Lily is living in a new town with her parents in 1938. Her mother tries hard to make ends meet and her father is an abusive, miserable man, affected by his time in WWI. Lily works hard at two jobs (a factory job, and a movie theater) as well as taking classes. She also gets involved in making things better in her town. One night after a run-in with a thief at the movie theater, she meets Edward who helps her.

This is the first in the series and I look forward to reading more about her life. She has to deal with an abusive father and stalking by a boyfriend. I was surprised at the lack of support the police officers provided for her in that regard. It was an interesting read to learn more about the days leading up to WWII in England. I liked the characters, Lily, and her mother, her best friend Jean, and Edward especially.

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author of this ARC

another great read by Patricia McBride.
I really enjoyed reading about all the characters who were in it.

England, 1939. Lily Baker wants more from life. Working at the local cinema, she saves her pennies so she can have a chance to get ahead. After she’s attacked one night while locking up the cinema, she loses her heart to her dashing rescuer…
But this lovely man is as different from her as can be. When the town is divided, pitting the wealthy elite against the poor working class folk like Lily, she finds her allegiance is torn.
And worse: the looming threat of war threatens to separate them forever. Will the dangerous times rob a young woman of her only chance at love? First book in the series, Kept me awake most of the night as I just had to finish it. A great read… grabbed my attention from the first page…

A book from a very different perspective but wonderful none the less. The characters were relatable and many of the lessons were applicable even today.

The Picture House Girls by Patricia McBride

This book really took me through some ups and downs, and there were a few difficult topics in there including stalking and abuse. The characters were very satisfying as they were quite a plucky bunch. This felt like a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. Thanks so much Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

This story is about Lily Baxter who has two jobs one at the local picture house and another at the clothes factory.Both her and her mother have gone back to live with her violent father.Lily meets some man when he catches a thief that has just robbed Lily of her handbag as she leaves the picture house after locking up.Lily also joins a group that are trying to get a wall demolished that has been erected between the corporation houses and the toffs.This was a great read.Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood.

I liked the book which is just before War broke out.

Lily works two jobs which one of them is working in the picture house her friend Jean works with her there. Lily meets Edward who she likes. Lily goes out with Victor but things don’t work out. Lily is a strong character.

The book deals with abuse and also stalking. I enjoyed the characters and they worked well together. I liked how the book flowed.

Well written.

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

I enjoyed this book, the story is set in 1939.

Lily has two jobs as well as taking classes, she really wants to get a better job. We see her undertaking her duties in both employments as well as doing her bit at home, as well as meeting her friend Jean.

The story covered some hard issues like mental and physical abuse, as well as stalking, and reading about how the police didn’t take it seriously when someone.is mistreated by a man.

I recommend this book.

The Picture House Girls by Patrica McBride takes us back to the spring of 1939. Lily Baker is working two jobs plus taking classes. Lily is a smart young lady who is determined to get ahead. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but I found the story a little sluggish in the middle. We get to join Lily at her job at the Dream Palace, at her classes, at home, and out with her best friend, Jean. I thought the author captured the time period. I knew it was set in England, but the author failed to capture the locale. It could have been anywhere in England. I enjoyed the references to the movies that were playing at the Dream Palace. The story does contain mental and physical abuse from a father/spouse as well as stalking. I was shocked at how the police treated someone who was being terrorized by a man. The Picture House Girls has romance, drama, and suspense. It was helpful to have read The Button Girls, the Lily Baker prequel. Now that war has been declared, new adventures await Lily.

A great read in this series. I loved the characters and felt the unease of the war between the two girls and their families. I hope there is more to come. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book had a lot more to do with the title since the girls were actually working at the movie theater. But like the first book, this is a feel good book about a working class girl and her life before WWII, that barely mentions the impending war.

Lily Baker has been used to being told she’s not good enough, that hasn’t stopped her trying to get on in the world. While she continues working at the textile factory to help her mum out financially she also works at the local picture house the “Dream Palace.
One night when locking up she is attacked, Lilly,shouts out for help, a young man appears from nowhere running after the attacker and rescuing Lily’s bag. Lily takes quite a shine to her rescuer, but again doesn’t think she’s good enough as he comes from the posh end of her street. This is more in evidence when a wall is erected, diving the street as the posh residents don’t want to see the poorer residents.
This gets Lily’s hackles up and she finds herself attending a meeting to do something about it. Lily gets more than she bargained on, and not all for the good!
Her colleague Jean from the picture house proves a good friend, likewise the manager Mr Simmons sees qualities in Lily and rewards her by offering promotion (unheard of for a female in those days)
I really enjoyed Lily’s story. The easy friendship with Jean. Least favourite character has to be Victor.
Will enjoy reading more of this series.

Not a bad book at all.
It was a good introduction to a new series. At times too much happened, so you did not get the time to digest it. I liled the Main characters, they were feisty. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion