In a Nutshell: An unusual ‘sliding doors’ historical fiction, focussing on characters either residing or wanting to reside at the titular location. Imaginative in concept, somewhat slow in progress, interesting in plot development, okay in character development. Will work when you want a feel-good story with limited romance.

Story Synopsis:
1927. With the death of one tenant, there’s a vacant room to let in No. 23 Burlington Square. The owner, an old lady named Agnes Humphries, has three potential candidates, each of whom has at least one reason in favour of being allotted the room.
Clara Goodwin: Agnes’ nonconformist niece who is a rebel but is also family.
Stephen Thompson: A respectable banker with all the right credentials.
Mercy: A widow who seems to carry a heavy burden on her young shoulders.
Whom will Agnes select as the new tenant?
This is where the book takes the road not taken.
In three standalone timelines, we see Agnes offering the room to each of the three candidates, thereby giving us the chance of observing if and how the fate of the character alters due to their presence at No.23.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of various characters.

Bookish Yays:
😍 I love the idea of the plot. Of the three candidates, it is very easy to pick a deserving one for the house. (I think most of us readers would root for Mercy to be ‘the chosen one’.) So the author cleverly gives us the three timelines, beginning with the most problematic character – Clara, then going to Stephen, and finally Mercy. It was fun to see how the characters develop once they become tenants a No.23. Each timeline had its own appeal, and it is hence very tough to say which one worked the best for me.
😍 There are already three tenants in residence at the house, and these too are quite distinct in age and behaviour. The family in the basement has a philanderer husband, an overworked wife, and many kids. The old man on the first floor is an ex-pianist once famous but now arthritic and forgotten. The young man on the topmost floor, about whom no one knows anything except that he loves to click photographs and that he is quit pale. Each of the new tenant’s storyline intersects with that of one of the existing tenants. This adds an intriguing layer to the book as each alternate path feels different from the rest not just in plot but also in focal characters.
😍 Agnes has the right kind of personality to carry the entire novel. She is a complicated old lady with no filters in her mouth and no secrets in her stomach, but also with no limits to her heart. She made me cringe with her blunt comments, but she also won me over with her mostly benevolent attitude towards the other characters.
😍 Every single prominent character in the story has an unrevealed backstory. Some of these were quite easy to guess, while others caught me by surprise. Most of the secrets are distinct from each other, and through these secrets, the novel explores several themes relevant to the time and age such as the war and its aftermath, the women’s suffrage movement, gender discrimination, societal conformance, and homophobia. The themes add depth to the story.
😍 The romance is kept to a minimum, with the characters’ personal development getting a greater focus.
😍 I loved how the eponymous house was described. It was huge, fitting for a story with so many characters. However, it wasn’t written as a pristine residence in its heyday, but rather, as an old house that might have lost its splendour but still has its charm. The clutter inside (both of characters and of objects) added to its appeal.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Not all the characters are likeable. Clara is especially tough to feel connected with. I mostly enjoyed this greyish portrayal of the key people as it made the story more realistic. However, some of the characters go from good to bad (or vice versa) abruptly, making their behavioural changes feel unconvincing.
😐 The story contains plenty of historical references in terms of newsworthy events and pastimes. However, for some reason I cannot put my finger on, the story hardly ever *feels* historical. Even when something obviously “past” is occurring, the characters seem contemporary, especially in their manner of speaking.
😐 Clara’s story, which is the first of the alternate timelines, is too lengthy. It takes up nearly half of the book. Some parts of her timeline could easily have been trimmed as there were many repetitive scenes. The other two timelines fare much better. All three timelines though held enough surprises to keep my interest.

Bookish Nays:
😒 Because of the format of the plot and the number of characters, there is a lot of character hopping in each timeline. The third-person voice helps to a certain extent, but the jumps in narration are still too many. Moreover, this shifting perspective nullifies how we can have so many secrets in the plot when even the secret holder is giving the metaphorical mic of narration.
😒 There are too many convenient coincidences in the plot.

All in all, this is a feel-good kind of story that is better read without overanalysing. The innovative concept of seeing three alternative scenarios through the three tenants is the USP of this novel.
Definitely recommended to historical drama lovers who would enjoy an unusual sliding doors story focussed more on characters and historical themes than on light-hearted fun or romance.

3.75 stars.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the date specified at the top of some chapters while reading. Else, you might be confused for a while.

My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “No. 23 Burlington Square”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is definitely going to be one of my top books of the year.
I couldn’t tear myself away from the stories.
I enjoyed all three ‘what if’ storylines, I just love a ‘sliding doors’ story.

‘One simple decision can have so many ripples’

As we follow Agnes as she carefully chooses each of three possible tenants for her spare room, we learn about them but we also learn a little about Agnes in each story. Why she never married. Why she feels she can never leave this house with all of its sentimental clutter. I completely get her! Her few tenants are like a family and it was heartwarming to see them pull together to help each other in times of need.

There are also some secrets and some lies.

And tears.

Definitely one which is going to stay with me and having read an ebook for the blog tour, I’m going to buy the paperback for my forever shelf.

The central aspect to the story is Agnes Humphries, the owner of the titular property and who takes in lodgers. When the rooms on the second floor become vacant, Agnes interviews three potential occupants, her wayward niece, Clara, the respectable Mr. Stephen Thompson who works in a bank and Mrs. Mercy Mayweather, a meek and quiet widow but whom Agnes suspects is hiding something.

The author then skillfully portrays these three alternate scenarios in which she offers the accommodation to each of them. It was this that elevated this book from a good foundation for a story to a superb book to read.

Agnes and her other lodgers remain consistent throughout the three story lines, and they each have a part to play in the stories of Clara, Stephen and Mercy. However, Agnes is the main character and her backstory is filtered through as the individual stories progress. She is a delightful personality upon which the whole novel revolves. She cares deeply about those around her, is outspoken but always thoughtful.

I appreciated how skillfully the author brought all of her characters together in the epilogue. This is not a spoiler but it is testament to how well rounded and completely the author concluded her book. It has a lovely feel good factor to it and it was a delight to read.

Utterly brilliant and real insights into the challenges faced in the 1920s and 1930s . Also really interesting how the three characters of the potential tenants were intertwined and how the stories were steeped in history. Great characters and a joy to read.

5th August 1927, a grand Georgian terraced house in West London has a room available to rent.
Miss Agnes Humphries has three people to interview for the room. Who to choose? Who will fit in with the existing tenants?
A decision needs to be made.

This book was a wonderful read for me. I really liked the authors descriptive use of words. How the characters were described in detail, leaving me feeling that I knew the characters.
Some of the expressions used to describe parts of the house had me laughing away.
At first I didn’t like Clara, I thought she was vain, selfish and self obsessed, but I had changed my opinion of her as her character developed.
There are some sensitive issues covered, part of the storyline really.
A very good book that I was sad when it finished. A book about second chances, fresh starts. Little twists and turns that certainly captured my interest. Kindness is a theme that runs through the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

Agnes Humphries has a room to let in her stylish residence: 23 Burlington Square. A property that has been her family home since childhood and is filled to bursting with memories and treasured objects. She interviews three prospective tenants Mercy, Stephen and Clara, her wayward niece - before decisions are needed. A simple task for a landlord, though the implications will affect all the residents at 23 Burlington Square.

I loved this tale from page one! And my opinion didn’t change throughout the book. Told in a ‘sliding doors’ format which enables various outcomes to be witnessed. The characters are colourful and flawed, yet so relatable. The original circumstance is an everyday occurrence which becomes meaningful, poignant and pivotal to each of the three potential tenants.

Additional characters add life, interest and a suitable background for the tale: Gilbert - the ghostly introvert living on the top floor, Mr Gorski - the elderly chap on floor two, and the young family trying to make ends meet, who live in the basement flat.

There’s a beautiful romance weaved throughout the story – for which I held my breath hoping beyond hope that love would find a way!

A five star read – highly recommended.

No.23 is the home of Agnes Humphries who takes boarders in to pay for the upkeep of her home she gets 3 people who want it and she has to decide what one to pick.
This book is a sliding doors kind of book it makes you laugh in places and cry it has it all.

It is my favourite type of book, one packed with believably complex characters who have secrets, A vivid historical setting and an element of mystique and what if. Agnes is a compassionate and dutiful woman who, like many women of her generation, sacrificed her happiness to ensure her family was cared for. Inheriting her family home, she needs a respectable income source to keep it running, so she takes in lodgers. Finding someone to replace a resident who died presents her with a dilemma that has far-reaching consequences for her and those connected to her in some way.
Through its characters, the story explores different outcomes and shows how small actions have a domino effect. It is written with authentic historical detail and vibrant sensory imagery, drawing the reader into the various possible scenarios in No. 23 Burlington Square.
I like the historical setting, the believable characters and the many twists that make this a compelling read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great book, set in 1927 at No 23 Burlington Square and follows the story of Agnes Humphries, who lives there.
Oh this story was truly a delight to read and so heartwarming overflowing with emotions. I want to be friends with Agnes!

'No. 23 Burlington Square' is a delightful journey through time and love that will warm your heart and leave you with a sense of nostalgia. Jenni Keer's storytelling is a perfect blend of history, romance, and mystery, and her characters are authentic and endearing. If you're in the mood for a heartwarming tale that blurs the lines between past and present, 'No. 23 Burlington Square' is a must-read. It's a touching and beautifully crafted narrative that will resonate with your own love for the past and the stories it holds. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

Jenni Keer - No 23 Burlington Square.

Jenni Keer is the author of some outstanding and really quite unique novels.
No 23 Burlington Place continues that trend.

Settle back into late 1920’s London. No 23 Burlington Place is a large, if a little shabby town house, owned by spinster Agnes.
Agnes has rooms to let after the sad death of one of her tenants.
She has three potential lodgers. Each could be a good choice, but they all have secrets to hide.

Jenni Keer takes us on a journy through all the possible choices.
Who was the right tenant to choose?
What secrets did everyone have to hide?
And what choice did Agnes actually make in the end?

I read this book it one sitting. It completely pulled me in from the start and I wasn’t putting it down for anything. (Well maybe a couple of toilet and tea breaks!)

Jenni Keer has captured the time beautifully and paired it with some wonderful characters.
Agnes is a likeable lady. She has a kind heart and cares deeply for her friends and family.
When Clara showed up, I fully expected to dislike her. She actually became one of my favourite characters. She is brave and feisty. And just a little bit posh!
Every character is well thought out and has real depth.

#No23BurlingtonSquare is a charming and captivating read. Full of twists and turns, heartbreak, warmth and hope. A book that I won’t forget anytime soon, because it’s really rather special.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.

One decision can change everyone’s lives around you.

Agnes Humphries has 1 spare room and 3 potential tenants. The book plays out each of the options and as each is played out we learn a bit more about each of the the tenants and their land lady.

Set amidst the Bright young things of the late 1920s this is well worth a read!!

3,5* Slow in the beginnig, not too keen on the writing style, but intriguing if you persevere.

This is a sort of sliding doors story set in the London of 1927.
Miss Agnes Humphries is the landlady of No. 23 Burlington Square and she has to decide who'll be occupy a recent vacancy in her home. Will it be her troublesome niece, a girl she's very fond of who's having a hard time in life, a respectable clerck gentleman who'll surely pay the rend and give her no problem or the shy and hardworking widow, who'll surely help her with house work and would benefit from such an accomodation?

The author cleverly writes about all of these scenarios, we get to meet and know every of this character plus the landlady herself and the other people living in the house: a family in the basement, the old concertist who's living on the first floor and the shy and elusive young man living in the attic.
Which story will make a breach in your heart?

I liked above all the last two version of the story, but didn't fall head over heels with it.
I'm still recommending it if you like to delve into every aspect of a story, see it narrated through various point of view and see how it could change and still have the same outcome or not depending on a simple decision.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book as an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

What a very clever book. Think ‘Sliding Doors’- if one small thing had happened differently, what might have been? Beautifully written and carefully crafted with characters I cared about, this is a fabulous read. It kept me up in the small hours with the page-turning tale. I highly recommend No. 23 Burlington Square, and it is five big fat stars from me.

My thanks to the publisher and author for this wonderful ARC copy.

I haven’t read anything by Jenni Keer before and my goodness I think I have been missing out. This one deserves all the stars for the clever writing, the ‘Sliding Doors’ scenarios and the superbly drawn characters.

Agnes Humphries, the spinster landlady of the said property has a huge decision to make. A recently deceased lodger means a set of rooms is available but with three applicants who would all be deserving, who should she let to? Through the individual stories of Clara, Stephen and Mercy, we find out how their lives might have panned out had they been the chosen one. These storylines are basically novellas in their own right and I loved this construction because the story isn’t constantly flipping backwards and forwards. In between, Agnes’ backstory is explored and I enjoyed reading about her. She was a sympathetic and caring soul, albeit someone without a filter whose plain speaking could ruffle feathers and she frequently divulged personal confidences. Her cluttered house is testament to her inability to dispose of anything that has a memory attached.

I can’t begin to imagine how the author kept track of all the characters in the different timelines as they all blended together so well. However she ensures that whilst each person has the focus on them, the others are not forgotten and we learn what is happening to them also. Not everyone is as they seem, there are secrets and deceit leading to revelations which will elicit both sympathy and loathing.

This is a captivating story and one which is not only character driven but also touches on the politics and post-war society of the time. The writing is superb, there were so many quotes I bookmarked that sung to me and all three timelines came together to a definitive conclusion. Jenni Keer has written a charming story that is refreshing just by being different. I loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

The book is currently £1.39 to download on Kindle. It’s an absolute steal.

Agnes is a spinster who rents out rooms in Burlington Square. After the untimely death of one of her lodgers, there are three applicants for his rooms. The story explores hoe events would unfurl with each of them in situ.

I was worried when the story started ‘again’ with a different lodger that it would become repetitive, but the author cleverly manages to weave the first story into the second and both of them into the third.

I enjoyed reading about the various characters in this household and how their lives intertwined. Period details felt authentic and gave a flavour of London between the wars.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fun read by Jenni Keer. It’s 1927 when we meet Agnes Humpries who rents rooms to afford the upkeep of her Kensington home. With one room suddenly available Agnes has three prospective boarders to choose from. Agnes sees potential in all three candidates, her troublesome niece Clara, the sensible established Stephen and young widow Mercy. In sliding door format the reader is treated to three different outcomes with Agnes choosing a different boarder in each section. Each section introduces a what if with
a different boarder chosen, uncovering secrets while also intertwining the lives of the other tenants of the house. Throughout we learn about Agnes, her life, love and losses. An enjoyable read, with well rounded characters who draw you in and keep the page’s turning.

There were so many clever twists and turns in each part of the story that I really didn't want the book to finish. The historical details were brilliant and kept me wanting more, I felt I stepped into this book while I was reading it. I loved it and will definitely be recommending it to others!

No. 23 Burlington Square" by Jenni Keer is a captivating timeslip story set in London, 1927. The narrative revolves around the landlady, Miss Agnes Humphries, who faces a momentous decision. The second-floor rooms of her charming but slightly worn townhouse at Number 23 Burlington Square are vacant after the unfortunate demise of Mr. Blandford. Agnes must now choose her new lodger. Her options include her spirited and glamorous niece Clara, who mingles with London's Bright Young Things, the respectable and church-going banker Stephen, who seems too good to be true, and the timid war widow named Mercy, who is clearly fleeing from something mysterious.

As Agnes contemplates her decision, the story unfolds in alternate timelines, exploring the lives of these three distinct lodgers. Each choice leads to different consequences – one choice may result in scandal, another in devastation, and the third in happiness. The book explores the unique paths that unfold for these characters, as secrets are revealed, relationships are formed and shattered, and feathers are ruffled. Throughout the narrative, the characters themselves, including Agnes, will discover that appearances can be deceiving, and no one is exactly who they appear to be. "No. 23 Burlington Square" is a compelling tale of choices, consequences, and the intricacies of human relationships in the backdrop of 1920s London.

This was a unique way to tell a story, with so little given yet so much to explore the character that it kept me reading to see how things would all end. I did think Clara's storyline took a more modern approach that might not be as accurate to the time period, but I understand why the author explored that path, given our more accepting times now. Her story seems to be the most detailed but I think that's because the author used hers to set up the different aspects of the lodging house through her niece, who had spent time there off and on through the years.

I did think it was a bit long of a book, so if you have the time, it is definitely worth it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the much-appreciated digital ARC.

First few chapters I was undecided about this book, but then it grew on me to become a great read. Good characters, which made for an excellent read.