The Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts
Published: 1st June 2018
Publisher: Aria
Pages: 295
Available on Kindle
Rating: 5/5
Blurb
London, 1914:
one ordinary day, three girls arrive for work at London’s renowned Foyles
bookshop. But when war with Germany is declared their lives will never be the
same again…
Alice has
always been the ‘sensible’ one in her family – especially in comparison with
her suffrage-supporting sister! But decidedly against her father's wishes, she
accepts a job at Foyles Bookshop; and for bookworm Alice it's a dream come
true. But with the country at war, Alice’s happy world is shattered in an
instant.
Determined to
do what she can, Alice works in the bookshop by day, and risks her own life
driving an ambulance around bomb-ravaged London by night. But however busy she
keeps herself, she can’t help but think of the constant danger those she loves
are facing on the frontline…
Alice, Victoria and Molly couldn’t be more different and yet they share a
friendship that stems back to their childhood - a friendship that provides
everyday solace from the tribulations and heartbreak of war.
Perfect for fans of Elaine Everest, Daisy Styles and Rosie Hendry.
Review
Elaine Roberts’ debut novel The Foyles Bookshop Girls is a
delightful tale of friendship and family during the outbreak of World War 1.
Alice, Victoria and Molly all work in the famous Foyles bookshop in London and
have been friends for many years, despite having very different lives.
Alice lives in Bloomsbury Square with her middle-class mother,
father and three siblings. Life under her father’s roof is strict but Alice copes
by escaping to the work in the bookshop three days a week. Molly lives with her
working-class parents and brother in a much cosier and warmer house, but she
spends much of her time with womaniser boyfriend Tony. Poor Victoria lost both
her parents and the love of her life four years ago, she’s struggling to keep a
roof over her head and keep her younger sister and brother under control. When
the war breaks out all their lives change, and their friendships are put to the
test as each woman watches someone they love, go off to fight.
This is one of those books which creeps up on you and draws
you in, until you just must finish it. I was surprised by just how much this
book did this as I wasn’t initially expecting to love it as much as I did. The first few chapters are a bit slow but
after the fifth I was well and truly hooked on this captivating story, I’m just
sad now I must wait to find out what happens next.
Elaine Roberts seems to me to have perfectly captured the
atmosphere at this time in history. Before the war breaks out woman are
rallying to introduce votes for women which would give them more freedom in time
when men were very much in control, something Alice’s younger sister Lily is desperate
for as she struggles to conform to her father’s strict way of life. As the war breaks out you can feel the younger
men’s optimism at going on the “adventure” to fight in the war as the older generation
covey the message of doing the right thing for the country, the innocence of
Charlie as he set off to war was quite distressing to read as at seventeen you
could tell he wasn’t ready for the trauma ahead of him. As the war progresses it’s
the women that keep the country going and provide emotional and physical support
for those in need. I loved that Alice and Lily became part of this and at times
risked their lives to help those in danger, it showed just how strong these
women’s characters were.
Alice was definitely the hero of this book as the majority
of the storyline focuses on her family and her blossoming romance with police
officer Freddie. I loved how much she changed throughout the book, changing
from a meek and mild woman who dreaded confrontation to one who is brave enough
to challenge her father, this was my favourite part of the book.
Victoria does have some of the plot devoted to her life, but
I felt Molly was often overlooked and didn’t add anything to how the story progressed.
With two more books planned in this series I’m hoping each of these girls will
have one focusing on them, so we can learn more about them.
Elaine Roberts has done a wonderful job with The Foyle’s
Bookshop Girls, writing a novel which is engaging and full of atmosphere and
emotion and its one which I can highly recommend to anyone who loves this
genre.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Aria for sending me a
copy to review and inviting me to be part of the blog tour.
About the Author
Elaine
Roberts had a dream to write for a living. She completed her first novel in her
twenties and received her first very nice rejection. Life then got in the way
until she picked up her dream again in 2010. She joined a creative writing
class, The Write Place, in 2012 and shortly afterwards had her first short
story published. Elaine and her patient husband, Dave, have five children who
have flown the nest. Home is in Dartford, Kent and is always busy with their
children, grandchildren, grand dogs and cats visiting.
Follow Elaine
Twitter: @RobertsElaine11
Facebook: @ElaineRobertsAuthor
Buy links:
Amazon: mybook.to/TheFoylesBookshopGirls
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IKyFQU
iBooks: https://apple.co/2HnGG9K
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2xNqm2v
Follow Aria
Website: www.ariafiction.com
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram:
@ariafiction
