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trailmix's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this story, and her earlier book, The Gown. Jennifer Robson creates endearing and relatable characters. Her books transport you to the time and place. I would love to have tea and ginger cake at the Blue Lion.
arrmarr's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nancyt's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The year is 1953, and Queen Elizabeth II is being crowned. The story takes place in the quaint Blue Lion Hotel. On coronation day, the hotel will be on the procession route so there is a lot of excitement leading up to that day. The story is told from the points of view of three different individuals: Edie Howard who owns the hotel, James Geddes, a Scottish artist with Indian ancestry who is temporarily living at the hotel as he has been hired to create a painting of the coronation day. The third character is Stella Donati, who is a Holocaust survivor and travels from Rome to London for a job opportunity as a photographer. Everything looks promising up until the point when threats emerge and attempt to derail everyone's plans. An easy read, with some interesting historical perspective. 3.75 stars
susannajane's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
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We’re just a few weeks away from King Charles III’s coronation, and what better time to read a historical fiction novel about the last time there was a coronation? Coronation Year takes place in 1953, surrounding the events of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The Blue Lion, an inn that dates back to the first Elizabeth’s reign, is on the coronation parade route, and its owner, Edie, is readying the hotel for the big event. Edie’s the last member of her family to run the inn; it’s been in her family since the beginning 400 years prior.
Stella is an Italian photographer who spent part of her young life in a concentration camp because she’s a Jew. She lost her parents due to World War II, and has secured a position at an English magazine. She knows Edie through her parents, who wrote travel guides prior to the war, and Edie invites her to stay at the inn as a long-term boarder. Stella gratefully accepts.
Jamie is an English-Indian artist who has been commissioned to make a painting of a building along the coronation route, which just happens to be across the street from the Blue Lion Inn. He takes a room in the attic overlooking the street and with the building in full view for the duration.
There are several other full-time boarders, as well as a tight staff as characters. There’s also a bit of a mystery leading up to the coronation: someone has mailed death threats to the police and local news establishments using Blue Lion stationary. Soon after, all the people who booked a stay during coronation week receive a cancellation notice on Blue Lion stationary with Edie’s forged signature. Scotland Yard is investigating, and Edie is very worried. The inn is barely holding on, and she fears she’ll have to sell it.
I thought the writing was well-done and it was an easy, breezy read, part romance, part historical fiction, part mystery. For fans of The Crown, or Robson’s previous book, The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson, it ticks all the boxes off for me. Highly recommended!
We’re just a few weeks away from King Charles III’s coronation, and what better time to read a historical fiction novel about the last time there was a coronation? Coronation Year takes place in 1953, surrounding the events of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The Blue Lion, an inn that dates back to the first Elizabeth’s reign, is on the coronation parade route, and its owner, Edie, is readying the hotel for the big event. Edie’s the last member of her family to run the inn; it’s been in her family since the beginning 400 years prior.
Stella is an Italian photographer who spent part of her young life in a concentration camp because she’s a Jew. She lost her parents due to World War II, and has secured a position at an English magazine. She knows Edie through her parents, who wrote travel guides prior to the war, and Edie invites her to stay at the inn as a long-term boarder. Stella gratefully accepts.
Jamie is an English-Indian artist who has been commissioned to make a painting of a building along the coronation route, which just happens to be across the street from the Blue Lion Inn. He takes a room in the attic overlooking the street and with the building in full view for the duration.
There are several other full-time boarders, as well as a tight staff as characters. There’s also a bit of a mystery leading up to the coronation: someone has mailed death threats to the police and local news establishments using Blue Lion stationary. Soon after, all the people who booked a stay during coronation week receive a cancellation notice on Blue Lion stationary with Edie’s forged signature. Scotland Yard is investigating, and Edie is very worried. The inn is barely holding on, and she fears she’ll have to sell it.
I thought the writing was well-done and it was an easy, breezy read, part romance, part historical fiction, part mystery. For fans of The Crown, or Robson’s previous book, The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson, it ticks all the boxes off for me. Highly recommended!
linwe20's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lorabgreen's review
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I've loved every Jennifer Robson book that I've read, but this one just didn't impress me as much. The characters were nice, but I didn’t feel like I got to know them as well as the main characters in some of her other books. The mystery was fun, but was pretty easy to solve. The romances were sweet, but felt rushed compared to those in her other novels. The romances lacked the tension and anticipation I'm used to in a Robson love story. All that being said, I did love the history of the Blue Lion and the personality of Edie as its owner.
amandareads84's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ghostee91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0