Cover Image: The Bobby Girls

The Bobby Girls

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Member Reviews

I was so excited to be able to read The Bobby Girls and get a copy via NetGalley and boy was I in for an exciting read.
This is Johanna's first novel and the first of a series. It is written very well. Clear and easy to follow with depth to create real and rounded characters. I had so many emotions flowing through me as I got to know Maggie, Annie, Irene and Sarah. The idea for the plot is brilliant an it highlights a particular era of history that I wasn't aware of. I knew women stepped up during both of the world wars but as Policewomen was a new idea for me. I am super proud of all women but what women went through back then is unbelievable. Men really did treat women as if they were of no importance.
In The Bobby Girls we follow Maggie and her story about standing up to her father and creating a life for herself and standing up for what she believes in. I loved going through this journey with her from training to becoming a policewomen and facing her fellow male colleagues to being out on patrol. The dramas that unfold are written with such passion and knowledge but handle sensitively, so even though I was upset at what was happening in the story it was still exciting to read what would happen next.
A brilliant read and one not to miss if you love historical fiction set in WW1. It is great to see a novel out their that highlights what women went through to help women in the future.
I cannot wait to be back on the beat with Maggie, Annie and Irene.

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I really enjoyed reading this book. It has a great plot, excellent main characters and I read it in one sitting! I would highly recommend this book.

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A great book. The first book that I have read about policewomen in wartime
Excellent characters and beautifully written. Pace of book is just perfect.
This book drew me in from page one

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I really enjoy this type of Historical Fiction. England during World War 2 is so unique, and something that most people still living in the country have not experienced. I think it is wonderful to record the lives of the many in this way.
The WPV is not something I know a lot about. It was very interesting to learn about the training and the duties that the brave women undertook.

Maggie is our narrator, the privileged girl from Kensington, with an abusive father. She is stubborn and clever, choosing Irene and Annie to be her friends on the first day of training.
The book can be quite upsetting at times, with the opposition the women receive and the abuse they endure.
In some ways, it feels unfinished. There are a few characters that get no real ending:
Does Annie's fiance come back from the war? What happened to Sal and Arthur?

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A most enjoyable read set in the first world war. An account of women's lib. at it's best, who would have thought that there would have been women volunteers policing the dangerous streets of London. The girls from different social backgrounds forged a bond and friendship that couldn't be broken.

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Really enjoyed this novel. The writing flowed and the characters were depicted very well. Couldn't wait to find out what happens next.

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Fabulous book it was so nice to read of women in the police in war time great characters and a great story well done to the author.It is so nice to find new Authors in the Genre's i love to read,i love when a book draws you in from the first page and The Bobby Girls did just that.5*

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This is a fascinating book and great to read about the role of women in the police, or WVS. This was something I knew nothing about and seemed to be well researched. The three main characters are interesting and their interrelationships work well. I enjoyed reading their background stories which highlight the issues that were faced by many women. The story itself is good. I did feel that there were some huge issues in there and I felt that these were perhaps dealt with a little too lightly - but it is a novel. .

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Brilliant debut. And a welcome change reading about police instead of nurses based in the War. Great characters, perfectly intertwined stories. The ultimate read about girl power. Cannot wait for the rest of the series.

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Maggie and her friends come from very different backgrounds, but they've got one thing in common: they've all signed up for the Women Police Volunteers. They can't wait to show the men just what they're made of. This is a very interesting and lively tale about Maggie and friends and how from strangers they become very close and bond whilst in the WPV. It also highlighted how tough things were for women during that time

I really enjoyed the way their separate lives and backgrounds were entwined and how they helped each other through life I the WPV. I would recommend this book and thank Net Galley for allowing me to read prior to publication.


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I love stories about the role of women in the wars so was excited to receive a copy of this book from a new author.
The book tells the story of Maggie, Irene and Annie who join the wvs to help the police keep women out of trouble at the outbreak of war in 1914. This was something g I wasn't aware women did so it was interesting to learn something new.
The story took a while to get going but it was an enjoyable read and I hope there is more to come from the girls.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. How I enjoyed reading this book and learning about how things used to be. Must be honest were better in those days.

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A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. I liked the characters who stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age. I worthy debut novel from this author.

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A read good story that paints the time period really well. I loved all the characters and their stories. I would recommend this to all.

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