What do you think?
Rate this book
Woolworths #1
The Woolworths Girls
Can romance blossom in times of trouble? It's 1938 and as the threat of war hangs over the country, Sarah Caselton is preparing for her new job at Woolworths. Before long, she forms a tight bond with two of her colleagues: the glamorous Maisie and shy Freda. The trio couldn't be more different, but they immediately form a close-knit friendship, sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. Sarah soon falls into the rhythm of her new position, enjoying the social events hosted by Woolies and her blossoming romance with young assistant manager, Alan.
But with the threat of war clouding the horizon, the young men and women of Woolworths realize that there are bigger battles ahead. It's a dangerous time for the nation, and an even more perilous time to fall in love ...
But with the threat of war clouding the horizon, the young men and women of Woolworths realize that there are bigger battles ahead. It's a dangerous time for the nation, and an even more perilous time to fall in love ...
448 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2016
193 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Everest
23 books190 followersElaine Everest is the Sunday Times Bestselling author of historical sagas including The Woolworths Girls series, The Teashop Girls series and other popular books.
She is represented by the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Ltd.
She is represented by the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Ltd.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 5, 2016
When you pick up a book like The Woolworths Girls you’re looking a comfort read. I think most of us are aware that the ‘good old days’ weren’t quite so good, but what the author brings us is that magical sense of nostalgia for things past, perhaps things lost, a sense of family, of belonging and community spirit. Opening at the beginning of WWII, telling the story of three young girls setting out on an uncertain journey to adulthood, a journey made more daunting by the impending war, the story is based around Woolworths, a landmark in history, the go to shop for bits and bobs which you could rely on Woollies to stock. It can’t fail to resonate with people, young and old, those who might have shopped there, those who, like me, had mothers or grandmothers with barely ‘two pennies to rub together’, who would go to Woollies for everything from cheap lippy to laces. The central girls, Sarah, Freda and Maisie, win hearts immediately. Nervously attending interviews, we are given glimpses of just the right amount of beautifully concise backstory to have us totally invested in them. They’re from very different backgrounds, each with their own troubled secrets, and each with an innocence we want to preserve. We watch them bond, we watch them grow, we follow their trials and tribulations, from the seemingly trivial which are so important to girls of that age, to their adapting to the terrors that war brings. The secondary characters are cleverly drawn, making us want to share their stories too. Sarah’s grandmother, Ruby, whose home is where the heart is, is the linchpin, a stalwart of a woman who’s as determined the girls will have a square meal inside them as she is to protect them. I loved this book from the opening chapter, where ex-sailors from the Seaman’s Mission were singing Christmas carols in the snow. I loved the ending, where Sarah was taking new staff under her wing. I loved everything in between. If you love WWII reads, nostalgia in bucketfuls, a timely reminder of the hardship endured, and a smile along the way, The Woolworths Girls encapsulates it all. Highly recommended.
June 20, 2017
I fell in love with this book from the first page! It is just utterly engrossing, the storyline sweeps you along, the characters are likeable and I felt wrapped up in their stories and also the setting of WW2 following the highs and the lows, friendship and romance. I really can't wait to catch up with Sarah, Maisie and Frieda in Christmas at Woolworths later this year and have just ordered The Butlins Girls by the same author and can't wait for it to arrive!
June 16, 2016
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/0...
I enjoyed getting to know Sarah, Freda and Maisie. Intrigue from their pasts had me trying to work out what they were running from and why they were drawn to Erith. Their growing friendship which begins at the Woolies interview is interesting because they are such different people. Their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other and they learn when to push those friendship boundaries without fear of reprisals.
There are some fabulous characters we get to meet too. Sarah's grandmother Ruby is the salt of the earth, nurturing the girls, providing home comforts and protecting them when it's needed. Ruby's friendship with neighbour Vera provides some spark and even though we only meet Maisie's mother-in-law a couple of times she left a lasting impression (and not in a good way). I must admit I wondered how Sarah's parents had ever stayed together for all those years ... Miss Billington's story was sad and I enjoyed the added depth her friendship with Sarah brings to the story.
The war obviously plays a part in the story and not just because of the romance between Sarah and Alan. There are a few tense scenes and I could picture what was happening so vividly. When I interviewed Elaine, she shared the hardest scene to write and it was obvious she wrote from the heart.
The scenes in Woolies with the girls on their counters and the party for the old soldiers felt very real. It was like stepping back to a time of innocence. Very refreshing to read a story without mobile phones and the internet. Not being able to text someone or Google something gave a heightened sense of tension when crises arose but it wasn't just communication. The romance is also innocent and naive compared to today. There was a different pace to life and a strong sense of community both before, during and after the war.
The Woolworths Girls was a 'comfort' read for me. What I mean by that is it is a story that my mum and I would have shared between us (so a comfort in a good way!). One to add to your reading lists.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed getting to know Sarah, Freda and Maisie. Intrigue from their pasts had me trying to work out what they were running from and why they were drawn to Erith. Their growing friendship which begins at the Woolies interview is interesting because they are such different people. Their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other and they learn when to push those friendship boundaries without fear of reprisals.
There are some fabulous characters we get to meet too. Sarah's grandmother Ruby is the salt of the earth, nurturing the girls, providing home comforts and protecting them when it's needed. Ruby's friendship with neighbour Vera provides some spark and even though we only meet Maisie's mother-in-law a couple of times she left a lasting impression (and not in a good way). I must admit I wondered how Sarah's parents had ever stayed together for all those years ... Miss Billington's story was sad and I enjoyed the added depth her friendship with Sarah brings to the story.
The war obviously plays a part in the story and not just because of the romance between Sarah and Alan. There are a few tense scenes and I could picture what was happening so vividly. When I interviewed Elaine, she shared the hardest scene to write and it was obvious she wrote from the heart.
The scenes in Woolies with the girls on their counters and the party for the old soldiers felt very real. It was like stepping back to a time of innocence. Very refreshing to read a story without mobile phones and the internet. Not being able to text someone or Google something gave a heightened sense of tension when crises arose but it wasn't just communication. The romance is also innocent and naive compared to today. There was a different pace to life and a strong sense of community both before, during and after the war.
The Woolworths Girls was a 'comfort' read for me. What I mean by that is it is a story that my mum and I would have shared between us (so a comfort in a good way!). One to add to your reading lists.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2017
The Woolworths Girls
I really enjoyed this audiobook and ended up listening through the night because I just had to know the end of the story.
Set in the war it gave a glimpse of what life was like in war time Britain with people being called up to fight for their country and women doing war time work.
A love story set in Woolies with a proposal at the pan counter and a separation when missing in action and hope was lost for a time.
Very well narrated and well worth a read.
Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed this audiobook and ended up listening through the night because I just had to know the end of the story.
Set in the war it gave a glimpse of what life was like in war time Britain with people being called up to fight for their country and women doing war time work.
A love story set in Woolies with a proposal at the pan counter and a separation when missing in action and hope was lost for a time.
Very well narrated and well worth a read.
Highly recommended.
September 7, 2017
This was an heartwarming book from start to end and take you back in time and you believe you are there with them as so well written. You get to know three main characters who work at woolworths and it's a hard time as threat of war and each character is different but they get on so well and can they find love or not well worth reading and now really looking forward to the follow on book soon.
April 7, 2017
Found it slow going at times but ended up finishing it. Liked the characters which was the main reason I continued.
May 22, 2017
Loved this book,cannot wait for christmas one to come out xx
May 5, 2016
The Woolworths Girls is an engaging and sentimental novel. Woolworths is a place that I think we all have some memories of. Being a child in the shop’s later days, I still remember the excitement of popping in for some pick ‘n mix and a root through the cheap toys and CDs. When discussing this book, I also learnt that my gran had worked in Woolworths when she was younger and so it is one of those places that a lot of people think fondly of. In the book, I enjoyed reading detail of the dynamics that came with working in Woolworths from the items they sold, the various departments and cheap prices – it was a proper representation of the Woolworths I think so many people will be able to recognise.
What Elaine Everest has written, whilst it is a nostalgic novel, also sees Woolworths as a form of backdrop to the impending World War II and the book follows a very emotive story of working and living through times of war and what it feels like to know your loved ones may never recover from the war that is coming. At times very touching and romantic, The Woolworths Girls also engages the reader with a series of emotional twists and turns which have you turning the pages quickly and rooting for the characters to come through it all okay.
Sarah, Freda and Maisie are the “Woolworths girls”. I loved how we were introduced to the characters together at their job interviews, and each one felt very carefully and realistically characterised by the author, with depth to their feelings and personalities evident right from the moment we meet them. Maisie is dressed up and glam and appears posh to the other girls though she is anything but. Freda is very shy and reserved at first but after making friends with Sarah and Maisie, soon comes out of her shell. Sarah is just glad to be living with her nan, Ruby, although she quickly finds herself drawn to Alan, Woolworths’ assistant manager.
The friendship between Sarah, Freda and Maisie was the highlight of this book for me. I loved getting to know them as people and seeing their bond grow. Regardless of what was taking place around them, as friends they always stood strong and it was endearing to read. Despite being very different people, they quickly became close and contributed to much of the humour and lightness to this novel. The dynamics between them and their dialogue made for refreshing reading and some of my favourite moments came at the parties and events they were together at where you could really believe them as characters and see what their friendship meant to one another.
Another character I really enjoyed reading about was Sarah’s nan who was kind and caring from the start and a bit of a rock to several characters, always there to listen and offer help and advice. Ruby was a brave and considerate woman and one I felt connected to throughout as I loved seeing the part she played in the story.
Alan was an interesting character who I wasn’t sure of early on but as I got further into the book, I could really feel the pressure and almost desperation of being in love as the war is building. Knowing things couldn’t possibly work in a perfect manner but wanting so much for that to be the case for him and Sarah.
Many novels that I have read set in this time focus firmly on the war and its brutal implications but I think that’s why I was drawn to this particular novel because it had a different edge to it. It may not have been a massively unsettling read but it was full of heart and very compelling. Beautifully told, reading the romance and nostalgia of this story whilst it draws on the war in a heart-rending fashion ensured that this book was moving and honest but at the same time, quite a pleasant read too. The Woolworths Girls is a very satisfying novel from start to finish and I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next novel as her style of writing really draws me in.
(review copy)
What Elaine Everest has written, whilst it is a nostalgic novel, also sees Woolworths as a form of backdrop to the impending World War II and the book follows a very emotive story of working and living through times of war and what it feels like to know your loved ones may never recover from the war that is coming. At times very touching and romantic, The Woolworths Girls also engages the reader with a series of emotional twists and turns which have you turning the pages quickly and rooting for the characters to come through it all okay.
Sarah, Freda and Maisie are the “Woolworths girls”. I loved how we were introduced to the characters together at their job interviews, and each one felt very carefully and realistically characterised by the author, with depth to their feelings and personalities evident right from the moment we meet them. Maisie is dressed up and glam and appears posh to the other girls though she is anything but. Freda is very shy and reserved at first but after making friends with Sarah and Maisie, soon comes out of her shell. Sarah is just glad to be living with her nan, Ruby, although she quickly finds herself drawn to Alan, Woolworths’ assistant manager.
The friendship between Sarah, Freda and Maisie was the highlight of this book for me. I loved getting to know them as people and seeing their bond grow. Regardless of what was taking place around them, as friends they always stood strong and it was endearing to read. Despite being very different people, they quickly became close and contributed to much of the humour and lightness to this novel. The dynamics between them and their dialogue made for refreshing reading and some of my favourite moments came at the parties and events they were together at where you could really believe them as characters and see what their friendship meant to one another.
Another character I really enjoyed reading about was Sarah’s nan who was kind and caring from the start and a bit of a rock to several characters, always there to listen and offer help and advice. Ruby was a brave and considerate woman and one I felt connected to throughout as I loved seeing the part she played in the story.
Alan was an interesting character who I wasn’t sure of early on but as I got further into the book, I could really feel the pressure and almost desperation of being in love as the war is building. Knowing things couldn’t possibly work in a perfect manner but wanting so much for that to be the case for him and Sarah.
Many novels that I have read set in this time focus firmly on the war and its brutal implications but I think that’s why I was drawn to this particular novel because it had a different edge to it. It may not have been a massively unsettling read but it was full of heart and very compelling. Beautifully told, reading the romance and nostalgia of this story whilst it draws on the war in a heart-rending fashion ensured that this book was moving and honest but at the same time, quite a pleasant read too. The Woolworths Girls is a very satisfying novel from start to finish and I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next novel as her style of writing really draws me in.
(review copy)
June 15, 2020
4 out of 5 stars
This is a great way to start the series of books on friends that met at the legendary Woolworths.. I remember growing up with wolllies and being devastated at its closure. Hearing of friendships which are valuable coming together at this place is so interesting. Wartime was such a hard time and the series starts just before we went into the Second World War and a time when fear took over. Loved this book..
This is a great way to start the series of books on friends that met at the legendary Woolworths.. I remember growing up with wolllies and being devastated at its closure. Hearing of friendships which are valuable coming together at this place is so interesting. Wartime was such a hard time and the series starts just before we went into the Second World War and a time when fear took over. Loved this book..
July 10, 2021
What a really lovely read! Such a good old fashioned war time book. My mother in law would have loved this series about the Woolworths girls and I am looking forward to reading the next one. It had a bit of everything in it and as a Woolworths girl myself (albeit not in the war!!) I can relate to how people loved to come to Woolworths and buy all their family gifts and how important it was to them. We all miss Woolies! I’m going to read these for you Lil - very enjoyable.
January 10, 2018
Who doesn’t have memories of woolies ?
February 7, 2021
My Mum gave me this set of books for Christmas. Mum would had bought me these because they are a British series, and Mum is British. Not my usual type of books I read. It was fluffy.
It didn't take me long to read this book. I had to stop part way through as I had to read one of my book club books, and I picked it up 5 days later, no problem, right back into it.
The story is set in Erith, Kent. We lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada growing up. We would visit my grandparents, who lived in London, England every few years. We would always make the llloooonnnngggg drive to Kent (okay, so I googlemap to see how far the drive is, and it's less an hour. Too funny!) to visit their dear friend, Rose. She lived in Sidcup, Kent. I also googlemap to see how far Erith and Sidcup are: 17 minutes away.
I'm old enough to remember shopping at Woolworths in Toronto and in England. My husband even worked the night shift at Woolworths when he was a teenager.
Returning to the story: It takes place just before WWII breaks out and into the first two years of the war. It's a story based around Sarah, her family and the friends she meets at Woolworth. Some of the events added to the story are true stories of what happened at Woolworths, which we find out at the end of the book.
Elaine Everest repeated herself quite often saying the same things. Or she would recap it like the author would have to do in a second book in the series to refresh the reader's memories. It was frustrating, as it was unnecessary.
I was blown away with the amount of tea the characters drank, and this coming from someone who visited England a zillion times growing up LOL. I honestly don't know how anyone has time to drink tea that many times in a day. LOL I guess I don't sit enough. I have one a day. That's my time to sit and enjoy it; it's my downtime, before I have to start going on dinner.
The whole thing with Sarah doubting Allen loving her was driving me crazy. I would skip over those parts because I knew it was wasting my time, and I couldn't stand her thought process.
Reading this book makes you realize how naive and innocent women were. Sarah told Allen, who was going off to war, numerous times, "You're just not to do anything dangerous, do you hear me?" Oh Lordy! It makes me think what did the women think their men or sons were going off to do if not fight in a war?
It was a different time and I feel the author did the time period justice in her writing. It also makes me realize I'm glad to be a female in this day and age.
Other times I found the author went from one topic to another within an line without so much as a break or making it a new chapter. It would be confusing, and I would have to reread it because it would be a different story line going on.
I've never heard of a "siren suit" before. I need to ask my Mum about it. See if she remembers having to wear it? I also need to ask Mum if she called Woolworths, Woolies?
Funny Sarah having the baby in the dug out during a raid...first baby and she had it quickly, haha. It also crossed my mind how would they have cut the cord and what about the afterbirth because there was no mention of it. LOL
I liked how Elaine Everest made a chapter called "Author's Note" after the story, sharing with her readers a few of her stories working at Woolworths when she was 16 in Slade Green, Kent. Also at the back is, "Reading Group Questions. Which upon reading them are pretty lame. 10 questions you don't have to really think hard about like, "Did you like the setting of The Woolworths Girls?"
I'm going to pass the books along to Mum to read once I've finished all four.
It didn't take me long to read this book. I had to stop part way through as I had to read one of my book club books, and I picked it up 5 days later, no problem, right back into it.
The story is set in Erith, Kent. We lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada growing up. We would visit my grandparents, who lived in London, England every few years. We would always make the llloooonnnngggg drive to Kent (okay, so I googlemap to see how far the drive is, and it's less an hour. Too funny!) to visit their dear friend, Rose. She lived in Sidcup, Kent. I also googlemap to see how far Erith and Sidcup are: 17 minutes away.
I'm old enough to remember shopping at Woolworths in Toronto and in England. My husband even worked the night shift at Woolworths when he was a teenager.
Returning to the story: It takes place just before WWII breaks out and into the first two years of the war. It's a story based around Sarah, her family and the friends she meets at Woolworth. Some of the events added to the story are true stories of what happened at Woolworths, which we find out at the end of the book.
Elaine Everest repeated herself quite often saying the same things. Or she would recap it like the author would have to do in a second book in the series to refresh the reader's memories. It was frustrating, as it was unnecessary.
I was blown away with the amount of tea the characters drank, and this coming from someone who visited England a zillion times growing up LOL. I honestly don't know how anyone has time to drink tea that many times in a day. LOL I guess I don't sit enough. I have one a day. That's my time to sit and enjoy it; it's my downtime, before I have to start going on dinner.
The whole thing with Sarah doubting Allen loving her was driving me crazy. I would skip over those parts because I knew it was wasting my time, and I couldn't stand her thought process.
Reading this book makes you realize how naive and innocent women were. Sarah told Allen, who was going off to war, numerous times, "You're just not to do anything dangerous, do you hear me?" Oh Lordy! It makes me think what did the women think their men or sons were going off to do if not fight in a war?
It was a different time and I feel the author did the time period justice in her writing. It also makes me realize I'm glad to be a female in this day and age.
Other times I found the author went from one topic to another within an line without so much as a break or making it a new chapter. It would be confusing, and I would have to reread it because it would be a different story line going on.
I've never heard of a "siren suit" before. I need to ask my Mum about it. See if she remembers having to wear it? I also need to ask Mum if she called Woolworths, Woolies?
Funny Sarah having the baby in the dug out during a raid...first baby and she had it quickly, haha. It also crossed my mind how would they have cut the cord and what about the afterbirth because there was no mention of it. LOL
I liked how Elaine Everest made a chapter called "Author's Note" after the story, sharing with her readers a few of her stories working at Woolworths when she was 16 in Slade Green, Kent. Also at the back is, "Reading Group Questions. Which upon reading them are pretty lame. 10 questions you don't have to really think hard about like, "Did you like the setting of The Woolworths Girls?"
I'm going to pass the books along to Mum to read once I've finished all four.
April 12, 2018
Ok, ok. This is not my normal read, there's no murder mystery to solve, no deep psychological element. Just not me. This book is something my mother, or a neighbour would read.
Yet, I liked it.
Sarah, Maisie and Freda are three captivating characters, from the very start. Though most of the book is based on true historical events, so of course I know details like we *do* end up going to war etc. There was still intrigue, for me.
Elaine Everest builds up wonderful pictures in my head of life in times gone by. I can picture every character, every building and of course those dresses!
Everest had me fighting back tears at a couple of points in this book, it reminds you that friends and family are what's important. Everything else can just tittle off.
I wouldn't say no to reading another book like this, they say variety is the spice of life, after all.
Yet, I liked it.
Sarah, Maisie and Freda are three captivating characters, from the very start. Though most of the book is based on true historical events, so of course I know details like we *do* end up going to war etc. There was still intrigue, for me.
Elaine Everest builds up wonderful pictures in my head of life in times gone by. I can picture every character, every building and of course those dresses!
Everest had me fighting back tears at a couple of points in this book, it reminds you that friends and family are what's important. Everything else can just tittle off.
I wouldn't say no to reading another book like this, they say variety is the spice of life, after all.
May 11, 2016
The Woolworths Girls is one of those books that as soon as you see the cover and peek inside you just know you are going to love it!
Set in 1938, Sarah has left her parents’ home in Devon and is starting a new life in Erith with her Nan. She applies for a sales assistant job at the large Woolworths store. While waiting for the interview she meets Freda and Maisie .. will all three girls be taken on? A young man in the assistant manager role also takes her eye .. Alan is charming and calls her Sixpenny.
Anyone who is old enough will have fond memories of Woollies in some shape or form and for it to be the basis of this story is quite a unique twist. As time goes on and we get to know all three of the girls and their families and how they all intertwine as the story unfolds is delightful. Ruby the grandmother is a true matriarch and holds the folk together.
With the the impending threat of war some decisions are made rather quickly and it gallops along but ultimately this is about the extreme sense of belonging among friends and family. How in times of need there is always someone to fall back on.
I loved the nostalgia throughout, the simplicity of life in those days and all the characters had such depth. The author manages to draw the reader into the web and explain thoroughly each one.
Inevitably with war there is drama and heartache but this isn’t dwelled upon too much because Woolies again is the pivotable role.
An astonishing book that will have you yearning for those simple days, well written, one minute smiling the next an overwhelming sadness strikes. I enjoyed every minute of it. Many thanks to the author and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Set in 1938, Sarah has left her parents’ home in Devon and is starting a new life in Erith with her Nan. She applies for a sales assistant job at the large Woolworths store. While waiting for the interview she meets Freda and Maisie .. will all three girls be taken on? A young man in the assistant manager role also takes her eye .. Alan is charming and calls her Sixpenny.
Anyone who is old enough will have fond memories of Woollies in some shape or form and for it to be the basis of this story is quite a unique twist. As time goes on and we get to know all three of the girls and their families and how they all intertwine as the story unfolds is delightful. Ruby the grandmother is a true matriarch and holds the folk together.
With the the impending threat of war some decisions are made rather quickly and it gallops along but ultimately this is about the extreme sense of belonging among friends and family. How in times of need there is always someone to fall back on.
I loved the nostalgia throughout, the simplicity of life in those days and all the characters had such depth. The author manages to draw the reader into the web and explain thoroughly each one.
Inevitably with war there is drama and heartache but this isn’t dwelled upon too much because Woolies again is the pivotable role.
An astonishing book that will have you yearning for those simple days, well written, one minute smiling the next an overwhelming sadness strikes. I enjoyed every minute of it. Many thanks to the author and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 2, 2024
This is the first book I’ve finished in nearly 3 weeks. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and desperately needed a pick me up. So when a friend bought me this book as a surprise, I knew Elaine would bring me back to my senses. Elaine pulled me out of an earlier reading slump back in May with The Butlins girls.
I absolutely LOVED The Woolworths girls. The book is set in my hometown – Erith, Kent and mentions day trips to Margate. Margate is also a place I’m very familiar with as my partner’s family live there.
I really enjoyed getting to know Sarah, Freda and Maisie and seeing how the friendship blossoms between the three. In fact, I loved all the characters. I actually pictured Rose (Sarah’s nan) as Annette Badland – more commonly known as Aunt babe from Eastenders.
With the setting as a place I know and love, the closeness of the characters etc.. it really made the book for me. I really felt like I was a part of it – a part of The Woolworths girls.
I was sad to see the book end but I’m happy in the knowledge that The Woolworths girls isn’t over yet, there is sequel coming in November – Christmas at Woolworths. I cannot wait!
If you’ve yet to read Elaine’s books, what are you waiting for? They are lovely, heartwarming books and come highly recommended by me.
I absolutely LOVED The Woolworths girls. The book is set in my hometown – Erith, Kent and mentions day trips to Margate. Margate is also a place I’m very familiar with as my partner’s family live there.
I really enjoyed getting to know Sarah, Freda and Maisie and seeing how the friendship blossoms between the three. In fact, I loved all the characters. I actually pictured Rose (Sarah’s nan) as Annette Badland – more commonly known as Aunt babe from Eastenders.
With the setting as a place I know and love, the closeness of the characters etc.. it really made the book for me. I really felt like I was a part of it – a part of The Woolworths girls.
I was sad to see the book end but I’m happy in the knowledge that The Woolworths girls isn’t over yet, there is sequel coming in November – Christmas at Woolworths. I cannot wait!
If you’ve yet to read Elaine’s books, what are you waiting for? They are lovely, heartwarming books and come highly recommended by me.
March 29, 2019
Well, here I am and I'm only just under 3 years late with this review. I do have a good excuse though; I read this series completely out of order. Don't ask why, these things happen.
Anyway, upon completing this series (so far), I was very happy to find that this was a very satisfying introduction to the characters that those of us who have read this series have grown to love. I loved the way that Ms Everest fed the characters into the narrative until, come the end of the book, they feel like a part of your own family.
No prizes for guessing that I've started to re-read the others yes, in the correct order.
Anyway, upon completing this series (so far), I was very happy to find that this was a very satisfying introduction to the characters that those of us who have read this series have grown to love. I loved the way that Ms Everest fed the characters into the narrative until, come the end of the book, they feel like a part of your own family.
No prizes for guessing that I've started to re-read the others yes, in the correct order.
September 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's easy to read, it had short chapters and it kept my interest all the way through. The three main characters Sarah, Maisie and Freda meet for the first time at a job interview in Woolworths in 1938. They very quickly become firm friends, and are there for each other as the country goes to war. Having the Woolworths store central to the storyline makes this book different from others that are set during the same period. I will definitely be looking for Elaine Everest' s next book.
April 17, 2022
Just done an audible of this book again the narrator did a good job
August 19, 2016
Not my usual pick of books, but a nice little read.
May 3, 2016
The Woolworth Girls is the début novel from Elaine Everest set just before and during World War Two in the riverside town of Erith. But what sets this delightful book apart from all the numerous other books in the genre of women's wartime sagas is the fact that in this case the war is more of a backdrop to the story, as Woolworths takes centre stage. I'll readily admit I don't know that much about Woolworths as it was well before my time but from reading this book I can sense it was a British institution which holds fond memories for many people. I did have a vague memory of my parents mentioning there was a Woolworths in the city where I live in Ireland years ago. So I double checked with my dad and he said there had been on the site where currently Penneys/Primark stands which is ironic really as Primark are a giant in the industry just as Woolworths once were. It highlights to me that Woolworths was a special place and was really successful if even my small city had a shop here.
The overall feeling you get from this book despite some of the hardships the girls and their families have to endure is one of family, friend and community spirit and togetherness. Woolworths was the focal point for so many generations as it gave employment in times of need and seemed to be able to weather any storm that came its way. It was really refreshing to read a slightly different angle on the war time drama books yet to still read a book with love, support and friendship at its centre. The cover for this book is so bright and inviting that I couldn't wait to dive in and I admit to reading this book in a few hours. It was a bit slow to start but on reflection I realised the author really had done a wonderful job of introducing her characters, their backgrounds and the setting giving the reader time to become acquainted with Sarah, Freda and Maisie. Thereafter the story really took on a life of its own and you become so involved and concerned as to the outcome of each and every person you have come to know and care about. The girls form a trio who set out to prove true friendship can win the hardest of battles.
We first meet the girls in 1938 as there are rumours of war breaking out but everyone sincerely hopes that it is scaremongering and that their beloved men will not have to abandon them to fight on the continent. All the residents of Erith wish their lives can continue on as normal but war has its way of impacting on each and every person and their everyday existence whether they want it to or not. Sarah is 20 and interviewing for a sales assistant position at Woolworths. She has recently arrived in Erith to live with her grandmother Ruby (she herself is a breakout star of this book - a kind, loving, no nonsense woman whom everyone would wish could be their nan) escaping her life in Devon with a mother who constantly puts her down and places unnatural expectations on her daughter. Naturally Sarah is apprehensive about applying for a job in a shop which is famous and held in such high regard by so many. Whilst waiting in the queue to be interviewed by the indomitable Miss. Billington (personnel officer at the Erith branch) Sarah meets shy, unassuming Freda and brash, glamorous Maisie who seems to ooze confidence and panache. Right from the moment the three girls meet and are subsequently employed at the shop a bond is formed. A bond which came across as being very realistic and that the girls would always look out for each other. They would be there for nights out and dances but on the other hand to offer consolation, comfort and support if ever needed. It was as if the girls had known each other for years and the reader began to feel this too as if I had been reading of this three remarkable women and their story for a long time. Freda has had a tough past which she does not reveal to her new found friends. She has escaped from a harsh home in the hopes of finding her brother Lenny who himself did not leave under the best of circumstances. Over the course of the novel you could see Freda slowly start to blossom instead of forever living in fear but I did think she could have been more open to her friends. As for Maisie she was a character who presented an outgoing front, a woman who liked to be stylish and fashionable and held a deep love for her husband but underneath her persona she too was vulnerable.
Elaine Everest really brought Woolworths to life and for someone who has never experienced it I could visualise everything so clearly in my mind. Its vibrant bustling atmosphere as housewives came in for all their bits and pieces and a bit of a gossip, also how it was such a treasured and valued shop where anything could be bought. The girls love for the store and their friendship and families was lovely to read about. I felt equally as familiar with the sections of the shop and its employees as I did the with Sarah's nan Ruby and the residents of the street where they lived.
Of course any book like this has to have some element of romance and it's Alan Gilbert a trainee manager at the shop who catches Sarah's eye that very first day. Their romance is tentative at first but Sarah soon realises if war breaks out and compulsory conscription is brought in she will be left alone. She follows her heart and initially I did think god she certainly is rushing into things but then one must take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. The women at the time lived a vastly different life from what we live today and they had no idea what was around the corner so they had to grab love when it came along as they had no idea just how long they had together or if once war had begun would their sweethearts ever come back? 'Grab your happiness while you can. No one knows what's around the next corner'. In that way Sarah has to be admired and for the remainder of the book as war is declared she is left along with Freda and Maisie to navigate all the terrors and hardships the next few years would throw at them in more ways than one. This line really struck a chord with me and summed up how many women at the time must have felt whether they married or just in a relationship. 'Married women became single again'.
As war breaks out Sarah and her friends have to adjust to a different life to what they once knew. Alan is away and so to is Maisie's husband. They continue working in the shop which itself is like a form of therapy as it must be kept going and it takes the girls minds off everything that is going on. All the little sub plots that had bubbling away in the background up until this point really began to show fruition know and I became even deeper engrossed in the story. The characters showed their true grit and determination and I have to say even though Sarah was struggling with her own issues she always made time for others and in doing this allowed people who had been mere background characters previously to come forward and let them shine.
Elaine Everest had a lovely way with her writing in making you believe any of the characters featured could have been real. My only minor complaint is that I felt Maisie although she did play her part and I suppose Freda too didn't get as much of a prominent role as I would have wished. I felt I didn't get inside their heads as much as I did that of Sarah. I understand the home that Sarah shared with her nan as well as Woolworths itself were the main focus of the book but still I felt I should have connected more with Freda and Maisie. The connection I felt to Sarah was real and I understood how hurt she felt regarding what happens with Alan but I also got a real sense of a young woman who had to grow up pretty quickly but took everything in her stride and gained in confidence and responsibility which showed the she had a spirit that no outside forces could break.
I relished every minute of The Woolworths Girls and believe a fresh new voice in women's war time saga writing has been discovered in Elaine Everest. The characters and the shop itself came alive on the page and there were plenty of twists and turns with the plot that had you hooked and rooting for a positive outcome for all concerned. The war hadn't ended when the book concludes so I wonder does Elaine plan to return to this setting and this group of characters again in a future story as I myself found it hard to let them go. The characters are likeable but I won't say relatable as thankfully most people reading this won't have experience of war but the fact that readers in the present can become engaged so vividly and realistically engaged with the past means the author has done a good job. Elaine's love for Woolworths, the girls who worked there and its customers shone through. Her research was impeccable and her love for her characters and her storyline oozed from the pages.
The Woolworth Girls is an accomplished début novel and already I am looking forward to hearing more from Elaine Everest in the future. At the end of the book I was delighted to discover The Butlins Girls will be the next release from Elaine and if it is anything as good as the story of Sarah and co I know I am in for a real treat.
The overall feeling you get from this book despite some of the hardships the girls and their families have to endure is one of family, friend and community spirit and togetherness. Woolworths was the focal point for so many generations as it gave employment in times of need and seemed to be able to weather any storm that came its way. It was really refreshing to read a slightly different angle on the war time drama books yet to still read a book with love, support and friendship at its centre. The cover for this book is so bright and inviting that I couldn't wait to dive in and I admit to reading this book in a few hours. It was a bit slow to start but on reflection I realised the author really had done a wonderful job of introducing her characters, their backgrounds and the setting giving the reader time to become acquainted with Sarah, Freda and Maisie. Thereafter the story really took on a life of its own and you become so involved and concerned as to the outcome of each and every person you have come to know and care about. The girls form a trio who set out to prove true friendship can win the hardest of battles.
We first meet the girls in 1938 as there are rumours of war breaking out but everyone sincerely hopes that it is scaremongering and that their beloved men will not have to abandon them to fight on the continent. All the residents of Erith wish their lives can continue on as normal but war has its way of impacting on each and every person and their everyday existence whether they want it to or not. Sarah is 20 and interviewing for a sales assistant position at Woolworths. She has recently arrived in Erith to live with her grandmother Ruby (she herself is a breakout star of this book - a kind, loving, no nonsense woman whom everyone would wish could be their nan) escaping her life in Devon with a mother who constantly puts her down and places unnatural expectations on her daughter. Naturally Sarah is apprehensive about applying for a job in a shop which is famous and held in such high regard by so many. Whilst waiting in the queue to be interviewed by the indomitable Miss. Billington (personnel officer at the Erith branch) Sarah meets shy, unassuming Freda and brash, glamorous Maisie who seems to ooze confidence and panache. Right from the moment the three girls meet and are subsequently employed at the shop a bond is formed. A bond which came across as being very realistic and that the girls would always look out for each other. They would be there for nights out and dances but on the other hand to offer consolation, comfort and support if ever needed. It was as if the girls had known each other for years and the reader began to feel this too as if I had been reading of this three remarkable women and their story for a long time. Freda has had a tough past which she does not reveal to her new found friends. She has escaped from a harsh home in the hopes of finding her brother Lenny who himself did not leave under the best of circumstances. Over the course of the novel you could see Freda slowly start to blossom instead of forever living in fear but I did think she could have been more open to her friends. As for Maisie she was a character who presented an outgoing front, a woman who liked to be stylish and fashionable and held a deep love for her husband but underneath her persona she too was vulnerable.
Elaine Everest really brought Woolworths to life and for someone who has never experienced it I could visualise everything so clearly in my mind. Its vibrant bustling atmosphere as housewives came in for all their bits and pieces and a bit of a gossip, also how it was such a treasured and valued shop where anything could be bought. The girls love for the store and their friendship and families was lovely to read about. I felt equally as familiar with the sections of the shop and its employees as I did the with Sarah's nan Ruby and the residents of the street where they lived.
Of course any book like this has to have some element of romance and it's Alan Gilbert a trainee manager at the shop who catches Sarah's eye that very first day. Their romance is tentative at first but Sarah soon realises if war breaks out and compulsory conscription is brought in she will be left alone. She follows her heart and initially I did think god she certainly is rushing into things but then one must take a step back and look at things from a different perspective. The women at the time lived a vastly different life from what we live today and they had no idea what was around the corner so they had to grab love when it came along as they had no idea just how long they had together or if once war had begun would their sweethearts ever come back? 'Grab your happiness while you can. No one knows what's around the next corner'. In that way Sarah has to be admired and for the remainder of the book as war is declared she is left along with Freda and Maisie to navigate all the terrors and hardships the next few years would throw at them in more ways than one. This line really struck a chord with me and summed up how many women at the time must have felt whether they married or just in a relationship. 'Married women became single again'.
As war breaks out Sarah and her friends have to adjust to a different life to what they once knew. Alan is away and so to is Maisie's husband. They continue working in the shop which itself is like a form of therapy as it must be kept going and it takes the girls minds off everything that is going on. All the little sub plots that had bubbling away in the background up until this point really began to show fruition know and I became even deeper engrossed in the story. The characters showed their true grit and determination and I have to say even though Sarah was struggling with her own issues she always made time for others and in doing this allowed people who had been mere background characters previously to come forward and let them shine.
Elaine Everest had a lovely way with her writing in making you believe any of the characters featured could have been real. My only minor complaint is that I felt Maisie although she did play her part and I suppose Freda too didn't get as much of a prominent role as I would have wished. I felt I didn't get inside their heads as much as I did that of Sarah. I understand the home that Sarah shared with her nan as well as Woolworths itself were the main focus of the book but still I felt I should have connected more with Freda and Maisie. The connection I felt to Sarah was real and I understood how hurt she felt regarding what happens with Alan but I also got a real sense of a young woman who had to grow up pretty quickly but took everything in her stride and gained in confidence and responsibility which showed the she had a spirit that no outside forces could break.
I relished every minute of The Woolworths Girls and believe a fresh new voice in women's war time saga writing has been discovered in Elaine Everest. The characters and the shop itself came alive on the page and there were plenty of twists and turns with the plot that had you hooked and rooting for a positive outcome for all concerned. The war hadn't ended when the book concludes so I wonder does Elaine plan to return to this setting and this group of characters again in a future story as I myself found it hard to let them go. The characters are likeable but I won't say relatable as thankfully most people reading this won't have experience of war but the fact that readers in the present can become engaged so vividly and realistically engaged with the past means the author has done a good job. Elaine's love for Woolworths, the girls who worked there and its customers shone through. Her research was impeccable and her love for her characters and her storyline oozed from the pages.
The Woolworth Girls is an accomplished début novel and already I am looking forward to hearing more from Elaine Everest in the future. At the end of the book I was delighted to discover The Butlins Girls will be the next release from Elaine and if it is anything as good as the story of Sarah and co I know I am in for a real treat.
December 8, 2022
5 Stars
This book immediately captivated my attention and I was instantly hooked from start to finish. I loved everything about it including the characters, plot line, and descriptions of the story. Once I started reading I could not stop and I would be lying if I did not admit that my sleeping may have taken a little detour to the back burner so I could finish.
I don't often read books from the historical fiction genre but this particular book is definitely one that I enjoyed. As a child of the eighties, I am familiar with the Woolworth's store and branding so this may very well have impacted how much I enjoyed this book. I also reveled in the details of the shop itself. I was instantaneously taken back to the beauty of department stores of the past. I could easily imagine the scents of the products, the merchandise displays, and the girls in their uniforms making the shoppers experiences one of joy.
This book was so much more then that of a book simply about shopping. The story delved deep into the matters of family, love, war, death, and heartaches. The story follows four Woolworths girls - Sarah, Maisie, Freda, Betty, and their families while they navigate the devastation of World War Two. Readers are drawn into the destruction that was caused by the war and how the characters move forward to carry on from one day to the next.
I definitely recommend "The Woolworths Girls" by Elaine Everest as it boasts a goodreads rating of 4.3 and I personally gave it a rating of five stars. I cannot wait to read the next books of the series. Next up is "Christmas at Woolworths".
This book immediately captivated my attention and I was instantly hooked from start to finish. I loved everything about it including the characters, plot line, and descriptions of the story. Once I started reading I could not stop and I would be lying if I did not admit that my sleeping may have taken a little detour to the back burner so I could finish.
I don't often read books from the historical fiction genre but this particular book is definitely one that I enjoyed. As a child of the eighties, I am familiar with the Woolworth's store and branding so this may very well have impacted how much I enjoyed this book. I also reveled in the details of the shop itself. I was instantaneously taken back to the beauty of department stores of the past. I could easily imagine the scents of the products, the merchandise displays, and the girls in their uniforms making the shoppers experiences one of joy.
This book was so much more then that of a book simply about shopping. The story delved deep into the matters of family, love, war, death, and heartaches. The story follows four Woolworths girls - Sarah, Maisie, Freda, Betty, and their families while they navigate the devastation of World War Two. Readers are drawn into the destruction that was caused by the war and how the characters move forward to carry on from one day to the next.
I definitely recommend "The Woolworths Girls" by Elaine Everest as it boasts a goodreads rating of 4.3 and I personally gave it a rating of five stars. I cannot wait to read the next books of the series. Next up is "Christmas at Woolworths".
January 15, 2019
A solid 3 star rating for this story of how a group of family, friends and neighbours cope with the horrors of WW2 in Erith (north Kent, east of London). There is definitely a feeling of community spirit and the 3 young girls, Sarah, Freda and Maisie, develop throughout the book. This is a comfort read, enjoyable but a little predictable and not as well written or complex as the Lavender Road series by Helen Carey.
February 6, 2022
Love this book, I, too was a Woolworths girl - my first Saturday job! So although I didn't live through the war years when this book is set, there were lots of happy memories that came flooding back as I read this book. The author has a gift for making you feel part of the story and making the characters come alive. Lovely to indulge in a bit of nostalgia for a while.
October 19, 2018
A very good look at the girls lives of 3 friemfs who worked at weolworths during ww11
May 19, 2022
I absolutely loved this one. First in the series and I can’t wait to read the rest
June 10, 2023
Loved this book
July 11, 2025
For me, this was slow to get into and not as good as other wartime novels, but about a third or so of the way through it did get better and was a nice ending
May 4, 2020
3.5*
I didn't immensely enjoy this book but its character relationships, the warm family environment definitely worked as a catalyst for me to carry on with this book. The book seemed like a mix of being a slow-burner and also a rush. For example, Sarah's birth scene seemed almost ridiculous. The baby just happened to pop out! :D Other than that, the character Ruby was a very likeable person mainly for being so caring and motherly even to people whom she has no biological connection with. I liked the friendship aspect of the book as throughout the story the bond between Maise, Sarah and Freda were never broken and they did stay solid even though they were made up of remarkable differences. Would I carry on with the series? Yes. And for some reason I don't even know why I want to carry on. I think it's just the fluffiness of the story that pulls me.
I didn't immensely enjoy this book but its character relationships, the warm family environment definitely worked as a catalyst for me to carry on with this book. The book seemed like a mix of being a slow-burner and also a rush. For example, Sarah's birth scene seemed almost ridiculous. The baby just happened to pop out! :D Other than that, the character Ruby was a very likeable person mainly for being so caring and motherly even to people whom she has no biological connection with. I liked the friendship aspect of the book as throughout the story the bond between Maise, Sarah and Freda were never broken and they did stay solid even though they were made up of remarkable differences. Would I carry on with the series? Yes. And for some reason I don't even know why I want to carry on. I think it's just the fluffiness of the story that pulls me.
June 9, 2017
Great read
I chose this book because as a child remember Woolworths and how I would often go with my mum or Nan to the shop either at Chiswick high street or Brentford high street.
Brought back lots of memories of ladybird clothes and all manor of bits and pieces.
I chose this book because as a child remember Woolworths and how I would often go with my mum or Nan to the shop either at Chiswick high street or Brentford high street.
Brought back lots of memories of ladybird clothes and all manor of bits and pieces.
September 13, 2022
Absolutley brilliant book. Set in war times. About lives of ladies who all meet at Woolworths.
The first I've read by this author. This is the first of a series , looking forward to reading the rest.
The first I've read by this author. This is the first of a series , looking forward to reading the rest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews