Before the Internet and cell phones.

Before women were seen as being more than secretar?ies?.

RADIO GIRLS takes us back to the ?era of the ?wireless ?radio ?and the BBC.? Loved the history.?? Loved learning about the development of radio, the shows, and hearing that some listeners were afraid of the wireless.?

The time period is authentically portrayed?, and Hilda Matheson, a real historical figure, is ?one of the main characters. Hilda Matheson was The Director of Talks at the BBC and always had very interesting people on her show.

Maisie was ?another main character and also ?a terrific character. I enjoyed ?h?er spunk and how she ?carried out her harried?, but enjoyable? job every day?.

?RADIO GIRLS was a pleasant, educational read.? The cover is quite charming and drew me in immediately.

Anyone who enjoys the era between WWI and WWII and sharing the lives of women and their fashionable clothing and lifestyles will thoroughly enjoy RADIO GIRLS. All the glitz and glamour of the era shines through as you learn the history of the BBC. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

London, 1926. American-raised Maisie Musgrave is thrilled to land a job as a secretary at the upstart British Broadcasting Corporation, whose use of radio—still new, strange, and electrifying—is captivating the nation. But the hectic pace, smart young staff, and intimidating bosses only add to Maisie’s insecurity.

Soon, she is seduced by the work—gaining confidence as she arranges broadcasts by the most famous writers, scientists, and politicians in Britain. She is also caught up in a growing conflict between her two bosses, John Reith, the formidable Director-General of the BBC, and Hilda Matheson, the extraordinary director of the hugely popular Talks programming, who each have very different visions of what radio should be. Under Hilda’s tutelage, Maisie discovers her talent, passion, and ambition. But when she unearths a shocking conspiracy, she and Hilda join forces to make their voices heard both on and off the air…and then face the dangerous consequences of telling the truth for a living.

This was not a bad read although I felt the character of Maisie was a bit contrived and a bit hard to believe. However, it is historical fiction and based upon the real director of the BBC when it started - the fact that it was a woman and she was also involved in MI5 activities. The development of the BBC and how it was open in its hiring practices and pay, regardless of gender, makes for interesting reading.

I loved this book. Sarah-Jane Stratford's historical novel is a fascinating look into the early days of the BBC during the 1920's, along with the history of women in the workplace and women's suffrage ~ can you believe a single women had to wait until age 30 in order to vote! Sarah-Jane beautifully weaves the fictional character of Maisie and the factual account of one of Briton's most influential women, Hilda Mathison. I loved Maisie journey as a meek, lacking confidence girl into a confident young lady who finds her voice with the help of her mentor ~Hilda. The story also has so many laugh out loud moments with Maisie.

Our book club had a fabulous book discussion and I would highly recommend this book for your group

IT was very slow and didn't impress me at all. The last two chapters were the only good in the book. Could have been a very good book if written more actively.