Heartache for the Shop Girls

The new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! ‘Just the balm our souls need right now’ Women’s Weekly

Summer 1942. Despite grim reports on the wireless and rationing hitting hard, Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls from Marlow’s department store are determined to put out the bunting for a family party.

But Beryl’s husband Les returns from North Africa a changed man, and Gladys worries for her own fiancé’s safety. The store is losing staff to the war effort and Lily’s young man, Jim, is torn over where his duty lies.

Then comes the knock on the door that everyone dreads. Lily’s family, always the heart of her world, is rocked to the core. The small Midlands town – and Lily’s beloved Marlow’s – must face their greatest challenge yet.

Reviews

Acclaim for Joanna Toye:

‘The sense of wartime community is strong…this evocative novel may be just the balm our souls need’ Women’s Weekly

'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch…a real page-turner with a spirited heroine who will worm her way into readers' hearts. A sparkling new voice in fiction.' Veronica Henry

‘Cheerful and uplifting…I thoroughly enjoyed it’ Katie Fforde

‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ Anna Jacobs

‘Captivating…a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly

About the author

Joanna Toye joined the production team of The Archers after reading English at Cambridge University, and became a scriptwriter for the programme for over twenty years. She has also written a number of spin-off books about the long-running radio drama. On television she has written for Crossroads, Family Affairs, Doctors and EastEnders.