Beautiful to be reunited with the characters I loved so much in Dear Mrs Bird. I re-read Dear Mrs Bird before picking this up and was a great memory to go through it all again.

This was everything I’d hoped the sequel would be, full of love and friendship. The stories of the girls working hard for their country and family topped with the letters from the nation that go answered now, just bring it all together and keep you reading on and rooting for our main character.

So, can we have a follow up because I just want to keep on reading about these characters!

Emmeline Lake is back!

Plucky as ever and full of ambition, this time she's set to show the Ministry what for in her latest adventure! An absolutely smashing sequel to 'Dear Mrs Bird' - one of those books I'm torn between reading feverishly to know what happens next, while also stalling because I don't want it to end!

There is so much I love about these books - Emmy's bold and plucky nature, the wonderful cast of characters, the spirit of Wartime Britain, the freshness of the writing and the sparkling humour (a true chuckle out loud kind of read). All this coupled with Pearce's ability to poignantly convey the ghastly reality of Wartime living, narrowing down on individual experiences and using all her characters to embellish this picture (so a few tears as well). The feel-good side of her stories are magnified by the darker backdrop and make for a really inspiring read.

'Dear Mrs Bird' and 'Yours Cheerfully' are two books I cannot recommend enough - and thier uplifting spirit in the face of adversity is particularly relevant. I very much hope there will be another...!!

The follow up to Dear Mrs Bird takes us back to Emmy who works on the problem page of a fading women's magazine. When she joined Emmy was hoping for a job that would give her a chance to report on wartime matters and was a bit disappointed when she had to work with the prudish Mrs Bird.
In this sequel Mrs Bird has flown and Emmy gets her chance to help a group of women factory workers who are having problems fitting important war work with family commitments.
I enjoyed the gentle way this book was written and the story was one that still hae echoes today regarding childcare or rather lack of it.
Well worth reading.

I was so excited when I heard that there was a sequel to Dear Mrs Bird and I am happy to report that I was in no way disappointed by Yours Cheerfully. Once again AJ Pearce has written a quiet story of life on the home front during the Second World War. Perhaps that makes it sound facile or saccharine but that is far from the truth. The scope of the story is narrow but its depth makes it entertaining and thought-provoking. Emmy, Bunty, Charles, Guy, Thelma and others we met in the first book are joined by a group of young women working in munitions. As Yours Cheerfully continues and develops Emmy's story, it also introduces another slice of wartime life. I read this book in one sitting straight through the night and I sincerely hope there will be more to come. Although I do worry for Charles as he is posted overseas - eastwards? - at the end of 1941.

Having loved Dear Mrs Bird, I was delighted to hear there was going to be a sequel. Yours Cheerfully is just as heart-warming and wonderful as Dear Bird,. It was great to read Emmy's continuing story working at Woman's Friend magazine along with getting reacquainted with other familiar characters such as Emmy best Bunty, Mr Collins and the staff at Woman's Friend along with the introduction of new characters along the way. Sweet and charming , it really lifts your spirit.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Having read Mrs Bird,I was delighted to discover the follow up with Emmy and Bunty. Although I couldn't remember all the ins and outs of the previous title,( it was three years ago),it didn't matter.
AJ Pearce injected the same humour into our heroines as before and the comic touch was brilliant especially given the wartime situation.
I found myself rooting our friends in their trials and adventures, willingly them to succeed and get justice.
The serious subject of nurseries for mothers in the war was not one I was aware of and it lead me into researching more. I a love book that both entertains and educates. This delivered one both accounts. A brilliant original read.

I absolutely loved Mrs Bird and I think I loved Yours Cheerfully even more.
I think this is because through the voice of Emmy and the Womens Friend Magazine A J Pearce has created a world where as a reader, you find out a lot more about the pressures on women working during wartime Britain. I had no idea about the pressure to work and do your bit even though there was no adequate childcare available and the low widows pension forcing young mothers out into the factories.
The book is extremely well put together I can only imagine how many Agony Aunt pages from the 1940s the author must have read but I bet that made for some interesting reading!
More Emmy and Bunty please, good show!

As a avid fab of AJ Pearce, I was delighted to read this new book. It continues on the strengths of the previous novel and develops the story further. I loved the story and how it the characters grew.. I didn’t find it as interesting as the previous book, but really enjoyable and would definitely recommend as an easy and enjoyable escapism read.

I Loved having Emmy and Bunty back in my life! Yours Cheerfully is a wonderful sequel to Dear Mrs Bird, full of wonderful characters and bursting with charm. It’s refreshing to read about the lives of 2 young women living and experiencing the war in London - it’s not a view point we often read about. Emmy should inspire us all to push ourselves forward and stand up for what we feel is right. I feel quite proud of her. I’m hopeful with anticipation we will meet her again.

I really enjoyed reading Dear Mrs Bird, so I was delighted to receive this advance kindle copy of Yours Cheerfully the sequel and I would recommend that you have read it first as the same characters continue their lives in London during WW2, as Emmy develops more as a journalist . I now have the problem of needing to know what happens next ........... and how long will ? Highly recommend though maybe read it slowly to make it last longer.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Yours Cheerfully has been an absolute pleasure to read, a fantastic sequel to Dear Mrs Bird. My Grandma was made a widow in 1944 and my Dad was only 4, she struggled as a single woman with no immediate family to look after my Dad, relying on help from friends and neighbours. This book reminded me of the battles she faced and the stories she used to tell me of the blackouts, air-raid shelters, rationing and money and childcare problems she coped with during these unpresidented times. It is a testament to the strength of character of the women of the 2nd World War. I was drawn into the story, believable people from all walks of life and restoring faith in humanity and I would highly recommend this book as it truly depicts this era. Excellent and very deserving of the 5 stars I have given it.

What a brilliant sequel to Dear Mrs Bird! This book picks up where we left Emmy, Bunty, Guy and Charles in the first installment.

The Second World War is still on and this time the country needs an army of women to do their bit for the country.

As patriotic as ever, Emmy uses her journalistic skills to help encourage women to take in jobs in the factories, as usual with mishaps along the way.

This book was fabulous, with a stiff upper lip and offering a fascinating insight into the struggles that are not always written about during the war time.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm giving this book 5 stars because the characters are so wonderful and loveable that I think I'd read any book with them in. I feel like I've just heard stories from my friends rather than a book of fiction!

The book is a litttleeeee too fluffy in places for my liking but it manages to be informative, sad, cheerful, fun, funny, uplifting and utterly heartbreaking all in one go, I dont know how AJ Pearce has pulled it off.

Its a good all rounder and I think most people would find something they love about this book. I hope that there is a 3rd!

Yes, yes and yes...I would happily recommend this book to anyone, anywhere, anytime, even going back to this book to write a review made me smile and gave me a lovely warm feeling. In fact I will be giving it 5 stars as I will definitely be going back to read it again at some time and that is my criteria for a 5 star review and there are very few of these, I am very hard to please.
This story follows Emmy for a short part of her life ( which I do hope is a long one and written about at many stages and very often by A J Pearce ) during WW11. The era should lead you to expect a sad and mournful story but the opposite is true, it does deal with the many difficulties and sad events of the period but maintains the determinedly positive attitude of many, not all, during the war years. I know this to be true as my mother was stationed in a munitions factory during the war and she told stories of that time with much the same determined, positive and cheerful approach as Emmy. Sadly the opposite is true of my father whose war years were rather more harrowing ( he never talked about them ).
Anyway, this is such a wonderful, heart warming, positive story that you cannot fail to be uplifted and entertained at the same time, much in the same way as Landgirls and the Call the Midwife, also very importantly it is beautifully written that you can just absorb the story, there is never any time when you lose interest or question the characters reactions. Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author ( please make this a very long running series) for a copy in exchange for an honest and glowing review.

I couldn't wait to read more about Emmy, Bunty and their friends, and Yours Cheerfully did not disapoint. This is a wonderful book, equal parts informative, funny, sweet and just a little bit heartbreaking. It was fascinating to learn more about the Home Front and how women workers were treated and often struggled through Emmy's latest tale. I really hope there are many more books featuring these characters.

The Women’s Friend is adapting well to the needs of its readers during a time of uncertainly, but Emmy still hankers for something more of a journalistic approach to get her teeth into. With a new directive from the Ministry of Information, her sought after challenge is fast upon her, but she gets heavily involved with a group of women from a munitions factory and is determined to make more of a difference. But not everyone cares about the needs of the female workforce.

I really enjoyed the continuing saga of Emmy and her friend Bunty, on the face of it Pearce’s novels seem to be light stories, but there is substance underneath the froth of the magazine, and it truly shows the struggle that was all too real for the women left behind, juggling everything on the home-front. These women were exceptional in unprecedented times.

I loved Dear Mrs. Bird so was delighted to be back at “Woman’s Friend” with Emmeline Lake. The story continues on from ‘Dear Mrs. Bird’, Bunty, Charles, Kathleen and Mr Collins are all back again. Although there is change at the magazine with Mrs Bird no longer acting Editoress. Emmy is given more to do as women’s magazines are tasked, by the Ministry of Information, with encouraging more women into working for the war effort. Emmy befriends Anne, a munitions factory worker, and through her meets other female factory workers. What starts out as a way to share what it’s really like working in a factory, with a positive Ministry-approved spin, Emmy’s empathy and compassion mean she wants to do more to help the working women.

The book is an easy read, Emmy is a likeable character and narrator. She cares about her readers (almost as much as her loved ones) and wants to help them. The story is uplifting without being mawkish, and whilst there are mentions of the realities of war it reflects the characters stiff upper lip attitude. It’s a heartwarming novel that I’d thoroughly recommend.

This is such a wonderfully gentle read. I usually immerse myself in novels with gritty subject matter but I decided to give this a go because I was working a The Sun when Dear Mrs Bird came out and I know our Fabulous Magazine readers loved it.
Every now and again I want to spend time in a world where good morals and positive attitudes reign and that is what I found in Yours Cheerfully. There were elements that were marginally predictable, particularly the difficulties they found pulling together their busy day right at the end (trying desperately not to give anything away there!)
If you like stories where kind people, do kind things and fight for what is right - then this is a good one for you. It’s Ugly Betty meets Goodnight Mr Tom and I’m here for it.

It's September 1941 and we are back with Emmy and Bunty in this sequel to Dear Mrs Bird. For those who loved AJ Pearce's debut this is a heartwarming and uplifting novel filled with the same period charm, chirpy style and humour. It's a great tribute to women's friendship and community and the perfect anecdote to our current times. I loved it more than it's predecssor and would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

I really loved Dear Mrs Bird, to the extent I did a audible cheer at finding out I'd been given access to ir's sequel. I did struggle to get into this one at first, Maybe because of all that is happening currently, I found it hard to get back into this world - until I could see some of the parallels within then and now. The book's beautiful central message is about making the most of the now due to the uncertainty of the next moment, a profoundly relevant thought for these times. Once I was in though, I was hooked.

The book picks-up a short while after where we left Emmy, she's still working at the magazine Woman's Friend - although the work environment has much improved since their tyrannical editor left. Their work takes on a greater urgency when the Ministry recognises how impactful their writing could be on encouraging more women to step up and join the war effort. A chance encounter results in Emmy finding the perfect way to help, but it's not going to please everyone.. Charles, Emmy's boyfriend, is as supportive as ever. Whilst their storyline is a tad more predictable, it's no less charming.

All in all, a sweet and easy lovingly-told read.