I have just finished reading the latest Betty Firth book, I was eagerly anticipating it and it did not disappoint.
I enjoy the writing style of Betty, each page and chapter flows so well and before you know it you've finished the book in one or two sittings.
As usual there are a strong cast of characters centred around a likeable female lead.
The characters easily come to life off the page and I read along hearing the Yorkshire twang and I find myself invested in the plot straight away. I find myself really caring about the characters and what happens to them.
I can tell the period is well researched. I had to ask my husband ( a keen WW2 amateur historian) along the way a few questions and I really feel the human story told in the books helps me to picture the time period and the timeline better than any history class.
There is romance, hardship and a story line that has kept me enthralled.
I look forward to the next book in the series.

A hardship storyline and I was impressed with the emotional depth and the thriving romance. It is a entertaining read.

A quick and easy read which I enjoyed. I loved reading about the friendships these girls had and how they'd stick together through difficult times. A happy ending and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first in a series about the variety girls that were part of ENSA in WW2..In this one we meet Molly Clough who works in the mills in Bradford.Molly sings of a night in her grandfathers pub and always dreams of making it on to the stage one day.One night one of the customers in the pub hears her singing and tells her he works for ENSA and that she should get in touch with them about joining.He gives her a card of where to get in touch be she is not convinced and throws it away.Molly’s sister persuaded her to ring and see what happens but Molly is not sure but does in the end.Not long later she finds herself part of the Forcies Follies group but thing are not like Molly thought they would be.Thank you to Netgalley and Hera.

Betty Firth was a new author to me - I’m not sure I have read any of her books through her pseudonyms either.

This was the first in a new series. I have read a series with a similar title by another author so approached this one cautiously.

But I shouldn’t - it was absolutely brilliant - so brilliant that at one point I found I was 75% through the book and I was quite sad I was so near the end.

This book centres round Molly Clough a mill worked form Bradford and a part time pub singer in her grandads pub. But she has aspirations for life on the stage and an event with an over. Bearing overlooker forced her arm and he applies to ENSA.
Her audition was awful - stage fright got to her.
But she battles on and meets again with Jack Forrester who had seen something in her at the pub.

We also meet Diana, Tabitha, Pam. Davy and Phil not forgetting Nobby the drag act. We follow them round as ENSA sends them here ther and everywhere on the coast to entertain.
Molly’s stage fright means she partners with Jack but Dunkirk foils their plans. The final couple of chapters were heartwarming, tragic but heartwarming.

I can’t wait for further adventures for the Variety Girls - a surprising start to a new series in a genre that can seem overwhelmed with new books somehow.
Thank you.

What a great way to start a new series. What i liked most about this book, you saw behind the mask of the female characters. What they portray outward, might not be their real self. I have to read the next book in the series. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

What a brilliant family saga by this author
A brilliant first book in this series can’t wait to read more

A very promising start with this first book in a new series by Betty Firth. Molly Clough and her family are doing it tough, her sister is disabled and her mother earns a pittance. Can Molly reach her dreams of becoming a singer/entertainer or will she have to continue working at the mill where the ladies are tormented by a predator? The story follows Molly as she join ENSA and starts to live out her dreams. I loved the relationships between Molly and the ENSA entertainers as they were a mixed bunch of personalities. This was a very interesting and entertaining story and I really look forward to book 2 in the series. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. Publication date 16 July 2026.

This was an enjoyable read about family and found family with plucky heroine Molly Clough leading a cast of interesting characters. My favorite parts of the novel were Molly's interactions with her family and with the ENSA troupe; I appreciated the complexity of the characters. The romance felt a bit flat to me by contrast.

I personally would not have chosen to read it if I knew that an attempted s***** assault would be described in such detail (which did not impact my rating of the book), but it was overall a very good book with likeable characters. Though this book is not suitable for my audience due to some of the content (e.g., references to striptease acts and nudity), I recommend it to readers who enjoy novels about WWII, especially the ENSA (or USO, etc.) The book does a good job handling so many aspects of being an entertainer, living in wartime, and wanting to do one's bit.

This is the first book in a series, and I definitely want to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the free eARC! I post this review with my honest opinions.