Oh my goodness what a brilliant book and a wonderful start of a series.

Kitty is married to Bill but unfortunately he does not know how to not spend money and he has inherited the Dunbar Hotel he is away helping in the War when the bailiffs take all the furniture from the hotel. She decides to turn the hotel into a storage facility for the people who have lost their homes. Lily is married to Daniel she is expecting a baby and he is away in the Merchant Navy he is upper class while she is working class and through tragic circumstances she ends up living with Lily and her daughter Abbie. Beatrice works for the corporation where she sees the poverty of all the people she wants to help people, she ends up living in the Dunbar Hotel as well.

The book ebbed and flowed it was happy and sad in places. I really liked all three woman and they all worked well together their characters clicked.

The book was well written and interesting.

I would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

I found it heartwarming to follow all of the characters in this WWII saga.

Kitty and her husband Bill own the Dunbar Hotel, but have struggled with debts since their teenage daughter, Abbie, was born.

Lily returns to Dunbar as an expectant mother. She met her husband, Daniel, when she worked as a chambermaid before the war began. With her husband away at sea, Lily doesn't know who to rely on for support.

I felt that Kitty was a strong and determined character, which I admired. Abbie was a great character too; she seemed kindhearted and intelligent. I felt the character with the most growth and development was Beatrice, who seemed to struggle finding her place at the beginning.

I enjoyed the old-fashioned values of the book, and how all of the characters supported one another through their struggles. This book both made me smile and tugged at my heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Kitty learned early on in her marriage that her husband, Bill Dunbar, isn't reliable with money. So when they inherit the Dunbar family hotel at the start of the war, they are hopeful that their financial worries are over.... until the bailiffs turn up!

Lily worked as a chamber maid at Dunbar's before the war. She met Daniel there, but their relationship was complicated by class differences and the disapproval of Daniel's mother. Now Lily is pregnant - and Daniel is away at sea, she's all alone. When tragedy strikes, will Kitty and Dunbar's come to her rescue?

Beatrice is in her forties, unmarried and working in a job that exposes her to the harsh realities of poverty and sacrifice. She wonders if the war would give her the opportunity to change lives for the better - including her own. But when she's accused of a crime she didn't commit, the future looks bleak.

This is the first book in a new series that's set in Manchester around WWII.We meet Kitty, Lily and Beatrice and their struggles to survive in a man's world. This is quite an emotional read. The women are strong characters. The three women are drawn together and form a strong bond. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

Published 27th March 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley Boldwoodbooks and the author #MaisieThomas for my ARC of #ANewHomeAtTheWartimeHotel in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins in Manchester in 1928, where our main character Kitty Dunbar has become a mother to baby Abigail. We meet Kitty’s husband Bill and her older sister Naomi.
The action then moves on to January 1941, thirteen years later, during World War II. Kitty, Bill and Abbie (12) are still in Manchester. Bill is now going to inherit the Dunbar Hotel. However, his rash overspending is going to have consequences for his whole family.
The other main characters in the novel are Beatrice and Lily. Beatrice is a spinster in her forties who delivers incontinence pads on her bike. But her caring nature means she wishes she could do more, especially for the children that can’t go to school because they have to be young carers.
Lily worked at Dunbar’s hotel as a chambermaid, which is where she met Daniel. His mother doesn’t approve of her because of the class difference. Lily is now pregnant and married (in that order) and Daniel is away in the Navy.
Events bring Beatrice and Lily to Dunbar’s and along with Kitty and Abbie, they become firm friends and look out for one another, while trying to help others struggling in the War and dealing with their own personal issues. The wonderful Fay Brewer is another great character – a list of strong women all trying their best in trying circumstances.
The WWII background is described authentically and I enjoyed the details and reading about the long queues for food, rationing and the Anderson shelters, but the emphasis of the novel is definitely on the brilliant women at home dealing with all their issues.
This is the start of an exciting new series and I look forward to catching up with all the characters in the next book.

What a super start to a new series - it would be possible to think that this was just another book of historical fiction set in WW2 - but it’s so much more than this.
It was the story of three women - all of whom had separate back stories - who were brought together by The Dunbar hotel.
Kitty -the wife of Bill Dunbar took over the hotel when she ‘inadvertently’ arranged for her husband to receive his call-up to avoid his spendthrift ways. Did she succeed? - maybe there is obviously more to come on this - but along the way she suffers bailiff humiliation and the finding of herself.
Beatrice - a rather sad character that is down trodden in a job she doesn’t like until a turn of fate and an accusation - allows her to begin a job that fits her far better - again scope for more to come
And Lily - she was the character I wanted to shake - more so after her husband Daniel told of his experiences. Lily had suffered a heartbreaking event but so had Daniel - even if he was away as a Merchant Navy sailor.

This was well written and well researched - the author has her own style whatever name she writes under - I wonder if she needs all the nom-de-plumes?

I really enjoyed this book with its different scope on life in WW2 and look forward to the next instalment - hopefully this will follow all three ladies and not focus on just one of them.


Deserves its 5 stars

This is a new series set during World War Two. We meet three different characters who are all strong in their own way trying to make the best of difficult situations. Kitty Dunbar ends up taking over Dunbars Hotel struggling against her husband and his spending leaving lots of debt behind as he’s called to help with the war. Beatrice is a hard working spinster who finds herself in a terrible position which leaves her struggling to cope. Then there is Lily a young pregnant newlywed whose husband is off with the merchant navy and a mother in law she doesn’t get on with. These three strong women find themselves crossing paths with each other and before they know it they are the best of unlikely friends helping each other out. I look forward to reading more of this series in the future

What a joy to read this first book in a brand new series! A New Home at the Wartime Hotel is a delightful offering of friendship, determination and resilience in the midst of civilian wartime.

The story is rich in detail - both the author’s knowledge of her hometown of Manchester’s suburbs and her research into ‘war work’.

The ‘down to earth’ characters are what make this story such a gem. Their dialogue is witty; their personal circumstances bring many plot twists and strong emotions; and observing the friendship flourish between Kitty, Lily and Beatrice is truly heartwarming.

I highly recommend this enjoyable and engaging story - I can’t wait to see what happens next in book two. I know this is going to be another wonderful series from Maisie Thomas.

Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set around 3 women and take place during WW2, enjoyed learning all about them and how there lives entwine

This book is the first in a new series and I am looking forward to the next

“A New Home at the War Front Hotel” is the first book in a new series by Maisie Thomas. This story follows three women as they cope with WWII on the home front in England. Kitty, married to Bill and mother of Abigail, finds herself coping with a husband who spends money like it’s water - but worse than that takes out “never never” loans (look it up online). Beatrice is a single woman who works for an agency that drops off adult diapers, but Beatrice has a heart of gold. Lily finds herself newly married and pregnant. What brings these women together is Dunbar Hotel. What I liked about this book was how women everywhere coped with the men not being home. Women doing things thanks to doors being open to them was highly stressed and I liked how resourceful the women were too. What I didn’t like was that this book started off for about six chapters focusing on one character, then bounced to another feeling like it was out of the blue. The key information from the first six chapters were repeated in subsequent chapters, so that was a bit curious. I also really like learning things from historical fiction books and I cannot say that I really learned anything new from this book. I think if you like stories with a background of WWII, set in England, with strong women characters, this might be a book to pick up.

This is the first book in the Dunbar series.Kitty is married to Billy Dunbar who is always buying things on credit which is not Kitty’s way of doing things.Kitty doesn’t get on with Billy’s mum so doesn’t get any help from her.Lily works at Dunbar Hotel and is married to seaman Daniel,she also doesn’t get on with her mother in law as she thinks her son he’s married below them.Beatrice works for the corporation delivering.Beatrice wishes she could help the poor children in the area..The lives of these three women all come together .Can Kitty change her life around with the help of Lily and can Kitty help Beatrice . Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books

This is set during WWII and follows a number of women in their day to day lives.

Kitty is the first we get to know. She is a strong and resilient character but I couldn't help feel sorry for her. Her marriage is clearly a source of much disappointment. Despite this, she soldiers on and does her best to bring up Abbie and serve her community. I like her business sense and she shows initiative at a time when the future was clearly unknown and a little bleak.

Lily is a sad character too. Down on her look but determined to help where she can. She feels a victim of circumstance and is another woman let down by someone she loved. She isn't afraid to ask for help or muck in though so you can't help but admire her spirit!!

Beatrice is out third, female main character and she's a little different to the other two. She's still down on her luck but she has initiative and integrity and I like her determination.

The three work well together and there's a great relationship between them all. The book is sad at times but there's also some lovely moments.

I'd heard of Maisie Thomas but had never read any of her books. I wish I had! This was a wonderful story of friendship, heartbreak and pure determination. The 3 main characters each had their own story but came together lovely. I can't wait to read more of this series, Thanks to Netgalley and Boldworld books for letting me read

This was a sweet story of three women from different backgrounds who became friends in London during WW2. I like that the stories were told from the women's perspectives and I learned more about how life was for women during that time period. I didn't care for the extensive use of collquialisms outside of the characters' dialogue, nor the repetitiveness. One of the characters had a problem buying more than he could afford on credit, and that was repeated more than necessary. It made me wonder why the author made the abrupt 13 year jump in the early part of the book. At first I thought it was to get the point across about the debts, but as that was repeated later, I wasn't sure.
It was a solid story about friendship and perseverance during difficult times.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I throughly enjoyed this war time read with a female role model, in this time frame men were the masters, but Mrs Dunbar changed that. Her husband liked to spent money and when the bailiffs came and took their furniture from the hotel they owned, it was the last straw for her. She was a powerful woman and she did her very best to succeed. I liked the strong female character in this book, she was written well and was proud of her success. A great 5 star wartime read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy. .

settle in and settle down. yes please this book was for me. once again that cover picture told me all i needed to know of what genre and ilk this book would be. and that id love it. and indeed i did. and we are just at the start of a series so this felt even better as recently ive struggled not to come in late to series and have to catch up!
this is a real snippet in time for a set of brilliant woman. brilliant and loveable in their own right. and totally worth a friendship and union to start. i liked how they were different in personality. they were different in age and life experiences but all came together and it didnt matter. not when they all wanted and worked for the same thing together. not when you just want the best for the friends surrounding you.
Kitty has a spending spending spending husband. it lands Kittys nerves in strife. until they inherit his families hotel and she think her worries could be over. sadly this is not always the case. but she is determined to get this right.
then we have Lily who was once a maid of the family and Beatrice who has her own troubles and challanges.
when all three come together could they do great things? or at least help support and be there for each other at a time when the country and the world is living with the fearful times of war.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in a new series by Maisie Thomas

Kitty was a relatable character whose husband likes to spoil her and their daughter.

During the war they both do their duty, but soon Kitty realises she needs to do something to stop her husband from overspending when they are advised that the hotel is now his.

But, when Kitty moves into the hotel, things change and she’s forced to change the use of it to something else in order to keep hold of it.

She meets Lily and Beatrice, both different from her and each have something going on in their lives. Soon, they’re living together and become friends.

I’m looking forward to reading what comes next in their lives.

I highly recommend this book.

A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas is a story about resilience and the determination of women to take care of themselves. It covers a period of time in the lives of three women: Lily, a young maid at a famous hotel; Kitty, a wife who had had her fill of her husband’s spend-thrift ways; and Beatrice, a spinster who had been the care giver for her mother and so had received no education, which limited her future. Together these women forged a new path, all the while setting an example for Kitty’s young daughter.

Kitty was a determined young woman who disapproved of buying things on credit. It ruined her marriage and now had stolen her future. Wonderful character. Lily was an orphan to started as a maid at Dunbar’s at fourteen, met a young man, got pregnant and married, only to lose her baby and her life. Beatrice rode a bicycle around delivering adult diapers to housebound folks, and collecting the soiled ones. She knew she could do more, and the upstairs neighbors of one of her clients inspired her. In the end, the empty hotel provided a home for all of them and a future. Great story with vividly drawn characters. Not really a plot but more of a slice-of-life with a definite theme. Another great story of those left at home in England during World War II.

I was invited to read A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #MaisieThomas #ANewHomeAtTheWartimeHotel

It's Manchester at the end of April in 1928 and Kitty Dunbar has just given birth to a baby daughter, at first everything is going really good with her marriage and her baby girl, but then she finds out that her husband has been keeping something from her that she just can't agree with.
Jumping forward thirteen years, and it's January 1941, wartime and Kitty is left to sort out the family business, a hotel that has permanent and occasional guests.

Beatrice whose surname is Stinkerman is finding it difficult to ignore the torment and jibes from the local boys, all because of the job she does and her name.

Lily works at Dunbars Hotel as a chamber maid, it's hard working the long hours but she enjoys it and she lives in at the hotel. She is now married to Daniel, who is in the merchant navy. After getting pregnant and living with Daniels parents just wasn't an option, so she moves back into her old room at Dunbars Hotel. But Daniel has told her that after the baby is born she will move in with his parents, something she is not looking forward to.

Beatrice meanwhile is with the Women's Voluntary Service, sometimes at the local rest centre and sometimes in the mobile canteens giving out tea cigarettes and sandwiches to those who needed it, whether they had lost their homes or to the men of the civil defence services who were out after each bomb attack. She also does the "inco round" delivering incontinence products to ladies in need and often helping out while she was there, which wasn't part of her job but she just couldn't walk away from someone who needed help in one form or another. But now she wonders if she could do anything else for a job, with the war raging there are other opportunities for women and surely she could do something worthwhile.

Soon these three young women, Beatrice, Lily and Kitty, find themselves drawn together and find friendship, hope and secrets that they don't know whether to believe or ignore, but will it be enough to make things better or worse?

This is the first book in a new series by Maisie Thomas, I have previously read and enjoyed her books and this is no exception I really loved it.
From the first few pages I was drawn into the storyline and the lives of Kitty and her baby daughter, Lily and her devastating and heartbreaking situation and Beatrice and her ongoing job situation really keep your attention throughout. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.
A cracking five-star read.

#Boldwoodbooks
#netgalley
#aNewHomeAtTheWartimeHotel
#MaisieThomas

1941. Lily, Kitty and Beatrice all are leading challenging lives. They all end up living in the Dunbar family hotel.. Can they make a new life and help each other through all the ups and downs of a country at war?

A brand new historical saga, my favourite genre as I learn something new in every aspect. This book follows three women's lives during war time and the Dunbar Hotel that intertwines them together. My favourite character is Beatrice as she has a kind heart and a helpful work ethic. It's a charming story full of heart and wit that is the perfect place to take your mind away from your own troubles for a while. I laughed and smiled with pleasure whilst reading and getting to know the characters who I adore. It was nice to curl up with this heartwarming tale and a cuppa!