The Great Western Railway Girls is a wonderful story which I enjoyed immensely. It is a WWII historical fiction book which there are a lot of, however this one was different. The story centred on a group of young women from a town in England whose fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers and boyfriends etc all worked at the local railway workshop. The workshop historically built locomotives but at the outbreak of the war, began manufacturing munitions and other supplies for the war effort. Women were forbidden from working in the workshop however as all the men gradually signed up to fight in the armed forces, the women took over the workshop roles. It was a steep learning curve and the jobs were physical and dangerous with few safety standards. I liked getting to know all the girl’s backstories and how they all came from very different pasts. By the end of the book they formed a close bond with each other and became a kind of “sisterhood”. I felt slightly unfulfilled at the end of the book as there didn’t seem to be an ending as such. All of the different character’s storylines were left open ended and I was left wondering what happened to them all. Clearly there is going to be a sequel however when I chose the book I thought it was a standalone. I will be keen to read the follow up to see how each character’s stories progress. The book was well written and researched, and the story an interesting one. I would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

In the first book in a brilliant new World War II historical fiction series, readers follow Lily, Maggie, and Catherine who all work at the Great Western Railway factory in different roles as war is declared in September 1939. Lily sees the war as her chance to escape her father and move out as a financially independent woman, while Maggie seizes her chance to work in the machine shop and choose her own path, and office clerk Catherine loves her work with the London evacuation teams, but the end of her taks means she might have a chance at a new and dangerous job. With its cast of complicated women faced with new opportunities, readers will love the unique home front setting of this novel and the challenges and joys ahead of them. The three characters alternate perspectives in the novel, which gives readers the chance to follow along with their changing lives, and the differences in their stories is absolutely fascinating and immersive. Well-written, entertaining, and emotional, this new novel from Jane Lark is the start of what promises to be a brilliant new series focusing on the working women of the Great Western Railway factory during World War II.

I loved this opening to a new series. It was full of period detail and conjured up the start of the Second World War beautifully. There are so many lively characters to follow. As you follow their lives and see the different decisions they are making,you get involved in their lives. Family and friendship are most important to keep everyone going and the ties they gorge at work shine through. You certainly believe that they are all working for the war effort but struggling to keep going at times.

It is fascinating to see the different lives of the classes with a strict pecking order shown through their clothes and home lives. The role of women are central to the story and you can sense that there are big shifts coming in the attitudes, particularly towards married women working. In the early days of the book, women are looked down on at work, paid less and assigned more menial work but you can see their capabilities coming through, Not all families are happy with instances of neglect and brutality hiding behind the curtains. However, there are also kind and close families looking out for each other. I am looking forward to Book 2 to see where the GWR Girls go next in propping up the Home Front.

In short: great historical fiction

Jane Lark’s The Great Western Railway Girls is an enjoyable wartime tale about friendship, romance and community saga readers will not want to miss.

September 1939 and England is at war and while apprehension, fear and panic are in the air, Lily sees this as the perfect opportunity for her to escape her domineering father’s clutches by joining the Great Western Railway factory. Financially independent and living far from home, Lily is finally free to do whatever she pleases for the first time in a very long while.

Maggie wants to do more with her life than merely follow her sister’s footsteps and work in the GWR laundries. When the opportunity arises to volunteer for men’s work in the machine shop, she’s the first to raise her hand. But does she know just what she has signed up for? Catherine works as a clerk in the GWR offices and has been helping with London’s evacuation efforts, moving children out of the city. But with her work completed and the opportunity to do far more dangerous work, will Catherine defy her family and her fiancé’s wishes and do her duty to her country? Or will she always regret not following her own heart?

Lily, Maggie and Catherine are on the precipice of great change and in times of great difficulty and upheaval will find that their friendship is worth its weight in gold…

Having loved Jane Lark’s historical romances and her thrillers written under the name of J S Lark, I was really looking forward to her first saga and I was not disappointed. The Great Western Railway Girls is a touching, emotional and compelling tale with three wonderful heroines readers will cheer on and care about. A gripping yarn that will tug at readers’ heartstrings, The Great Western Railway Girls heralds the start of a fantastic new saga series by Jane Lark.

The Great Western Railway Girls is a WWII home front story featuring three young woman who support each other at work and in their personal lives.

As England is drawn into WWII, three young women find work at the Great Western Railway (GWR). Lily is Black and seizes the work opportunity to escape her abusive father. Maggie doesn’t want to work in the laundry like her sisters, so she volunteers for men’s work in the machine shop. Catherine is a clerk in the GWR office and helps with the evacuation effort to move children out of London. Wanting to do more, she changes her name to distance herself from her father, an executive with the GWR, and works (incognito) on the floor. These women develop a bond and share family drama and wartime traumas.

The Great Western Railway Girls is the first in a planned series in which the author develops the three main characters, establishes the setting, and sets up future storylines. This means that at story’s end, some plot lines are unresolved, and we envision what direction the next installments might take.

War brings changes. As with other home front stories, we see women taking on men’s work and women supporting women. I like the solid foundation of friendship the three women build in this introductory story.

The Great Western Railway setting is interesting and provides a different perspective on WWII from the home front. If I were looking to support the war effort or needing a job, I might not have worked here. But did local workers have a choice? The GWR was obviously the largest employer in the area. I can also image in future installments that the Germans might want to bomb this critical transportation system.

Content Consideration: workplace injury, abusive father

Fans of WWII home front stories set in England and women supporting women will appreciate this riveting story and its compelling themes.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheGreatWesternRailwayGirls upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to hear about this novel, because I really enjoy reading these kinds of books and this is the first one in a new series.
It begins in September 1939 and the start of World War II. Set in Swindon, we meet the main women characters over the first few chapters.
Lily Franklin lives with her father, stepmother and brother and their younger half-siblings. Her brother Art works in the Great Western Railway’s iron workshop, but is an army reservist so he is soon called up. When he leaves, Lily knows she needs to get away from their violent father.
Maggie Abbot (21) has three older sisters (Dot, Edith and Marjorie) and has just started work with them at the GWR laundry. But Maggie and her best friend Violet Turner soon volunteer to work in the metal works instead, as more women are having to do “men’s jobs” due to the war. Maggie likes Violet’s lodger Ron the carpenter, as does Violet.
Catherine Pearce is first seen helping to sort out the evacuees. She has four brothers and lives with her parents in a big house. Her father works for GWR as the chief clerk. She begins a friendship with Jewish girl Naomi Isaacs and they both begin doing the new “men’s” jobs as well, Catherine changing her surname so her new friends don’t realise she’s related to her father.
The five of them – Lily, Maggie, Catherine, Violet and Naomi – form a tight knit group of women, becoming friends and sisters to each other during the dark days of the start of World War II. I love stories where there’s a great camaraderie between women and this is a great example of it.
I really like reading about both World Wars from the point of view of the social history – finding out what went on at home, while the men were fighting away in Europe. It was an important time for British women as they had to often stop being housewives to join the war effort. They began earning their own money and having more independence from husbands and parents.
There’s a bit of everything in this book – romance, money issues, family arguments, work issues, housing conditions, rationing and plenty more. I loved the inclusion of little bits of ‘evidence’ from the time like the wording of the Identity Cards after the enumerator’s visit.
I love how I always learn something from this genre of books. I never realised how huge the Great Western Railway was and how many jobs it provided for the local people at the time, across many different occupations and trades, with whole families working for them. I looked up the Railway Village on Wikipedia to find out more and you can tell the author has researched the period extensively, as she really brings the facts to life in her book.
Overall, The Great Western Railway Girls is an excellent introduction to a new series and I will look forward to reading the upcoming books too.

The Great Western Railway Girls is the first book in a brand new series by Jane Lark. As always when I start a new series I feel a tad nervous, what if I don’t enjoy it or it’s just not for me. Well I can honestly say after a few chapters I was completely absorbed in this story. I loved the characters of Catherine, Maggie and Lily and how they were determined to help the war effort by working at the Railway Factory in jobs which at that time were potentially for men. Each of the girls had their own reasons for working there and I was hooked on all their stories. The three of them came from different walks of life but they formed a unique bond of friendship which I thought was wonderful. There were other characters that I really warmed to also and I look forward to getting to know them better as the series progresses. All in all this was a wonderful and at times emotional read of friendships and helping each other during tough and difficult times. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

"The Great Western Railway Girls" by Jane Lark is a lovely tapestry of historical fiction about World War II. This poignant novel takes readers to the British home front, where a group of feisty women rise to serve their nation by working on the railways.

Jane Lark's prose conveys the spirit of friendship and determination, bringing to life the characters' struggles, aspirations, and victories. The author brings the period to life well, emphasizing the important contributions women made to keeping the railways operational during the war. The characters are well fleshed out, each with their own history and personal struggles, making them real and interesting.

The tale explores the theme of friendship, determination, and the effects of war on ordinary people. Lark's exhaustive research and painstaking attention to detail are evident throughout, bringing a rich and authentic picture of war-time life vividly to life. The narrative is heart-warming and tear-jerking as the characters struggle with love, loss, and the unsettled nature of the times.

Overall, "The Great Western Railway Girls" is a gripping read that presents a unique insight into women's achievements in WWII. Jane Lark's mastery of storytelling guarantees this novel will linger with readers long after the last page is closed.

This is a new author to me and this is also a new series. Set in Swindon it’s based on a group of girls that meet at the Great Western Railway at the start of the Second World War. Cathy,Lily, Maggie and Violet all have their own reasons for wanting to work there but they soon become friends with each other. There are some good characters that you feel for as they all go through their own struggles at this testing time. I think this will be a great series

Friendship and drama at the Great Western Railway factory when Lily, Maggie and Catherine are hired. It's 1939 in England and these three girls want to do their bit to help with the war. From different backgrounds they all become friends in their effort to help fight the war. This was a nice story and will make a lovely series. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A intriguing WWII story about a young woman, Lily, wanting to escape her domineering father, her step-mother and her siblings. Even if this entails her working in the men’s machine shop.
Lily makes friends with Maggie and Catherine. With this friendship, will Lily be able to survive what comes her way?
This story is full of history about the girls of the Great Western Railway.
A well written historical fiction novel that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the start of a new series and one that has been an enjoyable read. I felt like the characters were all introduced well so that I could get to know them and the author has included a lot of history within the story, so thats great too.

It's well written and I would enjoy reading more by the author.

The story is set in Swindon and begins in September 1939, just as war is declared. It focuses on three young women and the friends they make as they contribute to the war effort on the home front. They work at the Great Western Railway in roles previously done by men. The cast of characters is diverse, and they form friendships that bridge social divides and prejudices. The story is emotional against the backdrop of an encroaching war and all the heartbreak and uncertainties of being young. The female protagonists draw readers into their lives, and you care what happens to them. The historical details bring the Swindon to vibrant life.
I like the originality, the characters and the immersive storytelling; I can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was a new author to me and a new setting. The GWR girls show just how women stepped up to do their duty and the dangers this often held. As we journey with the friends we admire Cath for not playing on her privilege, want the best for Lily, Naomi, Maggie and all the others. We share their pain, worry, upset and stand beside as they try to help each other and their loved ones. All takes place during the "phoney war" and so i can not wait to see where this goes and how they support one another once the ware heats up on the home front. Life has changed dramatically for them all and for one in particular. It is never going to be the same, but their friendships seems strong and enduring.

This is the first in the Great Western Railway Girls series.Cathy is a clerk at GWR where her father is boss.She has been helping getting all the evacuees homed but then finds that her work is dull and wants more so she applies to work in the machine shop .As she doesn’t want everybody to know who she is she changes her last name so everyone doesn’t know who she is related too.Lily is trying to leave her domineering father so gets a job in the GWR working in the machine shop.Maggie also gets a job in the machine shop as she wants more than her sister who works in the laundry at GWR.The three girls become pals and Cathy ends up leaving home as her father doesn’t want her to work in the machine shop as he thinks it’s dangerous,so moves into lodgings with Lily.There are many ups and downs for the 3 girls to navigate, but what will happen.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.

A wonderful new WW2 saga based within the Great Western Railway works in Swindon. Lily, Catherine, Maggie and their family and friends take on new roles as men go off to war. Some accepted these changes however many didn’t. Based around friendship and love we get taken on a journey as they adapt to new ways. Thanks to Jane and her publisher. Would love to read more about these women.Thanks also to NetGalley.

A very interesting book about the woman who worked for GWR certainly will turn into a brilliant series.

The book is based on three woman in the book Catherine, Maggie and Lily there is also Naomi but mainly it is the first three. All the woman come from different backgrounds. Catherine is engaged to Charles, Lily is friends with Lenny and Maggie is single. The work is hard and as more men are called up then the woman help with the jobs the men left.

I really liked the characters and how the book flowed there was some sad bits in it and of course romance as well.

It was well researched and well written.

Would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in a new series.

The story begins with war being declared in England. It’s the story of three women, who are different from each other. It was interesting to read about how their lives were so different from each other and becoming friends.

The story was well written and I loved the characters and how the public began to live with all the changes that war brought.

I’m looking forward to reading what comes next for Maggie, Lily and Cath.

I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed The Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark. The author captured the time and place. The story is told from multiple points-of-view. It took me a little while to get into the story and to keep track of each character. The characters are likeable and relatable. I liked seeing the ladies’ come together and become friends. I wish, though, that the author had let us know more about what was going on at the factory. We learn about their jobs at the beginning, but then we do not learn more until the end. The women could have been working at any factory in England. It sounded like GWR was a large factory and I wanted more information about it (what the girls did each day, what the factory made, how they contributed to the war effort). The author included the predictable wartime pregnancy in the story (why is there one in every book set during World War II). There is an incident near the end that I expected, but I still found it shocking. This story takes a reader through a range of emotions. I am assuming that The Great Western Railway Girls is the first book in a series, and I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I want to know what happens next with these women and how one is going to handle her new reality.

Jane Lark is a new author to me and this is the first in a new series.

For me it was a little slow - but it was interesting to read about a different aspect to life in WW2 Swindon. Having lived in the town in the late 80s I could imagine some of the areas mentioned.
This was the story of friends, Lily, Catherine and Maggie and their families. Along the way other characters were introduced so eventually there was a team of 5 who became friends despite their differences in their upbringings.
The book did end slightly abruptly but allowed plenty of scope for further books in the series - it was not necessarily easy to see how these stories would develop which is always a bonus.