I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started but it oh so quickly, within a page, it had totally won me over! It is a delightful story, told from four different points of view, set in the village of Chilbury in Kent. It is 1940 and most of the local men have gone off to war - indeed it starts with the funeral service for Edmund Winthrop, the son of the local big wig and a vicious bully killed in a torpedoed submarine. It is at the Church that the notice that this is the last time the choir will sing together is posted by the vicar. This causes uproar and the arrival of a music professor, Primrose Trent, is enough to turn things round as she sets up the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

Escape into this village to discover the intrigue, schemes, plots and mischief which abound and find out just what life was like in this community during the Second World War through the diaries, journals and letters of four women living there at that time - all of whom are members of the choir. This is a lovely read, with so much going on at such a traumatic time when the ladies really start to play a significant role in the war effort.

It is well written and witty, taking the reader in to the historical situations, has brilliantly portrayed characters and a healthy dose of melodrama, bribery, suspense, music and even romance, too! Read it to find the pressures war imposes on the various members of the community and how they coped with it. This is a book I have no hesitation in highly recommending - and warn any readers to get ready for an enthralling, humorous and engaging, enjoyable read!

Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.

Thank you Harpercollins, Netgalley and Jennifer Ryan for this ARC for an honest review.

Sometimes, just sometimes the simplest tales are the best ones. The tales that are about love and loss, that can transport us to another place and time. This is one of those stories. Jennifer Ryan has woven a story around the simplest of premises. A group of women, joined together in a shared past time that helps them through a rough patch. Of course there are many books like this, chocolate lovers, book clubs etc etc but this one is set among the toughest time for all of us, during war and the last time in living memory that our little island was caught in the direct crossfire. And it's a choir, and I defy anyone (even the most tone deaf of us....i.e. me) to say that they don't enjoy the occasional sing song. So with this back drop we meet the residents of Chilbury and through their own words learn about their lives, their hopes and fears, and the events in Chilbury in the spring and summer of 1940. The novel is told with a mixture of letters and diary entries, told mainly by Venetia and Kitty Winthrop, daughters of local brigadier, Mrs Tilling, a widower whose son is off to war, and Edwina Paltry, the local midwife and Silvie, a young Jewish girl that has been evacuated and is staying with the Winthrops.
There is a distinct change in tone and voice between each letter and diary entry and so it does feel that you're reading the words of different people rather than just one person telling different versions of a story. I have only one criticism here though in that sometimes the author does revert back to a more literary style instead of it been one person relating a story to a friend or diary. I don't know anyone that would write in a letter "‘But it’s next door to Miss Paltry, the midwife!’ she
exclaimed, inexplicable joy on her pretty face,". That's a writer writing not a teenage girl relating local gossip to her friend. But it's a small thing, that just occasionally pulled me out of the story but nowhere near enough to make this anything other than a five star effort. At different times this story made me laugh and cry and gasp in surprise at the fates of some of the characters.

This is a beautifully written book that brings a time gone by back to life in the most wonderful way.

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir is not only about a choir, it is about the intertwining lives of the ladies of Chilbury during WWII and the realisation that without men in the mix they need to step up, roll their sleeves up and make decisions for themselves.
This novel differs from the usual tale of domestic life during the second world war in that I feel this isn't as sugar coated. I suspect it's nearer the truth than most, showing the good and the bad sides of women from all walks of life muddling on alongside each other and definitely making the best of things.
A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read, and one which I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending.

his was a lovely book set in Chilbury in Kent during the war years. The women of the village are upset when the vicar disbands the choir because the men have gone to war. When Prim, a music teacher moves in she gets a ladies choir set up and events for them to sing at and competitions.

The story is told in a delightful mix of journal entries and letters between certain characters. We share in the true horrors of the war as felt by the villagers- sons lost in battle, bombs destroying homes and losing cherished friends.

Prim's house sounds amazing and her teaching approach is also very encouraging and she gets the best of of the ladies in the choir.

The ladies are also trying to help the war effort and look out for strange happenings taking place.

You get a real sense of war in a village setting, the manor house having leading roles.

This was a lovely read and I enjoyed the style Jennifer Ryan used - letters, journal entries etc. It brought the whole thing to life as we were privy to the thoughts and feelings of the various characters . The time period of WW2 was fascinating. Finding out how the women of the village coped and how they adapted to life was interesting.
I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Harper Collins in return for an honest review.

The Chilbury Ladies Choir is a wonderful story told through the letters and diary's of the main characters .giving us an insight as to what it was like to be at war living in a small community.I loved the characters who are drawn together to form the Ladies Choir against opposition as all the men are at war ..I really enjoyed this book and was sad when it ended .

A delightful novel set in wartime England and revolves around the Chilbury Parish Choir, the Manor and its inhabitants plus the village. The eldest daughter of the Manor leads the local men signing up a merry dance before falling for a completed stranger who seems to be involved in intrigue. Kitty the youngest daughter plus Sylvie the rescued Jewish girl get involved in various escapades and the quiet Mrs Tilling begins to blossom when Prim a music professor restarts the Choir. It is a great representation of how women coped with all that was thrown at them whilst there are twists and turns in the story cause by the midwife'sactions. A romping good read!

Not my usual read but I really enjoyed this book and will keep a watch for this author in future.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were so realistic and I loved the interplay between the social classes within the traditional village and how the hierarchy interact. I really liked the way that the book was set out in terms of letters, diary entries, notices etc. and found it really lent itself well to the telling of the story. All the way through I couldn't help but think how it would make a great film or TV series. It is well written and I think gives a very realistic view of village life and how ordinary people coped with change thrust upon them by the times they lived in. This gives a great representation of women and how they get on and cope when in many ways, men find it more difficult. A sequel would be great - just saying!

Beautiful, heartwarming and full of joy and sorrow. This book beautifully brings to life a small village in England during the war, when most of the men have gone to war. The story has many narrators, giving like to the story. I highly recommend this book, it deserves to be a best seller.

This type of story isn't my usual genre, but it's good to read something different from time to time and this book is a true delight; an amazing debut.

It's set in England in 1940. The men from the Kent village have, in the main, gone off to war leaving the village without a choir. Enter 'Miss Prim', who to the vicar's horror, decides to set up the choir of the title. That's just the central theme that draws together a rich tapestry of characters. There's a duplicitous midwife, keen to make her fortune, a Brigadier with two daughters; he desperately needs his pregnant wife to have a son. There are infidelities, blackmail, spying and much tittle tattle and social gossiping.

It's filled with humorous observation which draws on foibles and human frailty and there are also some poignant moments. The narrative is letters and diary entries from the main characters and this keeps the story moving. It's occasionally a little heavy on similes, and almost naive sometimes. But behind that, Jennifer Ryan has largely captured a particular time and setting and the people portrayed feel right. They all have a place and know their place in the village pecking order. I found them endearing and irritating in equal measure. The book reminded me of the TV series Home Fires. It's an interesting and easy read, comfortable and character driven. I really enjoyed it.

My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via Netgalley.

I found myself confused by the Chilbury Ladies' Choir, as I couldn't figure out exactly what it wanted to be. A realistic historical fiction book about World War Two? A lighthearted romp about women in the country? A statement on feminism? Maybe it's all of those things, or none. During several chapters I actually found myself feeling it read a bit like a play, or more specifically a screenplay. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Chilbury at some time in the future as some all female cast summer feel good movie, but as a reader it did sometimes put me off to have things so very neat.

It's not that I think every book about war should be gritty or difficult, but I just didn't find Chilbury very believable. The characters were so broad it bordered on pantomime, so hardly anyone experienced any growth or real change despite there being a war on. It's not to say this is a terrible book, it isn't. It's easy to read, the pacing is fine and the subject is a sweet one. There just simply are no surprises, intrigues or moments of insight. I didn't take away anything at all from this book, and for me that was a real shame.

I was drawn to this book because of the theme of women on the Home Front in World War 2. The author has done her research and there is much in the story to help one rethink the role and perspectives of women at this time when most men were away in the Armed Forces. Apparently Jennifer Ryan drew on stories from her grandmother as well as 'Mass Observation' diaries for inspiration with events and characters. She has chosen to use diaries and letters as a narrative device and I am not convinced that this was the best choice. Rather than having multiple points of view it may have been better to use a third person narrative. My concerns with the narrative style are due to a number of issues, e.g. Kitty's diary uses over sophisticated language for a rather naive 13 year old. her sister Venetia's letters to a friend in London seem to use every word, action and nuance of conversations, hardly a letter writing style. In addition the letters of Venetia and of Miss Paltry never get answered and nor do the writers ever refer to having received letters back so this makes it seem even more of a narrative device. The story of the Ladies' Choir is interesting and is used as a motif for the women's increasing realisation of their own value and independence. Stories of a child refugee, a War Office spy, the realities of Dunkirk and the bombings are well told and for the most part credible. However the subplot concerning Miss Paltry and the Brigadier seemed superfluous and far-fetched, with the motivations of Miss Paltry never being made clear. This was a light and enjoyable read .

The main characters in this novel relate their story by means of their journal and letter writing.
What appealed to this reader was the village ladies choir, formed because most of the men had gone off to war. I was disappointed however, as the focus was put on the balm for the soul effect of music, with no effort put into the technical work you would require in real life to build a competition winning unit.
Once I put my priggishness aside, I did actually enjoy the story as it progressed, even allowing for some stereotypes, Venetia’s unlikely comprehensive missives, and the teenage focus of Kitty’s journal.
Many readers will love this uplifting book.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for this read

As promised this novel is in the vein of the Guernsey Eel Pie and Potatoes Literary Society story line and delivers well on its promise.
It is set in a small - And it seems rather inbred – village in the Southern half of Britain as the 2nd WW begins.
We see the events of the years unfold through a number of different eyes as they write in their journals or letters. These views, of the Ladies Choir, give us a real sense of what the society of the village must have been like, from the toffs to the more humble servants who ‘knew their place’ and yet were liberated from the social order norm by the need for women to work in war support roles, eg as engineers in factories and so n, rather than as servants to the richer members of society.
The missives come from all ages from a 13 year old to older ladies, and as the years pass we see their characters change as events befall them including bombings and deaths. Through necessitude they become the better person of themselves.
Whilst not being specific there are many allusions to secret sites where spies are trained and other secret activities take place – see Bletchley Park
The idea of people writing journals and similar was common during the war and encouraged by the Govt through the Mass Observation dept which has given just such a rich idea of what life was really like for the common worker and especially women ...... struggling to make sense of a new social order which required them to cook in a different way; and even go out to work when they had not done so before.
I thought that the writer kept up the different styles of the authors well and hat their characters really came through.

In the village of Chilbury it comes as a shock to some of the residents that the choir is to be disbanded because of war. Not because they could be in danger of becoming a target with their singing, but because there is no men left in the choir.

However, the women left behind in Chilbury have very strong views and they have an important place and a role to play. When Primrose Trent arrives in the village, she decides to restart the choir and The Chilbury Ladies Choir begins.

This book features the women of the choir, those from all different backgrounds, different ages and in some cases different agendas. Mrs Tilling is the local midwife, and as the book opens, two births are imminent, but with death already surrounding them due to war, it seems that the births are not going to be straightforward.

Sisters, Kitty and Venetia have nothing to do apart from avoid upsetting their father. Kitty and the little Jewish evacuee Sylvie,staying with them play games and explore the countryside. Venetia is discovering that war and falling in love ar not mutually exclusive and when you find someone, they can be taken away for very different reasons. Both sisters make and impact in the choir but also the village as well.

As the choir progresses, so does the story of this village.

What makes this book any more different from any of a similar genre. That would be in the telling of the story.

The use of letters, diary entries and public notices, forms a very rounded picture of the village and characters within. It is almost like experiencing the Mass Observation movement. Here was how others felt about what was going on around them in a small snapshot of the Second World War. An d whilst you may think perhaps it would be insular in its outlook, the book actually touches on problems far away from the village green and choir.

A really unique way of telling a story, and one that worked so beautifully, you could actually pick it up and read it again. An excellent debut novel. This is certainly going to be up there as one of my favourite books of 2017.

A wonderful, wonderful book!

I received a free pre-publication copy of this book from Netgalley.

This is a village saga based in Kent in the time of the Second World War. It’s beautifully presented and reads very quickly and easily right from the start.

Things that drew me to this book were: Firstly, the cover caught my eye. The village tale appealed, and the musical angle too. The character diaries are equally charming and amusing in their turn of phrase and descriptions of the locals.

On top of all this pleasant village setting we soon have intrigue, secrets and lies. I was only 4% into it and I was already imagining it as a TV mini-series, I think it would be great material for that medium.

I loved how this was done: The story is mostly told through the characters’ journals, diaries and letters. Having read Jennifer Ryan’s author bio on Goodreads and that this is her first novel I could hardly believe it as it seems incredibly accomplished right from the early stages.

A cosy village yarn with a bit of scandalous activity. Well-paced with some dramatic scenes in the last stretch. Addictive reading! A wonderful, wonderful book.

This is a lovely story based on a local village around 1940. With a plethora of characters, with Mrs B the over opinionated and very vocal who doesn't agree with there being a women's only choir.
But with all the men at war the vicar decides to disband the choir, when Prim the new music teacher decides to set up an only female choir. Will this be an helpful addition to the village.
Kitty the 14 girl who is growing up within the confines of a lifestyle in war.
Venetia who thinks all men love her until she meets Alistair who seems unaffected by her ways, and the older sister of Kitty.
Mrs Paltry the midwife who is willing to do the unknown for a certain amount of money.

This is a lovely story with the coming of age and also how war effects everyone who lives in the village, highly recommended read!!

For me this was a really cosy, curtains drawn, curl up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and bickie kind a book. The story is told from letters, diary and journal entries from the residents of a small Kent village between March to September 1940. Even here there has to be casualties from the war that is raging in Europe. Well no one rallies better than the British, where a strong brew normally fixes any dilemma but in  Chilbury a little more is required, like the resurrection  of the recently disbanded Chilbury Choir after the men left to fight for King and Country, taking their Tenor voices with them.
Life has to go on even with the threat of invasion on the minds of everyone, but like in any crisis, a war brings out the best and worst in people.  This is a story that makes you feel involved with what is going on and at times you feel just darn right helpless. There are fabulous characters that you get to feel you have known for years. The author just made me very much a part of the story. The war time era being very different from today as far as equality and human rights were concerned. You have to love a book that leaves you with that that toastie, glowy, turn your toes up satisfaction when you finish it.
I wish to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book which I have chosen to review.

In a similar vein to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this book focuses on a small community dealing with the effects of the Second World War on theur lives. The story is told through letters and diaries, with a mixture of comedy and tragedy. Well written, if using literary licence here and there, it is an enjoyable tale which ends after only a year of war. Could this mean a sequel is in the offing? If so, I am sure it would attract a strong readership.