Best book of the week!
This novel is a confection. It is absolutely delightful.
Miss Pettigrew is a poor, middle-aged governess with no family who has been haunting an employment agency hoping for a job. This morning she is in luck. The agency has two openings, one for a maid and one for a nursery maid. The agency sends her off to interview with Miss La Fosse (by mistake).
Miss Pettigrew is received by a beautiful young woman in a negligee. She is clearly entertaining a young man. Miss Pettigrew has been brought up to be a proper lady, but instead of being shocked, she is entranced by this glimpse of an exotic lifestyle.
Without even inquiring who Miss Pettigrew is, Miss La Fosse asks her to find a way of getting her friend Phil to leave before her other friend Nick arrives. Miss Pettigrew is successful in doing this and begins to discover in herself an untapped capacity for organization. Soon, she is responding to Miss La Fosse’s pleas to stay with her during Nick’s visit. Miss Pettigrew sees that Nick is an attractive but dangerous man.
Over the period of a day, Miss La Fosse and her friends involve Miss Pettigrew deeper in their affairs. She is fascinated by this view into a more Bohemian existence, even though her mother would have considered her new friends vulgar. Attracted by their affectionate natures and their colorful lives, she decides that for one day she will enjoy herself and worry about the future tomorrow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely novel about a timid spinster who learns to unfurl her petals. It is a Cinderella story with a 1930’s edge.
whatmeread 
I love your description of this novel as a confection. So true!
Thanks!
This was the first book published by Persephone that I read and I really enjoyed it. I think we would all love to have a day like Miss Pettigrew’s!
Yes, and I have been loving the Persephone books I’ve read lately!
I’m glad to hear you liked this so much. Your enthusiasm shows!
I hope to read this sometime. I feel like I own it, but I’m not sure – I’ll have to have a look. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been seeing it all over the place lately.
It’s a fun read.
I enjoyed the film but haven’t read the book. It would be interesting to compare the two.
There are some differences.
Your review makes me want to read the book. 🙂
I don’t think you’d regret it!