Even in the darkest of times, she never gave up hope.Staffordshire, 1911. Ginnie Jones’s childhood is spent in the shadow of the famous Potteries, living with her mother, father and older sister Mabel. But with Father’s eyesight failing, money is in short supply, and too often the family find their bellies aching with hunger. With no hope in sight, Ginnie is sent to Haddon Workhouse.Separated from everything she has known, Ginnie has to grow up fast, earning her keep by looking after the other children with no families of their own. When she meets Clara and Sam, she hopes that she has made friends for life…until tragedy strikes, snatching away her newfound happiness.Leaving Haddon three years later, Ginnie finds work as a mouldrunner at the Potteries, but never stops thinking about her friends in the workhouse – especially Sam, now a caring, handsome young man.When Sam and Ginnie are reunited, their bond is as strong as ever – until Sam is sent to fight in WW1. Faced with uncertainty, can Ginnie find the joy that she’s never had? Or will her heart be broken once again?In Britain, a workhouse was a total institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment.Education was provided for the children-as per law,but workhouse teachers were poorly paid, without qualifications,and facing large classes of unruly children with little or no interest in their lessons,few stayed.Although dreary, the food was generally nutritionally adequate.Most inmates were allocated tasks such as caring for the sick beyond their capabilities,but most were employed on "generally pointless" work, like breaking stones or picking oakum.A potbank is a pottery factory in North Staffordshire used to make bone china, earthenware and sanitaryware. The Staffordshire Potteries is the industrial area encompassing the six towns Burslem, Fenton,Hanley,Longton,Stoke and Tunstall,that now make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire,England.North Staffordshire became a centre of ceramic production in the early 17th century,due to local availability of clay,salt,lead and coal.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
What a fabulous debut novel this author is going places.

I was totally immersed from the first page and didn't want it to end. Detailed historical references, good characters and a good setting. It just goes to show how we should not take life for granted and that life can change anytime.

A recommended read.

A really involving saga set in a workhouse.Drew me in from the first pages .So well written characters come alive will be recommending.#netgalley#herabooks

Lynn Johnson transports readers back to the early 1900s in THE GIRL FROM THE WORKHOUSE, a debut novel that was an enjoyable and easy read. I've read a few novels featuring workhouses and it makes one thankful for the times that we live in today. They must have been such harsh places and folk must have been desperate to even consider going there. Despite the harsh realities of another time and era, it was indeed an engrossing escape back in time.

Set in the busy pottery town of Burslem in Staffordshire, the story begins in 1911 of 11 year old Ginnie Jones whose family have fallen on hard times with her father losing his job due to his failing eyesight. Little by little, Ginnie's mother sells of their trinkets and various belongings, including Ginnie's most prized possession of The Children's Book of Parables she won at Sunday School on her birthday, to try and make ends meet and pay the rent. However, it was all to no avail and the family soon packed themselves up and trudged up the hill to the workhouse. Ginnie's older sister Mabel was 16 and able to stay with a neighbour, aunt Nellie, as she could work and earn her keep there.

But Ginnie was to discover that life in the workhouse was even tougher when upon entry, her father was immediately sent to a different section and after being bathed and clothed in the workhouse uniform, she and her mother were also to be separated. As she was 11, she was too old to stay with her mother and too young to work, so she was sent down the road to Haddon House, where the children lived and she would go to school.

On her first night in Haddon House, she is introduced to young Clara who she befriends immediately and, as they are full to bursting already, the two girls share a bed. As Ginnie was used to sharing a bed with her older sister Mabel, she was comforted to have someone beside her. Despite it being tough in the early days, Ginnie soon falls into a routine and makes two special friends there - Clara and a boy named Sam. Although she is meant to attend school, it is shared with the village children who poke fun at the workhouse children and even more so at Ginnie because she can't read. She visits her parents up at the Big House occasionally but she never sees her sister who had promised to visit. When her mother dies, her father forbids her to attend the funeral stating that it is no place for a child. But Mary Higgins, Haddon House's mistress, secretly takes her to the funeral and they stay in the background so Ginnie can say her goodbyes.

Three years after first entering the workhouse, Mabel comes to Haddon to offer Ginnie a home with her and her new husband Frank. Without a word or a visit in three years, Ginnie (now 14) is angered that her sister wants to pull her out of the home she has come to love and feel comfortable in. But the law states that the parish will only pay for their keep as long as they have nowhere else to go...and Ginnie now has somewhere else. Now 19, Mabel reveals that she is pregnant and Ginnie would be of some help for her when the baby comes.

Grateful for a new start, Ginnie moves in with Mabel and Frank...but it soon becomes clear that she is to earn her keep by doing all the work Mabel should be doing to keep house instead of sitting idle all day. And then Mabel takes her down to Chamberlain's potters to beg for a job for Ginnie where she is given the dirtiest job of all as a mouldrunner. She works hard and come pay day is excited to receive her own money and begins planning on how she will save it to get Sam out of Haddon. But that is shortlived because as soon as she is home, Frank demands her wages for her keep...and Mabel still expects her to keep the house despite working the long arduous hours at Chamberlain's.

One afternoon, Ginnie comes across some women talking about the vote for women and it's there she comes across Miss Constance Copeland, whose mother was a Workhouse Friend and they would visit the children at Christmas. The two women recognise each other and it isn't long before they become friends, despite the difference in their classes. And over time, Connie proves to be a good friend to Ginnie when she most needs one.

Then war breaks out and soon men and boys are being sent off to fight for King and country, leaving the womenfolk wondering if they would ever return. Sam is discharged from the workhouse - thanks to Connie's mother - and is working in the mines. But it isn't long before he signs up to fight for his country and Ginnie becomes scared. What if she never sees Sam again? He is her best friend and she cannot imagine a life without him.

An enjoyable and poignant read, THE GIRL FROM THE WORKHOUSE pulls at the heartstrings as we follow the journey of Ginnie from a girl in the workhouse to becoming a young woman. Her friendships with both Sam and Connie are touching and incredibly heartwarming.

I love the dual timelines set before and after Haddon House, as well as her time during the workhouse. Her heartbreak, her contentment, her laughter and her tears. THE GIRL FROM THE WORKHOUSE is Ginnie's story of life, death, survival, heartache and ultimately happiness.

An enjoyable tale that was an easy read, THE GIRL FROM THE WORKHOUSE is perfect for readers of historical fiction.

I would like to thank #LynnJohnson, #NetGalley and #Hera for an ARC of #TheGirlFromTheWorkshouse in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a bore to me and I couldn't finish it. It was different than most workhouse books.
Didn't finish this book.

Set in the early 1900s Ginnie spends a lot of her childhood in the workhouse. With her parents dead Ginnie is reunited with her older sister, Mabel, and the story follows her life. War comes & loved ones have to go away to do their duty but what will this mean to the women left behind and will their men come home.
I believe this is Lynn’s first book and I enjoyed it so will be eagerly awaiting her next novel.

This is the story about a young 11-year-old girl Ginnie Jones, the story is set around Burslem 1911. Because of poverty, hardship and her dad losing his job through deteriorating eyesight, they are destined to the Haddon workhouse. Her sister Mabel being luckier is sent to live with her aunt Nellie.

Ginny's life in the workhouse is hard and she is lonely until she makes friends with Sam.

When she leaves the workhouse 3 years later she goes to live with her now-married sister who needs extra money coming in as she is pregnant She begins working in a pottery factory.

Such a brilliant story about a very strong character who experiences, loss, sadness and sheer hard work. The book touches on the suffragettes as we experience wartime.
Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this unputdownable book.

Lynn Johnson takes us on a journey to the year 1911, a time of heartache and war but also showing a young girl's journey into becoming a woman.

The Girl From The Workhouse the first part takes you through Ginnie's childhood living in the workhouse from 1911 to 1914 and then it also progresses with Ginnie leaving the workhouse and living with her sister and brother in law from 1914 to 1919.
This is a very fantastic and moving read that will at times bring tears to your eyes, it captivated my attention the whole way through.
I loved learning about Ginnie's experience in the Workhouse and how she made friends that became her family.
It's a heartwarming and endearing story about Friendship, Family, survival, heartache, love, coming of age, the effects of war and having to grow up fast
It was set at a great pace that kept the story moving smoothly and the author has a brilliant writing style that worked really well. Her attention to detail was great and she really brought the past back to life for me.

This was Lynn Johnson's debut novel and I really can't wait to see what she will write next because she hit it out the park with this one for me.
All in all, I give this story a 5 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have read many books about workhouses and this was a quick enjoyable read. The historical facts about workhouses and the period in time (1911) were few so it read more like a YA than an adult novel.

4☆ A Captivating War Time Saga that will tug on your heartstrings and keep you turning the pages!

Ginnie and her older sister Mabel are doing everything that they can to help out at home and bring in money, ever since their Father lost his vision and no longer able to do his job.

But after much deliberation Ginnie and her parents have no choice but to give in to their debts and ask if they can live and work in Haddon Workhouse.

Ginnie’s sister, Mabel, has gone to stay with Aunty Nellie.
Aunty Nellie can’t look after Ginnie as well as there is no room as she has five little ones of her own.

Fast Forward a few years and Mabel is now
19yrs old & pregnant and come to collect Ginnie from the Workhouse.
Mabel picks up Ginnie from Haddon's and takes her to live with Mabel & Her creepy partner Frank who is the baby dad.
But can the two start over and begin a new life?

The Girl from the Workhouse is a fantastic and poignant read, it captivated my attention the whole way through.
I loved learning about Ginnie's experience in the Workhouse and how she made friends that became her family.
It's a heart warming and endearing story about Friendship, Family, survival, heartache, love, coming of age, the effects of war and having to grow up fast.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines set before and after Ginnie enters Haddon Workhouse. It made the story all the more authentic and real as you got to see Ginnie grow from the young girl to the young lady she has become.

If you love a War Time Saga that will tug on your heartstrings, keep you enthralled the whole way through, with strong relatable characters and a plot that is superbly written, then you will adore The Girl from the Workhouse.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Girl From The Workhouse follows the life of Ginnie, Sam and George. I found the book hard to get into but then I was glad I’d stayed with it. Follows the periods from workhouse, life with her sister Mabel and through the war years. Someone is trying to make sure things don’t work out for Ginnie, but who. Worth a read.

A poignant, emotional and heart-wrenching read saga aficionados are going to love, Lynn Johnson’s debut saga The Girl From the Workhouse is a captivating tale set in the early decades of the 20th Century from a talented new star in the field.

Life is anything but easy for Ginnie Jones and her family. Money is tight, opportunities limited and the prospect of destitution looking increasingly likely with every passing day. With her father’s eyesight failing and unable to secure any kind of employment, going to bed with no food in her belly has become a daily occurrence for Ginnie and with no hope in sight, she finds herself sent to Haddon Workhouse where she is torn apart from the family she knows and from everything and everyone familiar to her. Life in the Workhouse is tough and unforgiving and Ginnie finds herself having to be on her guard constantly and to grow up fast. Earning her keep by looking after other orphaned children, Ginnie is older and wiser beyond her tender years and luckily for her, she soon finds a family of sorts in two friends she makes who soon begin to feel like the world to her: Sam and Clara.

When tragedy strikes once again, Ginnie’s world is shattered anew. With her newfound happiness snatched from her clutches yet again, Ginnie must pick herself up and forge her own path away from Haddon Workhouse. When she finds work as a mould runner in the Potteries, Ginnie starts living life on her own terms yet her friends from the Workhouse are never far from her thoughts – especially Sam, who has grown up to be a handsome and kind-hearted man. When a chance encounter propels them back into each other’s lives again, Ginnie begins to hope that the happiness that has eluded her for so long will finally be within reach – until Sam makes a heart-breaking announcement: he’s going to be doing his duty for king and country and fighting in the First World War.

Will Ginnie end up losing everything all over again? Or will hope and love triumph against all the obstacles standing in her and Sam’s way?

Lynn Johnson is a terrific storyteller who has written a searingly emotional tale about love, loss, war, anguish and courage that readers will struggle to put down. The Girl from the Workhouse is written straight from the heart and shines with drama, pathos and intensity and features a terrific heroine readers simply cannot help but root for who is resilient, resourceful and inspirational: Ginnie Jones.

An outstanding read best read with a box of tissues handy, The Girl from the Workhouse is a first rate saga fans of Cathy Sharp and Maggie Hope are simply going to love.

I have been fascinated by historical fiction for awhile. The storylines are able to put in that situation and you'll understand the hardships everyone faced. Ginnie and Sam quickly became my favorites and I hoped that after everything they were able to start a life and be happy together.

This story has developed characters, hardships, romance, and a few twist to keep you reading until the end.

I am looking forward to books by Lynn Johnson in the future and cant wait to read them!

Thank you Hera Books, Netgalley, and Lynn Johnson for picking me to write my review.

This book was a disappointment and just wasn’t for me.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to finish it. I found it incredibly boring

Loved, loved, loved! I really enjoy these historical family sagas, although they can be heartbreakers. This tale focuses on family, hardship, and the brutal reality of what life might have been like for a child in a workhouse. Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me the chance to read it.

It's been ages since I've read some historical fiction and the author managed to send the story back to the early 1900's with ease. It was a fantastic escape back in time seeing how different life was compared to life today.

Ginnie has spent most of her childhood living with her parents and sister fairly reasonably. When her father's eyesight deteriorates he loses his job and the family struggles so much without the income that the entire family (other than Ginnie's sister) are moved into the workhouse.

Ginnie was an amazing protagonist, who makes the most out of all life gives her, even when it's not a lot. Her life is far from easy, even in school she's made fun of for her inability to read. Her friends make life in the home far more bearable. She loses her childlike innocence and is forced to grow up far too quickly.

The war and the suffragette movement also feature in the story and the impact of both of these have a significant impact upon Ginnie and her family. It shows how jobs changed during the war and how the women of the war made their impact.

I highly recommend reading this and being transported back in time. An excellent historical fiction that had me compulsively turning the pages.

This book perfectly captured the desperation some families felt during the time period when it came to being able to provide their families with the basics needed to live. Unfortunately, Ginnie was separated from her family at the Workhouse where she is tasked with caring for the children that have no family. Ginnie meets new friends there and is able to make the best of her situation. This is until the boy she meets, Sam, is sent to fight in WWI. The author did a brilliant job of capturing the emotions that Ginnie, a girl who hasn't had much happiness in life, deals with the possibility of losing Sam in the war. This book will pull at your heartstrings, but it is a great read!

Set amidst the Staffordshire Potteries of the English West Midlands during the second decade of the twentieth century, The Girl from the Workhouse tells the story of Ginnie Jones and follows her along the trials of a deprived childhood until she blossoms into a self-confident young woman. At once charming and poignant with the requisite balance of ups and downs to make the reader want to know what happens next, this historical romance is the perfect novel for sitting by the fireside with on a cold winter's evening

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
When a book is based around a workhouse you just know it's going to be emotional. This book certainly is! But it is beautifully and sensitively written.
Ginnie and her parents are forced, through circumstances to enter the workhouse. They are immediately split up. Eventually Ginnie makes friends with Sam. Read on to find out about their lives within and after the workhouse. Lynn Johnson this is one book I won't forget! Deserves way more than five stars!!