I was originally planning to read The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Maria ne Cronin for this prompt, but when I popped into my local library I saw Mrs Porter Calling by A. J. Pearce as one of the new books and couldn’t resist.

What it’s about?

The heartwarming, moving and uplifting new story of friendship, love and finding courage when all seems lost from AJ Pearce, The Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird and Yours Cheerfully .

London, April 1943.

Emmy Lake is an agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine, doing all she can to help readers as they face the challenges of wartime life. With her column thriving and a team of women behind her, Emmy finally feels she is Doing Her Bit.

But when the glamourous new owner arrives, everything changes. Charming her way around editor Guy Collins, Emmy quickly realises the Honourable Mrs Cressida Porter plans to destroy everything readers love about the magazine.

With her best friends by her side, Emmy must work out how she can bring everyone together and save Woman’s Friend before it’s too late.

What I think:

The Emmy Lake Chronicles is a warm cosy hug of a book series. Despite being set in WW2 and having some truly heartbreaking moments, it’s general feel-good and uplifting.

If you are new to the series, then I definitely recommend you start at the beginning with Dear Mrs Bird. The first book is a firm favourite of mine and I think it is the best.

In this book, Woman’s Friend has been taken over by Mrs Porter, a rich and spoiled socialite who has no interest in publishing other than a desire that the magazine reflects her own interests and pleasures.

Instead of cooking with rations and war work for women, she wants the magazine to focus on glamorous fashion, society weddings, and cute pictures of her dog. Emmy’s much valued advice column, Yours Cheerfully, is deemed far too miserable and is at threat.

Mrs Porter is a bit of a pantomime villain. She has no redeeming features, so it is a bit one dimensional. She appears charming when she sweeps into the offices at Woman’s Friend. The team are cautiously optimistic that she will be supportive. Guy and Emmy are really hoping that she will quickly get bored and leave them to it. Once it becomes clear that this is not the case they have to come up with ways to support their readers.

What is really special about this book is the warm sense of community that the writer has created. Side characters pop in and out and illustrate the war-time spirit that people are sometimes nostalgic for. Everyone supports each other and go out of their way to help their neighbours, something that many find missing today.

That said, there are real hardships. So many of the children have lost parents and loved ones that they create an Orphans Society. Death and loss are never far away and there are some moments that will have you sobbing.

No spoilers, but the book ends on a really optimistic note that will leave the reader satisfied. I love Emmy and Bunty and would definitely read another installment.