Oh I love this series of books and what a fitting ending this tale is. Although it's tempting to look at them as part of the dreadful nostalgia about the Second world War that seems to have taken over the country, these books are much deeper than that and offer an insight into the home front and the terrible strain of the war. The storyline involving Charles echoes that of my grandfather's war experience so I found the ending incredibly moving. I also appreciated that Pearce doesn't try to shoehorn modern thinking into the storyline, any recognition of attitudes that may change in future is done sensitively. Sad to see these end but I'm glad that the series has been a joy - tears and laughter - from start to finish.

I feel like it’s the end of an era! This series has been amongst my absolute favourite as far as wartime historical fiction is concerned and I’ve come to adore these characters. It was such a bittersweet end as the war comes to a close and our cast of characters see out the very toughest of times.

I’m always hooked to these books as soon as I start and to go through marriages, turmoil, happiness and struggles with them over the series has been lovely. Couldn’t have enjoyed them more and had looked forward to every single one.

This one felt like another gift and now it’s all over, I can’t wait to go back to the beginning again and start from the top. The characters are absolutely amazing, the plots and storylines compelling and they always leave you feeling fuzzy and happy. This one was the same.

Hardcore love for this series, big love to the author and for all the characters we’ve got to get to know over the years :).

And now I’m thoroughly subscribed to the next series she creates and will be eagerly at the very front of the queue to support and no doubt love with my whole heart, the characters she creates and introduces to us next. I can’t wait!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

This is book 4 in the Emmeline Lake series about Emmy, husband Charles and, among others, friends Bunty, Harold, Guy and Hester trying to survive the war in London. In July 44, ladies' magazine Woman's Friend's "Cheerfully Yours" advice column is more popular than ever but it's dangerous in London with the bombs so the entire staff move to Rose House in the Hampshire countryside, taking Thelma's children George, Margaret and Stan with them.

This is a gentle wartime story about the staff of a woman's magazine, with Emmy rising through the ranks, becoming a wartime correspondent, trying to keep morale up, dealing with some weddings and pregnancies, a Christmas Fayre, readers needing help and a lot of stiff upper lip in the face of the realities of war that is getting very personal.

I don't normally read wartime historical fiction, especially those with "Girls" in the title as many of them are twee and I don't need war romanticised. I enjoyed this series of four books a lot though as they are quite feminist with modern attitudes. Much happens to our heroine Emmy during the war though I think the previous books had more action plus I found the running of the magazine more interesting than constant weddings and talk of rationings and pulling yourself together.

Resilience is a great attribute and getting on with life is all you can do but I was more interested in the individual characters' lives and not the general war. I liked all the spirited women but also Guy and Charles etc who, lets face it, are all lovelier and more modern than the reality probably was. The description of group-living in a big country manor sounded idyllic so I really didn't understand that they all went back to filthy, dangerous London before the war was over. I would have stayed exactly where I was in relative safety with self-grown food!

Altogether, this is a heartwarming, uplifting read that nevertheless doesn't leave out the more serious topics of POW camps etc. It's full of camaraderie and optimism and is a fitting end to Emmy's busy wartime experiences. I would recommend to read all four in order to get the full story.

I was sad to say goodbye to Emmy and the gang but I think it ended perfectly. It made me cry several times, both happy and sad tears as I felt like I’d been through the war with them. A fantastic end to the series

I've read all four books in this - what's a series of four books called? a quadrology? - probably not. Anyway there are four, starting with Dear Mrs Bird and ending with Dear Miss Lake, following the wartime adventures of Emmy Lake at Woman's Friend magazine. Over the course of the series, Emmy's got married, gained and lost friends, and learned that although she dreamed of being a war correspondent, the impact of a women's magazine can be surprisingly far-reaching.

This got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but things did pick up. Emmy's problem page shines a light on the lives and concerns of women in this era - men away at war or in POW camps, unexpected/unmarried pregnancies, and more. And some of these concerns come very close to home for Emmy and her friends.

An enjoyable read, as always, and a bit of a shame it's the last one.

And apparently, four books is a tetralogy. Who knew?

A bittersweet one for me in that I enjoyed it immensely but as the last of the series I also hated the idea of leaving Emmy, Bunty and co behind. I'm now tempted to go back to the very beginning and read all four books again. Highly recommend

As twee as ever but as good as ever, too. I was very much looking forward to reading this and I was not let down. A fitting end to the series.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
A decent end to a decent series. If you’ve read the previous instalments of the Emmy Lake chronicles, you’ll know what you’re expecting to find here. It’s a surprisingly moving read, for all that it’s very cheerful and Enid Blyton-esque in respect of the style - readers may find that this hits harder than you might expect from the get go. A very satisfying ending to the series.

I have love everyone of the Dear Mrs Bird series and this was no exception.. Not as much goes on in this one but as its the end of the series, and the end of the war, it ties everything up nicely. A feel good read that has you rooting for each one of these characters. I look forward to Pearce's next offering.

It was so wonderful to be back in Emmy Lake's world once again - this is a great addition to a brilliant series and definitely well worth a read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was delighted to receive an advance copy of this latest book in the Miss Lake series. Thank you to the publisher and net galley.
The writing style is excellent and the reader feels they are in the 1940s England. The characters are well-observed and relatable. It was especially interesting to read about Prisoners of War and their families; a subject I’d not read a lot about previously, my main reference having been the Colditz series of the 1970s.
At the beginning of the book I wondered what more could be written about the war and I was pleasantly surprised that there were many new subjects tackled, including a visit to Brussels.
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Dear Miss Lake’ and would highly recommend it to others.

This is such a lovely heart warming series.
The characters do begin to feel like old friends.
It's good that as much as they have going on in their own lives, there's still a magazine to be run.
At times I felt this book was too busy, cramming in so many topics relevant to the war, but the war was not a time when little happened, so it's to be expected.
Some very very lovely moments in here.
You definitely get the best of it by reading previous books.

Sometimes you get a new book and it jumps right to the top of a huge ‘to be read’ pile. I could not wait to get my hands on Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce and I stayed up very late reading it last night. It was very special. Like getting together with an old friend that you love but haven’t seen for a while.
I was entertained, happy, sad and gripped, but mostly just delighted to meet up with Emmy Lake again.
I have loved the series and .while this can ‘stand alone’ I 100% recommend you read the authors other books. You have a treat in store.
No hesitation in giving this gem of a novel Five Stars.
Just need to see it on telly now…
ps - You are golng to need a lot of tissues