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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Dear Mrs Bird by A.J. Pearce is the most charming historical novel set in London during 1940/1941.
The action surrounds the pages of an agony aunt in an established Women’s magazine. The agony aunt is a mature lady who deems many subjects as ‘unsuitable’ for her pages much to the disappointment of the office junior. The reader witnesses a kind heart in action. We ‘hear’ about the goings on and processes within journalism set against the backdrop of the Blitz.
We ‘hear’ about the awful conditions the emergency services face night after night as they face the horrors of war torn London.
There is a tremendous bulldog spirit. “The Luftwaffe may have been trying to blast us all to pieces, but everyone just kept getting back up.” The people were made of stern stuff, existing on little sleep but still going about their daily jobs. A.J. Pearce has perfectly captured the heart of the people within her novel.
The characters are all well drawn, unique and infinitely likable.
A.J.Pearce’s style of writing is very reminiscent of the style of 1940’s Britain as the reader sees life through the eyes of the main character. We ‘experience’ the horrors from the safety of our arm chair.
Dear Mrs Bird is positively delightful and a wonderful debut novel. I cannot wait for more from A.J. Pearce.
5 Stars. “Find out what you’re good at, Miss Lake, and then get even better.”
This heartfelt, charming story made me laugh & cry. Emmy Lake is a treasure! Hope A. J. Pearce writes another book soon 🙂 Loved it!
I liked the characters and the story line. It was heart-warming. The story flowed well and I’m looking forward to Ms. Pearce’s next book.
An enjoyable, relatively easy read. The author gives you a good feel for even the most minor characters.
This is a charming book set in London in the early 1940s. Emmy Lake wants to be a war correspondent and answers an advertisement for what she believes is The Chronicle. However, after she lands the job, she finds out that she will be a junior staff member typing correspondence for the advice/problems section of one of the magazines owned by the same parent company. She will work for Mrs. Henrietta Bird, who writes the column. Mrs. Bird is very strict about what she will allow in the column. Emmy feels that she must respond to some of the letters that Mrs. Bird rejects for the magazine. She does this without permission.
Emmy, and her best friend, Bunty, are two young women who are living together in London. They both are trying to live their lives happily despite the war raging around them. Bunty’s boyfriend, Bill, works with Emmy at the fire service. Emmy volunteers there to help the war effort.
I really enjoyed this book about friendship, forgiveness, ambition, and comfort. I will look for more from this author.
#DearMrsBird #AJPearce
A well-written, kindly read about friendship and empathy during a scary time.
A pleasant story set in a difficult time—WW2. It doesn’t shy away from the difficult circumstances of the setting, but somehow it remains a cheerful story. That can’t be an easy task to accomplish in writing. Highly recommend the audio book version.
Historical WWII story
A heartwarming, irresistible novel set in London, 1941. A young woman longs to be a war correspondent and inadvertently becomes a secret advice columnist. While she thinks at first this is a terrible job, she ends up embracing it and through the process learns more about herself. With the war exploding all around her, she manages to make new friends, restore old friends, and even find love. A sweet story of true character and determined hope.
I absolutely loved this book and didn’t want it to end. I was sad only that it wasn’t longer.
This book was okay not great. I’m sorry I pId full price. Not much historical knowledge. Weak
This combination of narrative and letters works beautifully. The depiction of the protagonist’s well-intended blunders that cause others who she cares about pain is so well written that it’s made me squirm about all of my own wrong-doings. The glimpse into London during the blitz is so real and reminds me of the remarkable courage and sorrow of that period. Really, it’s a beautiful book.
Emmeline Lake, a Londoner living during World War II, has always wanted to be a war correspondent in order to do her part for the war effort. So, when the advertisement in the paper says that the London Evening Chronicle needs a junior, she jumps at the chance. Sadly, she discovers that, although the position is in the London Evening Chronicle Building, it is for a small, little-read women’s magazine. She finds she is screening letters for Mrs. Bird, editor of the Dear Mrs. Bird help column. The worst part is that Mrs. Bird does not want to answer any letters about “objectional” subjects. Consequently, Mrs. Bird leaves a lot of dire letters unanswered. However, as Emmy reads the letters from distraught women during the very difficult and trying years of the war, she finds she wants to help them in some way, in any way she can.
I love how A.J. Pearce wrote this book using the lingo of the World War II era. She really makes these characters come alive on her pages! This is a beautiful book about the difficulties and dangers of living in London during World War II. It is also about the values of friendship, family, and love. This well-written story gives a clear statement about what is important in life. This is a wonderful and valuable book!
What a delightful read. This story tells about friendship, love, and loss in such a caring way. The book has great flow and doesn’t get bogged down about the time period. I love that this book is about a girl only wanting to be of service during the war and finds that she can make a mess of it. It sets the tone that you should always talk out your problems with your friend(s) and never let trouble fester, because you don’t know if there will be a chance to make it right. The characters are well developed, although it would have been lovely to see Charles come back in the end. I do love that Mrs. Bird got put in her place, she seemed to be someone who thought that times would not change, what readers wanted was for her to provide them some sympathetic support.
An evocative reminder of how women kept their ‘chins up’ while their men were away fighting Hitler. If you’ve ever loved women’s magazines you’ll enjoy this.
I have smiled, laughed out loud at this whimsical book. I love the stories WWII – this one is unique
Interesting. Women coping in WW2 London
As the Nazis bomb London nightly during early 1941, Emmeline Lake and her best friend, Bunty, do what they can to support the war effort (Emmy volunteers for the fire brigade and Bunty works in the War Office), while trying to keep up their morale. Emmy dreams of becoming a war correspondent, but instead is the assistant to Mrs. Bird, an advice columnist for Woman’s Friend magazine, who refuses to answer any unpleasant questions. Emmy takes it upon herself to help the women who Mrs. Bird won’t, and impersonates her to do so. Dear Mrs. Bird is a charming story of one young woman’s life during the blitz – filled with heartache, loss, love and friendship. A+
uplifting
I loved this book – so touching and delightful
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Should make a good movie.