Wartime with the Irish Factory Girls: A BRAND NEW WW2 historical saga set in Northern Ireland from Freya Kennedy for 2025

by Freya Kennedy

A gripping and compelling wartime love story set against the backdrop of the Second World War. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin!

When war changes everything, can friendship hold fast?

Life is hard for Kathleen Deery. With five children to feed and her husband struggling to find steady work, the family depends on her wages at the infamous Tillie and Henderson shirt factory at the heart of Derry. Every shift is a battle against exhaustion, worry, and the constant fear of what tomorrow might bring.

But even in difficult times, the women of the factory look out for one another. And Kathleen finds unexpected comfort in her growing friendship with Celine – single, seemingly carefree, and always with a touch of glamour that lifts the factory floor. Yet Celine isn’t as untouched by hardship as she appears, and behind her bright smile lie secrets of her own.

When war breaks out in Europe, life in Northern Ireland is shaken once more. As pressure mounts and uncertainty grows, can the women of Tillie and Henderson’s hold each other together when everything else is pulling them apart?

Genres: Historical Fiction

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2026

Reviews

[Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Freya Kennedy for some time. I was fascinated to see that she was branching out in to historical fiction.

This is a story of two women at the start of WW2. Kathleen Deery, a mother of five, is married to a monster of a man. He did not start out that way but after turning to alcohol, he because a monster. Kathleen is just trying to keep food on the table for her five children and keep them safe from their father.

Celine, a single and apparently carefree young woman, is working in the same shirt factor as Kathleen. They strike up a close friendship but it quickly unravels when Celines gives Kathleen a gift that results in Kathleen's husband turning violet once again.

Over time, Celine proves that friendship can change a life.

I was impressed with Kennedy's first venture in to historical fiction. It was a solid story with lots of depth. I hope she doesn't entirely give up women's fiction because I have found many of her characters relatable.

You know you. Make sure to check trigger warnings before starting this book. There are so very heavy topics.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Eve Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so excited to receive this ARC, especially as a young Derry girl myself. At only 25, I’ve always been fascinated by how different Derry must have been in years gone by, so the opportunity to step back in time and experience the city through the lives of the women who worked in the famous Tillie and Henderson shirt factory was something I was really looking forward to.

And I absolutely loved the Derry setting. Knowing the streets and places mentioned made the story feel so much more real to me. There was something really special about recognising the city I know today while imagining what life would have been like there during wartime.

Kathleen and Celine were definitely the heart of the story for me, and I loved them both. Kathleen’s story completely broke my heart. The hardship she faces at home, particularly the domestic abuse, was devastating to read about, and I really felt for her throughout. Celine was such a wonderful friend to Kathleen, and I loved watching their friendship develop.

This was an emotional read, with some really difficult and heartbreaking moments, but the friendship between the women brought warmth to the story too. I especially enjoyed seeing the sense of community between the factory girls and how they supported one another through such difficult circumstances.

I did find the beginning a little slow at times, but once I became settled into the story and the characters, I found myself really invested in their lives.

Overall, this was a lovely and emotional historical saga with a setting that felt particularly special to me. I’m definitely going to be picking up the next instalment of the series because I’m not ready to leave these characters behind yet! ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Angela Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I was drawn to it as I like historical fiction set in either World War and have developed an interest in the work women did and how their roles changed in wartime.

But this was so depressing - there wasn’t a chink of anything to smile about. Now I doubt that wartime brought much to smile about at all but surely there were some chinks. Family events like weddings were glossed over when it would be been lovely to have read more.

This is the story of Kathleen Deery, her 5 children and her drunken, violent lazy brute of a husband, Frank.
We also learn of Celine - a co-worker at the shirt factory, who wants to remain single and needs to work but has little idea about life for others. Auntie Margaret was a character that could’ve been developed.

I suppose I should add a sentence that there is a lot of domestic violence within the book as well as poverty and poor living conditions being highlighted.

I felt that for this type of book in the genre it was very short, about 100 pages shorter than others I have read and if detail had been added it would have become a novel rather than the novella it was.

Although an easy read -despite the contents - I did read it in a day but not constantly - I found it a little disappointing.

[Diane Nagatomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Wartime with the Irish Factory Girls” by Freya Kennedy tells a fictional, and yet most likely highly realistic, tale of several women working in the Derry shirt industry in 1939, just as the war in Europe breaks out. At the heart of the story is Kathleen Deery, who struggles to survive as the only breadwinner in the family—five children and a horrible, abusive husband. There is Celine, her coworker, who comes from a better family and has a better life. She is determined not to fall into the trap of wifehood and motherhood. Several other women occupy the story, Nan, the factory floor supervisor and Celine’s Aunt Margaret.

There is nothing sweet or comforting about this book. It is hard and gritty, just as I imagine the lives of women like Kathleen Deery were. It is incomprehensible that women suffered at the hands of their husbands in those days (and often, still do, although today the law does offer protections). It is a beautifully written story, but my heart was breaking the entire time. This is a perfect example of the power of fiction has to make you really FEEL for the characters you read about.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

[Katie Awdas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst the storyline was strong highlighting the poverty and hardship of people in Derry at the start of the war I found the title hard going. I feel it would have been better to have had a few streaks of happiness in the book as I found it quite depressing. The strong friendship bonds all seemed to focus on negative events. Even the parts with the children lacked many happy times with the exception of going to the park - I'm sure they had good days at school and had friends that could have been mentioned. I accept it is important to emphasise how lucky we are today. I would have liked to have known more about the Catholic and Protestant divides in the country; did the factory employ both sets of workers?

I assume this is the start of the series and perhaps the second book will bring more happiness now Kathleen's husband is gone although read the final paragraph in the epilogue it sounds like more sadness is ahead,

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review a preview copy.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact this was set in the town I grew up in and having some relatives who worked in the shirt factories drew me to read it!

Set at the start of WW2 we get to meet the workers in the shirt factory who worked relentlessly for very little wages.

Kathleen Deery is married with five children. Her husband is a violent drunk who thinks nothing of beating her and their children up when he feels like it .

Celine is young and carefree, who forms a close friendship with Kathleen. Their friendship is put in jeopardy when Celine tries to help Kathleen and her husband doesn’t approve.

Their struggles of living in poverty, domestic violence and female solidarity are explored in this book. The fact people turned a blind eye to other peoples problems really saddened me.

Reading how everyday people were affected by the war was insightful and made me so glad I’m living in modern times ! Can’t wait for a sequel to see how the story continues.

[Jean Mader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical fiction, “Wartime with the Irish Factory Girls” by Freya Kennedy is a lovely first book in what I hope will be a long series. Derry, in Northern Ireland is the setting and this book focuses on the first 2years of World War II. Derry is a an old town, with much poverty, but there is a good spirit among the townsfolk.

Kathleen, Celine, and Nan are the main characters, and they work at the town’s shirt factory. Each of these women have worries and problems. Kathleen has a cruel, alcoholic husband who beats her, but she does her best to work and take care of her five children. Times are changing though,

This is a sweet, thoughtful book and I look forward to the next story! Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful historical fiction. Set in Derry, starting 1939, the story revolves around women working in a shirt factory. Most of them are far from well off, but Kathleen has it the hardest because her husband is a violent drunk. The story deals well with offering and accepting charity and help, and the mores of the day where other people are not expected to intervene in fractious marriages. The situation gets dire for Kathleen and her five children as her husband’s behaviour escalates. Then the war starts, which adds new problems for everyone. I enjoyed the level of historical research, while feeling so sorry for the women caught up in the cycle of child bearing and poverty. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for bringing this author to my attention.

[Mary C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about the women working at the Tillie and Henderson shirt factory and features three women - Kathleen, married with five children, Celine, a young single who resides with her family and Nan, the supervisor overseeing the work. Pressure and uncertainty grow due to the war and Kathleen is dealing with an abusive husband who has given up looking for work. It is difficult to read the abuse Kathleen suffered and how others saw it and did not act until a critical stage was reached. The hardships the women faced as they worked to keep their families housed, fed and clothed.
#WartimewiththeIrishFactoryGirls #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

[Debbie Southwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it took me a little while to get into this book but once I did I was invested in the lives of Kathleen and Celine who work together at the factory making clothes and is set just before WW2.
Celine is single but supports her family and Kathleen is married with children however her Husband likes to drink and is abusive towards Kathleen.
This book shows primarily how isolated an abusive relationship can make an individual feel but also the true value of friendship.
I would recommend this book which was pretty emotional at times.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood for the advance copy of this book however opinions are my own.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read and review this book.

This was a fantastic read, I know it isn't a true story as such but it was based on what really went on in Ireland and I appreciate the research that Kennedy did to create this book. The real names used were a lovely touch too.

Yes it wasn't a book with the typical happy ending you might expect from fiction but we saw hope and positivity, and seeing the friendships being formed despite all the bad things that had happened.

I look forward to the next book.

[Elaine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the girls of a shirt factory in Derry, Nothern Ireland.Kathleen Deery is the mother of five trying to keep her job to put food on the table and pay the rent has her abusive cant get a job and hits her .Celine another of the factory workers try’s to help Kathleen but it doesn’t work out well for her.This is a great read about the times these women went through to keep their families together.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Wartime with the Irish Factory Girls, by Freya Kennedy, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is mainly set at the Tillie and Henderson shirt factory in Derry, during the war. This was a sad and heavy read, sometimes the war at home can be just as bad as the wars outside.

[Hayley Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few of Freya Kennedy's books and thoroughly enjoyed them so I had high hopes for this books and it didnt disappoint. I loved following Kathleen, Celine and Nan's stories and how intertwined they became. Kathleen's story was quite difficult to read and made you want to delve into the pages to help her. I hope we get another instalment in their lives very soon.

[Emma Renshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. Five stars. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.