Reviews

Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce

elvajames's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

abderiandumpling's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

jojo50's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I would have given this five stars except that the main character is a bit too much of naive doofus for me and the resolution of the problem is a bit too implausible. Otherwise the characters ary well written and the book is interesting, funny, sometimes exciting. It's a fairly gentle way to show some of the Terrors that British people faced during World War II.

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xoreidallaboutitx's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

the_sunken_library's review against another edition

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4.0

A curious and enjoyable novel set in the midst of World War II about a woman who wants to be a journalist but ends up, accidentally!, working as the admin assistant to an incredibly unhelpful and unsympathetic angony aunt. Compelling and unique, I empathised with Emmy and her need to give more to the readers than what Mrs Bird was prepared to offer up.

chantalvb75's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

elviolet's review against another edition

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lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

katiegilley's review against another edition

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4.0

“My mother always said that a lot of men think that having bosoms means you’re a nitwit. She said the cleverest thing is to let them assume you’re an idiot, so you can crack on and prove them all wrong.”

This was my second effort with Dear Mrs. Bird. I wanted to try again because the second book in this series was published last week and they both seem perfectly up my alley. I’m not sure why I abandoned it the first time, but I chose to listen on audio this go round and it made all of the difference. I loved it!

Emmy Lake is ecstatic about her new job, believing that she was hired as a reporter at a local newspaper and dreaming about being a “lady war correspondent.” Imagine her horror when she’s hired at a women’s magazine as an assistant to a stuffy advice columnist. There’s a whole list of topics that Mrs. Bird won’t even touch, which includes basically everything that a woman in the midst of WWII might be struggling with. Emmy soon takes it upon herself to start responding to some of these letters and, of course, trouble ensues.

This was full of the real emotions behind the keep calm and carry on attitude of WWII. I appreciated the vulnerability Emmy expressed between the pages while doing her best to keep smiling through it all. I loved the scenes at the magazine – full of typewriters, tea, and letters. And the flat that she lives in with her best friend Bunty is amazingly cozy. I cannot wait until I can get my hands on the second book in the series!

katebb76's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

rosemwood's review against another edition

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4.0

This was an easy read considering it takes place during WW2 in London. I enjoyed the uplifting spirit of the young people's lingo during a very scary time. I laughed, cried and cheered along side Emmy and her friends, family and co-workers. I found out that this is the first book in a series and I think I may check out the next book in the series.