate skill with which you have pulled off its execution. You know I have loved your writing from your very first book but it is so clear how far you have come in developing your skill to anyone who is lucky enough to pick up No.23 Burlington Square to read. This is an author who is all grown up.

As I’ve mentioned above, the plot of this novel is just genius. Agnes Humphries lets out rooms in her family home in Burlington Square to make enough money to ensure she doesn’t have to leave the place that holds so many memories for her. She needs a new tenant and must choose between three candidates, knowing the equilibrium of the house rests upon her making the right decision. But how does she know what that is and what if she makes the wrong one? Well, here comes the magic of the book, we get to see the consequences of each decision as the author plays out the events that follow from Agnes choosing each of the three candidates across three separate storylines.

However, the book is much cleverer than that because, although each possible decision and its fallout is explored separately, there are certain anchoring events that occur in each timeline and all of the characters pop in and out of each story, giving us insights into their characters and how things might play out and, once we have details about a character from one timeline, it impacts how we view their behaviour in the next one and the author plays on this carefully and deliberately in her storytelling to draw us through the book and to its conclusions. At the same time, Agnes’s own history is revealed to us in bits and pieces throughout so that we come to understand her and her behaviour intimately by the end of the novel.

The book is set in the 1920s at a time of great change and upheaval. The Great War is over but it has left a hard legacy for so many people and influenced the behaviour of the generation growing up in its wake. The author has fully exploited the possibilities of this time period in the novel and has woven it into her book with great gusto. The reader cannot help but be taken in by the frenzy of this exciting time, but also be sharply aware of the great inequalities that still abounded in society, the prejudices that prevailed even as the world was trying to modernise. All of these conflicts are explored to great effect in the book and supply the tensions in the characters’ lives that make the story so compelling.

Above all, this is a book about people and relationships, the good and the bad, about loneliness and kindness and how finding the right people at a time of great need in your life might just save you and get you back on track, as well as restoring your faith in humanity. In might even make you a better person, or maybe not. After all, human nature is human nature in the end.

This is one of my favourite books of the year. I am honestly so impressed with everything about it from the clever plot to the detailed scene setting to the characterisation to the ideas explored and the depth of emotion that it elicited from me as a reader. I was absolutely engrossed in it from beginning to end and was left feeling that I had read something really original and special. Having been a lifelong reader and a book blogger now for almost 7 years, being taken by surprise by a book happens less and less frequently, but the author has managed to do it with this one. It is honestly a work of beauty. Congratulations, Jenni, this book is wonderful.

I was really interested in reading this book, because I absolutely loved the premise – “London, 1927: One house. Three lives. A decision that will change everything.” Really intriguing!
The three parts of the book concentrate on the stories of three characters – Clara Goodwin, Stephen Thompson and Mercy Mayweather – each one also including the viewpoint of our central figure Agnes Humphries. She owns the house and rents out floors and rooms to others, so she can afford to keep living there. After one of the tenants dies, she has to find a replacement so interviews three possibilities – Clara, Stephen and Mercy.
The story begins in August 1927 at Number 23 Burlington Square in Kensington, London. Mercy Mayweather arrives at the house and meets her prospective landlady Agnes Humphries. I loved Agnes straight away, her descriptions of people are so funny and well-observed. She also has a bedraggled old cat called Inky. I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the house – a perfect lesson in show, not tell too.
Mercy has secrets to hide, as we find out early on, which is intriguing, we want to know more. She tells Agnes she is an orphan and her husband died in the war. The other two prospective tenants are Clara, who is Agnes’s niece, but rather wayward and Stephen – the oldest applicant, who works in a bank.
But what would happen if Agnes chose each applicant? In the chapters ahead, that’s just what we find out.
Each part is like a complete novella, but they all gel together by the end.

PART ONE – Clara Goodwin
After her father had kicked her out of their house, Clara was relieved to move into her aunt’s. Clara’s a party girl who loves smoking, drinking, dressing up and spending time with men. She comes across as spoilt and selfish.
You get to find out more about the others who live in the house – Gilbert, Mr Gorski, Nicholas and Jemima and their daughters – and also catch up on the other aspiring tenants Stephen and Mercy.
There are some really sad bits in this section, but beautifully written. You really come to know Clara and like her by the end of it.

PART TWO – Stephen Thompson
Stephen seemed the logical choice to Agnes. He appeared to be respectable and have a good job, a safe addition to the household. But, of course, people have secrets and everything is not as it seems…
A bachelor in his fifties, he develops a charming friendship with Mr Gorski. It is quite hard to like Stephen. He definitely has faults, though the house seems to improve everyone who lives there in some way. Overall, this is a brutal chapter, with some real “Gasp!” moments here.

PART THREE – Mercy Mayweather
Mercy was a good choice for Agnes because she had offered to help the older woman around the house. She also works at Pemberton’s department store. A sad widow escaping from the life she had with her nasty mother-in-law, 27-year-old Mercy hoped her new home would be a much happier place for her.
We feel a lot of sympathy for Mercy. She’s a good woman who’s had a rough deal from life and it is lovely to watch her blossom in this part of the book, when she is surrounded by good people who care about her wellbeing. But of course, life isn’t going to be easy when she’s running away…

OVERALL
Wow! I loved this! It’s such a clever book, beautifully written with such wonderful detail and amazing characters. I give this a very rare 10 out of 10 and will be adding Jenni Keer to my list of authors I must read everything they ever write. Superb!

London 1927 and Agnes Humphries has to make a decision as to who she will let the newly empty room to. But who will she choose and how will life change once the decision is made! This is a book a book in parts, a book that takes you through three scenarios and brings different people into the story.

It is an interesting way of writing and reading a book which did make it a bit intriguing. The setting at No. 23 Burlington Square I loved and the characters where good, unique and for the most part interesting. A book that is both quirky and strange but in a good way. It was at times a bit slow and could sometimes get a bit confusing but once you got the hang of the story and how it worked it was easy enough to follow.

The epilogue at the end was a great addition and a great way to finalise the story which I think was definitely needed. A good read and a bit of fun in the way it was written so all in all I would give it a 3 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A 'sliding door's story, well written by Keer. I thought it was OK. Although I liked Keer's writing I felt the book dragged along in places and found some of the plot points quite frustrating. I also wasn't too keen on how the ending was written. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Clara's story and I think that set me up a bit for a fall with the other perspectives. I would definitely recommend Keer as an author as I did really enjoy the escapism with some sections of the book, particularly Agnes' story.

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book. The concept differs from most books and I felt I was reading a separate book for each character. In my opinion, none of the characters were likable. But then, don't we all have our little secrets we try to hide? Thanks to the author Jenni Keer, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this book, set in London in the 1920’s, as society was struggling with the changes after WWI, particularly the place of women. Agnes Humphrey rents out her house to lodgers, providing laundry service, food and warmth. Always straightforward and saying what is on her mind, Agnes is a fantastic character. In a Sliding Doors type of way, we are introduced to three scenarios of which tenant she allows to rent rooms, amongst Mercy Mayweather, a young woman, Stephen Thompson, a bank clerk, and her spoiled niece Clara. I could not put down this book, loving everything about it. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

No 23 Burlington Square is a wise, immersive read, about the paths we take and choices we make, whether they are right or wrong. It makes you believe that there are limitless possibilities and second chances. Uplifting and thought-provoking.

See full review on my blog (link below). #BLogTour with Rachel's Random Resources

Despite this being Jenni Keer’s third historical fiction novel, it was the first one I've read. I'm a huge fan of her contemporary romances with a hint of magic in The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows and The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker so couldn’t wait to read this, and wasn't disappointed. Jenni Keer’s style and ability to bring history alive suited this genre.

I adored this premise of alternative timelines and a snapshot into what would happen if a different decision had been made by the house’s landlady Agnes. TI was gripped by the individual stories told in the differing timelines and found how the characters arcs collided clever and fascinating.

Each personality set their own pace as they were quietly influenced by the other residents of sending them into unexpected places in this enthralling and captivating era. Clara injected glamour into all the different versions but while this entitled socialite would be annoying to meet in real life, her relationship with her brutally honest aunt made her section heart-warming and her navigation through her unexpected secrets and beyond will always be remembered.

Her life was in stark contrast to Stephen. His more complex and secretive character made him a tricky to fathom but glimpses into a more caring and tender heart made me feel for him during this twisty tale which delved into the darker side of London. It was a relief to fall into a gentler tale of Mercy who was constantly wanting to do her best and grew in confidence in this mishmash family living in the townhouse until past was revealed.

Agnes may have been the central figure whose actions dictated the other characters lives but her own story was delivered in bite sized emotional snippets which were a joy to follow and held everything together perfectly.

This is a clever book about family, connections, love and personal choice in an era teetering between the two wars, where optimism and change, in particular women’s rights, were in the air. It’s slower pace allowed everyone to be immersed in its depth and colour. If you love historical fiction and dramas such as Downton Abbey – you’ll love this.

I absolutely loved this intriguing and fascinating book, was hooked from the very first page, and couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the end! It’s quirky and enchanting, and is an absolute joy to immerse yourself in. The characters are so engaging, highly likeable, and tell their stories beautifully. This book is so cleverly written, and the characters stories flow seamlessly into each scenario, taking me on an unforgettable journey. There’s a sense of love, friendship and vivid description that pervades the pages, making me want to read more. Highly recommended.

I loved it from the beginning to the end. The plot is very cleverly structured with a unique way of swapping the points of view. (I don't want to spoil the surprise so won't go into details, but think of the film "Sliding Doors". )
The author created very strong and interesting characters. I was drawn into the story of all of them.
She also dealt with "delicate" topics of the time.
I enjoyed this story very much, and I was sorry to say goodbye to the characters, so I was really happy to get the Epilogue.
This is not the first book by the author I read and will definitely look out for the next ones.
My only objection is with the category this novel was put in. I did not feel it fantasy and even less sci-fi. It is a very well written historical novel, with minimal romance and strong characters.
I can recommend it to everyone.