I might be a little bit biased here, because my current research is in WWII history and in particular women's involvement, but this book is an excellent addition to what is admittedly a saturated market, and is exactly the type of information I was looking for. Lucy Adlington's Women's Lives and Clothes in WW2 is a thoughtful and concise history of the conditions faced by women on both the home front and in military life during one of the most harrowing periods of the twentieth century.

I found this book to be extremely accessible and both those knowledgeable about the period and the casual reader alike will enjoy it. Gorgeous illustrations, both black and white and full color, including advertisements, photographs, sewing patterns, etc., bring this subject to life. Among the topics covered are:
-shopping, rationing, and the black market
-spies and undercover work
-military work, including aviation and maritime
-internment and concentration camps
-cosmetics
-weddings

Another great part of this book is that Adlington doesn't focus on any one nationality, but she's included research across those globe: what women in the US, Europe (including England, Germany, Czechoslovakia), and Asia (including India, Hong Kong, Japan) were experiencing. This allows for a very well-rounded look at the contemporary conditions.

There is a generous source list and bibliography--very helpful for further research.

I'd definitely recommend this one. It's perfect for history fans of the war itself or of women's history.

Thank you to Pen & Sword books and NetGalley for providing this copy for review.