I loved continuing on in this series about family and friendship. It was heartwarming and I did cry a little.
Many thanks to Scribner and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to preface this by saying that I am not, generally, a fan of series, though my recent exceptions have left me wondering why. I thought at first that it was that I thought they lacked variety, and I would not be bothered to return to the same set of characters over and over again. But maybe I will stop saying that, and consider that I don't like series that last more than 5 books (I'm not sure if this one will be a trilogy, or if Pearce has more in mind.)

Honestly, I cared about all of them. I think I actually enjoyed this book more than the two previous ones—not sure if that's because I knew most of their backstories and I was able to settle right in (and yes, I know that's the general idea of a series), or because Pearce has made them more dimensional, and, I think, shown that they aren't all quite as perfect and precocious as they seemed in the first two books. Pearce also adds new characters seamlessly here, and they add more depth to the story. If this is the end of the trilogy, then ok, it was sweet and satisfying. But if there's more, I'll take it.

Mrs. Porter Calling follows Emmy, her brother-in-law and boss Guy, her neighbors, colleagues, and friends in the thick of World War II as she, Guy, and their coworkers navigate the arrival of a new owner for their magazine Woman’s Friend, the Honorable Cressida Porter. However, Mrs. Porter lives apart from their target audience and has several questionable ideas she forces the staff to put into place despite the consequences they may have for the paper. Emmy and Guy, however, continue to live and do their best to maintain the integrity of the paper, though life and war outside the workplace do their best to make things difficult. Pearce’s characters are strong-willed and dynamic, and their emotions and responses to life’s challenges add to the characters’ relatability. The paper, too, takes on a life and personality of its own, especially given its importance to its nameless and faceless readers. The war looms in the background of the novel, adding necessary tension and complications to the story and threatening the characters’ lives (in addition to the conflict in the workplace). Pearce’s novel highlights the multiplicity of wartime experiences, the necessary comforts that a friendly ear or magazine can provide, and the warmth and kindness that a group of united friends can create for themselves and others.

I'm a big fan of the Emmy Lake books and enjoyed Mrs. Porter Calling just as much as the first two. The book oozes charm and whimsy, it's impossible to read without falling in love with each of the characters. It's World War II historical fiction, but told in a way that is heartfelt, personal, and very funny. Emmy Lake is the star, and I adore her, but it would be safe to say that after reading Mrs. Porter, I have a huge crush on her brother in-law Guy. I hope there will be more books in the series; a delightful read for historical fiction lovers!

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was so excited to read the third installment of the Yours Cheerfully, an Emmy Lake advice columnist historical fiction series. I have read and loved the prior books, but I think Mrs. Porter Calling is my favorite. This book totally stands alone and can be read without reading the others first, but reading the others would give you more of a sense of Emmy's backstory.

It is late 1943 London and Emmy Lake is celebrating her 25th birthday with her found family and away from her husband who is overseas in the war. Emmy works in publishing at the weekly magazine, Women's Friend, that is getting a new owner and publisher who vastly different ideas about the future of the magazine.

While hard stuff, really hard stuff, happens in this book, the overall feel of this book is hopeful and positive, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the great secondary characters in this book series including the colorful and diverse folks who work for Women's Friend and Emmy's best friend Bunty and close friend Thelma and her young children. The author paints a vibrant picture of both the Women's Friend community and Emmy's greater community of founded family and friends. It is a place I love to visit if only through the pages of the book.

5 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for letting me check out this book! I will post reviews on post this review on Goodreads, Bookbub and Amazon.

Mrs. Porter is the perfect antagonist in this third installment of The Emmy Lake Chronicles. Her dismissive, arrogant attitude regarding the workers and readers of Woman's Friend magazine had me rolling my eyes. The parts of the novel regarding Emmy, Guy and the rest of the staff trying to save the magazine was predictable- but I was quickly turning the pages to see what happens. Where the author really shines are the "background" stories of Emmy, Bunty and Thelma. Some parts had me crying, especially regarding the references to the innocent children and others had me cheering and laughing out loud. A story of hope, friendship and love in a wartime setting. My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope there are more adventures in store for Emmy and friends. I highly recommend this series to those who love historical fiction with a feminine twist .

I love this series, which takes place in London during WWII. Emmy started out as an advice columnist, which soon expanded to offering people a place to vent during wartime, while also offering wartime hacks. When Cressida Porter, an aristocratic, spoiled snob, takes over ownership of the magazine, Woman’s Friend, chaos ensues as Mrs. Porter wants to change the magazine to suit her whims and get rid of the “mis”. With the usual cast of characters, including Bunty, Guy, and the crew of the magazine, the reader will experience a heartwarming gem. Highly recommend the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 fabulously fun stars, rounded up
“While the rest of us had jobs where every day we battled to bring cheer and hope and information to tens of thousands of women who were facing the most challenging of times, Mrs. Porter had arrived like a fairy materializing onstage in a puff of smoke, all sparkly and smashing and completely at odds with the real world.”

Set in 1944 England, Mrs. Porter Calling is both entertaining and educational, “We’re here to help people as well as entertain them.” A.J. Pierce makes the Homefront come alive with hope, tragedy and working together. The Emmy Lake Chronicles, (of which this is the third one), come out about every other year, so at first, I had forgotten the context of who the characters were, but the first two chapters brought me quickly up to speed. It is helpful, though not necessary to read the books in order.

I delighted in the Britishness of the book and how it humorously puts wartime issues in perspective. “’Does she have any idea how hard it is trying to come up with ways to make rations last? I’m doing my best, Emmy, but there are only so many things you can do with a potato.’” Charming turns of phrases paint the scene and amuse. “It was like being walloped in the face with a powder puff the size of a dustbin lid. It looked soft and fluffy, but before you realized it, you’d been sent flying.” “He was still a tall man, of course, well over six feet, but where before he had looked like a mammoth England rugby player, now he was thinner than his clothes wanted him to be.”

The book has lots of predictable enthusiasm, (“Everyone agreed. It was time to crack on.”), but A.J. ‘s writing has really grown, exploring the element of grief with sad and tender moments. No spoiler details! I appreciate balancing the fun parts with war-time seriousness. “’No kids are exactly normal anymore, Bunts,’ I said, watching them all. ‘Lost parents, siblings, homes – even the luckiest have lost the chance to just feel safe and have fun. There isn’t a child in the country who is having the childhood they deserve.’” The pacing and continued character development are superb.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emmy Lake is working at Woman's Friend magazine as the Reader and Advice Editor. While her husband Charles is serving in the RAF, Emmy is sharing her house with her BFF Bunty, and their friend Thelma and her children are taking the empty flat in their house. Everything is going as well as it can in the middle of a war, until the magazine is taken over by the Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter ("call me Egg") who has specific ideas about changing the magazine's format, content and audience.

The third installment in the Emmy Lake series, warm, cozy, heartfelt. Enjoyable historical fiction to relax with on a hot summer day.

Emmy and her fellow journalists have a challenge when Mrs. Porter inherits the woman's magazine for which they work. Mrs. Porter has her own ideas and visions for Woman's Friend. It is tricky and difficult for Guy, the editor, and the rest of the staff to work with the challenge of Mrs. Porter's unrealistic desires.
How they do this even if it seems they are losing is the tale to read.

Emmy's husband is fighting in WWII and while he's gone, she shares a home with her friend Bunty (owned by Bunty's grandmother). When their mutual friend bemoans the conditions at her flat, Emmy and Bunty invite her and her three children to join them. This small community of friends forms a wonderful support system offering a division of labor and the pooling of rations (which offered more options for cooking!).

Alas, all is not quite so cozy for Emmy at work. She has loved writing the "Yours Cheerfully" [advice] column for Woman's Friend magazine. Helping other women with their problems has helped Emmy keep her mind off missing her husband. She feels like the magazine offers hope and wisdom for women in some pretty dire circumstances. When the magazine changes ownership, it quickly becomes evident that the new owner, Mrs. Porter, wants to change nearly everything about the publication. She starts by slashing the best features and turning a deaf ear to the concerns voiced by the faithful employees who revived readership when the magazine had floundered. The staff decide to band together to keep the magazine from utter ruin. But when a personal tragedy strikes close to home, Emmy struggles to see much hope for the future.

I loved the variety of characters working at the newspaper. AJ Pearce has created a world I'd love to step into. Readers will be rooting for Emmy, Bunty, and Thelma as they face the challenges of war, doing their part, and trying not to let discouragement take over their lives. While not everything turns out sunny, the reality of life during WWII is portrayed in a realistic and sensitive way that gives readers a glimpse into the struggles that women faced not that long ago. I highly recommend all three books in this series by AJ Pearce.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of Mrs. Porter Calling through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Mrs Porter Calling is the third book in a light, historical fiction series about a young female journalist and her co-workers, set in WWII London. The storytelling leans toward fluffy but would truly appeal to young teens looking to learn more about the experiences of women living in London in the 1940s.

This is the third book in A.J. Pearce’s charming series set in London during World War II about a woman named Emmy who works writing an advice column for a woman’s magazine. Things take a turn in this book when the old owner’s awful niece (Mrs. Porter of the title) takes over the magazine.

This is definitely not one where you can jump in in the middle of the series - you really have to start with book 1. However, if you enjoy stories of the home front during WWII, this series is a great choice.

Like the first two, the book is funny, charming, and emotional, and I loved it - even if Mrs. Porter is so terrible that she made me, as she would say “a bit mis.” But I suspect from the way it ended that there will be a fourth book in the series, and I will be first in line to read it!

UGH! This book reads as if Professor Umbridge took over a beloved women's magazine. I HATED MRS. PORTER. However, I loved (mostly) everyone else. This is such a good series, and I loved this addition. Through heartbreak and love, this group of found family gathered together to save a magazine that is helping so many during a terrible time in history.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third novel in the Emmy Lake Chronicles by A.J. Pearce. Set in Central London, in 1943, Emmy Lake and her best friend Bunty share a home in Pimlico and are still volunteering at the local fire station as telephonists. On staff at Woman’s Friend magazine, Emmy responds to letters for her popular advice column, Yours Cheerfully, with compassionate, helpful ideas. When Mrs. Porter arrives on the scene as the new owner and publisher, the daily lives and schedules of the staff go rather sideways. Pearce compares time with Mrs. Porter to working with a Lancaster bomber in a hat, and as Mrs. Porter aptly put it herself, “Meetings are not my thing.” Mrs. Porter wreaks havoc on Woman’s Friend, sending the magazine circulation into a downward spiral.
A.J. Pearce develops the plot through quirky, witty characters, who become a close-knit team as they pull together to save Woman’s Friend and outwit Mrs. Porter. Columns such as What’s in the Hot Pot and On Duty for Beauty add ingenious ideas and giggly humor for readers along with columnist Pamela Pye’s penchant for French. Back at home, Emmy and Bunty are trying to “Stay Calm and Carry On” in true British fashion. The men in their lives are at war but friends and colleagues from the fire station fill in when needed. The addition of friend Thelma and her three children add to family dynamics of cooking with ration coupons, acquiring pets, and providing unexpected emotional support. Pearce highlights the stamina, patience, and love required of families to endure the war years.
A.J. Pearce chocked Mrs. Porter Calling full of hilarious British humor, iconic pearls of wisdom, and laugh out loud dialogue interspersed with personal and social situations that strike all the emotional chords. This novel is a comfort as Thelma often reminded her children, “You are safe, and you are loved.”

Delightful third installment of the Emmy Lake series. This has the feel of a cozy mystery without the mystery (instead, there's a war on). There are heartbreaking moments, but the cheer and optimism of the cast of characters always carries through. I thought the plot of Mrs. Porter Calling was more compelling than the previous sequel, and "together we can do anything" spirit was exactly what I needed. The first book was still my favorite, but I'd happily spend more time with Emmy again and again.

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third installment in The Emmy Lake Chronicles series by A.J. Pearce. Set in London during WWII, this series follows aspiring journalist, Emmy Lake, as she seeks to do her part for the war effort.

In Mrs. Porter Calling, Emmy is now in charge of writing “Yours Cheerfully” a popular advice column in Women’s Friend magazine. With each column, Emmy seeks to help her readers cope with the increasing challenges they have all faced because of the war. In fact, much of the magazine is dedicated to helping the average Londoner get by. The readers love that everyone at the magazine is so devoted to their well being, and therefore Woman’s Friend is wildly successful even in such trying times. That is, until Mrs. Porter arrives on the scene.

I have to say that I struggled a little with this book. First, I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series when I requested it, totally my fault for not paying attention, but that meant I didn’t have all the background on Emmy, her husband Charles, and the rest of her friends and coworkers. I was still easily able to follow along and get the gist of all their personalities and relationships and I enjoyed all of the series regulars, especially Emmy and her best friend Bunty, who are both just so plucky and fierce, but I felt like I would have connected even more with them if I had read the first two books.

My biggest struggle though was actually Mrs. Porter. Mrs. Porter is a narcissistic socialite who inherits the magazine. She doesn’t like anything sad or that relates to the war and so she comes in like a wrecking ball, dismantling everything good about the magazine and turning it into a ridiculous vanity project, without care or concern for what the readers want. Now I love a good villain – it’s fun to have a character that you love to hate. The problem with Mrs. Porter is that I didn’t love to hate her. I just hated her and wanted to skip over the scenes she appeared in. She was just too predictable and one dimensional. I wanted her to do something that would surprise me and she unfortunately never did.

That said, what saved the book for me was Emmy and her fellow staff members. They are appalled by Mrs. Porter and make it their mission to save their beloved magazine. I loved watching this crew hatch schemes to try to undermine Mrs. Porter. Those scenes were a lot of fun to read and I found myself cheering them on all the way. I also really enjoyed watching Emmy’s domestic life. Since her husband is away at war and several of her friends are struggling, they all decide to move in together to save on expenses and share their rations. When tragedy strikes, they all come together as a family and it was just beautiful to witness.

Even though I had some issues, I still enjoyed Mrs. Porter Calling and would definitely recommend it to historical fiction fans. I would say to read the first two books in the series before you do though for the best overall reading experience. 3 1/2 stars

This series is such a balm to the soul.

I can't get enough of Emmy Lake & Bunty and the whole crew at Woman's Friend. This installment picks up closely after the second one (my favorite still in the series) ended. Emmy & Bunty have moved in together in Bunty's granny's house. They end up having one of their friends Thelma move into the top floor with her 3 children. Then the magazine that we've come to know and love gets a new owner with Lord Overton's passing, and enter Mrs. Porter. Chaos ensues --

All the antics, heartbreak, and comical tender moments between these characters brings me right into the time and place. Pearce has a knack for writing true to the era and I felt like I was right there in the air raids, and mini zoo that they acquire on behalf of the kids. My heart broke as war time news spreads and as these characters try to do whatever it takes to get their magazine back. Small Winston was a huge favorite for his ability to ankle bite and his little stature. I could just picture him.

4 Delightful Stars

I am still really enjoying this series, now in a third installation. It’s wonderful to really get to know a set of characters and to have a slower pace with a story.

We are still firmly into WWII London in this one. Emmy Lake is entrenched at Woman’s Friend magazine, answering readers’ questions and offering advice during difficult times. She’s got a great group of friends at the magazine and outside, including Bunty and Thelma and her adorable children.

That’s all about to change when there’s a new owner of the magazine, Mrs. Porter. She’s a society queen and thinks the magazine is all wrong. As she goes about changing things, Emmy is worried for all the magazine readers as she can’t print and answer their questions. The fate of the magazine hangs in the balance.

There are some heartbreaking parts of this story, but I absolutely loved how it ended. I can’t wait for the next installment to be reunited with Emmy and I do Fervently Hope that Charles makes it through the war.

Set against the backgroung of WWII London, the main characters revolve around a young war wife who is giving advice in a women's magazine that enjoys a dedictaed following of women just like herself. When the magazine is sold to an upper class rich woman, she makes it known that she intends to change the format of the magazine to draw more readers like herself. But this woman must reconcile her plans with the current readers or face a backlash of complaints and lost readers.
The book is not your usual WWII story line. It's focus is the women left to manage their homes and families while also living and working in an active war zone and how they will fight to keep the small comforts they have. It is definitely worth your reading time. I'm recommending for our next reading circle.