An enjoyable page turner.
I enjoyed the fact that this book covered WW1. as I've read lots on WW2 land girls and nothing on WW1.

This is what I call an easy read book. Thoroughly enjoyable but not really a page turner . Follow the story of the wealthy land owners who as the war takes hold they experience life at the other end of the wealth divide and they end up in change of circumstances. One imprisoned for being a war refused, one became a land girl and one believed killed .

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I've really enjoyed reading this, it was a different book to what I usually read and I'm so glad I took that step.
The best part of the whole book is the characters, they are so full and well built they come out of the pages. Emily is such a strong, kind, honest girl you can't help but love her and feel every up and down of her life with her.

The era portrayed in the story was interesting to read about, the war, the land girls and the movement of the suffragettes .
I lovely book to get lost in, and I have found myself thinking about the characters and what happens next alot since finishing the book. To me that is the Sign of a great book!

Loved this book and didn’t want to put it down. The author has an amazing way with words and manages to draw you into the book so easily.

Many thanks to HQ Digital and #NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the Land Girl in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I express are entirely my own.

When I first saw the cover and title of this book I thought it would be set in the time of the Second World War which is a time that fascinates me. I had not realized that Land Girls were also a big part of the Great War. Burns shows very clearly in this novel the class differences that existed during that time between the rich and the working class and also between women and men. It made me thankful that I live in the time that is now which allows me so many opportunities as a woman.

The story begins early in the first year of the war. Emily, the heroine of the story, is weighed down by the burdens of her Mothers expectations and her brother John, home on leave from war, has come to the realization that this war will not be done by Christmas. Her other brother Cecil is clear in his belief that it would be wrong for him to serve in the war in any way at all, a decision which will have an impact on his whole family.

Emily has a love for the land and has always done her best to learn what ever she can about managing her family's land and animals. When she learns that women can sign up to work on the land as war work she is determined that this is what she must do but she faces stiff opposition from her mother. Over time she is eventually able to follow her dream and do the job well. Along the way she will inspire those around her, face tragedy, marry and bear a child and stand up for the rights of her fellow land girls once the war finally comes to an end.

There is love in this story, but I would not call it a romance. The body of the novel really focuses on the strength of Emily as a woman in a time when women held very little power. As I reader I came to feel as if I knew her well and as she faced each obstacle in her way I was pulling for her to succeed and overcome. The author has an excellent way with words and the story immediately caught my interest and kept me reading into the wee small hours of the morning. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this time period and the role that women played in helping to win the war.

Emily is frustrated by the restrictions on her priviledged life, the expectation that she will marry well and produce a family regardless of what she wants herself....... so when world war 1 starts she sees an opportunity to get away from her mother and do something for her country as a land girl. Never having had to get her hands dirty before it is a hard life but she revels in it and had never been happier...... but what will happen at the end off the war will she have to go back to her previous life?

A great story very compelling and I loved the way the character of Emily evolved as she found herself and lived a life that she chose, definitely recommended

5 Words: Family, responsibility, love, grief, belief.

This book was honestly such a delight to read. It was so easy to get lost in the rich setting and get caught up in Emily's life, and I adored it.

I loved Emily's passion and conviction. Right from the start she knew what she wanted, and she battled her way towards it. The family dynamics in The Land Girl are fantastic - from the family that Emily if born into to the family she makes for herself with her friends.

I did find the plot a little bit predictable, but in a good way. I felt comfortable knowing roughly where it'd go, if not how, and it still managed to throw up some surprises.

I felt that there were three very distinct parts of this book, although they are not labelled as such, revolving around Emily's development. She changes so much between the beginning and end of the book that she could almost be a different person. And it's excellent.

The Land Girl was a beautiful story, and one I will definitely reread. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought the author's other book The Lido Girls.

The Land Girl charts one young woman’s struggle to break free of the bonds of societal norms. The advent of World War I heralded a new era, one where the division of the classes and gender roles became blurred as we worked together to defeat a common foe. The world as we knew it was gone forever.

Emily’s story had me riveted from the off. Filled with passion and spirit, and more gumption than I could ever hope for, Emily is one of those characters that ignites your own inner fire. You want to nurture her, and watch her grow - just like one of those seedlings she so tenderly cares for. For she is something special.

This was a poignant, heartfelt, heart rending, uplifting (enough adjectives for you? *snorts*) read of love and loss, and everything in between. For me, at the heart of this book is a love story, but not in the conventional sense. It’s the love that Emily has for the land, and the place she calls home. You could feel it coming off the pages, as Emily welcomes us into her world.

I can’t recommend this book enough. I truly felt transported back in time, and can’t help thinking about where we would be today, as women, if it weren’t for the likes of Emily, Martha et al. I love a story that makes you think and want to engage. This book did both with bells on. Woe betide anyone that strikes up a conversation with me about this book - I don’t think they’ll get me to shut up *giggles* A bit like this review, I hear you cry!

Okay, okay, shutting up in 3, 2, 1...

Just one last thing - I think we’ve all got a bit of Emily in us. Don’t you think?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a really interesting glimpse into a part of history that I'm fascinated by and with great characters. I wasn't familiar with the author beforehand but will definitely look out for more by her in the future!

A fabulously written historical novel set during the First World War that is absolutely impossible to put down, The Land Girl is another exceptionally told tale by Allie Burns.

Emily has always chafed at the confines that society has imposed upon her. Even though she leads a life of great privilege, Emily feels as if she is trapped in a gilded cage where her thoughts, hopes and dreams for the future are deemed to be inconsequential and of no importance to anybody. Like other women of her class, Emily is expected to marry well and be a dutiful wife to a suitable gentleman. However, she cannot help but yearn for freedom and for the possibility to be the mistress of her own destiny. Emily’s dearest wish to be free has always seemed to be impossible, but could the War provide her with the catalyst she needs to finally break free from the family’s rigid rules and regulations?

The War has changed everybody’s life forever and not even privileged families like Emily’s are immune from the hardships and tragedies which such a war brings. The War has changed her family’s life beyond recognition – but is has also enabled Emily to strike out on her own and be her own person for the first time in her life. Desperate to do her bit for king and country, Emily is ready to roll up her sleeves and help England in any way she can. Even though she has been used to a life where she had been waited on hand and foot, Emily is not adverse to getting her hands dirty and doing a bit of manual labour. Becoming a land girl will not only allow her to serve her country, but it will also take her away from her mother’s tyranny and enable her to be independent for the first time in her life.

The hours might be long, the work excruciating and the uniform less than flattering, but Emily has never known happiness quite like it. However, with the war fast approaching its conclusion, will Emily passively go back to her old life or has she learned to not just stand up for herself, but to also fight for what her heart truly wants?

The Land Girl is an absorbing, compelling and evocative historical novel I simply couldn’t bear to put down. Elegantly written, wonderfully poignant and wholly mesmerizing, The Land Girl is an atmospheric and unforgettable tale of love, war, hope, second chances and healing that will hold readers in thrall from beginning to end. Allie Burns is an astonishingly terrific writer of historical fiction who knows how to spin an unforgettable yarn and readers who enjoy intelligent, captivating and heartwarming novels set in the early 20th century, need to add her name to their must-buy list!

Excellent storyline. Wonderful main characters. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.

Another beautiful read. Set towards the end of the war, Emily longs to break free, to help, to be useful. To be viewed as more than a daughter, a sister, a possession, a woman. The writing style is relaxed and easy, the story unfurling page by page. Sparky heroines and frustrating mothers make this book well worth the read. How far we have come as women, and still how far to go...

Another gentle wartime read from a fast becoming favourite of this genre for me.

A lovely story with great characters and a great story well worth 5* Not normally an era i read but i did enjoy the book.

A very good read for those looking for old fashioned storytelling and historical fiction. Set during WWII, it focuses on Emily, who finds herself working as land girl. She's got a lot to learn, not only about agriculture but also about life and people. It's an interesting character study. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For US fans of certain BBC dramas on PBS (you know who you are!).

I really enjoyed this book, probably more than I expected I would. I'm not a huge historical fiction reader, as so many stories are set in a world so foreign and unimaginable for me that I struggle to get into the, and the writing styles are so different. However, this one, was so different. It had a really good world building, and the descriptions were so real. With every word I read I was able to build up this picture of what was happening so clearly.
I really connected with the characters. I felt for Emily while reading the book, she had to endure so many struggles, but this was the reality for so many young women during WW1. I can't comment too much upon historical accuracy, as I'm no expert in this area of history, but it felt very real and well researched when I was reading it.

A really good story based on true events during WW1. A fascinating novel learning about upper/middle upper class women who had no real purpose before the war other than to meet a suitable husband. Woman of all walks of life then became essential workers during the war. Changing their perspective on life this followed the story of fighting to keep jobs when men returned. Also learning about conscientious objectors during this period. Some truly heartbreaking moments of loss and family tragedy. A great read.