The Picturehouse Girls

Lily Baker #1

by Patricia McBride

It’s 1938 and hard-working Lily Baker’s life turns upside down when she and her family move to a new town. Two jobs leave little free time, yet she becomes involved in a struggle to improve her area. Pushed by the group leader she undertakes tasks she previously thought impossible. Amidst homesickness, looming war and an aggressive father she must find the strength to win through and find the man of her life.

The Picturehouse Girls is a warm story, filled with nostalgia, period details, engaging characters, and a riveting plot. It is the first in the Lily Baker series.

If you love Martha Hall Kelly, Fiona Valper, Jean Grainer or other wartime sagas you’ll love The Picture House Girls! Buy this heart-warming and inspiring book today!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 19, 2022

Reviews

[linda hole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all

[Michelle Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full storyline

Would have been better if the proofreader had done their job correctly and picked up all the errors in this book. Why would I want to continue with the series if I keep finding mistakes.

[kathi gallicchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I totally enjoyed this book. It was well written (although there were a few editing booboos like missing words). It is a part of history that interests me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts quite well to be honest! Got pretty into it from the second chapter which is saying something for me! There’s a lot of questions in the beginning that I want answered. You soon see Lily and Jean as two strong women in pre-ww2 Britain. It shows how young men used to act towards women in that day and what different social classes had to put up with. It also shows the resilience and strength in numbers when everyone in the neighbourhood come together for the petition. It’s interesting hearing and imagining how Britain was back then, preparing in case War came again, as we all know it did such as things like the white marks on trees so people could see in the case of a blackout. Really makes you think and be grateful for what we have now.

It’s so eye opening reading more about when world war 2 started and how it affected people’s everyday lives but how people still tried to live as normal a life as they could in that time. The love story between Edward and Lily is amazing and I’m soooo glad there’s more books in the series because I need to know what happens to them!!🤣

Rating 4🌟/5
I enjoyed the start very much, I felt it dropped a little in the middle and I had to push through but as soon as war was declared it stepped up a notch and was a really good read! Can’t wait to read the next in the series to find out what happens👀

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Picture House Girls by Patrica McBride takes us back to the spring of 1939. Lily Baker is working two jobs plus taking classes. Lily is a smart young lady who is determined to get ahead. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but I found the story a little sluggish in the middle. We get to join Lily at her job at the Dream Palace, at her classes, at home, and out with her best friend, Jean. I thought the author captured the time period. I knew it was set in England, but the author failed to capture the locale. It could have been anywhere in England. I enjoyed the references to the movies that were playing at the Dream Palace. The story does contain mental and physical abuse from a father/spouse as well as stalking. I was shocked at how the police treated someone who was being terrorized by a man. The Picture House Girls has romance, drama, and suspense. It was helpful to have read The Button Girls, the Lily Baker prequel. Now that war has been declared, new adventures await Lily.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is living in a new town with her parents in 1938. Her mother tries hard to make ends meet and her father is an abusive, miserable man, affected by his time in WWI. Lily works hard at two jobs (a factory job, and a movie theater) as well as taking classes. She also gets involved in making things better in her town. One night after a run-in with a thief at the movie theater, she meets Edward who helps her.

This is the first in the series and I look forward to reading more about her life. She has to deal with an abusive father and stalking by a boyfriend. I was surprised at the lack of support the police officers provided for her in that regard. It was an interesting read to learn more about the days leading up to WWII in England. I liked the characters, Lily, and her mother, her best friend Jean, and Edward especially.

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author of this ARC

[Booklover BEV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read

1939 at the Dream Palace picture house and tales are saying there's another war coming, Lil along with her friend and workmates Jean love working and Lil Baker has another job at Johnson's factory sewing but finds it boring. Her boss at the picture house offers her a better positions and she jumps at it and its full time work she will be the boss. Edward Harpern is a dishy fella that Lil takes a shine to but now war is definitely declared would the romance last. Her home life isn't any better either with her Dad her mum is always making excuses for him. A sharp witty story, I enjoyed it

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 First book in the series and it brings it all together after reading the second, third and fourth books Lily Baker is a young girl working two jobs to help her family survive in their move to a new town. 1938 and she works hard to get ahead and help her mother as her father is a mean and miserable man. Working her way up from an usherette in the picture show show Lily becomes the assistant manager as well as working in a factory but this will not last long as war will be declared and Lily and her friend Jean decide to join up to do their part of the war effort.

[Meehlticket · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was absolutely transpired to England between the wars

Great characters, so different from each other, yet felt like you knew them forever. So many charges occurred during this time period, and that was reflected in this plot as the main character started venturing forth into larger and larger responsibilities. Can't wait for more from this author.

[Thundermusic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this, but couldn't get into it, until I listened to the prequel and then whizzed through it.
This author knows how to develop characters.

Poor Lily Baker! EVERYTHING happens to her.
Poverty, abuse, leading in political movements, fighting against the wealthy, bombing, fiance MIA, new love interest(s), abortion, capturing a spy, catching blackmarket dealing, catching looters, searching bombsites, first aid, tin hat squad, 🍆🍑 with married man, dead married man (who just happens to have a comatose wife), singing and acting in wartime shows,
But, yes, I'm going to finish the series. It's a nice piece of escapism.

[Becki Basley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1938 and Lily Baker is a Young Girl full of ambition who works two jobs to help her mother (who cleans houses) pay the Bills that her drunk father doesnt drink away at the bar or spend on his fancy woman. She also gets involved in a neighborhood cause and may even find a bloke on the side. Its a great introduction (Hopefully, i just started it) to this Series.

[Mrs Hazel EE Rosier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Different Type Of War Book

I enjoyed the story especially relating to the cinema but the book was supposedly set in Wales somewhere. However it could have been set anywhere in the U.K. as nothing relating to the Welsh was mentioned.

[Barbara G. Graybill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

A beautifully written snapshot of the early days of World War II in England. Romance and cultural differences intertwine with daily life experiences to provide a picture of the impact of war on the role of the sexes and the mingling of the classes in times of tribulation.

[Irene Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical novel set in England at the beginning of World War ll. Lily finds her way through a difficult relationship, a neighborhood conflict, growing responsibility and a budding romance. This book is a fun, light read that gives insight into life in the late 1930s.

[Caroline Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot more to do with the title since the girls were actually working at the movie theater. But like the first book, this is a feel good book about a working class girl and her life before WWII, that barely mentions the impending war.

[Tracey Carnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Really enjoyed this great book .loved the characters and the storyline.I love books set in old times.born to late I was.

[rosemonde hartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this, my one criticism is the ending was weak.

[Anne Salfrais · Rating 2 out of 5]

Editing is poor

Not a bad story but spoilt by appealing editing that is irritating and detracts significantly from the story. Very slow start have read better.

[Bernadette Firth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

A heart warming story, and very enjoyable. Can't wait for the next book. It's the first time I 've red anything by its author, but it certainly won't be the last

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book now on book 2 telephone girls

[sue harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read

Nostalgia setting of the start of WW2 with a loverly story .
Set in the south of England .Good old fashion characters.

[Mrs Adele S Row · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice read.

[Elsie Eade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Very good read. Good story line. Pertinent facts. Leaving me to want more. Well written and straight to the point. Not too much information.

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different

Now this is a very different story from what I usually read, but I couldn’t put it down, and didn’t stop reading til the end of the book

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a series which is about Lily Baker
It starts in Spring 1939 & this one ends after the start of WW2
I really enjoyed this story & am about to start on the 2nd book

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book about Lily Baker starting just before the second world war gets going and following her as she joins up as an arp girl, leading on to the next book

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I enjoyed this book. I was glad when Victor was gone. I hope Lily and Edward have a long and happy life together

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was nice to read about Lily's early days at the cinema.

[Ann Crookall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story


Loved this book the minute I opened and 'read the first page I knew it was going to be a lovely story to read

[Lorraine McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good looking for the next The Telephone girls