I enjoy Rosie Clarke's writing style. Her characters are easy to sympathize with, faults and all. This is a lovely series and I look forward to reading more!

Such a heartwarming story of friendship. Loved all of the character, all such strong female characters. I enjoy reading of different eras & how different things were then for women. I liked the different points of view and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This story follows four girls -- Beth, Sally, Maggie, and Rachel -- as they begin new jobs at Harpers Emporium, a brand new department store in London that seems sure to make a splash on the shopping scene. Though at first only coworkers, the girls soon become close friends, sharing in each other's joys and helping to relieve heartaches when they come.

I truly enjoyed the friendship aspect of this book; each girl sacrifices something in order to help another when needed. Though they come from differing backgrounds, their shared experience as shopgirls at Harpers brings them together, through thick and thin.

Other than the girls’ friendships, this felt like a first draft of a story, with every extraneous detail from historical research included just to be sure nothing is missed. There are various B plots that pop up and disappear for no other reason than to increase the story’s length. Though the girls’ jobs at Harpers are obviously center stage, the details of their transactions there are described in painstaking detail, taking away from important interactions and overall character growth.

Certain relationships progressed within the blink of an eye without much explanation, while the characters themselves never had an opportunity to grow or change. With a certain lack of definitive “plot” -- it reads more as an account of the girls’ day-to-day experiences -- there was ample room for individual growth that we never got to see.

Additionally, there was an extended focus on the events of the Titanic’s sinking; the story takes place in the spring of 1912 so it makes perfect sense that the ship’s story would be part of the news. However, the Titanic takes on a much bigger part of the book, overwhelming conversation and stalling overall progress, especially since none of the main characters’ lives were affected by anyone lost or closely connected to the tragedy.

Obviously thoroughly researched, this felt like a draft of a story where all the pieces were there but they simply weren’t assembled properly. I felt like I was being told I need to care about these women without ever being shown why I should.

Thanks to the publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Wow did I ever enjoy this one!! It was my first Rosie Clarke book and it won't be my last!

What a delight and I just loved the time and setting of the story. It is 1912 and in London, England a real buzz is in the air. A new department store is opening and hiring workers. Four ladies begin to work together in the new store and form a friendship. I was fully charmed by all of the ladies and their stories. So much is packed into this little book. I can't wait to read the second instalment. Just marvellous! If you enjoyed the tv series, "Mr. Selfridge" then you need to start reading this book. You will not be disappointed!

I would like to kindly thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

I live a good historical fiction book and even more when its a saga! Set around 1911 and four girls all meet when they begin working for a London department store. The story follows their trials and tribulations in life and at work.The suffrage movement and womens rights are all interwoven into the story and make for a realistic saga of the time. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

I am loving books from the early 1900’s at the moment. This hasn’t disappointed, a huge thank you to Rachel and Boldwood Books for my copy in preparation for the Blog tour. This is a beautiful and heartwarming tale of friendships, with loveable characters. This is definitely a must read and although my first by this author, I am excited to get stuck into the series.

This book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting is lovely and captured well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.

Really enjoyable read.
Many thanks for the advanced copy.
The author Rosie Clarke has a lovely way of story telling.

This was a really interesting look at the grass roots of a fictional department store, with fictional characters but true to life for the period detail. I loved it. The characters are very well drawn and seem realistic, and the descriptions of their uniform, work et cetera are lovingly crafted. I understand that this is the first in the series, and I’m really looking forward to reading the next one! Rosie Clarke is a great author and does not disappoint with this book.

The crew of people working in a retail facility must learn to work efficiently while maintaining a positive energy at all times. When this group of 4 women find themselves working side by side in a new, high end facility, they quickly become a support system for each other. Their shared experiences lead them into a life long friendship. Rosie Clarke has written a well defined story of women coming together for each other while life pushed each into different directions. A very good book that will cause you to reach out to your old friends and remind them of their importance in your life.

I really enjoyed this book so much. It has a really great plot, superb main characters and I read it in one sitting. I would highly recommend this book.

A heart warning tale of a group of women who meet at a job interview and form a friendship through working together. A great setting, interesting characters and the ending leaves the reader wanting more.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, which shows an insight into a world not so so long ago, but alien to the modern day. You will not regret reading this and I look forward to the second in the series.

The Shop Girls of Harpers by Rosie Clarke is the debut of Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. It is March of 1912 when Beth Grey heads off to interview for a position with Harpers. The store has completed construction but has yet to open to the public. While waiting for her turn, Beth meets Sally Ross and Maggie Gibbs who are also applying for positions. The four girls are thrilled when they are hired and get to work in the same department under Rachel Craven. This is the beginning of a lifelong friendship for these four ladies along with new adventures. I was immediately taken in by The Shop Girls of Harpers. I have enjoyed reading Rosie Clarke’s other novels and this one did not disappoint. The author has an engaging writing style that draws the reader right in. I like the four ladies who are getting an opportunity to work at a brand new store. They are strong female characters. They each come from different backgrounds with differing personalities. Somehow, though, they click. I enjoyed the comradery between the ladies and the bond they formed. I liked reading about the day to day running of Harpers. The various departments and how they functioned. One of my favorite characters was Fred, the porter, who brought the stock up to the various departments. He is such a kind, thoughtful man. I can tell the author did her research for this book. It felt authentic to the time period with the clothing, music, books, and world events. I liked how she worked the Titanic sinking into the storyline. I just loved reading about the fashions from this time period. The beautiful hats were my favorite. These ladies worked among beautiful clothes and accessories that they could not afford to purchase. The Shop Girls of Harpers is a heartwarming historical novel, and I cannot wait for Love and Marriage at Harpers. The Shop Girls of Harpers is a story of friendship where four women stick together through the ups and downs of life.

Set in the 1920's in Oxford Street London, this is a new store started up in the US. New staff are interviewed and while they are waiting three girls make friends, they are lucky and all get the jobs and also end up working in the same department. This novel tells of the lives of these three girls plus their supervisor.. Different emotions run through this very interesting book, it gives an insight to life in those days. I recommend this book as one to read and enjoy, I would still like to know how their lives progressed after I had finished reading.

Rosie Clarke knows how to keep you interested from the off. Loved tracing the lives of the girls while enjoying the in-store tales at the same time. One of these books that leaves you disappointed when it finishes, only because you are longing to know what happens to each of the characters. Looking forward to the follow-on “Love and Marriage at Harper’s”

4☆ A Heart Warming Story of Friendships.

The Shop Girls of Harpers is a heart warming story of Friendship.

This is the first book in a new series, which I'm really looking forward to reading!

Four Women all attend a job interview to work in Harper's, a new department store in Oxford Street.
It's from that interview the Four Women meet, become work colleagues and the best of friends.

Sally, Beth, Margaret and Rachel are very different, there backgrounds and lifestyles,
Sally grew up in a orphanage and now lives in a hostel.
Beth was her Mother's Carer up until she passed away, now she lives with her Aunt helping her out with household chores.
Maggie (Margaret) is forced to leave school, despite her fathers plees to stay on, she knows she has to get a job to support her family, after her Father is bed ridden from an accident at work.
Rachel ( Mrs Craven) is the supervisor at Harpers.

As the Four Women work closely together their Friendships grow stronger.
One thing that really shines through is the support, Bond and care they have for each other as the face many ups and downs, heartache and joys together.

I really enjoyed reading all about the day to day running of Harpers a big department store, the roles the women have at work and the rules and regulations.

Rosie Clarke always writes with such passion, her books are always authentic and well researched and once again Rosie has written an authentic heart warming historical Saga.

If you are looking for a New Historical Saga, Series, that's Heart Warming, Compelling and Authentic, that features strong friendships, trials and tribulations of each woman, strong, relatable female characters, and a wonderfully enchanting location then you will love The Shop Girls of Harpers!


Thank you to Boldwood Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Set in the pre-WWI period in Britain and beginning with interviews for staff at a new department store in London, we meet the main characters as they first meet each other while hoping they will be successful in finding work. As the four women take up their new positions, fledgling friendships begin to grow . . Maggie, Beth and Sally. It is interesting to note that in 1911 women took a back seat to men and while we've come a long way, we still have a long way to go. As this is the first book of the series, it will be interesting to read what comes next.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the lives of 3 women who meet at work in a department story in 1911.
This book is brilliantly written and the descriptions are so well done that you feel like you are there in the book as a character. The author has also added real events to this book which is very clever.
The characters were warm and likeable.
This book is emotional warm and lovely. It is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read the next instalment.

I loved Rosie’s series about Mulberry Lane so I was looking forward to reading this book and I wasn’t disappointed. It follows the lives of three women whose lives come together when they start working at new department store. Maggie, Beth and Sally are soon firm friends and although they come from completely different backgrounds they help each other through their problems. It’s not long before Mrs Craven the head of their department is also part of this friendship group. I look forward to reading lots more of their adventures at Harper’s. A great read that if you like this genre you will really enjoy.

Oxford Street #1

Set in 1911. Sally, Beth, Margaret and Rachel all meet when they go for a job interview for an up and coming new store in Oxford Street. They were all successful in securing positions. The women all come from different backgrounds. The women come up against many situations while at work and in their home lives.

Although this is an enjoyable read, there were certain factors that weren't up to my expectations. There were parts that were quite repetitive and other that were overdone. The plotline was a little lack luster. There is a little character building that I hope we learn ore about in the next book. I think the descriptions of the preparation and opening of a big store were spot on. The ending felt a bit rushed but I'm looking forward to reading what happens next when the second book becomes available.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Boldworld Books and the author Rosie Clarke for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.