Emmy Lake is the much-loved agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine, relied upon by readers across the country as they face the challenges of life on the Home Front. With the problem page thriving and a team of fantastic women behind her, Emmy finally feels she is Doing Her Bit.
But when a glamorous new owner arrives, everything changes. As the Honourable Mrs Porter tries to charm her way around the rest of the team, Emmy realizes that she plans to destroy everything readers love about the magazine.
With happiness quickly turning to heartbreak and war still raging in Europe, will Emmy and her friends find the inner strength they need to keep keeping on – and save the magazine they love?
I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in this series so when this book came up on NetGalley, I was happy to request it. And then I didn’t read it for ages! This book is a continuation of Emmy Lake’s life during the war as well as seeing how her career progresses with Women’s Friend.
I really enjoyed this book in the series. I appreciated the little update on everyone in the first chapter, considering it had been a while since I had read the first two books, and the new plot and drama going on in Emmy’s life as the war continued. The Blitz had finished but the bombing continued and so does the rationing and the fear of people fighting in the war. There is also a new owner for Woman’s Friend and she definitely turns things upside down. #
I enjoyed seeing the return of many characters and how equal attention was paid to Emmy’s personal life and work life. The side characters had their own romances/problems going on as well, which I do enjoy (though I would have loved to have seen more about Emmy’s colleagues and their lives and how the drama going on at Woman’s Friend would affect them). Emmy’s romance with Charles continues even though he’s off fighting and I really loved seeing her letters to him but also how she still thought about him and wished he was here with her, especially when everything was going on. Bunty had some sweet moments with Emmy but she definitely seemed in a happier place in this book and that was good to see.
That said, I did wish that Mrs. Porter got the same character treatment as the rest of them. She felt very one note and even at the end, she was written more to be a caricature than an actual person. It was fine for most of it, Emmy was not in the frame of mind to be willing to see the nicer side of her, but right at the end where she was made into someone so ridiculous, it became more laughable than threatening.
However, I did enjoy how and when the plot was resolved and this series continues to make me cry, so I would still continue on with this series if it does continue.
4 stars!
