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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Emmeline “Emmy” Lake has recovered from nearly destroying her career, and is now forging ahead in her quest to become a journalist on the Woman's Friend magazine. When the cry goes out for women to join the workforce in the factories while the men are away fighting WW2, and following a disagreement in the toilets with two women who are being disparaging about the magazine, and Emmy’s boss Mr Collins, Emmy makes a bold statement that the magazine will spearhead a recruitment campaign. A fortuitous meeting on a train gives Emmy the very lead she is looking for, but will things work out as Emmy has claimed, or will she end up losing face and showing up the magazine – and will standing up for what she believes in conflict with her personal life…?
I very much enjoyed Dear Mrs Bird, so I was happy to find out that the author had written this ‘sort-of’ sequel. I think it would stand alone, although I think it would be better to read Dear Mrs Bird first to get some of the backstory. It was a pleasure to revisit Emmy, Bunty, Mr Collins et al, and I enjoyed the story. I would be surprised if this was the last we heard of from Emmy!
I very much enjoyed Dear Mrs Bird, so I was happy to find out that the author had written this ‘sort-of’ sequel. I think it would stand alone, although I think it would be better to read Dear Mrs Bird first to get some of the backstory. It was a pleasure to revisit Emmy, Bunty, Mr Collins et al, and I enjoyed the story. I would be surprised if this was the last we heard of from Emmy!
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved Dear Mrs. Bird so was delighted to be back at “Woman’s Friend” with Emmeline Lake. The story continues on from ‘Dear Mrs. Bird’, Bunty, Charles, Kathleen and Mr Collins are all back again. Although there is change at the magazine with Mrs Bird no longer acting Editoress. Emmy is given more to do as women’s magazines are tasked, by the Ministry of Information, with encouraging more women into working for the war effort. Emmy befriends Anne, a munitions factory worker, and through her meets other female factory workers. What starts out as a way to share what it’s really like working in a factory, with a positive Ministry-approved spin, Emmy’s empathy and compassion mean she wants to do more to help the working women.
The book is an easy read, Emmy is a likeable character and narrator. She cares about her readers (almost as much as her loved ones) and wants to help them. The story is uplifting without being mawkish, and whilst there are mentions of the realities of war it reflects the characters stiff upper lip attitude. It’s a heartwarming novel that I’d thoroughly recommend.
The book is an easy read, Emmy is a likeable character and narrator. She cares about her readers (almost as much as her loved ones) and wants to help them. The story is uplifting without being mawkish, and whilst there are mentions of the realities of war it reflects the characters stiff upper lip attitude. It’s a heartwarming novel that I’d thoroughly recommend.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
• Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is August 10, 2021.
London, November 1941. This book is the continuing story from Dear Mrs. Bird. Now, Emmeline Lake at Woman’s Friend magazine becoming a young wartime advice columnist. With growing pressure from the War Department for women to fill the jobs left open by the men who went to war, a growing number of woman band together to fight for what they need to be effective workers, like childcare. Powerful tale of what a society can achieve when women and men work in concert with one another.
London, November 1941. This book is the continuing story from Dear Mrs. Bird. Now, Emmeline Lake at Woman’s Friend magazine becoming a young wartime advice columnist. With growing pressure from the War Department for women to fill the jobs left open by the men who went to war, a growing number of woman band together to fight for what they need to be effective workers, like childcare. Powerful tale of what a society can achieve when women and men work in concert with one another.