The final book in this 3 book series set in WW2 England (mostly in London). Emmy works at a women’s magazine answering advice letters and writing articles to help keep the women of England upbeat during the long years of the war. In the series, we’ve seen her suffer tragedies, grow in her journalism career and get married. In this final book, it’s 1944 and it’s difficult to keep up moral when people have been trying to keep upbeat for so long….food, clothes and necessities of daily life are in short supply, son/fathers/husbands/sweethearts have been gone for years…some are POW’s and many are dead. Emmy and her dearest friend Bunty, her magazine work family and her husband endure all of it. The charm of this series is stories about everyday people just trying to keep going when they want to do just the opposite. It’s a look at how people pull together and cope with hardships, suffering loss and looking towards the future.

The perfect ending to this charming and evocative series. Ideal for fans of Call the Midwife - it has very much that type of ‘feel.’

Sadly, AJ Pearce's four-book Emmy Lake Chronicles series is ending, but with a highly affecting book. Dear Miss Lake is satisfying in many ways, but not without quite a bit of serious drama, as World War II is in its final years. Emmy has spent several years in charge of dispensing valuable advice as she responds to letters submitted to Woman's Friend magazine from wives, widows, and single women who are trying to make it through tough times in England.

Bombing has increased in London, so the magazine staff sets up both working and living accommodations for the summer in a large house in the countryside. Many of the characters with whom we have become acquainted over the span of the series are present, although Emmy's husband has been summoned from his assignment in England to a place closer to the military action, which Emmy suspects may be in Holland. There are also major changes in store for her best friend, Bunty, for teenager Hester (the youngest magazine staffer), and for three children whose mother has died and whose father has been away in the military and not heard from for several years. At the same time, there are charming events to enjoy, such as a Christmas "Fayre" in which the whole staff and some new friends participate and a highly-anticipated wedding.

Although I'm not particularly fond of WWII stories, I made an exception for this beautifully-told, uplifting, and heartfelt series with indelible characters and many emotional highlights.

My thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I am very sad to see this sweet and touching series end. I've had so much fun, cried tears, and learned a lot with Emmy Lake and her friends at Women's Friend magazine.

Very much looking forward to more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read Dear Miss Lake. What a spectacular final book in the story of Emmy Lake! The characters in these stories are some of my favorites. They are written so well and they ring so true. Ms. Pearce has written a beautiful series about coworkers who become family during such dark times. I have loved my times with Emmy & the gang at Women's Friend magazine. I know I will visit them often. This series is absolutely not to be missed.

With all the pluck and spirit of the last three books in the series, this title brings the war and a cozy family of friends to life. Anyone who has enjoyed the world of Emmy Lake will appreciate stepping back into it and celebrating VE Day with the gang.

An absolutely lovely ending to one of my favorite series. I enjoyed every moment spent with Emmy and Bunty and their loyal group of friends. I’m sad to come to the end of their story but I’ll be looking forward to whatever the author treats us with next. Loved everything about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Oh, Emmy Lake. You sunshine-in-a-teacup, chaos-navigating, advice-column-writing gem of a heroine—you’ve done it again. In Dear Miss Lake, we find ourselves whisked away from bombed-out London to the countryside (because even war needs a summer holiday, apparently), where Emmy and her lovable band of magazine misfits are determined to keep Britain’s women inspired and afloat.

Emmy is juggling everything: magazine deadlines, rural life, mischievous children, an upcoming wedding, and a husband finally stationed nearby. All seems idyllic(ish)… until life throws her one of those heart-wrenching, “how do I go on?” moments. And here’s where the book really shines—reminding us that hope, friendship, and a good support system can carry us through the darkest times.

The story is equal parts cozy and courageous, with just enough humor to keep things from becoming too heavy (even when your heart gets a little bruised along the way). The countryside setting is lush, the magazine scenes are delightful, and the characters feel like people you’d want to write letters to—and actually expect them to write back.

Why not five stars? A few stretches of the plot felt a tad too neatly tied up, and at times Emmy's endless optimism bumped up against reality a bit too hard. But honestly, those are small quibbles for a book that gives you all the warm fuzzies and a good cathartic cry.

Read this if you love:
✔️ Wartime stories with heart and humor
✔️ Found family vibes
✔️ Strong, determined women supporting each other
✔️ British countryside escapism with just the right amount of drama

I’m so impressed by AJ Pearce’s ability to make the reader better understand and imagine what women went through during WWII.

I’ve enjoyed the characters, and this series so much, and Dear Miss Lake was a perfectly fitting end for it (though I will miss reading about everyone and their lives).

This series is a definite recommendation.



Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the DRC

“Dear Miss Lake” was the perfect ending to the Emmy Lake Chronicles. Throughout the series author AJ Pearce did a fabulous job of exploring all the different phases of WWII that the British people lived and fought through. This last book did a great job of exploring the heartache that British families experienced in the final months of the war, wondering how and when their service member relatives would make it home.

The author had a knack for making the series feel light and cozy without silly as she touched on a wide variety of serious topics. The characters, especially Emmy Lake, really make the books what they are. And in times like this, they provide a good reminder that we can get through anything by pulling together as communities and working together.

I highly recommend this series for readers with an interest in cozy historical fiction or for those who want to learn more about what life would have been like on the home front in WWII Great Britain. Readers who’ve been following Emmy Lake for years will enjoy the way her story is wrapped up.

The final installment in the Emmy Lake Chronicles brings our heroine and her loved ones to 1945 and the end of World War II. Woman's Friend newspaper temporarily relocates to the country for safety's sake, and the staff and their significant others have a jolly old time working and playing together, while also doing their part to support the brave men at the front. Emmy, now firmly ensconced as WF's Editor, is able to spread her journalist wings and get closer to the action. Personally there is joy and sadness, but fortunately no more tragedies in the vein of "Dear Mrs. Bird"" or Mrs. Porter Calling."

It's become abundantly clear that context affects my feeling about a book, and my reactions to the Emmy Lake quadrology over the past seven years is a prime example. "Dear Mrs. Bird," published in 2018, was a pleasant diversion, but 2021's "Yours Cheerfully" provided a stark contrast between England's stiff upper lip attitude towards WWII and our whinging about mask mandates, etc. during COVID. Two years later, in "Mrs. Porter Calling," the vanquishment of a Very Bad Person felt like a commentary on DT45's defeat (sadly only temporary).

In 2025, I have to admit, lots of things in books are likely to trigger me - for instance, government control over the media, which raises its ugly head here. Remarkably, throughout most of WWII, the Germans adhered to the Geneva Convention stipulations that Allied prisoners of war were to be treated humanely, allowed to write and receive limited correspondence (the contrast with the fate of Jews, queers, etc. is not mentioned). But that practice flies out the window when the Russians advance into German territory, and suddenly the status of the POWs is unknown.

Emmy and Co. have achieved esteemed status in government circles, as they dutifully support the official message that the war is almost over, Keep Calm and Carry On, etc. But when Emmy dares to acknowledge the plight of war wives and mothers who are frustrated in their attempts to locate their loved ones, there are Serious Consequences for Woman's Friend. I couldn't help thinking of the pressure on today's media to play nice with our fascist overlords. I wanted Emmy to rail against the patriarchy, then start her own substack newsletter and speak truth to power.

TL, DR: if you've read the first three books, you will not be disappointed with the conclusion of the Emmy Lake Chronicles. I recommend the series to historical fiction fans who are tired of adventure sagas starring intrepid female Parisian librarian spies, and want to read about everyday life in difficult times.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and the publisher.

This is the fourth, and it appears the last, in the Emmy Lake series, one of the many Plucky-British-Women-In-Wartime books I’ve read in the last several years. I’ve read all four of the books in the series, and I strongly recommend you read the prior books before this one, so that you are familiar with the history of the characters.

In this installment, we start in 1944, with Emmy and all the staff at her women’s magazine working harder than ever to come up with ways to inspire women to make the best of things despite rationing, sexism, and so many husbands and boyfriends being overseas with some missing or POWs.

As London is now being bombarded with German V-2 rockets, the staff decides to relocate for the summer to the country estate of Emmy’s friend Bunty’s aunt. It’s idyllic much of the time, but harsh reality forces its way in, making Emmy and some of her friends and colleagues need to rely on each other to cope.

This book was a bit of a slow starter. It’s not so much that nothing happens—plenty does—but that it takes quite a while for any real adversity to add drama. It does pick up nicely and, as always, Pearce smoothly incorporates details of the reality of wartime Britain.

Dear Miss Lake is a satisfying, warm hug of a novel that concludes this sweet series. I thoroughly enjoyed it, like all the others! It is 1944 and Victory is in sight in Europe, but not quite yet. And the waiting in these final months of the war have become fairly excruciating for everyone in London while German bombs continue to fall and do damage.

The office of Woman's Friend moves out to the country for the summer where the team gets some brief reprieve and celebration while still answering letters about all the problems and pain the war continues to cause.. Emmy keeps her plucky, optimistic attitude as much as she can, even while dealing with her own wartime struggles. She gets to travel around the country a little bit more as a journalist which was her original dream and a full circle moment for her and the book series.

There isn't exactly a central plot or issue around which the story revolves. The novel mostly feels like visiting old friends (although I did have a hard time remembering who was who in the office at the beginning) and wrapping up the war. I felt more connected to the previous book in the series because there was just more action and a storyline. But this last installment was satisfying, if on the predictable and slow side. 3 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review Dear Miss Lake by A. J. Pearce.
I first picked up the second book of this wonderful and charming story, not realizing at the time that it was part of a series. As soon as I was done, I went back to the first book (Yours Cheerfully), read the third installment (Mrs. Porter Calling), and now it has come to an end. I would love to have Pearce continue on, but the conclusion is well written and everything is resolved, though not always happily.
Emmy Lake is a young woman with a little more journalism experience, and still determined to bring hope and help among the challenges during World War II. Her group of loyal friends navigate life during this difficult time as they support each other, and in turn help Emily amid her own doubts of hope when she receives heartbreaking news.
Pearce has a knack for humor among difficulty and balances the dark times of war with love and friendship.

The books keep getting better and better in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the conclusion of The Emmy Lake Chronicles and was delighted with the ending. You should definitely read this series in order to fully understand the characters and their motivations. Follow the adventures of Emmy and Bunty and all of their close friends. At times, the story is harrowing but well worth the read. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions in my review are entirely my own.

On the one hand, I'm sorry Dear Miss Lake is the last of AJ Pearce's series about Woman's Friend magazine and WWII. On the other, the fact that it is the last means I can just go back to the beginning and read them all again. Her writing, like that of several other authors gives me hope in what might otherwise be a hopeless world.

I just finished reading the ARC from Netgalley of AJ Pearce’s “Dear Miss Lake”, which is the 4th and final book of her Emmy Lake Chronicles series. Although you can read this as a standalone, it’s so much better and satisfying if you have read the other 3 books in order beforehand. The setting is England during the final year of WWII. Emmy Lake works for the advice column of a women’s magazine that helps women to cope with the issues and problems they face during the war. As with the preceding books, this book shows the various situations encountered on the home front and how people coped and banded together as the months dragged on. This is a heartwarming book whose characters are genuinely good people. I feel the storylines are realistic but leave you feeling optimistic about what can be accomplished when people support one another in trying times. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel that this entire series is a gem.

See my full review at https://michelleardillo.com/2025/06/11/book-review-dear-miss-lake-by-aj-pearce/

I have read all four books in this series and enjoyed them very much. Their theme of what daily civilian life was like for women in Britain during world War II is very well illustrated by the time we spend with MC Emmy Lake and her family and friends. Their lives are a mix of daily routine, excitement, tragedy and friendship. We are drawn to these characters and their various struggles and challenges. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this entire series, including this final installment! Emmy, Bunty, and friends are charming. I also appreciated the focus Emmy’s journalism career and antics with the heaviness of WWII in the background. Heartily recommend!