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Marlow’s Department Store #4
Christmas for the Shop Girls
Uplifting and heartwarming: drama, courage and romance at Marlow’s department store this Christmas
For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff—not to mention a store coping with war damage—will be a real challenge.
But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.
For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff—not to mention a store coping with war damage—will be a real challenge.
But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2020
54 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Toye
24 books37 followersSet in a family-owned department store, Jo's novels bring to life the hardships - and highlights - of life in Britain in the Second World War. With husbands, boyfriends and brothers away, the three Shop Girl friends pull together to battle bomb damage and black marketeers as well as their own poignant personal dramas. A former radio and TV scriptwriter, Jo draws on her family's war experiences as well as memories of how shopping used to be - before Amazon changed all that!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 11, 2020
I just adored this book. This was my first encounter with the shop girls and now realising there are other books in this series (and another to come!) I know I’m in for a treat. This book was such a fantastic read and an unexpected little gem of a find. It smashed all my expectations and I immediately felt myself being sucked into a wartime world with the shop girls and their dramas.
It was beautifully and wonderfully written and I immediately grew attached to the characters as I got to know them more! It was a fantastic feel good read and left me grinning from ear to ear as I finished. The author has such a seamless way of transitioning between characters, it was effortless to read and the pages turned quickly and before I knew it, I’d read the whole book in two days!
Now, don’t mind me whilst I endeavour to get my hands on all the other books in this series and continue my adventures with the shops girls whilst also counting down the days until the release of the next book in 2021. I couldn’t recommend this book enough! :)
It was beautifully and wonderfully written and I immediately grew attached to the characters as I got to know them more! It was a fantastic feel good read and left me grinning from ear to ear as I finished. The author has such a seamless way of transitioning between characters, it was effortless to read and the pages turned quickly and before I knew it, I’d read the whole book in two days!
Now, don’t mind me whilst I endeavour to get my hands on all the other books in this series and continue my adventures with the shops girls whilst also counting down the days until the release of the next book in 2021. I couldn’t recommend this book enough! :)
July 28, 2022
A wonderful account of what it was like during WWII while trying to make ends meet during rationing times. Great characters and a great storyline which took me back to my youth visiting shops like this in Scotland. Everything was so precise and store girls treated you well. They dressed well and just did their job and took pride in their work. The author mentions House of Fraser in her end note and loved that store. Sadly she said it’s gone into administration at the beginning of the Covid virus. Such a shame we’ve lost so many icons and so many lives too.
This is the 4th book in the series so it would be interesting to read the earlier ones. Jo the author wrote about the old radio programme The Archers for 10 years and so she has had plenty of knowledge of those times. She has written quite a few books on them and about the years it was on the radio when it had a huge following.
There’s a prologue from Christmas Eve 1942 Lily is having a bad dream. It was only a week ago a bomb had been dropped on the shop where Lily and Jim worked. She woke up the whole house which included Dora her mum and Jim, the lodger whom she was courting. This is to give you an insight from the previous book when they were the only two left in the store locking up but luckily weren’t badly hurt. The shock of that night had obviously had an affect in Lily. Marlow’s store has been the main big store in the area and they are trying to build it up again after the damage from the year before. The staff are all called Mr and Miss whether you’re married or not just as it used to be in my youth. There are many ups and downs but it all works out in the end as these books often do. That’s why they are my ‘go to’ book when it’s been a tough week and a great read for ‘Christmas in July’!
This is the 4th book in the series so it would be interesting to read the earlier ones. Jo the author wrote about the old radio programme The Archers for 10 years and so she has had plenty of knowledge of those times. She has written quite a few books on them and about the years it was on the radio when it had a huge following.
There’s a prologue from Christmas Eve 1942 Lily is having a bad dream. It was only a week ago a bomb had been dropped on the shop where Lily and Jim worked. She woke up the whole house which included Dora her mum and Jim, the lodger whom she was courting. This is to give you an insight from the previous book when they were the only two left in the store locking up but luckily weren’t badly hurt. The shock of that night had obviously had an affect in Lily. Marlow’s store has been the main big store in the area and they are trying to build it up again after the damage from the year before. The staff are all called Mr and Miss whether you’re married or not just as it used to be in my youth. There are many ups and downs but it all works out in the end as these books often do. That’s why they are my ‘go to’ book when it’s been a tough week and a great read for ‘Christmas in July’!
December 6, 2020
A department store with its variety of workers in the centre of the community will always be a source of interest and drama, and this novel features Marlow’s in April 1943. This novel is actually the fourth in the series, but I have had the pleasure of reading it as a standalone, so I can confirm that it is so well written that I enjoyed it. The main characters, Lily Collins and her mother Dora, her friends Gladys and Beryl, her “young man” Jim are very well described, and emerge as very vivid three dimensional people. This is a book which works well in describing the ways that life continued on the Home Front during the Second World War as people grew used to a life of shortages, fear and even loss. Some of the events in this book are more momentous in people’s lives than others, but all are described well and clearly. The atmosphere of wartime, especially in a section which describes bombed London, is well conveyed, as is the general uncertainty of life. This is a well written and engaging book which I really enjoyed, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book opens with Lily remembering the events of the previous Christmas Eve, when together with Jim they were involved in a bombing at Marlow’s. She recovered, but everyone present was badly affected, especially the owner of the shop, Mr Marlow. Other problems soon emerge, including the non arrival of London models for the store’s fashion show, which Jim is trying to organise. Lily, being one of the youngest sales girls, is drafted in as a model, much to the delight of those around her. A friend Beryl, is running a wedding hire shop, as dresses are difficult to obtain with coupons, and she is keen to advertise her services during the show. Their mutual friend Gladys is already getting excited for her forthcoming wedding marriage to Bill, a serving sailor who is currently away. A much less pleasant interlude is the arrival of Mr Marlow’s son Robert, who is dangerously involved in a black market operation and tries to involve Jim. Meanwhile Lily’s brother Reg is in the Army serving overseas, which is especially worrying for Dora who has coped bringing up three children alone. The author gradually introduces each character to the reader in the context of the novel so they fit in with the overall narrative, so even someone who has not read the previous books is not disadvantaged.
This book covers the period from April 1943 to Christmas, and it covers a momentous time in Lily’s life in some ways, as well in the progress of the war. This is a well balanced novel which includes many life events and situations specific to war time, such as making friends with visiting soldiers and finding out long held secrets. This is a well constructed book which does not dwell in melodrama, but in natural developments based on realistic developments. The dialogue is realistic and often funny, with a real ear for differences in speech. Lily is a lovely character who has few illusions but is very caring towards her family and friends. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a wartime book with real warmth and insight into a large group of characters at a challenging time.
The book opens with Lily remembering the events of the previous Christmas Eve, when together with Jim they were involved in a bombing at Marlow’s. She recovered, but everyone present was badly affected, especially the owner of the shop, Mr Marlow. Other problems soon emerge, including the non arrival of London models for the store’s fashion show, which Jim is trying to organise. Lily, being one of the youngest sales girls, is drafted in as a model, much to the delight of those around her. A friend Beryl, is running a wedding hire shop, as dresses are difficult to obtain with coupons, and she is keen to advertise her services during the show. Their mutual friend Gladys is already getting excited for her forthcoming wedding marriage to Bill, a serving sailor who is currently away. A much less pleasant interlude is the arrival of Mr Marlow’s son Robert, who is dangerously involved in a black market operation and tries to involve Jim. Meanwhile Lily’s brother Reg is in the Army serving overseas, which is especially worrying for Dora who has coped bringing up three children alone. The author gradually introduces each character to the reader in the context of the novel so they fit in with the overall narrative, so even someone who has not read the previous books is not disadvantaged.
This book covers the period from April 1943 to Christmas, and it covers a momentous time in Lily’s life in some ways, as well in the progress of the war. This is a well balanced novel which includes many life events and situations specific to war time, such as making friends with visiting soldiers and finding out long held secrets. This is a well constructed book which does not dwell in melodrama, but in natural developments based on realistic developments. The dialogue is realistic and often funny, with a real ear for differences in speech. Lily is a lovely character who has few illusions but is very caring towards her family and friends. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a wartime book with real warmth and insight into a large group of characters at a challenging time.
December 12, 2020
Marlow’s department store is a family run business and attracts as much local custom as rationing and the effects of WW2 will allow. This entertaining story features those who work at the store and takes us deep into their lives and loves.
Throughout this lovely story there’s a great sense of atmosphere and an awareness of the strength of a community which looked out for everyone. This is evident whether it be organising a fashion show at the store and everyone stepping in to help, planning a wartime wedding with all the uncertainty of finding the right wedding and bridesmaid dresses, or playing in a local cricket match.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know shop assistant, Lily Collins and her friends, Gladys and Beryl, who are all doing their utmost to make the best of whatever life throws at them and I think that’s what’s so lovely about Christmas for the Shop Girls, it allows the spotlight to shine on a great set of characters and shares the minutiae of their lives with warmth, love and understanding.
The author writes well and has captured the essence of this close knit community who were both working and living side by side. There's a nice sense of history, which brings to life not just the camaraderie and stoicism of the war years, but also highlights the importance of these family run stores where the workers became more like family members than employees,
Although I am new to this wartime series, this is book four of five, I was able to pick up the story quickly and enjoyed how the author fed us snippets of information which give some background for new readers like me. Whilst the story is very much about life in this small Midlands town, there is a little focus on what’s happening with the war effort, and with their loved ones currently involved in the war effort, the story mentions briefly the events in the North Africa campaign which was, of course, coming to its conclusion in May 1943.
Christmas for the Shop Girls is a lovely story from start to finish and I am sure that followers of series will love it too.
Throughout this lovely story there’s a great sense of atmosphere and an awareness of the strength of a community which looked out for everyone. This is evident whether it be organising a fashion show at the store and everyone stepping in to help, planning a wartime wedding with all the uncertainty of finding the right wedding and bridesmaid dresses, or playing in a local cricket match.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know shop assistant, Lily Collins and her friends, Gladys and Beryl, who are all doing their utmost to make the best of whatever life throws at them and I think that’s what’s so lovely about Christmas for the Shop Girls, it allows the spotlight to shine on a great set of characters and shares the minutiae of their lives with warmth, love and understanding.
The author writes well and has captured the essence of this close knit community who were both working and living side by side. There's a nice sense of history, which brings to life not just the camaraderie and stoicism of the war years, but also highlights the importance of these family run stores where the workers became more like family members than employees,
Although I am new to this wartime series, this is book four of five, I was able to pick up the story quickly and enjoyed how the author fed us snippets of information which give some background for new readers like me. Whilst the story is very much about life in this small Midlands town, there is a little focus on what’s happening with the war effort, and with their loved ones currently involved in the war effort, the story mentions briefly the events in the North Africa campaign which was, of course, coming to its conclusion in May 1943.
Christmas for the Shop Girls is a lovely story from start to finish and I am sure that followers of series will love it too.
December 19, 2020
Christmas for the Shop Girls feels like a warm hug in a time when everything in our own lives are not quite sure, but reading this, shows that there is more hope than one can imagine. There are many layers to this book, which unravels slowly like a present being unwrapped on Christmas Day and many twists and turns that are a nice surprise in some cases and sad in others.
There are also a lot that can be learnt from this book, whether that is about the history of the time period, what it means for friendships, relationships of all shapes and sizes and what it truly means to be in the spirit of Christmas in a time when they had to make the most of what they have got.
The main thing that I loved from this book is the sense of family and how important loved ones are in a troubling time. We can have Christmas, presents, turkey, but the one thing that is truly significant is the people around us. That is what makes Christmas, love of all around. Even if it is a colleague at work giving you a cup of tea or a person to talk to. We are all different, but one thing that makes us the same is our compassion for others in times of hardship. What I found particularly poignant is Sam's compassion towards Lily and her family, the Canadian who had been stationed who somehow took it upon himself to help those who needed help in one of their most terrifying times. He risked everything he had to provide his friends with the best possible chance of being saved from something wrong.
Because of how this book is mainly based around a department store, it is also nice to see stories of other characters who work there and what it means to them to be around people at this time. For instance, Gladys has an interesting piece about her and her upcoming nuptials which is probably very likely that this story was the same as many others at the time. It opens up a side where we realise how different this world is now in terms of acceptance and how far we go to do the right thing. But also how the worldview about certain topics that would have been seen as being taboo, has changed on how people can live their lives.
Now that I finished reading this story, I have an overwhelming feeling like I need to read the previous instalments pronto. Like right now, just drop everything I'm doing at this very moment. If that doesn't show how much you need to read this, then I don't know what will.
There are also a lot that can be learnt from this book, whether that is about the history of the time period, what it means for friendships, relationships of all shapes and sizes and what it truly means to be in the spirit of Christmas in a time when they had to make the most of what they have got.
The main thing that I loved from this book is the sense of family and how important loved ones are in a troubling time. We can have Christmas, presents, turkey, but the one thing that is truly significant is the people around us. That is what makes Christmas, love of all around. Even if it is a colleague at work giving you a cup of tea or a person to talk to. We are all different, but one thing that makes us the same is our compassion for others in times of hardship. What I found particularly poignant is Sam's compassion towards Lily and her family, the Canadian who had been stationed who somehow took it upon himself to help those who needed help in one of their most terrifying times. He risked everything he had to provide his friends with the best possible chance of being saved from something wrong.
Because of how this book is mainly based around a department store, it is also nice to see stories of other characters who work there and what it means to them to be around people at this time. For instance, Gladys has an interesting piece about her and her upcoming nuptials which is probably very likely that this story was the same as many others at the time. It opens up a side where we realise how different this world is now in terms of acceptance and how far we go to do the right thing. But also how the worldview about certain topics that would have been seen as being taboo, has changed on how people can live their lives.
Now that I finished reading this story, I have an overwhelming feeling like I need to read the previous instalments pronto. Like right now, just drop everything I'm doing at this very moment. If that doesn't show how much you need to read this, then I don't know what will.
November 25, 2020
Thanks to Random T Tours & Harper Collins for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely adored this book.
The story is set during the Second World War. I really enjoyed reading like what it was like to live as the war was going on, I haven’t read many books set in WW2. The author talks about ration books and how they’d hardly ever have sugar. It’s something that seems crazy nowadays. I really felt for the characters. Especially for Gladys having the heartache of her partner fighting in the war. The characters were so likeable because they were all down to earth and really cared for each-other and helped each-other out in these hard times. This story was heartwarming and was such an easy read. I seemed to fly through the pages. It is full of romance, bravery and such exciting story lines. I was dying to find out what happened next. This book is actually the 4th in the series. I can’t wait to read the others now!
Synopsis:
For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff – not to mention a store coping with war damage – will be a real challenge.
But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely adored this book.
The story is set during the Second World War. I really enjoyed reading like what it was like to live as the war was going on, I haven’t read many books set in WW2. The author talks about ration books and how they’d hardly ever have sugar. It’s something that seems crazy nowadays. I really felt for the characters. Especially for Gladys having the heartache of her partner fighting in the war. The characters were so likeable because they were all down to earth and really cared for each-other and helped each-other out in these hard times. This story was heartwarming and was such an easy read. I seemed to fly through the pages. It is full of romance, bravery and such exciting story lines. I was dying to find out what happened next. This book is actually the 4th in the series. I can’t wait to read the others now!
Synopsis:
For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff – not to mention a store coping with war damage – will be a real challenge.
But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.
October 25, 2022
Joanna Toye (2020) CHRISTMAS FOR THE SHOPGIRLS (AUDIOBOOK)
BorrowBox - HarperCollins Publishers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "Uplifting and heartwarming: drama, courage and romance at Marlow’s department store this Christmas. For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department Store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff - not to mention a store coping with war damage - will be a real challenge. But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families and their town will never forget."
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I think my fandom of the wartime Christmas fiction genre has thus duly henceforth solidified. They're very very enjoyable. Whether you read the books or listen to the audiobooks. Granted the situations are romanticised versions of a very shitty and grim time but the characters are almost always as tangible, and close enough to touch, that you're ever going to get. The story in this is completely character driven. By rights the book cover deserves to have glitter on it!
=====
#JoannaToye #ChristmasForTheShopGirls #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #HappyChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #CrimboReads
BorrowBox - HarperCollins Publishers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "Uplifting and heartwarming: drama, courage and romance at Marlow’s department store this Christmas. For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department Store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff - not to mention a store coping with war damage - will be a real challenge. But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families and their town will never forget."
=====
I think my fandom of the wartime Christmas fiction genre has thus duly henceforth solidified. They're very very enjoyable. Whether you read the books or listen to the audiobooks. Granted the situations are romanticised versions of a very shitty and grim time but the characters are almost always as tangible, and close enough to touch, that you're ever going to get. The story in this is completely character driven. By rights the book cover deserves to have glitter on it!
=====
#JoannaToye #ChristmasForTheShopGirls #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #HappyChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #CrimboReads
January 22, 2021
SUPERLICIOUS
Once again the end of another brilliant book having read the 4 books back to back I feel as if lily Dora and Jim have become my friends I'm really going to miss then while I wait for book 5 in the series in this lots of skullduggery has taken place friendships made romance blossoming new baby's being created sad to leave my new firmed friends for a few was once again another outstanding book
Once again the end of another brilliant book having read the 4 books back to back I feel as if lily Dora and Jim have become my friends I'm really going to miss then while I wait for book 5 in the series in this lots of skullduggery has taken place friendships made romance blossoming new baby's being created sad to leave my new firmed friends for a few was once again another outstanding book
February 12, 2023
4.0 Continuing the story of the shop girls and their significant others in wartime Britain during the Christmas holidays. Making do with the resources they have. Dora Lilly's mum meets new people in her busy life as she helps in the tea canteen and doing what she does for the war effort. Gladys and Bill set a date if he can get away from his ship.
December 6, 2023
I have been enjoying this series about the shop girls at Marlows. It has some interesting characters that draw you in. The way it’s written it’s easy to picture how life was back during World War Two and how most people pulled together in this difficult time. I look forward to reading the rest of this series
March 5, 2022
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This instalment looks into the black market, Bill's Mum and Dora's life . There is warmth and love in these books, and you just keep hoping that everyone will make it through safe and sound.
April 19, 2025
Didn't like the way Lily seems to have gone from career focused to marriage focused in this one. And why didn't she just talk to Jim when first started wondering where they were going...?
Lost a star for me.
Lost a star for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2020
a very enjoyable read loved this book
January 4, 2022
I absolutely love this series and this was my favourite so far. I love the relationship between lily and Jim and all of their family and friends.
January 18, 2022
Lovely set of books, thrilled to find out the story continues
April 27, 2024
Very much enjoyed this book. Another fab read. I love reading about Lilly as she grows and goes through life.
March 9, 2025
Excellent book. This was the first time reading the shop girls saga and I lived every minute of it
June 16, 2021
Well now I have read four of these Shop Girls books and each one gets better. Looking forward to number five.
March 15, 2025
I love the Shop Girls series! It is moving, funny and heartfelt. Joanna Toye is one of those special writers whose readers can invest both in the plot and the characters - both are equally inviting and memorable. Each sequel is enticing, but the books can be read as stand-alones as well.
Enjoyable books often have some sort of link or connection to something else you've experienced in life, or other books you've read. Shop Girls resonated for me with The Ambulance Girls by Deborah Burrows, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan, and also The Land Girls by Victoria Purman
I can't wait to read all 6 in the Shop Girl series! And the front covers are fantastic, too!
Enjoyable books often have some sort of link or connection to something else you've experienced in life, or other books you've read. Shop Girls resonated for me with The Ambulance Girls by Deborah Burrows, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan, and also The Land Girls by Victoria Purman
I can't wait to read all 6 in the Shop Girl series! And the front covers are fantastic, too!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews