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Air Raid Girls #1
The Air Raid Girls
May, 1941. Meet the Air Raid Girls: three young women keen to do their bit during the Yorkshire blitz.
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.
Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?
Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.
As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they've ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love?
A thrilling and heartwarming new story of friendship, love and duty in wartime by the author of The Spitfire Girls, for fans of Elaine Everest and Rosie Hendry.
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.
Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?
Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.
As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they've ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love?
A thrilling and heartwarming new story of friendship, love and duty in wartime by the author of The Spitfire Girls, for fans of Elaine Everest and Rosie Hendry.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2021
72 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Holmes
43 books68 followersJenny Holmes lives in a beautiful part of Yorkshire and sets her sagas in the industrial heartland nearby. She enjoys horse riding, gardening and walking her dog in the dales. She also writes children's books as Jenny Oldfield.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 2, 2023
Wartime books are one of my favourite genres to read and I’ve read so many now, I don’t think I’ll ever stop. The Air Raid girls was a fantastic book and I enjoyed it as soon as I picked it up.
I quickly got a feel for the characters. For Connie and her sister Lizzie and Pamela who all faced their respective trials and dramas throughout the pages. I loved the whole set up of the story and it was entertaining and engaging to read.
I haven’t read many historical fictions centred around the ARP’s so it was a really fresh angle for me and I found it really interesting. I can’t wait to read the next one now and I’m so glad I have it sitting on my shelf ready for picking up!
Jenny Holmes is a fab author and I’ve loved her books ever since I read the Land Girl series which still remains to be one of my favourite wartime books of all time. I always look forward to reading more from her.
EDIT: making my way through this series again and it’s still great. Wanted a reread before I go into the Air Raid Girls at Christmas to refresh the characters in my mind. Super excited to read the next one!
I quickly got a feel for the characters. For Connie and her sister Lizzie and Pamela who all faced their respective trials and dramas throughout the pages. I loved the whole set up of the story and it was entertaining and engaging to read.
I haven’t read many historical fictions centred around the ARP’s so it was a really fresh angle for me and I found it really interesting. I can’t wait to read the next one now and I’m so glad I have it sitting on my shelf ready for picking up!
Jenny Holmes is a fab author and I’ve loved her books ever since I read the Land Girl series which still remains to be one of my favourite wartime books of all time. I always look forward to reading more from her.
EDIT: making my way through this series again and it’s still great. Wanted a reread before I go into the Air Raid Girls at Christmas to refresh the characters in my mind. Super excited to read the next one!
March 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Exactly what I expected if I'm honest - all these books have the same cover and the same sort of storyline, and I love it! Resolved at the end so overall a good read!
May 10, 2021
🖤 REVIEW 🖤
Book: The Air Raid Girls
Author: Jenny Holmes
Raiting: 4/5 ⭐
From back cover:
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.
Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?
Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.
My Thoughts 💭
I feel really blessed to have had a string of good books to read lately.
The Air Raid Girls managed to capture the life, love and uncertainty of living in war era England. From trying to continue to live a normal life under these conditions, to the loyalty and trust needed to survive.
What I enjoyed most about this was the author highlighting the paranoia of the time. It was done so subtlety yet it had the biggest impact on me out of each of the girls story threads.
The author had very different personalities for each woman. Connie wasn't my favourite of the characters I found her difficult to connect with however I understood her.
Lizzie won me over with her quiet strength. How she came to her decisions and found her sense of worth. Pamela was a beautiful character, a coming of age story with the backdrop of bombs.
I didn't "fall in love" with any of the men but I did love them for the girls.
This book had a little of everything, a bit of love, a bit of drama, a little murder mystery. People you can hate and people you can adore.
The air raid girls was a book of courage and the need for unity and support.
A well earned 4 stars.
Can anyone suggest to me other books of this type to try?
Book: The Air Raid Girls
Author: Jenny Holmes
Raiting: 4/5 ⭐
From back cover:
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.
Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?
Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.
My Thoughts 💭
I feel really blessed to have had a string of good books to read lately.
The Air Raid Girls managed to capture the life, love and uncertainty of living in war era England. From trying to continue to live a normal life under these conditions, to the loyalty and trust needed to survive.
What I enjoyed most about this was the author highlighting the paranoia of the time. It was done so subtlety yet it had the biggest impact on me out of each of the girls story threads.
The author had very different personalities for each woman. Connie wasn't my favourite of the characters I found her difficult to connect with however I understood her.
Lizzie won me over with her quiet strength. How she came to her decisions and found her sense of worth. Pamela was a beautiful character, a coming of age story with the backdrop of bombs.
I didn't "fall in love" with any of the men but I did love them for the girls.
This book had a little of everything, a bit of love, a bit of drama, a little murder mystery. People you can hate and people you can adore.
The air raid girls was a book of courage and the need for unity and support.
A well earned 4 stars.
Can anyone suggest to me other books of this type to try?
November 4, 2021
May, 1941. Meet the Air Raid Girls: three young women keen to do their bit during the Yorkshire blitz.
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they've ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love?The Air Raid Wardens Service was set up in 1937. Wardens were responsible for reporting incidents, reassuring the public and providing Air Raid Precautions (ARP) advice. They were also expected to extinguish small fires, administer first aid and investigate reports of unexploded bombs. The Women's Voluntary Service was set up in 1938 to involve women in ARP.From 1 September 1939, 'Blackout' was enforced. Curtains, cardboard and paint were used to prevent light escaping from houses, offices, factories or shops, which might be used by enemy bombers to locate their targets. Householders could be fined if they did not comply.Messengers, ambulance drivers, Heavy Rescue teams and firefighters all proved essential to ARP – from 1941 officially termed Civil Defence - especially during the height of the Blitz.Air Raid Wardens wore a steel helmet, gas mask,overalls.The equipment they used included a ceiling pike,gas rattle.They carried report forms since air raid wardens were the first link in the chain of Britain’s civil defence system. Wardens worked from a network of wardens’ posts, which were connected to higher command by telephone or messenger. When bombing raids occurred, wardens on duty had to monitor and report bomb damage.Other equipments included were first aid kits and stirrup pump and hose.
Connie's life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died - she's living at home and working in the family bakery - but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision... but does he really know what's best for her?Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family's home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet - helped by new friends.As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they've ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love?The Air Raid Wardens Service was set up in 1937. Wardens were responsible for reporting incidents, reassuring the public and providing Air Raid Precautions (ARP) advice. They were also expected to extinguish small fires, administer first aid and investigate reports of unexploded bombs. The Women's Voluntary Service was set up in 1938 to involve women in ARP.From 1 September 1939, 'Blackout' was enforced. Curtains, cardboard and paint were used to prevent light escaping from houses, offices, factories or shops, which might be used by enemy bombers to locate their targets. Householders could be fined if they did not comply.Messengers, ambulance drivers, Heavy Rescue teams and firefighters all proved essential to ARP – from 1941 officially termed Civil Defence - especially during the height of the Blitz.Air Raid Wardens wore a steel helmet, gas mask,overalls.The equipment they used included a ceiling pike,gas rattle.They carried report forms since air raid wardens were the first link in the chain of Britain’s civil defence system. Wardens worked from a network of wardens’ posts, which were connected to higher command by telephone or messenger. When bombing raids occurred, wardens on duty had to monitor and report bomb damage.Other equipments included were first aid kits and stirrup pump and hose.
December 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this heartwarming and engaging novel and fell in love with the main characters. Connie's life has changed since the death of her husband and she’s back at home and working in the family’s bakery. She finds her night shifts as a ARP Warden help give her purpose. Younger sister Lizzie is eager to become an ambulance driver but finds her fiancé unsupportive. Pamela lives a sheltered life but following her house getting destroyed in a raid she has to become more independent. Set in May, 194, during the Yorkshire blitz, the setting and era really come alive from the descriptive narrative. I enjoyed reading about the woman's friendship and relationships, and I look forward to the rest of the series.
March 21, 2022
There have been many books written about women in the war but I really enjoyed this book. We meet Lizzie and her sister Connie who is back living at home and working in the family bakery after the death of her husband. Connie is convinced her husbands death was not accidental and sets out to fond out what really happened, putting her life in danger. The girls are also doing their bit for the war effort. Lizzie becomes an ambulance driver, much to her fiances' displeasure. Connie volunteers as an ARP warden. The girls bond with Pamela, who is learning to stand on her own feet after her parents house was bombed and she is now living in lodgings. This book is a good read which I enjoyed and am now reading the next in the series.
March 23, 2021
I was really excited to give this book a go once I read the synopsis and actually preordered this but I just feel like it lacked something for me which is why I rated it three stars. I enjoyed the characters and felt myself connecting to them and I enjoyed the storyline but just felt like it didn’t draw me in enough to be hooked by it. I did enjoy it and I’m happy I read it but it just didn’t immerse me properly into the world hence the lower rating than an four or five star.
May 9, 2021
Loved this book following Connie Lizzie and Pamela through ww2 all the ups and downs of a hard life brilliant book look forward to the next one
May 20, 2021
Great read
The character were relatable and the story wasn't at all predictable, which is great.
I couldn't put this book down.
The character were relatable and the story wasn't at all predictable, which is great.
I couldn't put this book down.
July 6, 2021
A good saga about three air raid girls and the battles they face in world war 2
August 15, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book, but didn’t feel a real connection with the characters. I thought that the other Jenny Holmes’ book that I read recently was a much better story.
September 25, 2021
Not a bad read, nice ending but I was gripped!
October 5, 2021
Very slow read but got better towards the end
December 25, 2021
Likeable characters you care about and good attention to period detail
November 13, 2022
the air raid girls
Captivating could not put the book down til I finished it,looking forward to reading the second episode,then the third one
Captivating could not put the book down til I finished it,looking forward to reading the second episode,then the third one
May 22, 2025
A slow start,ended up a good read.
October 28, 2025
thanks for the escapism 😊
June 17, 2022
I have read all Jenny’s books. But just something about this, I sped though it in chunks*. Just didn’t hold my attention. I thought it not as good as her previous writing. So only 2 starts on this. Hope the Christmas book will be better.
17ty June 22…. Updated……
Review as above, I tried again and did the same just read in several (chunks) couldn’t get into this. Won’t bother with the other 2.
17ty June 22…. Updated……
Review as above, I tried again and did the same just read in several (chunks) couldn’t get into this. Won’t bother with the other 2.
April 30, 2021
I have really enjoyed reading Connie,Lizzie and Pamela's stories of family life and the volunteer work they do.To say they all have hard times is an understatement but they are determined to carry on.5*
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews