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Dear Mrs Bird

London, January 1941.

Amid the falling bombs Emmeline Lake dreams
of becoming a fearless Lady War Correspondent. Unfortunately, Emmy instead finds herself employed as a typist for the formidable Henrietta Bird, the renowned agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine. Mrs Bird refuses to read, let alone answer, letters containing any form of Unpleasantness, and definitely not those from the lovelorn, grief-stricken or morally conflicted.

But the thought of these desperate women waiting for an answer at this most desperate of times becomes impossible for Emmy to ignore. She decides she simply must help and secretly starts to write back – after all, what harm could that possibly do?

Reviews, Press & Praise

  • “

    Imagine Bridget Jones running amok in the wartime world of Mrs Miniver. AJ Pearce’s hoot of a debut… is a comic confection that is sweetly uplifting.

    The Sunday Times
  • “

    Perfect wartime details, but it’s the voice of Emmeline, an assistant at a magazine during the London Blitz that really makes this debut shine. A tragicomedy set amid falling bombs, it’s a jaunty, heartbreaking winner.

    People Magazine
  • “

    Enthralling, meticulously researched and vividly imagined…an enchanting new addition to the genre.

    The Daily Telegraph
  • “

    I fell in love with Dear Mrs Bird on page one and completely adored every single word . . . a wonderfully heartwarming book, which I will recommend to everyone I know.

    Jill Mansell
  • “

    A joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs. Bird is as funny as it is heartwarming.

    John Boyne, author of The Heart's Invisible Furies
  • “

    Pick of the month. This is a delight: witty, tear jerking and a vivid depiction of the time. I absolutely loved it.

    Woman & Home
  • “

    I loved Dear Mrs Bird, the joyous debut of AJ Pearce.

    Good Housekeeping
  • “

    Fiction Book of the Month: ‘A thoroughly charming debut…a joyous tale about female friendship which pays tribute to the awe-inspiring courage of those young women who lived through the second world war.

    The Bookseller
  • “

    Incredibly funny, yet very touching. *****

    Daily Express
  • “

    The most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love’

    Marian Keyes, author of The Break
  • “

    An utterly charming story of friendship, heartbreak and heroism . . . You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll love it.

    Lucy Diamond, author of The Year of Taking Chances
  • “

    An enchanting debut. *****

    Heat

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