The Woolworths Saturday Girls

Woolworths #6

by Elaine Everest

The Woolworths Saturday Girls is the seventh instalment in Elaine Everest's much-loved Woolworths series.

1950. The Second World War is over and life has moved on for the Woolworth girls, Sarah, Maisie and Freda. In a new world the Woolworth women have high expectations of their daughters, wanting them to seize opportunities they didn’t have themselves. Ready to take on Saturday jobs at Woolworths, budding friends Bessie, Claudette, Clementine and Dorothy are faced with unforeseeable challenges as the real world comes into focus. Their bond can only be strengthened as they overcome the darkest times. Perhaps their lives are not as clear-cut as their mothers wished them to be . . .

When Bessie finds love in the wrong crowd and falls pregnant, the image of her future and ambitions become skewed and she relies on the Saturday girls to help her see her problems through – but how can they find a home for the baby when it arrives? With wild imaginations, it is up to the Woolworth girls, new and old, to save the day and their futures.

Can the Woolworth girls achieve their dreams in time for their futures to begin?

400 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2022

About the author

Elaine Everest is the Sunday Times Bestselling author of historical sagas including The Woolworths Girls series, The Teashop Girls series and other popular books.

She is represented by the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Ltd.

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
Can’t wait for the next release! Elaine Everest is one of my tops favourite authors!
I have been addicted to Elaine Everest Woolworths Girls since I read A Gift from Woolworths that I read in 2018.
I love how Elaine Everest creates lively characters that seem so real life, and live in real places, like Margate, that’s not far from where I live in Kent.
I particularly like how the author Elaine Everest bases her novels in north west Kent, where she was brought up and sets these beautiful novels within landmarks like Margate and Erith that I know of well, and her readers may well know these areas too. For me personally this is one the reason I connect well to every novel by Elaine as I can picture the areas of the Kent based scenes.
The Woolworths Saturday Girls is set in 1950.

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*sniffs*

Want to know one of the reasons why I buy tissues in bulk?

*waves book*

It’s because of books like TWSG!

That ending! Talk about emotion overload. I was a blubbering mess with all the happy tears.

Now, TWSG is only my second ever Elaine Everest read, together with being my first foray into the Woolworths series. It took me a few chapters to get all the characters and relationships straight in my head. *whispers* I must confess I wanted to draw up a family tree for everyone. (What can I say? I’m a sucker for a character list/family tree/maps in a book *snorts*.)

I loved getting a glimpse into a time when so many changes were afoot in the world, and once I had my Who’s Who down pat, I flew through the story.

I was doing my own version of “Danger, Will Robinson!” as I became immersed in the story. One character in particular was determined to add to my grey hairs. I have it on good authority that I was heard mumbling threats to another character’s appendage at one point in the proceedings, but I have no recollection of such events. *pushes glasses up nose* It doesn’t sound like me at all, does it? *whistles*

Nanny Ruby and Claudette were my two favourite characters. As this great cast of characters prove, family is more than blood and Ruby epitomises this as matriarch of her extended brood. Little Claudette is an old soul and wise beyond her fourteen years. I, for one, hope we get to hear more about her if/when the series continues.

TWSG is what comfort reads are all about. Sometimes you just need to pick up a book where despite all the trials and tribulations you know it will come good in the end.

Job done!

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d not read any of the previous Woolworths Girls books by Elaine but with this being about the next generation you’re able to read this as a standalone. Now, because of this it did take me a few chapters to try and get my head around the characters and the family tree but I got there - I think!

Once I got into it though, I really got into it and looked forward to reading a few chapters every evening. You start to really feel for the girls, especially Claudette who is caught in the middle of things but acts much older than her 14years.

Having worked at Butlins in Skegness myself for a very short time it was great to see it mentioned and the activities during the holiday sounded amazing - why did we stop doing that?! It gave me Dirty Dancing vibes at times!!!

Overall I really enjoyed this book - it tackled a lot of issues (many that we are still facing nowadays) but the overwhelming feeling was the importance of good friends and family!

Like I say, I haven’t read the other books in this series but I think I’m going to have to get reading now - I want to know more about the grownups!!

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love finding a series to hook me in, where I can look forward to the next book and to meeting up again with the characters I have got to know so well. The Woolworths girls already feel like old friends, and readers have been following them now from the day they met in 1938 right through the war, with all the ups and downs, loves and losses in their lives, and the town and store they love acting as the framework that holds them together. Now we are in 1950 and Sarah, Freda, Maisie and their boss Betty, along with wise old matriarch Ruby, all still feature in this new book, although it is the next generation of teenagers that take centre stage. How lovely to also find characters and settings popping up from Elaine's other books, The Butlins Girls and The Teashop Girls. They all slip so easily from one story to another! With Maisie's new business dominating her time and concentration, she fails to notice what is happening in her adopted daughter Bessie's life, with terrible consequences. But the young Saturday Girls are all there to support Bessie. Love, family and friendship are at the heart of life in Erith, just as they always were, and readers will be pleased to get the warm and happy ending they expect and deserve. I really enjoyed it and read the whole book in less than 2 days.

[Novelle Novels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this so much and flew through it.. Loved seeing the next generation take the centre stage but having characters we know and love.

[Theresa Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Had a few tears of happiness in my eyes.

[Dorothy Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

another Woolworths great book

Really enjoyed this book read all the Woolworths books and this one does not let me down. Couldn’t put it down

[Sharron Tennant · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion you couldn't read this a stand alone because it would take the magic away from the rest of the series. Another amazing read

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this latest instalment in the Woolworths series it's 1950. The war ended five years earlier, rationing lives on, and yet things are starting to change for women with the original Woolworths girls, Sarah, Freda and Maisie, branching out in ways they could never have imagined. This book focuses on the next generation, teenagers Clemmie and Dorothy, and Bessie and Claudette. At an age where they are starting to think about their futures, they all take on Saturday jobs at Woolies in Erith.

Whilst three of them do very well, Bessie has her head turned by a young rogue and ends up in a bit of a mess. What I really loved was not only that her friends stood by her but also the change she underwent herself. Bessie's situation felt very real and I imagine a lot of girls in the 1950s had similar experiences.

It was nice to see the young girls step forward but long-time readers of the series will be pleased to note that all the regular characters still play their parts. One of my favourites, Freda, experienced quite a change in her life too and I really hope there will be more books in the series so I can find out what happens to her next, as well as everybody else. It's so heart-warming how such a big group of people, many of whom aren't actually related by blood, treat each other as part of one big, mostly happy, family.

The Woolworths Saturday Girls is a superb addition to the set. Elaine Everest writes such warm and nostalgic stories that transport me to a different time and place. I really enjoyed the historical markers such as the advent of television, and some of the characters meeting Margaret Roberts when she was just starting out in politics. I also enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of the teenagers making plans at the start of such an interesting decade. As always, I raced through this book and then felt bereft at the end, especially now I haven't got another one to go onto. I have everything crossed for a new Woolworths book before too long.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved this author and she certainly didn’t disappoint at all in this new book in this series. You get hooked straight away and such a warm read with great characters and shows plenty about friendship and romance with heartbreak along the way as well. The characters are great and lovely to meet new characters along the way.
The war is over and the Woolworths girls Sarah Maisie age Freda now have high expectations for their children and want them to do the best they can. They get them working at Woolworths on a Saturday and Bessie, Claudette, clementine and Dorothy are all set with different challenges. But what shows through the most is the strong friendship they all have to support each other. Bessie gets involved with a young lad who is on the wrong side of the law she won’t tell her parents as she knows what they will think but she suddenly finds herself pregnant and she’s away for a break when she realises fully what her boyfriend is like and she comes away realising she has to leave him but she can’t tell her parents she’s pregnant but she pulls to her Saturday girls for support and they find her somewhere to go to have the baby but of course her parents are worried as don’t no why she has gone. She finally had the baby but yet again needs to move on quickly so the girls help her but will she be found and will the girls be happy and have high hopes for the future.
A wonderful read.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m delighted to share my review of The Woolworths Saturday Girls in support of the current bookstagram tour.

It’s now 1950, and the original Saturday Girls at Woolworths have grown up; Sarah, Frieda and Maisie now have a whole new set of responsibilities but none of them have forgotten their first foray into the world of work and how it feels. The new breed of Saturday girls, Bessie, Claudette, Clementine and Dorothy have no idea what’s in front of them and how fast they will need to grow up . . .

I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Elaine Everest and, having been unable to fit in the first in this series I’ve been holding off to try and read them in order but have finally succumbed with this one – I just couldn’t resist! I very quickly felt at home with the characters – it’s obvious their friendships have held over the years. With the addition of family members and more than a few problems along the way, this is a gripping read full of excitement with several different stories all beautifully interwoven. Such a fantastic read and one I’m very happy to recommend it. 5*.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series and this was no exception.

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant follow on to the woolworths girls series, this follows the original Woolworths girls children who are now Saturday girls. Loved it, would love more!

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic 5*
I get so excited when I see a new book coming out of this series
And I was not disappointed infact they get better and better
Just love the storylines surrounded by Alexandra road and the families
Brilliant once again a Big thank you to Elaine Everest 😘

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what can one say about this book only that it a brilliant read yet again for the Woolworths Girls. It was so nice to catch up with the younger members of these stories. I just could not put it down and even at the end I wanted more. With all Elaine Everest's book to me are ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reads and recommended for easy reading.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved following the Woolworths family and have enjoyed the younger generations. I will admit to having tears at the end. 5star

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

Excellent book in this series, wish I could give more than five stars

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Woolworths girls are back! That is the excellent news behind this latest book in a series of seven books featuring the lives and loves of Sarah, Maisie and Freda and those around them, including the welcoming and wise matriarch Ruby.This novel is set in 1950, so after the Second World War which has formed the background for most of the previous books. This book features the teenagers who have become the daughters of some of the women most associated with Woolworths, Maisie and Betty. These four, sisters Bessie and Claudette, and Clementine and Dorothy, are a group of mixed ages, dreams and experiences, but they are brought together by their part time work at the well known shop in Erith, Kent. The focus having moved onto the four teenagers, this book would work as a standalone, an introduction to this small town and its inhabitants. As always this author combines insights into the lives of her characters with a genuinely interesting storyline against the background of time and place. Her research into the small details of life is impeccable, but never interrupts the narrative. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this enjoyable book.

Bessie and Claudette have been brought up by the loving and ambitious Maisie, who left working at Woolworths some time before in favour of making and reviving clothes to sell in her own shop. Happily being able to leave her younger children in the care of Sadie, she has recently decided to branch out into a more ambitious business adventure. Sarah is impressed by her plans for a disused industrial site, but Ruby has mixed memories of the area from long ago. Part of Maisie’s plans involve providing fulfilling arrears for Bessie and Claudette, the latter having a distinct flair for designing and making clothes. Bessie, meanwhile, as picked up by the sensitive Sarah, has other ideas, and is falling under the influence of some local boys who are already gaining a reputation. Clementine, the eldest step daughter of Store manager Betty, is meanwhile finding being at her current school very challenging, and a fight which erupts on the shopfloor alerts Sarah to Clementine’s plight and indeed potential for business. As the book progresses it seems that it is not only the adults who must deal with complex problems. Bessie, her sister and two friends must come together to deal with both her immediate and long term difficulties, all without alerting their parents and the others to her situation. As the adults struggle with their concerns for the future, especially as Freda’s husband seems destined for other things, memories and worries distract the older women from what is really going on with the teenagers.

In this book Everest manages the tricky task of keeping storylines affecting the older characters going alongside a considerable struggle for Bessie as she discovers her pregnancy. The “Saturday Girls” must pull together to give real hope to a young woman who encounters an age-old problem in a new world, and depend on others to “save the day”. This book is full of vibrant and relatable characters with all their challenges, and I recommend it to all who have enjoyed this series so far, as well as those who have yet to discover this community of interdependent women and men.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is now 1950 and following the end of the Second World War, whilst rationing lives on, things are slowly starting to change for Sarah, Maisie and Freda.

This next chapter in ‘The Woolworths Girls’ series follows the younger members of their families. Bessie falls in love with Tom, a boy from the wrong crowd, and soon finds herself caught up in wanting to please him. Maisie is busy with her new business and fails to notice what is happening in Bessie’s life. So when Bessie falls pregnant, it is her sister Claudette and best friends Clemmie and Dorothy who rally round to help and support her.

Although this is the seventh instalment in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone book, as the story concentrates on a new generation. I have read all six of the previous books and I hate to say it but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others. The book concentrated mainly on the character of Bessie and without giving away any spoilers, once we learn that Bessie is pregnant, her storyline felt a little rushed.

But on the plus side, as always, I enjoyed the warmth and sense of nostalgia that Elaine Everest brings to her books. Her characters are likeable and you instantly feel connected to them. I look forward to reading future instalments.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual read but I found this utterly charming, in a sentimental, though not cloying way. And from a more gentle time, though the lot of working class women was gruelling, in terms of juggling children, work, lack of money and expectations of ‘respectability’.
What eases these women’s lives is the companionship of other women, at work in Woolworths and at home; almost like a sisterhood. They simply do not let each other down.
Realism is partly achieved through the mention of Mrs Thatcher’s first attempt to stand as MP for Erith. Her speeches even impress the traditional working class men! But also, those of us who can, remember very fondly, our Saturday jobs in high street stores like the much loved Woolworths.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1950 and the war is over, Sarah, Maisie and Freda are older and wise and some are even mothers themselves.
Now their daughters and friends are the new wave of Woolworths and they are the latest in the batch of Saturday girls.
But when one of the girls Bessie, falls foul of a local rogue who takes advantage of her and winds up pregnant, the other girls rally round to do what they can to help and support her.
Terrified to face the music she runs away but all secrets must come out sometime.
This was a wonderful later instalment to the Woolworths girls series and it’s lovely to see the younger generations now included in the stories.
Another wonderful read.
Can’t wait to read the next.

[christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

More in-store behind the scenes

You can see yourself walking around this store my parents gave me money to buy presents at Christmas it was magical the staff have you a warm welcome the author evokes this it's nice to meet. The staff still betty in charge plenty of babies and stories to tell memories still miss this store

[Nicola Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s like meeting old friends picking up a Woolworths girl book, this was no exception, it was lovely to meet old friends Molly and Johnny (I’d love more from Sunny days) also visiting the lovely Flora in Ramsgate.
I enjoyed the friendship between Bessie, Clemmie, Claudette and Dorothy, I hope Elaine continues the story

[Barbara Doodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous series

I have just finished reading The Woolworths Saturday girls and it was another book in this series I couldn't put down. I

Fabulous characters and great to bring in the youngsters working that we have followed throughout the series from birth.

A very different story line and great to follow r

[Alicia Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think because I hadn't read The Woolworths Girls first this one didn't land so well for me since it seemed to just assume you knew the events of the first book. Writing was very strong though, so might well give this one a second pass when I can get hold of the first book in the series.

[Christine Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Woolworths Girls series. This one about The Saturday Girls is a treat. Elaine always writes wonderful stories. I thought I had this plot worked out but once again the ending was a surprise. I thoroughly recommend this book.

[julie young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming

As the next generation of young women step into the Woolworths workplace as Saturday girls,there is never a dull moment for Ruby, Sarah, Maisie, Betty and Freda. Another most enjoyable chapter in the lives of the ladies.

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐1/2

The story focuses on the daughters of some of the original Woolworth girls. I did not enjoy it as much as previous installments. Bessie is so annoying and the main character of a lot of the story. Predictable and dragged out too long.

One out of the ordinary and unnecessary f-bomb

[Elizabeth Dewfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to return to Woolworths but the stories feel a bit the same

[jeanette white · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saturday girls

Another great read by Elaine Everest to go with the other books in the series of the Woolworth girls. Recommend