Here is an excerpt from my new book, EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE.

Whenever I start writing a new book, I sit down at my laptop and just start typing, and as I do so, I am most motivated by readers' pleas for "more." This is why each of my books, although they stand alone, take place in the same world.

Below are the very first words I wrote two years ago, so they have special meaning for me. I was first inspired to write a book set in the movie industry by an April 2021 family re-watch of Francois Truffaut's movie DAY FOR NIGHT. I remember being impressed by Truffaut's script girls and remarking to my family that I wanted to write a book called SCRIPT GIRLS and oh, how they laughed.

But a few weeks later, I started typing and immediately this very Gilbert Osmond- character from THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY shows up on Rome's Via Sacra trying to "hit on" a beautiful woman he has noticed before. I wrote the following in one go, showed it to my agent and editor, and they both said, keep going. So I did, for another year. The hardest year I have ever had as a writer. I was terrified the entire time I wrote. I took long - sometimes months-long - breaks (the research material was emotionally harrowing). I showed it only to my husband, in two stages, as I always do. Then I spent the past year editing it, and each day, with each new or different or excised word, I could feel the MS becoming something more special to me than I could ever have conceived. I am stupidly, crazily proud of this book. I will never write a better one.

As with my first two books, there is another large cast of characters. I have listed them below:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE EXPATRIATES

Vivien Lowry … disaffected London playwright
Sir Alfred Jonathan Knox … British industrialist & philanthropist
Lady Browning … bestselling author better known as Daphne du Maurier
Peggy Guggenheim … famous New York heiress & art collector
Levi Bassano … New York scriptwriter & former Field Photo soldier
Douglas Curtis … Hollywood director & former WWII Commander of Field Photo Unit
John Lassiter … an American living in Rome
Claudia Jones … Hollywood movie star
Ada “Bricktop” Smith … Nightclub owner
Ava Gardner … Hollywood movie star
Tabitha Knight … London shopgirl at The Sunwise Turn
Frances Knight … Hampshire wife & mother
Mimi Harrison … London stage actress & former Hollywood movie star
Milko Skofic … former Yugoslavian refugee & doctor

~

THE ITALIANS

La Scolaretta … Cinecittà cutter & resistance fighter
Margarita Pacelli Lassiter … war orphan
Marco Marchetti … Vatican cardinal
Anita Pacelli … Italian movie star
Nino Tremonti … Neapolitan prince & filmmaker
Sister Justina … Canossian Daughter of Charity
Gabriella Giacometti … reporter for LIFE magazine
Sophia Loren … Italian movie star
Gina Lollobrigida … Italian Movie star

I hope you enjoy the excerpt - and most of all, I hope this finds you well and looking forward to the future with hope and peace, in the same way that your readership and support enables me to do.

xo Natalie

www.nataliejenner.com/every-time-we-s...

_______________________________

Chapter Three
~
The Ides of March, 1955
Rome, Italy

Everything in life was a matter of pacing.

Lassiter had noticed her, or thought he noticed her (could he be slipping?), a couple of times now. The first had been on a mild February day as he had sneaked out of a private meeting at Cinecittà. She had rounded the corner of the studio on a peacock-blue bicycle, the front wicker basket holding a stack of paper weighted down by a pair of tangled high heels. Her feet were bare, and immediately he assumed she was one of the script girls. Or—better yet—an actress, with her wavy raven-black hair and stylish manner.

The second time had been at Peggy Guggenheim’s Carnival party on Mardi Gras a few weeks back. They had both been in costume and that must have slowed him down—either way, by the time he had made the connection, she was gone.

He had not seen her at the studio since. He had certainly not expected to find her here, wandering alone through the Via Sacra. He d to cut through the Forum as he slipped home from Anita’s apartments, long before the photographers were up. At dawn, the cats had the run of the place and it made him feel positively feral. In his early fifties, he still showed the American athleticism of his lost youth, strolling the sampietrini of Rome’s battered post-war streets with the nimbleness of a man half his age.

When he saw her standing there in her white knotted men’s shirt and bright peasant skirt, pensively taking bites of a maritozzi still in its café wrapper, he wondered if now was the time to say something. In a movie it would have been the perfect moment: minute nineteen out of ninety and the third encounter between the leads.

Then, as with so much in the movie industry, it was taken out of his hands. She turned back to the blue bicycle leaning against a two-thousand-year-old cracked column, finally noticed him, and walked on past. If she recognized him, she gave no sign of it.

“Mi scusi—”

She wheeled around at his words, wiped a bit of cream from the corner of her lips, and gave a smile that bordered on a smirk. “Don’t strain yourself. I’m a foreigner, too.”

He felt the back of his neck tighten. He had been living in Italy for nearly a decade. “Actually, I live here.”

“So do I.”

“I mean I have done, for many years.”

“I don’t think that’s what makes someone Italian, do you?”

He saw that she was joking with him in that very contrarian, British way that he had always found tiring, even in a woman as beautiful as her. He also saw that she was not going to make this easy for him. “I believe we were both at Peggy’s Carnival bash.”

She pitched the now-empty pastry wrapper into the bicycle basket. “I don’t recall being introduced.”

He extended his hand. “John. John Lassiter. Artemis Productions.”

The sun was slowly rising behind him and she shaded her eyes with her right hand to peer more closely at him.

“The warrior goddess,” was all she replied.

“Among other things.” He quickened his pace ahead of her to reach the bicycle and turn it around in his hands, then motioned for her to walk as he gentlemanly steered the bike. Noticing the script in the basket next to the crumpled pastry wrap, he tried again. “You’re in Teatro 5, right? Starring in…?”

“Not in. On.” She looked amused by his reaction. “I’m doctoring the script for When All Else Fails.”

“I hear it’s in rough shape.”

“It’s as crumpled as that wrapper.” She laughed wryly. “I appreciate your directness, at least. None of the Italians on set seem fussed—about anything.”

The words at least did not escape him. He had only a few yards left of Via Sacra to make his pitch. “Do you walk through here often?”

She shook her head. “Only for inspiration—and the history, of course. Today is the Ides of March, as you know.”

He did not know. For all his morning-after walks, Lassiter was unaware that they were standing on the exact spot where Julius Caesar had been condemned by Marc Antony to his unfortunate end. The producer had huge gaps in his education that he had spent a lifetime hiding through almost any means short of actually opening a book.

“Exactly,” was all he said instead.

As they exited onto the pavement alongside the screeching, careening cars of the Via Fori Imperiali, she reached for the bicycle handles. He let his taut, tanned arms brush against hers as she did so, and was pleased that she did not step back as quickly as she could have.

“Well, see you at the studio, Mr. Artemis.”

“Lassiter,” he was pained to have to correct her. But she only smiled, and he realized she was teasing him again. “And you are?”

“Lowry. Vivien.”

She ascended the bicycle and sped off, but he noticed she looked back at the corner. He had paced it well enough in the end.44 s3 comments Liz2,356 3,214

Every Time We Say Goodbye does a great job of taking the reader to the Italian film industry of the 1950s. Who knew what a dynamic industry it was? Certainly not me. During the HUAC activities, many American directors and actors also moved overseas to avoid problems. Into this, Vivian, an English playwright, comes to help fix a script. Vivian is a repeat character from Jenner’s prior books, but this easily works as a stand-alone.
I love historical fiction that can teach me something and this does that in spades. It especially explores the fraught relationship between the industry and the church.
There’s also a second storyline of “La Scolaretta”, the schoolgirl assassin of Rome during WWII. It takes a while before we get to see the connection of the two plots.
My problem with this was that while the setting was great, I failed to engage with the characters or storylines, as the focus of the story kept veering from one plot line to another. I couldn’t get into Vivian’s love affair with Lassiter. I couldn’t reconcile her trying to find what happened to David with her new love. And too many of the secondary characters just felt two dimensional, even characters from her prior novels. The one exception was Tabitha, in a search to find out anything about her birth mother.
I always look forward to The Author’s Note when I read historical fiction and I would have been happier with a more robust explanation here than just some acknowledgements.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.netgalley43 s7 comments Christy fictional_traits187 194

'Saying goodbye is the hardest thing in the world, save for one, and that is being cheated of it'.

Vivien lives her life as a product of WW2: she is a survivor. But when she lost her fiancé, she lost her future, as well as that sense of self the future had promised her. Since then, she's poured her anguish and anger into her plays. The latest, however, could also be counted as a loss (at least according to the critics), so when her friend suggests she goes to Italy to help save a dying movie script, Vivien soon discovers it's also an opportunity to save herself - learning that forgiving doesn't necessitate forgetting, 'Time goes, it always does, and always faster than we want. But the past stays with us for a reason'.

'Every Time We Say Goodbye' is a dual POV and dual time story - depicted in Cinecitta, the 'Hollywood on the Tiber'. A place where, 'Clothes, church, cinema - everyone is in bed with each other'. As Vivien grapples with telling stories, the Catholic Church, 'moved to legislate the public's behaviour under the guise of script approval, enabling the government to censor anything it deemed immoral or leftist, and causing the pendulum of power to swing right all over again'. She quickly understands that the irony of local politics simply underscores how little people may have learned, in their haste to forget a terrible past, 'the world was resisting looking back in order to fully embrace the future'. To move forward she, we, must look back.

Natalie Jenner presents the reader with a mosaic of thoughtful insights around love and loss, remembering and forgetting, relinquishing and enduring. I heavily highlighted and notated while reading this book as so many thoughts were distilled. To that end, this book, for me, is more a story of self-reflection than historical fiction per se. That said, I learned so much about the politics and bustling Italian movie business of that time. Whichever way you lean, you are bound to enjoy reading this thought-provoking, insightful story.

'How lucky the world was for those survivors willing and able to tell their own story, and how imperative that such stories be shared to the greatest extent possible'.netgalley30 s10 comments Jenny163 255

Omg, I have to say that Natalie Jenner's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" was as amazing as her previous books! I felt this novel transported me to dazzling post-war Italy, the world of film, and the many complexities of Vivien Lowry's life!

Let me start by saying that main characeter, Vivien, is simply unbelievable woman! She is knocked down in London, but she gets back up and lands a job in Rome's thriving film industry. And I must admit that reading Jenner's descriptions transported me to the streets of Italy. Every detail, from the realistic location of Cinecitta Studios to the detailed portrayal of Italy's complex history during World War II, shows Jenner's careful research. I was completely absorbed in the sights, sounds, and feelings of that time. And those details gave the story more depth and illuminated significant historical moments that are sometimes missed.

Although the dual timeline concept did a good job of tying the past and present together, I found myself wishing that some of the storylines— La Scolaretta—had been explored more thoroughly. I still really the book overall, despite this small complaint.

I can't wait to read more of Jenner's works! Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys historical fiction and strong, independent females!netgalley32 s Nancy1,609 400

Natalie Jenner’s debut novel, The Jane Austen Society, was a welcome and inspiring read in spring 2020. Set after the devastation of WWII, a community is formed by a love of Austen and the desire to preserve Chawton cottage. Jenner next took one of the characters to a London bookstore in Bloomsbury Girls. And now, in Every Time We Say Goodbye, Jenner takes Vivian Lowry from the bookstore to post-war Italy, working as a script doctor in the movies after her play is a flop. Vivian carries her own war wounds: her beloved fiance disappeared in Italy during the war, necessitating some difficult decisions and leaving her heart hardened against further heartbreak. She takes lovers but avoids love.

Post-War Italy is a glamorous time and place, the novel filled with up and coming actresses Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren, aggressively pursued by street photographers. It is also a time and place of great contradictions, as Vivian says, a “former Fascist regime…shapeshifting into an ostensible democracy that was heavily influenced by a sensorial church and half-heartedly administered by the police.”

The church is policing the movie industry, censoring anything that is critical of its role under Fascism or what it deems immoral. And yet Catholic church leaders hide their own sullied characters.

The director of the movie Vivian is working on wants to make a movie about the woman he loved, a teenaged Resistance courier who was brutally murdered. Her story is revealed in alternating chapters.

The novel has it all: passion and love, glamor and the grim reality of war, refugees and orphans and the priviledged rich, the imperious authority of the church, scandalous men, and women struggling to live and work and love. Vivian’s insights into the conflicted times are eerily reflective of our own. She struggles with how a few men could “conjure a false enemy and unfounded fear across several nations,” and wonders if it is possible to “eradicate” this hate for good. The impact of movies to tell transformative stories of truth is also central.

You don’t have to have read the previous novels to enjoy Every Time We Say Goodbye. I loved being carried away into this rich and conflicted world.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.netgalley9 s Lynda LoigmanAuthor 5 books1,612

In her ambitious follow-up to Bloomsbury Girls, Natalie Jenner transports readers to the complicated glamour of postwar Italy where she trades a London bookshop for a sprawling film studio. Every Time We Say Goodbye is a stunning meditation on the hopes that we bury when a world is at war and the courage we muster to reclaim our dreams afterwards. With a historian’s eye and a storyteller’s heart, Jenner triumphs once again with this contemplative tale that reads more a film than a novel. Only a writer with Jenner’s talent could weave religion, art, loss, and romance with such empathy and skill. How I loved losing myself in this intricate, vibrant, technicolor world! 8 s Julie GerstenblattAuthor 4 books127

I adored both The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls and was thrilled to be given an advanced copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye. This book builds on the worlds created in Jenner's first two historical novels, although it can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel without prior knowledge of the other two. Readers travel on a journey to Italy in the 1950's, with a lively cast of characters (including many we've grown to love from Jenner's other novels - yay!) and many of whom are British and American ex-pats working in the booming art of Italian cinema after WW II.

Cinematic in scope, EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE is a bittersweet reminder of the reverberations of war, as well as an ode to cinema as an art form that preserves history, reflects the best and worst of humanity, and helps us heal. Ultimately, this moving story embraces individuals’ ability to thrive after tragedy, and urges us always to strive for la dolce vita. Brava, Natalie Jenner! Nursebookie2,410 378

TITLE: EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE
AUTHOR: Natalie Jenner
PUB DATE: 05.14.2024

I loved The Jane Austen Society and The Bloomsbury Girls so naturally I was excited to have another Natalie Jenner book in my hands and one that is set in beautiful Italy that I just cannot get enough of.

In EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, we are graced with the world of cinema in the 1950’s, the Italian Resistance Fighters, the Catholic Church, and even a bit of mystery to add to the brilliant storytelling. I was glad to see a character list as I love going back and referring to it time to time.

The writing by Jenner seems to always bring me new knowledge - whether it is learning about unsung heroes and heroines, the culture which includes religion and politics, all the while crafting a tale that is intriguing and compelling, that is hard to put down.

Enjoyed this one a lot. 10 s Brianna Hart386 48

This one was hard for me to get into. It didn’t have a lot of historical context and wasn’t tied to major historical events so I think that made it more difficult. Overall it was an okay sorry but I just didn’t get a ton out of it.6 s Cindy Spear384 20

Every Time We Say Goodbye is another heart penetrating novel by Natalie Jenner. When I read one of her books, I cannot help but write copious amounts of notes. There are numerous lines of profound wisdom, complexity of thought on societal issues, poetic and literary insight, intense interactions and behavioural observations on the pages. Natalie makes me think and dig deeper to grasp the truths that are often hidden under layers of facades. In Every Time We Say Goodbye, I was moved by the complexity of the characters, their situations and lessons learned. And even though this is a fictional world, the astute realism is unforgettable and far-reaching.

Natalie’s stories, with Jane Austen’s, focus on the importance of friendships and family. And Every Time We Say Goodbye is no exception. In fact, her current novel takes us through the horrors of war and how it affects those important relationships. The sense of loss is truly felt through Vivien and others. Whether from known deaths on the battlefield or of loved ones gone missing in action. It awakens in us core emotions and makes us wonder how we would react in the same situations.

This story poses the question: how do we move forward after war has invaded our lives? Especially since it can change a person—not always for the better. Finding closure for the living can be hard. Tabitha has experienced the loss of freedom and her home. Not something Vivi had suffered but ‘she did understand the unique pain of not knowing what has happened to someone you love.’ As she says: ‘There is nowhere for the grief to go; there is nothing to move on from.’ These two women’s experiences are different but they both share the outcome: 'How could she trust anyone or rely upon the appearance of things that could vanish.’

Too often people get stuck in a cycle of grief and anger. This is a big part of Vivien’s journey. And the message that Sister Justina delivers to Vivi forces her to look at her beliefs. Does she really need to change to survive? And what has it changed her into? War has affected her deeply but the nun says don’t change so much you lose your own self. Those who fought in the war ‘lived and died as they believed. There must be faith…’ Changing because of anger serves no good purpose. Vivi has felt the horrid effects of war and it has made her angry because of all she lost: including a marriage to a man she loved profoundly. As she said to Claudia: ‘We would have been married but for the war.’

War can make a person feel helpless. Unable to control the narrative. ‘The blame fed her (Vivi’s) anger and the anger fuelled her writing...’ She could control the story and outcome on paper-–exact revenge and ‘she could write a complete, if not happy, ending.’ Vivi as a writer, is also a woman of observations. The people she encounters in her search to find answers of what happened to her fiance, David, leave her with more questions and meanings to sort through. I found Sister Justina’s conversations very moving and certainly her advice to Vivi very helpful. And her friend, actress Claudia, throws a few curve balls that also contribute to her awareness of the effects of life choices and learning to be true to yourself. What is the secret ingredient missing in their lives? Vivi eventually learns once she understands Claudia’s choice and what it really means. And how she herself has forgotten a simple truth on her journey of survival. Although Vivien has learned much about the horrors of war and how it can rob you of hope and trust, she wants to honour David’s eternal optimism, his thoughtful and generous heart. And so, her journey leads her to turn a corner…

There are many comments in this novel on war— that it is ‘a fearful following of destruction’. Even a great loss of trust between people. And people are forced to make difficult decisions—never knowing what is the best solution. As Levi states: he ‘didn’t feel there was much choice at all.’ Who could he trust? There is a repeat of this question throughout the novel. And there are so many harbouring secrets of the past. Levi, many, tried to save casualties along the way. In this case, he was trying to save a baby who lost a family. He became this baby’s protector so when the child is taken from his arms to safety, it hits him hard. It’s that need for the human touch, connection and family preservation that bursts through during the battles. Keeping siblings together. Maintaining the bonds. All the important things ‘that tether us together’, when threats come fast and hard.

War causes division, despair and distrust. As previously mentioned, the novel shows the importance of family (and friends) which is very much a Jane Austen concern. These kind of relationships have a positive impact on the developing individual. Where is it we learn trust first—if not between child and mother or father and with our siblings? Vivi has had no experience with children but when an eight year old asks her how will she know when she can trust someone, Vivien says she will know the more she lives and the more she meets people. Experience and gut extinct will help us identify it. But war can rob individuals of that vital support structure.

Vivi feels such a strong loss when her actress friend Claudia leaves. She tries to reckon this pain. ‘After all, friends (are) not family.’ But aren’t they in some small way when you let them enter your heart, take them into your confidence and trust? I think Vivi is trying to make sense of this. She feels a great loss of friendship as goodbyes are often forever because friends will make choices that take them away. (The book’s title is so apt.) Vivi misses that bond with another. Again, Jane Austen, the importance of female friendships for women abounds here. Claudia’s honest advice when she tells Vivien ‘whatever you do—do it with your eyes wide open and a little less anger’ is a wonderful by-product of their close friendship.

We see other glimpses of Jane Austen’s beliefs in Vivien and David’s relationship. That mutual attraction in Marriage is more important than money or position. Vivien experienced the negative effects of social class restrictions in her fiancé’s family. Their engagement would never be accepted. They were twenty one and ‘fiercely in love’ and she resented ‘being made to feel common in any way.’ Vivien was stylish and attractive and a high achiever—graduating at the top of her year on a full scholarship. There was nothing ordinary or inferior about her. David was an Oxford man but he was expected to take over his family’s vast estate. Born to a titled family meant he had limited choices—including who could be his spouse. Ironically, though David’s lineage boasted longevity and their moto was for the ‘family to succeed at all costs’— their restrictive views caused them to miss the most important ingredient—love. (And losing out on their grandchild.)

This novel covers so many things: including the cinematic world. Other great lines are ‘movies are a business’ and ‘No one says no to Ava Gardner’. We meet Sophia Loren and others on the glittering stage. We get a glimpse of the culture of the 1950s. The Prohibition era, American Jazz and speakeasy ambience—these are all sprinkled across the canvas of this literary painting. And not to mention the Vatican. The exploration of good and evil. Natalie covers a lot of territory.

The devastating effects of Hitler’s regime—the countless deaths—the attempted extermination of a race of people, causes Vivi to wonder if ‘this cancer of the mind’ can ever be removed from the world. But there have been brave souls who have resisted. This is a painful and honest portrayal of war and its effects. The loss of trust, hope and happiness. But it also exposes a war closer to home in the social classes. And so there are many battles between the heart and head.

In Every Time We Say Goodbye I was taken by the depth of the characters, their development and their journeys to find the answers in life they sought. Many of the cast were memorable and although punctuated with human frailty, possessed heroic hearts. Vivien finds her answers and those revelations are quite different than expected. There are surprises and sorrows and healing and grace… The engine that runs the story is found on this line: ‘Nothing could be created from the emptiness of scorn—to create, there had to be hope.’ ‘Hope that we as humans, could be better—could do better.’ Vivien realises in that moment ‘what she, Levi, Curtis, Nino—all of them at work with tales false and true—were really searching for.’

I highly recommend Every Time We Say Goodbye that I could not pull away from—even when the drama seized and shook my heart. A brilliant story that should not be missed. 5 Big Stars ??????????

Thanks to St Martin’s Press & Netgalley for my review copy.4 s eyes.2c2,795 82

Compelling!

Jenner continues exploring the lives of various of characters we’ve met in the “Austen Society” and “Bloomsbury Girls.” This time the action is mostly set in post World War II Rome. Vivien Lowrey is a playwright. Through her works she tries to capture the truth of things. Having been savaged by theatre critics for her latest production she comes to Rome to work as a script doctor for “When All Else Fails” a Douglas Curtis film being produced in Italy.
Joseph McCarthy has started his witch hunts for communist and socialists in the film industry and many have fled here. Mussolini had built a huge studio complex in Rome specifically for propaganda. Now, in 1955, Cinecittà Studios is being well used by the Italian and other film makers, including the Americans.
Vivien catches up with others of the Austen and Bloomsbury women who flit in and out of the story, including Peggy Guggenheim.
The names! I’m starry eyed! Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Anna Magnani, Orson Wells, Eartha Kitt!
The story is complex. Layers upon layers build up a picture of Vivian and those around her. Vivien had been engaged to David St. Vincent, heir to an earldom. David had been captured in North Africa, then sent to Italy, escaped and then disappeared. Vivian had always believed he was dead. When she finds out he’d lived, she has hope. That’s part of her reason for coming to Italy.
In Rome she learns the story of many in the Italian underground, particularly the women. One was La Scolaretta, girlfriend of underground leader Prince Nino Tremonti, now filmmaker. La Scolaretta became an assassin. She was helped by an Italian nun, Sister Justina. Their reasons for helping are different, but their bravery and resistance is awe inspiring.
A film is to be made about Scolaretta. The Vatican shuts it down!
The Vatican comes under fire. Where were they during the time when the country was occupied by the Nazis. Did they seek to hold onto power at any cost?
Meanwhile the search for news of David and for others comes to the fore for Vivien. During her search Vivien faces facts about her own life.
As she and her friend Gabriella Giacometti discuss when Claudia (a reporter for Life Magazine) moves onto a new life, “Our secrets are who we really are.”
A deeply moving story of loss and gain, of power abused, and of a time in history that has stained generations.

A St. Martins Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to changehistorical-fiction netgalley world-war-114 s Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe)616 494

I can't tell you what this book is about.
I listened to it on audio and found myself drifting. It has two different timelines and follows mostly a woman named Vivien and the Italian film industry in 1950s.

Vivien is a hard character to follow as she seems pretty detached from everything around her. While in Italy, she is also looking for answers about David her ex-fiancee who she thought died in the war.

I was hoping for an emotional rollercoaster, but I unfortunately did not get this out of this book.

The kidnapping plot that happens in this is odd, and the fact that it goes unsolved and unmentioned for several chapters.

A lot of the chapters felt unnecessary and I found myself being pulled out of the story often, drifting to the point where some chapters I had to relisten to more than once, and times the reaction was much the same.

I wanted to love this, but unfortunately, this just did not hit the mark for me. It is probably more of a case of it's me and not you, so I'm hoping others love this more.

I am glad I listened to it, listening to it made me get through it, otherwise I don't think I would have.

I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of a review.4 s Lydia Bailey411 23

I’ve loved both of Natalie Jenner’s books - my favourite being The Bloomsbury Girls - and so was really excited to receive an ARC of Every Time we Say Goodbye. It didn’t disappoint & it was so lovely to catch up with BG characters (especially Vivien & Tabitha). Natalie always manages to find a unique setting for her books and the Italian Film Industry immediately post war is definitely not one I’ve read about before. She must spend an awful lot of time in research, I was really impressed with the detail. For me this story ticks all the boxes:historical setting with echoes of WW2 still making itself known, a fascinating subject and a sprinkling of romance the icing on the cake. Another fab read- thank you.4 s Joan244 53

I was really excited to have received my first arc from Goodreads. I dug in as soon as I got it, since I generally love historical fiction. I have not read any other of NJ’s books.
First clue of distress, I drug myself through this. It took me way too long to invest myself. It begins with a Long list of characters and a map. Okay. The foundation for the book is all in the Epilogue. Soon after you lost me. I felt it had way too many unimportant characters. I wanted the heart of the story to stand out more, grab profoundly, because the scolaretta seemed fundamental. It took so long to get back to that I was confused. There were great moments but keep them and kill the rest.
I often will look at references for the background to the book, none? Only a blurb or two in the acknowledgements?! Don’t cheat me or yourself that way, let us know the work you did to drop names and stories!
Title doesn’t seem to fit either.4 s Lu757 25

Another wonderful book by Natalie Jenner. Full review soon!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review. 4 s Dawn Michelle2,594

OH. MY. HEART.

Look, I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said by better review writers than I'll ever be, and I'll forever be grateful for their words that will do this book justice when a non-writer [me], cannot.

What I CAN say is this: I am SO GLAD that I took a chance with "The Jane Austen Society" four years ago - I cannot imagine missing out on these gorgeous, lush, fantastic books. I am so glad that the author had more stories to tell within the JAS world, and that we get the opportunity to visit with these friends over and over again. I am so glad that Vivian [such a great character] got a really excellent story herself I am SO GLAD Vivian got her happy ending, even if it's not who anyone would expect, and that through her story, I learned new [and heartbreaking] history of that time that I was completely unaware of.

I knew when I had book hangover before the book had even hit 50% that this book was going to be a huge winner for me - and the ugly tears that flowed at the end proved it was just that. This was, quite simply, absolutely fantastic.

I am not sure who picked the narrator for this book, but they deserve a ginormous prize. Juliet Aubrey is an amazing narrator [and it turns out plays a fantastic character in one of my favorite British shows], and just brings Vivian and the cast of characters that surround her to life and brings you right into the story until you almost forget that it's not 1955 and you are not in Italy. She does such a magnificent job and I can only hope that she decides to do more narration in the future [I need to say that all the narration for the three books in this series has been nothing less than freaking fantastic and it's been an a joy to listen to each one].

Thank you to NetGalley, Natalie Jenner, Juliet Aubrey - Narrator, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
already-own audiobook-netgalley books-i-cant-live-without ...more3 s Angel350 28

I finally finished this book, "Every Time We Say Goodbye" by Natalie Jenner. This is my first read of anything by this author, though I have 2 of her books in my TBR bookcase.

Vivien is a playwright in the early 50s. When her second play is panned by critics, she moves from London to Italy. She takes a job as a screenwriter to fix a big movie script. She makes some new friends.
....

OMG!! I didn't care!! For some reason, I could not connect with this character, nor any of them. I really didn't this book.

The narration bothered me, too. I could hear every breath the narrator, Juliet Aubrey, took! I d the voice for the main character, which is deep and husky, but for every male character, she used a nasally, high-pitched, strange, and dorky sounding voice.

The Catholic church had a firm control over anything going out in the media. This was surprising and upsetting to me, but also very ly true.

Characters - 2/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 0/5
Enjoyment - 2/5
Narration - 2/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 2.1

I believe other reviewers have had much better experiences with this book, so please check those out.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Natalie Jenner for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.3 s Suzan945

In 1955, Vivian Lowry wrote a play that audiences loved but the London critics hated. With this hit to her career, Vivian travels to Italy where she works as a script doctor on a movie. She also uses her time there to investigate the disappearance of her fiancé during WWII. A second storyline told in flashbacks is the story of “La Scolaretta”, a schoolgirl who is also an assassin during WWII.

This was a beautifully written, atmospheric story of self-discovery, with wonderful historical details and complex characters. The author vividly portrays the two timelines with great skill, making this story such a page-turner. Reading it felt very much seeing things happen in a film.

I loved the setting in Rome, and the details of movie making in Italy during the time period following WWII. The way the Vatican influenced censorship of the films was interesting and something I didn’t know occurred. The cameos by real life characters, such as Daphne DuMaurier, Sophia Loren, and Ava Gardner were really fun.

The story deals with some heavy topics love, loss, guilt, and grief, but I felt that it was ultimately very hopeful.

I really enjoyed reading this thought-provoking, engaging, and insightful story!

I received a copy from NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Austenprose, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.3 s Elizabeth McFarland 387 51

I'm giving this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This is the third book in this series. I'd read the first but not the second and was still able to follow along without any problems.

This third novel in the series takes place in post WWII Italy and focuses on the film making industry. It was a little slow to start but engaging and beautifully written. I found the behind the scenes look at the Italian film industry of the time period, particularly compelling. Especially the Vatican's control over scripts and the ongoing corruption. It was a gripping storyline.

Vivian's story was complex and heartbreaking. I would have d even more of her story. However, I was happy with her satisfying ending.

Juliet Aubrey was very soft-spoken and took some time to get used to. But I did end up enjoying her narration.

Thank you, McMillan Audio, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.3 s Gail814

I read both The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner so I was thrilled to get an early copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye. I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed. I loved everything about the first two books, the characters, the English setting, the time period. This one takes place in Italy. I never warmed up to the characters even Vivian and a few others who appeared in the other books. They and their storylines just did not capture my imagination. I did find it interesting that there was a strong American influence in Italy’s film industry as many left America during the McCarthy era. The influence and control the Catholic Church had over the industry was fascinating too. I remember as a child that they had the Legion of Decency which controlled what movies, books etc you could watch, read. Overall this was an ok read for me.3 s Mairy480 7

I have been following Natalie Jenner from the beginning. I received an ARC of her first two books: The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls and I loved both. I loved the feel-good vibes of both of those books, the quaintness feel of them, the relatable and heartwarming characters, and the general UK countryside ambiance overall. When I saw that she released a third book, as usual, I was eager to see what she was going to narrate us next. What a disappointment this was. Every Time We Say Goodbye is world apart from what she offered her readers so far, and I could not read past half of the book. The storyline is not appealing, the characters are ugly and superficial, I have zero interest to get further into this story. I was beguiled by the setting first; Rome in 1950s, the cinematographic world, the spraying of historical facts throughout,.. I was even taking notes of locations she was describing so I could visit them next time I am in Rome. But the story is not strong enough, the buildup is lacking, I gave up.2023-net-galley historical-fiction3 s Annie1,479 34

I've so loved the audiobook! Upped my rating. Updated- 5/17/24

Happy Publication Day! I've been looking forward to listening to the audiobook after reading ARC late last year. Updated- 5/14/24

Enjoyed this. A bit darker than I was expecting. Tearjerker ending.

History of film making was interesting but it did slow the story down a bit. I'm looking forward to listening to audiobook when it is released. There was a lot going on and I think a second read would help wrap my mind around the story. (Which was totally my mind being scattered not the author's fault.). 11/30/23 arcs audio-counts-too3 s Laura Hartness314 15

With The Jane Austen Society and its sequel Bloomsbury Girls, author Natalie Jenner introduced her readers to intriguing characters, interweaving many literary touchstones. Fans of Jane Austen in particular would highly enjoy the initial novel, given the setting and issues at stake. Bloomsbury Girls was a novel of yearning and hope, with a slightly different approach yet retaining excellence and readability. Jenner now brings us the third volume in the series, Every Time We Say Goodbye, predominantly set in mid-1950s Italy. Although some of the previously-introduced characters are included in the novel, this title could almost stand on its own. The timbre is quite different, with less of a literary tone and more of a mixture of historical, religious, and cinematic notes.

Jenner directs her readers’ attentions to events during and following World War II, in particular within Italy. The influence of the Roman Catholic Church is regularly front and center, more often than not for nefarious reasons. Main character Vivien Lowry frequently wrestles with the hypocrisies sometimes seen in Church leadership, all the while seeing the purity of Christian service from many within the same Body. Vivien also struggles with her own issues, and is on a quest to uncover the fate of a long-lost love. Jenner employs wartime flashbacks to undergird the background of the setting, showing the efforts made by many in the area to further the cause of goodness and truth in the light of fascism and other evils. Both the narratives of Vivien’s life and those in wartime days are inextricably linked, with revelations coming through the final paragraphs of the novel. While I would not term this a “dual timeline” tale, the two periods which were visited made for very interesting reading.

The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls were not necessarily trifling yarns of “spun sugar”, but Every Time We Say Goodbye has a gravitas which gives it a very different fabrication. An air of melancholy consistently hovers over the narrative. This is not to say that it is dispiriting. It simply has a more serious tone, with elements that are both harrowing and poignant. Certain horrors of war and misdeeds within the Church are not minimized. However, they are not gratuitous in the amount of details offered. Adults will understand the import of Jenner’s words, their great significance to the characters, and their contribution to world history.

As she mentions in the acknowledgements following the novel, Natalie Jenner took on this project in order to share the story of many who struggled during World War II and beyond. While the book is entirely a work of fiction, it nonetheless reveals lessons which should not be forgotten. Jenner’s skill in expressing imagined yet authentic moments was exemplary, and she also pondered substantive questions which many of us struggle with on a regular basis. The dignity of human worth in wartime was often examined. A quote-worthy moment came about in chapter eighteen. An infant had been rescued after his caretakers had been discovered dead, killed by enemies in the War:

“Yet here was a baby, as young as could be, who would never experience such a reunion. He might never know a single thing about where he came from– who had wanted him– who had loved him. He might always lack the one piece of knowledge that every human deserves and that keeps us tethered to the earth: the source of our own humanity, and the comfort of knowing that we are here because someone else wanted us to be.”

The episode with this young child was so moving, and without divulging key plot points, I can offer that a subsequent episode provides quite an emotional, profound payoff to that portion of the story. Not all elements end so sweetly, however. There is much loss, but there also remains much beauty as well. Although Every Time We Say Goodbye is quite a different work of fiction for the series, it is one of historical importance, and surely a treasure for many who lived during that time and for the families who have survived them.

Despite the horrors of war, the inconsistencies found in some within the Church and other trials, the narrative of Every Time We Say Goodbye brings a message of hope and remembrance. Not for the faint of heart, it preserves an era of history within the worlds of politics, religion, and the film industry. Natalie Jenner has given us a gift, one that will hopefully inform many in the years to come.audiobooks-i-own books-for-review calico-critic- ...more2 s Carrie SchmidtAuthor 1 book426

“Who knew making movies could be such a blood sport?”

I first met Vivien Lowry in Bloomsbury Girls and found her to be equal parts tragic and vibrant as a character, so I was very intrigued by what kind of journey Natalie Jenner would take her on in Every Time We Say Goodbye. (Note: it’s not necessary to have read the other books in this series to follow this third book. It works just fine as a standalone, though some of its references to the other books may have you bumping them up to the top of your TBR list!

There are several plot threads that weave through the pages of Every Time We Say Goodbye, spanning a variety of personalities across two timelines a little more than ten years apart, and presenting readers with a profound study in contrasts. On the one hand you have the glitz and glory of the Italian film industry, ushered into its heyday as American directors, actors, writers, etc fled the fear-mongering of the McCarthy era for the freedom found in Italy. Freedom from the anti-Communist witch hunts, though, came with strings attached – strings held by the Vatican who kept tight control over what could & couldn’t be portrayed in movies (more than one very weighty & timeless contrast there). And then there are the WW2 Italian resistance fighters, the refugees of war, the soldiers haunted by images they can’t forget, and the families left without answers. A world away from the film industry in many respects and inseparable from it in others. I loved these contrasts – and others – that Jenner captures so vividly, and I often caught myself thinking about the poetry of them as I read this moving story.

I enjoyed seeing famed film stars of the day a young Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and Gina Lollobrigida as ‘regular’ people (while still being set apart… another contrast) and getting an inside look at the workings of a movie studio in the 1950s in post-war Italy. But really this is just the canvas on which Jenner paints a poignant picture of grief, love, faith, and friendship -the means that connects the main players whose paths otherwise would not have crossed. The real story in Every Time We Say Goodbye is of brave women who dare to do courageous things. Whether they gave up their life, their love, their child, their career, their dreams, or even their regrets, I was fascinated by these vibrant characters who dared to do what was right for the sake of more than just themselves. This, to me, is the strength of Jenner’s latest novel and what kept me turning the pages.

Bottom Line: Nothing about Every Time We Say Goodbye played out the way I expected it to but the story ended up being so much more meaningful because of the unexpected turns it took. As with the other book I have read by Natalie Jenner, I closed this one with a deep sense of thoughtfulness, pondering the lessons can be gleaned as well as their continued relevance. I enjoyed reacquainting myself with Vivien and other familiar faces from Bloomsbury Girls, and I equally enjoyed the parade of new personalities that Vivien encounters in the world of Italian cinema. Some parts of the novel dragged a bit in the middle, in my opinion, overladen with more telling than showing, but not so much that I lost interest in the overall story. Mainly due to the fascinating profile of the young, female assassin for the Italian Resistance – it completely captivated me, and I loved the way that Jenner intersects this character with Vivien’s story too. Another meticulously researched and immersive novel from a rising star in historical fiction.

Reviewer’s Note: Followers of my may want to be aware that there is some occasional, mild cursing (plus one profanity), innuendo, and non-explicit closed-door implications of extra-marital intimacies.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower1950s 20th-century-historical blog-reviewed ...more2 s Beth1,045 4

I love historical fiction, especially when it is not set during WWII. I was given the ARC and I have not read this author's other books but it seemed that I did not need to to read this book. Some of the characters from her other books are in this one but it can be read as a standalone. So this one takes place in 1955 in Italy. Italy's movie making scene was huge after the war and so Vivien goes there to help fix a script for a movie. She is a writer. Her fiance died in the war but she learns he went to Italy at some point and she wants to see if she can get answers while she is there. This book also has a lot of the Catholic Church's influence on what kind of movies can be made. They do not want to rehash the atrocities of the war and nothing immoral of course. I am torn with my rating because while I just thought the book was fine, I d the message of it. Vatican City was neutral in the war. How can you sit back and watch the atrocities and do nothing. Same with Switzerland. Are the silent just as complicit as the bad guys? And people just wanting to sweep it all under the rug nothing happened. We need the stories of the survivors so no one forgets the horrors. And what better way than to make movies about it. So I did it overall and I did love the setting. I think I just did not really connect with Vivien maybe. I did highlight a lot though.

-When it came to inquiring in Rome about the war, Levi had warned Vivien that one could never tell who had been a Fascist, who had helped the Nazis, and who had resisted them both.

-Nino keeps telling her that resistance requires action, even that deemed sinful, and even if there are no guarantees. Silence, on the other hand, guarantees nothing.

-"Pain's the cost of living, Vivi. But the angry pay an extra price."

-"Who knew making movies could be such a blood sport.

-But she did understand the unique pain of not knowing what has happened to someone you love. There is nowhere for the grief to go; there is nothing to move on from.

-"Saying goodbye is the hardest thing in the world, save for one, and that is being cheated of it."

-"A movie can only do so much, though. A book, well, that gets you inside someone's head. As close as you can get."

-How lucky the world was for those survivors willing and able to tell their own story, and how imperative that such stories be shared to the greatest extent possible.

-There might be different forms of bigotry out there, but they all stemmed from the weakest part of the human condition: the desire to put oneself first.

-Only if the old world is rebuilt with goodness can they ever avoid such horrors again.




arcs-20242 s Suzanne (The Bookish Libra)1,070 151

Every Time We Say Goodbye follows playwright Vivien Lowry, whose most recent play, which opened in London in 1955 was panned by critics and shut down. At a loss, Vivien takes a friend’s advice and takes a job in Italy working as a script doctor in the film industry. Vivien views her trip to Italy as a way to both find a new path forward for herself and to find out what really happened to her fiance David, who went missing in Italy during the war. Vivien is a complex, well drawn character and I found myself very invested in everything to do with her time in Italy, especially since it becomes such a personal journey for her.

In addition to Vivien’s personal journey, Jenner also gives us insight into what was going on in post-war Italy, particularly the huge contrast between the vibrant and glamorous film industry versus the struggling orphans and refugees who were of course present in Italy after the war. Jenner also explores just how much the Catholic church was policing and censoring the content of Italian films, as well as the political landscape of Italy as it tries to come to terms with its own role in the war.

Jenner also effectively uses a dual timeline in this multi-layered story. During her time in Italy, Vivien works with a director who is determined to make a movie about a young woman he doesn’t want the world to forget. This woman was not only his girlfriend, but she was also an assassin in the Italian Resistance who was tortured and murdered during the war. We learn more about the circumstances that led to her death in an earlier timeline set during WWII.

Every Time We Say Goodbye is both a well researched work of historical fiction and an engaging story of love, loss and truth.

If you’re an audiobook fan, I also highly recommend the audiobook for this novel. It’s narrated by Juliet Aubrey who does a wonderful job bringing Vivien to life and capturing all of the complexities of emotions that run through the story.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

2 s Natalie594

Ever since I read The Jane Austen Society, Natalie Jenner has been an auto-buy author for me, and Every Time We Say Goodbye does not disappoint!

It is a bit different from The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls on the surface, but once you get into it, Every Time We Say Goodbye does have Jenner's trademark combination of true history, a love of storytelling (in this instance, through cinema instead of books), and characters you will be invested in. I will say, this one is much more enjoyable if you've read her previous books, as there are a lot of recurring characters, and one of the most interesting plot twists is only so if you recognize and remember characters and plot lines from her two previous. If you're not bothered by that, though, this can comfortably be read as a standalone.

I have never read a historical fiction novel quite this. Every Time We Say Goodbye follows Vivien, an English screenwriter, as she goes to Italy to help save a failing script. While Jenner does show you much about the world of cinema in Italy post-WWII (who knew?), the most interesting parts of the novel relate to the survivor narrative. The way that memory and living on past the trauma of WWII on all these different characters was endlessly fascinating to me. The way they form relationships with one another outside of cinema, and how they are all learning to forge ahead in a world that is still figuring out where to land feels eerily reminiscent to the current moment.

I have a feeling that this will be a rewarding reread, because that ending was so haunting. I already planned on diving into Bloomsbury Girls again at some point, so I'll probably do a Natalie Jenner reread moment this summer or fall! I already can't wait to fall in love with this story and all of Jenner's others all over again. 2 s Novelle Novels1,560 45

L
Four Stars
This book is the third in the series by Natalie Jenner and although I haven’t read the first two we get some background at the start of the book which stops you feeling lost. It is following Viven Lowry of Bloomsbury Girls as she goes on an adventure into the Italian film industry in the 1950’s.
We do have two timelines which connect the story really well. The past timeline is set in Rome during the wartime years of 1943. This one centres around a young lady called La Scolaretta. We are talking about the resistance and the traumas of the war in Italy at a time when the nazis were taking over. Seeing how women played such a big part in the fighting in their own way is heartbreaking and raw.
The other timeline is in 1954/1955 originally in the setting of The Bloomsbury Girls in London where we first meet Vivien. Something happens which leads her to go to Italy to be part of the film industry and try’s to find her fiancé who was believed to be dead but there are answers left unsolved so she is investigating.
The two timelines interlink so well and at no point did I feel lost but I found myself getting more and more into the story and longed for the answers. We have guest appearances from celebrities of the time and my favourite was Agatha Christie. I do wonder if I would have got more out of the book having read the first two in the series so plan to read them before I read the book again. Either way though the writing is incredible and I loved Vivien so much. The emotions will pack you with a punch with heartbreaking scenes but it’s worth every minute you spend reading.2 s Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves 981

Natalie Jenner’s debut novel, The Jane Austen Society, was a wonderful read back in 2020. She followed it up with Bloomsbury Girls, taking one of the characters from her debut novel to a London bookstore. In her latest, Every Time We Say Goodbye, Natalie takes one of the characters, Vivian, from the bookstore to post-war Italy working as a script doctor in the movies after her play is a flop in London.

“We make the truth. We’re selling a world that doesn’t exist.” “That’s so cynical.” “What are you making, then?” “What the world could be.”

Natalie was inspired by the world famous Cinecittà movie studio in Rome that had been used as a war refugee camp in the 1940s. Set in the la dolce vita of mid 1950s Rome, the story explores a very unique time period. Lead FMC Vivian is working as a script doctor and carries her own personal war wounds wherever she goes. Her fiance disappeared in Italy during WW2 and she is searching for closure after making some life changing decisions.

‘The only thing that will save you is perspective - and that, only the passing of time can bestow.’

Natalie does an excellent job of conveying the complexity of Italian political, economic, and cultural life in the 1940s and ’50s. From the glamour of movie actresses Ava Gardner and Sophia Loren making cameo appearances, to the policing and censorship of some movies by the Catholic Church. In many ways the past continues to haunt from its fascist and German occupation days and deep contradictions are evident.

‘… contradictions of Italy at work here: a former Fascist regime that had somehow shape-shifted into an ostensible democracy that was heavily influenced by a censorial church and half-heartedly administered by the police. Yet the one thing all these factions took seriously was cinema.’

The novel encompasses so much, from love and conflict, faith and censorship, war and orphans, glamour and moviemaking, fashion and food - it has to all. Whilst there is much to learn about Rome, the Church and politics of the day, in some ways it feels a reflective piece with characters coming to terms with life after traumatic events. You don’t have to have read the previous novels to enjoy Every Time We Say Goodbye as the focus is on learning how to live after such tragedy.







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.


2 s Ashlyn1,205 50

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