Secrets of the Lavender Girls 

by Kate Thompson 

4 out of 5 

Synopsis 

Nell Gunn, Snowball and Esther will be back, along with more characters from Britain's biggest beauty factory, as they battle the twists and turns of war in Stratford.

Will Nell find lasting love? Will Snowball reveal what forced him onto the streets? And will Esther be able to tame the wild child she takes under her wing as part of her new bursary? As flowers and vegetables blossom in the Shoot's new Dig for Victory allotment, can the inhabitants really bury their pasts?

Review 

One little community in the East End has had to endure years of war, but that won't stop them living their best lives.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read in this series, and it was really easy to jump into this story. That being said, I am keen to read Secrets of the Homefront Girls.

This follows the lives of many people in the Shoot, but has three main narrators.

Esther was a jewish refugee, taken in by Nell four years ago, and now considers herself a true East Ender. The book opens with her wedding day, as he marries an incredibly sweet chap Walter.

Despite being together for some time, married life is a shock to the system, especially with an interfering mother-in-law.

Patsy is a newcomer to the Shoot, returning to the East End as one of the older evacuees. She starts work at the Yardley beauty factory, but has dreams of performing on stage. After becoming a substitute-mother to her little brother, there's tension being back with their real mum. It doesn't help that there mother seems determined to ruin the lives of all their new neighbours.

Lou has always acted the clown, to try and mask that she's different from the other girls.

When her mum's illness gets worse, Lou takes on more responsibility with her sisters, while they all try and survive their simply horrid father.

The girls really did have a dreadful parental-figure ruining their lives. I couldn't work out which was worst. I think the mother-in-law from hell probably just pipped it, as I couldn't imagine anyone taking away my choices, like she did with Esther.

The story spans the last year of the war, as the girls face it with grim determination and positivity that was frankly inspiring.

The stories are slow-building. There's the intrigue of the secrets that are being uncovered, but the focus is mostly on the wonderfully-simple human life; highlighting the importance of friends, neighbours, and the family you choose, as well as the one you are born with.

The setting is very detailed and of its time. For the most part, it's natural and very well done.

There were a few bits of narrative, where it became somewhat detached from the narrator's life and slipped into an educational tone.

I found the overall pace a little slow for my liking, but despite this, I was emotionally invested, and intrigued to see how it would all play out for our girls.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the author's work.

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