Dear Mrs Bird - A. J. Pearce

Blurb

London, 1941. Amid the falling bombs Emmeline Lake dreams of becoming a fearless Lady War Correspondent. Unfortunately, Emmy instead finds herself employed as a typist for the formidable Henrietta Bird, the renowned agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine. Mrs Bird refuses to read, let alone answer, letters containing any form of Unpleasantness, and definitely not those from the lovelorn, grief-stricken or morally conflicted.

But the thought of these desperate women waiting for an answer at this most desperate of times becomes impossible for Emmy to ignore. She decides she simply must help and secretly starts to write back – after all, what harm could that possibly do?

Review

Emmy dreams of being a fearless Lady War Correspondent. To do her bit in the war effort she applies for a job with the Evening Chronicle unfortunately there was a terrible mix up and she has in fact accepted a job to type up letters and advice for a problem page. The agony Aunt Mrs Bird refuses to answer most of the letters sent in as they are full of unpleasantness; Emmy resolves to make the best of it and help these poor women herself after all there can't be any harm in responding can there? 

I utterly adored this light-hearted historical novel. The characters are infectious in with their make the best of it spirit, they all funny, sweet but not without their flaws. The premise is unique and engaging. Full of humour but far from glossing over the grief, loss and horrors of WWII Pearce tackles them perfectly through the letters sent to Mrs Bird and the well intentioned advice sent back my Emmy. This hugely enjoyable book is the perfect tonic for these long winter nights, sure to give to that warm fuzzy feeling! I can't to read more of Emmy adventures.

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