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mary_lake's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, War, and Death
laurao's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Classism, Dementia, and Gore
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, and Bullying
carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce
This is a seriously underrated World War II historical fiction. It really deserves more attention! I’ve read a lot of books based in London during the Blitz and Pearce has managed to write something truly original. Our heroine Emmaline, an aspiring journalist, gets a job working for a women’s magazine. She is tasked with sorting through the advice column letters and destroying those that contain any “Unpleasantness”, which in the opinion of Mrs. Henrietta Bird is almost every topic the readers ask about. Emmy starts secretly writing to some of the readers in Mrs. Bird’s name. At night, Emmy volunteers at the fire brigade, taking calls as bombs fall across the city.
Pearce excellently imbues the book with both humor and deep grief, portraying a time when everyone was meant to just keep marching on in the face of unimaginable loss and fear. Emmeline is surrounded by believable, lovable characters, from her long-time best friend Bunty to her new beau Charles, from her magazine coworkers to the other volunteers at the fire brigade.
This should be required reading for any fan of World War II fiction as it is so much more than it appears on the surface. One of the best glimpses into the lives of Londoners during the Blitz that I’ve ever read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Death, and Medical trauma
nakutski's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Moderate: Pregnancy and Grief
annie_122's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
kellyinbookland's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death
piewedges's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
fantasycat's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
thelowreylibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
kta's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If I hadn't been reading this for book club, I probably would have given up on it. I struggled with the first couple chapters and the, in my opinion, "unlikeable" narrator. Once Emmy started working and developing as a character she became more flawed than unlikeable. All in all it ended up being a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence