I never tire of World War II fiction. My late grandparents were young people in the 1940s. Both grandfathers fought in WWII, and I feel like I can visit this time with them through books. Dear Mrs. Bird is a lovely read!
My Thoughts:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 utterly charming stars to Dear Mrs. Bird! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
So how does Dear Mrs. Bird eke out a name for herself in a sea of WWII reads? The answer: with humor and finding joy even amid the most turbulent times.
It is 1940 in London, and adorable and lovable character Emmy Lake is seeking the job of her dreams, war correspondent. She currently has her hands full as a volunteer telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services and her unfulfilling current job. She finds an advertisement in a magazine that may be the ticket to her next career.
Emmy takes the job knowing little about it and finds herself a typist to an advice columnist, Mrs. Bird. Emmy needs the job, so she perseveres. Mrs. Bird is a strict enforcer of her rules, and the primary one is that no unpleasant letters will be addressed in the column; however, Emmy finds this impossible to follow. Her heart opens up when she reads the words of these women, and she feels their loneliness, longing, and pain.
With nightly bombings and a war at happening all around her, Emmy writes these women back on her own.
As if you could not tell already, Emmy is a character to adore, as is her endearing best friend, Bunty. Dear Mrs. Bird is about true friendship, warmth, and generosity, in the most frightful and horrendous of times. It is a charming and uplifting read.
Thank you to Scribner for the ARC. Dear Mrs. Bird is now available!
Synopsis:
A charming, irresistible debut novel set in London during World War II about an adventurous young woman who becomes a secret advice columnist—a warm, funny, and enormously moving story for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls.
London 1940, bombs are falling. Emmy Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent seem suddenly achievable. But the job turns out to be typist to the fierce and renowned advice columnist, Henrietta Bird. Emmy is disappointed, but gamely bucks up and buckles down.
Mrs Bird is very clear: Any letters containing Unpleasantness—must go straight in the bin. But when Emmy reads poignant letters from women who are lonely, may have Gone Too Far with the wrong men and found themselves in trouble, or who can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she is unable to resist responding. As the German planes make their nightly raids, and London picks up the smoldering pieces each morning, Emmy secretly begins to write letters back to the women of all ages who have spilled out their troubles.
Prepare to fall head over heels with Emmy and her best friend, Bunty, who are spirited and gutsy, even in the face of events that bring a terrible blow. As the bombs continue to fall, the irrepressible Emmy keeps writing, and readers are transformed by AJ Pearce’s hilarious, heartwarming, and enormously moving tale of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and ordinary people in extraordinary times.
I never tire of World War II fiction.
.
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Same here . Awesome review,❤
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Thank you, Priyasha! This comment was in my spam. I’m so happy to hear you like to read about this time period, too. 💕
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Such a terrific review Jennifer! I look forward to reading this 😊💜
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Thanks, Lindsay! Oh, I really hope you love this one, too! It is a different take, but a refreshing one. 💗
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So interested in reading this book. Our son in laws parents lived in London during the blitz. They were only about seven but they do so remember the times. Lovely review! I love this type of book too!
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Thanks, Marialyce! I think you’ll enjoy this one. It reminded me a bit of Chilbury Ladies’ Choir with the lightheartedness amongst the anxiety of daily life. A nice balance and some really funny parts! I hope you love it!
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I really like reading historical fiction; I should really read more of it. Recently, I really liked Song of a Captive Bird about the Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad and The Nix by Nathan Hill, which I think you could consider historical fiction.
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Karla, historical fiction is my favorite genre, and Song of a Captive Bird is a masterpiece! I wish I could have the experience of reading that one all over again, and I’m happy to read that you enjoyed it, too. I have The Nix and need to make time for it. Thanks for the reminder. 😊
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Yes!! Emmy is such a v good character. Did I hear correctly? Is Pearce writing more about the characters?
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She really is, Paul! I had not heard about another book? Wonderful news!
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This one has been on my TBR for a while, and I really need to read it! I love historical fiction and reading about WWII is my favorite era after the Tudors. Both my grandfathers fought in WWII too, so I love reading about the time and trying to learn more of what it was like since neither one of them would really talk about what they went through, which is understandable. Your review is great! I can’t wait to read this one!! 🙂
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Gosh, Stephanie! I say the same thing about my grandfathers not talking to me about the war! They were so stoic! So I read these books in hopes of having some understanding. 😊 I can’t wait to read your thoughts on this one. It reminds me a bit of Chilbury Ladies’ Choir if you have read that one? A different take on the war with some lightheartedness mixed in. I hope you love it too! ♥️
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Review, Jennifer!
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my message got cut off for some reason. Sounds like a good read. Great review!
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Thanks so much, Dee! ♥️ It loved it!
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Great review ❤
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Thanks so much, Bibi! 💕
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Terrific review! This sounds just perfect for me.
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Thanks so much, Ann Marie! It is a delightful read!
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Sounds lovely, and perfect summer reading! I do like when people show the less harsh side of life during the war. My mother served in the Signals Corp and always rather guiltily admitted that she had a great time – it was a liberating experience for a lot of girls to learn new things and live away from home with other young women. Not to diminish the horrors of war at all, but there were a whole range of different experiences and it’s good when a book reflects that. Great review! 😀
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Thank you, FF! It is a wonderful summer read! I loved hearing about your mom and her service. That is parallel to the main character’s experience, along with the guilt. You are absolutely right about the range of experiences, and I never tire of hearing them. 😊
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Hey Jennifer… when you get a chance I sent you an email! ☀️great review! I love your reviews!
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Thank you, Lana! ♥️ Did you send an email through the contact button? I don’t see anything yet? My email is jennifertarheelreader at gmail if you want to re-send it? 😊
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Yes, through your contact page… hmm… maybe my email is slow I will check if it sent.
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I’ll be watching for it!
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Great review. I love historical fiction. I put this one on th e tbr list.📚
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Thanks, Virginia! I hope you love Dear Mrs. Bird if you are able to read it! ♥️
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Another wonderful review, Jennifer!! This book sounds so intriguing, and I love the cover!!!
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Thanks so much, Mack! Isn’t that cover gorgeous!? Such a stand-out.
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Reblogged this on Buried Under Books and commented:
This is a book I wouldn’t normally run across but this lovely review by Jennifer makes me think I need to track down a copy 😉
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Thanks for the reblog, Lelia! ♥️
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Another great review Jennifer! I don’t pick up much historical fiction but I usually enjoy when I do so I’ll keep this one in mind. 🙂
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Thanks, Carrie! This one is nice when you want a historical backdrop without any heavy history. Some serious and sad things happen, but the tone is overall softer, and it’s not bogged down with history like some historical fiction is (I love both kinds of hist fic 😊).
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Yeah, I get what you mean. Sometimes it’s just nice to relate the time but not worry about the heavy details. 🙂
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Wonderful review Jen! I need to find this one!😊💖
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Thanks, Sus! I think you’d enjoy it! Happy Friday! 💗 xo
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Great review Jennifer, it sounds like a charming story and I’m a big fan of historical fiction!
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Thanks, Kyra! If you love historical fiction, you will enjoy this one!
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You had me at WWII fiction and you clinched it at “humour” you don’t get many cute somewhat funny reads about wartime!! I’m in!
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So true! I followed the author on twitter, and she’s just as funny on there!
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Great review! I just finished reading this last night, and really enjoyed it as well. Emmy is a great heroine — you really capture her spirit!
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Thanks so much, Lisa! I appreciate the compliment about capturing Emmy, too. What a treasure of a character. I look forward to your review so I can revisit this one!
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Are you familiar with DE Stevenson?
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No, I just looked her up, and I’m interested. Do you have any recommendations for me?
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I liked her Dering Family series of characters that had a featured title of Music in the Hills (might be the second title). I’ve read just about all her books and haven’t found an author I like as well for pre/post was English country life. Hope you find her titles!
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I am going to check those out now! Thanks so much for telling me!
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I am a Dessie fan! 😉
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I am able to get the books on Amazon! Thank you again! ♥️
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I have to try this one, Jennifer. My grandparents were in WWII as well. I haven’t read a lot of this genre, but I’m adding. Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
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Thanks, M! Just another thing we have in common. 😉 This book is perfect to take a light dip in this genre. I really think you’ll enjoy it. ♥️ xo
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