A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls

The Foyles Girls #4

by Elaine Roberts

London, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop, where there is friendship, there is hope… Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest.

Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father’s shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London’s docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father’s rules and seek employment. She finds a position at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.

But there are dark times ahead. Ellen’s father is accused of gathering intelligence from the docklands for the enemy, and the police seem determined to see him shot for spying. With the help of her new friends, can Ellen clear her father’s name and save her family from destitution?

Praise for Elaine

'A delightful story of friendship, love and hope during the dark days of WW1' Elaine Everest

'It’s great to be back at Foyles Bookshop in London during WW1. The shop girls stories have been told before so this time it’s the turn of the Beckford family. Ellen the eldest daughter has to take on more responsibilities as her Father is accused of spying. Lots of great characters as well as those you love to hate' Netgalley reviewer

'A book about working in a bookshop just what I love. This is another wonderful family saga in this series. A quick read but, very enjoyable' Netgalley reviewer

'Kept me enthralled from start to finish' Netgalley reviewer

'Offers a heart-wrenching insight into how hard life was for the women left at home and how emotions ran high as war continued. A highly recommended read that will pull at your heartstrings' Netgalley reviewer

'Was immediately drawn in to this story' Netgalley reviewer

'A real heart-warming read. Great story and characters, would love a sequel' Netgalley reviewer

'A strong start to what looks to be a trilogy of books about these women and I cannot wait to go back and see how they are all faring' Netgalley reviewer

'Skilfully crafted characters and an exquisite storyline all kept my attention from the first page to the last' Netgalley reviewer

'If you're looking for something to make you cry over your tea and warm your heart on a wintery morning, then this is a book you'll want to reach for' Netgalley reviewer

'The author did an outstanding job of finding a niche in the saga genre' Netgalley reviewer

'A richly drawn character study of different women coming of age during a time of much social and political upheaval' Netgalley reviewer

'Poignant ... A brilliant start to a series. I can certainly recommend this to any reader who enjoys this genre' Netgalley reviewer

'A phenomenal read ... A fantastic debut ... Rich in atmosphere and period detail and full of wonderful characters readers simply cannot help but care about!' Netgalley reviewer

'A lovely, original story ... The historical details create a lush setting ...

Genres: Historical Fiction, British Literature, Fiction, World War I

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2024

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girl's of London's Foyles Bookshop, where there is friendship and hope.

Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father's shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London's docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father's rules and seek employment. She finds a position at Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under her wing.

Filled with character you'll love and others you'll love to hate, I was totally engrossed in this story. It ells of the struggles the Beckford family have after their mother, Ada dies, and their father, Harold's office gets broken into, and he is accused of theft. Ellen wants to clear her father's name.

This is a well-written story. It can be heartbreaking in places, but it's an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #ElaineRoberts for my ARC of #AWartimeWelcomeFromTheFoylesBookshopGirls in exchange for an honest review.

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good historical saga

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

even though this is book isnt the first book in the series i still felt the warmth of the bookshop and the friendships that have been built there

ellen and her sister mary always visited foyles bookshop with their mother and enjoyed reading... but tragedy struck this family and their father ruled with an iron fist

but that fist came untangled when break ins started to happen at his place of work and he started to look guilty, when an accident occurs and their father with a broken leg can no longer work its up to ellen to try and earn money to keep them afloat and occuring her fathers wrath ellen finds a job

but dark clouds are on the horizon for this family as trouble again comes to their door

have to say i love the sound of this book shop and wish there were more like it today.... will be looking out for more from this author

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's absolutely fabulous to be back once again with the Foyles Bookshop Girls.
1918 London, Ellen Beckford, finds a position in the London Bookshop after her mother's Ada's death and her father Harold been attacked at the Dockland and been accused of theft, she needs this job to keep them both and her sister Mary and grandma Phyllis in a home.
A captivation read, as Ellen finds friend's in her work colleagues that take her under their wings, there's more trouble ahead for her father, but he has a loving daughter in Ellen who is all out to proof his innocent as Molly, Victoria and Alice all rally round to help, this book is heart breaking as the family struggle on as Ellen finds herself out of work not just with one job but two.
I loved it enjoying every chapter and the characters, it's definitely a warm wartime welcome back for this series that the author has captured so well.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this fantastic book
This was my first book by this author and I loved it. Very well written and an interesting plot. I'll look out for more from this author ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one, Simply love all the Foyles Girls. Well done Elaine Roberts.

[Leanne Pazik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story!!

I feel very fortunate to have been given this book for free and look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series, and any additional books this author writes!!! I am not a writer, and anyone who has the courage to write should be applauded. I felt some of the comments posted about this book, were unfair, and this was a lighthearted book with strong female characters!

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been familiar with the author's Foyles Bookshop series though I have never read it. I have read the first in her West End Girls series which I enjoyed but I'm not sure how I missed the following ones after that.

I am confused by where this book actually stands as Amazon have it advertised as the first in a series though there are already three books previously published in this series. Despite never having read the first three, I can see that this one is a standalone story all of its own and yet it complements the already existing characters in Foyles bookshop.

It's 1918 and war has been raging in Europe for four years. Many are beginning to wonder when will it ever end? So many lives senselessly lost...and for what? But everyone on the home front does their bit to raise the spirits of their boys, supporting them or offering them a free brew as they step off the train at Victoria station. It's not much, but it's something.

Ellen and Mary Beckford have grown these past four years since the sudden death of their beloved mother. Their father Harold continues to work at the docks until the day he is attacked and left with a broken leg. With such an injury and his leg in plaster for the next two months, Harold is unable to work.

Ellen realises the time has come for her to go out and find work to support her family but her father is a traditionalist. He believes it is his sole responsibility to provide for his family and yet he is unable to do so. He is firmly against Ellen going out and seeking work to support the family as he believes that is his role...regardless of the fact that he can't do so.

So it is with apprehension she approaches Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road in the hope of gaining some work there as it would be a dream come true for her to work amongst all those books. But as luck would have it, one of their full time girls has recently given birth to her second child and while she is toying with the idea of returning on a part time basis, there is a vacancy available for Ellen. She starts off small - dusting and cleaning and getting to know the bookshop even better than she already does. But she also knows that the part time hours are not enough to pay the rent and put food on the table. And so she manages to garner a second job as an office girl for a newspaper. Things are beginning to look up. If only her father would speak to her, since he has given her the silent treatment ever since she defied him and went out to work.

But if Ellen thought things were looking up, she was sadly mistaken as one night police came knocking on their door and asking her father all sorts of questions about his attack and why she was always seen down at the docks so regularly. It seems they found some damning evidence which places her father in the frame for being a spy...and she as his suspected accomplice.

Ellen is horrified and sets out to piece together as much information as she can about her father's attack, his memories of the night and the man he chased down, as well as photos the police inadvertently left behind. Can she find enough proof to uncover the truth and prove her father innocent? Or will he be shot as a spy?

An interesting and absorbing tale that I devoured in a day, this was indeed a quick read that I soon lost myself in. Though I have never read the previous Foyles Bookshop books, I felt the warmth and family atmosphere that was held within the doors of that fine establishment and I must say I look forward to going back and starting from the beginning.

A delightful read that was heartwarming and entertaining.

I would like to thank #ElaineRoberts, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #AWartimeWelcomeFromTheFoylesBookshopGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A return visit to Foyles and a few new characters to add to the mix. This is Ellen's story, based around a mystery break-in at the docks where her father works and her attempts to prove he was not involved. The crime aspects were a bit long and repetitive with no surprises at all in their resolution.. I much preferred the chapters focusing on the bookshop and her other job at the newspaper office. And the budding romance, of course.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wartime Welcome From the Foyle’s Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is a heart-warming story of World War I in London and a typical family there where the mother stayed home and cared for the children and the home and the father went to earn a living. That started to change when the mom, Ada, was hit by an out-of-control car and they lost her. They managed for several years until their father broke his leg. Knowing how he felt, the eldest daughter, Ellen, went and got a job anyway. Her favorite place in the world was Foyle’s Bookshop so she went there and started part-time the next day. She met a man there, John, who told her she could get a job at his newspaper, too. That he would set it up. And he did. Life was going well until after several visits the police came and arrested Pa as a spy. He worked at the docks and had access to sensitive information. He also owned a camera and they had found a roll of film where he had fallen chasing a robber. She lost both jobs, as no one could keep on an employee who had been accused of being a spy on the front page of the paper.

This was a wonderful look into a time gone by in a place I have never been. It is a story of family and of friendship. It is also a story of betrayal, on several on the parts of several people. The descriptions of the bookshop were heart-warming for a bibliophile and the support she got from her co-workers was amazing considering how long she’d been there. It was a touching book and brought home how accusing the wrong person can wreak havoc on many people. It also was a moving account of people who chose to do the right thing. It was a very delightful and entertaining book. I loved every minute of imagining someone else’s life. Thanks Elaine Roberts!

I was invited to read A Wartime Welcome From the Foyle’s Bookshop Girls byBoldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #ElaineRoberts #AWartimeWelcomeFromTheFoylesBookshopGirls

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm-hearted, absorbing and wonderfully immersive, saga fans will be hooked by Elaine Roberts’ A Wartime Welcome for the Foyles Bookshop Girls.

Ellen and Mary Beckford had once had bright hopes for the future. But when their mother died, their father was consumed by grief, anger and despair and the two sisters now live under his shadow. Harold Beckford barely lets his girls out of his sight, but when a break-in in his office at the London Docklands leaves him unable to work, Ellen realises that she needs to do something to keep the wolf from the door and a roof over all of their heads. Defying her father’s wishes, Ellen secures a position at iconic London bookshop Foyles and with the other shop girls taking her under her wing, she quickly begins to feel like she has found somewhere she belongs.

However, it looks like Ellen’s happiness will be short-lived when her father is accused of a terrible crime that could end up costing the whole family everything. With her friends’ help, Ellen seeks to do everything she can to clear her father’s name and save her whole family from penury. But will she manage to keep them all close? Or is heartache, grief and unhappiness going to be in store for the Beckfords?

Elaine Roberts skillfully blends drama, humour, pathos and warmth in this terrific wartime saga. A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls is an engaging, enjoyable and poignant tale about the power of friendship, the ties that bind and the hope that keeps us going forward when the chips are down that will delight saga readers everywhere.

Written straight from the heart, Elaine Roberts’ A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls introduces us to new heroines with stories I simply cannot wait to read – roll on the sequels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Pros: I liked the mystery and the thought behind this tale and the fact it was set in a bookshop (you can never go wrong with that!) I enjoyed the characters and the fact that it is the fourth installment means that the characters are well liked. I like the formula of adding new girls to the shop and bringing their stories to meet the existing girls. Their friendships and continuations of their stories are what keeps the series alive, I'm sure.
The cons: I found it quite a lot of information in the beginning to find out who the Foyles girls all were and who married who and what had happened to each girl. It became easier to get them straight as I went through the book.
It was also very obvious from the start who the culprit was and the fact that the main character, although likable, didn't remember the things that she witnessed which could have solved things a lot earlier. She also had a flair for doom and gloom instead of the backbone that she sometimes remembers that she has.
The book, especially towards the end was a bit cutesy for me. The way that Ellen was constantly blushing and apologising and every conversation was politically correct and well communicated with no 'taking it the wrong way' mistakes of normal life. In those cases, it was quite unrealistic.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and my introduction to the Foyles girls. It kept me interested and I thank the author and publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth part of The Foyles Bookshop Girls, but the first I have read and it works very well as a standalone, though I would always recommend people read a series in order if they can.
The story is set in London in 1918. Four years after the death of her mother, Ellen (18) and Mary Beckford (15) live with their father Harold and their grandmother Phyllis Burton. One of the girls’ favourite things has always been going to Foyles Bookshop.
After Harold becomes injured and can’t work, Ellen goes against her father’s wishes and takes a job at the bookshop she loves. There’s a lovely group of people there including the other young girls - newly-married Molly Greenwood and Victoria Appleton (24, engaged to Ted) and Alice, who is on maternity leave.
I’m sure most, if not all, readers love books set in a bookshop and I certainly do, especially one as famous as Foyles, although I think I’ve only been there once myself. I could easily see the setting and wished I was there looking at all the books and chatting with the staff.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable story of friendship, family and a touch of romance. I felt the background of the First World War feels very evocative, though never too depressing. There are a lot of strong female characters to love, especially Ellen herself. There’s a mystery amongst it all too, as Ellen tries to work out why the police are questioning her father about events at the docks, where he has worked for a long time.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I am wary when I read the blurb of a book when it mentions words like heartbreaking, dark times and destitution. I don't expect books, especially ones based during a world war, to be all sweetness and light. But I do hope there is a good balance of uplifting moments to make the sad ones easier to cope with. I am happy to say that although the blurb of this book had a couple of my trigger words, it was still a delightful read. Even the sad moments weren't too unbearable.

What I particularly liked about this book is that it didn't only focus on the terrors of the war or a romance between characters. It had a captivating storyline where Ellen, a main character, has to prove her father innocent of ridiculous spying charges. Another bonus is that a lot of the time, as expected because of the name of the book, the story involves the people, including Ellen, who work at Foyles Book Store. It's far more than just a book store which you will discover for yourself if you read the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ellen's story and found it believable and exciting. Her life changed once her mother passed away and her father was injured and unable to work. Ellen had to grow up fast and as her character developed I liked the book more and more.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

Recently, I have taken to reading more novels set during wartime, and this is set during WWI. At the start, I found it quite comforting to read, as I found myself warming to the characters. As a book lover, I typically enjoy novels centred around locations such as bookshops and libraries, which is why I decided to read this. I felt aware of the characters and their love for books, and I appreciated that quality. I feel that books can provide readers with an escape during difficult times, and that's something that should be celebrated.

Of course, there was more to these characters than just their love for books, and as I read on, I began to feel as though each character was on their own personal journey. There were some highs and lows; some moments that made me smile, and some that tugged at my heartstrings. It was a satisfying read, as it provided me with a little escape, and I found it light enough to read in one sitting.

I didn't realise that this was actually part of a series, so I may be interested in reading the others too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set towards the end of the First World War, the story concerns a young girl who's mother dies and who has to grow up quickly to support her grieving father and sister, even though her father doesn't want her working. However, once he interrupts an intruder at his work on the docks and is injured, Ellen has to step up and find work.

Her first job is at Foyles Bookshop, a place she has loved for years and associates with her mother. But they cannot offer her enough hours so she takes a second job at a local newspaper. Then her father is arrested as the police think he, and possibly Ellen too, are complicit in passing information to spies about movements at the docks. Its down to Ellen to find the truth and she hopes her journalist colleagues and bookshop friends will be able to help her.

Its a cosy read, but the plot is detailed and interesting and the characters well drawn. The reader sympathises with Ellen and is willing her on to clear her father's name. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friday, February 23, 2024

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls







Ellen was the oldest.  She took the responsibility of the house after her mother died.  She wanted to get a job but her father was strict and forbid her from looking.  Until one day it became a necessity for her to earn an income.

A wonderful story of Ellen and her experiences in the workplace. She worked part-time at two jobs. She was employed at the newspaper and at a bookstore she frequented often since she was a child.    She loved what she was doing especially at Foyle's Bookshop.  The friendships she made and the support they gave her at Foyle's was much more than she ever imagined.

Ellen was on a mission to prove her father was innocent of any wrongdoing after he was arrested for being a spy.  With the help of her family and friends she made at the store and at the newspaper, she set out to discover who was the "real" spy.  

I enjoyed the book and became fond of Ellen and her family.  She learned that asking for help is not a weakness. 

I received this book to review from Boldwood Books.

[Sams_Fireside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading this book without knowing it was the fourth in a series. I don't think it matters though and I think they can all be read as a standalone. Will I be reading the others? Absolutely! I loved it and the fact that Foyles bookshop is a real place, with seven shops throughout the UK is just brilliant.

I loved Ellen and the friends she made at Foyles but I hated some of the characters she met working at the newspaper office. The author did a great job of helping us hate the villains and love Ellen and her friends and family.

Even though it's wartime, these types of books always make me feel like curling up with a cuppa and immersing myself into the character's lives for a few hours. With a bit of mystery, lots of friendship and some great writing, I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Wartime Welcome From the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts.

[Carly Rushforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨My Thoughts✨

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ellen and Mary’s father is a “traditionalist” and even more so since his wife died.

They’re all overcome with grief.

Ada, Ellen and Mary’s mother believed strongly in Votes for Women and wanted a bright and different future for her daughters but her husband hated change but when circumstances take a turn for the worse Ellen is forced to go behind fathers back and take a job at her favourite place Foyles Bookshop.

I enjoyed this so much and because I’ve not read a saga book for a while I think I loved it that bit more too.

You can tell it’s been well researched as you feel fully immersed in the era.

I’d be inclined to read the previous books set in the bookshop as all the other girls sound amazing and I’d love to read the backstories.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was set mainly in 1918 and although there was danger, reading this gave me a warm, comfortable feeling. I think it was because of the way that most people pulled together and helped one another as though they were a close family. Ellen Beckford had always had a love of books, having been encouraged by her mum. Her dream job would be to work in the book store. However, her father holds traditional views of women working. There are a number of interesting secondary characters, a spy to uncover and possibly a beginning of a romance. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I received a copy and have voluntarily read it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find this on audiobook through my local library.
I absolutely loved loved loved this book! I was not expecting it to be a mystery and so that was a very pleasant surprise.
I loved all the characters and the sisters were so nice to each other and I loved how family works together through difficult times. Very clean read and and can't wait to read more from this author.

[Lisbeth Zabihi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeg er blevet kastet ind midt i historien om Foyles Bookshop. Jeg kunne godt fornemme, at der var en del bemærkninger, der indikerede at der var en forhistorie. Og nu går det så op for mig, at bogen er nr. 4 i rækken af bøger om Foyles. Ikke noget at sige til, at jeg følte mig kastet ind midt i historien.

Nå men, trods alt, en god fortælling. Jeg må jo så se, om jeg kan få læste bind 1, 2 og 3.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Elaine Roberts. It’s great to be back at Foyles Bookshop in London during WW1. The shop girls stories have been told before so this time it’s the turn of the Beckford family. Ellen the eldest daughter has to take on more responsibilities as her Father is accused of spying. Lots of great characters as well as those you love to hate. Thanks to Elaine and her publisher.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read set in WWI England at Foyle's Bookshop. After her father breaks his keg under suspicious circumstances and can't work, his daughter Ellen starts working at Foyle's Bookshop and a newspaper office. When he's accused of spying, she starts investigating to try and find the truth about what happened.

This is the 4th in a series. I read it as a stand-alone story, but I'll check out the others in the series since they give you a back story to some of the other characters. This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the mystery as they investigated what was happening and the accusations against her father. Ellen had to go against her father's wishes to work, but she ended up in Foyle's, one of her favorite places since she had great memories there with her late mother and enjoyed reading and writing. there's a little bit of everything mystery, spying, romance, and living through a war.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first books in this series a few years ago, but I soon got back into it. Alice, Molly and Victoria are all still in it but this book told the story of Ellen a new recruit to Foyles. When Ellen’s Father becomes embroiled in espionage Ellen and the other Foyles girls try to sort the mess out.

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so lovely to be back in Foyles Bookshop again getting to know the girls better. This is a wonderful family saga series and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Christine Leake · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book to keep you entertained

I read this book in two days it kept me intrigued all the time it is nicely presented and an easy read full of interesting people one l can recommend it will keep you engrossed

[Amy Bettan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming story with characters I liked reading about, especially the great supporting cast at Foyle’s bookshop.plot quite predictable and a light read and good escape from day to day gloomy news and media stories.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Good historical fiction. It was easy to pick out the bad guys and easy to figure out the way the story would end but it was sweet and it ended well - all the loose ends tied up nice and neat.

[Laura Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never judge book by its cover

You never know people you meet that might help you through difficult situations. Easy read and enjoyed the story. Sometimes you just got to have faith in whatever will happen.