I absolutely loved this
The story is set in the east end of London.
The story is filled with drama and tension
The characters are all likeable even the rogues!!

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

A great piece of historical fiction, with plenty of references to life and working conditions that previous generations had to endure and which we should all never forget. I learnt a lot as well as enjoying the story of the Jam Factory Girls and the boss's daughter and their entwined lives.

I love historical fiction and this was the grittiest one that I've read. Just as you thought that there would be no more drama, there was more drama. It made for fantastic reading, if not a bit disturbing and heart breaking at times. I loved the relationship between Elsie, Dot and Millie. I see that there is a second instalment out later on in the year and I can't wait to read it.

I'm always excited when I hear that Mary Wood has a new book coming out and knowing that it's the first in a new series makes it even better!

It's 1911 and Elsie is juggling caring for her siblings and her alcoholic mother, as well as her job at Swift's Jam Factory. The work there is backbreaking but having her best friend Dot beside her makes it easier to bear. The girls have known each other all of their lives as their mother's were once close but something in the past has caused a rift between them and the pair no longer speak.

Elsie and Dot are out in the park one day when they have a chance meeting with Millie, the daughter of the owner of the jam factory and an unlikey friendship blossoms between the three girls. This is a friendship which they will all come to rely on in the future.

I love Mary's books so much because I'm always immediately drawn in by her charming characters and this one was no exception! My heart went out to Elsie right from the start, not only was she struggling to look after her siblings, she had the added worry of the safety of her mum when she was out 'working' the streets to bring in money and then there was the appalling work conditions at the jam factory. I learned a lot about the social history of the time and found it truly fascinating, it was almost as if I was experiencing it first hand.

The Jam Factory Girls is a book that had me smiling one minute and crying the next. It's a genuinely heart- warming tale with friendship at it's core and a magnificent start to another trilogy from this hugely talented author. I honestly can't wait for the next one!

Work in a jam factory in the early 20th century was not a walk in the park and this novel comes with all the problems of three young women and their families.
Life wasn't easy in those days and although this is a great story it could so easily be a true account of working an living in London in those days. Very well written and an emotional read it will grip you from the start and it keeps you guessing until the end. If you love reading about the past you will certainly enjoy this. % stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Thank you to read this copy of the book.chance to read this book.

Once I could see past the fact it was an advance copy I enjoyed the book. I did find the chopping between characters a little difficult at times but that didn't detract from the storyline.

I rarely write a synopsis of a book as I feel that it spoils it for anyone coming along to read the book later but likes to read reviews.
It was basically the story of two girls who work at the Jam Factory and their families and the owners of the factory. It touches on the appalling conditions within the factory and the movement in the early 20th century to improve working conditions for Women.
Parts of the story were predictable - I saw a major plotline very early on - parts were heartrending and parts slightly implausible - particularly the ending where some of the characters were reunited.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will try to remember to look out for the next in the series.

Thank you again to the author and publisher for the chance to read this book

This was set preWW1 in a Jam Factory that has very harsh conditions for it's staff. The women have tough lives and need their jobs, so have to put up with lecherous bosses and unsafe work areas.
A chance meeting leads 3 to form an unlikely friendship which becomes vital to them all.
Elsie and her brother try to look after their younger siblings and their mum who works on the streets and struggles to be a motherly figure. Life in the East End is a tough existence and you get caught up in their daily routines and the characters are very vividly drawn.
I am really hoping to see a sequel to this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The first book in the series.

Elsie, for whom life is hard as she’s struggling with her alcoholic mother, along with caring for her siblings whilst working long hours at Swift's Jam Factory.

Her friend Dot helps in that she smooths over life's rough edges. But meeting the bosses daughter, Millie Swift, they are feeling drawn to her.

So, when disaster strikes, binding the women in a way that they could never have imagined.

The story pulls you in after the first chapter. It’s a emotional and gritty read. Set around a pre-war London.

Following the friendships of the three women, their relationships within their families.

The three main characters I loved, it had me laughing 😆 crying 😢 with them.

So well descriptively written, unputdownable.

Recommend it.

Life for Elsie is difficult as she struggles with her alcoholic mother, caring for her siblings and working long hours at Swift's Jam Factory. Thankfully her friend Dot helps to smooth over life's rough edges. But when they meet Millie Swift, their bosses' daughter, they are surprised to feel so drawn to her. When disaster strikes, it binds the women in ways they could never imagine.

I was pulled into this story by the end of the first chapter. It's a gritty and emotional read. The story is set around pre war London. We follow the friendships of the three women and the relationships within their families. I liked the three main characters, I laughed and I cried with them. The book is descriptively written. I could not put this book down. Fans of the author and the era will love this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PanMacmillan and the author #MaryWood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Bermondsey London, Elsie Makin and her friend Dot are working at Swift's Jam factory. Elsie's mum Kitty and her friend are the local prostitutes her mother having to turn to men paying for her favours to keep her family alive. As well as her mum Elsie has 3 brothers living at home.

Whilst in the park one day they meet a well to do young woman on her horse and a secret unlikely friendship strikes up. They realise that Millie is the daughter of the factory owner where they work and when told of the conditions they have to work in Millie makes it her goal to change this for the better.

The ups and downs of this book make you cry, care for the characters and generally warm to it. We see both sides of life, the slums and poverty, the rich and comfortable.
I particularly love the way Mary Wood described the way after one of the characters is murdered that the others look into the sky and see the person floating on a cloud waving to them and looking happy.
Such a lovely heartwarming book just right for a cold dark winter.
Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book xx

A story of friendship, family, love, heartache and secrets. Set just before the start of WW1, this historical fiction has it all.
Mary Wood brings the East End to life and the warmth and determination she breathes into Elsie, Dot and Millie shines through.
I laughed and I cried and cannot wait to see what life throws at them as the series continues.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I was expecting a mild, gentle story of life in and around a sweet Jam factory. How wrong was I? But wow, I loved it. It was a very gritty, powerful, hard-hitting and emotional. I had to pause after every chapter to gather my thoughts and pull myself together. Then I needed to read again to find out more! This book doesn't hold back! But the bonds that the three girls have is unbreakable, no matter what life throws at them. I enjoyed this emotional read. Lots of tears from me. The ending was so sweet.

Thanks to Net Galley for letting me read this book and to Mary Wood for another great read. I loved reading about the friendships and families set in the heart of pre-war London. Elsie and Dot are the very best of friends and work together and support each other at the Jam Factory, the book follows their lives and relationships within their families. Things change when they meet Millie Swift who is the daughter of the boss at the factory , things develop with a surprising turn of events and secrets in abundance .. I loved this book and look forward to more to come .

Omg another brilliant book by Mary. I love the family sagas based in the war. Brilliant relationships between the girls highs and lows and everyday laughter and disaster.

Set just before the start of WW2
this is a fantastic story, social history at it's best. Virtually all the girls and women who worked at the Jam Factory were downtrodden and living in abject poverty. The factory owner and foreman in charge were cruel men who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted At the other end of the spectrum was Millie as she liked to called. She was the only daughter of the mill owner. Although she had a privileged upbringing it all seemed to stem around her mother's desire to see her marry into the aristocracy but Millie knew her life meant much more to her than this. She also knew that although they had money and standing in the community she would never be accepted in the circles of the higher classes. . A chance meeting with two of the factory girls would change her life forever. and have far reaching consequences. The author has done it again with this book, which will make you laugh and cry in equal measure

I thought at first this was going to be just another of those books about a group of girls in a job. How wrong I was! This book is full of emotion, very well drawn and realistic characters, and very true of its time. I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to seeing if there is going to be any more books about these girls – I really hope so.

A story about friendships,family love and loss. Lots of diverse characters very well portrayed,their struggles seemed very real.

A great story of friendship, hardship, love and loss. A fantastic start to a series, brilliantly written and wonderful characters, I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thanks to Net Galley for granting me this book. The Jam Factory Girls was a book I enjoyed about friendships and families set in the heart of pre-war London. Elsie and Dot are the very best of friends and work at the Swift Jam Factory, the novel follows their lives and relationships within their families. They meet Millie Swift who is the daughter of the boss at the factory - whereupon things develop quite quickly with a surprising turn of events and secrets revealed.. I enjoyed this book