My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader’s copy of this novel.

Setting this story of the Evans family in the coal mining village of Abercannaid in the former farm borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, the author shows how the town’s quick industrialization by the mid 19th century affected its population. If work in the collieries and iron factories promised more steady wages than subsistence farming, it also exposed families to what were previously urban problems—cholera epidemics, mining accidents, diseases brought on by unprotected mine labour, 12 hour days worked by hungry ten year old boys.

As the story opens, Mari Evans, barely 12 years old, is desperately trying to help her mother nurse her youngest brother through what might be the deadly cholera that has been making the rounds. She has to run miles to fetch the only doctor; her sister is too young, and older brother Bryn is working the night shift down the mine. Their father, Gwynfor, is at the pub, where he has taken to staying later and even staying away. Although Mabel Evans had her suspicions, she had not dared confront him, for fear that he would leave the family. They were already stretched. Even Bryn’s wages, without their father’s breadwinner packet, could not carry them. It is understandable why many wives simply looked the other way, as long as the wandering husband continued to provide.

Although Gwynfor Evans was respected for his collier’s skills, he was a moral coward. His mistress was a local young woman barely older than Bryn. They flee to ‘start fresh’ elsewhere, possibly London, leaving a sorrowing and anxious family to fend for themselves, if they can. Just to make things worse, a mine collapse leaves Bryn, now their sole support, with fractured ribs and a crushed foot and no more than ‘a nip of brandy’ to get him through months of recovery.

While Mabel takes in laundry, and Mari works occasional hours at Mrs. Jones’ food store, paid for in provisions, she quickly decides to take radical measures. Cutting off her hair and borrowing work clothes from her school friend Bobby, she is hired on for a 3 day stint of 12 hour days, acting as a collier’s helper. New protective labour laws had prohibited girls from working underground. They could do above ground work, also heavy and dirty, but less dangerous. And also for much less pay. Mari rails against the injustice, but has little choice. And so she goes underground, where her first job is to assist Big Al Probert to take coal out of the narrow, low, and claustrophobic tunnels.

On top of all this, she keeps her job at the shop, and turns to the childless, widowed Mrs. Jones for comfort when bullies who resent the boys taking wages from them make her—newly named Lewis Lloyd—a target.

There is a lot of emotional as well as material anxiety in Mari’s story, and the author is very good at showing the hardships of daily life for all generations in coal towns like Abercannaid. The town and its mines are real, and there were several collapses in Mari’s time. It’s a very sad story, but one that focuses on the bravery and family loyalty of those like Mari who held on and gave everything they had to do so.

A very well written book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The characters were all interesting and the stories all linked together through the trials of life that the Evans family had to endure. The details about life underground in the pits were a particular favourite of mine.

I did enjoy this book but the blurb gave it all away so there wasn’t much to expect in the book.

We met Mari and her family, her feckless father who went off with another woman and left her pregnant after his plans went awry. In the worst way possible in the end.

Mari’s eldest brother Bryn was left to hold the family together - then a pit accident he had crushed his foot and the family had even less to live on. A throw away comment meant that Mari went down the pit to help bring in much needed cash. As a female this practice had been outlawed.
Mari also helped in a local shop - not for money - but for provisions.
She was subjected to ridicule by those who considered themselves her betters - but she managed to show the worst lady up in the end.

The book was well written and I was intrigued by the detail into the workings of the mine -hard arduous work for everyone including the pit ponies.

There were a lot of characters to get used to - and the descriptions of the poverty and deprivation were heartbreaking- as was the fact cholera was rife.

Although it was slow in places - it was Lynette Rees producing as brilliant book as always

Mari Evan’s gets a shock when she finds her father has a lady friend who he leaves his family to live with .Then her brother Bryn is involved in an bad accident at the coal pit and is not able to work so Mari has to find away to make money to keep her family in food and pay rent.Mari decides to dress up and act like a boy to get work at the pit till her brother is able to go back to work but will it work.This was a great read.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books.

what would we all do to save our family? anything? even changing who you are in order to be what the world needs you to be in order to work?
well this is just what Mari aims and must force herself to be brave enough for when her life seems to fall apart around her. young Mari has a shock when her own father leaves them for another woman and family. then add to this her brother is hurt badly on his job down the pits. so Mari decides the only way forward is with her taken up the bat for bringing in the income. and she does this via becoming a boy, her brother, and heading down to the mines herself.
this is such a heart felt and emotional sage type of book. its such a thought provoking one too. how this young girl had to act just to be accepted in the work place and also the huge risks to her family in strife and if she was found out. all she wants to do is support her family and goes to any length to do so.
you get to see the fears and real snippet into the life of miners. it must have been horrible for those going down but also for the families too. how would you feel every day seeing your loved one go there, knowing the risks. the very real and dangerous risks.
i love how strong Mari was trying to be. she was facing heartbreak with her father, her injured brother, but through it all she simply strives forward desperate to keep her family together and safe.
this story kept me gripped from start to finish. and by the end i was desperate to see and know if Mari got some ease to her plights or at least was safe.
there is a good cast of characters in this book. i loved getting to know them all and some truly stuck in my heart. Mari was such a wonderful young woman and i doubt she was the first or the last who actually had to do something like this to keep families safe.

Mari Evans has always known life would be hard, but nothing could have prepared her for how quickly things would fall apart. First, the devastating news that her father has a second family - and chose them over her. Then the tragic accident in the pit leaves her eldest brother unable to work. It started as an off-hand joke, a comment by her brother. "Cut your hair, Mari. You could pass for a lad and work the pit in my place." But with cholera sweeping the village and hunger gnawing at their stomachs, it's Mari's only option. Disguised as a boy, she takes her brother's place underground, risking everything to keep her family from ruin.

We get a glimpse of what working as a coal miner involves. This is a bittersweet read of mining life and the hardships they encountered. I liked Mari, she was willing to step into her brother's shoes and work the pit to bring home his wages. This emotional read held my attention throughout.

Published 10th September 2025

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

I loved this book. A gutsy heroine, a believable storyline and a traditional setting. Highly recommend!

As the granddaughter of a pit deputy, it was interesting to read about the lives of mining families in this era, with poor health and safety, the workhouse, etc.
An interesting story about one family and their local community. I look forward to reading more by Lynette in the future.

A bittersweet story unfolds in The Pit Girl. A reader will see Mari, the central character, help hold her family together all the while it is devastatingly being wrenched apart by her dad's behavior and her older brother Bryn's mishap. There is a great glimpse of what the life of a coal miner is like: the work and the feeling of working underground, the seriousness of adhering to protocols, ever aware of the dangers and hazards as mostly seen through Mari's eyes.

I found the story to be engaging despite the sadnesses, the ups and downs, of a day in the life of a miner and mining community. I was able to read through quickly and with interest. I appreciated the faith-based input as well.

I believe there is genuine appeal for any reader but in my opinion, miner families will be able to relate the best as the fears and tensions they live with, or have lived with on a daily basis, are felt.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

August 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary reveiw copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

“The Pit Girl” is a historical fiction book by Lynette Rees. This book follows Mari Evans, whose father leaves the family and eldest brother is hurt in a mining accident. Mari dresses up as a boy to work in the coal mines to support the family. This wasn’t a bad book, but I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The writing is a bit simplistic. If you enjoy historical fiction and/or want to learn more about mining towns, this might be a book to pick up. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book. I enjoyed it, in it we meet Mari from a Welsh mining town and her family . When her father leaves the family and her brother is hurt in an accident Mari has to pretend to be a boy and go down the pit .
I hope there is a follow on to this book so that I can het more from the characters.

Mari is an incredible character with a tenacious personality that helps her family. She makes decisions that no one else would make and makes us wonder if we would do the same.

What a heartbreaking story. I really felt for the family especially the little girl trying so hard to help her family after her father upped and left them. Hard times in those days, living hand to mouth, struggling everyday to make ends meet. A wonderful story. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Abercaniad Merthyr Tydfil.
A family in ruin
An unthinkable choice.
Mari Evans and her family,
With gossip spreading about her ale drinking father, a right dilemma for her mam Mavis.
Her brother Bryn the only one bringing in a wage from the pit, they just about managing and keeping her youngest Tommy and Nerys all fed it's a even harder struggle after Bryn accident forcing Mari to look for work.
This character a strong willed one provides for her family all that she can.
I totally was engrossed, it such a lovely beautiful story.
A family bond that won't ever be broken.
Loved it all

A beautiful story. It's hard to imagine what women of a different generation put themselves through. Beautifully written. More please!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another good book by this author, family saga and wartime what more can you ask for only more

Loved this book no one could guess this is same author who wrote Cobbler's apprentice.
It's an excellent book not a Saga but a sweet simple Historical Fiction excellent as a Stepping point into Historical Fiction or as a mind cleanser between series.
Only issue is that there is something missing in the end as though stories are left to be told let's hope the next book provides some fulfillment.

A good read. Life is hard for Mari Evans but nothing prepares her or her family for the devastation causedwhen they learn their father has left them for another woman and she makes a decision that will put her in danger as she decides to try and disguise herself as a boy to get work down the pit. It's a story of heartbreak, hardship and most of all love and determination that holds the family together and also finding the time to help others even though they have so little themselves.

The Pit Girl is a thoughtful historical saga which I am hoping will continue into a series because I enjoyed it very much. We meet a young girl by the name of Mari and her family. When times are at their hardest and then a tragedy strikes Mari decides that pretending to be a boy so she can get work at the pit is her only option to help her family. It's a honest and powerful look at the times and how everything worked back then especially the difference between males and females. I became involved in the characters and I loved reading about their plights. This book is a nice addition to the historical fiction genre and I would love to read more about these characters in future books.

Mauri Evans is from a Welsh mining family, after her father leaves them for another family and her brother is hurt, she has no choice but to pretend to be a boy and go into the mines.