This charming, irresistible debut novel set in London during World War II about a young woman who longs to be a war correspondent and inadvertently becomes a secret advice columnist is “a jaunty, heartbreaking winner” (People)–for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls. Emmeline Lake and her best friend Bunty are doing their bit for the war effort and trying … their bit for the war effort and trying to stay cheerful, despite the German planes making their nightly raids. Emmy dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, and when she spots a job advertisement in the newspaper she seizes her chance; but after a rather unfortunate misunderstanding, she finds herself typing letters for the formidable Henrietta Bird, renowned advice columnist of Woman’s Friend magazine.
Mrs. Bird is very clear: letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight into the bin. But as Emmy reads the desperate pleas from women who many have Gone Too Far with the wrong man, or can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she begins to secretly write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.
“Fans of Jojo Moyes will enjoy AJ Pearce’s debut, with its plucky female characters and fresh portrait of women’s lives in wartime Britain” (Library Journal)–a love letter to the enduring power of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and the courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. “Headlined by its winning lead character, who always keeps carrying on, Pearce’s novel is a delight” (Publishers Weekly). Irrepressibly funny and enormously moving, Dear Mrs. Bird is “funny and poignant…about the strength of women and the importance of friendship” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).
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The sweetest, most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love.
Funny, fresh, and touching, Dear Mrs. Bird is a pitch-perfect pleasure. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to read a book that seems to live properly in its era.
A.J. Pearce’s debut novel is a delightful story of WWII and the young and often inexperienced women left behind to cope in war torn London. The story, despite the grim setting, sparkles with hope and grit in the face of bombings, fires, and personal tragedies. If you are looking for something earnest and sweet, this is your book.
Heartwarming and cozy, Dear Mrs. Bird provided a new angle in WWII fiction – letters written to an advice columnist. With a lovely twist on the subject matter and love and friendship to round it out, this is a charming read for any lovers of historical fiction.
This book was a total change of pace for me and what a welcome one it was.
Dear Mrs Bird captivates and portrays wartime London through the eyes of Emmeline Lake .
This book reels you in, you laugh, you make you cry but most of all you will cheer on Emmeline!
Well worth the read
A wonderful, whimsical read that had me in tears at one stage! AJ Pearce has perfectly brought to life war-time London, and has created a brilliant, plucky heroine in Emmy.
This was a fun book to read because it transported me to another place and time. I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but this book, set in 1940s London, really pulled me in. I enjoyed spending time with the characters, even the somewhat terrifying Mrs. Bird. 🙂
I relished every moment of Dear Mrs. Bird. What a joy! Hilarious, heartwarming, and unutterably charming.
Emmeline Lake, the heroine of Dear Mrs. Bird, is the most endearing character to emerge from the world of British fiction since Bridget Jones. She’s funny, she’s indefatigable, and she faces the worst of circumstances with the pluckiest of resolves. You cannot help but love her.
A joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs. Bird is as funny as it is heartwarming.
The audiobook read of Dear Mrs. Bird had my earbuds dangerously close to being permanently imbedded in my ears as I listened intently right through to the end of the novel. The author’s witty tone and the character’s “inside” voice was laugh out loud funny while the all too real scenes of the London Blitz balanced the story’s humour. A great historical novel not to be missed.
Charming historical novel with a sweet and funny narrator.
Funny and sweet; a book that makes you feel warm inside when you turn the last page.
Emmy Lake, the narrator in Dear Mrs. Bird, yearns to become a war correspondent so she too can contribute to defeating the Nazis who are bombing her beloved London. Instead, she stumbles into a secret life as an advice columnist in a woman’s magazine. The characters are funny, quirky, and heartbreaking. The book has a lighter tone than The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, but hits the same poignant notes of everyday warriors struggling through wartime. It also reminded me a little of Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness mystery series.
Books that make you shake with laughter and sob with tears are rare. I gulped this one down but didn’t stop thinking about it for a long time.
Dear Mrs. Bird (The Emmy Lake Chronicles #1) by A.J. Pearce – I won an advanced copy of this one! Emmy Lake wants to be a serious journalist, but she ends up helping a rather grumpy advice columnist. When the messier letters to Mrs. Bird are immediately thrown in the bin, Emmy decides that she will rescue them and answer herself. With Letter to Juliet vibes, it’s got just enough substance in its well written leading lady to carry off the plot! Very sweet! Happy Reading!
If you are like me, you might initially find the main character to be a tad “over the top” with her enthusiasm and desire to be a war correspondent. It’s almost too silly. But, do soldier on…because it soon becomes a book full of endearing characters living during the time of the London Blitz. One of those enjoyable books that you hate to find yourself at the last page.
Read 7.23.2021
This was a really great read [I so wish I had known because this would have been a GREAT book club read], even with the 2-hour ugly crying at the end [that is not an exaggeration]. I cannot wait to read the second one!! SO GOOD.
Delightful, warm, heartfelt, and witty with just the right amount of wartime gravity. A perfect blend to savor.
Superb read! I loved this view of WWII. Emmeline wants to be a war correspondent and accidentally gets hired as a junior typist. While the book is quite funny, it also has some very serious parts as you might expect with the story taking place during WWII. What I loved about the book is that while it has the war scenes you’d expect (the Café Paris scene was devastating) it focuses on Emmy and the mismanagement of her career. Mrs. Bird is a dreadful boss you can’t help but laugh at, and Emmy is always getting into trouble. I borrowed the audio version from the library, and Anna Popplewell is truly amazing as the narrator!! Definitely worth another read/listen and I’m not one to re-read books!