Audible Originals Best-Seller
Featured as an Audible special selection for Women's History Month 2020.
"In Birdie and Jay, Ella Joy Olsen splendidly captures the grand opulence of the Gilded Age in Manhattan and Newport, with descriptions of people and places that are both nostalgic and grimly reminiscent of current struggles among the social classes. The love story at the core of this listen is everything—a version of Lady and the Tramp that involves an intellectually curious debutante, drawn to artistic pursuits frowned upon by her family, and an honorable paleontologist, born to Irish immigrants, who soon discover they have much more in common than that which divides them. For truth seekers and believers in science, the themes contained within this novel will resonate far and wide.
--Valerie, Audible Editor
"I love historical fiction with strong female characters at the forefront, so I was instantly drawn to Birdie–a young woman and free spirit born into wealth in Gilded Age Manhattan, whose biggest dream is to make a lasting creative contribution to the world. This listen is a forbidden romance against the backdrop of scientific adventure (all deeply researched and based on true events). I have a very personal connection to the story, as well: just at Birdie and her father bond over a shared love of the Museum of Natural History, I spend my early childhood on the Upper West Side and frequently visited the museum with my dad (he says I took my first steps in the Hall of Minerals). It's an unforgettable listen!"
– Lara Blackman, Audible Editor
"As with her previous novels, Olsen writes about family, courage, and the intricacies of the heart with clarity and grace. In her newest novel, she delves into a captivating mystery involving international scientists, the American Museum of Natural History, and prominent families living in New York City's gilded age. I especially appreciated how she handled the precarious position of women in the early twentieth century and the brave choices they often had to make to pursue their own desires and purposes. Perfect for readers who love the romance, history and mystery of Kate Morton or Beatriz Williams."
– Lauren K. Denton, USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestseller
“Olsen is a masterful storyteller, and her talents truly sparkle when she delves into the realm of the historical. This dazzling portrait of the Gilded Age manages to be both sweeping in scale and taught with page-turning action centering around the race for a key scientific discovery; the missing link between Man and the Great Apes. Olsen creates an unforgettable cast of characters and weaves a compelling intrigue that will captivate any reader with a taste for adventure and scientific exploration. Birdie and Jay is a stunning, must-read novel of love, deception, and the evolving politics of social class.”
– Aimie K. Runyan, Bestselling author of Daughters of the Night Sky
“A beautifully crafted historical novel that skillfully draws the reader in to another time and place, then sweeps them away with a myriad of wonderful twists and turns.”
– Diane Haeger, award winning author of Courtesan.
Featured as an Audible special selection for Women's History Month 2020.
"In Birdie and Jay, Ella Joy Olsen splendidly captures the grand opulence of the Gilded Age in Manhattan and Newport, with descriptions of people and places that are both nostalgic and grimly reminiscent of current struggles among the social classes. The love story at the core of this listen is everything—a version of Lady and the Tramp that involves an intellectually curious debutante, drawn to artistic pursuits frowned upon by her family, and an honorable paleontologist, born to Irish immigrants, who soon discover they have much more in common than that which divides them. For truth seekers and believers in science, the themes contained within this novel will resonate far and wide.
--Valerie, Audible Editor
"I love historical fiction with strong female characters at the forefront, so I was instantly drawn to Birdie–a young woman and free spirit born into wealth in Gilded Age Manhattan, whose biggest dream is to make a lasting creative contribution to the world. This listen is a forbidden romance against the backdrop of scientific adventure (all deeply researched and based on true events). I have a very personal connection to the story, as well: just at Birdie and her father bond over a shared love of the Museum of Natural History, I spend my early childhood on the Upper West Side and frequently visited the museum with my dad (he says I took my first steps in the Hall of Minerals). It's an unforgettable listen!"
– Lara Blackman, Audible Editor
"As with her previous novels, Olsen writes about family, courage, and the intricacies of the heart with clarity and grace. In her newest novel, she delves into a captivating mystery involving international scientists, the American Museum of Natural History, and prominent families living in New York City's gilded age. I especially appreciated how she handled the precarious position of women in the early twentieth century and the brave choices they often had to make to pursue their own desires and purposes. Perfect for readers who love the romance, history and mystery of Kate Morton or Beatriz Williams."
– Lauren K. Denton, USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestseller
“Olsen is a masterful storyteller, and her talents truly sparkle when she delves into the realm of the historical. This dazzling portrait of the Gilded Age manages to be both sweeping in scale and taught with page-turning action centering around the race for a key scientific discovery; the missing link between Man and the Great Apes. Olsen creates an unforgettable cast of characters and weaves a compelling intrigue that will captivate any reader with a taste for adventure and scientific exploration. Birdie and Jay is a stunning, must-read novel of love, deception, and the evolving politics of social class.”
– Aimie K. Runyan, Bestselling author of Daughters of the Night Sky
“A beautifully crafted historical novel that skillfully draws the reader in to another time and place, then sweeps them away with a myriad of wonderful twists and turns.”
– Diane Haeger, award winning author of Courtesan.