I really enjoyed this third installment of the Emmy Lake Chronicles. Once again my favorite parts are the community (almost found family) at the magazine. There are quite some characters there. In this one Emmy is in charge of the Yours Cheerfully article, but the magazine faces some struggles when a new young, socialite takes over as publisher and has her own ideas of what the magazine should be. Stakes are raised and the team must come together to save the magazine they love. I really enjoy having a villain I love to hate as long as there are other characters that I love. This book had both. It's not five stars because it did feel a bit drawn out at times, but it was overall enjoyable.

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third in a historical fiction series that focuses on the home front in London during World War II. As far as it’s possible to be light-hearted with that topic, this series is.

Emmy Lake works at a long-running magazine called Woman’s Friend, which caters to “everyday” woman in the UK. Since it’s wartime, there are recipes for things to do with carrots, how to stretch your coupons, and so forth. Emmy’s specialty is replying to readers’ letters with advice of all sorts. This book takes place starting in the spring of 1943, as the tide of the war seems to be turning in the Allies’ favor, but it’s still very hard at home, including a lethal bomb here and there. The owner/publisher of the magazine has died and has left the magazine to his niece, the titular Mrs. Porter.

I didn’t love this installment as much as the first two books. Mrs. Porter was just too much of a clueless society airhead, a real villain with zero redeeming qualities. She proceeds to remake the magazine for her society friends, not for its faithful readers.

The best parts of the book were the scenes involving Emmy and her friends, Bunty and Thelma, and Thelma’s children. You got a flavor of how hard it was to make ends meet in those times.

I’m hoping that book four, Dear Miss Lake, will wrap things up nicely.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I enjoyed this continuation of the Emmy Lake Story. I started this series with my book club and we've all enjoyed the series as a whole. This most recent installment was a good mix of characters and moved the overall story along.

I truly will read anything in this universe because I just love this main character so much, and I am so glad that her storyline has been continuing throughout these books. She is such an inspiring person as a journalist myself, and I admire everything about her and her vigor for life.

I cannot wait to continue more in this world an universe and to get to hear even more of Emmy's story in the next one!

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third book in this series and yet another wonderful addition. It brings many of those same elements as the precious stories, like friendship, joy and hope amidst the pains of war and hardship, community, and simply an excellent cast of lovable characters. The story is so well developed and filled with heart and humor. It's one of those feel good reads you can't put down. This is a book (and series) not to miss! It would make for a great summertime beach read of the historical fiction variety.

Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.

I have enjoyed the books in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series and this one was a good addition. I have fallen in love with the characters at Women’s Friend magazine. I love getting to know Emily and her friends, Bunty and Thelma more. The war (WWII) is still going on and affects their lives in many ways. The addition of the new editor, Mrs. Porter, throws a wrench in things and has you cheering on the staff at the magazine and hoping they can pull off an attempt to rescue the periodical. Once again you will get a taste of life during WWII and what a toll it takes on the lives of the people on a day-to-day basis. There is one extremely sad section that had me tearing up. But the end is worth getting through the tears. I strongly encourage you to read the first two books in the series before this one. The character and story development will help immensely as you get lost in the pages with Emmy Lake.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Adult
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Emmy Lake returns and I loved it as much as the first two! The characters are so well developed and it encompasses the heartbreak of WWII while still demonstrating how much love and joy existed amidst the pain. Woman’s Friend will forever be in my heart!

Mrs. Porter Calling is the third book in the series, The Emmy Lake Chronicles. The books find a balance of the grim story of war and of the feel good story of a group of friends who are like family and the joy and comfort they find in each other even in dark times. Given the tone of all three books, I suspect going in how the book will end. It delivers that sweet story, but I would have appreciated something unexpected and unpredictable.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/02/mrs-porter-calling.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

A.J. Pearce has not failed me yet with heartwarming WWII Homefront fiction that really highlights female friendship, rising above adversity, and finding your footing in tumultuous times. I love the edition of a personal villain to the bunch. It add humor and even more heart to a series that was already brimming with both.

Content Note: death of a parent, grief, war, minor cursing

Thanks to Simon Audio and Scribner for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Mrs. Porter Calling is book three in the Emmy Lake series. Woman's Friend has found their niche and has a loyal readership but with the death of their long time owner and publisher they find themselves in limbo. In comes Mrs. Cressida Porter, niece of the former owner and newly willed owner. Cressida is of a much different class than the readers of Woman's Friend and she wants to publish something that her sort would like. The staff, less Mrs. Pye, find themselves once again trying to keep the magazine afloat and survive Mrs. Porter.
Once again Pearce does a great job of merging historical context of London during the war and the personal struggles of her characters. I did not like this one as much as I did the second in the series but that is more because of my strong dislike for Porter and Pye, which I guess is the point. But all of the struggles in the novel wrap up nicely in the end and rather quickly at that. I do like the series and will continue to read them since it is nice to have a war time series that does not revolve around a woman detective (which I do love but you occasionally need a break).

I loved this latest installment in AJ Pearce's WWII series. The characters were lovable and the (sometimes) lighter side of war is a nice alternative to a lot of WWII historical fiction.

I WILL TAKE EVERY BOOK IN THIS SERIES EVER. Mrs Porter was a smidge obnoxious, but I'm sure that is intentional. I love all of these characters and I loved seeing even more of them in this installment, not to mention some happiness coming to Bunty. She deserves it.

I'm A huge fan of Pearce. This is another solid historical fiction by this writer. Can't wait to see what's next!

Cute and quirky. I enjoyed the writing and the story and loved all the characters. Look forward to more. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!

I love this series and the newest didn’t disappoint! Pierce has developed these characters so fully and it feels like I really know them. As usual this is packed with emotions and hope.

Another enjoyable and engrossing book in "The Emmy Lake Chronicles" series! I found myself reading "just a few more pages" before lights out as I become engrossed in the lives of Emmy Lake's life in WWII London. I found the focus on friendship enduring while the historical fiction aspects engaging and interesting, especially the focus on women's experiences during this historical time period and geographic location. I am hopeful this is not the conclusion of a trilogy and that A.J. Pearce will continue to explore these characters. Perhaps a flashback to Guy's earlier journalist career? Fingers crossed! I received a free digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and A. J. Pearce

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Emmy Lake is in charge of a newspaper advice column in London during WWII while her husband is away fighting. Called Yours Cheerfully, it’s very popular with the war weary public. The newspaper is inherited by a spoiled rich woman named Mrs. Porter, who proposes radical changes that will alienate their readers. Can Emmy and her fellow newspaper employees stop her from destroying the paper’s reputation?
4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I have adored the trials and tribulations of Emmy, Bunty, and their friends through three books now. Although the first in the series was my very favorite, all three books have been really good. To me, the best part of these stories is about these friends and their every-day lives - from the food they are eating to the tragedies they encounter. I loved Thelma and her children when they moved into the big house, and I enjoyed their animal adventures.
In the other part of this book, Mrs. Porter has inherited the magazine and she wants to change everything. I'd love to say that Mrs. Porter's cluelessness was unrealistic, but looking around at humanity, it's believable. Seeing the magazine come together to fight the changes was fun, but yup - the friends are my favorites.

Absolutely perfection! A great historical fiction that will draw you in from the first chapter. I highly recommend you check it out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.