The final book of a lovely, heartwarming wartime series which can be read as a stand alone story. Journalist Emmy is determined to remain positive despite everything she and those closest to her face. Although this feels like a cozy upbeat read, author AJ Pearce’ does focus on the difficulties women faced, including years without news from their sons and husbands imprisoned by the enemy, with no financial support from the British authorities; babies born out of wedlock, and families struggling with loss, making this a really interesting read. Friendship is at the heart of what makes this such a positive read. This would make a great drama series for television.

'Dear Mrs Lake' is a worthy finale to the Emmy Lake series and I absolutely adored it. We meet many familiar characters from previous books and a host of wonderful new ones too. The day to day life of the Homefront is portrayed in exquisite detail and wartime spirit is much in evidence as the War draws to a close. Will Emmy get the happy ending she so richly deserves? You will have to read this fabulous book to find out!

This has been a lovely series of wartime courage and invention in the face of adversity and in particular it highlights womens experiences. Emmy and Bunty are great characters and I would love to see this serialised as a Sunday evening drama.

This was the perfect ending to what has, for me, been a thoroughly enjoyable series. These novels are light entertainment at its best, and sometimes, that is just what I need.

In this last book, Emmy faces her greatest personal challenge yet, but of course, with the help of her friends, and some new characters facing similar trials, she is able to navigate her way through; and we do know that things will work out for the best for her.

The cast of characters face the various challenges of life during the war with stoicism and bravery that feels quite real from a lot of letters, diaries and fiction written around this time. There is heartbreak of course, but laughter too, and the camaraderie between the group is heart warming.

I will miss Emmy and her gang and look forward to seeing what the author does next.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

Emmy Lake & the Women’s Friend team ❤️

🇬🇧Emmy and her friend Bunty, her colleagues at the Women’s Friend magazine are in the final throes of World War, and the end can’t come soon enough.

🇬🇧The letters keep pouring in from the ladies who are keeping the home fires burning. But many have lost loved ones and others are missing those who can’t be contacted and are either missing or captured as POW’s.

🇬🇧Emmy and Bunty and their friends keep soldiering on, and while there are days of happiness, there is also the darkness and the sheer just “not knowing” that makes life hard.

✏️I have so enjoyed each and every one of the beautiful stories in this series. AJ Pearse’s writing style is cheerful even when times are hard, always trying to keep the glass half full even when there is a great big leak. I love how progressive Emmy is, and how her husband Charles loves her for who she is, how supportive her brother in law and boss Guy is and her the colleagues rally around each other. Parts of the story had me giggling while picturing London and the countryside rewinded to 1944. A delight ❤️🇬🇧☕️

My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫

A fitting end to this thoughtful series which concentrates a lot on the role and lives of women in WWII, often through the lens of the problem page in "Women’s friend" magazine. I shall miss the company of Emmy and Bunty and their group of friends and wish Ms Pearce success in any new ventures - maybe a TV adaptation?
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book.

I'm absolutely gutted this series has ended but I loved every page of this book. My only annoyance is that waiting between the books coming out meant I forgot who certain characters were but I'm looking forward to curling up and rereading the whole series, one book after the other. I think the ending to this book was perfect and made everything feel complete. This series had such a unique take on the war that I think it's a must read for anyone interested in this time period.

Thank you to AJ Pearce, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this ebook in exchange for a review.

I feel incredibly privileged to have received an advanced copy of this book. Having followed Emmy’s story from the beginning, getting an early look at this instalment was a real treat!

We’re reunited with the gang as Woman’s Friend faces a new challenge: the relentless doodlebugs from Hitler’s desperate final offensive. Forced to relocate to the countryside, the team adapts to life away from London. Bunty and Harold are still going strong, and the children remain with Emmy and Bunty while awaiting their father’s return. Despite the wartime setting, the tone remains light-hearted and cheerful, making for an easy, enjoyable read.

That said, this instalment lacks the strong plot that drove the earlier books. Unfortunately, Emmy’s story feels like it’s winding down, with much of the narrative told in summary rather than through compelling action. While the random capitalization (a quirk of previous books) is gone - thankfully! - the story itself feels stretched thin. At one point, Emmy gets an assignment abroad, and I thought, Finally, some excitement! But the opportunity is quickly squandered, and she’s back in England before anything meaningful develops.

Unlike the previous novels, which had momentum, this one feels like a series of disconnected events involving familiar characters. There’s no real driving conflict - just getting everyone to VE Day. The stakes are minimal beyond the overarching war, leaving the story without tension.
Despite these criticisms, I still enjoyed Pearce’s warm, engaging writing style, and I’ll definitely read her future books. However, this instalment feels unnecessary - almost as if it was phoned in to wrap up the series.

WW2, London,. Emmy Lake's career as a journalist is taking off on a popular woman's magazine. They provide advice and information to the young wives of the armed forces . Ai interesting insight into the lives of the wives of all ranks of servicemen towards the end of the war .

Heartwarming historical drama that is set in the last 18 months of WW2. It is the 4th and final book in a series. You could definitely read as a standalone, but understanding the same characters we’ve seen in the 3 earlier books, really adds to the reading experience. I was a bit worried that it was a bit humdrum early on, but a lovely story unfolded that had me teary and smiling at the same time

It wasn’t till I read the acknowledgements that I realised this was the final book in the series and I think that’s just right.

GIFTED a free digital arc from Pan MacMillan, it’s published on 3rd July. @picadorbooks

Loved it!!! These books go from strength to strength- great characters and moving storylines… all in all fantastic read

The final book in the series following Emmy Lake as she navigates through WW2 working for the Women’s Friend magazine. I enjoyed catching up with Emmy and her friends old and new and was rooting for those with loved ones away in the war. It might have been a tense and sad topic but it is still a delightful read of life during WW2. You can’t help but love all the characters. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I am sad that this wonderful series is at an end, but the author gave us a fitting ending and maintained the comfort and spirit I have come to expect from her writing and characters.

The final instalment in the surprisingly warm and uplifting WWII series was the most pensive one yet. Its endearing cast of characters once again showcased the power and necessity of community.

This novel was an easier reading experience than its predecessors, courtesy of its less stylistic writing style. This showed how Emmy had indeed grown up. I was so proud of her when she fulfilled her dream of becoming a war correspondent and finally made it to the front!

The author clearly loves her characters and wanted to keep them relatively safe for the final book. Therefore, the story didn’t feel as eventful as it possibly could’ve. I wished for Emmy to go on more mini adventures (her time as a war correspondent felt too short!), rather than the plot revolving around waiting for loved ones to return home – even though that does undoubtably require an immense amount of strength and resilience. Despite wanting Emmy to be able to be a bit more active in the story, the finale was still a satisfying and ultimately hopeful read.

I definitely recommend the entire series!

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series - they’re a real cozy blast into the past reads.

A nice ending to a real cozy series! Loved it

The final book in the series takes us through the final year of the war. Lots of wartime and home front detail, including a trip to a hospital in Belgium, escape to the countryside, missing servicemen, and romance, all set against the background of the women's magazine that reports, advises and keeps women's morale up week after week.

Emmy Lake is charge of the problems page for Woman's Friend magazine, she receives backloads of letters from girls and women seeking advice for problems many exacerbated by the war. She try to keep busy while she worries about friends and family affected by the war and does her utmost to keep everything cheerful and upbeat but its getting more and more difficult especially as the end appears to be in sight. Charming insight into the women's role on the Homefront. I hadn't read the first book but that didn't affect my pleasure.

Sadly this is the last book in this excellent series set in World War 2 - it is the final chapter in Emmy Lake’s story, when she finally gets the chance to become a war correspondent whilst working for Woman’s Friend magazine.
Emmy and her husband Charles are able to spend a bit more time together as he is based in England. He is able to take short periods of leave from the army and Emmy is able to relax a little despite the huge amount of bombs falling in London.
When the magazine gets a chance to move to the country for the Summer the staff all decide it is a wonderful idea and they move into Emmy’s friend, Bunty’s family home which is enormous. Emmy and Bunty are still caring for their friend’s children and it is the perfect opportunity to move them out of harm’s way until their father’s return from the war.
There are some happy times with a wedding and Emmy realising her ambition to be a war reporter but then the unthinkable happens…… after all the country is at war.
This is a well researched conclusion to this wonderful series set in a woman’s magazine. It shows how Emmy and the rest of the staff are able to help other women through their articles which encourage and advise.
I learnt a lot about this time period; many things had not really been discussed before such as the difficulties faced by wives of British prisoners who lived from one letter to the next, not knowing if their loved ones were still alive. Their feelings of being abandoned by the government and until their husbands were located they were apparently not even paid their army salary leaving the wives destitute in some cases.
The emphasis on a society suffering great loss, grief and deprivation was very emotional but in the end it was a heartwarming story and I kept my fingers crossed for a happy ending, at least for some of the characters.
The strong female protagonists were a joy to read about but the truth of the situation was that women had to be brave and strong during such turbulent times and I’m sure the same is true of women in similar situations nowadays.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Emmy, Bunty and Hester and a part of me is a little sad that this is the end of the road for them. I with them happy, fulfilling and above all peaceful lives in the post war years! This is a series of I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I have loved this series and this one in my opinion is the best of them. It's an easy read although set during the terrible time of the V1 and V2:rockets it's still a "feel good" story. The characters are so likeable and very cheerful. I am sad it's the last one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Even though it is about an awful time in our history, this is a lovely feel-good book with a genuinely happy ending.
It’s the last year of the war, people are tightening their belts, flying bombs are bombarding London, and Emmy and the team at ‘Woman’s Friend’ are doing their best to keep he spirits of the nation’s women up. Although there are some lovely men in this book: Guy, Emmy’s boss, and his brother Charles, who is in the Army, ‘Dear Miss Lake’ is primarily a book about women, and what they did in the Second World War, keeping the home fires burning, making do and mend, and generally keeping calm and carrying on. It’s also a celebration of the support network provided by women’s magazines. Emmy runs the problem page, and though some of the problems she deals with relate specifically to the period, some of them are still with us.

This is the fourth in the Emmy Lake Chronicles, and I have loved every one.i look forward to reading A J Pearce’s next book.