London, 1914: one ordinary day, three girls arrive for work at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop. But when war with Germany is declared their lives will never be the same again… Alice has always been the ‘sensible’ one in her family – especially in comparison with her suffrage-supporting sister! But decidedly against her father’s wishes, she accepts a job at Foyles Bookshop; and for bookworm … and for bookworm Alice it’s a dream come true.
But with the country at war, Alice’s happy world is shattered in an instant. Determined to do what she can, Alice works in the bookshop by day, and risks her own life driving an ambulance around bomb-ravaged London by night. But however busy she keeps herself, she can’t help but think of the constant danger those she loves are facing on the frontline…
Alice, Victoria and Molly couldn’t be more different and yet they share a friendship that stems back to their childhood – a friendship that provides everyday solace from the tribulations and heartbreak of war. Perfect for fans of Daisy Styles and Rosie Hendry. Look out for the next book in the series, The Foyles Bookshop Girls at War.
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Lovely book!
This was an interesting book. Set during WWII, you become familiar with Alice, her family, and best friends. From all the books I’ve read about that time period, though, it seems like Alice’s family did suffer as much as others. It seemed a little too “perfect” for the setting and this time of history.
You will get to know the characters well and will have strong opinions about them all…whether positive or negative. While Alice seems to be mild mannered, you discover that there is a strength hidden below the surface that ones bubbling up when she’s provoked too much.
The relationships between family members and friends are often on shaky ground, but you also get to watch as some of the individuals grow significantly throughout the pages of the book.
While the book is set at the beginning of WWII, you really don’t learn a lot about the atrocities many people in Europe experienced. There is one lack of supplies, but it seems that the terrors of WWII haven’t go cheddar this family as much as individuals in other towns, countries, situations.
Still an enjoyable book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It really shows the effects of WWI on all relationships. The struggles that were endured by both the soldiers who were fighting and those left at home. Very true to how it feels when your loved one is off to war. Having a son who fought in Iraq, I could really relate to this book!
What an enchanting story about three young women, their lives and their close friendship and support of one another at a very difficult time in history. The fact that they all work in a bookstore is just icing on the cake for me! The detail in this well written book is wonderful and I found it very difficult to put down. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.
The Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is the first story in The Foyles Girls series. Alice Taylor works at W & G Foyles Bookstore on Charring Cross Road in London with her friends Victoria Appleton and Molly Cooper. Victoria is responsible for her two younger siblings since their parents died four and a half years earlier. Molly is in love with Tony Fletcher who likes to flirt with every woman he encounters. Alice comes from a well-to-do family and her father, Luke has very rigid ideas for women which makes life difficult for Lily, Alice’s spirited sister. Alice loves her job at Foyles and spending time with her beau, Freddie who is a police sergeant. Then England declares war against Germany and the men rush to enlist including Freddie. Before Freddie departs for training camp, he proposes to Alice. The wedding will have to wait until he gets leave. As the war continues, Alice, Victoria and Molly want to find a way to help the war effort at home. Alice learns to drive an ambulance and transfers passengers from the train station to the hospital. She likes to keep herself busy to avoid thinking about the danger those she loves are in. Will Freddie make it home from the war? Are her brothers safe? Will the war ever end? Venture back to 1914 in The Foyles Bookshop Girls.
The Foyles Bookshop Girls takes readers back to 1914 when World War I begins. We see how quickly life can change. The story focuses on Alice but includes her family and friends. Alice comes from a more affluent household than her friends. The author did a wonderful job at setting the stage for the book. Elaine Roberts descriptions brought the book alive for me. I could envision the characters, their homes, and Foyles Bookshop. Alice is a spirited, strong intelligent woman. She was the anchor for her group of friends. I like how the characters developed over the course of the story and the friendship between the ladies deepened. Alice matured and developed new insights and a stronger voice. I just loved the accounts of Foyles Bookshop. It sounded like a magical place with all the wonderful books. When Alice mentioned the smell of the books, I completely agreed and understood. It was interesting how the bookshop operated (how people purchased their books, how the payment system operated). I would have liked more about the Foyles Bookshop. It was not central to the story. I wanted to know more about Victoria and Molly. I am hoping that they will be featured more prominently in the next two books in the series. The Foyles Bookshop Girls contains good writing and it is gently paced. It is a tale of friendship, family, faith and hope. Elaine Roberts is off to a promising start with her debut novel of The Foyles Bookshop Girls.