
Member Reviews

The premise of this novel had everything I usually enjoy, historical fiction set during the Second World War, featuring strong female characters who choose to join the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) to support the war effort. Effie, a young twenty-year-old corporal, is sent off for training alongside her new friends to learn how to handle barrage balloons.
I was expecting a story that focused more on wartime life and historical detail, but in truth, The East End Girls is, above all, a romance. The historical setting often takes a back seat, which isn’t necessarily a flaw, just not quite what I was hoping for.
Effie falls for Nathan almost instantly when they meet on a train platform, the only problem being that she’s already engaged to Leonard. I have to admit the romance left me a little disappointed. Many scenes felt clichéd or overly predictable. For example, I found it hard to believe that Effie only "realises" she’s in love with Nathan halfway through the novel, when up to that point, all her thoughts had been consumed by him and she’d already questioned why she’d never felt the same way about her fiancé.
That said, the novel remains a pleasant and easy read, it simply wasn’t quite the story I was hoping for. I’m sure it will appeal more to readers looking for a light wartime romance than those seeking detailed historical fiction.

Effie alongwith other girls is a member of the Women's Auxillary Air Force (WAAF) in England during WW2. Inspite of being from different walks of life, they become friends while training together and an enduring friendship begins. She is also intrigued by a handsome pilot Nathan Fitzgerald and their connection deepens as they spend more time together.
The East End Girls was an inspiring read and an emotional rollercoaster. I enjoyed the descriptions of the work at the balloon sites and had to look up information on the barrage balloons to understand the challenges Effie and her crew faced while handling them.
I loved how the author perfectly captured the strength of female bonds and the forbidden romance adds an extra touch making it a heartwarming read.
Wartime drama, strong female friendships and a sweet romance make it an entertaining read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you @bookouture for having me on the #booksontour and @netgalley for the digital ARC to read and review.

The promise of lifelong friendship, the spark of unexpected love, and the grit of women holding the line while bombs fall over London—East End Girls delivers it all. Set against the backdrop of 1940s wartime Britain, this story captures the strength of female bonds, the tension of forbidden romance, and the resilience needed when love and loyalty are tested. With the Big Smoke cloaked in danger and doubt, what’s not to love?

Effie Weston, a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, loves serving her country during its time of need. Her mission is to defend London’s East End from the Blitz. As the war rages across Europe, Effie’s friends have become like family to her, and they rely on each other to survive this horrible time.
Every night, the sirens wail, warning those who have taken an oath to protect. Effie and her fellow service members are vital to the mission. When she meets Flight Officer Nathan Fitzgerald, Effie can’t help but fall for him. However, when Nathan’s plane is shot down, her world crumbles under her feet.
“The East End Girls,” authored by Jean Fullerton, is an amazing, emotional, and inspiring story. Effie is a completely relatable and wonderful character. I loved her compassion, drive, and ambition to defend her country. The romance between Nathan and Effie adds a touch of magic to the story, making it even more heartwarming. I was instantly captivated by this story and couldn’t put it down until the very last page. I highly recommend this exceptionally well-written story. It is absolutely brilliant!

📆 single, linear timeline
👀 dual POV, 3rd person
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
Anyone who knows me, knows that this falls into one of my most read genres. They are what I affectionately call "you know what you're getting" which I know, for some people, is what they don't like. What I mean by this is that there'll almost certainly be a group of young women from diverse backgrounds, working together to help the war effort. Usually they fall in love with the local soldiers, and at least one will be widowed/lose her fiancé before they get married. Often there's an unmarried mother. I love them because although they have heartbreaking storylines, the familiarity feels safe, and I like a nice easy read from time to time
But The East End Girls is different. Whilst some of the above is true, we also follow the story of one of the men. Nathan is not just a brave pilot, but also helping get SOE operatives in and out of France. Rather than just knowing he is either home, or flying, we know exactly what he is doing. For me, that adds another exciting layer to the story.
As always with these books I feel like I've gained a whole new group of friends in Effie and the gang. Their joys are my joys and my heart hurts for their losses. I really can't wait to see what happens next for The East End Girls.

From this very popular author this is Jean Fullerton latest novel, it's set in Bermondsey and Southwark, London during world war two. Plus the countryside in Bedfordshire where Effie does her training.
In the beginning of the book we meet Effie who's a WAAF and her job is attending to the air balloons, often hanging tightly onto the guy ropes, and after two and a half years of war the docks in the area were often subject to bombing during the night. Also we meet Nathan who is in the Air Force and on his way to his next posting, he meets Effie on the platform as she very nearly has her suitcase stolen by some thieves, he manages to get her case back, and he reluctantly thinks that will be the last he will see of her. Effie at the time has a fiancé Leonard who immediately thinks Nathan is a smooth talking "brylcreem boy". Nathan realises that Effie has made a big impression on him and hopes to meet her again. Stepping back in time we learn the backgrounds of both the men and women of the RAF who are stationed near Bedford. Nathan and some of his flying pals come from different countries and the girls have a good time off duty yet work hard on duty and they too are from all walks of life.
As time goes on Nathan and Effie fall in love and want to marry, but there is opposition from her parents who object to Nathan's background and colour. Plus with the war raging on and Nathan being a first class pilot, his work to deliver SOE people into France never stops, will they eventually marry, no spoilers here but if you love WW2 sagas like me you will absolutely love this book. Would give it more than 5 stars if I could.
I really enjoyed reading this book, like all of Jean Fullertons books I liked the background stories and friendships that occurred during the war years. A smashing five-star read from me.
#bookouture
#JeanFullerton
#TheEastEndGirls
#netgalley

This story follows a group of young women who have joined the WAAF and are training to operate barrage balloons. The writing is very descriptive of the work the women had to do and I felt like I learned a lot.
I enjoyed the camaraderie between the women, although not all of them were very nice. This book mostly focuses on Effie. I would have liked to get to know the other characters better, but this is the first in a series, so maybe there will be more to come.
A chance meeting with flight officer Nathan Fitzgerald leads Effie beginning to question her engagement to Leonard, who she has left behind at home. When Effie and Nathan's paths cross again at a dance, it is clear that they are destined to be together.

This story begins as a mundane world war 2 story but as the story gets going, as the reader becomes more acquainted with the characters, the story grows on us. For sure, enchanter and drawn in we readers can’t put the book down. We just want to know more and more. It is historically accurate - Jean has done a good job creating these fictional characters into the middle of World War 2.
Jean you have hooked this reader and I want to know more about this young family and how they continue to cope with the prejudice they must surely experience. Although that makes me really angry.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you @bookouture & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
SUMMARY: East London, 1942 – When Corporal Effie Weston joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to help with the war effort, she quickly befriends Alice, Nell, and George. Together, they become part of the 906 Balloon Squadron, supporting each other and relying on their training to face the challenges of the times.
Effie's life changes unexpectedly when she falls in love with Flight Officer Nathan Fitzgerald. However, her parents disapprove, and she is determined to fight for their love. Tragedy strikes when Nathan goes missing in action after his plane is shot down in France, but Effie’s friends rally around her for support.
MY THOUGHTS: I love stories set during World War II and am constantly amazed by the creativity, determination, and bravery of the people in the Allied countries. This story offers a captivating look at the Balloon Squadron, the strong friendship among the women, and the romance between Effie and Nathan.
The character interactions are what make the story engaging, as the characters provide strength and support to each other during difficult times. The author effectively weaves both humor and drama into the plot, reflecting the challenges of wartime life while offering a meaningful perspective on this significant period in history.
I found the story to be entertaining and emotional.

adored the authors Ration Book Series, it was so good that I read the whole series within a week. So I knew that I had to read and review The East End Girls by this brilliant author.
You can really tell how much research the author did to make this story so believable as it was so rich in detail, I especially enjoyed reading about the daily lives and the intense schedule of the women in the WAAF during World War Two.
The friendships the women forged throughout the book really warmed my heart.
This story focuses on Effie who meets the love of her life on a railway station platform but she’s already engaged to someone else.
What follows is a captivating read that will pull on your heartstrings and have you turning page after page.

This is the first book in a brand new series by Jean Fullerton and I absolutely loved it . It was a really inter and informative read with fabulous characters that I’m looking forward to getting to know better as the series progresses . There were of course some not so nice characters that did annoy me at times with their behaviour. This first book centres mainly around Effie Weston and she shows a steely determination in both her work in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and also in her private life . She is introduced to new friends , George, Alice and Nell in her work as part of the balloon squadron. I loved this part of the ladies work as I had never heard of the balloon squadron before in the many historical saga books based on WW 2 that I’ve read so that was really interesting . I had total admiration for Effie in the way she stood up to her parents in spite of them not liking the man she has fallen in love with and when you read this book you will discover why they don’t approve .
I felt all the girls were hiding some secret or other and I look forward to hearing more about this as we progress through the series . A wonderful start to a brand new saga series

🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a great start to a new series by Jean Fullerton. “The East End Girls” is a WWII epic about women working together for the war effort. Effie, along with her new friends Alice, Nell and George. I couldn’t wait to see how it was all wrapped up, but I also didn’t want it to end, it was that good.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheEastEndGirls #JeanFullerton #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInASmallTown #BooksSetDuringWWII

I really enjoyed the start of this series. I always love historical fictions about WWII, and I’m always looking for different viewpoints and stories that I haven’t read. I had never heard of balloon girls.
I wanted more about the other girls that Ellie lived with, especially Alice because her story is so sad. I hope that as the series goes on there will be more opportunities to learn more about the characters. And I love Nathan. Ellie didn’t seem to understand that there would be prejudices because of his skin color, because she didn’t see it as a reason for there to be.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

The East End Girls by Jean Fullerton has WAAF’s working on barrage balloons during World War II. I liked most of the characters in the story including Effie (there is always a bad egg or two in a group). The ladies came from diverse backgrounds. I wish the characters had been fleshed out more. Effie and Nathan are more developed than the other characters. We get to hear quite often that Nathan is handsome and that his pants fit his backside nicely. It was interesting learning about the barrage balloons, how they operated, and what it took to keep them in place. It was not an easy task (it was dirty, difficult, and dangerous), and they had to operate whether it was sunny, rainy, or snowing. I like the camaraderie between the ladies. They took care of each other (except for the mean girls). I was disappointed that Effie and Nathan’s romance overshadowed everything else in the story. The East End Girls needed more substance, a peppier pace, and less repetition. The ending is predictable. The East End Girls is a sweet story with diligent training, a fussy fiancé, an appealing pilot, barrage balloons, surreptitious missions, and a troubling ordeal.

The East End Girls marks the first in a brand new WWII series, by new-to-me author, Jean Fullerton.
Effie is determined to contribute to the war effort, so despite her upper-class background, she enlists in the WAAF to protect London’s East End. A chance encounter on a station platform leads her to Nathan, whom she never expected to see again—until he arrives at her barracks! However, her joy is short-lived when she receives the heartbreaking news that Nathan's plane has been shot down and he is now classified as missing in action
Although I wasn't gripped by this novel, I enjoyed the story and getting to meet Effie and her colleagues while watching love bloom. I loved how Jean created Effie’s character to be “inclusive” of everyone, despite their background. If you enjoy WWII novels featuring women of war, you need to get this! I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Effie has recently joined Alice, Nell, and George, who have all recently joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force to defend the East End from the bombings. She meets handsome Nathan on a station platform and sparks fly, even though she's with her fiancé.
This is the first installment of a series, introducing Effie, who falls in love with Nathan despite her parents' disapproval. She's in the process of training to be a barrage balloon operator. It was a compelling story of romance, military service during World War II, friendship amongst the girls who are training together, as well as romance. I'm looking forward to the next story in the series.
Thanks to @bookouture, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.

I found this an enjoyable World War 2 saga with developing friendships, women in war settings, and a conflicted romance. It has historical detail that gives the story depth and makes it an informative read. The female protagonists are diverse, and hopefully, each will have their story told. Effie's story is the subject of this book; it's a tale of female friendship in adversity, coping with misogyny and prejudice, and a conflicted, gentle romance. The author's use of sensory imagery brings the war setting to life, and I was soon immersed in it. I enjoyed the original setting, the romance and the strong female friendships.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Don't you love coming across the first book in a new series that you just know you're going to enjoy it? I did! The East End Girls is Jean Fullerton's new book. It's set in 1942 East London, Britain.
I really enjoy WW2 historical fiction. But it's not all fiction. Our lead character is Effie Weston. She is one of a number of women who are learning how to launch a Barrage Balloon. I did not know about the Balloons before this book - it was fascinating.
I quite like Effie as a lead character - she's intelligent and determined to support the war effort. There's a good number of supporting players as well. I mostly enjoyed them. But...there is always a bad apple. It will be easy to find them. And of course - a romance!
The settings are well described and easy to imagine. The mind sets, the shortages, the mores, and the attitudes of the citizens are very well written. The realties are there.
I really enjoyed The East End Girls. I'll be looking for the second book!

The title caught my attention, having read a few WWII books and enjoyed the historical aspects, and the first chapter had me hooked. It is not often that I find a read that gives an in depth look into the lives of the Balloon Girls. Their lives were shaped by a need of their country, but also by the internal strength of each woman.
As Effie struggled with learning new and difficult responsibilities, she is also faced with new realizations about what her family's expectations for her. Disappointment, love and personal growth come to head. Following her and her crewmates was an adventure in literature.

This is about Effie who is a WAAF corporal .Effie leaves home and her fiancé Leonard to do her training along with Nell, Alice and George on barrage ballon’s and meets Flying Officer Nathan Fitzgerald from Barbados while waiting for her train .Later Effie meets him again at a dance and begins to doubt her relationship with Leonard.Her parents don’t like the friendship and when she ends her relationship with Leonard they are not happy.I enjoyed reading about Effie and her friends and what the training was for working the barrage ballon’s.Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture.