The Railway Girls

The Railway Girls #1

by Maisie Thomas

The first novel in the utterly brilliant Railway Girls series. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Ellie Dean.

In February, 1922, at the western-most entrance to Victoria Station in Manchester, a massive plaque was unveiled. Beneath a vast tiled map showing the lines of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway network, a series of seven bronze panels recorded the names of the men of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway who gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War – a total of 1,460 names.

In March, 1940, a group of women of varying ages and backgrounds, stand in front of the memorial, ready to do their bit in this new World War...
_________________________________________

Mabel is determined to make a fresh start as a railway girl where no one will know the terrible thing she did and she can put her guilt behind her... Or is she just running away?

Meanwhile Joan will never be as good as her sister, or so her Gran keeps telling her. A new job as a station clerk could be just the thing she needs to forget her troubles at home.

And Dot is further into her forties than she cares to admit. Her beloved sons are away fighting and her husband – well, the less said about him the better. Ratty old sod. She is anxious to become a railway girl just like her dear mam – anything to feel she is supporting the sons she prays for every night.

The three women start off as strangers, but soon form an unbreakable bond that will get them through the toughest of times...

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Family, Fiction, Historical

448 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2020

About the author

Maisie Thomas was born and brought up in Manchester, which provides the location for her Railway Girls novels. She loves writing stories with strong female characters, set in times when women needed determination and vision to make their mark. The Railway Girls series is inspired by her great aunt, Jessie, who worked as a railway clerk during the First World War.

Maisie now lives on the beautiful North Wales coast with her railway enthusiast husband, Kevin, and their two rescue cats. They often enjoy holidays chugging up and down the UK’s heritage steam railways.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railway Girls #1

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Set in 1940 during the Blitz in Manchester. Dot, Mable and Joan are just some of the women who are working on the railway, doing men's work while the men are away fighting for their country. The women come from different backgrounds but they have each others backs. The women have a special bond

The author has research the era and the background of the women working working on the railway. It's also an informative read as we learn about Victoria Station and the steam trains. What wonderful characters the author has created. They all had their part to play in this beautifully written book. 8ts filled with love, loss, humour and the trust then women had in each other. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Maisie Thomas for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas has Mabel, Joan, Dot, and other ladies volunteering to work for the railway during World War II. Mabel is eager to escape her hometown so she can get a fresh start away from the memories and the guilt. Joan and her sister were raised by their grandmother. Gran praises her sister, but Joan does not live up to her grandmother’s expectations. Joan wants to obtain a position and show what she is capable of to herself and her family. Dot has raised two boys who are now married with children of their own. Dot’s sons are off fighting. She takes care of the home and her critical husband, Reg. Dot is the mothering type and likes to be helpful. Each of these women who are different ages and from different social classes, come together to do their bit for the war. This group of diverse women start off as strangers, but they soon become close friends who stand by each other through thick and thin. The Railway Girls is the first book in the Railways Girls series. There is a great cast of characters in this historical novel. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. They come from different social classes and each have a different reason for volunteering. Dot was my favorite. She is such a kind woman who loves her sons and their families. I could understand why she wanted to get out of her home each day. I did feel that Dot was taken advantage of by her daughter’s in-law. We get to follow the women through their day to day lives. Each of them want to help the war effort and are excited to be working for the railway. The women are assigned different jobs. I like that we get to see the various positions people work to keep the trains running. I could tell that the author did her research for this book. The author took us back in time with the clothing, buildings, the various battles and war engagements, and the men’s attitudes towards women in the workplace. Maisie Thomas’ detailed descriptions brought the scenes and characters to life. I did wish that the pacing had been a little peppier. The story got bogged down with the minutia of the ladies lives (a little too much detail). I enjoyed seeing the ladies come together as a group and grow as individuals. It was not easy living during World War II in England with bombings, rationing, and the extra work they had to take on. The Railway Girls is an emotional story with strong women who want to support their country during trying times.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially wartime sagas, and I was excited to discover a new one in THE RAILWAY GIRLS which is the first in a new series by Maisie Thomas. So many books focus on women taking over where the men left off when going off to war as they sign up to do the jobs the men left behind. In this case, it was on the railways. Some of the work was hard going but some of it wasn't too taxing. However, it wasn't the done thing for women to go out to work especially since some men thought women didn't have the brain capacity to undertake anything more than keeping house. Normally this doesn't bother me because it is just how things were at the time, but some of the men I found to be so dismissive that they angered me with their narrow mindedness to the point of bullying. If they had any idea how much work a woman did unpaid in the home looking after their menfolk and families...

THE RAILWAY GIRLS follows three women of varying ages and backgrounds, and their friends, who have taken up jobs to assist in their own ways with the war effort. Mabel is from a family of "new money" who are desperate to maintain their social status when she signs up for work as a railway girl. Her family is not impressed but Mabel is careful to point out that reneging now would shine a negative light on the family, particularly at a time when her father was about to land a major contract. So to make the best of a bad situation her father arranges lodgings for her at a stately home so that she may remain in the social standing to which they have become accustomed.

Then there is Joan, who is the ugly duckling of two sisters orphaned at an early age with the death of both of their parents and having been brought up by their father's mother who is quick to lay any blame for their genes at their mother's feet. Joan is not the favoured sister of their gran either with Letitia holding favour in both looks and intellect whilst Joan remains firmly in the background and almost a skivvy to her gran. But the sisters adore one another and see no favour above the other as their gran does. Joan is also in love with her sister Letitia's boyfriend Steven. When Joan signed up to be a railway girl, their gran was outraged that she had done so behind her back. The sisters always thought that it was usually best to seek confession rather than permission where gran was concerned. Once she'd calmed down, their gran did state that it was probably all that Joan was good for anyway.

The third of the women is the older mother hen in Dot, who was approaching forty six next birthday. At home she had husband Reg who had once loved her and now belittled her with jokes and snipes. Her two grown sons Archie and Harry were married with a child of their own each and were now away fighting the Germans. Their wives, Pammy and Sheila, were as different as chalk and cheese. Pammy was posh and teaching their daughter Genevieve (Jenny) the finer things in life whilst Sheila was slovenly and lazy with her house in utter disarray and a young son in Jimmy who was a bit of a handful. Both women seemed to think nothing of relying on Dot for things which they were quite capable of doing while Dot now had a full time job of her own as well as keeping house to "ratty Reg" when she came home. Dot, it seemed, was everyone's skivvy. My favourite part was when young Jimmy gave all her pots and pans to the rag and bone man when he told the boy that it was for the RAF, and Jimmy had ideas about getting his very own Spitfire out of it. Dot had then chased the tag and bone man up the street and demanded her pots and pans back. It was rather funny to picture.

Aside from these three women are the friends they have made in Lizzie, Alison, Cordelia and Colette in their jobs with London, Midlands and Scotland Railways. From different walks of life, backgrounds and varying social classes each beholden with their own set of family problems, these women aren't afraid of hard work as they all step out of tradition and get stuck into the work they have each been tasked with...regardless of the narrow minded male perspective.

As excited as I was to begin yet another wartime saga series, I was disappointed in this one as I found it to be wholly uninteresting with a complete detachment to the characters. At first I thought it to be the introduction to the series with setting the scene and pace, but after reaching halfway when the pace was still sluggish and feeling no connection to the characters I found myself rethinking my position on this series. Most people say THE RAILWAY GIRLS is slow for the first quarter, but I'd reached halfway and it was still going nowhere fast. And by this point I found I didn't really care for the characters as much as I should have by now.

I really wanted to like THE RAILWAY GIRLS and enjoy my time with them but I just couldn't. Maybe I could revisit them at a later date and try again...but for now, I just spent two days trying to connect with them and their stories and I couldn't. I found the overly descriptive nature of the railways to be uninteresting and although this was set during WW2 there was barely a mention of their loved ones away at war that there was a sort of detachment there also.

I would normally base my recommendation of this type of book to those who enjoy wartime sagas, but as I love those types of books and failed to connect with those in this one, I am not sure how to do that in this case. But generally, if you do enjoy wartime sagas you may well like THE RAILWAY GIRLS.

I would like to thank #MaisieThomas, #Netgalley and #CornerstoneDigital for an ARC of #TheRailwayGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Railway Girls is a delight and I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed it, it was an absolute pleasure!
We follow Mabel, Dot and Joan through their ups and downs on the Railway and through their private lives; all from different backgrounds and with different lives behind closed doors. I love each of them but I am particularly fond of Dot. Dot is the 'glue' in the centre of the group of friends: she is wise, her arms are always open for a hug and she is a sensitive but strong woman. Alison, Colette and Cordelia also form part of the group 'the Railway Girls', and they are all realistic and interesting characters. I love the camaraderie amongst them even though they have only recently met.
I was intrigued by many scenes: the girls at work on the Railway, the history of the Steam Trains and Victoria Station where the girls helped with the war effort, and the first aid posts that some worked of an evening. It was all made more believable with facts woven in and it felt like I was stepping back in time.
The author has done an excellent job of not only creating believable characters, scenes, story plotting and research, but her detailed descriptions of the settings really bring the story to life.
What is the secret that Mabel is keeping from her friends?
This is a well balanced story full of warmth, humour, poignant scenes, love, trust, loss and tragedy.
I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. I know what I wish, for Dot, but will my wishes for her come true?!
I love the interesting note from the author at the end of the book and how she took the time to write and share with us - her readers. Thank you

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone for allowing me to read this arc copy.

This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Jeanie]

With thanks to netgalley and Maisie Thomas for an early copy in return for an honest review
Totally blown away with the first book in this new series and new Author.
The railway girls is taking us on a journey of how life changed for so many women when they had to do there bit during the 2nd world war .
I loved how the author has given us so much information in the first book that really sets the scene for the following books I was just pulled in from the very beginning these girls were such a mixed bag all from different lives and circumstances I loved the two sisters who lived with there granny who ruled there lives with an iron rod I think there is much more there than meets the eye I for one am looking forward to reading more about granny. I honestly can't wait for the next installment of this FANTASTIC book. This is a real winner

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Railway Girls is the first in a new series by Maisie Thomas and it was a great read from start to finish. I love historical fiction series which focus on a group of women during World War Two and even more so when the focus is on a specific trade or unusual work not expected that women would be capable of. I have read about shipyard girls and canal boat girls but now my attention turns to the dedicated women who worked on the railways. I hadn't given any thought to this aspect of the war prior to reading this book and it soon became a real eye opener. The research undertaken must have been very detailed as Maisie Thomas provided impeccable and interesting facts and details about all the various jobs undertaken by the group of remarkable women that we get to know. I presumed upon reading the blurb that the women would literally just work on the trains but there was so much more involved and I quickly became fascinated by everything I was reading.

The first several chapters were quite slow but as this is the first in a planned series I suppose this was to be expected as there were a whole new cast of characters who had to be introduced but in saying that I thought there was a fairly detailed introduction given to Dot, Joan and Mabel. There are several other girls mentioned as well and I do hope that they are allowed to come to the forefront in subsequent books as I really want to learn more about their stories. One woman in particular Colette, I have my suspicions as to what could be going on there and I am eager to see am I right or wrong? I did become a little confused as to who was who with the more minor characters in the group the women form but I had to remember that this book was centred on three women and that I can't be wanting all the information all at one time. Maisie Thomas clearly has a long term plan for what direction the overall plot will venture in and things will change and alter for the women over the course of the war and I just have to be patient to discover how the stories will develop and perhaps intertwine.

Dot, Joan and Mabel are three women who along with several others, Colette, Cordelia, Alison and Lizzie are a group of women amongst the first to be taken on by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1940. They come from all walks of life, have different backgrounds, are from different social classes and all have varying degrees of family problems going on. Women throwing off their aprons and setting out to work in the world was going totally against tradition as a women's place was viewed as being firmly in the home, keeping the house running and caring for their children. But times are a changing and with so many men away fighting women have stepped up to the mark and are more than willing to engage in hard work and pull together for the war effort and help in any way they can be it big or small. Throughout the story, which was filled with difficulties and trials and tribulations for the three women featured, they displayed such unity, strength, courage and sacrifice. They really were stepping outside of their comfort zones in more ways than one but at the same time they were also doing it for themselves as they each had their own internal little struggles they were trying to overcome.

Mabel comes from new money in that her father didn't come from a wealthy background rather he worked his way to the top and now owns his own factory. From the outset the reader can sense that there has been recent trauma in Mabel's life and really she wants to run away from everything. She wants to forget what has happened and only brief hints are alluded to until closer to the end of the story and even then I think we have barely scratched beneath the surface of what is truly going on with her. Mabel wants to do her bit for the war but not in the town that she lives in. She wants to strike out on her own and in my mind this was another way of evading and escaping from what was deep down tormenting her. She believes she is going for a test for a bank but when she arrives she discovers the building is in fact an office for the railways. Of course she is surprised but she is not one to refuse a challenge and she can't exactly go back to her parents with her tail between her legs given how she had so badly wanted to escape from where she had grown up. Also she feels she is paying a tribute to her grandfather who worked on the railways all his life.

I thought Mabel really was thrown in at the deep end in that she had to do back breaking, physical work out in the open with several other women who were known as length women. But she does form friendships with the other women who I have mentioned up above yet at the same time she did remain quite aloof and reserved. I desperately wanted her to let down her defences and share the load. They do say a problem shared is a problem halved but there was something big holding her back. I was glad that she did sign up to do first aid with the some of the other women and I have to say these scenes in the book were some of the best and so very detailed and informative. They soon become part of the frontline to help those who have been injured after bombs have fallen and there were some harrowing and gut wrenching scenes that unfolded. Mabel has an awful lot more to reveal to the group and to us readers and I am keen to see what exactly is going on. She is a character who has definitely whetted my appetite for more.

Joan was a divisive character for me. On the hand I felt great sympathy for her that she is forced to endure so much along with her sister Letitia from her grandmother. But on the other hand I thought yes your gran brought you up but you are now a young woman making her way in the world and you shouldn't be treated the way you are and why are you standing for it? Joan really needed to stand up for herself and strike out on her own but she was too afraid of the past and the influence that her gran exerts on her. The grandmother was one of the worst characters I have read in a long time. She was so spiteful, mean, emotionally abusive and strict and it all stemmed back to Joan's parents. She was an awful tyrant of a woman eaten up by past events that Joan and Letitia shouldn't be blamed for, despite being cut from the same cloth doesn't mean they can be blamed for misdemeanours not of their own making.

If it had been me I would have told her where to go. The scene with the red shoes was a prime example of this not to mention not being allowed to shorten the hems of their skirts. For Joan getting a job in the typing pool of the clerks office of the railways is meant to be an escape but perhaps there is something more sinister lurking there. Throughout the book she feels guilty that the other women are out doing more physical work and she longs to join them but she has to remember they are all doing their bit and every little bit makes a difference. On the romance side for Joan I felt desperately sorry for her as she can't help who she falls in love with and I was worried if it continued that it would affect and hurt others around her but thankfully things took a more positive turn.

Every saga book needs a matriarch, that one woman who is like the mother figure to all the others, and in this case this person comes in the form of Dot. She is so kind, caring, considerate, generous and loving that you want nothing but the best for her. She balances home life with working as a parcel porter travelling from Manchester to various destinations on a daily basis. She is really stepping out of her comfort zone but the reader is so glad to see her doing this because really and truly her family don't give her enough praise, love and attention that she deserves. She keeps the whole show running and will drop everything to help out her selfish daughters-in-law. Not to mention her husband Ratty Reg who she should really just walk out on. I don't know how Dot listened to his horrible comments and constant put downs.

Working on the railways is a breath of fresh air for Dot and she loves getting to know the young women. She does well to cope with the male railway workers who see women as taking their jobs when really all they were trying to do was help keep the country up and running in the most desperate of times. Dot loves mucking in with anything that she is tasked to do as she feels she is part of something vast, important and magnificent. I loved how in tune she was with the other women's problems and that she was always one step of the others in how to offer problems or offer comfort and solace. She is a fantastic character and I see a little glimmer of what is to come for her and I hope by the very end of this series that that has come true.

The Railway Girls was a great start to the series and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's opened my eyes to an aspect of the war I hadn’t previously read about and provided the reader with interesting characters and great story lines that I can see running on for many books without losing pace or becoming too boring. Despite the slow start for the first quarter, and at times the scenes did jump on the page from one person to another without any notice as page breaks were needed, I enjoyed my time spent with The Railway Girls and look forward to a return visit in September when the second book in the series Secrets of the Railway Girls is published in September.

[Yvonne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The war has taken their men, but given them each other”

I didn’t want this one to end, as I am now left with a huge dilemma! Do I rush out and read parts two & three of this wonderful wartime saga, or do I content myself with having read such an amazing stand alone story and move on? Clearly the ending of this book begs the sequels the author has obligingly provided, however there are definitely no, what I would call, cliff hanging ‘loose ends’, to leave me frustrated and feeling as though I had read an incomplete story!

Over the years, I have read so many of these ‘homegrown’ wartime sagas, depicting life in Britain for the women and men left behind, when all those able to, had gone off to fight for their country. But never have I read such a story where the author has so obviously poured heart and soul into the telling of it. Maisie has clearly set this story in Manchester, because it is a place she knows well and she sites real and named local locations I could check out for myself, as reference points to the backdrop of narrative. The storyline revolves around the wartime work on the railway network of that city and as Maisie now spends much of her free time riding the UK heritage railway network, she brings an enthusiasm and research knowledge to the subject, which is really immersive and scene setting, without being overwhelmingly technical. Many of the local bombing raids and events surrounding the repatriation of the British D-Day forces depicted in the story, are tangibly based on true events, and a couple of the characters are based on people within Maisie’s network of friends and family. This wonderfully blended mix of fact and fiction, all adds up to an authentic and realistic experience, a story to escape into, which is told with true heart, a little humour and compelling honesty.

Maisie is definitely a consummate storyteller and the well constructed, perceptive, multi faceted, addictive storyline, was written with total confidence, passion and authority. The storyline flows along at a good pace, with the seamless chapter changes keeping things fluid. The narrative and dialogue was so visually descriptive, I could almost imagine myself sat in the station buffet, having tea around the table with Dot, Joan, Mabel and the gang, as they swapped gossip and offered moral support to one another if any of them were suffering with any aspects of their many wartime obligations, or of course, any ‘man trouble’ they might be having! They also offered one another a shoulder to cry on when the realities of war came too close to home; and when the absolute unthinkable happens, their combined strength, compassion and resilience gets them through the hard times together.

Maisie has created a cast of engaging, totally relatable, well defined and genuinely believable characters, who when thrown together in this constant state of change and flux, pull together and stand shoulder to shoulder together in the face of adversity. There are vulnerabilities, emotional complexities and those left bereft who are seeking a sense of belonging, but all are made easy to connect with, have complete empathy with, and invest it all the way.

As well as being a delightful story, this was also an important and detailed piece of social commentary, reflecting the tumultuous and far-reaching changes of the times. The evolving roles of women in society and the new respect they demanded and truly earned from their inveterate male colleagues, family members and friends alike; especially now that women took on work roles outside of the home, in what was traditionally a male dominated domain. Societal mores were challenged and toppled at an alarming rate; Oh! how lovely it must have been to be able to raise those restrictive hems to knee level, or to wear ‘slacks’ in public when you were out digging along the railway tracks, or loading the trains with parcels and packages. The long established conventions of the class divide were broken down forever; as women from all walks of life grouped together for the common good as the back-bone of the home-front, to help those who were giving their lives on the fighting frontline.

And, on a purely personal note, my own father, uncle and grandfather worked in the reserved occupation of building rolling stock to help keep the country moving, at the Swindon Railway Works, during WWII, and as they are no longer with us to talk about those times, Maisie’s meticulous research was extra special and appreciated, capturing as it did, that moment in time!

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[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had trouble at first getting into this book as i found too much happening at once but i went back to it and i did enjoy reading of the lives of the women who went to work as Railway Girls during the war.An enjoyable book and i can recommend it to readers who love this genre.5*

[Marg · Rating 4 out of 5]

While WWII is a very popular setting for historical fiction at the moment there is a lot of variety within that setting and a lot of room for stories to be explored. One of the aspects that I enjoy is reading about women who had to take on unaccustomed roles just because of the war. Some examples of books I have previously read which focus on this include The Ambulance Girls series by Deborah Burrows and Land Girls by Victoria Purman. When I was offered this book for review, the title grabbed me straight away for exactly this reason.

The story begins with our characters coming together after successfully passing the aptitude tests to become railway girls. They come from all different walks of life, and all have their own reasons why they want to do their part for the war effort. Mabel wants to be out of her well to do home, to be independent and to hopefully be able to forget the traumatic events which are still taking their toll on her. Joan always feels like she can't do much right in the eyes of her domineering grandmother, especially not compared to her beautiful older sister and Dot is a salt of the earth type who wants to do her best to do her part, especially seeing as her beloved sons are fighting for the country. And if that gets her out of the house away from her miserable husband, well so much the better.

The book follows the characters as they each come together at Victoria Station in Manchester to begin their new roles. They, along with several other characters, promise to be there for each other no matter what, and they'll need that support base as they navigate the difficult new world that they have come into. Many of the men that they will now be working with don't believe that the women will be able to do the job, especially the hard, physical jobs like being a porter or making sure that the ballast beneath the rails stays in place by digging it and replacing it where necessary. It isn't easy to become friends just like that though. Each woman is very different, and there are plenty of secrets between them. Can you truly be friends if you are not willing to open yourself up?

One of the aspects that I enjoyed in this book was the exploration of social change. War is a catalyst for change in so many ways. Suddenly women whose sole role has been in the home for so long are now working in men's world, sometimes including having to deal with overt sexism, and yet, in many cases their home duties have not reduced at all. The way that women dress is changing rapidly. Joan's grandmother, for example, was adamant that Joan and her sister could under no circumstances raise their dress hems lest they be labeled as floozies and yet, we also start to see the advent of trousers. And socially we had the well to do young ladies mixing with the working class girls and becoming friends - something that would never have happened in normal life. And that's before we even think about war time romances, which seem to have an added urgency to them, or the impact of grief and loss within a community.

Read more of my review at the following link

http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas has Mabel, Joan, Dot, and other ladies volunteering to work for the railway during World War II. Mabel is eager to escape her hometown so she can get a fresh start away from the memories and the guilt. Joan and her sister were raised by their grandmother. Gran praises her sister, but Joan does not live up to her grandmother’s expectations. Joan wants to obtain a position and show what she is capable of to herself and her family. Dot has raised two boys who are now married with children of their own. Dot’s sons are off fighting. She takes care of the home and her critical husband, Reg. Dot is the mothering type and likes to be helpful. Each of these women who are different ages and from different social classes, come together to do their bit for the war. This group of diverse women start off as strangers, but they soon become close friends who stand by each other through thick and thin. The Railway Girls is the first book in the Railways Girls series. There is a great cast of characters in this historical novel. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. They come from different social classes and each have a different reason for volunteering. Dot was my favorite. She is such a kind woman who loves her sons and their families. I could understand why she wanted to get out of her home each day. I did feel that Dot was taken advantage of by her daughter’s in-law. We get to follow the women through their day to day lives. Each of them want to help the war effort and are excited to be working for the railway. The women are assigned different jobs. I like that we get to see the various positions people work to keep the trains running. I could tell that the author did her research for this book. The author took us back in time with the clothing, buildings, the various battles and war engagements, and the men’s attitudes towards women in the workplace. Maisie Thomas’ detailed descriptions brought the scenes and characters to life. I did wish that the pacing had been a little peppier. The story got bogged down with the minutia of the ladies lives (a little too much detail). I enjoyed seeing the ladies come together as a group and grow as individuals. It was not easy living during World War II in England with bombings, rationing, and the extra work they had to take on. The Railway Girls is an emotional story with strong women who want to support their country during trying times.

[Jane Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the range of characters in Maisie Thomas’s The Railway Girls and for me one of the most engaging and interesting characters is Dot, who is well into her forties. She is the sort of woman who organises and takes care of everyone to her own detriment, but determined to strike out and help the war effort, through which she is to find a great deal of self respect.

That is the premise of this excellent book; women from different backgrounds who were thrown together in 1940 to help keep the nation’s vital railways running. The challenges they face, the friendships they form and even their romances weave together into an utterly believable tapestry, depicting wartime Manchester as it surely was.

Thomas’s research must have been meticulous but it is the richness of her storytelling that had me hooked. The detailed descriptions fitted so easily into the narrative the pictures were painted as the story moved along, and that is a rare talent. There is quite an extensive cast of characters too; not only Dot, Joan and Mabel, who will be the focus of the series, but other railway workers as well as their families at home.

For a debut novel this is stunning writing, perfectly paced and never rushed, a slow and realistic journey through the phoney war, Dunkirk and into the beginnings of the blitz.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to start a new series! Maisie Thomas has created an amazing set of characters that get you on side straight away as they start their new lives working on the railways during the war.

And it's definitely a new experience for them, and the men they are working alongside! The attitudes of the time come across in volumes as they are looked down on by some, many thinking that they can't possibly do a job as well as a man - and not only from co-workers, it's from the men in their own families too! A time when women 'knew their place' and men wouldn't even lift a finger around the house. So to get these girls doing a variety of jobs in the railway sector in the North West allows you to see the prejudices they faced both at home and at work.

Mabel, Joan and Dot are the main characters but we also get to follow other women they meet along the way, and as they're all at different stages of life we get to see the different aspects they all face with this new way of life. What they all have in common though is their resilience and a desire to stand on their own 2 feet and that's what is brilliant about this book. They face up to their challenges and don't run away from things even if it is tough. The bond between the women is also really strong as they know they are all in the same boat. Dot was one of my favourite as she took no prisoners!! Despite the attitudes she faced from certain male co-workers she was determined to prove them wrong!

It was also fascinating to see how the attitude of their families changed over time, as at the beginning they thought they were bringing shame on the family by wanting to work! Even having painted toenails was seen as a disgrace at the time so heaven forbid that a 'woman' was to be seen working on the railway! Nowadays they would have had such pride in these women wanting to work at such a time and do their bit!

There was a great mix of drama and humour throughout the book, and it all felt so relatable! These were women you could imagine yourself wanting to hang out with and I'm so excited to see what else this series has in store for us!!

[Vanessa-Ann Dowsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but the narrator kept stopping and repeating lines. Looks as though it's poor editing. Began to grate, shame the story was very good. It would, I think warrant a sequel. This is a story written during WW2 and related the women and lasses who worked tirelessly to keep the railway open. The mixture of characters, each with their back story is fascinating and a great deal of research had been done to ensure accuracy. Sorry Maisie, you would have scored 5stars had the editing not let you down. In one instance the same sentence was repeated three times.

[Chloe Bardou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best war fictional book I've ever read, struggled to get into it and was a slow read

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always exciting to be in right at the beginning of a new historical saga and to have one set in the north west is especially heartwarming as many of the places mentioned in The Railway Girls are places I am familiar with, in fact, like one of the characters in the book, my own grandfather worked on the northern Railways.

The story starts in 1940 when the country is already in the grip of war. All those industries which once relied on manpower, now find that it is the women folk who have to keep the country together, from working in heavy industrial factories making ammunition, to keeping the canals and railways functioning, women were very much in charge of keeping the home fires burning. However, this didn't always sit comfortably with those men who stayed at home, and there was often resentment and bullying towards the female workforce.

The eponymous railways girls are pulled from all walks of life, from the posh girls with plummy accents, to the rough and ready northern housewives, there is a real mix of personalities and I think that's what really works as right from the start the women who are brought together to work on the LMS railway network do so with a sense of excitement, trepidation and pure northern grit.

Some characters I liked more than others and some I wanted to give a good telling off to, but throughout it all I sensed that this disparate group were going to get on like a house on fire. I especially enjoyed when the women all met up after their shifts to share their problems over a cup of tea in the station tearoom. However, it's not all about gossiping over a teacup, there's plenty more going on, and I enjoyed how the author gave attention to each of the characters so that we got to know more about them, not just the roles they played on the railways ,but also their, very different, home circumstances.

The Railway Girls brings this wartime period alive in a beautifully written historical saga and the author uses her own local knowledge of the area to really bring everything alive in the imagination. Whether it be observing the hard graft of physical labour on the LMS network, or typing invoices in the clerks' office, or waltzing in the Manchester dance halls, there is never a moment when the personality of the railway girls, or the sense of historical authenticity doesn't shine through.

It's been a real pleasure to spend time with the intrepid railways girls and I am already looking forward to finding out just what happens next to them all.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the characters but I just struggled to remember each character so I did struggle to keep into the storyline. I did enjoy the storyline but I just couldn't get invested so it took me a while to get myself into the book which took me a while to finish the book. I did love the authors note and how she explained certain aspects of the book wasn't fiction and were actually based on real life stories like how her parents met I thought that was a lovely thing to read after the book. I will definitely carry on with the series and see if I enjoy the next book!

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Railway Girls is the first novel in Maisie Thomas's new series and opens in 1940 during the so-called Phoney War when the sense of immediate danger has diminished somewhat and some evacuee children have returned to their homes as it seems that little is happening. With men joining or being called up, women are needed to fulfil vital jobs in the workforce but their presence isn't always appreciated - and it's not always just the men who disapprove.
As the introduction to a series, the first few chapters are intended to present the cast of characters and to set the scene so the pacing is necessarily a little slower at first before the storyline really begins to take shape. Three women are primarily featured here but I look forward to learning more about the others in subsequent books. In the meantime, Mabel, Joan and Dot are all very different but have equally interesting stories. Both Mabel and Joan seem to be hiding something and throughout the novel which means they remain rather mysterious, even as their personalities take shape. Mabel is evidently grieving a fairly recent loss and it has clearly left her wracked with guilt but what did she do? Coming from new money, she doesn't quite fit in anywhere and attempts to put up barriers, convinced that she doesn't deserve to make friends. She is actually a very likeable woman who steps up with great courage to assist injured and dying men returning from Dunkirk, and as the story progresses I found myself fervently hoping that she would accept the offer of friendship and support she so obviously needs, particularly after an especially difficult time.
As Manchester suffers the devastation of the Blitz, they all need to lean on one another and on their loved ones but although Joan has a close and loving relationship with her sister, Letitia, the same can't be said for her grandmother. Of all the characters, I found Gran to be one of the most disagreeable. Poor Joan is constantly compared to her clever sister and Gran is also horribly prudish and judgemental. She occasionally shows a few glimpses of kindness, however, and it does seem that she loves the sisters in her own way. The same can't be said for her opinion of the girls' mother, Estelle, whose name is used as a warning and a threat to them by their grandmother; although there is some explanation of why in this book, it's something I'm sure will be a recurrent part of the storyline and I'm looking forward to more undoubtedly dramatic scenes in the future.
Although I really enjoyed getting to know both Mabel and Joan and found the chapters focused on them to be engrossing, I must admit to developing an early favourite character in the shape of the wonderful Dot. She is a middle-aged woman who is most definitely put upon by her family - especially her mealy-mouthed husband, Reg. She is a kind, thoughtful woman who has spent years looking after her family but now she is desperate for her own identity. The Railway Girls really celebrates the strength of women and I found it rather heartening that the two characters who are most prepared to challenge and speak out against the bad behaviour of some of the men are Dot and another married and slightly older woman, Cordelia. Despite facing doubts from a number of her new male colleagues about her ability to carry out her role as a porter adequately, Dot is capable and forthright at work so her wearied acceptance of Reg's dismissive attitude is an important reminder of how much of society at the time still viewed women, meaning that in some ways they almost welcomed the war as a means to escape the bonds of domesticity. However, Maisie Thomas writes with great insight throughout and as much as I cheered on the women's various successes, I appreciated the perceptive explanation as to why men might have objected to women taking on traditionally male roles in the workforce.
The author's thorough research is plain to see, especially when it comes to the scenes set at the railway. I found it absolutely fascinating - and really quite humbling at times - to learn of the different roles that women were expected to carry out there, from working as a desk clerk to more physical work such as porting or maintenance of the permanent way. The close friendships that form between the women, despite coming from very different backgrounds and being different ages meant that I was soon captivated by The Railway Girls and shared in their laughs and their tears. It would be impossible not to warm to these remarkable women who stand up for one another, volunteer for frightening and dangerous work, manage to run their homes, and cope with fear and heartbreak, all while being patronised and belittled by the men who begrudge them stepping into the jobs they consider to be outside their rightful place in society. Touching, exciting and thoroughly engaging; I'm already invested in the lives of The Railway Girls and can't wait to read Secrets of the Railway Girls later this year.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across 'The Railway Girls' when I was browsing for new books on Amazon. The blurb for the book described the book as being perfect for fans of Ellie Dean and Nancy Revell. I adore both ladies and I just instinctively knew that I would love 'The Railway Girls'. I must be psychic because I absolutely adored reading 'The Railway Girls' but more about that in a bit.
It seems a bit unfair to single out any of the three main ladies for special mention as they are all fantastic characters. I have to say though that I have a special fondness for Dot. Dot is middle aged, married and she has children, who she absolutely adores. Her husband needs a good slap with a wet flip flop because his attitude absolutely stinks. It might seem a bit strong to some, but I believe that he is a domestic abuser- maybe not physically but definitely emotionally, mentally and financially. Nothing is ever good enough for him. I really felt for Dot and there was many a time that I felt like jumping inside the pages of the book to give her a hug and to have a darn good natter over a cup of tea. Of course Dot's sons are away and doing their duty to their country and naturally Dot is ever so worried about them. Dot decides that she wants to do war work to keep her occupied, to feel as though she is doing her bit for the war effort and she views this work as being a way of supporting her sons. Of course her hubby doesn't agree with her and thinks that she has no chance of being a 'Railway Girl'. Dot becomes a bit stubborn because in a way I think she think 'I'll show you, you beggar'. Dot is determined that she will make her work a success. Dot comes across as the Mother Hen sort of character- much like Peggy from the 'Cliffehaven' series, written by Ellie Dean, and Gloria from 'The Shipyard Girls' series, written by Nancy Revell. Dot is caring, supportive, determined, warm hearted and a true friend to those she cares about.
Reading 'The Railway Girls' soon became an addiction and it was an addiction that I was not going to break. I initially picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to get started but I began enjoying the book so much that I ended up reading more like a dozen chapters than a couple. I managed to binge read the book over the course of a day. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I seemed to race through the story and I reached the end of the book far quicker than I wanted to. I had mixed feelings about getting to the end of 'The Railway Girls'. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish the book because it meant that I knew how this instalment of the series finished but I was enjoying the characters, the author's writing style and the storylines so much that I just didn't want the book to end. I soon cheered up when I looked on Amazon to see that the second book in the series called 'Secrets Of The Railway Girls' is due for release on 17th September 2020. I can't flipping wait.
'The Railway Girls' is brilliantly written. I always know that the sign of a good book is when I find myself become far too involved in the story- so much so that I start to interact with the characters as if they were real or I want to jump inside the pages to give certain characters what for. 'The Railway Girls' is one such book. The author grabbed my attention from the synopsis and she drew me into the story from pretty early on. Maisie describes her characters so well that they almost seem to jump off the page and they seem just as real as you or I. Indeed, by the end of 'The Railway Girls' I felt that the girls had become friends of mine. I felt as though I was part of the story and that's thanks to Maisie's fantastically vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Railway Girls' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. Maisie Thomas is just as good an author as Nancy Revell and Ellie Dean. I will most definitely be reading more of her work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Galina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas is the first novel in the Railway Girls series. It has strong female protagonists - from different social backgrounds and age groups. It is a timeless tale of friendship and loyalty, loss and challenges, fulfilment and courage.

This is a character-driven historical fiction at its best. Thomas portrays the railway girls and the challenges they face as women in the men's workplace.

Thomas's historical yarn follows a group of women who will become the eponymous "railway girls". We meet them in March 1940, standing in front of the war memorial.
"They are of varying ages and backgrounds and come from different social classes - a solicitor's wife, a factory owner's daughter, a sewing machinist, a debutante, a working-class housewife, a clerk, a young wife who has been wrapped in cotton wool, and a girl who wasn't tall enough for the switchboard. On the surface, they form a diverse group, but they have one thing in common: their willingness and determination, under threat of invasion, to do their bit in this new world war by rising to the challenge of working as railway girls.
Unity, strength, courage and sacrifice".

We follow the lives and fortunes of several characters, each of whom has their own distinctive voice.

Mabel Brawdshaw is the heiress to Bradshaw's Ball Bearings, who is "widely expected to bag herself a penniless lordling, or at the very least an honourable, and become the mother of an unutterably respectable family". Instead, she wants to join the war effort and "do her bit". Her parents are shocked and even forbid her to leave home, but relent under pressure, and her Pops announces, "I can't have it said that my daughter tried to dodge doing her duty".
At first Mabel appears as aloof and overindulged, but she is hiding a tragic secret which nearly destroyed her presence of mind.

Joan is always in the shadow of her more glamorous, self-assured sister who can never do wrong in their grandma's eyes. A new job as a station clerk might be just the thing to bring her out of her shell and gain confidence. She might be slightly disheartened to be appointed to work in the admin, but realises that clerking is more relevant than she had imagined. "When you thought about it, there must be masses of admin involved in keeping the railways running, and anything that kept trains moving was essential work".

Dot is in her forties, and is taken for granted by everyone in her big family. She is maternal and warm, and so wonderful, you just want to have a Dot in your life. Her sons are fighting, and she is constantly worried about them. Her husband is unsupportive and enjoys deriding her for everything. For him she is the continual source of awful jokes and taunts.
The job gives her a new purpose in life.
"Ah. Yes. A wonderful mother. That was the trouble, wasn't it? She was everybody's mum... She was mum to anyone and everyone who needed help, advice or a slice of toast.
But she didn't want to be mum at work. She wanted to be... herself. Dot. Dorothy Green... Capable, reliable, hard-working. Not a mother hen. Just a railway girl".

These are our three main protaginists, with a whole gallery of supportive characters, each adding a realistic backstory or detail to the plotline.

As the story progresses, we watch the railway girls gaining confidence and strength from their circle of friendship and reliance on each other, their pride in the job they are doing and great unity. Working at the railway gives them a sharper sense of who they are.

Maisie Thomas's voice is compelling, her writing is perceptive and insightful. Certain pages in the book made me think of my own friendships.
Good books have this power to make you think beyond the book.

Full review is published on my blog, see https://chezmaximka.blogspot.com/2021...

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of women meet in February 1940 in unusual circumstances, a mixture of ages, experiences and apparently class. They will take the place of men and work on the railways in Manchester, but they will also form a group that has to withstand challenges that no one has ever experienced before in this country. This is the story of girls - women who take jobs on the “permanent way” to keep the trains running, but also to survive the loves, losses and more in this sensitive novel of life at the beginning of a war which will rock the world. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mabel is a young woman of contradictions, expensively educated and protected by parents keen for her to enjoy a comfortable existence. She wants to break away, especially as she has a guilty secret that threatens to overwhelm her. Joan has been brought up by her strict grandmother in the shadow of her mother’s behaviour, with only her beautiful sister, Letitia, to stand up for her. Dot is a grandmother who stands for many women in the war, trying to combine housework, her family and a full time job. There is chatterbox Lizzie, always cheerful and positive, a young woman who cheers her colleagues every day. Cordelia is married to a local solicitor, whose confident and glamorous appearance makes some of the other women nervous, but she is really a thoughtful and kind woman. Other women are on the fringes of the group, including the wealthy, resourceful and confident Persephone.

When the women arrive for their first day at Victoria station, they are allocated roles on a seemingly arbitrary basis. The most startling is Mabel, whose reaction is downright refusal to attempt the job she is given. As the reader has been given some of her background, there is a little understanding, but the other women are confused. Joan is desperate to make a real contribution to the war effort, but her role in the office is repetitive. Joan and Mabel, together with some of the others, volunteer for first aid duty, which seems a calm option though not without its challenges. Dot finds her work as a porter difficult, especially as the guard she works with is determined to find fault. Although she loves her family, her husband is very negative about her and her actions, and she struggles with combining her housework and railway job.

This is an enjoyable, satisfying and brilliantly well researched novel of women in a significant time during the Second World War. Some of the incidents reflect real anecdotes, but this is not a tedious recitation of events; the characters jump off the page, and some of the incidents had me quietly cheering, while others were moving. The women feel real and three dimensional, with understandable emotions and reasonable motives. I found it gripping and intriguing, as people face challenges and struggle with life which at first is marked with tedium, then real danger. As with any good drama there are several storylines skilfully balanced and moving in parallel. This book is the first in a series which traces the fortunes of a group of women in a fascinating context; I will be really keen to read more!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a result of one thing and another, I haven’t felt much like reading recently and, if my TBR pile had been a physical thing instead of e-books, it would no doubt be about to topple off my bedside table.
However, one evening, with a bit of free time on my hands, I knew just which book I was going to pick up first, The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas. I’d heard good things about this book and it really didn’t disappoint.
While we briefly studied the Second World War at school, I can’t say I have read too much fiction set in this period but I absolutely loved all the details included in this book, which really helped bring the story to life.
In her bio Maisie says she likes writing "stories with strong female characters" and that certainly comes across in this book. Working on the railways as a woman was not for the faint hearted generally but the attitudes of some male colleagues certainly didn't make it any easier. It made me think how far we have come in some ways but also how far we still have to go.
Readers have posted on social media about which character is their favourite but I thought Mabel, Dot and Joan were all superbly written - not a weaker character among them. Even many of the secondary characters had something that held my attention. In fact, instead of three, there should be least five books or more in this series just so everyone gets a fair turn.
At several points I actually broke out in goosebumps - and it had nothing to do with being cold because it was boiling.
I was moved by Maisie's descriptions of air raids in a way that I haven’t been before. It was like being there in the dark, hearing the rumble of planes and experiencing the terror of falling bombs followed by the adrenalin rush of survival and then the urge to help.
The story is full of unexpected twists and turns and this was one of those occasions when I groaned when I read the last sentence because I definitely didn’t want it to end.
I genuinely can’t wait for book two - and it will be going to the top of my TBR pile.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to learn much more about railways through the eyes of three women who volunteered to work during World War II. Mabel, Joan, and Dot are very different women but they share a desire to contribute to the war effort and are given positions helping to keep the essential railway network operating at its best.

Maisie Thomas is an expert in developing warm, relatable characters with interesting backstories. However, she really excels at bringing intensely strong women to life. There was never a time when women were depended upon more than 1940 when the men were away fighting for their country. They experienced prejudice on every level but remained determined that they would roll up their sleeves and do the work as well as the men.

Dot had to be my favorite character. She was so kind-hearted but downtrodden by her family and her immense strength cried out to be put to better use. The book is well researched and every tiny detail feels authentic, in fact, some of the events actually took place.

I’m sure this series will be amazing and I can’t wait to see what The Railway Girls do next.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dot, Mabel, Joan and several other women start working on the railways in Manchester on the same day during WW2. They are assigned different job roles, but become friends, meeting up at the end of their shifts in the railway cafe.
Each of the women has their own trials within their lives. Dot is not appreciated by her husband and daughters-in-law. Mabel has a secret form her past that makes her hesitant to become close friends with the rest of the group. And Joan strives to deal with the strict rules set by her grandmother.
I enjoyed this book but felt that I would warm to the main characters more. I have now finished reading Nancy Revell's Shipyard Girls series, and was hoping to care about these characters as much as those in that brilliant series of books.
That said, I will read the next book in this series to find out what happens to these characters.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Railway Girls. The exploration of the railways as a profession for women during the Second World War, coupled with some lovely characters made this a really good read. I have read quite a few books about women in the Second World War recently and it was clear that the historical research that had gone into this book was incredibly detailed and thorough. I can see why one or two reviewers felt that the plot was sometimes a little slow, as the historical accuracy and explanation sometimes took precedent over plot. However, for me, as an enthusiast of British history from this period, it was perfect. It would be nice to see some of the other characters get developed more in later books, now that we have become so familiar with the central three characters.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manchester February 1940 WW2 , Mabel Bradshaw is aching to leave home Kirkland house and start proper war work. And applies at Hunts Bank Railways, Joan Foster, Alison Lambert, Lizzie Cooper, and mrs Collette Naylor all get interviewed and are told to meet at the monument and all become The railway girl's, tackling a man's job they have never done before. This book is absolutely fascinating to read, as we go through the work with these girl's as well as their private lives. It had me gripped into the story as I read chapter after chapter. This author has a way of bringing into the book to make you there with all the characters. Loved it

[Julie Cordiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming first in series

An interesting, well-researched introduction to the Railway Girls in 1940s Manchester, this novel brings together a group of contrasting characters who all face their own challenges as they do their bit for the war effort. Inevitably, it takes a little time to establish the characters, but it soon develops into a fascinating story of how they all relate to each other amid secrets and tragedies.

Mabel, Joan and Dot really come to life as you read, along with their families and friends, and the action moves along at a satisfying pace. I’m looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is 1940, Manchester and invasion is imminent.
Enter ladies from all walks of life, thrust together having to take on men's jobs for the duration of the war.
Mabel is new money, yet she has an awful secret and is trying to outrun her past by working on the railway.
Joan is always trying to win her grandmother's approval and live upto her beautiful sister, Letitia.
Dot is a mother but also yearns to be a railway girl like her own mam.
In times of a national emergency can these vastly different ladies overcome their social status, backgrounds and lifestyle and become friends?
This was a wonderful start to a great series.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which was kindly provided by NetGalley.

It’s a lovely story about strong working women during the 1940’s Blitz times in Manchester. The book follows the lives of Dot, Mabel, Joan and some other ladies who support their country by working as railway girls in various different jobs whilst also managing their family life.

These girls support each other, no matter what. It’s lovely to read and I am very much looking forward to reading more about them and seeing how they develop further in the upcoming books.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Railway Girls" is a welcoming book, full of strong characters and an even stronger sense of community. It's well-written with a plot and characters that you can invest in emotionally (which is a must with this genre for me). There are some pretty tearful moments, but also times when I was smiling along with the characters. Looking forward to the second book in the series.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Catherine Boardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

By February 1940 with the men at war, women were needed to do 'men's' work. We meet Mabel, Joan and Dot all from very different social backgrounds who apply to work on the railways in Manchester. As we get to know the girls we also learn masses about the railways in Manchester 1940s. The Railway Girls has a strong sense of time and place, there are many details about the clothes they wore, the attitudes to women, the food they ate and wider effects of the war that fascinated me. I sat up way to late unable to put The Railway Girls down and eagerly await the next instalment.