I always enjoy Katie Fforde books, she is very clever in weaving a story you can’t put down. We follow Lizzie as she breaks away from her controlling parents and moves in with friends in London. On the cookery course her mother has sent her on she meets Alexandra snd Meg, two people who become an important part of her life.

Lizzie blossoms in London, cutting her hair, making herself fashionable clothes and gaining confidence in who she is.

I enjoyed this book from the first to the last page with brilliant characters and a story that held my attention.

This has trademarks of Katie Fforde written all over it. You can instantly tell it’s her writing style, I find it so distinctive and enjoy indulging in something so familiar. As always an excellent plot, I don’t want to give spoilers but this is one not to be missed. Brilliant

Another great read from Katie Fforde. The story was not really what I was expecting and at first I did wonder if I would enjoy reading it, but within a few pages I became engrossed and couldn’t put it down. This was a tale of a range of quirky characters in the 1960s, all of whom were real personalities. As the story unfolded it was easy to visualise living in that time, different as it is from the current one. Everything was built round a lovely slow burning romance between the main character and her beau, entwined with the back stories of her friends. Most enjoyable.

Another delightful story by Katie Fforde. Fascinating characters and a lovely storyline with a great conclusion. What more could you ask for?

Firstly thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for an early review copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Can you ever go wrong with a Katie Fforde book? I think we all know the answer to that is no and this one is no different. What is slightly different is that it is all set in the 1960s which was a pleasant change.

Our main character Lizzie has been sent to London to attend cookery school. She is determined to make the most of this opportunity by moving in with two of her friends and cutting her hair short. Her Mother would like to see her married to a suitable man however Lizzie doesn't have the same ambition!

This book made me laugh and cry in equal measures. Life was so very different in the 1960s and reading the way that people who were slightly different was, I found, quite sad.

However I could feel myself at the parties Lizzie and the girls attended and enjoy the fun that they had. I also found it interesting how the relationship between Lizzie and her parents developed, and particularly how her Mother's attitude towards her changed.

One last thing - I loved Patsy, what a diamond!

Lizzie (always Elizabeth at home) has grown up knowing her mother has her wedding day planned out for her: she’ll marry the son of a friend of her parents’, marry in the local church wearing a dress that shows off her waist, and then head off for a reception in a marquee in the family garden. But when Lizzie is sent to a London cookery school so she can learn to cook for this as yet unknown husband, she discovers a world beyond the Hone Counties...

I’m not sure how Katie Fforde does it but she always has me hooked in from the first page. Wonderful as ever.

This was another winner from Katie afforded, I’ve read if not all but most of her books and have enjoyed every one of them. This one was quite a lot different from her others as it was set in 1963 which I loved as the sixties was my era. I remember so much about the fashion and especially the music as I was growing up. This story had everything I love in it, friendships, romance and a lot of fun. This took me away from the cares of the world for awhile which I needed as we all do. Wish I could have given this more stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

As a great fan of Katie Fforde, I was looking forward to reading her latest book, and wasn’t disappointed. The story takes place in 60’s London and Lizzie is living with two friends while taking a cookery course. Away from home for the first time, she is keen to explore the exciting new wave of fashion and pop culture, Mary Quant designs, mini skirts and geometric hairstyles.
The strength of the story is within its characters – there is a real sisterhood between Lizzie who is warm, friendly and likeable, Alexandra and Meg, who are lodging together in a rundown house in Belgravia. The mix of characters are supportive of each other, and well described. The story is light-hearted and humorous, with a warm, welcoming feel. Older readers who lived through the 60s will be particularly interested in the Swinging London scene, but younger readers will also be amused and entertained, especially as some of the designs are still fashionable today.
The story unfolds at a steady pace, with lots going on to keep readers interested. Parts of the story are hilarious, moving to heartbreak and despair at times. You can always be assured of a well plotted, interesting read, with an entertaining mix of characters in books by Katie Fforde, and I recommend this book highly.

Love light hearted read about life and love. The plot was engaging and the characters were fun and very likeable. Very enjoyable read.

Absolutely love Katie Fforde novels and have read them all. Was thrilled to be able to access her latest. As usual did not disappoint....but took me by surprise a little as it was set in the 60s. Story revolves around Lizzie, her friends and a life away from home which results in complications. A very enjoyable read, looking forward to Katie Ffordes next offering! Would highly recommend.

I enjoy a good Katie Fforde book and this one lived up to expectations.

It’s the early 60’s and Lizzie’s parents send her to London to take a cookery course so she can become a good wife. Lizzie has always been the obedient daughter but she wants to enjoy her London life before she complies with her parents wishes. However an unexpected moment of madness will seal Lizzie’s fate for the future.

A lovely lighthearted story with good characters. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Oh what a lovely book! I really enjoyed reading about Lizzie and her friends. Well written with believable characters, it was a breath of fresh air to read something so charming! The story flowed well and I liked Lizzie from the start. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley

Lizzie has just arrived in London, determined to make the best of her new life.

Her mother may be keen that she should have a nice wedding in the country to a Suitable Man chosen by her. And Lizzie may be going to cookery school to help her become a Good Wife.

But she definitely wants to have some fun first.

It is 1963 and London is beginning to swing as Lizzie cuts her hair, buys a new dress with a fashionably short hemline, and moves in with two of her best friends, one of whom lives in a grand but rundown house in Belgravia which has plenty of room for a lodger.

Soon Lizzie's life is so exciting that she has forgotten all about her mother's marriage plans for her.

I absolutely LOVED this book - the setting, the sentiments and the execution were all simply lovely. I am usually so against non-modern day books (no idea why) but I just loved reading about the clothing Lizzie makes, the food and all the nights out. Thoroughly enjoyed it and cant wait for the next book from one of my favourite authors.

My thanks to netgalley for an arc of this book in return for my honest opinion.

For fun and frivolity you can't beat Katie Fforde. Love this light-hearted story set in the swinging 60s, when Mary Quant, Twiggy and mini-skirts were all the rage and the Beatles were the latest thing. It's fun following the adventures of Lizzie and her housemates in London and watching Lizzie fall in love. A real tonic in these depressing times.

In 1963 Lizzie moves to London to take part in a cookery class that will teach how to become the perfect wife and hostess. This is all that Lizzie’s mother wants for her, to have a big white wedding to a suitable man.
Once in London Lizzie soon finds opportunities for more than just learning how to cook. Moving into a run down house in Belgravia with two of the girls from the cookery school she finds a whole new world opening up for her. With new friends and all the excitement that London has to offer Lizzie begins to think that maybe getting married isn’t the only thing she should aim for.
This book was the perfect antidote to the current gloomy, depressing times.