This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

A great read with actual history woven into the story. The characters are well done, and the reader finds themselves caring about what happens to them. The heroines and their story will keep you engaged and wanting more.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is historical fiction that reads like nonfiction also…likable characters…women doing their work during the war…family and friends…new places…new experiences…loyalty…conditions that are not the best…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy…following these women as they go through life’s experiences is appealing to say the least…this author has written a cannot put down novel.

The Bletchley Girls by Anna Stuart is a fantastic read following three young women and the secret work they did at Bletchley Park throughout the second world war. Admittedly, I found it be a bit slow going at the start as introductions were made and background provided to the three main characters and to the work that went on at the park. I did think where could this story possible go as nothing much appeared to be happening bar giving the reader details. But I should have known that Anna Stuart was merely whetting the readers appetite and she had lots and lots in store. For once the women spread their wings so to speak the plot took on a whole other level and this developed from an enjoyable easy read to something much more. I became completely engrossed in the numerous twists and turns and the detail was just incredible. It was fast paced, edge of your seat stuff and you really felt as if you were there alongside the women as each became a vital cog in a much bigger machine and all with one aim, to put a stop to Hitler’s rampage once and for all.

Three very different young women arrive at Bletchley Park as raw recruits but they each have one common goal to help with the intelligence work which will hopefully aid those on the front and ultimately bring about the downfall of Hitler. They sign the official secrets act promising never to talk to anyone of the work they engage in. It’s 1940 and Steffie arrives having had to flee Rome at the outbreak of war. Her father had been the military attaché at the British embassy and his contacts had secured her this job. But as the story progresses Steffie proves she is not just some top dogs daughter rather in fact she proves she has what it takes to see connections where others don’t. She can take in the whole picture and time and time again as she eventually travels to foreign shores she demonstrates that she is worthy of her position. She has left her fiancée Matteo behind in Italy and rather than preparing for a wedding she finds herself thrust into a male dominated world where she hopes to show that women can play a vital role and should be valued and listened to.

Alisa really is a fish out of water. She has gone against her parents wishes and left the isolated Scottish island of North Uist. Her parents wanted her to marry and have children and more or less never stray from the island. She was shy and nervous and a bit stand offish at first but I think that’s because she was nervous and had taken such a brave leap into the unknown. She had a talent when it came to detecting radio frequencies and recording messages and this grew the more I read about her. She was really just a young girl who wanted some adventure and to see the world. Alisa had such strength to go against what her parents wanted for her. I think she was perhaps out of the three women the one who changed the most and through her work and dedication underwent such a transformation. Her journey takes her away from British soil and she was right in the path of danger but her resilience, her sharpness and her willingness to put herself on the line time and time again deserved nothing but admiration.

Fran was a character I loved. In fact I loved all three but perhaps Fran was the one who edged out for me ahead of the other two just a little bit. All credit to her for not following the route of entering medicine as her parents had and wished for her to do also. She wished to study literature at university and had taken up a job in the university library. This is how she came to work in the park as her fellow librarian Peter was one of the men chosen to operate in the huts that were within the park. So many little units working together to play their part and the camaraderie that was built up was amazing. I loved the intrigue and mystery that developed as the story took a surprising turn and Fran as she was so brilliant at organising everything ramped up her efforts to crack the clues and join the dots. There was a real sense of academia about her which stood her in good stead. No doubt about it the women each had a difficult, challenging and taxing job but they also had the intelligence and wherewithal to keep going in the face of stiff opposition.

I had never previously read a book that centred on the top secret intelligence work that occurred at Bletchley Park and I think that’s also why I became so engrossed and enthralled the more the plot was developed. After reading so many books in the World War Two genre at times you can became tired of the same old story rehashed in the same way with yet again a predictable ending but here because the subject matter for me was so fresh, vivid and gripping I felt like I was reading about the war from a totally different perspective and thanks to the detailed research by the author I was fascinated and intrigued by everything going on. There could have been a danger that at some points this story could have slipped into becoming more like a textbook as specifics regarding decoding and radio operators etc were detailed but thankfully that never became the case. Every little detail provided brought so much to the story and therefore this became a very compelling read.

I have read so much of people fighting at the front, of resistance groups and of course the camps but now I have developed a deep appreciation for the relentless work that was carried out by so many men and women whose brains and ingenuity helped win the war. These brave, courageous women that featured here were hardworking and filled with such integrity and loyalty to their cause and each individual brought their talents and skills to the team. I would have loved an epilogue to really wrap things up. I know there was an ending of sorts for the characters but I still felt there was a bit more to be told as the war had not concluded by the time the book finished. But I suppose that’s me being greedy and wanting more and it’s also the sign of a very good book. The detailed notes at the end provided by the author were a welcome addition and only enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the story as a whole. So what began as a quite slow read morphed into a fabulous story that was entertaining, informative, emotional and also detailed the bonds of friendship and showed how the integral work undertaken will never be forgotten. The Bletchley Girls is definitely a must read for anyone who loves historical fiction.

I was lucky enough to get this book as an ARC from NetGalley. My first book by Anna Stuart, and I was not disappointed.
Steffie, Ailsa and Fran’s story was wonderfully written. I love reading about women in WWII and this story showed some of the essential roles women played in Europe. Reading about Malta and Egypt was exciting to me because this is the first book I’ve read that took place in both of those locations.
I enjoyed the underlying love stories for all three women. Secondary to the war storyline, they gave hope and chance of happiness during and after the war for them all.
I was upset when the book was over, I wanted more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Anna Stuart for my chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This was my first book by this author but not the first I had read about the code breakers at Bletchley Park. However it was the first where there was a difference perspective on the work of Bletchley.

The book revolves around three girls who are each recruited to Bletchley for their different skills. One has had an upbringing involving finishing schools and languages, one had organisational skills acquired in a university library and the third was a whizz at picking up radio signals having been brought up on North Uist.
Each had their own reasons for leaving their comfortable lives. Italian fiancés, unwanted advances and sexuality concerns that the young lady had been afraid to follow all fit well into the story.
They meet at Bletchley station and eventually share a caravan on a farm as their billets leave much to be desired.

One gets redeployed to Egypt, one to Malta and one remains in the UK but they develop a code to get past the censors and eventually realise that there must be a leak somewhere as the enemy always seems to know what’s going to happen.
This book is interspersed with real events - the caravan and the ineptitude of the US and Bonner Fellers to realise that the American Black Code had been cracked - are well documented.

I really enjoyed this book - enough to do some research on Bonner Fellers - sad that so many servicemen lost their lives due to his messages being intercepted.

A good insight into life and times at Bletchley.

Thank you again for the chance to read this ARC

This is the second book that I’ve read by this author, and like the first one I absolutely loved it. This is a historical fiction read based on true events. Once I started reading this I couldn’t put it down it was such an interesting read. I loved the characters of the 3 girls who were sent to Bletchley Park to work. All 3 were from different walks of life and I loved how they developed as the story went on. This book is perfect for curling up on the couch with a cup of tea. I promise once you start it you won’t want to put it down. A superb read well worthy of 5 ⭐️

Unsung heroines and heroes

I have enjoyed Ms Stuart's previous books and thoroughly enjoyed this well-researched WWII historical novel about an unappreciated aspect of warfare, code breaking and communications. A person doesn't think about all the vital background service that must be performed so that battles can be won on the battlefields. This view is supported by another novel I recently read, Jennifer Chiaverini's `Switchboard Soldiers`, about telephone operators in France (including at the Front) during WWI (also thinking about the Signal Corps soldiers who laid those telephone cables). Entertaining and educating!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-contrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I was instantly gripped by this book and just couldn’t wait to turn the pages! The story is of three women, Steffi, Fran and Ailsa who meet as they are on the journey to Bletchley Park. They soon form an unbreakable bond and consider themselves a family eventually sharing a caravan together. Steffi comes from a wealthy Italian family and has lived the life of luxury. She is engaged to Matteo a pilot in the Italian Air Force. Her skills lie in languages and is employed at Bletchley as a code breaker. Fran’s parents worked in medicine and tried to force her into following in their footsteps but she knew it wasn’t for her. She secured a position at Cambridge and became known for her organisational skills. This talent was put to great use when employed at Bletchley Park in logistics. My favourite character was Ailsa who had lived on the tiny Scottish island of North Uist. It took great courage for her to defy her parents by refusing to marry the older man they wanted her to and leaving the island for Bletchley. Ailsa was highly skilled in radio transmitting and her work in this area was invaluable to the war effort. The women were temporarily separated when Steffi was seconded to Egypt and Ailsa to Malta but kept in touch via coded messages. This read has everything I enjoy in a book. Mystery, friendship, the element of strong women and a smattering of romance. Perfect ! How brave they all were. My first Anna Stuart read but definitely not my last. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy of this fabulous read. I highly recommend

I enjoyed Anna's latest historical novel, The Bletchley Girls which was inspired by her visit to Bletchley Park. Codebreaking really helped us win WWII; This novel tells the story of 3 women, chosen for their skills to go to Bletchley to work for the Secret Service. Steffi, Fran and Ailsa are dumbstruck to think that they could be part of such an organisation but things change when Steffi is posted to Cairo and Ailsa sent to Malta to help with the coding there. I found the descriptions of the code breaking fascinating and have inspired me to visit Bletchley myself! Great read

I loved this moving and inspirational book about 3 women who played crucial intelligence roles within Bletchley Park during WW2. Despite the atrocities of the war, I loved how willing they were to work ferociously hard but to also play hard and enjoy life as they could see how precious each moment is.

I took to all 3 characters immediately and couldn’t even name a favourite. The friendship vibes hugged me hard from the pages, and I adored the unbreakable bond these 3 strangers formed.

The history was fascinating, I’ve read a lot of WW2 books, but I felt like a learnt a lot from this book about what went on behind the battlefields. Not just code breaking, but radio transmitting and intelligence gathering and storage. And some of what hindered progress was eye opening.

I enjoyed the settings from the English county-side, to Malta, to Egypt, I was swept away with the horror, heartbreak and beauty in each.

Definitely worth reading if you enjoy books about the power of friendship, WW2 fiction and the sheer strength of women working together.

I'm a huge lover of historical fiction and Bletchley has always been an enigma to me (see what I did there?)

I've read several of Stuart's books and have always found them five star worthy, and this one deserved all the stars too. It's very well written, historical moments researched and is an absolutely captivating read.

I love the camaraderie, the strong friendships and the unity the girls had. They were credible characters, well developed and extremely likeable. The story also took us away from Wiltshire and we ventured to both Malta and Egypt.

The Bletchley Girls is a fabulous story of love and loyalty. It's based on true events and is an easily recommendable read.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was 1940 when three young women stepped from the train, strangers to one another but soon to be close friends. Their arrival at Bletchley Park was shrouded in mystery, the security intense. Then there was the Official Secrets Act, a document they each had to sign before they were told anything. But soon they were into work which could alter the course of the war. Steffi Carmichael with her talent for languages; Aisla from a small island off Scotland's coast who'd never been away from home before, knew a lot about radio operating, and Fran was a logistics genius. All would help immensely.

As the weeks and months moved forward the friends worked in different huts, until first Steffi, then Aisla were sent to overseas outposts. Steffi to Cairo and Aisla to Malta. It was hoped their closer proximity to the front line would aid in the first hand knowledge that was so far escaping them. But did they have a spy among them? The Germans were too accurate - they must find who was passing information on...

The Bletchley Girls is another exceptional historical novel, based on fact, by Anna Stuart which I thoroughly enjoyed. The three main characters were from different walks of life, but when they were drawn together, they proved how well they could work, and how they could stand up to the officiousness of some of the suits. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Secret Diary, so I was thrilled to read another one by this author. A new to me Historical Fiction author who is on my radar now. The Bletchley Girls is based on the women of Bletchley Park.

Stefania Carmichael new job is full of secret and she is asked to sign the Official Secrets Act. No one outside the Bletchley Park can know what her true role is. Before her new life with Bletchley Park she lived in Rome and is engaged to Matteo. She has not heard from him awhile and she has packed up a suitcase and his letters to start this new life.

She meets two other recruits, Ailsa and Fran who each help in their new world of codebreaking. Aisla is a radio operator and Fran gift is logistics. They all work together and become close friends. Stefania’s skills are crucial, but when Italy joins the war on the opposing side, her fiancé becomes an enemy. She is soon sent on a secret mission, knowing she has a job to do. Will her loyalties be tested? Will she find Matteo?

I think I’d have liked to work in Bletchley Park and be part of the code-breaking team, which helped so much during the Second World War. When I read a book like this, the horrors of war and the actualities of what people suffered disappear into the background, as I become so immersed in the importance of what these amazing men and women did.

Once again, Anna Stuart has written an amazing story of perhaps some of the unsung heroes of World War II. We learn that everyone working within Bletchley Park had to sign The Official Secrets Act, and they weren’t even allowed to talk to each other about what they were working on, let alone their family and friends. I’ve seen a couple of movies about the work of the code breakers during the war, but this book takes in so much more detail than a movie ever could.

Based on true events and inspired by her visit to Bletchley Park, Anna’s account of The Bletchley Girls - Stefania, Ailsa and Fran - will have you curled up in your chair with a mug of tea, and not moving until you’ve finished.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this book, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Bletchley Girls by Anna Stuart.

Excellent tale of some of the women who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. The characters are believable and enduring and the story pulled me in.

This is my third book by Author Anna Stuart and I must say that her books never fail to disappoint. Her topics and concepts are well researched, her characters are strong, powerful and lovable.

The Bletchley girls is a story of three amazing young girls Steffie, Fran and Ailsa who leave home to begin their selective work at Bletchley Park, during world war 2. The book being based on a true story just did not stop at Bletchley park but also takes us around a few war hit countries like Malta and Egypt, and showed the struggle caused due to the war.

I liked that the book was divided into three parts, but found the third part to be the most interesting. The book also tells us the changing perceptive of women during world war 2. The book not doubt began on a slow note but was enough to keep the reader engaged. I also loved the love story between Ailsa and Ned, I thought it was cute and no doubt the relationship and friendship between the 3 girls were also amazing.

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher at Bookouture and author Anna Stuart for this Arc.

This is not just another story about Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Yes, it is a work of fiction and as such some incidents seem unlikely, but this novel puts in context how the work done in Bletchley had a ripple effect through the conflict and beyond.. Events and conditions in Malta and Africa are interestingly described and the path of information through collation, encryption, decryption, indexing and dissemination is crucial to the storyline.
Steffie, Fran and Ailsa meet on their first day at Bletchley and soon become housemates and close friends. Their different backgrounds and skillsets enable them to excel at their particular roles and soon their skills are recognised.
This interesting and informative work of fiction is recommend.

This was an interesting story told from three different points of view: Stefania, Ailsa and Fran. The story moves smoothly between the three women. The characters are wonderful strong female characters. And my favorite part was seeing the bond and friendship develops between them. This was a hard book to put down once I got started. It was easy to picture and feel what the women were going through and that just added to the experience. It's a great story about amazing women! Thank you Bookouture

Well-written and engaging, The Bletchley Girls tells the story of Steffie, Fran, and Ailsa as they begin their secretive work at Bletchley Park during World War 2.

The story covers three years of the war from the perspective of each woman. I loved the descriptions of the work at Bletchley and was pleasantly surprised when the action was moved to Malta and Egypt

The characters vividly brought to life the bravery and courage of the many people who worked tirelessly and mostly unacknowledged at Bletchley Park.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.