Book Summary and Reviews of Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce

Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce

Yours Cheerfully

A Novel (2) (The Emmy Lake Chronicles)

by AJ Pearce

  • Published:
  • Aug 2021, 304 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

From the author of the "jaunty, heartbreaking winner" (People) and international bestseller Dear Mrs. Bird comes a charming and uplifting novel set in London during World War II about a plucky young journalist and her adventures as wartime advice columnist.

London, November 1941. Following the departure of the formidable Henrietta Bird from Woman's Friend magazine, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake as she takes on the new challenges as a wartime advice columnist. Her relationship with boyfriend Charles is blossoming, while Emmy's best friend Bunty, still reeling from the very worst of the Blitz, is bravely looking to the future. Together, the friends are determined to Make a Go of It.

When the Ministry of Information calls on Britain's women's magazines to help recruit female workers to the war effort, Emmy is thrilled to step up and help. But when she and Bunty meet a young mother who shows them the very real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must confront a dilemma between doing her duty and standing by her friends.

As funny, heartwarming, and touching as Dear Mrs. Bird, Yours Cheerfully is an endearing portrait of female friendship and "a fruitful exploration of the solidarity among women in times of grief, love, and hardship" (Publishers Weekly).

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. In 1941, Britain had been at war for two years and London had just survived the Blitz—a brutal series of German air raids that dropped more than 12,000 metric tons of bombs from September 1940 to May 1941, killing nearly 30,000 civilians. What do you imagine Londoners were feeling and thinking at this time?
  2. Mrs. Mahoney tells Emmy that "caring about getting things right is worth its weight in gold" (16). How do the staff members at Woman's Friend express that they care about getting things right?
  3. When Emmy attends the first meeting at the Ministry of Information, she can't wait to get started on the campaign to encourage women war workers. Why does Emmy feel this call to arms so keenly?
  4. Mrs. Edwards of Woman ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Pearce packs in lighthearted banter and depictions of the good-spirited citizens of London working together to survive the war... . With big stakes and formidable opponents, this exciting saga is a fruitful exploration of the solidarity among women in times of grief, love, and hardship." —Publishers Weekly

"Pearce captures the spirit and hopefulness of those left at home during war, and readers will delight in this second chance to ride along with Emmy." —Booklist

"Yours Cheerfully: the best possible antidote for the blahs, the doldrums, all slumps, but also effective against letdowns and general malaise. Loved. Every. Word." —Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry

"An absolute delight! I loved Dear Mrs. Bird and was thrilled to spend more time with Emmy and Bunty in Yours, Cheerfully. AJ Pearce shines a light on the hardships that women factory workers faced during World War II, an echo to the plight of working mothers today. Endearing, poignant, and relevant, this uplifting novel is a treat!" —Janet Skeslien Charles, author of The Paris Library

This information about Yours Cheerfully was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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Author Information

AJ Pearce

AJ Pearce grew up in Hampshire, England. She studied at the University of Sussex and Northwestern University. A chance discovery of a 1939 women's magazine became the inspiration for her series The Emmy Lake Chronicles, which includes Dear Mrs. Bird, Yours Cheerfully, and Mrs. Porter Calling. She lives in the south of England.

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