From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Dear Mrs Bird, AJ Pearce’s Dear Miss Lake returns us to wartime London where Emmy Lake is facing her greatest challenge yet . . .

England, July 1944.

After nearly five years of war the nation is weary, and the readers of Woman’s Friend need agony aunt Emmy Lake more than ever. With London under attack from the doodlebugs, the magazine decamps to the countryside, determined to keep helping the women of Britain and give hope to readers feeling powerless in the face of desperate news.

With husband Charles now posted closer to home, and best friend Bunty at her side, Emmy throws herself into rural life, juggling children, competitive knitters and plans for a very important wedding. And then a phone call comes that means she may finally have the chance to become the war correspondent she always dreamed of.

But disaster strikes, and suddenly Emmy is faced with her biggest challenge yet. Because when your own heart is breaking, how do you help everyone else?

Joyful, moving and uplifting, Dear Miss Lake is the perfect story of the power of friendship and love.

READERS LOVE DEAR MISS LAKE!

‘Absolutely brilliant!’ *****
‘A joy – tears and laughter – from start to finish’ *****
‘Like getting together with an old friend that you love . . . I was entertained, happy, sad and gripped’ *****
‘Engaging, funny, and at time emotional . . . I’m not ready to say goodbye’ *****
‘Had me laughing out loud . . . an absolute must’ *****
‘I’ve come to adore these characters’ *****
‘I enjoyed it immensely’ *****

A heart-warming, heart-wrenching wartime story from The Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird, AJ Pearce.

Emmy Lake is the much-loved agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine, relied upon by readers across the country as they face the challenges of life on the Home Front. With the problem page thriving and a team of fantastic women behind her, Emmy finally feels she is Doing Her Bit.

But when a glamorous new owner arrives, everything changes. As the Honourable Mrs Porter tries to charm her way around the rest of the team, Emmy realizes that she plans to destroy everything readers love about the magazine.

With happiness quickly turning to heartbreak and war still raging in Europe, will Emmy and her friends find the inner strength they need to keep keeping on – and save the magazine they love?

‘Heartbreaking yet feel-good, we loved it.’ – Woman & Home
‘A winning combination of warmth, humour and a compelling story of the power of friendship.’ – Katie Fforde

‘The best possible antidote for the blahs, the doldrums, all slumps, all dumps . . . Loved. Every. Word.’ – Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry

London, September, 1941. Following the departure of the formidable Editor, Mrs Henrietta Bird, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake at Woman’s Friend magazine. And while the war rages on, Emmy is even firmer that she must do all she can to help on the Home Front. As ever, she is determined to Make a Go of It. When the Ministry of Information calls on Britain’s women’s magazines to help recruit female supporters to the war effort, Emmy is thrilled to be asked to help.

But when she and best friend Bunty meet a young woman who shows them the real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must tackle a life-changing dilemma: should she carry out her duty or stand by her friends?

‘Buoyant and bubbly, a tonic in testing times’ – Mail on Sunday
‘A brilliant follow up to Dear Mrs Bird‘ – Clare Mackintosh
‘Absolutely lovely!’ – Marian Keyes
‘Full of wit, friendship and the uplifting knowledge that when people come together, great changes can be made’ – Katie Fforde

‘Sweet, heart-warming and uplifting . . . Absolutely lovely!’ – Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups
‘Full of wit, friendship and the uplifting knowledge that when people come together, great changes can be made’ – Katie Fforde, author of Wedding Season

London, September, 1941.

Following the departure of the formidable Editor, Henrietta Bird, from Woman’s Friend magazine, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake as she takes on the challenge of becoming a young wartime advice columnist. Her relationship with boyfriend Charles is blossoming, while Emmy’s best friend Bunty, is still reeling from the very worst of the Blitz, but bravely looking to the future. Together, the friends are determined to Make a Go of It.

When the Ministry of Information calls on Britain’s women’s magazines to help recruit desperately needed female workers to the war effort, Emmy is thrilled to be asked to step up and help. But when she and Bunty meet a young woman who shows them the very real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must tackle a life-changing dilemma between doing her duty, and standing by her friends.

Every bit as funny, touching and cheering as AJ Pearce’s debut, Dear Mrs Bird, Yours Cheerfully is a celebration of friendship, a testament to the strength of women and the importance of lifting each other up, even in the most challenging times.