The Narrowboat Girls

by Rosie Archer

When the Second World War takes Britain's men away to fight, it is women who step up to fill the jobs left behind. From farms to factories, no job is too back-breaking, and for many women it offers their first real chance at independence.

Two such women from very different backgrounds find themselves working on the narrowboats - piloting freights round southern England's network of canals. One is a solicitor's wife, still smarting from the humiliation of her husband leaving her for his secretary. The other is a young working-class woman glad to find an excuse to get away from her violent boyfriend.

Life on the canals is hard, and breaking into such a close-knit community can be tough - especially when the remaining male works are sure women aren't up to the job. But though these women start out as strangers, they will forge a bond of friendship that will take them through the darkest hours.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

Audiobook

Published September 6, 2018

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts in 1944. Izzy, who is tryi;g to escape her abusive boyfriend, Charlie, sees an ad in the newspaper calling for women to work canal boats while men are off at war. With full training and accomodation on the boats being given, Izzy sees it as her opportunity to break free from Charlie. When Elsie’s husband dumps her for his pregnant girlfriend Sandra, Izzy’s friend Elsie seizes her chance at a new life too. They both get taken on. New boss, Dorothy, is kind and helpful. Dorothy has a secret of her own which gets revealed later in the book. The fourth member of the two boat crew is Tolly. Overweight, Tolly despairs at times of ever finding any man to love her. Her aim is to raise money to set up her own cafe/bakery.
Though the work on the narrowboats is hard, the four women manage and become firm friends. Not everyone is accepting of the women and the job they are doing on the waterways. Resentment simmers but there are others who change the lives of these women in ways they never imagined.
I really enjoyed this story. All four of the women are likeable. This is a book of friendship, family, second chances and love. An engaging read that I really enjoyed. My first book by this author I would be interested to read some of her other historical novels.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read this book was.
It's set at the end of WWII and tells the story of the girls who worked the canals, delivering steel, coal and whatever else was required to the factories en route and helping the war effort.
The war actually takes second place in this book. It's mainly about the four women who come together as a crew and the people they meet along the way.
Three of them have secrets and we know about two of these at the beginning. Dorothy's takes longer to come to light.
We get an insight into what the girls had to go through working these boats. It was really tough work.
I read a lot of this type of book but lately I've found they've fallen short of expectations. It's so nice to get one that I couldn't put down and read in two days.
Highly recommended.

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but it didn't hold my interest as much as rosie's other books.
I think that because it was on the narrowboats that's never really be an interest for me. but it was a good book well written once again,

[Rachel Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this and the wonderfully written characters, the vivd scenery, and the lovely ending. Every now and then, only a wartime saga is the perfect thing to read, especially when it's as easy to read as this. It's an easy five stars for me ☺️☺️☺️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just could not put it down, another splendid read from Rosie Archer as always. A recommended read so it's a five star choice.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read about the IW, the Inland Waterways women who took over managing canal boats during WW2. This one focuses more on their personal stories, showing why they took to the water and what life awaits them if and when they leave. The canal folks sometimes resent intrusion and the city women have to learn to cope with all the hardships and dangers. The nickname Idle Women was only in jest.

I enjoyed the read, I also recommend The Boat Girls by Margaret Mayhew.
I read this book from Raheny Library. This is an unbiased review.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read that's also informative about life on the canals during world war two. The story sees four young women, all with different back stories, all with their own reasons for volunteering to work the canal. The work is hard, transporting coal, scrap metal and other goods, along the canals, operating locks, cleaning and cooking in crampt conditions, guiding the huge barges. The women become firm friends and all benefit in some way from their time together. An easy read, and a joy.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much, as I have enjoyed all of Rosie's other books, there are a few funny parts and a few sad parts, but mostly it is a very happy, upbeat book. Rosie's writing is very descriptive and you really do Come to like her characters, and root for them..especially Izzy and Elsie. Highly recommend this book

[OxoNewbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Women's Commercial Fiction. Sub-Genre: Saga.

This book had me hooked within the first few chapters and I zipped through it quickly. The characters are likeable and the situation interesting. I can tell the author did a lot of research on life during war-time particularly life for women working on narrowboats and weaves these details effortlessly and seamlessly into her writing. I have read a lot of modern women's commercial fiction which has more sass and humour but there is an elegance in the simplicity of Rosie Archer's prose. The short chapters help so the story doesn't stagnate.

I wish Goodreads had the option for half star because this is better than the average book in this genre and I think 3.5 is well-deserved but seeing as Goodreads don't, it's 3 stars from me.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idle girls

But not so Idle these girls worked the waterways in all weather's and deserve recognition for all there hard work though the girls in this story are fictional this really happened in the war 5 stars for a great book.

[MR. J.E. BASIN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Narrowboat girls by Rosie archer

A good read, really enjoyed it, can recommend it to all. Characters true to life,fair amount of humour, bringing the canals to life.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant! I really loved this. highly recommend reading this if you enjoy wartime sagas

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Hampshire, 1944, Elsie Barker is desperate for a new start after her husband, solicitor Geoffrey, cheats on her with his secretary. She works as a munitions girl in Gosport, along with her much younger but great friend, Izzy, who is herself desperate to escape Gosport, because of her abusive boyfriend and black market criminal, Charlie Osborne. So when Izzy tells Elsie about the jobs going for women as narrow boat crew, she jumps at the chance. With so many men fighting abroad, the vital work of transporting goods around England's waterways is now open to women.They are warmly welcomed by their new boss, Dorothy, who is kind and fair and shows them the ropes around their jobs, but it's clear she has a secret of her own. Their crew is completed by Tolly, a young lady of Titchfield whose work had been made redundant due to her favourite cafe and workplace closing.She's an excellent cook and baker, but she's insecure about herself and also seeks a fresh start. The work is hard, and the few men left on the canals don't take too kindly at more girls doing their jobs. In the face of adversity, the firm friendships that flourish between the four women make all the hardships worthwhile. What none of them could've predicted, though, is just how much working on the canals will change their lives. Could it really be that what started as a means of escape will end up giving each of them everything they ever wanted? I loved learning about the "Idle Women", the women who worked in canals and were the land girls of the waterways. They operated boats and picked up cargo to transport and sought to match the inherited skills of the working boat families.Their nickname was derived from the initials IW on their badges. This stood for Inland Waterways, but the territorially jealous boat people - born and bred to the canal system - called them idle women. But idle they were not. Few women were attracted by the advertisement placed by the Department of War Transport, seeking volunteers to work on waterways. No boating experience was required, but employees had to be of robust constitution, for the work was arduous. These women served their country well.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great wartime saga book by Rosie Archer. I have read most of her books and this one is as good as all the others.
We have four young women thrown together on the inland waterways running the narrow boats through the heart of England, delivering essential goods to the towns and cities. Elsie has just found out her husband was having an affair with his work colleague, who then became pregnant by him, devastated by this the waterways offers her a welcome escape. Her friend Izzy whom Elsie worked with at the Munitions factory in Gosport, is escaping from an abusive relationship. Tolly used to work in a village shop/cafe and due to wartime restrictions it was forced to close. Lastly Dorothy who is their boss is hiding a secret from the others. This is a lovely book to read with very likeable characters that really draw you into the storyline, set on the canal system during WW2 and one I truly enjoyed reading from start to finish.

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written novel by Rosie Archer. I enjoyed it very much but there was a dull spot in the middle when I wondered if this was the whole story. Luckily, it pepped up a bit and improved.

There were one or two things I thought were a bit silly. One was the 'lightening bolt' between Elsie and Jack! I had to grimace a bit at that. Another was when Tolly was getting carried away with her feelings for Sonny and Tommy stepped in and stopped her from making a big mistake. Tolly just switched straight from Sonny to Tommy without another thought which I thought very weird.

Having no experience of canal life, I assume the author had done her research, although I have no way of proving this. I wasn't aware that two canal boats sailed alongside each other but I assume as it is in the book, it is correct.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fab read this was four women with personal reasons for becoming Narrowboat girls.Elsie and Izzy are friends who work together at a munitions factory,Tolly works in a lovely cafe and Dorothy all become friends who each have secrets.With hard work to keep them all busy the girls are happy doing their war work,Izzy makes a friend of an elderly man who she reads to.Elsie shares her reason for joining the narrowboats izzy finally tells her friends why she left her home town.Tolly has a love of baking lovely food for the girls to enjoy but has a desire to own the cafe she has just left.Well worth reading 5*.

[Francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first lock they encounter from Lower Heyford takes them “up” to a higher pound. It reality that lock descends to a lower pound and so are all the following locks to Oxford.

Also the locks on the Oxford canal are narrow, you can not fit two boats side by side as they do in the book.

They are a bit of sad mistakes to make, it makes me wonder how well researched really is the book. Clearly not much.

Should I also mention how ridiculous the flash of passion exchanged in a look between one of the girls and the lock keeper on their first encounter ?
I am not sure I can keep reading this book...

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a lovely read, The story follows Elsie, Izzy, Tolly and Dorothy who all have their own battles but join forces to work on the narrow boats and become good friends and a good team. I enjoyed following the girls through their journeys. I thought the romance throughout the book was so lovely and I just loved following the girls. The ending was such a lovely ending and I just finished the book feeling so content overall. A lovely read by this author and I will definitely pick up her other books.

[Di Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of how some women took over the work of men during the Second World War. Set on the narrowboats on the English canals four girls find themselves Thrust together working the barges to carry cargo on Long distances. Each girl is running away from something And the author gradually shows us why they have chosen this work.
A real feel good book with likeable characters and a good storyline

[Cristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I liked all the main characters and wanted to know what happened to them, and the narrowboat setting during the war was interesting. There was plenty here to hold my interest, including the unanswered questions about what happened to Dorothy’s lost love. My favourite story was Izzy’s, but all of them were interesting and each of the women changed and grew stronger.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

"The factual side of the story - the handling of a narrowboat in all weathers and under difficult, even dangerous circumstances, was well researched and really brought home the effort these remarkable women of WWII put into keeping the country running."

[Lucy Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming read, read this book pretty quickly as I’m a slow reader although starting to pick up the pace now!
Once again a book that is based around where I used to live in parts and having friends and family that live on narrow boats it is a very relatable read!
Lots of twists and turns to keep you interested, never had a dull moment in this book! Very much recommend!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two such women from very different backgrounds find themselves working on the narrowboats - piloting freights round southern England's network of canals. One is a solicitor's wife, still smarting from the humiliation of her husband leaving her for his secretary. The other is a young working-class woman glad to find an excuse to get away from her violent boyfriend.

[A C WOOD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story

I really enjoyed this book. I love the inland waterways and this story had everything in it that I like in a book, romance,drama and a bit of humour too. Well worth a read.

[Ann Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book we are just watching Canal Daries on tv and as soon as I saw this book I had to read it .I will be reading more of Rosie Archer's book Thank You so much is this one of its own or a series 😊 ❤️

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another nice read by this author. I particularly am drawn to books featuring life on the canals and this did not disappoint.

[Karen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have been reading a lot of wartime stories of late, and this one didn’t disappoint. Held my interest from start to finish

[Katherine Livesey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jackie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

A very enjoyable read, the background story was well written. My only complaint would be that the characters were a little flat.

[Janice Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

Living on canal boats during the second world war ferrying coal etc a friendship is formed between 4 women who each have a story to tell