Another lovely read in this series which I find fascinating. Set just at the end if world war one this book deals with the strains and stresses of wartime. I've read most of Elaine's books and they are all good. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely adore this series. Elaine is a masterful storyteller, and I inhaled this book in just one day – as I have with all her other titles. And then I am sorry I read it so quickly as I don’t want to leave the characters.

This is a character-driven story – historical fiction story set at the end of WWI. While there is great joy at the war ending, life is by no means simple for the bookshop girls. Elaine captures the full range of emotions experienced with grace. I had both tears of sadness and tears of joy in my eyes as I read. Fascinating historical details are interspersed in the story so I felt like I came away with a true understanding of what daily life was like during this time period.

The details around the cozy bookshop provide a wonderful comfort and contrast to the realities faced during this time.

The friendship between Alice, Victoria, and Molly is beautiful – the perfect example of how true friends feel like family. I love seeing women supporting women. And if you are like me and love the found family theme in your reading, then this entire series is for you.

Fans of historical fiction who especially enjoy books for Jennifer Ryan or Patricia McBride, should fix themselves a cup of hot tea and settle in for a wonderful reading experience. Readers can certainly pick up the series mid-entry (that was my experience), but certainly go back and read the others as they are all just wonderful works.

Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is the third and final book in The Foyles Bookshop Girls series. I believe it is best to read this series in order. It will allow a reader to get to know the characters and their backstories. It was great to catch up with Victoria, Alice, and Molly as well as Mr. Leadbetter. Ted, Victoria’s finance, is suffering from PTSD (they did not call it that back then nor did they know how to help the soldiers suffering from it) and Victoria wishes Ted would open up to her about it. Freddie suffers from it as well, but he has found a way to help alleviate his trauma which he shares with others. I felt that the story focused a little too heavily in this direction (I wanted more victory). 1918 brings the Spanish Flu to London which is more devastating than the Great War. The practices that Mr. Leadbetter puts in place for Foyles, are strikingly similar to those utilized during COVID (masks, frequent cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces, wearing gloves, the shop offering home deliveries). I like the characters and the close bond they share. The ladies are there for each through the good and the bad. It is nice that the employees of Foyles have become a family which is not something you see today. The story does contain repetitive details that got on my nerves after the fifth or sixth mention. I thought the author captured the time period as well as the locale. Thanks to the author’s vivid word depictions, I could envision Foyle’s. I would happily spend hours browsing through Foyle’s collection of books. Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls is a poignant tale with a satisfying finale.

I have loved following the girls of Foyles book shop as they’ve coped during World War One. In this book the War is finally coming to an end but unfortunately a lot of the men are still suffering from the after effects of everything they’ve been through. This book is quite an emotional read as the girls struggle to settle back down into some sort of normal life. I highly recommend this series

A book set during the last months of WW1, where people are slowly daring to accept that peacetime could be closer than they think.

This is the sixth book in this series, and many of the characters have previously been introduced. I would recommend that you read the previous books to gain a better understanding of them.

I like how the story revolves around the staff of Foyles' bookshop/library. Their closeness is beautiful to see, with high emotions brought to the fore, be it because of deaths, marriages, births or betrayals.

With the war coming to an end, and the Spanish flu hitting the UK's shores, there were many things to make life difficult and for relationships and friendships to be tested by.

Much is mentioned about how books helped people during the tough times, which I found interesting.
They weren't just escapism, but there were many non-fiction books written to help people get back to normal life after the war, among other things.

The Foyles' staff are as close as family, with a deep love for each other. The more each character has to face, the more their bonds thicken.

There were certainly some sad moments, but thankfully, there were more happy moments to balance the scale in their favour. This book, and the series, have been a joy to read, and I happily recommend them.

Historical drama,part of a series featuring the girls who work throughout the war at Foyles Bookshop. Heart breaking at times but also heartwarming.

There are rumours that the end of World War One is approaching, and people are being cautiously optimistic, and looking forward to a time of peace. Friends Victoria, Molly and Alice who all work at the bookshop are busy with work and supporting their menfolk who have already returned from the war.

Just as everyone is feeling hopeful of the war coming to an end, they are hit by an unseen enemy in the shape of the Spanish flu epidemic.

Ms. Roberts also depicts the time period with an authenticity which helps the reader to become immersed in the story. It was a compelling read which I enjoyed very much.

This was a quick, easy and delightful book to read. It is a heartwarming and uplifting novel which left me smiling and feeling satisfied.

A charming wee historical fiction - I believe this is part of a series but I read it as a stand alone. It was fabulous by itself, but I will go back and read the others.

Loved the strong female leads, the business of their lives but the strength of their friendship. It was great to come in near the end of a war, and interesting to have the perspective of a pandemic. Well written, enough emotion to make it realistic but it did have it's lighter moments which I was glad for while tackling heavy topics. I also love anything set in, or around a bookshop so this was a real treat.

I read A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls last year and I was looking forward to returning to the series with the latest release – Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls.
It’s June 1918 and Alice, Victoria and Molly are all back for further adventures.
Alice is working at the book shop, driving an ambulance, married to Freddie and bringing up her two young sons Arthur (3) and David (7 months). Freddie is suffering with nightmares and is her father hiding something?
Victoria is engaged and preparing her wedding to Ted. (He is also suffering with his memories of the War.) She lives with Ted, her sister Daisy and her younger brother Stephen.
Molly is married to Andrew. He works at the bank and helps fellow war veterans.
I enjoy books set around this time and learning about the social history and the kinds of things that happened at home, while the men were away fighting WWI. Although the story is obviously fictional, you can tell how well the author has researched the time period, as everything feels very authentic. The novel also shows how the War took its toll on people, such as soldiers suffering from what would now be seen as PTSD, families who had lost loved ones and kids growing up not knowing peacetime.
I enjoyed all the girls’ storylines and like finding out what happens to them and their loved ones. The setting of the bookshop is always a fun one too and I can easily imagine what it all looks like.
I was also very interested by the inclusion of the Spanish Flu which my Nanna lived through. (She was 11 in 1918.) She always used to tell me she’d survived “two World Wars and the Spanish Flu” and reading this novel reminds us of how awful it all was.
Overall, this is another interesting and engaging read and I look forward to reading further books by the author.

This is the third book in the Foyles Book Shop Girls series and it was another really good read . I just love this series and it was great to be back with Molly, Victoria and Alice . Each of them have lots going on in their lives but are always there to help each other . The Great War is almost over but there’s a worrying flu epidemic doing the rounds so it’s a scary time for everyone as they do their best to avoid getting ill . I loved the characters in this series and how they all added to the story . The bravery of the men who fought in the trenches was very clear to see as we read about Victoria’s husband Ted and the trauma he was going through when he got back from the war . It was an emotional and sad read at times but in spite of that it was a joy to read . I think this is the final book in the series and I was sad to say goodbye to these wonderful characters

Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is another entry into the lives of the women working at Foyles Bookshop during World War I. Peace is coming but the Spanish Flu has hit. The bookshop itself has been hit and is forced to closed for a couple of weeks. Victoria and Ted finally marry despite his ongoing struggles with shell shock (PTsD) and things seem to be fine. Molly finds herself pregnant and Alice discovers something shocking about her father. They keep selling books and dealing with their men, who have come home with various reminders of their time in the war. This is a heartwarming slice of life that brings the struggles of everyday English people living through the Great War in focus.

There is more than one plot as there are several protagonists. The theme is friendship and how having great friends can see a person through many trials. The reader learns about daily life during this time of fear from bombing to dealing with shortages of nearly everything. It is a testament to the human spirit and more. It is an education for those of us living lives of plenty and peace. Roberts does these women justice as she tells their stories, not so different than ours in many ways. It is fun to read and interesting to absorb. I recommend it.

I was invited to read Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #ElaineRoberts #VictoryForTheFoylesBookshopGirls

Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls is set in London during WWI and told from three perspectives.

This is #6 in a series and can be read as a standalone. As WWI is drawing to a close, the bookshop girls are facing new challenges. In addition to personal challenges, the Spanish Flu reaches London. Alice, Victoria, and Molly have become as close as sisters, and their commitments to each other and the bookshop have never been more important.

I love the themes of friendship and women supporting women. In trying times and under hardships, women are there for each other. The story is told from three perspectives as Alice, Victoria, and Molly devise strategies for sustaining the bookstore during troubling times, encourage and support each other, and offer practical help to ease the burdens of friends and family.

“This, she thought, is what healing looked like, not the absence of pain, but the courage to create joy despite it…The courage to transform war memories into Christmas magic.”

It is a nice change of pace to read WWI era fiction. I always love home front stories. A major issue in the story is PTSD (referred to as “shell shock”). It’s heartbreaking to think that so many men didn’t receive the help they needed.

Another issue facing them is the Spanish Flu Epidemic. It’s interesting to hear of similar strategies used for this flu outbreak that we used in 2020 during Covid: masks, store closures, social distancing, disinfecting surfaces, etc. The young women working at Foyles bookshop must lean into creative and innovative ways to keep the bookshop going while the flu is raging.

Oops! Evidently, this is #6 in a series which I didn’t realize when I accepted the ARC. Even though I haven’t read the series and this was my first introduction to the characters, I think it reads OK as a standalone. However, reading in order is the most satisfying reading experience. For the end of a series, the story wrapped things up satisfactorily for these three women (from my limited knowledge and perspective). I’m certain readers of the entire series will appreciate the heartwarming and uplifting conclusion.

Content Consideration: PTSD, death, grief, illness

“The magic of books, of Christmas, of peace, of hope renewed.”

I highly recommend Victory for the Foyles Bookshop Girls for fans of heartfelt women’s historical fiction with substantial themes of found family, forgiveness, healing, hope, new beginnings, and friendship. Even though I jumped into the series at the end, I think the entire series would make for good reading.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #VictoryForTheFoylesBookshopGirls. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGallery for the e-arc.
I enjoyed this book and the heartfelt story of three women finding strength at the end of World War One.

I love reading a book and you are already familiar with the characters. You don't have to waste time figuring out who's who. That was the case with this new book by Elaine Roberts.

The war is coming close to the end. Men are coming home not the way they left. Some with emotional scars that can't be seen.

Secrets become known. A family being torn apart in ways you can't even comprehend.

The employees of Foyle's Bookshop are there for each other. They support and care for each other. They become more than co-workers. This is rare in today's world where staff work from home and don't really know each other.

It's sad that this was the final book about Alice, Victoria and Molly. I'll miss their determination to carry on no matter what comes their way.

This follows the lives of three woman, Molly, Alice and Victoria who work in the bookshop. It takes place in 1918, near the end of the First World War. The three woman are there for each other when needed. There are various problems and heart aches for them and sometimes it was an emotional read. There is also the threat of the ‘flu epidemic and the precautions they took and how they helped others in the community reminded me of the pandemic. Although the story flows along, I did feel that the pace was a bit lacking and sometimes there wasn’t much action. However, it does give the feel of all working together and caring for each other. I did feel as though Luke, the father got off rather lightly! I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is part of an historical drama series set around Foyles Bookshop in London. It’s good to have read earlier books so that the characters and developed storyline are familiar. As the First World War is coming to an end there’s trauma and sadness with consequences that are real and frightening for many. Long held family secrets are uncovered. There’s friendships and family by choice. Oftentimes emotional.
It was interesting to catch up with the Foyles girls and their families, as their lives progressed through changing and challenging times.

Will their families be whole again this Christmas...?

London 1918: It's July and there are whispers that the war could be over soon. It couldn't come quick enough for friends Alice, Victoria and Molly and their respective other halves - all of whom had served and left with the scars of the battlefront. But Foyles is a place of refuge where the girls find solace but find others do too. And in these times, they find they need that solace now more than ever.

Alice has come across a secret that she was never meant to discover - an unposted letter and a photo hidden in a book. But now she has and she is wondering what to do with that knowledge. But before she can confront the other party and telling no one, not even her own policeman husband Freddie, she decides she needs to gather whatever information she has and find out for herself the validity of this secret. And whether she is mistaken, imagining it or it isn't true at all. Only then will she face whatever truth she finds.

Victoria has been in love with Ted Marsden ever since she was sixteen and he a handsome soldier. But Ted has returned home with battlescars that no one can see. The nightmares, the terrors, the fear of being bombed or attacked as real as if he were still on the battlefield. It is what doctors are calling shell shock and many veterans are suffering similar experiences. But Victoria has only ever wanted to marry Ted and as their wedding day approaches, she isn't feeling as if it can go ahead. All she wants to be is Mrs Ted Marsden. But is it too late for them?

Molly harbours her own secret. She has been feeling sick and lightheaded and fears she maybe coming down with something until she realises she is more than likely pregnant. But this brings with more fear. How will Andrew cope with a child, with his own terrors from the front still fresh in his mind? And how can she bring a child into this world while war rages? But time is not on her side; this baby is coming whether she is ready for it or not. But will it be welcome news?

And then they are hit with an unseen enemy which began in the trenches and has begun to spread worldwide - the Spanish flu. Reading through that time was reminiscent of when we more recently endured the COVID pandemic - the hygiene, face masks, disinfecting everything, staying home and even closing up businesses.

This is a relatively quick read that I devoured in a day, despite the plethora of stories within its pages. I somehow missed the second book but it didn't really matter as each can be read as a standalone anyway, with their own stories to tell. I've summarised just the basics but even that barely touches the surface.

Another enjoyable read by Elaine Roberts and the setting of the bookshop is just perfect - where everyone finds solace.

I would like to thank #ElaineRoberts, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #VictoryForTheFoylesBookshopGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Bookshop girls are now in the last months of the First World War, and each has been affected, mostly through the effects of shellshock on their partners. Victoria is debating whether to marry her sweetheart, as he is suffering so badly. They are all still working at the book shop, although events such as the influenza epidemic are going to have an impact on whether they can stay open.

The book dwells heavily on the work done by the bookshop staff to support men returning from the Front as well as providing information and book deliveries during this difficult time. Whether this was based on fact, whether returning soldiers were really so uplifted by books of poetry, I do not know. The result is rather a saccharine story, with heavy emphasis on the effects of reading on the traumatised and the role the bookshop girls had on their customers' wellbeing. The actual plot seems occasionally to fade into insignificance.

Its an interesting read, but I would have preferred more plot development and less sermonizing. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Foyles Girls #6

London, 1918: As their dreams of the war ending looks like they might finally come true, the girls of London's Foyles Bookshop allow themselves to look forward to a brighter future. But their hope may be shattered when the news of a terrible flu that is gripping the world reaches London, and the girls realise they are not out of danger yet. Meanwhile they have their own challenges to face when Alice discovers that her father has been living a double life; Victoria's beloved husband Ted struggles to adjust to life after the trenches; and the secret Molly has been keeping finally comes to light. But working in London's Foyles Bookshop, Alice, Victoria and Molly have become more like sisters than friends. And together they can brave the storm.

This is definitely a series that needs to be read from the beginning. I feel like I personally know Alice, Victoria and Molly now. With the men returning home, some of them have bad injuries, trench foot, or suffering from shell shock, now they are facing Spanish flu.

The characters are well-developed. There were a few surprises along the way. This was a heart-warming read

Published 10th July 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #ElaineRoberts for my ARC of #VictoryForTheFoylesBookshopGirls in exchange for an honest review.

Elaine Roberts delivers in her third installment of the Foyles Bookshop Girls series. In this installment, the book centers around Alice's family secret, the end of World War I, PTSD, the Spanish Flu, and new beginnings. Her writing style allows you to get to know her characters and form an emotional bond with them. The dialogue is witty, with a few inspiring truths that are still relevant today. She tackles the effects of PTSD with attention to detail and the seriousness it deserves. Fans of this series or Historical sagas about people in a small area or city will fall in love with this book. Fans of World War I historical fiction and its aftermath will enjoy this series. I look forward to more books on World War I from this author.