The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor

 The Girl from the Savoy brings a story of two women from two different backgrounds, who are connected by the same career path, taking the leading role among the choir girls.

London, 1923. Dorothy Lane is a new chambermaid at the Savoy – one of the finest luxury hotels. As a maid she’s been reminded many times that she wasn’t good enough. But there are those close to her who see her becoming someone special. She finds respite in dancing once a week, but she wants more. She dreams of dancing on stage. And the Savoy is filled with people that excite her, who make her dream. She also answers an ad to be a muse to Perry, Loretta’s brother.

Loretta May is a daughter of an earl, who chose a life on stage over satisfying her parents and high society. She chose a dazzling stage life over carefully ordered life expected of a woman of her status.

Both protagonists have some secrets, which are revealed in layers, holding one’s interest. Both characters are well-developed and offer a glimpse into two different lives, and by being connected by the same career it also offers a glimpse into one trying to get to the top and the other already being there.

The place and what it meant to be working at the Savoy come alive. It feels as this is the strongest part of the story. The impressive Savoy with its famous guests buzzes with life, with jazz music, with intrigue, and with some secrets. As a maid you’re reminded what happens at the Savoy stays at the Savoy.

The time period is interestingly explored. After the war, women were forced to leave factory jobs and to go back into domestic service, which wasn’t necessarily their choice. Some of those working girls who loved dancing and dreamed of being on stage were lucky to be chosen to join the chorus girls and progress even beyond, taking the leading roles. This is based on fact; a life of a chorus girl was a path to freedom for some, leaving behind the life of domestic service. And this theme is explored through the character of Dorothy.

There is also another thing that stood out to a point of being questioned if it’s believable. It seems as whomever Dorothy meets sees something in her that she was meant for something more than just a maid. If so many strangers see it in Dorothy at the first glance, it doesn’t sound believable after a while. At times, it seems as some things fit too perfectly. The ending is a bit too romanticized, too perfect.

Overall, I enjoyed the story through its entirety. It has a good flow from the start to the end. There is something special about this author’s writing like there is some magic to her writing. It takes you away from where you are and transports you to a different place and time.

P.S. The first book I’ve read by this author was A Memory of Violets, which is one of the most memorable stories with the magical writing.

Released in 2016

Publisher: William Morrow