Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable read. The three main characters were written well and I was engaged in the story - I want to know what happens next!

Easy to read, somewhat simplistic book centering around the Clark's shoe factory during WW1. Some of the families are Quakers and their beliefs in non-violence are nicely woven into the story.

I felt like there was a lot of expository text and it was a bit condescending, especially in the initial chapters. I'm not sure if it was a mechanism to introduce the characters and main storyline or simply this author's style, but for me, it detracted from the story.

Overall, I came to the conclusion that I was not the right audience for this particular work and it seems (based on high scoring reviews) that I am in the minority with my relatively "meh" feeling.

It was a while since I've read anything based around WW1 and The Clarks Factory Girls at War was the perfect book to get me back into it. A very interesting look at life for these young girls at the start of the First World War. Kate, Louise, Jeannie were three extremely likeable characters who each faced their own issues throughout the book (Kate's father was the most despicable character I've come across in quite a while and I hope he gets his comeuppance). The girl's friendship was heartwarming and seeing how they navigate the early days of the War was interesting. I'm excited to see where the story goes and what the future holds in store for the characters. I'm particularly interested in seeing how Lucas fairs out. Can't wait for the next book.

A fabulous book from May Ellis based around the Clark’s Shoe Factory in Street Somerset. Three girls Louisa, Kate and Jeannie have grown up as friends even though they attend different Churches which wasn’t usual at the time. All the girls and their families work or are connected to the factory. This book is fiction although based on some truth. Can’t wait for the next book. Thanks to May and her publisher.

A truly wonderful story of what life was like for three young ladies working in the Clark’s factory during World War One. This is a brilliant start to a new series. I was so pleased to be asked to read an ARC as I certainly was not disappointed and in fact can’t wait for the next instalment.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I haven't read many books that take place during World War One. I have been missing out. The problem with not reading a variety of books is you are clueless to the way it was during the period.

By reading The Clark Factory Girls at War I got a taken back in time. I saw the struggles of the women left at home. I listened to the way they were treated. I experienced the differences in religious beliefs and how that affected life in a small village. All of this gave me incentive to learn more. It gave me guidance of where to look. I am ashamed to admit I had no clue what they had gone through.

I had never heard of the White Feather Society. I had forgotten that women were under the control of their fathers until age 21. I knew very little about the Quakers.

Thanks to May Ellis I have been exposed to the past. I cried with the characters. I laughed with the characters. I found myself not wanting to put the story down. When I closed the book, I found myself wanting more of the story. fingers crossed for a book two.

Wow a wonderful book about friendship and life.
The story was good. A great edition to this authors work. I won't spoil things but just fabulous to read.

I thought that this was a really interesting story and liked the fact that it focused on what life was like for young ladies when the First World War broke out. Kate, Louisa and Jeannie are school friends who all work at Clark’s Shoe Factory. All have very different home lives and these are described well giving an insight into what life was like at that time. I found that each of the characters were well thought out and had real depth. How everyone was connected and how each individual, and not just the main characters, dealt with their lives and emotions made them each very realistic. I found that this flowed easily and there was no obvious outcome. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series and finding out what happens next. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

Life-long friends Louisa, Jeannie and Kate are following in the footsteps of their families, working at the Clarks shoe factory. But when Britain declares car on Germany, the Somerset village of Street is shaken to its core. The Clarks factory is at the heart of life in the village, but the Clarks family are Quakers and pacifists. Before long, there are fierce debates amongst the workers and tension between those who opposed the war and those who believed the village men should go to fight. Each of the girls must decide their own positions, but as the brothers and sweethearts leave for France, Louisa is relieved that her beloved Mattie, a Quaker, won't be signing up. But she'll soon find fierce opposition at home as well as across the Channel.

This is the first book in a new series that's set in Somerset between 1914-1915. Friends Louisa, Jeannie and Kate, all come from three different backgrounds., and they work at the Clarks shoe factory. We learn of the girl's personal struggles and societal tensions. The Clarks family along with some of the community are Quakers. The women had to step in and do the men's work as life tries to go on as normal in the dark shadows of war. This is a well-written story with likeable main characters.

Published 9th March.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MayEllis for my ARC of #TheClarksFactoryAtWar in exchange for an honest review.

School friends Louisa Clements, Jeannie Musgrove and Kate Davis, like most people who live in Street, Somerset, work at Clarks factory and they sew shoes linings. When, Britain declares war on Germany, everyone is nervous, they don’t know what the future holds and the recruitment posters start appearing in Street. The Clark family are Quakers and pacifists and so are some of their employees. Soon there are heated debates amongst the workers about how long the war will last, should the men in the village sign up and will the government bring in conscription?

Each of the girls must decide her own position regarding the war, being teenagers they live at home still, their lives revolve around work, family and friends, maintaining a good reputation and none of them have started 'walking out' with anyone, although Louisa is keen on Mattie and her father wouldn't approve because he's a Quaker.

The first causality from the village occurs, it makes the war real for the three young ladies and the other workers at the Clarks factory. Things become tense in Street, as you can imagine there's a division between those who have loved ones fighting in the war and others who don't join up because they’re pacifists.

I received a digital copy of The Clarks Factory Girls at War by May Ellis from Boldwood Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I found the narrative really interesting, I had no idea Clark Shoes had been in business for over two hundred years, they were Quakers and the companies headquarters are still in Street.

The story highlighted relevant topics at the time, for instance women didn’t get paid the same wage as males, teenage boys were hired at fourteen and they earned more than Louisa, Jeannie and Kate and it shows the inequality in the workforce and unions had just began recruiting employees.

The main theme of the novel is the friendship between the teenage girls, they shared their hopes and dreams and really liked how they looked out for each other.

Five stars from me, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, to see what happens to those serving in the war, how it effects the people of Street, the shoe factory, will love prevail between Louisa and Mattie and will Kate and Jeannie find someone special? This is the first book I have read by Ms. Ellis, it won't be my last and I highly recommend this entertaining historical fiction saga.

While I have not read any other books by this author, this one caught my interest because of the war, factory work, and Clarks shoes. Although some of the history was interesting, I failed to connect to the overall story. The main characters are teens, not young adults in their twenties. They have been forced to grow up in some ways but still act like teens. It was also not written on a high level, more like it was written for teen readers. As I do not like bad language, the dozens of instances of h*ll and d*mn was a huge turn off. I really wanted to like this book and expected to get caught up in a new series, but unfortunately that was not the case.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a captivating read of the impact of war on a small village and the lives of three young women.

The author brought together the personal struggles of Louisa, Jeannie, and Kate with the large society tensions of the time.

The Clarks shoe factory served as the of the village, and the different opinions on the war created tension that added another depth to the story.

This was an emotional read and made me feel sorry for people during this era.

C&J Clark shoe factory in the Somerset village of Street as we join Louise Jeannie and Kate in the year 1914.
I enjoyed every bit of this book right from the start. The author has done a great job in this heartbreaking story. A new author for me. Superb reading right to the end.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one so much. I kept drifting away and couldn't engage with the story. The Girls were lovely but, the story didn't keep me interested enough. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

For some reason, this book just didn’t capture my full attention. It was fairly good and the characters were fairly interesting but I don’t think I will remember it in three months. The book is mostly centered around three young ladies Louisa, Jeannie and Kate. They each come from a little different backgrounds but have become steadfast friends. They work at the Clark’s shoe factory. I can remember hearing about Clark’s shoes when I was younger and I am in my seventies now. The war is about to start and these young ladies lives is about to be interrupted in a big way. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

I love historical romance books and this one is no exception. The characters were very love able and I was hooked from the start. I would highly recommend this book!

a wartime drama with strong female characters, sign me up. it was something so comforting about this book, yes i know it is war fiction, but the main characters, you just want to cuddle them and keep them safe. looking forward to the next book in the series. thank you to netgalley for the digital arc.

An interesting read about life long friends in a war time drama. I am sure many readers will really enjoy it but sadly i found my attention drawn away from it quite frequently and its taken me sometime to actually finish it. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The Clarks Factory Girls At Work by May Ellis is a fabulous new series which focuses on the Clarks family in Street, Somerset during 1914 and 1915.
We follow three young girls who work at the factory. They come from three very different families but are firm friends who support each other.
The plight of women was very different a hundred years ago. Women were definitely inferior to men. They earnt less, were not in positions of responsibility and were supposed to submit to men. There were snippets of talk about suffragettes. A young girl has to hand her wages over to her father until she is twenty one.
The plight of a widow with young children was precarious as they lived hand to mouth.
In another household, the father is cruel. He drinks his wages away and is handy with his fists.
We drop in on discussions about the various denominations. The Clarks family were Quakers as were many of the community but some were Church Of England. The community was divided, no one wanting inter-marriage between the denominations. It seems alien to the modern reader.
World War I had begun. Young men go to war. Some are killed. Some suffer from shell shock. Women organize white feather committees which is shameful. Women step into men’s roles as they have been vacated.
Life still goes on. New relationships form in the shadow of war.
All the characters were realistic and well drawn.
I am looking forward to the subsequent books in this series.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! Set at the beginning of WWI, it tells the story of 3 young women, Jeannie, Kate and Louisa who all work for the Clarks factory. May Ellis, the author of this book, tells the story so well, I actually found myself being cross at certain points and having a lot of empathy with the characters. I won't spoil the book by going into too much detail (I hate it when reviewers do that) but what I will say is that I can't wait to read the next in the series.
This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be my last!