The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock

ARC provided by William Morrow Paperbacks

Book Blurb:

In dreary, post-war Britain, Princess Margaret captivates everyone with her cutting edge fashion sense and biting quips. The royal socialite, cigarette holder in one hand, cocktail in the other, sparkles in the company of her glittering entourage of wealthy young aristocrats known as the Margaret Set, but her outrageous lifestyle conflicts with her place as Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. Can she be a dutiful princess while still dazzling the world on her own terms. Post-war Britain isn’t glamorous for The Honorable Vera Strathmore. While writing scandalous novels, she dreams of living and working in New York, and regaining the happiness she enjoyed before her fiancé was killed in the war. A chance meeting with the Princess changes her life forever. Vera amuses the princess, and what—or who—Margaret wants, Margaret gets. Soon, Vera gains Margaret’s confidence and the privileged position of second lady-in-waiting to the Princess. Thrust into the center of Margaret’s social and royal life, Vera watches the princess’s love affair with dashing Captain Peter Townsend unfurl.But while Margaret, as a member of the Royal Family, is not free to act on her desires, Vera soon wants the freedom to pursue her own dreams. As time and Princess Margaret’s scandalous behavior progress, both women will be forced to choose between status, duty, and love.

My Review: 3.5 stars – Guest Review

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On the heels of the success of The Crown, I was excited to delve into the world of Princess Margaret. While The Other Windsor Girl focuses on the Princess, it’s told from the point of view of the Honorable Lady Vera Strathmore. Without giving too much away, Vera becomes wrapped up in Princess Margaret’s world. She initially fosters their friendship to open doors and connections for herself; she stays for the sake of Princess Margaret, who is constantly battling her desire to be a part of the royal family, while yearning for the freedom of a young woman.

The Other Windsor Girl reads almost like a celebrity gossip magazine written by a “close source”; it’s fascinating and eye-opening, with Vera giving readers an “inside look” to a world most people will never experience. As glamorous and envious as her life may seem, it’s also always on the edge of crashing and burning. Knowing what I do about Margaret’s history, it was almost like watching a train wreck and not being able to look away or stop it.

The author did a great job of painting Margaret as a two-dimensional character. I was surprised to find out how much I disliked her, even though I did feel for her position at times. She was thrust into the spotlight once her uncle abdicated the throne, but wasn’t treated with the same reverence that her older sister, Queen Elizabeth was. Regardless, she wasn’t sensitive or kind to others, and had an astonishingly high sense of self-worth.

The novel took a little while for me to get into, but it picked up towards the middle and I’m glad I stuck it out. I found myself frustrated at Vera throughout the novel because I wanted her to stand up for herself more. I don’t think there was enough background about Vera for me to understand why she made certain decisions regarding her relationship with Princess Margaret. She just rolled with the punches, and as much as I liked her as a character, I wish she had developed more throughout the book.

Fans of the Royals will enjoy this one. Reviewed by Guest Fairy Carly M.