Thank you for the opportunity to read this. Sadly I found it a little bit slow and I really struggled to get into it so had to give it a bit of a miss around the 20% mark.

Yours Cheerfully picks up back in World War II London with Emmy Lake, who works for Woman's Friend magazine. The Ministry of Information has tasked the women's magazines of Britain to promote women workers for the war effort, something Emmy is thrilled to take part of and promote. However when Emmy and her friend Bunty are on a train one day, they start chatting to a young single mother and they discover that the reality of women working is a lot harder than Emmy expected. This leaves her torn as she feels it is her duty to encourage women to work but she feels guilty that she can't be one hundred percent honest about the realities. Can Emmy find the balance between being patriotic and also being a supportive friend?

I enjoyed this book just like I did the first book. They are a tonic, full of pep and jolliness, even when there are some harder storylines being tackled. This was an easy going read, though at times it did feel a bit slow and dragged more than the first book. We don't see any of Emmy's work at the fire station in this book, it mainly concentrates on her role in Woman's Friend, as well as her friendships and her relationship with her boyfriend Charles. I liked the setting and seeing a more female focused view of World War II and the realities that these women faced at home and in the workplace. A charming, if not almost overly sweet at times, story

The perfect follow up to Dear Mrs Bird. It is the perfect balance of comedy and drama as Emmy advances at the magazine and is more determined than ever to help the war effort. The focus this time is on encouraging more women into war work, but as Emmy delves deeper, she sees the real struggle women are facing - the want to help but face childcare issues during long working hours or financial hardship.
It was lovely to get to know the characters even more and see Emmy gain confidence at Women's Friend. I hope there's more to come!

I really enjoyed this and being back in wartime London. I really like the character of Emmy Lake and it was nice to see her growing as a character over the course of the book

I absolutely love loved Dear Mrs Bird and begun the sequel with trepidation fearing it wouldn't live up to the first
Emmy had gone from a nervous dogsbody in a magazine office during wwIl to a fully rounded person who was a good friend not just in lighter moments but during bombing and bereavement.
The author cleverly fitted in ration info and restrictions without making it obvious. I was sorry when I reached the end.
The sequel takes up not only where the other left off but also in exactly the same vein.
Have you ever wondered how madcap schemes succeed in novels? Well Emmy would too but her determination to support the underdog causes her to risk reputation and very nearly sanity. When this clashes with her adored fiance's last chance to marry her things get a little fraught.
Throw into the mix how funny the book is and it's another winner
It is possible to read as a standalone novel, but to do so would mean missing out on an awful lot.
I can't imagine how the author can keep this up - but I'd love that there is to be a third novel about these really likeable characters. To that end I've just signed up to www.ajpearce.com for any news

I read this straight after iI read Mrs Bird and I am so glad i read them close together as a sequel. I really hope there's a third one due as I absolutely love the story! I felt i could connect to the characters and seeing them grow like they have through both books was amazing.

This war time drama is a delight from start to finish; i loved Dear Mrs Bird and its sequel does not disappoint. In this second book, Emmy takes on new challenges in her role at Women’s Friend magazine and in her relationship with Charles. Tasked by the Ministry to support the recruitment of women workers, Emmy tackles the task with relish. She soon learns it’s not as simple as patriotism and hard work - but if she helps her new friends, will she risk everything she’s worked so hard for? I really enjoyed reading more about the women’s experiences in war time; this is also the perfect comfort read and I thoroughly recommend it.

Yours Cheerfully is one of my best reads of 2021. It's engaging, witty and warm and I smiled the whole way through.

It's 1941. Emmy works at Woman's Friend magazine, with the wonderful Guy Collins at the helm. As more women are recruited into the war effort, the magazine is doing their bit to encourage more women to volunteer. But when Emmy meets Anne, a war widow with two young children working in a munitions factory, she is faced with the reality of how hard it is for women. Juggling work and motherhood, on very little money, it is clear they need better support and childcare provision.

Struggling with writing a fair article that won't be deemed unpatriotic, Emmy becomes increasingly frustrated by the women's plight and vows to do all she can to expose the truth.

A story about the wonderful solidarity between women fighting a cause together. They show courage, passion and above all kindness to one another.

There is nothing but brilliance in this gorgeous book, and it is truly uplifting and inspiring. I loved it.

What an absolutely delightful book! I read Dear Mrs Bird a couple of years ago and loved it, so was very excited when I heard there was going to be a sequel.
I really enjoyed revisiting all of the characters in AJ Pearce’s second novel and thought their stories were continued perfectly. Emmy Lake is a great protagonist - caring and headstrong - and I love how ambitious she is, especially for the time. Reading about her career as a journalist progressing was a part of the story I particularly enjoyed.
I have read quite a lot of books set during WW2 and this one stands out as it’s mainly from the perspective of women. Seeing all the female characters come together was so heartwarming. I especially loved Emmy and Bunty’s relationship and I was so glad they were able to move on from the events of the first novel to become stronger friends. This story was definitely more lighthearted than the first!
Overall, it’s a charming story that I would definitely recommend.

A great book that carries on from the last one. It is full of upbeat attitudes, women’s rights and sacrifices during war, friendship and love. There are lots of elements of the dark side of war but it’s treated respectfully. If you love World War historical fiction and need a light, pick me up book-this is for you.

I liked the first book in this series, so I assumed I would enjoy the sequel. Unfortunately, after several attempts, I couldn't make it past 25% of this book. Where the main character had evolved throughout Dear Mrs. Bird, it seemed like any progress she had made was wiped out at the start of the sequel. Emmy was back to being childishly optimistic, in a very grating way. What was endearing and sweet in the first book became a source of constant frustration in this one. I understand that these books lean heavily into optimism and can-do attitude, but it honestly seemed like Emmy was living in some sort of fantasy where bad things happened but people are smiling again so everything is still absolutely fine.

I assume this book took a similar route as the first one, with a massive wake-up call near the end, but I couldn't make it past the twee whimsy to find out for sure.

I loved the first book - Dear Mrs Bird - this one not so much.

The book is a follow on from Dear Mrs Bird but could be read as a standalone. We meet Emmy again and this time Mrs Bird from the first book has departed and so the "Yours Cheerfully" letters page is born and the title of this book.

Emmy is once again hands on with the advice to readers but this time it gets much more serious as she becomes involved with the War Office and the recruitment drive of women for the war effort. I must say that the fight the women have against men and the powers that be, was so disheartening but opened my eyes to a side of the war I had not thought about before. Young women without child care who needed to work.

I found this book to be rather slow in places and rather long and drawn out. At times it felt like when someone tells you a tale and they include every little detail, instead of just getting to the point. Unfortunately I did not find the "hilarious tonic" from the blurb, but it was certainly eye opening.

Following story of writer Emmeline Lake set around World War II, this book was funny, heart warming and covers the struggles of Women recruited for war efforts. I love that things were blossoming and reaching new heights for Emmy but watching her tackle her dilemma of a duty to her country and supporting her friends seeing first hand the effects war has had it really did break my heart also. So well written, I was invested into the characters and would love to see more books in the series.

I enjoyed this book but the first one made me cry and I had high expectations for this one as a result. This is a much more light-hearted and slow-paced book which I enjoyed listening to and reading along with and though I really enjoy the characters, I did feel that it was a bit too slow paced and predictable.

A lovely sequel to Dear Mrs Bird that is fully evocative of 1940s Britain with all its social niceties yet reveals the hardships and discrimination underneath. Its a delightful read yet it is also a revealing read and I learnt a lot of how the women on the home-front had to battle to work in the munitions factories, juggling more than a few balls and facing severe hardships if they lost their jobs. And I am very worried about Charles. Hopefully there will be a sequel.

This series is a little ray of sunshine! Emmy is a heroine you can sympathise with and look up to. Despite the extreme challenges of everyday life during WW2 Emmy always seeks to do what she can to make things better on the home front. An uplifting novel that puts female friendship front and centre.

This book is an antidote to the difficult times we find ourselves in, Hugely uplifting, heart-warming and humorous throughout, AJ Pearse transports us to the difficult days of WW2 where it was down to the women to keep this country running.

I loved following Emmy's adventures as she navigated life in magazine publishing. An absolute joy of a novel with powerful narrative which really hits home. This is a novel that everyone needs to read.

This book is a follow-up to Dear Mrs Bird, which I absolutely adored. I was very excited to be approved to read this! And I certainly wasn’t disappointed. All of the characters returned for another adventure in the magazine office. Emmy is once again at the centre of all the action, but this book sees her grow and mature in a way that the other book didn’t, due to being asked to take over the problem page of the magazine. She learns a lot about life, and has some great adventures on the way! If Dear Mrs Bird was good, Yours Cheerfully is even better. You most certainly won’t be disappointed, but I will be if there is not a third adventure featuring Emmy and her friends!

I did not 'feel' the first book, but when I saw the next was out, I decided to pick it up anyway. Surprisingly enough, I loved this one! It was only when I reread the review of the first one did I remember the issues I had then. I had no such problems this time around.
This picks up right where the last left off. We have a more cohesive environment at the offices of Women's Friend when they are roped in for the war effort. What happens next was quite interesting to follow.
There is a conflict in Emmy Lake's mind about her role in luring unsuspecting women to a government army job. On the one hand, it obviously helps the war effort, but she also feels that she is luring women to a job that does not have their back when they need it the most, with the relationship being just one way.
There is also the personal relationships and the growth of Emmy as an individual, a couple and as a journalist. These all add up to a complete entertaining package which was almost a one-sitting read for me as I found it hard to put it away midway. It is a simple storyline that was well done, and I am curious as to whether there is to be another one in line. I would definitely pick it up if there is!
I would recommend this to other fans of historical fictions (non-dual timeline ones). It may not be necessary to read the first, but to achieve a sense of continuity, it might help to have a working knowledge of it.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This sequel to dear Mrs Bird does not disappoint
Familiar characters facing the blitz while working for the ‘Wonen’s Friend’
What I love about these books is the light, cheerful tone set against powerful issues, in this case the treatment of working women in the war.
Great