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Dear Mrs Bird

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Dear Mrs Bird

By: AJ Pearce
Narrated by: Anna Popplewell
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About this listen

Read by Anna Popplewell, known for her role in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Richard & Judy Book Club Pick
Sunday Times Bestseller

Set during London's blitz and filled with warmth, wit and heartbreak, Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce is a wartime story about the power of friendship, the kindness of strangers and the courage of ordinary people.

London, 1941. Amid the falling bombs Emmeline Lake dreams of becoming a fearless Lady War Correspondent. Unfortunately, Emmy instead finds herself employed as a typist for the terrifying Henrietta Bird, the renowned agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine. Mrs Bird refuses to read, let alone answer, letters containing any form of Unpleasantness, and definitely not letters from the women the war has left lovelorn, grief-stricken or conflicted.

But the thought of these desperate women waiting for an answer becomes impossible for Emmy to ignore. She decides she simply must help and secretly starts to write back – after all, what harm could that possibly do?

'The most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love' – Marian Keyes
'Utterly charming and helplessly funny' – Jenny Colgan
'A proper comfort read' – India Knight

©2018 AJ Pearce (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Romance Feel-Good Heartfelt Tear-jerking Funny War

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Critic reviews

If I had only known how much I was going to adore Dear Mrs Bird, I wouldn’t have gobbled it down all at once. Funny, fresh, and touching, Dear Mrs Bird is a treat of a read. (Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society)
I fell in love with Dear Mrs Bird on page one and completely adored every single word . . . a wonderfully heartwarming book, which I will recommend to everyone I know (Jill Mansell)
A marvellous treat. Charming and delightful. (Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina)
A joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs Bird is as funny as it is heart-warming. (John Boyne, author The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)
An utterly charming story of friendship, heartbreak and heroism... You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it (Lucy Diamond)
Books that make you shake with laughter and sob with tears are rare. I gulped this one down but didn’t stop thinking about it for a long time (Katie Fforde)
A thoroughly lovely book, and reading it is like a great big shot of serotonin in the arm. I defy anyone not to fall for its numerous charms (Kate Riordan)
Dear Mrs Bird is a triumph – authentic, funny and packed with heart. (Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times Bestselling Author)
A wonderful wartime story that is funny, yet poignant and realistic. I can't wait for the next in the series. (Kate Fforde)
All stars
Most relevant  

I was hoping for something a little better than this, it was all frightfully jolly hockey sticks during a simply rotten war started by that confounded cad Mr Hitler!

It was as though Ms Pearce had overdosed on Berty Wooster and then decided to write a book. Saying that it was nice to hear her at the end of the book explaining why she wrote the book, which made me give it an extra star overall.

That said it really lacked a backbone or any real substance. The storyline was ok, but just grew tedious as the book progressed. Had it not been for Anna Poplewells narration I know I would have called it a day much sooner.

I feel Ms Pearce is unaware of who her target audience is, and to tell you the truth I am not sure who it would really appeal to.

Think this one might have to be returned.

Rather jolly but lacked substance

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I have just finished listening to this book - it was my VE Day listen for 2020 and it was wonderful.

The book is set early in the war a long time before VE Day could even be imagined.

It gives you an insight into the lives of people during this time, no in-depth but with enough information to be able to put yourself in that time as you follow Emmy and her friend Bunty as they live their lives, doing what they can to help the war effort.

It is written almost like a grown-up Enid Blyton ( I still adore her books, they are so much part of my childhood, sorry if that offends anyone, but it's not the author I loved but her books) - so very English and I adored the style, not that there were adventures but the speech and how they felt they should act.

I just totally adored this book and have come straight on to write my review very unlike me.

The narrator Anna Popperwell was a perfect choice for this book, she really brought the characters alive and brought the British War spirit into it so well.

Emmy is a person I would love to have as a friend, she is human she makes mistakes but her heart is so caring and loving.

I am sure if you listen to this you like me will finish it feeling you have gained not just an insight to life in WWII but hope for the human race if hopefully, people like Emmy are out there, which I am sure they are. Many are our volunteers who feel the suffering of others and want to help, no matter what country you live, trying to help during this time of crisis for the whole world, some will make mistakes but their good hearts will help far more.

A very Heart Warming Read

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Uplifting.Made me think of my Mum and my Nanny who lived through that terrible time. With all the sadness and loss they endured,those brave women make me so proud.

Great story,i I would love to read more of her work

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Loved this book, stepped back in time to live life in the time of a London which was resolutely strong & carrying on the best way they could.Friendships, work & love & loss easy listening & thoroughly enjoyed.

Transported back to the 1940’s

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A really good book. It brought my family's stories of wartime back to me and for that I am eternally thankful. Thank you for bringing them back to my mind.

Heartwarming!

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Someone on Twitter asked readers how they know when they have got'into' a book. For me it is when I know enough about the main character to care about them. This took some negotiating in Dear Mrs Bird because while Emmy was a pleasure to get to know it was first necessary to make a time trip back to 1941 and settle into the world and narrative style you need for that era. It's sometimes hard to believe to that AJ is a contemporary author so skillfully did she accomplish it. I was glad I stuck with it, I have the next in the series on my wish list!

A real grower, take a chance

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This was my first expereince of Kindle audio books and I can't believe what great book I chose. I cannot read at the moment as I had an eye operation a few days ago to repair a detached retina and television viewing is also limited. My sister suggested I take advantage of the months free trial so I though I would give it a go.
I have loved both the story and the narration which to my mind was perfect. I honestly felt I was,taken back in time and given a short glimpse into what life was like for people during the nightly bombing in London in 1940/41.
Several times my heart was in my mouth and tears in my eyes. What wonderfull characters they all were and a truly inspiring and enjoyable story.
This review was hard to complete and took me ages but was worth the trouble to say thanks to the author and narrator.

A wonderful story of female resilience during WWII

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Great story & topic, if occasionally repetitive. Good narrator despite sudden loud bursts. Lovely

Overall an easy, engaging read

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Great story, loveable characters, ups and downs, laughs and tears. My only sadness is not finding out what happened with Charles!!
The author's note at the end finished the book off perfectly.

Absolutely loved this book

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A great story that painted a picture of life in the war. Great narration and a relaxing listen. .

Such a great read

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