Butlins Girls

by Elaine Everest

Butlins Girls

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Historical, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

About the author

Elaine 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.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Woolworth Girls by Elaine (Review Here) I just knew I would adore this story about The Butlins Girls as well. Elaine has a specific knack of writing that lures you straight into the era she is talking about. Set in 1946 just after the war it has a very nostalgic but hopeful feel about it.

The world is your oyster and full of promise but still has a certain amount of austerity linked into the theme. Go into this with the view that it is a by-gone time when life was at a slower pace, it’s a fabulous excuse to relax, unwind and be transported backwards.

I live fairly close to the Butlins on the south coast and my Aunt lived in Skegness so I immediately had a sense of belonging and understanding although I learnt a lot about the actual history and day to day running of the holiday camp via the book.

Molly has been through a tragic time losing both parents in a car accident and the arrival of two ‘unknown’ relatives and a quibble over the will and her home lead her to leaving her hometown of Erith and embarking on a journey to Skegness and a job as a ‘Butlins Auntie’ responsible for the childcare of the guests.

She is a young, fairly naive girl and it is an emotional upheaval but she soon bonds with two other girls who she shares a chalet with. The overwhelming depth of friendship with Bunty and Plum is a joy to read, along with her oldest friend Freda who appeared in the previous book. They all have their own personalities and issues but pull through together.

Add in some mystery, a ‘film-star’ a little romance, not to mention fish and chips, cute donkeys and it’s a winning recipe of feel-good cosiness.

I was quite content to lose myself, enjoyed the story, writing and being part of the Butlins ‘gang’ for a short time. I’m hoping it won’t be long util there is another book from Elaine.

Thanks to the author and Pan MacMillan for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been to Butlins but I am tempted after reading this story as it sounds like a fun place to visit. All I need is to time travel back to the days of the first Butlins camp but then again I did travel back in time when I read this wonderful book.
A brilliant story which I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine Everest has a way of taking you back to a time and place that seem familiar, even if you weren't born then - such is the case with 'The Butlins Girls'. This is a wonderful read with some great characters - three very different characters in fact who each have their own story to tell. If you're looking for something to take to the beach, then this book won't disappoint. Cleverly, each story is tied up neatly yet I'm sure there is room for a sequel as the gils embark on the next chapter of their lives.

[Tracy Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel, with great images of Butlins right after the war. Well worth a read , will defiantly be looking out this authors other books.

[Christie Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Mama Life Magazine by Book Columnist Christie Barlow

In Elaine Everest’s book ‘The Butlins Girls’ we are introduced to Molly Missons who I absolutely adored from the outset! With a world still recovering from the war, the tragic death of her parents and some long-lost relatives trying to steal her livelihood, Molly applies for a job at the holiday camp Butlins in Skegness.

This story is focused around genuine friendship and the wonderful characters that Everest creates utterly swept me away with this story and I couldn’t put the book down.

Freda, Bunty and Plum each have their own heartbreaks which is woven into the main plot so successfully that I found all the characters believable and myself completely immersed in their individual stories. I wanted to work at Butlins and be in their gang! Enter Johnny Johnson into the equation, Molly’s crush, star of the silver screen and things began to get even more interesting.

Overall, it was the perfect story with characters you can’t help but love. Molly’s friendships and relationships with the people she holds close to her heart are delved into beautifully. The plot itself was full of surprises, great friendships and love. I felt bereft when I finished reading.

A truly charming heart-warming book that didn’t disappoint.

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story and the narrator doing audible and when not listening finished the book on my kindle

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books! So nostalgic and lovely to read what life used to be like

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again, a book comes along that makes you think about it ages after you've finished reading it. This is what The Butlins Girls did to me. I couldn't stop talking about it to anyone who would listen. The funny thing is that this is not my usual reading genre either, as I am a crime thriller girl on the whole.

I fell in love with all the Butlins Girls; what good fun they sounded. I just wanted to be there with them. Maybe I've missed my calling! Maybe I should have been a "Redcoat". I loved the character Johnny too, picturing him as the dreamy Liam Hemsworth (look him up and you'll see what I mean!).

The background stories that came with each of the girls (all of them having some baggage), were very well written. They were all such interesting people with captivating lives. It was great that they each came from a different world to each other but the author managed to make them such good friends.

In fact I loved everything about this book! I even enjoyed the nasty characters, as they were portrayed in such great detail.

This is the authors new book and I have just bought her first book, The Woolworths Girls, currently on offer for the Kindle. I will also be pre-ordering her book "Christmas at Woolworths" due out on the 2nd November 2017.

If you want a great holiday read, then you need to add this to your list. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and the Author for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything a good saga needs - a likeable heroine with problems to overcome, a strong sense of time and place, and nostalgia in bucketloads. Starting in Erith, Kent, an area the author knows well, in 1946, and moving on to Skegness and the Butlins holiday camp just reopened after the war, the young orphaned Molly signs up as a Redcoat and is soon swept into all the fun of camp life, making new friendships, and inadvertently getting caught up in intrigue and danger as she seeks to escape the unpleasant relatives trying to deprive her of her childhood home, help her new friends solve problems of their own, and discover something of her own parents' early life. Throw in a love interest in the form of handsome film star Johnny, and the stage is set for an emotional rollercoaster ride and a cracking good story. Fans of the author's previous bestselling novel The Woolworths Girls will be pleased to meet Freda again, and to find out how she and her colleagues have fared at the store in the intervening years. Entertaining and engaging throughout. I can't wait for Elaine Everest's next page turning story!

[Rhys Causon · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who works at Butlins I have to say I went into this book expecting one sort of story and was taken by surprise by the actual story it held.

Frankly you can get enough drama out of the entertainment team in Butlins so reading that there were characters be on the run from police, dealing with deaths of parents and a small smidgen of sexual assault was not what I expected to read about.

A classic example of “Don’t judge a book by its cover” here.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I didn't want to put it down. Very nostalgic too, as I actually went to Butlins in Skegness four years in a row when I was a young girl in the 1980s. So it brought back some fond childhood memories. I'll be giving it to my mum to read next. I think she'll love it too.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and will be reading more it is amazing and such a heartwarming story and shows true friendship and love I would give more than five stars if I could. Molly looses her parents and times are hard some one turns up at her house claiming they are family and everything is left to them and not Molly. Molly really struggled but friends encourage her to apply for a job at Butlins so she can work there while things are sorted. Can she find out if they are family and can she find more family to support her. Also can she find love while working and good friends. Well worth reading.

[Mary Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!

Great read loved the way the stories intertwined. Could not put this book down. Love a book that makes you feel like you are there with all the characters.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it the characters and the story flows along look forward to more from this author

[Janice Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Enjoyed this book, only gave it 4 stars due to the fact that the ending in my opinion was a bit rushed

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this one although it wasn’t as good as any of the Woolworths series.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:

'This was a lovely, fun, ‘holiday’ type read. I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia! '
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

[Elizabeth Dewfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect mix of mystery and romance with humour thrown in . Lovely to go back to Earth and meet Freda again and to get to know Molly

[Anna Falcucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life's twist and turns

A bit of a slow start but once the story got going I became more engaged with the twist and turns in the lives of Molly and her friends

[Amber Grenville-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant read with some wonderful characters, at times felt like I was there at Butlins. I hope that Elaine writes a follow on.

[Wendy Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book by Elaine really enjoyed this that there must be another to follow x

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

I had no prior knowledge of holiday camps before reading this book so I had no idea exactly what to expect, but I’m so glad that I read this, it was such a delightful read. You know those books that just leave you feeling happy and warm when you’re done? This is that type of book, it was adorable.

After discovering that Butlins holiday camps are indeed real, (excuse me, my American is showing) I spent some time doing good old Google research as I was reading because I was so taken with the concept. The first camp opened in 1936 and though they closed during the war, they are still running today! I had a blast looking through their website and am now trying to figure out how to convince my husband we need to take a vacation there. The book is set when Butlins opens after the war is over and Molly Missons gets a job there.

The characterization is fantastic, Molly is such a dear, sweet, innocent girl, I took to her right away. Her parents passed away in a car accident and she has no family left. She does, however have some wonderful friends and that’s who she turns too when times are hard. When her friend, Freda encourages her to apply for a job at Butlins she takes a chance and meets some lifelong friends in her roommates Bunty and Plum, both of whom are also well drawn, though all three are vastly different. She also meets Johnny, a movie star who is in the entertainment part of the camp.

This had a little something for everyone, it has a deep history, some light romance, and even some mystery, a cozy one at that. It was about friendship and family and had a saga feel to it with some drama added. Freda is apparently from Everest’s first novel, The Woolworths Girls and now I’m eager to go back and read more about her. I’m also holding out hope that maybe there will be a sequel to this book, it was such a truly lovely, warm read.

[PrettyFlamingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a family tragedy and further related problems back at home in Kent – that later provide an interesting mystery to be sorted - Molly decides to apply to be a Butlins Redcoat in Skegness. Feeling out of her depth at first, a series of events and meeting new people who turn out to become lifelong friends brings out the best in Molly and reveals a strength she didn’t know she had. Her new friends Plum and Bunty have secrets and problems of their own, and hope hard work, sea air and good mates will help them to put all that behind them.

Molly has a crush on movie actor Johnny Johnson, so imagine her disquiet when she encounters him at the camp! She can’t seem to stop making a fool of herself in front of him and convinces herself he sees her as a silly girl. Other than her embarrassment with Johnny, Molly quickly thrives in her new role and proves a big hit with guests at the camp. There was so much detail included that I couldn’t help but imagine I was there.

I loved the story. Not too much romance, plenty of intrigue and mystery, character development and history. Great mix of everything

[Kate]

I enjoyed this book overall however there is a lot going on and trying to build everyone’s back story made the writing a little choppy at times. A fun book, especially for people with holiday camp nostalgia!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely nostalgic look back at childhood holidays for me. We had a week at Butlins every year and this book brought back the sights and smells that I remember well- along with those red jackets! I was transported into another era alongside the memories of my own - making this such a wonderful book to escape into. My niece actually got a job as a redcoat this year but turned it down to go travelling around India and Vietnam. I guess I can see the attraction of that (!) but I was looking forward to a weekend trip to Butlins again.

I loved the historical background to the book- I hadn't realised that the war overtook the camps for the troops during the war. I also enjoyed hearing about their duties - remembering pirates walking the plank at the outside swimming pools and the red coats walking cheerfully through the holidaymakers. The cover also brought memories flooding back. We have photos of us paddling in the circular water fountains and the building and outside pool areas. I adored every page of this book!

I loved the characters who develop a heartwarming friendship after starting work at the same time. They are all hiding some form of heartbreak and together they make a start on healing those bruises. Johnny Johnston, a star of the silver screen is working there as an entertainment manager and I know a lot of our big stars worked at Butlins during the formative stage of their careers. Is he the answer to the healing process for Molly?

I had looked at The Woolworths Girls many times, thinking it sounded like another wonderful read and I have now downloaded it at the bargain price of 99p and can't wait to start reading that. I was also thrilled to read that there are sequels planned for the Woolworths girls and I hope we make a return visit to Skegness soon.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the start of the story you can't help but warm to Molly Missons, she's such a lovely person, kind, generous and warm hearted. At the start of the story, we meet her when she is a at a really low ebb, her beloved parents have recently died, leaving Molly to face life alone. However, her good friend, Freda keeps her spirits up, that is until two unfamiliar relatives turn up to claim what they feel is their inheritance. Molly, with her life and security under threat, decides takes a position as a red coat at the newly reopened Butlins holiday camp in Skegness where she finds that friendship and a delicious romantic attachment can chase away her demons.

There's a real feeling of authenticity in this nicely written post-war saga. The story initially opens in Kent in 1946 and then takes the reader to the east coast, to Skegness, and to the wonderful era of fun loving holiday camps and the joy of seeing people once again enjoying a carefree holiday. Molly and her new found friends form a perfect back drop to showcase just what life was like in those heady post war days when excitement seemed to have returned, at last, to British life.

What I liked about the story was how the writer gets right into the personality of all her characters, especially Molly, Plum and Bunty who are firm friends from the outset. Molly, especially, comes across with an air of innocence which belies her strength of spirit and both Plum and Bunty add their own unique personality into the mixture. The mystery at the heart of the novel lends intrigue, and the delicious frisson of romance between Molly and the handsome, Johnny Johnson is fun to read.

With joy and sadness combined, The Butlins Girls would make a lovely holiday read...especially if you are heading to Butlins Skegness for a well earned break

[Rachel (Rae) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is such a lovely, kind and warm hearted person who is also a little bit on the innocent side. It was so easy to like her character and hope that everything would turn out ok in the end for her. The first couple of interactions between Johnny and Molly were lots of fun and they had such a sweet chemistry. One of my favourite things about this story are the friendships, especially the trio of girls who didn't know each other but rallied together to support one another. All of their back stories were interesting especially Bunty's with an element of danger attached.

The story moves along at a steady pace with a few twists along the way that moved the story along nicely. The nostalgic look back at Butlins was lovingly described and I felt as if I was right there in the past at the famous holiday camp. There is a little bit of a mystery surrounding Molly's family that had me intrigued along with the arrival of two relatives who bring trouble with them. I really enjoyed spending a few hours reading this book it transported me to a different time and was perfect to spend a lazy day reading. A few surprises along the way and even though the ending was pretty perfect it would be great to catch up with this delightful set of characters again.

Sweet and heart warming!

Thank you to Elaine Everest & Pan Macmillan for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book tells the story of Molly whose parents have recently been killed in a car accident just after the end of WW2.

With an ironmongers business to sort out, Molly is busy sorting out her parents affairs, until Harriet and Simon turn up out of the blue, claiming to be family, and insisting that her Mum and Dad stated in their Will that the house was left to them! With Simon getting more and more threatening every day, Molly decides to move away until their solicitor comes back from Europe to sort out their affairs, and she gets a job at Butlins as a Redcoat where she meets up with Plum and Bunty on her first day and the three of them forge a friendship.

I really, really wanted to love this story and in fairness, it was nicely written, however if I am truly honest, I found the plot a bit flaky...Molly moved out of London, in fear of her "cousin" and "aunt" but took managed to find the strength of character to take on a murderer and reporter in Butlins! It felt like the author wanted to write a story about Butlins, but wasn't sure how to get her character there in the first place.

The one thing that annoyed me more than anything else, was the American spelling - realisation became realization and organisation became organization...why?!

[Anne Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having enjoyed The Woolworths Girls by the same author, I was looking forward to reading this one. I’ve been to many holiday camps and always enjoyed them so it was like a trip back in time. After Molly loses her parents in a tragic car accident, she is devastated to learn that a distant cousin and her son are to inherit her home, despite her father never mentioning such relations before. With no will to prove or disprove the case and the family solicitor unavailable, Molly has to accept the outcome. To get away from the unwanted attentions of her second cousin, she applies and is successful in getting a job as a Butlins Redcoat at the newly re-opened Skegness holiday camp after the war. There she is amazed to discover that the Entertainments Manager is none other than Jonny Johnson, the movie pin-up of her dreams. Her chalet mates are Bunty and Plum and together the three of them set out to solve a mystery that is blighting Bunty’s life. Along the way, Molly discovers new relations and begins to learn the truth of her parents’ early life. With help from Jonny, she is able to disprove the cousin’s claim to her home. This is a cleverly plotted novel with many twists and turns along the way and one I enjoyed immensely.

[Elisabeth]

After really enjoying 'The Woolworth's Girls' by Elaine Everest, I wanted to read her new book 'The Butlins Girls' and it didn't disappoint.
Molly has just lost her parents and whilst the grief is still raw, two strangers turn up on the doorstep claiming to be cousins and that her late father has left them the house in his will.
As things turn nasty, Molly takes the opportunity for a fresh start and lands herself a summer job at Butlins in Skegness as it opens again after the end of World War Two. As friendships blossom, it becomes clear that Molly's two chalet mates have worries and problems of their own.
A lovely feel good read with plenty of period detail and atmosphere and a storyline that will keep you hooked until the very end.
A perfect summer read for fans of Kate Thompson and Daisy Styles.