Both the great wars have given us some equally terrifying and heartwarming stories. I especially love the stories which portray life in the midst of chaos with people adjusting and adapting in every aspect of life.

The East End Girl jn Blue is one such story where the lead heroine starts life in the war however soon moves to the countryside as her life takes a turn because of the war. The story has some well writter characters who keep their happy nature alive and kicking as they adjust to the war and carve their own futures.
I enjoyed this story very much.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Nancy, even in the times of war has a reason, to continue to hope, working in a Women's Auxiliary Air Force, she'll be walking down the aisle any day now. But after a night of terror, her life is changed forever.

Now, having found out she’s pregnant, and alone, she starts working, doing housekeeping for David, a village doctor. Even though she tries to remain happy, and help in any way towards the war, it’s not long before she’s turning to David for comfort...

She’s in the countryside, which is so different from where she grew up and not everyone is happy of her roots or that she’s getting friendly with the doctor.

It doesn’t look like David’s bothered where she’s from, or is he?

World War 2 is brought to life in The East End Girl in Blue. No longer having to rely on dry history books, the reader gets an idea of how horrific it was for those on the ground during the bombings. I realize the story is fiction but it is riddled with facts, true locations, and the struggles incurred by the citizens of England.

Many young women, like Nancy Evans, served in the WAAF. They did their part for many reasons. Nancy escaped Poplar to serve and to fall in love. Grasping moments of happiness leaves her pregnant and her fiancee dead. Like my own aunt, she was left without a job, without a husband but will all the struggles. The East End Girl in Blue touches on some of those struggles, some of the challenges, some of the views they were subjected to every day. Nancy is lucky enough to find safety in a small village posing as an expectant resent widow.

Dr. David Denny is lost after the loss of his wife. He goes day to day caring for the villagers, taking any payment they can make. HIs life is shook up when Nancy Evans (Mrs. Smith) comes to stay with the local vicar.

Dr. Denny struggles with his sense of duty, his sense of station, his sense of worth. Doing his bit helps but also hurts. He finds himself. He looses himself. He finds love, a very complicated love.

The East End Girl in Blue is full of side stories allowing the reader a deeper understanding of wartime England. Evacuating families out of dangerous areas was not easy. Children were abandoned. Parents struggled mentally. People were opinionated, lacking compassion. For many the class divide was to deep that they fell into the cracks. The citizens of England struggled to survive as lands are destroyed, buildings crumbled and food became scarce. Reading about the characters within the story gave a better understanding of all the struggles.

I have a new respect for my family that struggled to survive, hid in the bomb shelters, went to bed hungry not knowing it they would survive another day.

This the 2nd in the Girls in Blue series was every bit as enjoyable as the 1st. Read it in two nights, couldn’t put it down. Follows WAAf Nancy and her ups and downs. You’ll need tissues at the ready. Recommend it. I do so hope there will be another one in this series.

I read this book in one sitting, couldn't put it down, loved the storyline and the characters and was over the moon Nancy got her happy ending, just shows that you should never judge a book by its cover

Nancy Evans has just started working in the officers mess on the Hornchurch RAF base. Her fiance Tommy Smith was transferred to another base. They were making plans to get married as soon as they could so weeks before they were due to be wed they stayed the evening in a B&B and pretend they were on honeymoon. Shortly after he's killed trying to save his friend who was trapped in a fallen plane. Nancy moves the the countryside and whilst out walking she fainted. The local doctor, David, takes her to his home where he tells her that she's pregnant.

I totally adored this book. I've read a couple of books by Fenella and she's a firm favourite of mine. It was good to see familiar faces from a past book. Although this is part of a series its very much a standalone read. This is set during the war and has some war content its more about the coming together during difficult times. Everybody just rallies around and gets on with life, even during the tough days. These can be sad books but I found this story so uplifting and full of hope. Such a brilliant series set around the airforce and highly recommended.

Set in WWII England, the story is about love, loss, resilience and hope. Ambitious East End girl Nancy Evans has earned the two stripes sewn on her sleeve, has taken the cook and butcher course and is a leading aircraft woman. She cooks and cleans and sneaks any available time to visit her fiance. However, war is brutal and one heroic action changes everything forever.

Nancy discovers she is pregnant and on her own and feels she must resign from her position. She finds work keeping house for kind Dr. David Denny. They become fast friends and the friendship blooms into much more and their pasts become memories. The book focuses on the war but more so on the characters at the forefront. Nancy discovers a passion and compassion for others as she does her part in the war effort. Others' views on and reactions to a pregnant single girl are shown which also reveal Nancy's character. I like that she grows throughout and works hard with a great attitude.

The perspective is an interesting one and I enjoyed the book overall. What lacks a bit for me is convincing depth, a little lighter than expected. However, sometimes light is what we need.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating eARC.

Another wonderful story from Fenella the story and the characters are excellent and you do feel as though you are there,This is a book to sink into while sat on a comfy chair and i can't wait to see what comes next from Fenella 5*

A family saga to sink in to.Enjoyed the characters the storyline. I sat and read for hours will be following this author and will be recommending.#netgalley #aria&aries

I enjoyed this story. I don’t normally read books set in WWII but the blurb and cover interested me. At times I did find it easy to be annoyed with the characters. I felt that if they just sat down and were honest with each other and thought about it a bit more, the story would have ended earlier. Despite this it was still enjoyable.

I wouldn’t say it fits my normal clean reads but at the same time I wouldn’t know how to describe it. It is fairly clean in relationship details. Most scenes are more fade to black or no details given just telling you they were intimate.

Apparently this is the second in the series so I may decide to read the rest. They aren’t must reads but they are might reads.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Fenella J Miller for the chance to read this advance copy of this book.

I had read the first book in the series based on Jane and was excited to be able to read the second which I had read was based on Nancy. There is a third friend Charlotte
However I was quickly exasperated with the book, the first few chapters seemed to be written in the vernacular from Nancy's viewpoint but didn't seem to be written in the first person as if spoken by Nancy.
Then it seemed that the vernacular was forgotten and the writing was in normal prose - go forward a few more chapters and back to some, but not all, vernacular.
It did make it an odd book to read, Nancy certainly had a command of English swear words at times!

I did enjoy the storyline which although not taxing, did follow on from the previous book. However it would have been possible to read this as a standalone book. It was predictable at times and I did get cross with both Nancy and David and their respective decisions.
It was well researched describing the horror and futility of the Blitz and life for an up and coming surgeon in London as well as village life in WW2 .
I did feel it ended abruptly and hope that there will be a followup book and even further details of Charlotte's story

Thank you again to NetGalley, the publisher and the author - I look forward to more tales from the WAAF and life outside it

When I read the title and a brief description, I was intrigued. As a fan of "Call the MIdwife", I have enjoyed stories that involve citizens of Poplar and the East End. Throw in women who made a contribution in England during WWII and I'm hooked. My first impression of Nancy was not positive. She was very rough around the edges but I quickly learned that she had ambitions to make a better life for herself. After her fiance is killed and she finds herself in a delicate condition, she winds up in Chalfont Manor to be the guest of her friend's in-laws. Nancy discovers a new life without Tommy, a life where she can be happy, productive and useful. There were times when I found myself exasperated with Nancy - she wasn't great at making a decision and sticking with it. She was extremely bright, hard-working, and willing to do whatever it took to help others. I did enjoy the story although I expected more of the action to be in the East End.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria Fiction for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The East End Girl in Blue" by Fenella J. Miller
Release Date: 5.6.2021

It's 1940. Nancy Evans, a cook in the English Air Force, wants to marry her fiance soon. The bombings change her life, forcing her to look for a new job. Nancy is single and pregnant; she doesn't have many options. She begins working as a housekeeper for David Denny, the village doctor.

They work well together. Nancy begins leaning on the doctor for support, but not everyone approves of the match.

Thank you to @NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.


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Light, easy reading and likeable characters. Storyline was a little far fetched in places and at times was obvious what was going to happen. As I read before bed on a night it was nice to read something without nasty vindictive characters in it. I hope there will be a third in the series.

Nancy Evans, a brash, capable and energetic cook at an English airfield in 1940, is hoping to marry her fiancé in a couple of weeks. When tragedy strikes, Nancy finds herself looking for a new job and a place to live. Will her past hold her back from seeing her fondest wishes come true? Will she ever find a place she belongs? The entertaining characters and unpredictable plot line make this charming work a worthy addition to any World War 2 historical fiction collection.

The East End Girl in Blue by Fenella J. Miller is an excellent WWII era historical fiction novel. It has it all: excellent character cast, suspense, obstacles, history, and a dash of suspense and romance. I really liked it.

This looks to be a continuance of another book, The Girls in Blue, however I read this book first and it can be read as a stand-alone. However, I think it will be truly treasured more so if read after the other book as there are recurring characters from the first.

These books follow along a group of girlfriends that are all leaning on one another during these terrible times of war in England all the while trying to find themselves, their purpose in life, love, and all trying to do their own part for the war effort. Last book featured Jane (and Oscar) and her quest, and this focussed on her friend and fellow one-time WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) Nancy Evans and her journey into becoming a young woman.

Nancy has made her own mistakes but is a good person at heart and is stronger then she realizes. She is loyal, smart, fiery, and I was in her corner from the very beginning. I also enjoyed her relationship with David Denny. They work well together and are perfect for one another. I enjoyed the suspense, obstacles, and of course the positive ending.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Aria & Aries for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/6/21.

Wow another day of no housework. If you love family sagas based in wartime this will not disappoint. Cant wait to read more by this author