A well plotted and poignant historical fiction set in WWII. A naif librarian, Peggy, a socialite, Marigold. A book about the life during was, friendship, and family.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Set in England during World War II
Peggy, a librarian, struggling to find a demanding role within the library, is offered a job within the publications department of the Ministry of Information
It was interesting seeing how publications were made and how the focus was on boosting morale
Peggy was an amazing character and loved the focus on women throughout the book, showing how they supported the war effort
But also showed the importance of family, friendships and community during this time - of sticking together through thick and thin
It was full of heart and emotion
Thanks @annielyonsauthor @headlinebooks & @netgalley for the interesting read

This is the first novel I've read by the author and I was drawn to it by the cover and the review from Clare Chambers, one of my favourite writers.
It's 1940 and librarian Peggy lives at home with her mum and gran whilst missing her twin brother Joe. When Peggy is offered a job at the Ministry of Information she feels that it's the perfect way to do her bit for the war effort.
This is a well researched and immersive novel that brought the period alive for me. I love novels set during this period and the two main protagonists - Peggy and her colleague Lady Marigold- show what the war was like for two, albeit very different, women. I did find the plot moved slowly at times but this was an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of Dear Mrs Bird.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

Peggy Sparks is clever, but she needs her brother to come home to his young family
Lady Marigold Cecile is entitled, unconventional and heartbroken.
This is the story of their friendship and their attempts to boost morale by telling a true story of the home front in their job at the Ministry of Information.
I loved this friendship story, the setting felt real and emotions described perfectly

Fans of Dear Mrs Bird and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will love the latest wartime novel from Annie Lyons – A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War.

1940 and librarian Peggy is desperately worried about her brother Joe. Peggy would love nothing more than to have her brother back with the family and in the house they share with their mother and grandmother. Refusing to let Hitler win, Peggy is determined to do whatever it takes to help the war effort and to ensure her brother’s return, so when she gets the perfect job, she jumps at the chance to make a real contribution to her country. However, as she begins to settle in at her new place of employment, she discovers that her colleagues aren’t all as concerned about doing their bit…

Working under the grandiose socialite Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy is taken aback by the fact that those around her are more concerned with tripping the light fantastic at the Cafe de Paris than with helping to end this cruel conflict. The only thing keeping her going is writing daily accounts of her life. However, far from keeping her spirits up, her writing might just end up getting her – and her brother – into a whole lot of trouble when the Ministry of Information inadvertently publishes her innermost thoughts!

What’s Peggy going to do now? Has she just put her brother in even more danger? Or will help end up coming from a most unlikely source?

It’s impossible not to fall in love with this gorgeous historical novel by Annie Lyons, A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War. Written with style, gusto and charm by the bucketful, this wonderful wartime tale skillfully balances humour and pathos and is full of nuanced characters readers will immediately take to their hearts.

A lovely read that perfectly captures the courage, bravery and resilience of wartime England, A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons is a highly enjoyable historical novel readers will want to tell everyone they know about!

I do love a historical fiction book, and this was no different.

The artwork is beautiful and really sets the tone for the Blurb, enticing you and drawing you in. I can see myself in a book shop flipping the book over after appreciating the cover!

The story follows the lovely Librarian Peggy during the war and how she comes to coke into contact with Lady Marigold Cecily.

You can tell that Annie has done a lot of research for this book as the detail within it for the time is fantastic.

Annie also has a fantastic way of developing her characters, which resulted in them almost becoming 3D in your mind. I could actually see Peggy jumping out the pages if it was possible to do so!

What I found particularly potent is the focus on women and how they supported the war effort. I honestly don't think this is shouted from the rooftops enough, so it was absolutely fantastic to see.

I adored seeing how lives were lived during the war and how the war affected simple (to us) day-to-day activities.

The story of Peggy working to find out what happened to her twin brother is heart-warming and enears you to her character.

If you love historical fiction then this is one for you!

Set in 1940’s London this historical saga follows Peggy Sparks and her family through the war years and beyond. An avid reader Peggy works in a library until she is offered a job at The Ministry of Information in the Publications Department. On her first day she is a bag of nerves but she soon proves her worth. Working with socialite Lady Marigold Cecily she comes to think that Marigold is more interested in her social life than her job. The narrative around Peggy’s story is interspersed with letters from her brother Joe who is away fighting and she is determined to see him safely home again.

Briefly, despite her professionalism Peggy struggles to get a more demanding role, one that she feels will really make a difference. When some of her personal thought are published in error it is Marigold who comes to her rescue and their friendship blossoms from there. Peggy notices Marigold photographs and realises that together they could put together more interesting and attractive brochures to help the war effort.

Peggy is clearly a strong character who doesn’t tolerate fools gladly but Marigold is not the vacuous airhead she is initially portrayed as, there is a much deeper side to her and she was the character I most enjoyed. Based on a real wartime department I enjoyed seeing how publications were put together with the aim of boosting morale. But it was terrible seeing the misogyny and the sexism that the women had to deal with. An entertaining story of family, friendship and the resilience that people showed during this terrible time in our history. An enjoyable read.

Book free courtesy of Netgalley

This is the second book I have read of Annie Lyons and this book is as good as the first one, again putting the War from the point of the sting women who kept our country running whilst our men were away at war..

Peggy Sparks is a librarian, her twin brother has enlisted and she is looking for a way to contribute to the war effort in a bid to enable to get her brother home to his young family, who all live with Peggy's mam and grandmother, as quickly as possible. She is offered a job at the ministry, working on writing pamphlets to encourage the public to support the war. She finds that not only is she working with stuffy old men, who don't value women's opinions but also a lot of "toffs" who intimidate her a bit. Her immediate supervisor is Lady Marigold Cecily, who as a young woman is more interested in going out partying than turning up for work on time and putting in a full day's work. They become friends that learn from each other and realise that the social class you belong to means nothing when there is a war on.

This is a story about Love, friendship and most of all family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, it is beautifully written and you fall in love with all the characters, when you understand their individual struggles.

I enjoy the ease of Annie Lyons’ storytelling and A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War followed her reliable format of a charming wartime tale. We often forget about those on the home front, but this book shares the important role that women undertook. Peggy Sparks, an intelligent young lady from South East London, is happy as a librarian, keeping a written account of how the war is affecting her everyday life. However, when an opportunity presents itself to work as a proof reader for the Ministry of Information, Peggy sees it as a chance to make a real contribution to bring her brother back from the front. Peggy proves herself more than capable and is soon producing successful books about various aspects of the war with her colleague, Lady Marigold Cecily.
This book conveys how life carried on during the bombings and hardships in London and there are moments of sadness as well as moments of joy.
I found this a very quick, easy read and there were many likeable characters. The insight into family life was heartwarming, Peggy comes from a line of capable women and it was these hardworking women who made sure that there was a Britain for the men to come home to.
If you enjoyed Lyons’ previous novel ‘The Air Raid Book Club’ then I am sure that you will enjoy this too.

Another charming tale of wartime life in Britain.

Peggy Sparks, librarian, has one aim during World War Two - to ensure the safe return of her brother Joe who is off fighting for his country. When she is offered a once-in=a-lifetime job at the heart of the war effort, she does not hesitate; after all, this is her chance to make a real difference. When she finds herself working under the direction of the socialite, Lady Marigold Cecily, she begins to realise that not everyone has her commitment; a fair amount of people just want to make the most of the dancing opportunities in the capital. Working for the Ministry of Information keeps her busy, but when her inner thoughts get published accidentally she needs Lady Marigold to dig her out of a hole and make sure she doesn't lose her job.

I've been a fan of Annie Lyons for quite some time now, and view it as a real treat to have one of her novels on my list. With a great cast of realistic characters, this is another one where I learned about a different aspect of the war at home. Absolutely mesmerising throughout and, as always, beautifully written. Not only would I recommend this one but I would strongly advise catching up with all of this author's work. A dazzling five stars from me.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Another enjoyable read by Annie Lyon’s.

It took me a little bit longer to get into this story than the Air Raid Book Club. But once it got going, I didn’t want to put it down.

Great characters, emotional storylines and historical details. Joining the blog tour next month

Peggy Sparks and Marigold Cecily could not be more different. Thrown together by the war to work at the Ministry of Information, in the publishing department, their backgrounds and personalities are worlds apart.

Peggy is smart, down to earth and determined to do her bit to bring the war to an end and ensure her Brother Joe returns home in one piece.

Marigold is a Lady, persistently late to work, always has somewhere more important to be, and seems more interested in dancing at Cafe de Paris than doing her bit for the War.

But she has a keen eye for photography, and after a bit of a shaky start Peggy realises that there is much more to Marigold than meets the eye.

Peggy is kind hearted, but has a determined streak, no doubt inherited from her Grandmother whose sharp tongue and quick wit provides some genuine laugh out loud moments in this novel.

At first, we feel a little detached from the War as reader, which I assume is deliberate as this is how the characters themselves must have felt at times.

Then the Blitz bombings start, and the novel takes a different direction, as do some of its characters, and we are right there in the heart of it all...

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel, and I look forward to this author's next.

3.5 stars

I am a huge fan of this author and have read almost all of her books. I did enjoy this one very much, but it did feel a bit slow for me in several places. It features a cast of characters you can’t help but root for and a setting that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A charming and warm hearted story set in WW2, featuring Peggy Sparks who lives in SE London with her extended family, and Lady Marigold Cecily who comes from quite a privileged background. As events unfold, we see how the war, working in the Ministry of Information and the other characters help both women grow and develop. If you love stories of strong women and history, you’ll enjoy this very much.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

1940. Peggy Sparks is a librarian and she’s determined to make sure her twin brother Joe makes it home to Edenham, London. Peggy lives with her mum Alice, granny Emily, pregnant sister-in-law Flo and her niece Nancy. When Peggy is offered a job working at The Ministry of Information and in the Publications Department as a proof-reader, and she feels like this is her big chance.

Peggy works alongside Lady Marigold Cecily, every morning she’s late because Marigold has been out having a good time and at first Peggy doesn't know what to make of her and the other toffs in the office. Peggy feels a bit like a fish out of water, she continues writing down accounts of her days, when their accidentally published and Marigold comes to her defence and they become unlikely friends and confidantes.

The story focuses on during the war, women were taking on roles and doing jobs once done only by men, drivers, land girls and worked in factories, air raid wardens and fire watchers and they did what needed to be done and had a conscience and wanted to do their bit.

I received a copy of A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons from Headline and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. What an inspirational and enlightening story, characters make a narrative come to life and they worm their way into your heart and this one is full of delightful and realistic ones like Peggy, Alice, Emily, Flo and Nancy, Marigold, Mr. Beecher and Mrs Pyecroft, Frank and Rosa Bauman.

I adored this book and it highlights the importance of friendship, family, and resilience, comradery and sticking together, the significance of the public being informed and how it boosted morale, diplomacy and Penny going from being a shrinking wallflower to a towering oak. Five stars from me, I laughed, cheered and cried and I highly recommend A Girls’ Guide to Winning the War and Ms. Lyons previous book Air Raid Book Club.

Last year I read and enjoyed this author’s The Air Raid Book Club. With her latest novel, Lyons again sets a story during WWII.

Lyons has a gift for writing about characters with warmth and caring. Readers will be hoping for the best for many of those that they meet in these pages.

I loved how the book’s protagonist Peggy believed in libraries and stories. The author also makes literary references that I enjoyed.

Peggy is trying her best in all ways to help the war effort while working for the Ministry of Information. At the same time, her twin brother sees active service and Peggy hopes that her work will somehow end the war sooner and bring him home.

In contrast, when readers meet Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy’s nominal boss, she is more of a socialite than a worker. Will she change and make a contribution? What about the others in Peggy’s unit? Some are irascible; all have personalities.

Readers also get to know generations of Peggy’s family. They are an endearing group.

This is a book that is very easy to like. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book which opens a window onto a different world and time. The girl of the title is Peggy, a young librarian who desperately wants to do something proactive to help win the war and more importantly end all of the fighting. She is offered a job with the Ministry of Information and soon finds herself fighting for her right to be recognised as a working woman.
The characters within the book show us the world of women, left at home to literally 'keep calm and carry on'. I loved the way the author shares the women's thoughts and struggles, highlighting what it was truly like during this time ; and these characters really spring to life on the page. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

When Peggy Sparks' twin, Joe, is called up, she knows she has to help him come home safely. She joins The Ministry of Information which is tasked with providing a flow of information to those at war and those left at home to boost morale. All is not plain sailing. She forms an unlikely friendship with Lady Marigold, who also works in the office and sparks begin to fly as Peggy enjoys her new found freedom in the workplace and fights to play a small part in bringing her brother home safely.
If you loved 'Dear Mrs Bird' then you will love this wartime romp. This is a story of hope, of friendship and has a sprinkling of romance.

This was my first book from this author. I loved every page of it.

No spoiler alerts but the main character Peggy, was someone I would want on my side if ever an injustice had occurred. To see her grow into a strong, determined female, was heart warming. The book flowed well and I found myself just wanting to get back to read it. I do like stories set during WW2 and this was one of those that I would encourage others to read. Well explained and thought out. I Iove, love, loved it.

I was so happy to get an ARC of this book from Net Galley. Annie Lyons writes such great stories, and this one was right up my WWII set in England historical fiction alley. This is the story of Peggy Sparks, her family, the family she creates at work and how they make it through the war. Peggy lives with her grandmother, her mother (her father was killed in WWI), her sister-in-law (also her best friend from childhood), her niece and nephew. Her twin brother, Joe is off fighting the war in Africa. Peggy is given the opportunity to work in the Ministry of Information. The main objective is to write pamphlets (books) starting out with various branches of the military, but leading to the war ‘at home’. One of the objectives is to share this information with the U.S. in order to get them involved in winning the war. There are quite a few characters in her office which makes the story very entertaining., while keeping the mood and struggles of the time. I think my favorite thing about Annie Lyons books is the way a tight community (family) is formed throughout the story, and they always include strong female characters both young and old. Peggy gains the respect of both her family and colleagues by the work she does. Did I mention there are libraries? This book will be out July 25th, and I highly recommend it!