A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons

A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War

 by Annie Lyons



A Girls' Guide To Winning The War by Annie Lyons was published on 25th July by Headline books. My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.





Synopsis
1940.Whip-smart librarian Peggy Sparks is determined to make sure that her brother Joe returns from the frontline to their London home, which they share with their beloved mother and grandmother. So when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime job at the heart of the war effort, Peggy jumps at the prospect of making a real contribution to her country. But when she finds herself working under the fanciful socialite Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy discovers that those around her are more keen on dancing at the Café de Paris than on ending the war. Writing accounts of her daily life is the only thing keeping Peggy ' s hopes alive. But when she finds her inner-most thoughts accidentally published by the Ministry of Information, Peggy realises she needs Marigold' s help to save her job, and to bring her brother home . . .





My Review


This is the second book I have read by Annie and I wasn’t disappointed. You are transported back in time to London in the second world war and the camaraderie and support that was there in order to try and get through and survive. 

The comparison between the lives of Peggy and Marigold, along with the class divide, is beautifully told and gives the reader many thought provoking moments. For me though, the resilience of those who served to raise spirits, and morale, both of those who were fighting and those who were left behind, worrying and waiting, through the production of the books really shines through in this book.

Annie  cleverly portrays to the reader the stoicism of women and how they developed during the war years into a force to be reckoned with, keeping the country, and its mindset, moving forwards as positively as they could.

A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War highlights this resilience and the way friendships are forged and cemented . Using these friendships and team spirit to raise morale and keep the home fires burning in the darkest of times is behind every part of this book and draws the reader in to Peggy’s cosy family kitchen, dancing at the Ritz and working in the War Office , making you feel as though you are there observing it all from the shadows.

Yet another engrossing read from Annie Lyons .


About the Author



After a career in bookselling and publishing, Annie Lyons became an author. When not working on her novels, she teaches creative writing. She lives in south-east London with her husband and two children and black labrador ,Nelson.

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