The Home Front Girls

The Home Front Girls #1

by Susanna Bavin

The war is raging in Europe. These girls will do everything they can on the home front – but is a happy ever after possible in such dark and uncertain times?Manchester, 1940: The minute war was declared, best friends Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard, willing to do anything to help their boys fighting overseas. An Auxiliary Fire Service girl by night, Sally ends up stationed at the salvage depot by day. Working amidst the scrap metal and waste paper, helping to make do and mend, isn’t quite the glamorous life in uniform she’d imagined! But she’s determined to do her best, and turn saucepans into Spitfires. When Sally meets Andrew, a quiet carpenter with a heart-breaking smile who understands how important her work is, she finally feels as though her efforts to keep calm and carry on are making a difference. As love blossoms, Sally feels herself opening up to Andrew in a way she’d never imagined possible. But then, just as Sally feels as hopeful as she can be in these times of war, a devastating air raid threatens everything she holds dear. As bombs rain down all over Manchester, deadly fires begin to destroy homes, and lives. With Andrew out rescuing families from the rubble, Sally rushes towards the plumes of smoke that fill the night sky. And is horrified to realise the very worst hit area has the salvage yard right at its heart. Desperate to help in any way she can, Sally, with her fellow salvage girls by her side, sets to work. But what will they find when the smoke clears? Will Sally and Andrew get the happy ending they so deserve? Or will her one chance at true love be lost forever as the morning dawns…?A completely gripping and heart-breaking romantic saga. Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke, Nancy Revell and Lizzie Lane.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

I am a saga writer, living in beautiful North Wales. Moving here was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream, but my writing is inspired by my Mancunian roots.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE HOME FRONT GIRLS (The Home Front Girls Book #1) by Susanna Bavin is an easy to read story set during WWII that follows two young girls in England as they work and find love on the home front. I had a difficult time wanting to continue reading this story because the introduction to the characters is very drawn out with not much of interest happening. While the research for the story is interesting and apparent, I felt the characters were somewhat two dimensional.

I was personally disappointed, but the story may be written and targeted to a YA historical fiction audience reader and they may enjoy it more.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished a long-term cosy wartime series and I was feeling bereft! I was left with a massive hole the previous book series left behind but: Enter The Home Front Girls. This book came to my rescue and gave me the start to a new series I am now truly invested in.

One thing I absolutely loved about this book was it shone a light onto some well unsung job occupations in the war. I’ve read many about Land Girls, Timber Girls, Bomb Girls, WAAF, WVS, WRNS and even steel workers but I’ve never come across those in salvage before.

The fates of Betty and Sally seem entwined, from their fateful first meeting to their subsequent thrown together proximity starting a new job. They hardly get off to a good start but can a true friendship really be forged under such conditions?

Together they embark on their vital war work in the salvage depot which I found to be a great spin. I loved this perspective and reading about their experiences. Not only that but putting in shifts as a mortuary for gas victims (I hasn’t even realised that was a thing), food ration office and even woodworking for building coffins in anticipation of further acts of war to come. It was an eye opener and I love learning about new domestic, home front and other occupations during this era. I definitely have some new things to research!

I always love coming away from a book not only enjoying it, but feeling like it’s shared something with me. The characters were not only likeable but I felt truly invested in their stories and I can’t wait to read the next one to see how they will further develop and have the chance to spend more time with them.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a sweet story about family, new love ,and frienships. I especially liked the female friendships, both the new one and the older one. I really liked the family dynamic. They were strong, but still able to show feelings. What I really wanted were more depth in the characters. But I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Firetruckmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Home Front Girls” by Susanna Bavin is the first book in the “Home Front Girls” series. There were many things I enjoyed about this book - including some of the information regarding recycling during WWII in the UK. I also liked learning how the different war departments didn’t quite work together but kinda pretended they did (sigh, even back then there were territory disagreements). I also really enjoyed learning more about the skills one had to learn to be part of the fire watch - I never thought of the fact that someone had to remove unexploded items and properly dispose of them preferably before they went off and caused damage. What I wasn’t so keen on was the fact that even toward the end of this book, I kept mixing up the backstories of the two main characters - there was just something about the two women that seemed to trip me up. While I did like the first time they met and the fall out, I really didn’t enjoy the story about the break-up and that aftermath. Maybe it was because I just finished a book that had a similar storyline? Anyway, if you like WWII books set in the UK where plucky females are doing their best for king and country, this might be a book (or series!) you’d like to pick up.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brand new series WW2 historical saga set in Salford Manchester 1940.
Sally White and her best friend Deborah Grant work in the food office, Sally walking out with Rod Deborah's brother wants more and after a big proposal she lets him down causing their friendship to fail and she turns to Andrew Henshaw, Sally also changes jobs and moves in with Andrew's mother and a new work mate Betty Hughes Sally's parent will not give consent for them to marry till she is twenty one.
As more air raids hit and bombs continue around the town it's going to be a long time yet before they can start to live normal lives.
I tell you what this book is so so good I just could not put this down. Full of Family, friendship and companionship, that will pull at all your heartstrings in every chapter, what a start to a new series, that Susanna Bavin has delivered and looking forward to getting to know a lot more from all these characters and their lives

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Netgalley
#TheHomeFrontGirls

It's the end of July in 1940, in Withington, a suberb of Manchester, in the north of the UK.

Sally works for a government department named The Food Office doing what she calls "tricking people" when all they have often done is make a slight mistake or bent the rules slightly. Deborah is her best friend and works opposite her in the office. But now Sally has told her best friend that she doesn't want to marry her brother, and Deborah is shocked and horrified, but not just her but all their friends and neighbours are too. Sally feels ostracised ,but at least she has Andrew, but everyone is blaming Andrew and making Sally's life at work extremely difficult.
Betty also has problems, she has lost her job and been handed a massive fine, and all because she served this young woman with a serving of butter, when she had no ration book, how was she too know she wasn't who she pretended to be but in fact worked for the Ministry of Food. Not only been handed a fine but has also now been sacked from her job, her stepmother has found her a new job and lodgings, but it's miles away from home, and Betty knows that her stepmother has definitely done this on purpose. Then because of all the bad feelings at work Sally is told that things can't go on as they are and her boss finds her another job, yes it's to do with the war effort, but it's in the Salvage Yard, where they have to sort through all sorts of unwanted items from saucepans to scrap paper and paperclips. Sally has to find alternative accommodation as it's way too far to travel each day for the early morning start at 6.30 am that she is required to do. It's either share a bed sit with unknown people or take a spare room that Andrews mum has offered her. Sally's mum is very much against that at first, but eventually gives in after visiting Andrew's mum house and seeing where Sally would be sleeping. What Sally doesn't realise is that she will be working with Betty. Will it work, or is there going to be big friction?

It is a very atmospheric story with a location and job that's not covered very much in other wartime sagas. This story certainly left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling after reading it. A well deserved five star read from me.

[Bookishmom4ever · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II is raging across Europe, and Britain is bombed nightly. The Home Front Girls tells the story of Sally and Betty, two young women doing their duty and trying to serve their country the best they can. Neither one of them saw themselves working the salvage business, but through an intertwining of twisted events, that's where they both land. Sorting salvage by day and working as fire spotters at night, Sally and Betty serve Britain to the best of their abilities. Sally, meanwhile, is learning what it means to find love in the middle of a war and getting to know Andrew. But love isn't always easy during wartime, especially when your parents aren't on your side.

Susanna Bavin has created an insightful and fun historical fiction novel. While reading, I learned a lot about people's jobs in Britain during WWII and some new British slang. This isn't only a novel about war but also about friendships being tested, parents learning to let go, and love in all its stages coming into bloom. I found the story engaging and loved learning about life in Manchester during the 1940s. This novel is perfect for lovers of history!

Full disclosure: I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Copy of The Home Front Girls. However, I want to assure you that my thoughts and opinions about this novel are entirely my own. I believe in the power of this story to captivate and educate readers, and I'm excited to share my review with you.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read 10% of the book and the plot and characters were not catching my interest. Unfortunately the story was not compelling enough to want to continue reading.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends, Sally and Deborah both work at the food rationing office and also work as volunteers at the mortuary for people who have died from being gassed.

Both families know each other well and everyone expects Sally to get engaged and settle down with Deborah’s brother, Rod. But Sally knows all is not well with Rod and refuses to get engaged to him, tearing the families apart.

Sally has also met Andrew, who she knows is the one for her. He’s a teacher of carpentry, and when he proposes to her, her boss decides she will have to change jobs and work at the salvage depot.

Sally becomes a volunteer fire service girl in the evenings. After an awkward beginning with the other girl who works at the depot, Betty, Sally and her eventually become great friends.

A romantic historical fiction tale, I liked the characters and the storytelling.

The story tells us so much more than what we realise went on during WW2. The land girls were amazing and kept the country going whilst the men were away fighting for our freedom.

An uplifting story that made me smile a lot.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable, well-written book. I was engaged with the storyline and the characters and am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Yvonne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The war is raging in Europe. These girls will do everything they can on the home front – but is a happy ever after possible in such dark and uncertain times?"

...

It is the summer of 1940 and little do the residents of Manchester know, but this is to be only the very early days of a war which will rage in Europe for many months and years to come. This is the story of Sally White, her friends and family, as they struggle to come to terms with the whole new way of life which has been forced upon them, when all men of fighting age and fitness have been enlisted into the military campaign. As part of her war effort Sally now works in the Food Office, alongside her best friend since childhood, Deborah Grant. So close have the two neighbouring families become over the years, it is almost a foregone conclusion that one day Sally will wed Deborah's brother Rod.

When Sally makes a decision which will change her life forever, albeit in a positive way for her, it seems that the dynamics of the relationships between the Grants and Whites will be irretrievably damaged and broken. Her much older parents eventually come around to trying to see their daughter's decision through her eyes, however by then Sally finds herself transferred from her job alongside Deborah, from whom she is now completely estranged, to a role working in salvage collection, which is based many miles away across the other side of the city. Sally must leave home in order to negotiate the very precarious public transport system and fulfil her obligations to her new role, which for Sally is an almost joyous solution, although only serves to add grist to the mill of her parents shame, dissatisfaction and despair.

Meanwhile, Betty Hughes, a shop assistant who lives with her police sergeant father, Trevor and new stepmother Grace, finds herself in hot water after Sally had carried out a shop inspection as one of her last duties with the Food Office and had tricked Betty into parting with an allowance of butter, without the requisite ration book. Her employer, Mr Tucker is summoned, along with Betty, to attend court and both are charged heavy fines for this breach of wartime law. Mr Tucker and his wife have lost all faith in Betty, who is summarily dismissed with none of her owed wages and without hope of a reference. Grace, who has desperately been trying to find a way of getting Betty to leave home so that she can have Trevor to herself, spots the opportunity and gets a job for Betty in a salvage yard many miles away and has even secured her accommodation with a local landlady.

It is no surprise that both girls, who are already not on the best of terms, wind up working for the same salvage yard and their barely concealed antagonism towards one another threatens to spill over into the close working relationship they have been forced into, made even worse when both girls are both placed on night time fire watch duties on the roof of the yard, as part of their ongoing war effort. A terrible bombing raid brings them both into potential danger and it is only working by instinct and together, that they are able to put their own lives at risk to save the yard and parts of the adjoining neighbourhood.

With a new understanding between them, the friendship between Betty and Sally becomes solid and true and when a happy event means that Deborah can re-establish her relationship with Sally and now Betty too, it seems as though the White and Grant families can live in harmony once more, whilst the dream salvage team of Betty Hughes and Sally White (now Henshaw) will forge a new and lasting bond on the other side of the city.

...

This is the first book I have read by author Susanna Bavin, although as she also writes under two pseudonyms, one of whom, Maisie Thomas, I have been following for several years now. I therefore had no doubt that this, the first book in a brand new series, would be sure to live up to my expectations.

Susanna writes books set in her beloved Manchester and its surrounding areas, which she called home for many years, although these days she lives on the beautiful North Wales coast. Short and well-signposted chapters kept this story moving along a good pace, despite the time span actually covered being quite short. Both emotional and highly uplifting at one and the same time, family, friendships, love and new beginnings, and making the most of each moment of every day, are themes wonderfully captured and shared in this well structured and immersive, narrative and dialogue.

'The Home Front Girls' is set during WWII, although it is strictly a work of domestic social history, focusing as it does on life here at home during this tumultuous time and the important role played by women, who worked alongside and supported those men who were classified as belonging to reserved occupations, deemed important and vital to the overall war effort. Susanna strikes the perfect well-researched balance, between highlighting the management of new found responsibilities and challenges which women faced in their own right, alongside the generational and inherent gender prejudices they also had to deal with from those whom they needed to work with on the important home front jobs which kept the country running . The roles of women in society, were by necessity, completely redrawn and by default, life would never return to the old norm once the war was over, no matter what the eventual outcome

I already knew about many of those extra jobs which were newly forged and so necessary during wartime, however, I got to know about some of those unspoken and lesser known roles which were also so vital; such as salvage yards for reclaiming metal, paper and many other commodities which could be repurposed for the manufacture of weaponry and other defence commodities; even down to the hushed and secret, but very real need, for a continuous supply of coffins, not only for the bodies of the repatriated servicemen who died in action or of their injuries, but also for the many here at home who didn't survive the nightly bombing sorties. (Alongside reusable glass milk bottles, delivered in electric milk floats, money refunded for returning empty glass bottles of alcohol and soft drinks, groceries which were wrapped in brown paper bags and taken home in wicker baskets with not a carrier bag in sight and you can see how 'green' and eco-friendly we already were way back then!)

Love was something which needed to be grabbed and held on to for dear life in those uncertain times. So many marriages were hastily arranged either before loved ones enlisted and were often posted away immediately, or during those rare and treasured brief periods of leave before deployment. However, for Sally, her instilled sense of duty about conforming to the social mores of the time, by accepting life as the wife of someone she didn't quite trust to treat her kindly, didn't sit well. She therefore stuck to her own values, taking the full wrath of friends, neighbours and family, until their eyes were opened to the appalling reality of the situation as it might have unfolded for her.

Likewise, friendship was an important thing which had to be nurtured, as everyone needed to have people around them on whom they could rely to watch their backs during the almost nightly air attacks, or to lend a helping hand with those day to day household chores which were so difficult to slot into those long shifts at work, which often meant twenty hour days and nights.

Whilst this storyline actually encompassed a relatively small footprint, Susanna was so adept at making me feel as though I was actually there alongside Sally, Betty and Deborah, sharing their experiences as they forged new experiences for themselves, in a city which would never be quite the same again, that the 'armchair traveller' side of my reading journey, was more than satisfied. A genuine sense of time and place I could engage with and some fantastic characters I could truly become invested in.

I see that book #2 in 'The Home Front Girls' series is already ready to roll, so I am looking forward to reading 'Courage For The Home Front Girls' in due course.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Homefront Girls is the first in a trilogy by Susanna Bavin which follows two young women living in Manchester and their experiences during World War Two. It’s a nice easy read. A good family saga typical of the genre showing the fear that everyone livid with during the long years of war and they dealt with it on a daily basis. Every aspect of life was altered and that nothing could be taken for granted in war time. Every minute counted and should be appreciated. The book does get off to a slow start and given the blurb I thought the story would specifically follow Sally and Deborah but that was not the case as a different girl did come into the story several chapters in. To be honest, I was glad Deborah didn’t feature that heavily apart from the initial chapters as I really didn’t like her character at all especially the way she reacted to Sally sticking up for herself. The story was all the better for changing tack and concentrating on Sally and Betty. There’s was a tentative relationship initially but I enjoyed seeing how things changed and why.

July 1940 and Sally White lives with her parents in Manchester and works in the Food Office alongside her best friend Deborah whom she has known all her life. People are slowly becoming accustomed to life during wartime and the constant fear of invasion by the Germans is ever present. Everything has completely changed for the people of Britain. Air raid shelters have been established. Anderson Shelters have sprung up in gardens. Any available plot of land has been turned over to growing vegetables. Carrying gas masks everywhere and the blackout have become routine. Rules and regulations have to be strictly adhered to. Gone is the freedom they had known and enjoyed. Now that the phoney war is over the threat of bombs being dropped is becoming a dangerous reality.

Sally is a confident and capable young girl who wants to do all she can to help with the war effort. Working in the food office means she is responsible for giving out ration cards and helping housewives with planning and recipes. She also goes undercover and tests that shopkeepers are not giving out more than the allotted rations or doing so without ration cards. Here is where she encounters Betty when she is out on one of her tests. Betty spectacularly fails the test leading to a huge fine and being fired from her job. Needless to say when the two women meet again through different circumstances Betty has a huge chip on her shoulder and the pair don’t get off to the most auspicious of starts.

I loved Sally from the start as she always knew her own mind and she wasn’t afraid to follow her heart even when it meant going against what society expected or the wishes her parents had for her. She had had a few brief dates with Deborah’s brother Rod before he was sent away to work in the shipyards and both families expected them to get married. But any scene where Sally and Rod were together there was a sense of unease emanating from Sally. That she wasn’t fully comfortable in his presence or he never made her feel good about herself. He was sneaky and pushy and little things he did made for uncomfortable reading. There was definitely a mean steak to him. At a birthday /farewell party for Rod a surprise proposal should mean happiness all round but Sally follows her gut and declines. I thought fair play to her she knew she wasn’t happy and could never have a long lasting and contented life with Rod. But saying no to him led to divisions between both families and the loss of the friendship with Deborah.

Here is where Deborah showed her true colours. The way she reacted was awful. I know Rod was her brother but could she not have seen that Sally must have had very valid reasons for not agreeing to marry Rod? Deborah makes Sally’s life miserable in the Food Office. So much so that the conflict leads to their boss arranging for a new job for Sally in a different area in Manchester working in a salvage depot. Here is where Sally’s strength of character really came to the fore and she pushed her own feelings aside and took on this new role with grace and dignity and again she was determined to make a difference in this new role.

Romance does feature for Sally and I loved how this connected to the new job in her life. Meeting Andrew at the Food Office made her realise that her suspicions were correct and that Rod wasn’t and never would be the one for her. I did think they really rushed things in that a proposal came very very quickly even by wartime standards and her mother clearly thought so to. But the solution that was reached meant it opened a different aspect of the plot and it drove the second half of the book on. Making it much stronger and interesting.

As for Betty, it’s not that I disliked her but that I found her quite immature and the way she reacted to things was unnecessary. Losing her job in the shop and her stepmother finding her the job in the salvage yard meant that she had to move out of home. Which really was the making of her as she had to grow up and take responsibility for things. That it wasn’t just her individually soldiering on through the war. That with team work and initiative both she and Sally could do great things. When Sally arrives to begin work at the salvage yard I thought Betty gave her a very frosty reception and she was definitely still smarting with her over losing her previous job. But she was young and easily slighted and brooded far too long on things. A good dose of reality was needed and was received as the two women volunteer for fire watching duty each night. These scenes were quick and dramatic and brought home the danger people faced on a nightly basis and it brought the two women closer together after what one would call a very rocky start.

It was fascinating to read about work at the Food Office and the salvage depot. I had never given any consideration to this aspect of war work before. Yes, I’ve read a few fleeting lines in books saying all metal was given over to the country to be used in the war but the way Sally and Betty operated the depot and what was brought there was really interesting. I really loved the angst and annoyance brought about by the character of Mrs Lockwood and I was desperate for her to get her comeuppance in order to let the good qualities of Sally and Betty shine through. There were a few twists and turns towards the end of the story which added a little bit of meat to the plot and made things a bit grittier.

I had been waiting for that fine line between things being all nice and pleasant and then that added depth that the book needed and it did come. I enjoyed the ending but it made me realise that things are only really getting started and that there is potentially a lot more ahead for the Home Front Girls - Sally and Betty. Friendship, family bonds, working together as a unit and a community, sacrifices and hardship are all themes explored in this enjoyable read and I am glad that I have book two Courage for the Home Front Girls waiting to be read on my Kindle as I wasn’t ready to leave the characters behind as they had only hinted at their potential and the stories they still had to share.

[Caroline Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet but bland story about two girls in the British home front during WWII. If you like romance and no spy action or drama then you’ll enjoy this story. It is a relaxing and enthralling read.

[Julie Lence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls has a little bit of everything; history, romance, drama, and peril. Set in England during World War 2, everyone must do their part to help their country defeat Hitler. Sally is working in Food Admin alongside her best friend, Deborah. Part of their job is to step outside their office and visit local grocers to see if they can dupe store owners or employees into giving away free food, which is a no-no as everyone is living off food ration booklets. One person Sally dupes is kind-hearted Betty, which ends up costing Betty her job and Betty's boss a hefty fine. Word travels fast through the neighborhood and the only job available for Betty is to work in another town at the salvation yard.

Sally's dilemma stems from Deborah's brother proposing to Sally. While Sally has known Rod her entire life, Rod is not the sweetheart everyone thinks he is. He's rough around the edges and has shown signs of girlfriend abuse toward Sally, who turns down his engagement. Deborah is heartbroken so angry for breaking her brother's heart that she convinces their boss Sally wants to work in another town at the salvage yard.

Sally and Betty's stories are ripe with drama; Sally having to endure not only Deborah's hostility but that of the entire neighborhood while falling for a man she does like and her parents don't, and Betty working her way out of shame while dealing with a stepmother who can't wait to get her out of the house. Toss in a woman who thinks she's Sally and Betty's boss, the man who actually is their boss and ashamed of his position, Sally and Betty having to come to terms with how they initially met and learning to work together, and bombs going off nightly and this is the beginning of a perfect saga. I thoroughly enjoyed these extraordinary young women and admire their courage and bravery in helping their country. They are both sweet and sincere and Sally's new love interest is an absolute doll. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a very enjoyable WW2 historical fiction. I can't remember reading a WW2 story that took place in Manchester before opening Courage for the Home Front Girls. I honestly don't know much about the town.

My mom has talked about it numerous times since she and my dad lived there for a little while after the war ended. I never stopped to think about the damage they may have endured. I never thought about living there during the war. Now I not only think about but want to know more.

Betty works Salvage in Manchester after being caught selling more than she should with rationing. She is working hard to show she deserves a second chance. She even works for Sally, the gal, that busted her for rationing abuses. I honestly did not know that there were actual salvage collection sites.

Betty illustrates just how young and naive some were when the went to work for the war effort. She is easily manipulated. Her big heart gets her in trouble. Her trouble makes for a great read. There is lots of drama as she falls head over heels for Eddie. Family drama added to the story as Betty deals with a stepmother.

I have found most WW2 historical fictions bring people of different backgrounds together. Betty soon has a new co-worker, one that is hiding her identity. Betty notices that Lorna is an up market sort of girl but knows little else about her. I couldn't wait to see what happened when Betty discovered who she was sorting paper and scrap with every day. I didn't see things developing the way they did. I couldn't wait to see how things ended. I do love a happily ever after. This story actually has a few of them.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always exciting to start off a new series, and if this is a taster of things to come then we're in for a treat with The Home Front Girls! Set in Manchester in 1940, we're introduced to Sally and Deborah who are eager to do their bit for the war effort. These are 2 young women living their lives in extraordinary times so it's so interesting to see the challenges they both face.

Their friendship comes under pressure when Sally refuses a proposal from Deborah's brother - everyone around her expected her to say yes and many are so disappointed with her, especially her parents. This was fascinating to see the family dynamic change as it was expected that 'security' of marriage was the done thing at the time, but Sally has her own reasons for saying no.

Watching the relationships change, while danger was all around them, was really captured well by the author. I found myself really invested in the girls and their paths, and watching them step up to their roles and put themselves in danger really made them characters to admire. Watching too how their families dealt with them maybe not following the normal path in life made you very aware of how things were at the time, and how they found the courage to stand up for what they wanted when things were very difficult.

This was a really engaging start to the series, full of drama and I'm already excited to see what is next for the girls to face in their journey!

[Luanne Ollivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls is the first book in Susanna Bavin's planned trilogy. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you're going to want to add The Home Front Girls to your 'to read' list!

I was hooked in the first chapter. Sally and her bestie, Deborah, work for the Food Office making sure that shop keepers are following the rules for ration books. But the latest 'sting' has repercussions for both Sally and the store clerk, Betty.

I thought Bavin's settings were wonderfully described. The book is set in 1940 Manchester, England. Bavin and her family lived in Manchester for many years and that personal view really works in creating a setting.

Her characters are also wonderfully created. It's very easy to have a favorite, one you'd like to know in real life. And those you wouldn't! Keep your eyes open for Mrs. Lockwood! And who else you ask? Well, I think a budding romance adds a lot this book as well!

I really enjoy this time frame. The 'Keep Calm and Carry On' attitude, the looking out for your neighbours, the social mores, and family. There are lots of hard choices to be made - and duty to follow.

And Bavin has included all of that and more. I'll be watching for the second book.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls is book one in a brand new series. Sally White enjoys her work at the Food Office alongside her best friend, Deborah. It seems as though Sally's future is planned out with Deborah's brother but when things go awry she ends up taking on a role in a salvage depot - saucepans for Spitfires! She meets a new friend, Betty, and a new man, Andrew, a teacher and carpenter. Life is looking up for Sally.

This is quite a gentle story but the horrors of war are never far away. The girls also learn to be fire watchers and have to deal with incendiaries and fires during the nights. Their pluck really jumps off the page and I loved the way Sally and Betty got over a rocky start and became good friends.

This first book sets the scene and introduces the characters well. I feel like I got to know them and I want to know what happens to them next (which is lucky because book two is already out and book three is on the way very soon). The Home Front Girls is the sort of book that draws me into the world it's set in. It put me right there in 1940, in WW2 Manchester, with the phoney war over at last and bombs dropping all over. I can only imagine how Sally and Betty must have felt looking over the landscape from the roof of the depot, wondering if their home had been struck and if their relatives were safe.

I always enjoy Susanna Bavin's books and this one is no exception. There's love, friendship and family, but there's also conflict and sadness. I'm looking forward now to catching up with Sally and Betty again and seeing where life and the war takes them next.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard while WWII was raging, they both thought that the jobs they would be doing would be more than what they actually got assigned. Primarily, they will be doing salvage work, and it doesn’t take them long to realize that this job is indeed as important as other jobs for those who serve.

As their characters were drawn out in this first book in the historical saga series by Susanna Bavin, this book also highlighted jobs often not mentioned during the war effort. Their work was indeed vital, and both Sally and Deborah saw firsthand the devastation that the war was bringing. For example, food rations. So difficult to read and to imagine, but it was just one of the tragedies that the victims of the war experienced.

While this book shows how Sally and Deborah’s friendship blossomed, there was also a romance blooming, and this added another layer to this well-written book. As this is the first book in a new series, I am eager to see how both the setting and the characters continue to be affected by the war.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls is the first book in the series of the same name by Susanna Bavin.

It is an enjoyable sweet story which focuses on two young women, Betty and Sally, their families and in Sally's case, her love interest, Rod, or is it Andrew? Much of the story focuses on where the women work and what they deal with in their endeavours to do their bit for the war effort.

The author did a lot of research into this book. I was fascinated to learn about salvaging, the fire patrol, rationing and what being a worker for the food office entailed. I even learned what was involved in looking after bodies that had been affected by chemical warfare. Nothing too gruesome, don't worry!

I love a story that can teach something while having characters that I can become fully engrossed with their family life, friendships and romances. There were some very unlikable characters in this story too which always makes me want to read quickly to see if they get their comeuppance.

This was a very nice story and I will definitely read other books in the series as they are released.

[Jennifer Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley, Bookouture, and Susanna Bavin for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Home Front Girls. I enjoyed this historical fiction story which focused on the actions and feelings of young adults at the beginning of WWII in the UK. The linear timeline was action packed and easy to follow yet the characters were one dimensional and needed more depth. I enjoy books that are dark and gritty.. This story did not scratch the surface for me. I wanted more detail about the war, edge of my seat action and thought provoking decisions that need to be made. For me, this was too fluffy and predictable but gave me insight into how young adults contributed to the war effort.

[Laurynn East · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute and cozy, the type of book you keep on your coffee table. However, I’m not a cozy reader. I’m an action packed, thriller, contemporary romance reader. I needed more action out of this book, and needed more of a reason to keep going. I found myself skimming quite a bit just to get through this book. There just wasn’t enough for me in it. The characters were likable, and Sally + Andrew had good chemistry together, but all the other characters kinda fell flat for me.
It was written well, but there just wasn’t enough for me, as someone who isn’t a cozy reader. If you like sweet, cozy books, this one might be for you!

[Michelle Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls transports readers to the heart of Manchester during the tumultuous years of World War II, offering a poignant glimpse into the lives of those who fought the battle from the home front. Through the eyes of Sally, Deborah, and a cast of determined characters, Bavin explores themes of love, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Bavin captures the essence of an era marked by strife yet illuminated by extraordinary acts of courage and love. It's a compelling read that not only honors the memory of those who served on the home front but also reminds us of the enduring power of hope and the human heart's capacity to heal. Perfect for fans of historical romance and anyone drawn to stories of resilience and redemption!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new World War Two series and this one is set in the Food Office and then the Salvage Depot. I have read a lot of sagas from this time but this is a first time about Salvage and was interesting to find out more about all the recycling that was done so many years ago. Sally loves her job working in the Food Office with her best friend Deborah. Things take a turn for the worse when Rod, Deborah’s brother proposes to Sally in front of all their family and friends. Unfortunately although this is what everyone was hoping for it’s not what Sally wants. With upset and arguments Sally ends up moving to work in the Salvage Depot. There’s a lot of ups and downs in this first book which makes great reading and I look forward to reading book two in this great new series.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new historical saga series by Susanna Bavin. I found this to be an easy but at the same time a really interesting read. I’m a huge fan of historical saga series so it’s always great to have a new one to look forward to. It was really interesting to learn about the food rationing ‘tests’ and subsequently after that about the salvage depot where both Sally and Betty worked. As with the majority of these saga series there was a romantic element to it and I enjoyed this part also. I look forward to watching these characters develop over the course of this series. A great start to a brand new saga series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Homefront Girls marks the first installment in Susanna Bavin's fresh trilogy, also named The Homefront Girls.

The story introduces Sally and Deborah, who willingly volunteer to support the soldiers in WWII. Sally aids the auxiliary fire service at night and works at the salvage depot by day, sorting scrap metal and paper, among other items – a role she never anticipated. Her encounter with Andrew sheds light on the significance of her contribution and offers her a listening ear. Could love be blossoming between them?

Susanna's captivating writing style immediately draws readers in, immersing them in the characters' life and workplace.

Get your hands on a copy today.

[Janesa (novelswithnesa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres that I don't read nearly enough, and WWII is my favorite time period to read. There are so many books about WWII, so I love it when a book takes a different angle, like this one. It was so interesting to read about the role that women played in fighting the war back home.

This is the first book in the series, and I'm excited that there's more to come since I loved this book so much! It's out today, and on Kindle Unlimited!!

4.5/5 stars rounded down to 4 stars.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story set in WWII in Manchester. This focused on those on the homefront and their efforts to support the war. Sally and Betty are the main characters who come from different walks of life. They work at the salvage depot during the day and as auxiliary fire service girls at night. It mostly focuses on Sally, even though we can hear both of their points of view. We learn more about Sally’s best friend Deborah, friendships, as well as her whirlwind romance with Andrew. It is a story of female friendships, romance, and service to their country during the war. This was the first in the series and I can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to @bookouture, @netgalley, and the author for this ARC.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book telling the story of the woman who were Home Front Girls and a brilliant start it a trilogy.

Sally and her best friend Deborah work together they have been best friends since they were small. Due to circumstances Sally ends up going to work in a salvage yard where she becomes friends with Betty.

I enjoyed reading about what the home front girls did it was very interesting to find out of what happened to them.

The characters worked well together and the story flowed.

Would recommend this book.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Home Front Girls is a story about hope, courage and friendship during the early days of the Second World War. I loved reading about Sally and Betty, how they grew as people throughout the book, the bravery of these young women and how close they became as friends in spite of their rocky start. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series. Can thoroughly recommend to anybody who enjoys sagas.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.