A “chance discovery of a 1939 womens magazine” has given A.J. Pearce the material for her wonderful Emmy Lake Chronicles of which “Mrs. Porter Calling” is her third installment. It is a charming and thoughtful look back to the time the allies were fighting Hitler and England was trying to hold itself together. Rations, and daily bombings are the norm but so is the magazine Woman’s Friend which tries to inspire by using the everyday mundane things to help a nation get through the deprivations of the war. Everyone is expected to do their part except for the 1% who is still dining at the Savoy, and finding the whole war thing “So Mis” - meet the sly and very spoiled Mrs. Porter.

The story is a tug-of-war between Emmy Lake with her co-workers who are trying to save their beloved magazine with a young, narcissistic heir who would Ike nothing better than to reinvent the publication in her image. While the business is in turmoil Emmy’s personal life has a few complications as well. Many of the characters that have appeared in previous installments are back and seamlessly meshed with the newcomers. So many to like and admire with a few stinkers thrown in to make things interesting.

In “Mrs. Porter Calling”, Pearce has given us another perspective of the daily lives of the British people in 1943, queuing for everything, unsure of the future, but holding onto their faith and determination. Many thanks to Scribner, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read Mrs. Porter Calling. I was so excited to read the third installment in the Emmy Lake Chronicles!! Sometimes with a series, you can lose the continuity of the story. Not so with Mrs. Porter Calling. I don't have enough wonderful things to say about this latest installment. Emmy is her wonderful and brave self. She shows us the meaning of family along with Bunty, Guy & of course Charles. This is a wonderful book and it it not to be missed.

Emmy Lake’s story continues in 1943 London as she’s fully immersed in her job at Woman’s Friend, doing her part for the VAD, and writing daily to her husband Charles. Unfortunately Lord Overton’s death means new ownership for Woman’s Friend. The Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter, the new owner, has her own ideas of what the magazine should be. She is a self-involved villain through and through. This is another ultimately feel good story in the series. However, taking place during WWII means there will be tragedy and heartbreak. For me, this was a four tissue read. Will there be more in the series, please?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this book I hadn’t realized that I forgot to read its predecessor, Yours Cheerfully (this book is the third in the Emmy Lake trilogy) – so I quickly downloaded and read it. Now caught up – it’s been a year later and it’s spring 1943 and Emmy Lake has been working as the advice columnist at Women’s Friend, living with her best friend Bunty, working at the fire station with her friend Thelma and waiting for her new husband Charles to come home at the end of the war from North Africa. Life suddenly changes when a new publisher, Mrs. Porter, takes over and has a very different take on what Women’s Friend should be – the wonderful little magazine that helps women through the war and gives practical advice is too pedestrian for Mrs. Porter, she wants it to be a fashionable high-end magazine. Between trying to save the magazine and Emmy’s chaotic home life (her friend Thelma moves in with her three children) the novel illustrates the hardships of war in London, love and friendship.

I found this entire series entertaining and fun. I think this one may be my favorite of the three. The characters and their interactions are just a joy to read. While there were a few slow spots in the book I thought the two intertwining stories of Emmy’s home life and her work life were done very well. I’m glad I read the 2nd book right before, it almost felt like a Netflix binge. This series is a nice historical fiction read, it goes into the details and a bit of the tragedy but manages to feel light in the end.

This is a three and three quarter star read bumped up to four

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to review!

I love this series completely and book 3 makes a delightful addition. I adore the characters, especially MC Emmy and her crew at Women’s Friend magazine. I even loved to hate the new publisher of the publication, Mrs. Porter, whose proposed changes focus not on what readers want -- like the incredibly popular advice column -- but what she and her rich friends would prefer. Set during WWII London, with the same charm and wit and authenticity that have made the series such a hit. Highly recommended!

Emmy Lake continues to be a delight. It's 1943, and though Emmy's husband is off in North Africa, Emmy has settled into a good routine with her work at Woman's Friend and evenings with the fire brigade. The war is still awful, of course, but things are plugging along. Until WF is handed over to the Honorable Mrs. Porter, who doesn't want the magazine to deal with helpful (but depressing) things like cooking tips and readers' questions, which she decrees a Bit Mis. Emmy and her coworkers have to cope with Mrs. Porter's goal of changing the magazine into one for people with money to burn.

Pearce balances nicely Emmy's job woes with the day-to-day life of the war. Life in the house with Emmy and Bunty is always a joy. I appreciate that Emmy is an optimistic sort, but Pearce manages to keep her from getting annoying. We see Emmy worry about her husband Charles and fret over the lives of her readers, but her natural positivity is there; it's a good balance. Mrs. Porter is perhaps too mustache-twirlingly bad; she has no redeeming qualities, so the chapters focusing on work can be hard to read. Fortunately, we then bounce back to Emmy's home life, which is chaotic and fun and realistic, as everyone deals with life during a war. Nothing is as stable as they want it to be, but they have no choice.

Truly an enjoyable series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance copy of this book!

"Mrs. Porter Calling" is Book #3 in the Series "The Emmy Lake Chronicles"!

It's now Spring in London, April 1943, as WWII continues for more than three years. One year has already passed since Emmy's marriage to Captain Charles Mayhew, who's off fighting the war.

Emmy is grateful to have her work at "Women's Friend" magazine as she remains in charge of the heavily read advice column, "Yours Cheerfully", which keeps her plenty busy.

Just when she thinks all is going as planned, there's change in the air...

Publisher Lord Overton has died and left "Women's Friend" magazine to his niece and socialite, the Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter, who has, 'ahem', quite a presence.

Mrs. Porter knows nothing about "Women's Friend", publishing, editing, or the demographics of the readership, but wants to make a few changes that will barely be noticeable and are bound to make the magazine better.

Unfortunately, what Mrs. Porter wants to change is everything the readers love about the magazine, and so the chaos begins...

"Mrs. Porter Calling" gave me cause for a happy dance. My fingers were crossed this series would continue, so hearing about Book #3 was a delightful surprise.

The character of Mrs. Porter was quite a boost and brought a crazy amount of excitement to the story. She's complicated, hard to read, inconsistent, and just when the group at "Women's Friend" thinks they have her figured out, she slithers through their fingers. Personally, I wanted to ring Mrs. Porter's socialite neck. What a great character!

The second half of the story definitely has a faster pace and where most of the movement in the story happens. A tragedy hits hard, and it's one I didn't see coming but solidifies why this series is so heartfelt, touching, and loved by so many readers. Get the tissues out, folks, you're going to need them.

"Mrs. Porter Calling" is a great balance between the changes happening at 'Women's Friend' magazine and dealing with the hardships of day-to-day life in London during wartime. I love this story and only wish for more correspondence between Emmy and Charles, I love their letters of support and love, and I didn't get near enough of Emmie's or Bunty's families. Maybe next time?

Yes, my fingers are crossed, once again, for a Book #4...

I highly recommend "Mrs. Porter Calling" to readers who love Historical Fiction that circles around families and friendships!

4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and A.J. Pearce for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. Publication date: 8/8/23.

I read Dear Mrs. Bird when it was first released so I was so happy to see remembered characters. Mrs. Porter Calling is delightful. I laughed and cried right along with Emmy and her mates. You feel as though you are with them as they strive to keep their newspaper going and responsive to their readers. I can relate to wanting to fix things as the motivation behind Yours Cheerfully. I loved not liking the Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter right along with the staff, a truly selfish and self-centered person as opposed to the giving, caring, and dedicated staff. The book is well written and reading it is a lovely way to spend the afternoon. I regret not yet reading Yours Cheerfully so have added it to my list to get. 5 stars

Mrs. Porter Calling was mostly fun, a little despondent. The cast of characters offer a wide range of personalities, from delightful to ghastly, all equally fun to read. The backdrop of World War II lent a serious tone with light-hearted fun threaded generously throughout. Women’s Friend magazine has proven to be a beacon of hope in the past 2 books in the series until Mrs. Porter comes a-calling’ and sets out to ruin it. The Women’s Friend family, led by Emmy and Guy, lead the March to save the magazine, but it won’t be easy. Wonderful characters that I just adore made this a book I won’t soon forget. Cheers to an outstanding third installment of the Emmy Lake series! Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received an electronic ARC from Scribner through NetGalley.
Pearce returns readers to London during WWII and to the lives of her characters from the first two books. In this segment, Emmy and the rest of the magazine staff must adjust to a new owner after Lord Overton's death. His niece has distinctly different ideas for the magazine and very little awareness of life for most at that time. This battle between Guy & Emmy and Mrs. Porter plays out with dignified comments and hidden barbs for much of the book. Tragedy does strike again and Emmy and Bunty cope with this curve ball in a realistic manner. In the end, Emmy and the crew are able to purchase the magazine with help from a surprising source.
The story feels forced at times as some characters play more as stereotypes. This surprised me but Pearce makes sure readers see how out of touch the Honorable Mrs. Porter is. Portions of the book feel like they are sidebars to her main theme for the series. I hope a next book will wrap up some of the character lives and move the story forward again.

This was definitely my favorite of the books so far in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series. Mrs. Porter was a fantastic and believable villain (major Dolores Umbridge vibes!). Emmy is really coming into her own and she feels like an old friend you want to root for to keep winning. And I thought the end was super satisfying. I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!

I was hoping to LOVE this book, but unfortunately i never really connected with the story. I am sure that many people will love this book, and I am definitely willing to give it a second chance, but for now it is a "miss" book for me.

I have loved this series, and I believe this is the best of the three. It has a cheerfulness and coziness that I really enjoy despite the tragic circumstances it portrays. Very authentic and evocative - reminds me a bit of Call the Midwife. A really delicious villain, too, which is always fun. I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for my review.

Another real but still delightful book about how things are at home while WWII rages on. England worked so hard keeping spirits up, making food appealing on meager rations, and working so hard for the war effort. Great little story. Recommend.

This series is just so heartwarming, and this third book is no different. I love catching up with all of the characters and getting to know some new ones. This is still a WWII book, so there is heartbreak, but overall this is just a fun storyline. This third book was my second favorite in the series, and I hope it keeps going!

3.75 stars
This charming series, set in WWII London, is a soothing read. You find yourself rooting for the characters, who in the midst of wartime, naturally are experiencing a vast field of emotions and circumstances.

Emmy Lake works for a woman's monthly magazine. The staff is family -- literally in the case of her editor who is her husband's brother. They care very much about their readers and their problems and try to make a connection during the isolation of war-torn England. But when the old publisher dies and leaves the magazine's control to family member Mrs. Porter, everything changes. She is an entitled rich woman who is oblivious to anyone else. She cloaks her selfishness with lots of airheaded comments and meaningless gifts, but she guts the magazine and refuses to listen to staff.

Meanwhile Emmy and family and friends are doing the best they can during the deprivation of bombing, husbands at war, rationing, and fear. The story of how they cope and rise above their situation is at times humorous and at times poignant, a testimony to their resilience. This would work as a standalone but I recommend reading all three books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mrs. Porter Calling is the 3rd or 4th book of the series and I recieved it as an ARC from netgalley. I did not however read the first books in the series so I feel like I can not give a full accurate review. I will be going back to reading them in order as I did really enjoy the book but need to read them in order to better understand the background.

Emmy Lake returns in this third title by Pearce as a married woman, still working at Women's Friend magazine, but with increasing responsibilities both at work and at home. Her husband away at war, she forms a makeshift family of friends, some who live with her and others whom she is close with through various war related activities. With the original owner of the magazine's death, the ownership has passed on to his neice, Mrs. Porter. Imagine the surprise when she wants to take an active role in running the magazine! Mrs. Porter has no grasp of the deprivations of the war period, nor of the limitations and troubles many subscribers suffer and insists the magazine publish what she wants: articles on posh clothing, extravagant meals, and multiple pages just about her. Emmy, Guy, and the others work against this with the hope that she will soon tire of things. Outside of work, the family Emmy befriended when writing about factory work in the previous book moves in with her, along with her children. Tragedy strikes in more than one way, and it is Emmy's determination to make things right.

An engrossing read, full of "keep calm and carry on" spirit.

I very much enjoyed the first two Emmy Lake books, but this one was a bit of a letdown for me. The Honorable Cressida Porter, who becomes the new owner of Women’s Friend, is such a two-dimensional villain. She’s upper crust, doesn’t care about anyone who isn’t just like her (actually, not just doesn’t care, is downright disgusted to be reminded that they exist and form the entire readership of the magazine), plays dumb flirty games to get her way and becomes an ice-cold witch if it doesn’t work, and is brainless. It’s just not entertaining to read about her—or her even less-developed henchman, Mr. Elliott. I can almost imagine she might be entertaining in a dramatized version of the book, but on the page it’s just too annoying to have to spend so much time reading about her. As a dog lover, it was also infuriating to me how she overindulged her dog to the point of making him ill.

The portions of the book not involving Mrs. Porter—best friend Bunty, friend Thelma and her brood of three children, the at the fire service where Emmy volunteers, and everyone else in Emmy’s private life—are enjoyable and often make touching reading.

I think I’m a bit spoiled by having recently read Annie Lyons’s The Air Raid Book Club. Another in this sub-genre of Plucky-Britons-In-Wartime, it has much more dimensional characters, and its troublesome characters aren’t caricatures like Mrs. Porter. Still, since I did like the first two Emmy Lake books, I’ll give the fourth a try when it appears.

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third book in The Emmy Lake Chronicles. I would suggest reading the books in order so you understand the relationships and the progression of the friendships/loves. I have enjoyed this series. The books remind me of a heartwarming BBC series. Call the Midwives keeps coming to my mind only set around a women's magazine.

World War 2 is still taking its toll on London in 1943. Woman's Friend magazine is dispensing practical articles about how to help housewives/mothers/friends to make it through the war. The people have limited food choices, money is going into war bonds, and if you want to feel feminine with beauty products or stylish dress, a bit of ingenuity and resourcefulness are going to have to come into play.

The owner of the magazine passes away and leaves the well running Woman's Friend to his niece, the Honorable Mrs. Cressida Porter, aka Egg. Mrs. Porter has other ideas for the magazine and tries to change to format so it will appeal to the fashion forward and well-to-do of London. Emmy, her friends, and employees all come together to try and save the magazine.

This book series is for people looking for pretty wholesome books. There is very limited language, they would not dream of having sex out of wedlock, and good values all around. Emmy was worked up about taking two pencils and hole punch after the staff was fired. There is tragedy in the books that comes with war. The books are a good read and I would recommend The Emmy Lake Chronicles and specific to this review, Mrs. Porter Calling. I think there could be more books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #AJPearce #MrsPorterCalling #theEmmyLakeChronicles