ABOUT THE BOOK
The war is raging in Europe. These girls will do everything they can on the home front – but is a happy ever after possible in such dark and uncertain times?
Manchester, 1940:
The minute war was declared, best friends Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard, willing to do anything to help their boys fighting overseas. An Auxiliary Fire Service girl by night, Sally ends up stationed at the salvage depot by day. Working amidst the scrap metal and waste paper, helping to make do and mend, isn’t quite the glamorous life in uniform she’d imagined! But she’s determined to do her best, and turn saucepans into Spitfires. When Sally meets Andrew, a quiet carpenter with a heart-breaking smile who understands how important her work is, she finally feels as though her efforts to keep calm and carry on are making a difference. As love blossoms, Sally feels herself opening up to Andrew in a way she’d never imagined possible. But then, just as Sally feels as hopeful as she can be in these times of war, a devastating air raid threatens everything she holds dear. As bombs rain down all over Manchester, deadly fires begin to destroy homes, and lives. With Andrew out rescuing families from the rubble, Sally rushes towards the plumes of smoke that fill the night sky. And is horrified to realise the very worst hit area has the salvage yard right at its heart. Desperate to help in any way she can, Sally, with her fellow salvage girls by her side, sets to work. But what will they find when the smoke clears? Will Sally and Andrew get the happy ending they so deserve? Or will her one chance at true love be lost forever as the morning dawns…?
A completely gripping and heart-breaking romantic saga. Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke, Nancy Revell and Lizzie Lane.
PURCHASE LINK
MY REVIEW
It’s always exciting to start off a new series, and if this is a taster of things to come then we’re in for a treat with The Home Front Girls! Set in Manchester in 1940, we’re introduced to Sally and Deborah who are eager to do their bit for the war effort. These are 2 young women living their lives in extraordinary times so it’s so interesting to see the challenges they both face.
Their friendship comes under pressure when Sally refuses a proposal from Deborah’s brother – everyone around her expected her to say yes and many are so disappointed with her, especially her parents. This was fascinating to see the family dynamic change as it was expected that ‘security’ of marriage was the done thing at the time, but Sally has her own reasons for saying no.
Watching the relationships change, while danger was all around them, was really captured well by the author. I found myself really invested in the girls and their paths, and watching them step up to their roles and put themselves in danger really made them characters to admire. Watching too how their families dealt with them maybe not following the normal path in life made you very aware of how things were at the time, and how they found the courage to stand up for what they wanted when things were very difficult.
This was a really engaging start to the series, full of drama and I’m already excited to see what is next for the girls to face in their journey!
Books and Me! 