Yours Cheerfully (The Emmy Lake Chronicles #2) by A.J. Pearce

It's London, November 1941, and Emmy Lake is thriving at her job. She loves the people she works with and she's been given many more responsibilities at Woman’s Friend magazine. Getting to attend a Ministry of Information meeting for journalists opens the door for Emmy to do articles on the wartime female workers, giving their all for the war effort. It's when Emmy really gets to know some of these women, and the hardships they are facing, that she knows the magazine not only needs to promote the war effort but more importantly, they need to highlight and attempt to remedy the real, life crushing, challenges that working women face when they also have children and the other responsibilities of wartime life hindering their every step. These women are doing the same jobs that men did for much less pay, working weekends and ever changing shift work, with no help or understanding from their employers.

Although this is wartime London, and from the first book, Dear Mrs. Bird, we know the challenges and threats that all of England faces, both books have a lighthearted feel to them. I enjoy these stories and self deprecating characters that are able to support each other and find humor in the everyday strangeness of this wartime life they are living. No one is allowed to forget the loss of life and also the loss of health for those who do return from war. Wartime rationing means creativity is a part of each day and the generosity of others is often what gets people from one hour to the next. Everyone has lost someone and, for the most part, Emmy and her friends try to put a good face on each minute because that's the only way to keep going.

I love these characters, Emmy's co-workers who really care about each other, her long time friends and her family, and the new friends she makes as she tries to help the women factory workers who get no leeway when it comes to understanding the hardships of finding constant childcare for their children. Whether it's subtle or faced directly, we are always made aware of the heavy weight that the war places on each person.

Thank you to Book Club Favorites, Scribner, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I absolutely adored Dear Mrs. Bird which was published in 2018. That book felt entire to itself so I had no idea that there would be a new novel featuring Emmy. This sequel was every bit as charming, engaging and emotional as the first. Add to all of those qualities humor and sadness and AJ Pearce has done it again!

Cheerfully Yours can be read as a standalone but I recommend both titles, in any order, simply for the joy of the reading experience. Unless you are a true cynic, these books will be enjoyed.

In Cheerfully Yours, WWII is still raging. Emmy continues to work for the woman’s magazine where she became Mrs. Bird’s assistant in the first novel. Here the magazine is under an editor who believes in his staff and their abilities. He invites Emmy, despite some checkered work history, to come with him to an important meeting at the Ministry of Information. The minsters want to encourage women to work in war industries and hopes that magazines like Emmy’s will be a way to reach them. Emmy is very excited to become a reporter.

Through a chance meeting, Emmy comes to know Anne. Anne has two children, has been widowed and is working in a factory. Emmy wants to tell Anne’s story. Through this and other story elements readers learn about the obstacles that women faced within the work force. Through her fictional characters, Ms. Pearce engagingly immerses readers in the subject.

Readers also will meet or become reacquainted with Emmy’s closest friend, Bunty. They will also watch as Emmy and Charles spend time together.

One authorial decision that I really enjoyed was her choice of capitalizing certain letters in phrases. These add an emphasis, often comic, to the text.

This is a novel with hope and heart. It is about many kinds of love (for family, friends, romantic attachments). Readers will feel better for spending time with the irrepressible Emmy and those around her. I recommend this one most highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Yours Cheerfully is the sequel to Dear Mrs. Bird and continues on with the story of Emmy Lake and her life in England during World War II working at a women’s magazine. I listened to the audio of Dear Mrs. Bird a couple years ago and was excited to see there was a sequel coming out. It had been a little bit since I read the first one, but this sequel had some gentle reminders that brought me right back into the lives of Emmy, her friend Bunty, and her colleagues at Woman’s Friend magazine.

The novel shows what life was like at this particular point in history, including many of the societal changes happening because of the war, especially those affecting women. The book is well-written with enjoyable characters, and covers some serious issues, but incorporates humor and is written in a way that you can enjoy and immerse yourself in the story. Having listened to the first book, I enjoyed reading the text of this one and picking up more of the author’s writing style.

If you are a fan of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society or you watched Downton Abbey and wished for more of Lady Edith’s storyline at the magazine, you will most likely enjoy this series!

A heartfelt tribute to friendship and the power that women wield, Yours Cheerfully is a well-written historical fiction novel set in 1941 London. I found the story very easy to get swept away by and get lost in; the prose was detailed and vivid, making Emmy and Bunty come to life against a striking WWII backdrop. Words can be powerful, and Emmy’s journey, from a lowly assistant to advice columnist helping the war efforts, was equally powerful to see. It was moving to witness Emmy realize that her helping the Ministry of Information didn’t mean the same for everyone else like it did her. Seeing her actions have these consequences when Emmy thought she was only doing good was eye opening and so much bigger than just this particular instance in this particular story. Yours Cheerfully might be historical fiction, but the lessons learned can apply to any number of situations at any point in time. I thought Yours Cheerfully was a well done work of historical fiction. The writing pulled me in and the characters were engaging, delightful, and the kind of ladies I would have wanted to be friends with in wartime London. While there were minor references to AJ Pearce’s previous novel, Dear Mrs. Bird, readers can definitely enjoy Yours Cheerfully without any prior knowledge from previous books. Full of delightful characters surviving against a vivid setting, Yours Cheerfully is a great read full of bonding and strength during the lowest times.

“Yours Cheerfully” is a follow-up to Dear Mrs. Bird, once again featuring Emmy Lake and her band of friends. Although this could be read as a standalone, you would miss all the backstory of Emmy, Bunty and the others. Since they aren’t long books, I would recommend reading Dear Mrs. Bird first.

Emmy’s career in journalism may be taking a turn for the better as the novel begins. Her love life is definitely on the upswing too. Cheerfully Yours takes place mainly in the second half of 1941, after the London Blitz, and although still written in the chatty style of Dear Mrs. Bird, it covers serious issues in the lives of women who are doing war work on the home front, especially those with young children. In addition, it highlights the difficulties of everyday life during wartime, such as dealing with food shortages, ration cards, and the like. Themes of friendship and loyalty abound, as they did in the first volume. You will find yourself rooting for the women for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The plucky Emmy Lake returns in this follow-up to Dear Mrs. Bird! Emmy continues her journalistic career, with a strong helping of social reform in World War II Britain.

The book is light, enjoyable, and uplifting.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Emmy Lake Chronicles and it was just as sweet as its predecessor. Even though it is set during World War II, this is an upbeat, hopeful story about a group of Londoners who are doing their best for the war effort.

Emmy and her best friend Bunty have gone through some difficult changes, but things are getting to a new normal for them as they experience life during a war. Emmy has been given more responsibility at the magazine and her love life is looking up.

I found the biggest takeaway from this story was the topic of women in wartime. Their responsibilities increased as they went to work and juggled raising their children. The businesses and government had to adjust as well, which was one area Emmy was addressing throughout the story.

I liked this, but found it very predictable and at times just a bit too sweet and rosy for my taste. That being said, I know plenty of readers will love it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

YOURS CHEERFULLY by AJ Pearce is a much-acclaimed sequel to Dear Mrs. Bird. These gentle historical fiction stories are set in England during WWII and feature Emmy Lake, a young journalist at Woman's Friend magazine. In this LibraryReads selection for August, Emmy is on a mission to help the British government recruit more female workers, so she travels to a munitions factory and interviews the women working there. It is all very much "all for one and one for all," but these women do struggle – working long hours for unequal pay and facing difficult to find childcare. In fact, Pearce's story had me reflecting on how little had changed with the recent pandemic when we saw its disproportionate impact on the female members of the workforce. Ever optimistic and hopeful, though, Emmy develops some plans to help as her friendship deepen with a young war widow, Anne (mum to mischievous 4-year-old Ruby and baby Tony). The mood in YOURS CHEERFULLY is comforting ("a bit of guidance and some sympathy, and most people will cheer up") and inspirational ("I would be happy .... My grandmother always said that wishing was good time wasted") - lightened further due to Emmy's seemingly natural ability to get into a fix which often adds humor; plus, there is a parade AND a wedding to organize!

Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce is a sequel to Dear Mrs Bird. We are in 1941 London, and Emmy is gaining more independence at the women's newspaper. Print media is asked by the government to support the war effort through positive magazine spotlights, and Emmy fixates on women's employment in factories and advocates for adequate support, be it childcare centers or other clear solutions she believes would help.

Emmy's beau is a soldier, so she wrestles with what it means to be individually invested in the war, as she is also supporting her grieving best friend, Bunty.

This is a respectable sequel, one which I enjoyed more than Dear Mrs. Bird.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

I finished Dear Mrs. Bird recently and was, as Emmy would say, ever so pleased to see that a follow-up was forthcoming--and even happier to snag an ARC.

Yours Cheerfully picks up where Dear Mrs. Bird left off. Mrs. Bird is, thankfully, out of the picture at Woman's Friend, and Emmy has settled into a good routine there, working with a colleague on the advice column. Then the government calls and she and the magazine step up to help recruit women to work in the war effort.

Just as the first book brought to life London during the Blitz, Yours Cheerfully introduces to what the home front was like for the women left behind. A lot of the themes are issues we still grapple with today, particularly in light of the COVID pandemic--how are women expected to work full-time to provide for their families when they're also expected to take care of their children and homes? It's sad that this is an issue we haven't solved (and are far from it in the United States, where we still don't have mandatory paid maternity leave). Emmy has the additional concern of having to write articles that will go through government approval. The women of course want to help win the war--if for no other reason than to bring home their sons/husbands/brothers/boyfriends--and don't want to appear unpatriotic. But they also have very real concerns.

Emmy Lake continues to be a perfect conduit for these stories, as her natural ebullience comes through. There are a few moments of her being a bit down, but honestly if she didn't have those moments, she'd barely be human. Emmy and her friends are 3 years into World War II. Her boyfriend is thankfully stationed in England, but she still doesn't seem him much. Her fight for women's workers' rights is a hard one.

There's a bit less of the stylized capitalization of the first book; it reads a bit more natural than that one. I will say that the ending was a bit more fraught than it needed to be, though.

But the read itself is a fun one, and I look forward to seeing what Emmy's future looks like.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC (via NetGalley)! Publication date is August 10, 2021.

This is the second book in the Emmeline Lake series and they are WWII Historical Fiction about an aspiring journalist who works for a women's magazine in London. A few weeks ago I listened to the first book Dear Mrs. Bird and I'm glad I did. It could work as a standalone but this really is a sequel and I think you'd miss some of the backstory.

These aren't your typical WWII historical fiction, these show little more of the life in the home front and women working in wartime industries. It is a book about friendship and women working together and trailblazing. Yours Cheerfully is a great book for someone who wants to read a lighter WWII Historical Fiction book.

Thanks to @scribnerbooks for an advanced copy of Yours Cheerfully. It comes out on Tuesday - August 10th.

Love AJ Pearce’s writing! Dear Mrs. Bird was a favorite fiction read from this past year, and this sequel did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will recommend it to friends! I love the way that she writes about heavy subjects and historical periods, yet manages to maintain such a cheerful (using that word intentionally!) and witty tone. A lovely book, just like the one before it!

In 1941 London, Woman’s Friend magazine was facing new challenges. With the departure of their advice columnist Mrs. Bird, Emmy Lake is given the job of responding to the letters seeking advice. With the help of Mrs. Mahoney, who oversees production, she writes the column now titled Yours, Cheerfully. Emmy is given the opportunity to attend a meeting of journalists called by the Ministry of Information. In an attempt to increase the number of women in manufacturing and support positions they need the women’s publications to reach out to their readers. On a train journey, Emmy and her friend Bunty meet Anne, a munitions factory worker. Their conversation sparks the idea that a series of articles showing the important work that Anne and her friends are doing may be just what the Ministry is looking for. With the approval of her editor, Mr. Collins, she arranges a series of interviews.

At the factory she finds that the women are anxious to do their part for the war effort and are proud of their work. But this also presents a set of problems that the manager never had to face with his male workers. These are women with children who must also be cared for. Some are war widows who need their pay to survive. How can Emmy continue to show only contented workers but not address their problems? When one of the women is fired for having her children at work Emmy must work to help them find a solution.

A.J. Pearce presents a story that is uplifting and shows what can be achieved through unity. The friendship between Emmy and Bunty is supportive and when they meet Anne and her children they are quick to embrace the family. As Emmy works for the women, she is also preparing for her wedding to to Captain Charles Mayhew, an event that brings them hope for the future. It is easy to get involved in the lives of Pearce’s characters. They are everyday women who face everyday problems and show amazing strength when they work together. It is an inspiring story that comes highly recommended. I would like to thank NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for providing this book for my review.

Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce is the perfect sequel to Mrs. Bird. Full of fun romps amidst a newspaper columnist, her long sought after boyfriend, and a gaggle of friends, this book is not your typical World War Two historical fiction. I greatly loved being back in this world.

I have really enjoyed what I've read by this author so far! This is the second in a series, but although it would work alright as a stand-alone title, the background from the first book makes the characters and events more meaningful. I think I liked this one even better than the first! This was a lovely story of someone who is maturing in her world, making better and better choices while standing up for the little guy (or women, in this case). I love how she was SO loyal to her friends. I did find it frustrating that she had to live within the moral requirements of her world and not ours and wondered if she could have manipulated people in her world with some of our standards for more effectiveness, but it turned out beautifully anyway! I won't explain, because I don't want to spoil it for you! I LOVE a story where people hold to their standards and find joy because of it. Lovely story, I will likely want to read this again soon. 4.5 stars

I received a pre-release copy from NetGalley for my review. #NetGalley #yourscheerfully

This is my first book by A. J. Pearce but it won't be my last. Emmeline writes a column in Women's Friend magazine called Yours Cheerfully. It is an advice column, and it really seems to be helping many women in London during WW2. Emmeline and her boss Guy Collins are called to the Ministry of Information, along with other magazines and newspapers, where they are asked for their help in recruiting women workers for the war effort. Along the way Emmeline meets many young women who struggle with not only the long hours that need to be worked, but childcare too. I love how Emmeline has such empathy for those that she meets and never stops to ask "what is in it for me". She truly cares for her fellow humans. 3.5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Scribner, and A.J. Pearce for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Warm and endearing, historical fiction set in WWII era. Beautifully written characters and a well developed story. This novel will appeal to a broad audience. Immersive and engaging from start to finish

Such a moving, uplifting, and unique WWII story!

Emmy Lake is working for Woman’s Friend magazine assisting with the new column Yours Cheerfully - a column giving out sage advice to readers who write in seeking help. When the Ministry tasks the media with recruiting women to come work to help the war effort, Emmy takes the call to action very seriously. Already working to help her readers, Emmy realizes she’s been given a platform and opportunity to make a real difference and not only help with the war effort, but help the women who are dedicating their time and efforts to do the same.

This was a really beautiful story about friendship, women’s rights, the impact of the war on those left behind, and love.

Emmy is a very relatable and likable character. She is passionate and driven, empathetic and bold. Her friendship with Bunty is so special and I adored Bunty’s positive attitude, kindness, and selflessness. Everyone deserves a Bunty in their lives!

I’m often overwhelmed by the WWII historical fiction genre but this story was unlike any other I have read. I loved Emmy’s patriotism and her feminism and how she was able to stay loyal to both while fighting for what she believed in.

Though this book is second in a series, I have not read the first and it read very well as a standalone. There were a few instances where I suspect references were made to the prior story, but it didn’t retract from the novel and I never felt confused or lost.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I haven't read the first book in the series - but I understood the plot - loved the characters and enjoyed the ending.

Appears that this won't be the last of the series - so I need to go back and read the first one!!

Great love story set in England during the second World War. Upbeat and funny look at a bleak time in history.

I loved A.J. Pearce’s debut novel Dear Mrs. Bird, a charming historical novel set in London during WWII about a plucky young woman named Emmy who gets a job working at a woman’s magazine. So when I heard there was a sequel (out 8/10/21), I couldn’t wait to read it. It picks up pretty much where the last book left off, with Emmy still working on the advice column, but now gets involved in a government initiative to recruit more women to war work, and finds herself concerned with the lives of the women as well after she befriends a factory worker. Like the first book, it’s funny, charming, and sweetly old-fashioned - and more heart-warming and less depressing than your typical World War II book.

If I had any criticism, it’s only that this book doesn’t really stand on its own - you should definitely read the first book first which introduces the characters, and it doesn’t really have much of an ending either as a lot is left open. However, I’m assuming that the latter is because there will be a third book, and I’ll be first in line to read it!