Writing as Maisie Thomas, Susanna Bavin excels at creating incredibly well researched novels of female friendship during the Second World War, and this book is no exception. When Sally and Betty are thrown together working at the salvage yard in Chorley during the Manchester blitz any chance of them getting along seems remote; after all, Sally cost Betty her previous job. On top of which, her stepmother has used it as an excuse to force her out of her home.

Meanwhile Sally has lost her job too. Working alongside her best friend Deborah, who she’s known since childhood, their relationship crumbles when Sally turns down Deborah’s brother’s proposal. Both Sally and Betty are feeling lost and vulnerable (although Sally has the comfort of being in love with Andrew, even though her parents don’t approve) and this heart-warming story tells of how these young women put their differences aside for the sake of the war effort – and more.

The author’s extensive knowledge of wartime Manchester makes every page rich in historical detail, which is one of this book’s biggest strengths, and makes it immersive and completely believable.

I'm really pleased that I was chosen to read this as I really enjoyed it. The main characters Sally and Betty are a lovely pair and I enjoyed reading as their friendship grew. Book 2 sounds even better and I look forward to reading that too.

The start of a new series, I absolutely love ww2 stories and how women were important to the war effort.
Set in Salford in the 1940’s was a great knowledge of social history.

A very relaxing read

I’ve just finished a long-term cosy wartime series and I was feeling bereft! I was left with a massive hole the previous book series left behind but: Enter The Home Front Girls. This book came to my rescue and gave me the start to a new series I am now truly invested in.

One thing I absolutely loved about this book was it shone a light onto some well unsung job occupations in the war. I’ve read many about Land Girls, Timber Girls, Bomb Girls, WAAF, WVS, WRNS and even steel workers but I’ve never come across those in salvage before.

The fates of Betty and Sally seem entwined, from their fateful first meeting to their subsequent thrown together proximity starting a new job. They hardly get off to a good start but can a true friendship really be forged under such conditions?

Together they embark on their vital war work in the salvage depot which I found to be a great spin. I loved this perspective and reading about their experiences. Not only that but putting in shifts as a mortuary for gas victims (I hasn’t even realised that was a thing), food ration office and even woodworking for building coffins in anticipation of further acts of war to come. It was an eye opener and I love learning about new domestic, home front and other occupations during this era. I definitely have some new things to research!

I always love coming away from a book not only enjoying it, but feeling like it’s shared something with me. The characters were not only likeable but I felt truly invested in their stories and I can’t wait to read the next one to see how they will further develop and have the chance to spend more time with them.

If you need cheering up and some unashamed escapism, this is perfect! This author is the queen of uplifting, feel good romance! Buy it……..If you a fan of fantastic historical writing.

A lovely, sweet British home front World War II novel--my favorite historical genre! Two young women become fast friends (after a bumpy start) while working at a salvage yard and bravely putting out incendiaries as part of their defense duties. I enjoyed that story line even more than the romance aspect. I'm excited to read the next book in this series.

Thank you Net Galley, Bookouture, and Susanna Bavin for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Home Front Girls. I enjoyed this historical fiction story which focused on the actions and feelings of young adults at the beginning of WWII in the UK. The linear timeline was action packed and easy to follow yet the characters were one dimensional and needed more depth. I enjoy books that are dark and gritty.. This story did not scratch the surface for me. I wanted more detail about the war, edge of my seat action and thought provoking decisions that need to be made. For me, this was too fluffy and predictable but gave me insight into how young adults contributed to the war effort.

This one was a mixed bag! I loved Sally’s character, she was strong and brave and courageous. I also loved her friendship with Deborah, it was the defining relationship throughout this novel that kept me reading. The backdrop for this book was a nice change of pace from other historical fictions I’ve read, one being in the North and two, with Sally working at the salvage depot.

I just couldn’t bring myself to be emotionally invested in Sally and Andrew’s relationship! I was more interested in Sally and her work, and her other female friendships. The writing was also all over the place and felt a little juvenile in places. A fantastic premise and setting, I just wish the writing was better.

After initially struggling to get into the book it turned into a 'couldn't put it down' title!

Being set in Manchester where my husband originated from meant I knew many of the places mentioned.

I didn't enjoy the early chapters with Rod featuring and feared the book was going to be like others I'd read where Sally married Rod and ended up a downbeat wife. Once she'd been brave and kicked him into touch the storyline was much more enjoyable. I did wonder if Andrew was genuine but the storyline led you on a merry-dance and it seems he was!

I'm glad to see there is a follow-up book coming and look forward to following the characters and their valuable wartime work.

Thank you the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Arc copy of the title.

A brand new series WW2 historical saga set in Salford Manchester 1940.
Sally White and her best friend Deborah Grant work in the food office, Sally walking out with Rod Deborah's brother wants more and after a big proposal she lets him down causing their friendship to fail and she turns to Andrew Henshaw, Sally also changes jobs and moves in with Andrew's mother and a new work mate Betty Hughes Sally's parent will not give consent for them to marry till she is twenty one.
As more air raids hit and bombs continue around the town it's going to be a long time yet before they can start to live normal lives.
I tell you what this book is so so good I just could not put this down. Full of Family, friendship and companionship, that will pull at all your heartstrings in every chapter, what a start to a new series, that Susanna Bavin has delivered and looking forward to getting to know a lot more from all these characters and their lives

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very good historical fiction book. The writing was very good and it was well researched. The romance was very cute.

A sweet but bland story about two girls in the British home front during WWII. If you like romance and no spy action or drama then you’ll enjoy this story. It is a relaxing and enthralling read.

“The Home Front Girls” by Susanna Bavin is the first book in the “Home Front Girls” series. There were many things I enjoyed about this book - including some of the information regarding recycling during WWII in the UK. I also liked learning how the different war departments didn’t quite work together but kinda pretended they did (sigh, even back then there were territory disagreements). I also really enjoyed learning more about the skills one had to learn to be part of the fire watch - I never thought of the fact that someone had to remove unexploded items and properly dispose of them preferably before they went off and caused damage. What I wasn’t so keen on was the fact that even toward the end of this book, I kept mixing up the backstories of the two main characters - there was just something about the two women that seemed to trip me up. While I did like the first time they met and the fall out, I really didn’t enjoy the story about the break-up and that aftermath. Maybe it was because I just finished a book that had a similar storyline? Anyway, if you like WWII books set in the UK where plucky females are doing their best for king and country, this might be a book (or series!) you’d like to pick up.