I'll Be Seeing You

Picture House Girls #2

by Rosie Archer

A World War 2 saga to warm the heart. Three women become friends when working in their local picture house. When life is so tough for everyone, a trip to the pictures is the perfect way to escape, to dream of romance and hope for the good things peace will bring.

It is 1943 on England's war-weary south coast where the conflict seems never-ending. After the heartache of the previous year, Connie Baxter now appears to have everything a girl could want. There is Ace, a man who loves her. She enjoys an enviable lifestyle despite the deprivations of war. She has friends and a job she adores as an usherette at the Criterion cinema. But appearances can be deceptive and Connie is struggling in more ways than one.

Then, to compound Connie's problem, her nemesis, Cousin Marlene, returns home. Secrets come to light, revealing jealousies that could shatter Connie's world once more, and Connie realizes that Ace isn't the man she thought he was.

In the darkest days of war, the glamour of movies and their stars can lift the bleakest of moods, while friends make the good times better and the bad times bearable.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2021

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the picture moved across the screen in the Criterion cinema, Connie was keeping watch over her friend Queenie, whose waters had just broken while they were watching the film. Now in the back room, with a midwife and Len, Queenie’s husband by their side, Connie rushed out into the darkness and amid the bombs exploding in the distance to get an ambulance for her friend. It was touch and go after Queenie made it to hospital, but the twins, Bette and Paulie, were safe and well.

Connie loved her work at the cinema as well as living with her Aunt Gertie since her own mother had been killed when a bomb demolished their house. But when Gertie’s daughter Marlene arrived home and started work at Connie’s boyfriend, Ace’s club, trouble loomed. Marlene and Connie might look alike, but there it ended – chalk and cheese and what Marlene wanted, she usually got. Connie loved Ace, and he loved her – but was he as false as her friends knew him to be?

I’ll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer is another heartwarming historical novel set in 1943 as the bombs were falling all around London and beyond, and Hitler was doing his best to obliterate the place. The strength and determination of the people around to keep on going, through heartache and loss, deprivation and hunger, was inspiring. Connie, Gertie and Queenie were wonderful characters, so was Jerome and Cat! Tom and Shirley provided another side to what happened behind the scenes. I enjoy this author’s historical novels very much and recommend this one highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of I’ll be Seeing You by Rosie Archer. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

I’ll be Seeing You is a well written historical novel with engaging characters and an enthralling plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the beginning and kept me enmeshed until the end. I enjoyed the history of cinema during WWII. I can vaguely remember going to the movies as a very young child, watching the organ rising from below, the cartoons, and news reels playing on the big screen.

Connie Baxter is the main protagonist, and I enjoyed her character a great deal. She has a bit of a whimsical side, especially at the start. She shows a great deal of growth, giving her more depth. She’s a loyal, willing to help her friend, Queenie, deal with grave life decisions. I also loved her relationship with her aunt.

Ace, the man in her life is not the hero in this tale. I found him a fascinating character, even though he’s not really a good man. Ace does have a great deal of kindness, so it’s hard to not develop a soft spot for him.

What I liked the most about this story was that it shows how ordinary people deal with the horrors of war. It shows how life goes on, even when the world is falling apart. While the moral compass in these characters is not stellar, their flaws make the plot believable.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a fantastic array of characters, and a plot that takes you back to a different time than you have lived, then you will enjoy I’ll be Seeing You as much as I did. Rosie Archer adds plenty of tidbits of what it must have been like to live during WWII. Happy reading!

[Carol Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hat’s off Rosie Archer .. another great two book series!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer has Queenie going into labor at the Criterion theater during a viewing of Now, Voyager. Connie, Gertie, Edith, and Len are for there for Queenie who turns out to have a tough time. Connie must seek an ambulance while bombs are being dropped on the area. After making sure Queenie gets to the hospital safely to deliver, Gertie and Connie arrive home to a shocking scene. Marlene, Gertie’s wayward daughter has returned home. She caused Connie nothing but grief when they were children, and it appears the trend is going to continue. Ace has two clubs plus several side businesses that are keeping him busy and away from Connie. Marlene, though, gets to see him each night since Ace offered her a job in one of his clubs. At the Criterion, they have a new manager who is proving to be just as bad his predecessor. When money from the evenings take begins disappearing, the manager pins the blame on Doyle. Connie knows Doyle would never steal and gets help trying to prove it.

I’ll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer is the 2nd book in The Picture House Girls series. I do suggest reading The Picture House Girls before embarking on I’ll Be Seeing You. We go back to April of 1943 in Gosport, England where Connie Baxter and her friends work at the Criterion. I thought the story contained good writing with developed, realistic characters. The book moved along at a good pace. I thought the author captured the time period especially with her movie and book references. There is also talk about the black outs, rationing, and bombings. The men and women during this time period had to be strong to endure what they did. You never knew if a soldier would return home or if you would make it home from work. You could go out to walk your dog and get struck by a bomb. Of course, there are those who will take advantage of the war. Black market goods were a hot commodity (racketeering was alive and well) along with acquiring petrol illegally and making “cigarettes”. The author gave readers a rich atmosphere, so we were immersed in the time period. I’ll Be Seeing You is an emotional novel with love, grief, heartache, joy, and anger. I liked how the characters found joy during these hard times by going to the cinema, reading the latest novel, having a girl’s night out, or taking dancing lessons. I’ll Be Seeing You is a warmhearted historical novel that shows us what everyday people dealt with during the war in Gosport.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have become addicted to WW2 England historical fiction. I'll Be Seeing You was great read to feed my addiction. Rosie Archer is a new author to me. I don't know how I was unaware of her books. That will be rectified.

The story centers around Connie and her friends. The author takes the reader back in time to the struggles of the war. We dodged bombs. We took shelter in Anderson Shelters and community shelters. We struggled to move among the damage left after a night of terror. And we hid in a bottle of liquor trying to escape.

I'll Be Seeing You was a working class story. I gained insight into the struggles of my family that lived through it. As students we glanced over the struggles of the people. This story fills in many of the areas that aren't talked about. This story brings to light how some of the citizens dealt with survival. This story showed that there were strength in numbers.

[Catherine Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in “The Criterion Girls” series, however, I felt that all of the history from the previous book was covered and I didn’t feel I had missed anything by not reading book 1. It gives an insight as to what life was like during World War 2 with ration books, air raids, bombings and also some black market dealings. The characters were all believable. A nice easy read for holiday.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to catch up with everyone from the Criterion Picture House again. Connie and Gertie get a surprise visitor who turns Connie’s life upside down yet again. Queenie and Len settle down into family life. After getting rid of a useless manager it seems the new one isn’t any better. This is another well written book and you get more into all the great characters from book one. I hope Rosie has more books to come in this great series.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely easy read from Rosie Archer, with all the lovely characters of Connie, Gertie, and Queenie the main characters not to forget Ace Gallagher and a few new ones.
The story revolves around the Criterion cinema and the Four Aces Club. This book is such easy reading as was the first one The Picture House Girls. I find these are ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐reads for me.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be seeing you is a gripping tale set in the early WW11. With multiple storyline that seamlessly meld together to form one breath-taking story.

The characters are well written and believable and the story moves at a fast but steady pace.

Well worth checking out

[Pat Fairbairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I was looking forward to this second book so much and I am very happy with the out come. Read it in a couple of days because it was so good

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read that I finished in two sittings as good storyline. Hoping there may be another in the series

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series, I'm not sure if there will be more from Connie and her friends but I really hope so.

[Kylie Dowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish it was a trilogy. I'd like a story about Tom and Connie bring in a relationship. Preferably eventually marrying. And the problems they encounter for the rest of WW2

[Cheryl Garside · Rating 4 out of 5]

,,

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book when it was released as I loved the first book in this series by this author and it really didn’t disappoint. I adore the characters and their personalities and although I love them I went through a part of this book hating Ace and his actions which I love when I feel emotions as if I was part of the story and just overall I really enjoyed this book and although it took me a while to get through even when I picked the book up I was straight back into the world and hadn’t forgot what had happened previously and just overall I really enjoying following the characters again! This book had a few twists and turns which I didn’t expect but that made me enjoy it more.

[Nancy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable WWII read set in Gosport, England and centered around the characters in the Criterion Picture House. Connie Baxter had been promoted to head usherette after her friend, Queenie, had to stay home with the imminent birth of her twins. That birth itself is fraught with difficulties and Connie has to find medical help during a bombing, saving Queenie’s life. The book conveys well the WWII atmosphere of wartime bombings of the city, the work of the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) units and how everyday residents had to hurry to shelters to save their lives. One character, Tom, a local dance instructor, joins ARP and is heavily involved in saving lives. The close communities of the picture house, Gertie’s home where Connie resided after her own home was destroyed and her mother killed, and the local ARP are well-portrayed and full of human warmth despite obstacles.

There are many twists and turns of plot in the book including Connie’s relationship with fiance Ace, who turns out to be unreliable personally and begins a relationship with Gertie’s daughter Marlene. Ace also is revealed to be a shady character. All of these story events kept my interest and gave a good flavor of the fraught wartime era.

I very much enjoyed the book (thanks to #netgalley, and hope the author will write a sequel.

Merged review:

This was a very enjoyable WWII read set in Gosport, England and centered around the characters in the Criterion Picture House. Connie Baxter had been promoted to head usherette after her friend, Queenie, had to stay home with the imminent birth of her twins. That birth itself is fraught with difficulties and Connie has to find medical help during a bombing, saving Queenie’s life. The book conveys well the WWII atmosphere of wartime bombings of the city, the work of the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) units and how everyday residents had to hurry to shelters to save their lives. One character, Tom, a local dance instructor, joins ARP and is heavily involved in saving lives. The close communities of the picture house, Gertie’s home where Connie resided after her own home was destroyed and her mother killed, and the local ARP are well-portrayed and full of human warmth despite obstacles.

There are many twists and turns of plot in the book including Connie’s relationship with fiance Ace, who turns out to be unreliable personally and begins a relationship with Gertie’s daughter Marlene. Ace also is revealed to be a shady character. All of these story events kept my interest and gave a good flavor of the fraught wartime era.

I very much enjoyed the book (thanks to #netgalley, and hope the author will write a sequel.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three women become friends when working in their local picture house. When life is so tough for everyone, a trip to the pictures is the perfect way to escape, to dream of romance and hope for the good things peace will bring.
It is 1943 on England's war-weary south coast where the conflict seems never-ending. After the heartache of the previous year, Connie Baxter now appears to have everything a girl could want. There is Ace, a man who loves her. She enjoys an enviable lifestyle despite the deprivations of war. She has friends and a job she adores as an usherette at the Criterion cinema. But appearances can be deceptive and Connie is struggling in more ways than one.
Then, to compound Connie's problem, her nemesis, Cousin Marlene, returns home. Secrets come to light, revealing jealousies that could shatter Connie's world once more, and Connie realizes that Ace isn't the man she thought he was.
In the darkest days of war, the glamour of movies and their stars can lift the bleakest of moods, while friends make the good times better and the bad times bearable.

During the whole war, Gosport experienced 1,591 alerts and 61 raids; over 400 high explosive bombs hit (plus another 200 or so landing in creeks etc), and over 10,000 incendiary bombs were dropped. The Gosport statistics for WW2 were 114 deaths, 454 properties were destroyed, 933 badly damaged, and 10,866 damaged with more than just broken glass, out of a total of around 13,000 buildings at the outbreak of the war.
In WWII, Gosport’s military importance and easily located coastal position made it a prime target for German bombing.

Since most citizens did not own televisions, they relied on cinemas to keep them entertained, informed and educated. The only home entertainment for most people was a radio or a gramophone. Often the industry became more closely controlled by national governments, who believed that a supportive home front was crucial to victory. A
great deal of explicit and implicit propaganda took place within the film industry.

[Angela DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be Seeing You by Rosie Archer.

Set in 1943 , this book follows 3 women Connie , Queenie and Gertie who work in their local picture house ( cinema ). at a time when watching a film was the highlight of many lives enabling them to forget for an hour or two the horrors of War going on outside.
When reading this book I realised it wasn't a standalone novel and the author had already wrote about these characters. This didn't really detract from my enjoyment as I felt she explained their lives in a way that allowed you to feel you already knew the story line.
Along the way we share the highs and lows , the friendships , problems with families and loves , lost and found.
Once again Rosie Archer has brought this time alive . A fantastic read.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The follow up to The Picture House Girls and equally as addictive. Rosie Archer has become one of my favourite historical fiction authors. I love her style of writing, storylines and character development. It was fantastic to catch up with Connie, Gertie, Tom and the rest of the characters from the previous book. You're drawn into a world during the Second World War where life was hard and unpredictable. This book has a few dark twists and turns but is also heartwarming. I adore Connie and I can't wait to see what the next book holds for her and Tom.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the Picture House Girls and liked this one.
I was happy to catch up with Connie and the other characters, there's plenty going on in their life.
It's an excellent historical fiction, a good description of life during wartimes.
The plot flows, the characters are relatable and fleshed out.
I can't wait to read another book by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Devon Stringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. I'm afraid the first two chapters were such a slog that I gave up, which is disappointing as this genre is normally my jam. I kept thinking "this needed a hard edit" so I quit to move onto something else.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realise that this was the second book, so it took me a little time to get into the story and the what was happening and who was how.

For me this book was more light drama and a lot of romantic troubles then a WWII drama. It was a quick light read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Fun read that takes place during WWII. Recommend