Member Review

The Shop Girls of Lark Lane by Pam Howes takes readers to Liverpool, England in August of 1945. Alice Lomax has enjoyed time off with her recently demobbed husband, Terry and their four year old daughter, Cathy. Alice must return to work at Lewis’s which leaves Terry taking care of Cathy who does not know him. They are in for a struggle until Cathy gets to know and trust Terry. Sadie Romano works with Alice at Lewis’s which remained open during the war and it has the bomb scars to prove it. Rationing is still in effect and items are in scarce supply. Sadie is a single mother raising her son, Gianni. She hopes to never see Luca Romano, Gianni’s Italian father, but luck is not with Sadie. Luca wants to be a part of Gianni’s life, but Sadie is wary of trusting him. Terry obtains a used motorbike to get back and forth to his new job over Alice’s objections. Then one day the unthinkable happens leaving Alice a widow with a young child to raise. What does the future hold for these two women?

The Shop Girls of Lark Lane is the second book in the Lark Lane series. I do recommend reading The Factory Girls of Lark Lane first. Otherwise, you will be missing necessary background information on the characters. I do want readers to know this book is dark and realistic (not an upbeat, perky story). It shows what life was like for women after World War II. I thought The Shop Girls of Lark Lane was a slow starter. I had a hard time getting into the story, but I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. The book picks up as you get further into it. I like the main characters which consist of Alice, Sadie, Millie, Granny Lomax, and Brian. Alice is lucky to have such good friends and a helpful mother-in-law. It is a shame that Alice does not always appreciate Granny Lomax. Brian is helpful as well with young Cathy and around the house. Millie has met the love of her life and has plans with him for a new future in Canada. Sadie is worried when Gianni’s circus performer Italian father returns to Liverpool. I do not want to say too much and spoil The Shop Girls of Lark Lane for you. At the end of the book, readers are left wondering what will happen next for Alice (cliffhanger). I look forward to reading The Nurses of Lark Lane when it comes out. The Shop Girls of Lark Lane is an emotional and realistic novel that tug at your heartstrings.