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The Surplus Girls' Orphans
Manchester, 1922 Molly Watson has had enough. Engaged for the last three years to a penny-pinching pedant, she finally decides she'd rather be a surplus girl than marry a man she doesn't truly love. Aware of the need to support herself if she is to remain single all her life, she joins a secretarial class to learn new skills, and a whole world opens up to her. When she gets a job at St Anthony's Orphanage, she befriends caretaker Aaron Abrams. But a misunderstanding leaves them at loggerheads, and damages her in the eyes of the children she has come to care so deeply about. Can she recover her reputation, her livelihood, and her budding friendship, before it's too late?
433 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 2, 2021
Manchester 1922, see's Molly Watson back at her old job at Mr Upton's sweet shop after the war, engaged to Norris Hartley , a man she now doesn't really love, three years she has been patronised, she wasn't going to be kept in her place no longer, the engagement is over, but Norris wont let her go easily. applying for a job at St Anthony's Orphanage, and Business night school as a Surplus Girl once again its a new start for this twenty seven years old she is going to make something of her life she needs all the training she can get. Getting along with caretaker Aaron Abrams the friendship and work soon blossoms into more, but will Norris start more trouble by revealing her big secret of what happened during the war.
After reading the first book and giving me so much enjoyment by this story teller I was aching to get straight into Orphans and I was not disappointed, this is so beautifully written right through that left a lump in my throat, all the characters alone bring you a story that your so drawn into.
Engaging, remarkable, enjoyable from begin to end, well worthy stars from me.
After reading the first book and giving me so much enjoyment by this story teller I was aching to get straight into Orphans and I was not disappointed, this is so beautifully written right through that left a lump in my throat, all the characters alone bring you a story that your so drawn into.
Engaging, remarkable, enjoyable from begin to end, well worthy stars from me.
April 21, 2021
A wonderfully absorbing and rewarding book which draws you into Molly Watson’s world and holds you fast right to the last page. The characters are so endearing (except for Norris and Mrs Wadham, who elicit just the right amount of irritation!) and I loved the interaction between Prudence and Patience Hesketh.
The orphanage is an inspired choice of setting and the children’s characters are beautifully drawn, with their fears and sadness jumping off the page to add real emotional depth. Molly is kind-hearted, bold, thoughtful and determined to do the right thing, even when it might affect her chances of staying in the job she loves and is good at.
There are many secrets in the story, and they are skilfully introduced along with some romantic tensions. I adored this book, which came just at the right time for me because I’d been under so much pressure with work for the last two months that there was no time to read for pleasure, which is torture for me. I savoured this and towards the latter part I decided to hold back from staying up late to read it, because I wanted to prolong the pure joy of reading it and didn’t want it to end! A well-deserved five stars from me.
The orphanage is an inspired choice of setting and the children’s characters are beautifully drawn, with their fears and sadness jumping off the page to add real emotional depth. Molly is kind-hearted, bold, thoughtful and determined to do the right thing, even when it might affect her chances of staying in the job she loves and is good at.
There are many secrets in the story, and they are skilfully introduced along with some romantic tensions. I adored this book, which came just at the right time for me because I’d been under so much pressure with work for the last two months that there was no time to read for pleasure, which is torture for me. I savoured this and towards the latter part I decided to hold back from staying up late to read it, because I wanted to prolong the pure joy of reading it and didn’t want it to end! A well-deserved five stars from me.
March 6, 2021
Surplus girls, in the case of this novel, are the women who could not find a husband after the loss of the First World War. This is the second novel from this author which looks at least one surplus woman, though this is definitely a stand alone book with some overlapping characters who are well introduced here. In this book much of the emphasis is on children, the residents of St. Anthony’s Orphanage, who each have their own, often difficult story. The other focus of the novel is Molly Watson, a young woman who has secrets, and an unhappy engagement. Her involvement with the Orphanage and the children varies throughout the book, but it is a revealing point in her well constructed character. This book is full of excellent characters who are consistent throughout the book, each revealing something of themselves in many ways. Heron has a real gift with characters and the way they act, speak and generally behave, as well as the setting in interwar Manchester. There are characters that are deeply unpleasant, which gives a real texture to the book, a real focus for the reader’s involvement. I found this a very engaging read, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book opens with Molly working in Uptons’ sweet shop, and trying to raise money to buy sweets for the children at the orphanage. Her newly engaged friend Dora arrives, keen to show off her ring. In contrast, Norris, Molly’s fiance, immediately appears to be miserly with money and controlling of her future. He is so complacent that he manages to give the impression of generosity, even though Molly is fast becoming aware of his extreme meanness. Molly has a loving family, even though her brother Tom was affected by his war experiences. She meets Mrs Atwood who has made a career following her husband's death, and Molly decides not to settle for a safe marriage with a man she does not love. She applies to the Board of Health which employs people to check on families in need to prevent their complete destitution, and is employed despite the odious Mrs Wardle. Her new life is made complete when she becomes a paying guest at a business school run by Prudence and Patience Hesketh. Meanwhile, a boy called Jacob who lives at the Orphanage is facing a terrifying bully alone. When Molly decides to help another boy, Danny, she discovers that good intentions are not enough. Fortunately help is at hand from the Orphanage caretaker, Aaron, but he will struggle to cope with everything.
This book ‘s setting in 1922 reflects well the atmosphere of loss that must have pervaded a society rocked by the loss of so many men. It is good at suggesting how many families and individuals struggled, especially women whose opportunities for work had increased in wartime but had now decreased. It suggests how certain people had influence in local society and how it led to unfairness and even cruelty to others. The inclusion of a supportive family was a positive note in this book, when so many novels include only negative backgrounds. I really enjoyed this book with its thought -provoking themes, especially concerning women and children. With romance and dislikable characters, revelations and details of clothes, money and physical settings, this is a really engaging novel which speaks loudly of the two issues of ‘surplus’ women and children without stable family backgrounds.
The book opens with Molly working in Uptons’ sweet shop, and trying to raise money to buy sweets for the children at the orphanage. Her newly engaged friend Dora arrives, keen to show off her ring. In contrast, Norris, Molly’s fiance, immediately appears to be miserly with money and controlling of her future. He is so complacent that he manages to give the impression of generosity, even though Molly is fast becoming aware of his extreme meanness. Molly has a loving family, even though her brother Tom was affected by his war experiences. She meets Mrs Atwood who has made a career following her husband's death, and Molly decides not to settle for a safe marriage with a man she does not love. She applies to the Board of Health which employs people to check on families in need to prevent their complete destitution, and is employed despite the odious Mrs Wardle. Her new life is made complete when she becomes a paying guest at a business school run by Prudence and Patience Hesketh. Meanwhile, a boy called Jacob who lives at the Orphanage is facing a terrifying bully alone. When Molly decides to help another boy, Danny, she discovers that good intentions are not enough. Fortunately help is at hand from the Orphanage caretaker, Aaron, but he will struggle to cope with everything.
This book ‘s setting in 1922 reflects well the atmosphere of loss that must have pervaded a society rocked by the loss of so many men. It is good at suggesting how many families and individuals struggled, especially women whose opportunities for work had increased in wartime but had now decreased. It suggests how certain people had influence in local society and how it led to unfairness and even cruelty to others. The inclusion of a supportive family was a positive note in this book, when so many novels include only negative backgrounds. I really enjoyed this book with its thought -provoking themes, especially concerning women and children. With romance and dislikable characters, revelations and details of clothes, money and physical settings, this is a really engaging novel which speaks loudly of the two issues of ‘surplus’ women and children without stable family backgrounds.
November 27, 2021
Those who have read the first book in The Surplus Girls' series will be entirely familiar with the notion of those women who, after the loss of so many young men during WW1 now find, in the 1920s, that there is, quite simply, not enough eligible men to go around, and faced with the prospect of life as single women they need to find a way to support themselves.
As with the first book, this second story brings alive the impact of living through times of social inequality, especially for women who were still very much seen to be of value only if they were wives and mothers. Independent women were classed as something of an oddity, however, this stalwart group of women certainly lead the way for change, but, that doesn't mean that these changes came about easily, or without high personal cost.
From the very start of the novel I hoped that Molly Watson wouldn't just settle for second best and that she would strike out for independence. I needn't have worried as Molly decides that life as a Surplus Girl is infinitely preferable to spending the rest of her life with her penny pinching fiancé. Leaving behind her sheltered life and taking up employment with the newly formed Board of Health opens up new horizons and leads Molly into a job at St Anthony's Orphanage.
There's a definite sense of social deprivation in this novel, especially for the orphans at St Anthony's who, although, by the standards of the day, are reasonably well cared for, they do lack emotional warmth from some of the care givers. However, children are very much at the heart of the story, not just about what happens for those at the orphanage but also for those who linger in the shadows.
The Surplus Girls' Orphans is both heart breaking and heart warming in equal measure and was everything I wanted in a continuation of this excellent historical series. I raced through the story hoping that everything would eventually come right for those characters I had quickly come to love. Beautifully written and imaginatively described The Surplus Girls' Orphans once again brings the northern spirit alive so in many different ways. The early part of the twentieth century, with its multifaceted shades of light and dark, infuses the story with so much character that following Molly Watson's journey through this time in history has been such a joy to read.
As with the first book, this second story brings alive the impact of living through times of social inequality, especially for women who were still very much seen to be of value only if they were wives and mothers. Independent women were classed as something of an oddity, however, this stalwart group of women certainly lead the way for change, but, that doesn't mean that these changes came about easily, or without high personal cost.
From the very start of the novel I hoped that Molly Watson wouldn't just settle for second best and that she would strike out for independence. I needn't have worried as Molly decides that life as a Surplus Girl is infinitely preferable to spending the rest of her life with her penny pinching fiancé. Leaving behind her sheltered life and taking up employment with the newly formed Board of Health opens up new horizons and leads Molly into a job at St Anthony's Orphanage.
There's a definite sense of social deprivation in this novel, especially for the orphans at St Anthony's who, although, by the standards of the day, are reasonably well cared for, they do lack emotional warmth from some of the care givers. However, children are very much at the heart of the story, not just about what happens for those at the orphanage but also for those who linger in the shadows.
The Surplus Girls' Orphans is both heart breaking and heart warming in equal measure and was everything I wanted in a continuation of this excellent historical series. I raced through the story hoping that everything would eventually come right for those characters I had quickly come to love. Beautifully written and imaginatively described The Surplus Girls' Orphans once again brings the northern spirit alive so in many different ways. The early part of the twentieth century, with its multifaceted shades of light and dark, infuses the story with so much character that following Molly Watson's journey through this time in history has been such a joy to read.
April 10, 2021
Early last year I was introduced to the first instalment of ‘The Surplus Girls” trilogy and loved every page. This second in the series is equally engaging and well written, an absolute must for lovers of historical fiction. The Surplus Girls’ Orphans’ can be read as a standalone novel but I highly recommend that you start at the beginning because the first book is just too good to miss!
To clarify, a Surplus Girl was a term given to women who had to support themselves after many men were killed during the war. Many were expected to remain in mourning and it was frowned upon if a woman wanted to better herself to lead an independent life.
Molly didn’t start as a Surplus Girl. She was engaged to a controlling and financially mean man. She liked her job in Upton’s sweet shop but something told her that she could do better. She was encouraged to apply for a job at the Board of Health and decided to break off her engagement and enquire about the position which involved helping out desperately poor families.
After securing her new position Molly attends the local business school for Surplus Girls to learn secretarial skills.Here she meets the wonderful Miss Hesketh sisters who run the school and she goes to live there as a paying guest. When a secretary at the local orphanage falls ill, Molly is sent to help out with administration and she meets caretaker Aaron Abrams.
The book is set in Manchester, in 1922 and highlights just how hard it was for people after the war years, especially women and children. Polly Heron develops amazing characters and her story telling skills are hard to beat.Serious subjects are covered making the book interesting and informative but there is also tremendous warmth and humour in the story. The novels are extremely well researched and really take you back to a time that should never be forgotten.
To clarify, a Surplus Girl was a term given to women who had to support themselves after many men were killed during the war. Many were expected to remain in mourning and it was frowned upon if a woman wanted to better herself to lead an independent life.
Molly didn’t start as a Surplus Girl. She was engaged to a controlling and financially mean man. She liked her job in Upton’s sweet shop but something told her that she could do better. She was encouraged to apply for a job at the Board of Health and decided to break off her engagement and enquire about the position which involved helping out desperately poor families.
After securing her new position Molly attends the local business school for Surplus Girls to learn secretarial skills.Here she meets the wonderful Miss Hesketh sisters who run the school and she goes to live there as a paying guest. When a secretary at the local orphanage falls ill, Molly is sent to help out with administration and she meets caretaker Aaron Abrams.
The book is set in Manchester, in 1922 and highlights just how hard it was for people after the war years, especially women and children. Polly Heron develops amazing characters and her story telling skills are hard to beat.Serious subjects are covered making the book interesting and informative but there is also tremendous warmth and humour in the story. The novels are extremely well researched and really take you back to a time that should never be forgotten.
January 13, 2021
The second book in The Surplus Girls series, and another brilliant storyline that centres around the women after the war and the expectations that were placed on them by their family and society, no matter what their own hopes and dreams were!
Molly is the main character in this book and she has a spirited story to tell. She is back working at the local sweet shop and engaged to a man whose behaviour will leave you aghast as it did me! But it was the respectable thing for her to do, to tow the line, to marry, to become a mother.. so when Molly decides she wants more for herself it really is frowned upon.
I loved her determination so she sets out to improve her education and prospects and ends up working at the local orphanage, where a whole other set of emotional circumstances let you see another side of life at the times. The story of some of the children -especially Danny - is enough to break your heart and as Molly spends more time with them, along with Aaron the caretaker, they open others' eyes to the plight of these children and to 'think outside the box', so to speak, in how to get through to them and make their lives better.
Molly is a really wonderful character, especially in the era the story is set in. She has a belief in herself and she doesn't just want to settle for the norm! She wants choices and a future and seeing how others perceive her because of these decisions is quite enlightening and makes you cheer her on even harder!
A wonderful read and highly recommended!
Molly is the main character in this book and she has a spirited story to tell. She is back working at the local sweet shop and engaged to a man whose behaviour will leave you aghast as it did me! But it was the respectable thing for her to do, to tow the line, to marry, to become a mother.. so when Molly decides she wants more for herself it really is frowned upon.
I loved her determination so she sets out to improve her education and prospects and ends up working at the local orphanage, where a whole other set of emotional circumstances let you see another side of life at the times. The story of some of the children -especially Danny - is enough to break your heart and as Molly spends more time with them, along with Aaron the caretaker, they open others' eyes to the plight of these children and to 'think outside the box', so to speak, in how to get through to them and make their lives better.
Molly is a really wonderful character, especially in the era the story is set in. She has a belief in herself and she doesn't just want to settle for the norm! She wants choices and a future and seeing how others perceive her because of these decisions is quite enlightening and makes you cheer her on even harder!
A wonderful read and highly recommended!
November 22, 2021
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am an avid reader of historical fiction and have read a wide selection of sagas from the late 1800s onwards. This sits somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s readable but falls into the trap that many of these historical romances fall into, it lacks authenticity and historical detail. Girl on the shelf settles for unfulfilling relationship, sees the error of her ways and strikes out for independence, then falls in love with a chance encounter and everyone lives happily ever after. There’s a few hiccups along the way, plenty of inopportune appearances from the spurned ex, a random story of some wayward kids which predictably fall into the arms of a loving couple etc etc, if you get my drift. Setting aside the inauthentic and boring plot line and a failed attempt to jazz it up with some obscure aside situations, the main characters were easy to warm to and the overall feel in keeping with a chic lit romance. It just didn’t have enough originality or authenticity to pull me in, I was emotionally detached and unfulfilled, but I’m sure many readers will enjoy it. 3/5 for being an escapists, cosy read with some gentle and loving key characters.
May 4, 2026
Molly Watson works in a sweet shop, but she has had enough and wants a change in her life.
She is engaged to Norris, a man she doesn't love.
So she decides she will be a surplus girl instead.
She will support herself.
When she manages to get a job at the St. Anthony's orphanage she meets the friendly caretaker Aaron Abrams.
They quickly clash over the children which leaves them falling out.
But she realises she is starting to care for Aaron.
Can she save the friendship before it's too late?
A lovely historical novel with a lot of drama and a dash of romance.
She is engaged to Norris, a man she doesn't love.
So she decides she will be a surplus girl instead.
She will support herself.
When she manages to get a job at the St. Anthony's orphanage she meets the friendly caretaker Aaron Abrams.
They quickly clash over the children which leaves them falling out.
But she realises she is starting to care for Aaron.
Can she save the friendship before it's too late?
A lovely historical novel with a lot of drama and a dash of romance.
January 10, 2021
A lovely well written book by Polly Heron. I simply loved this book and the characters of Molly Watson and Aaron Abrams, and of course the boys Danny and Jacob. There were two characters that simply had me wishing them away they were Norris and Mrs, Wadham. I don't want to go into the story as I feel it well spoil it for others. So I recommend this as a good read. Five stars from me.
February 3, 2021
Delightful
Loved how the story unfolded, had an inkling about what happened to Molly ,but everything else was totally unexpected . What a delightful book this was from start to finish.
Loved how the story unfolded, had an inkling about what happened to Molly ,but everything else was totally unexpected . What a delightful book this was from start to finish.
June 22, 2022
Excellent read great storylines
Really enjoyed this book. Characters so well detailed I could have recognised them in the street. It highlighted how attitudes have changed and also makes you feel so sorry for the way of life the less affluent had
Really enjoyed this book. Characters so well detailed I could have recognised them in the street. It highlighted how attitudes have changed and also makes you feel so sorry for the way of life the less affluent had
July 12, 2021
Another brilliant book in this lovely series. I look forward to the Christmas one.
September 10, 2021
I love these genre and this did not disappoint.
June 14, 2024
This is the first book I've read that Polly Heron has written, I'm going to read much more this was so good. Keep writing Polly
August 12, 2024
So enjoyed all your books. Look forward to your next book!
February 2, 2026
I love love it
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews