Tag: Blog Tour

Published July 25th, 2024 by Headline
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Military Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this heartwarming and uplifting novel. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Headline for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A heart-warming tale about resilience, friendships and family, and the inestimable power of the written word’ RUTH HOGAN

‘A heart-warming depiction of strong female friendships tested by suffering – Annie Lyons really is the queen of the wartime saga’ CLARE CHAMBERS
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Can two young women and one book change the course of war?

1940. Whip-smart librarian Peggy Sparks is determined to make sure that her brother Joe returns from the frontline to their London home, which they share with their beloved mother and grandmother. So when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job at the heart of the war effort, Peggy jumps at the prospect of making a real contribution to her country.

But when she finds herself working under the fanciful socialite Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy discovers that those around her are more keen on dancing at the Café de Paris than on ending the war. Writing accounts of her daily life is the only thing keeping Peggy’s hopes alive. But when she finds her inner-most thoughts accidentally published by the Ministry of Information, Peggy realises she needs Marigold’s help to save her job, and to bring her brother home . . .

From the author of The Air Raid Book Club comes a powerful tale of unexpected friendship, community and two remarkable women who change the course of the war. Full of heart, emotion and drama, it is the perfect uplifting story for fans of Kate Thompson and Natasha Lester.

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MY REVIEW:

“This wasn’t an unusual story. In fact, it was the story of millions of women living through the war along the length and breadth of the country… This was about women fighting and surviving , not on the battlefields but in their own back yards.”

Heartwarming, compelling and uplifting, A Girl’s Guide To War is a glorious tale of courage, strength, friendship, and family. Of finding light in the darkest times. And of the power of books.

London, 1940. Librarian Peggy Sparks lives with her mum, Alice, grandmother, Emily, pregnant sister-in-law, Flo, and young niece, Nancy. Her twin brother, Joe, is serving on the frontline and she is determined to see that he returns home safely. So, when she is offered a job as a proof-reader at The Ministry of Information, she jumps at the chance, recognising this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only make a contribution to her country, but fulfil her promise to bring Joe home. It is there she meets Lady Marigold Cecily, a workshy aristocrat. But the pair slowly become friends before working together to publish books that are a vital part of the war effort. 

As a bookworm who loves reading historical fiction set in World War II this book was made for me. From its opening line I knew I’d found a book and character I’d street and from its opening lines I knew I’d found a book and character I’d love. Annie Lyons shows us the realities of war through the eyes of women and has filled the book with strong female characters of all ages, their bonds of community strengthened by the struggles and heartache of war. Their bravery is evident in the small things they do while living their lives each day. It is humbling, honest and raw, but also written with deep compassion and sensitivity and I was glued to the pages.

Peggy Sparks is a fantastic protagonist. Smart, determined and kind, I felt an immediate connection to this family-orientated, lifelong bookworm. When we meet her, Peggy is keeping a written account of how the war affects her daily life but her job at the Ministry offers the chance to do this, and more, on a greater scale. It is at the Ministry she meets Lady Marigold, and the pair could not be more different. Peggy is a homebody and hard worker, while Marigold is always late and prefers nights out at the Cafe de Paris. But the pair slowly form a friendship and work together to create and publish books that are an important part of the Ministry’s war effort. I loved their friendship and how they taught each other so much about life from another perspective. Central to the story is the close relationship between Peggy and her family. They may not have a lot financially, but they have things that money can’t buy, such as love and togetherness, and the bond between them radiates from the pages. I loved reading their scenes together and had a real soft spot for little Nancy who is a real firecracker that often dropped pearls of wisdom. Another brilliant character was Emily, Peggy’s grandmother and matriarch of the family. I loved this no-nonsense woman and she often had me laughing with her quips. Peggy’s twin brother may have been away at war but he is made flesh and blood through the letters he writes to Peggy. I thought this was a clever way to make him real while also displaying the power of writing. 

Books are an integral part of this story and both they and the written word are woven into every facet of the story. All book lovers know the power, magic and joy of books, but it felt extra special seeing the power they had during the war not only as a tool for information, but also in boosting morale. I enjoyed reading about the pamphlets and books that were published by the Ministry during the war and how they were seen as a vital way of boosting morale. It was fascinating to read about the publishing process and I enjoyed learning through historical fiction once again. Despite knowing quite a lot about this era I had somehow never considered or come across paper rationing so I enjoyed learning more about that and the difficulties faced by the publishing industry at the time. I also enjoyed reliving the connection we get through letters, a format that isn’t often used in today’s age but was vital at a time when there was no other way of communicating with loved ones serving on the frontline.

Delightful, moving and hopeful, this is a must-read for book lovers and fans of historical fiction.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

After a career in bookselling and publishing, Annie Lyons published numerous books in the U.K. and The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett in the U.S. When not working on her novels, she teaches creative writing. She lives in south-east London with her husband and two children.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the tour.