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Secrets of the Sewing Bee
Secrets of the Sewing Bee tells the story of the defiant and courageous women on the home front, from Kate Thompson, author of Secrets of the Singer Girls.Orphan Flossy Brown arrives at Trout's garment factory in Bethnal Green amidst the uncertainty of the Second World War. In 1940s London, each cobbled street is strewn with ghosts of soldiers past, all struggling to make ends meet. For the women of the East End, their battles are on the home front.Flossy is quickly embraced by the colourful mix of characters working at Trout's, who have turned their sewing expertise to vital war work. They fast become the family that Flossy has always longed for. Things aren't so easy for Peggy Piper, another new recruit at the factory. She's used to the high life working as a nippie in the West End, and is not best pleased to find herself bent over a sewing machine.Dolly Doolaney, darling of the East End, sets up a sewing circle and the ladies at Trout's play their part in defending the frontline as they arm themselves with their needles and set about stitching their way to victory. But as the full force of the Blitz hits London, the sewing bee are forced to shelter in the underground tube stations on a nightly basis. In such close quarters, can Dolly manage to contain the secret that binds them all? And how will Peggy and Flossy cope as their lives are shaped and moved by forces outside of their control?
467 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2016
51 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
About the author
Kate Thompson
10 books523 followersKate Thompson was born in London and worked as a journalist for twenty years on women's magazines and national newspapers. She now lives in Sunbury with her husband, two sons and two rescue dogs. After ghost writing five memoirs, Kate moved into fiction.
Kate's first non-fiction social history documenting the forgotten histories of East End matriarchy, The Stepney Doorstep Society, was published in 2018 by Penguin. She is passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories.
Today Kate works as a journalist, author and library campaigner. Her most recent books, The Little Wartime Library (2022) and The Wartime Book Club (2023) by Hodder & Stoughton focus on two remarkable libraries in wartime. Her 100 libraries project, celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities.
Kate is also proud to have worked in collaboration with one of Britain's oldest Holocaust survivors, Renee Salt, to research and write, A mother's Promise (UK) Do Not Cry When I Die (US and Canada) to be published on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Podcast host - From the Library With Love. Interviews with librarians, best-sellling authors and our remarkable wartime generation. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
Kate's first non-fiction social history documenting the forgotten histories of East End matriarchy, The Stepney Doorstep Society, was published in 2018 by Penguin. She is passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories.
Today Kate works as a journalist, author and library campaigner. Her most recent books, The Little Wartime Library (2022) and The Wartime Book Club (2023) by Hodder & Stoughton focus on two remarkable libraries in wartime. Her 100 libraries project, celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities.
Kate is also proud to have worked in collaboration with one of Britain's oldest Holocaust survivors, Renee Salt, to research and write, A mother's Promise (UK) Do Not Cry When I Die (US and Canada) to be published on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Podcast host - From the Library With Love. Interviews with librarians, best-sellling authors and our remarkable wartime generation. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 2, 2021
I have read many books about London during the Blitz, but this was not one of the best. I really should have been more suspicious of that oh-so-twee title and the horrible cover!
"Secrets of the Sewing Bee" describes the East Enders' united spirit in Bethnal Green during WWII, when everyone stood together against ‘itler’s bleedin' bombers. Based on real events, it had me entertained at first... The main characters were colourful and endearing: a factory of feisty working-class women, wonderfully brash and witty, helping each other to survive - great stuff! Then I began to find the story plucking at the old heart strings rather a lot (OK, understandable, given the context). But after that it became saccarine chick-lit, so corny and predictable that I couldn’t wait for it to finish.
I honestly can't understand why the ratings of this novel are so astronomical! I'd rather recommend Helen Carey's "Lavender Road" trilogy to my Goodreads friends.
"Secrets of the Sewing Bee" describes the East Enders' united spirit in Bethnal Green during WWII, when everyone stood together against ‘itler’s bleedin' bombers. Based on real events, it had me entertained at first... The main characters were colourful and endearing: a factory of feisty working-class women, wonderfully brash and witty, helping each other to survive - great stuff! Then I began to find the story plucking at the old heart strings rather a lot (OK, understandable, given the context). But after that it became saccarine chick-lit, so corny and predictable that I couldn’t wait for it to finish.
I honestly can't understand why the ratings of this novel are so astronomical! I'd rather recommend Helen Carey's "Lavender Road" trilogy to my Goodreads friends.
March 22, 2016
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2016/03...
Last year I had the pleasure of reading Kate Thompson's debut, Secret of the Singer Girls, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I was over the moon to get a review copy of her new one. As soon as I started reading Secrets of the Sewing Bee, something sounded familiar and I soon realised that this story is set in the same textile factory as the previous book, Trout's. The difference is that The Sewing Bee takes place some years before, when the war is about to begin. This made me really glad, as I really enjoyed reading about some favourite characters from The Singer Girls and learning what they were up to before their own story. But the main characters for this one are completely new.
In Secrets of the Sewing Bee, we are introduced to two new recruits for the factory: fragile and shy Flossy and beautiful and proud Peggy. These girls couldn't be more different, they have had completely different upbringings, one being raised in an orphanage, the other in a healthy family, one ready to please, the other too cool to bother with work or making new friends. But soon war breaks out and willing or not they find themselves in the same boat with the whole Trout's family. And their friendship is one of the few things they can cling on.
Something I love about Kate Thompson's stories is how you can tell the amount of research that she must have done for them. Her detailed descriptions of the buildings, the streets, the atmosphere and even the feelings of her characters make you feel part of the story. I always enjoy books that teach me something and with this one I learned so much, as we glimpse at the lives of those who lived through the horrific Blitz. Some made it and some didn't and the story reflects this and how everyone must have felt perfectly.
Another bit that I found really interesting was that the author added some testimonies from the women she interviewed during her research. They lived in the East End during that time and their words really resonated with me and made me understand the story even better. I really thing Kate Thompson captured their experiences perfectly in the story: that feeling of camaraderie, that almost joyous atmosphere they created in the underground stations where they had to hide from the bombs and also how brave and strong those women were.
Secrets of the Sewing Bee is a touching story that will surprise you more than once. With complex characters, secrets, love, friendship and tears, it has it all. I cannot wait to see what Kate Thompson comes out with next.
Last year I had the pleasure of reading Kate Thompson's debut, Secret of the Singer Girls, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I was over the moon to get a review copy of her new one. As soon as I started reading Secrets of the Sewing Bee, something sounded familiar and I soon realised that this story is set in the same textile factory as the previous book, Trout's. The difference is that The Sewing Bee takes place some years before, when the war is about to begin. This made me really glad, as I really enjoyed reading about some favourite characters from The Singer Girls and learning what they were up to before their own story. But the main characters for this one are completely new.
In Secrets of the Sewing Bee, we are introduced to two new recruits for the factory: fragile and shy Flossy and beautiful and proud Peggy. These girls couldn't be more different, they have had completely different upbringings, one being raised in an orphanage, the other in a healthy family, one ready to please, the other too cool to bother with work or making new friends. But soon war breaks out and willing or not they find themselves in the same boat with the whole Trout's family. And their friendship is one of the few things they can cling on.
Something I love about Kate Thompson's stories is how you can tell the amount of research that she must have done for them. Her detailed descriptions of the buildings, the streets, the atmosphere and even the feelings of her characters make you feel part of the story. I always enjoy books that teach me something and with this one I learned so much, as we glimpse at the lives of those who lived through the horrific Blitz. Some made it and some didn't and the story reflects this and how everyone must have felt perfectly.
Another bit that I found really interesting was that the author added some testimonies from the women she interviewed during her research. They lived in the East End during that time and their words really resonated with me and made me understand the story even better. I really thing Kate Thompson captured their experiences perfectly in the story: that feeling of camaraderie, that almost joyous atmosphere they created in the underground stations where they had to hide from the bombs and also how brave and strong those women were.
Secrets of the Sewing Bee is a touching story that will surprise you more than once. With complex characters, secrets, love, friendship and tears, it has it all. I cannot wait to see what Kate Thompson comes out with next.
June 2, 2021
Just loved this. It reminds me of my Mum telling me how she lived through the war and held the key to unlock the air raid shelter when the sirens sounded, and although she was alone and walked in the dark she never felt afraid. The memories of other women at the end of this book and spine tingling...awesome and amazing women
June 17, 2016
was hooked on this book from start to finish. sad funny happy this is the first by this author a heartwarming story that you wont want to end thank you to the author for this lovley wartime read
October 10, 2017
Ok this book was very touching and filled to the brim with sentimentality, but the female characters and the strong bonds they formed during wartime was enough to keep the book grounded. I've always been interested in reading womens' wartime stories, how they held their own while the men were away, demonstrating huge levels of bravery and tenacity. The book portrayed the women as strong, loyal and selfless, and I particularly enjoyed their banter and humour.
September 7, 2017
Earth shattering
Engrosed from page 1 the war on the home front was spell binding as Kate says the women were soldiers fighting for there family and there life's the characters were all individuals from flossy to peggy and to pat and ivy they all had a background and they all had support of dolly a must read for everyone definitely worth 5 stars
Engrosed from page 1 the war on the home front was spell binding as Kate says the women were soldiers fighting for there family and there life's the characters were all individuals from flossy to peggy and to pat and ivy they all had a background and they all had support of dolly a must read for everyone definitely worth 5 stars
February 11, 2025
Emotional and funny in parts, but could have been shorter, it’s over 400 pages long and seemed to be going over the same historical details, but the ending picked up pace
May 30, 2017
It is 1940 and 2 new girls start work at Trouts garment factory but they are 2 very different people. Flossy is just turned 18 and from the local foundling home whilst Peggy has recently moved to Bethnal Green from a more affluent area of London and is more used to silver service and China tea cups having been a ‘nippy’ at a Lyons corner house tea shop.
Flossy finds friendship and support in the close knit community of Trouts and Bethnal Green whilst Peggy has a more difficult start.
As the full force of the Blitz hits the East End – there is something about the spirit of these girls that will see them through both love and loss.
The grim reality and horror of the blitz is brought vividly to life with descriptions of destruction and death that doesn't hold back and at some points is very graphic.
After enjoying ‘The Wedding Girls” by the same author – this book did not disappoint. Although published after ‘Secrets of the Singer Girls”, I read “Secrets of The Sewing Bee” first as it is set in the same factory but 2 years earlier so made sense to me to read in this order.
Looking forward to reading “Secrets of the Singer Girls” as my next book.
Flossy finds friendship and support in the close knit community of Trouts and Bethnal Green whilst Peggy has a more difficult start.
As the full force of the Blitz hits the East End – there is something about the spirit of these girls that will see them through both love and loss.
The grim reality and horror of the blitz is brought vividly to life with descriptions of destruction and death that doesn't hold back and at some points is very graphic.
After enjoying ‘The Wedding Girls” by the same author – this book did not disappoint. Although published after ‘Secrets of the Singer Girls”, I read “Secrets of The Sewing Bee” first as it is set in the same factory but 2 years earlier so made sense to me to read in this order.
Looking forward to reading “Secrets of the Singer Girls” as my next book.
February 21, 2024
It’s not often I award 5 stars but in this instance I feel it is justified. I really don’t know why I’ve not heard of this author before but having looked her up she is better known for her children’s books. However, there are several more she has written in this genre which I will hopefully read in the future.
This book surprised me. It really captured the dreadful moments in history which I’m sure most of the older generation of Londoners would really like to forget – the Blitz! Every moment of the unrelented bombings on homes, businesses and people’s lives were beautifully captured and it did really feel that you were sharing their emotions and the horrors of their predicament. The excellent writing and descriptions showed how the East End coped in these dreadful times.
The story centres around a factory of machinists who found themselves contributing to the war effort. The strength, courage, sheer grit and determination was very apparent in every one of the characters and whose typical East End humour shone through keeping them going through the darkest of days.
It was the kind of book you end up being completely absorbed in the characters and you felt every moment of their sorrow, pain, disappointment and resilience.
Most authors create a ‘happy ever after’ ending, that’s what most readers expect after all but this one was in half measures. Without giving away any of the story, it concludes with sadness, disappointment and resignation mingled with sheer joy.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy WW2 history and fiction told at its best.
This book surprised me. It really captured the dreadful moments in history which I’m sure most of the older generation of Londoners would really like to forget – the Blitz! Every moment of the unrelented bombings on homes, businesses and people’s lives were beautifully captured and it did really feel that you were sharing their emotions and the horrors of their predicament. The excellent writing and descriptions showed how the East End coped in these dreadful times.
The story centres around a factory of machinists who found themselves contributing to the war effort. The strength, courage, sheer grit and determination was very apparent in every one of the characters and whose typical East End humour shone through keeping them going through the darkest of days.
It was the kind of book you end up being completely absorbed in the characters and you felt every moment of their sorrow, pain, disappointment and resilience.
Most authors create a ‘happy ever after’ ending, that’s what most readers expect after all but this one was in half measures. Without giving away any of the story, it concludes with sadness, disappointment and resignation mingled with sheer joy.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy WW2 history and fiction told at its best.
April 29, 2020
A great book! An absolute pleasure to read, lovely relationships, friendships, camaraderie. Set in the 1940's in London's East End it concentrates on two young girls starting out in a sewing factory. One is timid, the other not so. The other sewists are welcoming, looking out for each other, becoming 'family' as the war rages, for many as their actual families are either away fighting or have been sent away to the country. When the aggressive East End bombing begins you have already got to know the characters, you want nothing bad to happen to any of them. They form more of a knitting bee than a sewing been, knitting 'comforts' (socks, mufflers, blankets, etc) for the occupants of a British naval ship. They knit at every break time, even during air raids. They are resourceful. They are stalwart!
It was a compulsive read. I didn't want it to finish!
It was a compulsive read. I didn't want it to finish!
March 15, 2020
I have enjoyed every book I have read written by Kate Thompson but Secrets of the Sewing Bee is definitely my favourite. The characters were both believable and likeable with interesting tales to tell. I find that many books centred in this era can be a tad too sweet for my liking, although the Secrets of the Sewing Bee does have some heartwarming moments it is also gritty in places and doesn't hide from the horrors of East end living. Reading this at the beginning of the corona-virus outbreak I found the book quite thought provoking, in a good way. I am glad I read it and would highly recommend to other readers.
December 4, 2022
This book was such a touching story, there were a lot of secrets which were revealed throughout the story and I honestly didn’t guess any of the little secrets which was actually quite nice! I thought the storyline was such an incredible yet emotional read but I was just so engrossed I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters especially Flossy, Peggy & Lucky! I loved the romance throughout the story too and just overall loved getting back into the world of Trout’s when I would pick the book up again, will definitely read more from this author and I can’t wait!
February 21, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite the fact that I have read lots of books about WW2. This was moving and lively, the characters were all very believable and likeable (eventually)and full of information. I knew nothing about the Lifebuoy lorries until I read about them in here and I hadn't realised that the general public had to fight to use the tube stations as shelters in the Blitz. In fact there were many battles to be fought on the Home Front and this book brings them to life.
December 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this story about wartime East London and the lives of the women who worked side by side in a sewing factory. Well rounded characters that I connected with and a twisting tale that kept me guessing until the end. Lots of interesting details that made the story both factual and entertaining. Would read more from Kate Thompson.
July 13, 2018
When I say I love books about the home front during the war(s), this isn’t the kind of thing I mean. But I found it in the library’s small audiobook selection and gave it a go, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! A bit pithy in places but the highs and lows of the Blitz had me laughing and crying, an enjoyable and poignant read!
July 12, 2022
This covers the period of the Blitz over London in WW11 so it interested me as my family came from Scotland who also suffered the bombs with one cousin having to be evacuated from a hospital when the sirens went. Life was tough but these women made the most of it sewing on machines in a factory by day and sewing in the Tube at night.
February 23, 2019
What a lovely book! I really did enjoy this. I loved all of the characters and the friendships , I could not wait to read more & more about the girls at Trouts. I have just started the next book. I would definitely recommend it.
May 12, 2019
I loved Secrets of the Sewing Bee and couldn't put it down. Kate Thompson has a lovely writing style that really captures life in London. I'd little knowledge of Bethnal Green, but feel I now have a very real glimpse into life there. It was very well researched. I loved it.
January 9, 2025
Other than the fact that, with the amount of family that Tommy has, he’d be unlikely to be a penpal, the story was amazing. It was beautiful and heartwarming. It made me feel calm and happy while reading it! Another cracker from the wonderful Kate Thompson!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2025
I needed some easy reading after being unwell and this fitted the bill nicely.
An interesting account of life in the East End during the war and the various girls and women who worked together in a factory making items for the war and in their spare time making comforts for the soldiers.
An interesting account of life in the East End during the war and the various girls and women who worked together in a factory making items for the war and in their spare time making comforts for the soldiers.
May 16, 2025
Other than the fact that, with the amount of family that Tommy has, he'd be unlikely to be a penpal, the story was amazing. It was beautiful and
heartwarming. It made me feel calm and happy while reading it! Another cracker from the wonderful Kate Thompson!
heartwarming. It made me feel calm and happy while reading it! Another cracker from the wonderful Kate Thompson!
September 25, 2025
another brilliant one of Kates. I also truly love the dedicated whole section at the end with her research, interviews and knowledge of the war period and the industry shes writing about. it drips off the pages in the story and makes such a difference.
May 18, 2017
3.5 maybe. A bit over done on the expressions of the days. Gallows Humour used far too many times. But a good story set in 2nd World War about the women on the home front.
September 10, 2017
While it was interesting to read about the blitz, I found the story line a bit too monotonous and predictable.
November 7, 2017
I enjoyed this book about Dolly and her friends at Tout's of Bethel Green, during the war years.
September 6, 2018
a lovely read and very well researched. people of that time were amazing and so strong willed. i don’t know if our generation would have been so good
June 29, 2019
Very emotional and well researched. Great book.
July 18, 2020
Really enjoyed this book
Fabulous story and a great insight into life in the east end during the blitz.a really great read. Lovely story
Fabulous story and a great insight into life in the east end during the blitz.a really great read. Lovely story
September 1, 2020
A great snapshot the war years in East London.
May 16, 2021
Nice easy chick lit listen set the WW2 East end of London
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews