• Dear Mrs. Bird

  • By: AJ Pearce
  • Narrated by: Anna Popplewell
  • Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (970 ratings)

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Dear Mrs. Bird  By  cover art

Dear Mrs. Bird

By: AJ Pearce
Narrated by: Anna Popplewell
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Publisher's summary

"A marvelous treat. Charming and delightful." (Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina)

An irresistible debut set in London during World War II about an adventurous young woman who becomes a secret advice columnist - a warm, funny, and enormously moving story for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Lilac Girls.

London, 1940. Emmeline Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent suddenly seem achievable. But the job turns out to be working as a typist for the fierce and renowned advice columnist Henrietta Bird. Emmy is disappointed but gamely bucks up and buckles down.

Mrs. Bird is very clear: Letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight in the bin. But when Emmy reads poignant notes from women who may have Gone Too Far with the wrong men, or who can't bear to let their children be evacuated, she is unable to resist responding. As the German planes make their nightly raids and London picks up the smoldering pieces each morning, Emmy secretly begins to write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.

Prepare to fall head over heels for Emmy and her best friend, Bunty, who are gutsy and spirited, even in the face of a terrible blow. The irrepressible Emmy keeps writing letters in this hilarious and enormously moving tale of friendship, the kindness of strangers, and ordinary people in extraordinary times.

©2018 AJ Pearce (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about Dear Mrs. Bird

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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Love it!

Love, love, love this story and the precious chatacters! The reader makes you feel you are in every minute of it. Thank you for the wonderful book and experience listening to it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn't let it go

I loved the writing, description, reality and even the humor. I didn't want the story to end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Totally clean read with depth and character

I loved it! I took away a lingering meditation on the spirit of resilience in the face of daily death threats, courage of strangers to risk their lives for other strangers, and of exploring the possibility of moving ahead with a seriously damaged 20 year friendship. Not to mention the resolution to the Mrs. Bird crisis- though that part may be predictable little else in Pearce's story is!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful romance of friendship

A friend recommended Dear Mrs. Bird after learning that I had listened to Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society over 10 times. I am so glad she did. This story was just what my heart needed to be encouraged to see hope and humor during difficult days.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Remarkable heart swelling novel

I very much enjoyed this historical novel set in the middle of WWII in Britain. It's about the war efforts that those at home took part in to support the soldiers and sailors - often some of their own friends and relatives - who were fighting. It's about trying to live in the middle of air raids and bombings and the loss of loved ones.
Protagonist Emily and best friend Bunty (sp?) Encourage each other in their dreams and nightmares.
Emily's dream is to be a war correspondent, but finds herself in the magazine office where "advice letters" are answered. Or NOT answered. How she crosses the line to reach out to hurting people and the consequences, is a big part of the story. The tragic - horrendous - event that nearly severed the relationship between her and her very best friend fills in the rest.
Other characters and events come to life to make this book a well- researched deep dive into history. I'm so glad there is a sequel. I want to know more about those advice writers and to see if a romance that started will blossom.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An easy read

A bit trite, couldn’t get too attached to the characters, predictable. The writing is just OK. But if you want an easy no brainer to take a break from heavier stuff, this might be a good choice. Definitely chick-lit. The narration is good.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Elegant and soothing, like a hot cup of darjeeling

This book was the perfect rough day palate cleanser; from the wholesome friendships, to the grit of war, this book was a lovely marriage of the stuff that makes life, well, life.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great read

Beautifully written, and a pleasure to listen to. I am looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Terrific Read

It's a bit too long and the plot could be trimmed but I enjoyed this story of a would-be advice columnist in WWII Britain and all her shenanigans very much.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

WWII NOVEL, STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS

Gives a good understanding of what war time wives, lovers and women went through while their men were at war.

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