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    Dear Mrs. Bird
    Dear Mrs. Bird
    Dear Mrs. Bird
    Audiobook9 hours

    Dear Mrs. Bird

    Written by AJ Pearce

    Narrated by Anna Popplewell

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    About this audiobook

    This charming, irresistible debut novel set in London during World War II about a young woman who longs to be a war correspondent and inadvertently becomes a secret advice columnist is “a jaunty, heartbreaking winner” (People)—for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls.

    Emmeline Lake and her best friend Bunty are doing their bit for the war effort and trying to stay cheerful, despite the German planes making their nightly raids. Emmy dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, and when she spots a job advertisement in the newspaper she seizes her chance; but after a rather unfortunate misunderstanding, she finds herself typing letters for the formidable Henrietta Bird, renowned advice columnist of Woman’s Friend magazine.

    Mrs. Bird is very clear: letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight into the bin. But as Emmy reads the desperate pleas from women who many have Gone Too Far with the wrong man, or can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she begins to secretly write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.

    “Fans of Jojo Moyes will enjoy AJ Pearce’s debut, with its plucky female characters and fresh portrait of women’s lives in wartime Britain” (Library Journal)—a love letter to the enduring power of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and the courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. “Headlined by its winning lead character, who always keeps carrying on, Pearce's novel is a delight” (Publishers Weekly). Irrepressibly funny and enormously moving, Dear Mrs. Bird is “funny and poignant…about the strength of women and the importance of friendship” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJul 3, 2018
    ISBN9781508255192
    Author

    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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    Reviews for Dear Mrs. Bird

    4/5

    993 ratings80 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 4/5
      Slow at first but story picked up later that I wanted to hurry and finish the book

      3 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A delightful WWII novel looking at a different aspect of women during the war. Funny and touching. Perfect narration.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved this book. It has plenty of idiomatic British dialogue and charming characters. The narrator does a wonderful job!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It’s light but not vapid and nicely written. Give it a go!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      So sweet an duplifting despite the time period. So thought provoking. I loved it. Please give it a chance

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Well told story! I love the peek into the lives of WW 2 women. This book checked all the boxes, including humorous.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful peek into a world we’ll never know. Funny and serious in equal measure it’s a terrific story. Thank you for sharing it.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I felt as if I was seeing these dear brave women live out this season of life. I laughed often and cried. I look forward to reading more books from AJ Pearce.
    • 4/5
      I found it a bit wordy at first, but also engaging. I was drawn in and very pleased to read it to the end
    • 5/5
      Wonderful story about living in London during the bombing and how bravely people got on with their lives loving, working and the beautiful strength of friendships. Would love to listen to another of her books. The authors personal words brought back memories of the support women’s magazines provided during that era
    • 5/5
      This book was charming! Loved the storyline, the narration was fantastic, and just an all-around enjoyable time.
    • 5/5
      I generally turn away from novels that are set during times of war or use ‘heartbreaking’ in the description, but this novel reminded me that it’s a book, not a movie! Living through the characters in a well written story is such a gift.
      And in audiobooks narration plays a huge role in the ability to loose oneself in the characters.
      I absolutely loved this book and am heading back to the home page to find another by this author. ?????
    • 5/5
      Delightful story with a wonderful dynamic between to the two best-friend main characters. Loved it.
    • 5/5
      I love getting a glimpse into the lives of women during WWII and learning more about what life was for them during that time. I enjoyed Dear Mrs. Bird so much! It is a clean book with a great story to tell. It helps you understand the strength of not just the women, but the men from that time and the struggles they dealt with. I love seeing their strength as they got through one of the hardest times in history. Highly recommend!!
    • 4/5
      This was a very good book! It really enjoyed it. I could identify well with the main character. Loved the theme and that humor was incorporated.
    • 5/5
      Best book I’ve read in a long time. A must read!
    • 5/5
      Very engaging tale of the strength of the women who lived in London during the War.
    • 5/5
      Educational and entertaining I really got a picture of life during second world war in London. The writer has a real sophisticated sense of humor and made me laugh as well as made me cry while I listen to this book which was also beautifully performed.
    • 5/5
      Loved that this book was about friendship. Shall look forward to more.
    • 4/5
      This is a fresh take on WWII historical fiction. The perfect blend of light-heartedness & intensity. So many of this genre are all intensity making us think that there was no levity during that dark time but without levity so many wouldn't have endured. The author did a fine job of toe-ing the line of making the main character likeable while she made some poor decisions. The rationale behind those decisions was believable and well explained to the reader. When it ended I wanted more of these characters so I was pleased to discover a second book being released this year!
    • 5/5
      Really enjoyed this book. Great story about friendship, fortitude, and forgiveness.
    • 5/5
      Very very well written and read. I enjoyed getting to know these sweet spirits from the past. I chuckle at "Mrs. Bird".....I think we all know someone like her. These girls friendship is so endearing and heart felt. Thank you for sharing their lives with us.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful writing! Felt like I was transported back in time!
    • 5/5
      I love anything written about the home front during WWII. Pearce captures the feelings, worries, and hardships of the characters so well. It gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who lived through a most horrific time in history. I am looking forward to the other books in the series.
    • 5/5
      Such an amazing and touching story. The author paints a beautiful picture of the lives of people during the war. Despite that, the author managed to be quite funny at times. Highly recommend.
    • 5/5
      This book is very well written. The author is an artist in her crafting of words and feelings. Her characters are believable and likable. Who hasn’t come across a Mrs. Bird or Mr. Bird sometime in their work career. Emmie shows the optimism, fervor, and impulsive simple mindedness of youth. You are going to enjoy this book be it as an audible book or in print.
    • 5/5
      This book was absolutely charming. It is a story of friendship and courage with a lesson in forgiveness. I could not wait to listen!!
    • 3/5
      It started very slowly, but I kept listening and the story improved with pace and depth. I recommend for early teen girls who like historical novels. Good insights to the home front in England during WW2, and the contribution young women made. Good clean story, refreshing.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable book set during WWII London. I loved the reader of the audiobook. Interesting characters and story. Good summer listening x.
    • 5/5
      I loved the main two characters. This book dealt with a heavy time in friends history and in the world but it showed the bravery and endurance of those who went through it and the amazing light side that wasn’t lost during so much difficulty.