Upbeat in the face of adversity, Pearce manages to encapsulate the spirit, values and wonderful nostalgic phrases of the WW2 age. Feisty and fiercely feministic, Pearce highlights the role women played in the victory of the wars, sacrifices they made and hardships they faced. Although this is wartime London, and from the first book, Dear Mrs. Bird, we know the challenges and threats that all of England faces, both books have a lighthearted feel to them. I enjoy these stories and self deprecating characters that are able to support each other and find humor in the everyday strangeness of this wartime life they are living. No one is allowed to forget the loss of life and also the loss of health for those who do return from war. Wartime rationing means creativity is a part of each day and the generosity of others is often what gets people from one hour to the next. Everyone has lost someone and, for the most part, Emmy and her friends try to put a good face on each minute because that's the only way to keep going. The best possible antidote for the blahs, the doldrums, all slumps, all dumps . . . Loved. Every. Word.' - Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry Yours Cheerfully by A. J. Pearce is the second novel in the Emmy Lake Chronicles. It starts in November 1941 immediately after the end of Dear Mrs. Bird. While Yours Cheerfully could be read as a stand-alone novel, I don’t recommend it. There is so much character development in the first book that makes the second book more relatable. In fact, one of the nicest things about meeting readers at events and book signings (before Covid of course) is when they tell me how long they have known their best friends. I’ve had lovely conversations about this – it is always inspiring and often very moving. You can’t beat a lifelong best friend! Tell me about authors who inspire you and books which have made a particular impression on you.

Emmy loves her new role and writes some encouraging and amazing hard-hitting articles featuring women working in places like the munitions factories and the injustices women face, plus their childcare issues. This book is such a lovely tale of very strong women in the war times. I know my mother when she was alive told me what she did in the war and other women. Women supporting the war efforts, farming, driving, delivering, health care etc was just a tip of the iceberg to working in factories making parachutes and other war items. Emmy has just begun the column when the War Ministry has a meeting with many of the women’s newspaper editors. With so many men off to war there is a terrible shortage of workers in factories that supply munitions and other necessary items for the men at the front lines. The editors are advised to come up with ideas to recruit more women workers. Charmingly humorous, but unflinching about the war's human tragedies. . . . this story offers a heartening message of women's power to create change." — HistoricalNovels.infoThe build up to the wedding and the last minute mad rush to get everyone together on time left me laughing along with the wedding party. Somehow with everyone’s help, a wedding dress is made from parachute fabric, various small cakes and other food items appear along with a quite potent sounding “punch”. For at least these few hours everyone can think of happy things and find some relief from the constant presence of war, shortages and loss. 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. I love these characters, Emmy's co-workers who really care about each other, her long time friends and her family, and the new friends she makes as she tries to help the women factory workers who get no leeway when it comes to understanding the hardships of finding constant childcare for their children. Whether it's subtle or faced directly, we are always made aware of the heavy weight that the war places on each person. 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

When a new publisher, the ’Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter’ becomes the new publisher, who turns everything upside down, and insists on tossing out what their readers love the most - the relatable issues, the concerns about their loved ones, the war, recipes, and personal issues and wants to turn it into a ‘society’ magazine for the ‘right’ crowd, the ones who are not struggling financially. The one that she targets to start with is Emmy’s ’Yours Cheerfully’ column, one of the more popular columns. Instead of keeping a popular column for the average reader, she wants to replace it with sharing the newest, most fashionable clothing, and stories about what the rich and semi-famous are wearing and doing. The outcome of the hard work that Emmy, Bunty, and the munitions workers make don’t shake up the war effort overnight. Emmy and Charles are faced with the reality that he is an Army Officer and the country is at war. Bunty is still slowly improving while Emmy is spreading her journalistic wings. And Charles shows, in so many ways, that he not only understands Emmy, he thoroughly approves of what she’s trying to do. I wish there had been more letters answered but I will end this with the repeated wish that we’ll see more, much more, of Emmy and the others. B+ In an unreliable world, I’m glad we can depend on AJ Pearce to deliver a delectable read." — Annie Barrows, co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mr. Collins encourages Emmy to show the Ministry what our readers can do, and look after the readers while they are doing it. This turns out to be easier said than done. Several women are fired for bringing their children to work when they cannot find adequate childcare. The workers who want to rally for a government-funded childcare facility are told they will lose their jobs if they protest. Emmy must balance a fine line of helping these workers while following the strict guidelines and censorship of the Ministry of Information. Mrs. Edwards of Woman Today is a memorable figure and a role model for Emmy. Why does she make such an impression on Emmy?What a wonderful break this book was from all of the thrillers that I’ve been reading. This is a follow up to Dear Mrs. Bird, but honestly I liked this one a lot more. As columnists, one of their jobs was to encourage women to work in the factories...the same factories that supply artillery to their husbands. With little empathy for their plight, doing the same job, less money, still man the house and take care of the kids making it ever so difficult to keep up. Once the jobs were filled the demand to appreciate them became centerfold.

My new novel, Yours Cheerfully continues Emmy’s story, although I’ve made sure that if you haven’t read Dear Mrs Bird the new book can be read on its own. It is set in 1941 and follows Emmy as she gets her big break as a journalist. She is asked to help recruit women to sign up to do war work. But when she meets a group of young workers, she realises they face some really hard challenges with very little support.

Now enjoy Claire’s chat to A. J. Pearce about her writing and inspiration…

Full of the cheerful bravery and good humor that makes AJ Pearce’s writing so special, with punch-the-air moments set against the sadness and loss of war." —Julie Cohen, author of Spirited Although this one is set in England during WWII, it has a more lighthearted tone and even some madcap humor. Emmy continues to get into trouble, but I love her ambition and desire to help her magazine’s readers! Emmy is continuing in her job at Woman’s Friend magazine, writing the advice column. She even gets her shot at writing a feature story! She’s off to interview women who are called to work at munitions factories. She finds more than she bargains for in the process but makes some great friends. Emmy and the children who enter her life, her friends and loved ones are what keep this story engaging, and Emmy’s desire to give more of her time to share the lives of those whose women who work is not only important, but crucial, as the jobs who previously were held by men who are now serving their country, can now show that they are capable of doing these jobs - if only the companies would provide child-care. A fabulous account of history within this fictional writing with an updated role from Emmeline now that the formidable woman from the previous book is now gone. We see more strength of character from Emmeline and when you have other women, strong women and support from other avenues it’s clear what can be achieved with the help of Yours Cheerfully in the forefront.