1943
The hum of the sewing machines filled the air, a rhythm so familiar Amanda could usually ignore it. Twenty women were bent over their machines making uniforms for the troops, work so repetitive they didn't have to think about it...
The Blurb
🪡 With the world at war, three women stitch hope into every seam…🪡
In the bustling heart of London’s East End, Maisie, Amanda and Bethan work long hours at the uniform factory. The pay is poor, the shifts relentless and the bombs fall far too close for comfort – but these three women refuse to give in to despair.
For when not at the factory, the girls spend their days on the markets of Petticoat Lane, trying to source material in order to make dresses – doing their best to bring any small amount of joy in these troubled times.
When a chance encounter leads them to a bundle of parachute silk, they decide to think bigger. And so, with needles in hand and a dream in their hearts, they begin sewing a beautiful wedding dress in secret.
But in wartime, secrets don’t stay hidden for long. And when Amanda uncovers seedy goings on at the factory, all of their livelihoods may be on the line…
A page-turning tale of friendship, courage and a chance for a better life. If you loved The Library Girls of the East End, be the first to read Patricia McBride's brand new series!
My Review
I adored reading Patricia McBride's series, The Library Girls, and I will be including links to those reviews below. So I snapped up the chance to read this first book in a new series when I was offered a copy.
When I've enjoyed a series so much, I approach a new series with slight trepidation in case it doesn't live up to my expectations. However, I am glad to say that this did not disappoint in any way.
This was a lovely story in which we meet friends Amanda, Maisie and Bethan. They all work together in the sewing factory making uniforms for the troops. However, during the book they begin venturing into the world of design, dressmaking and alterations. They share a market stall in the titular Petticoat Lane to begin their venture.
They also each have their own challenges - Amanda's father is violent and she longs to leave home, Maisie's mother is an alcoholic and thus Maisie is left to care for her younger brother and sister, and Bethan wants to meet and marry an American GI and escape the East End for life in America.
I loved the way the author depicted her characters. Each very different but all exhibited the strength and courage they needed to face their individual circumstances. Each of them were well-formed characters who came alive on the page.
I grew up in London's East End and frequently went with my mum to visit Petticoat Lane on a Sunday morning when I was young. Therefore, the setting resonated with me as I could imagine the market very well - albeit the book was set about three decades before my time there. However, the author does a great job with creating the setting and you would end the book feeling as though you were equally as familiar with it.
What I enjoyed most about this book is the strong sense of friendship between the three women. The support they each receive from one another allows them to be better versions of themselves in a time when there were so many constraints on them, not just because they were women but also because the country was at war.
This is a wonderful start to a new series and I will definitely be following along with their further adventures.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1836333128
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 288 (paperback)
Series: Book 1 of the Petticoat Lane series
Links to My Reviews of The East End Library Girls series
Purchase Links
About the Author
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Patricia McBride is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books as well as numerous articles. She loves undertaking the research for her books, helped by stories told to her by her Cockney mother and grandparents who lived in the East End. Patricia lives in Cambridge with her husband.
You can also find Patricia at:
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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