Every time we say goodbye

At the end of 1954, after her second play's disastrously poor reception, Vivien Lowry heads to Italy to join other writers working on films. Equally important is the opportunity to look into her fiancé's disappearance. Mindful of the tense political and religious powers controlling the film industry, Vivien is one of many wanting to bring the story of Italian resistance fighters to light. Can they finally honor such lost heroes and put their ghosts to rest? Jenner introduced Vivien in Bloomsbury Girls (2022), and picks up her story in a tale of the continuing chaos in postwar Italy as citizens try to recover from deep political divisions and cope with the Vatican's power, the House Un-American Activities Committee in the U.S., and the beleaguered worlds of filmmaking in Europe and Hollywood. Real-life figures appear, including legendary film actors, directors, and figures in the art and literary movements of the 1950s. Amidst all this fresh and intriguing history, Jenner keeps core human experiences and relationships on center stage. Fans of Kristine Harmel, Michaela Carter, and Louis de Bernières should dive right in.

Jenner picks up where Bloomsbury Girls left off as protagonist Vivien Lowry pivots from bookselling to a new career as a playwright in 1950s London. The opening night of her second play feels "like a dream," but harsh reviews cut its run short. When Vivien's famed socialite friend Peggy Guggenheim helps her score a script-editing gig in Rome, she jumps at the chance to work on When All Else Fails, the story of an Italian police officer falling in love with an American singer on tour. Also preoccupying Vivien is the question of how her former fiancé, David, died, since she recently learned of his last-known whereabouts as a POW in Italy during WWII. In Rome, she embarks on an affair with producer John Lassiter, who is estranged from his Italian movie star wife. To make matters even more complicated, the Vatican shuts down production on the movie, partially due to its disagreement with the portrayal in another film from the studio of the Vatican's policy of neutrality during the war. Jenner provides an insightful view into Italy's postwar reckoning, and she imbues the novel's many celebrity cameos--including actresses Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida--with authentic flair. Jenner's fans will love this. (May)