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.

A comfy, cosy return to Emmy Lake and her writing in the Woman’s Friend magazine.

In July 1944, everyone feels that the end of WW2 is approaching, but while there is still danger in London, the magazine re-establishes its staff in a country house, where a real community becomes established. Emmy’s husband Charles is in the army, and although they spend some time together, she feels a lot of the danger personally.

As with the other Emmy Lake stories, this one is packed with fun and interesting characters, and a cosy easy-read style.

If you have revelled in the first two books then grab this final one of the series because its just as good.
Emmy has a great deal to worry about but does finally fulfil her original ambition to be a “Lady War Correspondent.”
Meanwhile she supports Bunty, her old friend, Hest her newer one the two children without a mum and the magazine reading public.
It is heartwarming without being “cosy” or too sweet. War is pretty horrible and this is reflected in the book.
Recent VE 80 celebrations ahoe us old photos of youths and frail centurions byt really they were normal flesh and blood people as we find here.

Well its fair to say that I find book 4 the cherry of the wonderfully layered cake from this series. Another glorious instalment and I am sorry to see this series come to an end, even though I do feel its now reached its natural conclusion. Reading this around the anniversary of VE day felt even more poignant and special to me. This had the usual characters we've known to grow and love and some lovely final tales to tell. This still doesn't shy away from the resilience and strength needed for people of this time. Superb.

A brilliant ending to the Emmy Lake series. I have loved the whole series and I properly sobbed at this (in a good way). AJ Pearce really makes you feel for these characters and I will miss them! But I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes next. Whatever it is, I'll read it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

This is the 4th book in the Emmy Lake Chronicles and covers the last year of the 2nd World War. She and her husband Charles have spent a weekend together whilst he was on leave, but it's back to Europe for him for the final onslaught on Berlin!

London is being bombed nightly and so the team go to the country to continue with the publication of Women's Friend magazine and answering their problems, providing advice and encouragement throughout the war.

Charles is listed as being a POW and this adds to Emmy's worries, she writes daily to him and waits to hear from him. She makes a nuisance of herself, using all of her contacts to find out about her husband and other missing military men.

We are introduced quite skilfully into the times of rations, doing without but also the resourcefulness of women to make the most of things and to assist with the war effort.

A welcome addition to the series, I do hope AJ will write more books as I've really enjoyed this series.

In the final instalment of the 'Miss Lake' series, we again reunited with Emmy, Bunty, Charles and the team at Women's Friend' as they negotiate their way to the end of the second world war.

The final book has lost none of the charm of the previous books, with the stories of hardship told with warmth, charm and wit. The crew remain stoic to the very last as they inspire their readers even through the worst of times.

I have enjoyed each book in the series and will be sad to say goodbye to Emmy and co. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful return for Miss Lake!

Having read all of the previous books in the series, I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this one - in exchange for an honest review.

With the end of the war in sight, the Emmy and her colleagues at Woman’s Friend are trying their utmost to keep spirits high. When the chance arises to move their office to the country pile of Bunty’s family, they jump at the chance. But whether during war time or not, life has a habit of not going to plan.

The book is packed with all of the same wit, humour, heart, emotion and stiff upper lip as the previous ones, and I adored it. A J Pearce has a real knack for making you feel like you’re there, living the heartache of these women who are going through so much. The tone of the writing perfectly matches the era, and you’re so invested in the lives of the characters.

I’m sure it could be read as a stand alone book, but I’d recommend reading the other books first - if only to discover the joy of this gorgeous series.

I’m so going to miss Emmy and the gang but this was a lovely ending to a wonderful series. It doesn’t pack quite the emotional punch of previous books (I wept over Thel) but there was still plenty of drama and tension alongside the lighter moments. What stands out are the bonds of friendship and found family and the sense of hope amid such adversity. I really loved these books and look forward to seeing what AJ Pearce writes next.

"London, July 1944. Journalist Emmy Lake's career is Woman’s Friend magazine is a huge success, and she is finally realizing her dream of becoming a Lady War Correspondent. On the personal front, Emmy's husband Charles has been posted closer to home, and they and their friends Bunty and Harold have escaped to the countryside for a few precious summer days. They all know how lucky they are."
But as we know from this series, this does not last.
This is the final book in the Emmy Lake story and it is the usual blend of proud making do and mending blended beautifully with the horror of the Second World War.
The war is in its final few months but this does not mean that there are not struggles and this story clearly tells this .
I am sad that I won't be able to follow the adventures of the Woman's Friend but it has shown me the extreme bravery of women on the Home Front

Another triumph for AJ Pearce with the last in this wonderfully cosy series set around a magazine team in WW2. Once again we are drawn into the friendships,the frustrations and the fears that surrounded the women who worked and waited as the war neared its end.
I much enjoyed meeting the familiar characters again but despite the overarching atmosphere of warmth what makes this such a good read is the underlying tension and hardship that war brought.The success of the book is the fine balance between the two. It was a sad moment when the story finally ended.
My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC

Absolutely obsessed with the Dear Miss Lake . It’s not just a wartime romance – it nails the reality of life in bombed-out London and shows how insanely brave women were, even far from the front lines. Total queens holding it all together. 💪 Heartbreaking, powerful, and SO worth the read.📚

A charmingly delightful read with old fashioned language typical of the era. Set in the closing stages of WW2 in London and Hampshire, the book is the last of a series of four. I don't think it matters if the previous three haven't been read although it would enhance the experience. Wonderful characters with an uplifting hopeful as the end of war nears but still the frustrations and weariness of the times.

Always such a joy to read about Emmy Lake and the team at Woman's Friend. Full of heart and good spirits this final installment is a fitting end to an arduous journey.