Mrs Porter Calling

The feel good novel of the summer

By: AJ Pearce

Narrated by: Anna Popplewell

A heart-warming, heart-wrenching wartime story about friendship and courage from AJ Pearce, the bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird.

'Utterly charming and uplifting' – Jill Mansell

Emmy Lake is the much-loved agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine, relied upon by readers across the country as they face the challenges of life on the Home Front. With the problem page thriving and a team of fantastic women behind her, Emmy finally feels she is Doing Her Bit.

But when a glamorous new owner arrives, everything changes. As the Honourable Mrs Porter tries to charm her way around the rest of the team, Emmy realizes that she plans to destroy everything readers love about the magazine.

With happiness quickly turning to heartbreak and war still raging in Europe, will Emmy and her friends find the inner strength they need to keep keeping on - and save the magazine they love?

'Heartbreaking yet feel-good, we loved it' – Woman & Home

'A winning combination of warmth, humour and a compelling story of the power of friendship' – Katie Fforde

Critic reviews

AJ Pearce has created a great boo-hiss villainess in Mrs Porter for her third Emmy Lake book . . . <b>This is at heart a cosy, jolly diversion in the best Joyce Grenfell tradition.</b>

I raced through <i>Mrs Porter Calling</i>, <b>it is just brilliant, so utterly charming and uplifting</b> . . . all I want is for Emmy and Bunty to be my friends! (Jill Mansell, author of Promise Me)

<b>[A] charming, comforting book, which never shies away from the horrors and the losses of the war.</b> (Sarra Manning)

AJ Pearce has not lost her touch. <i>Mrs Porter Calling</i> is <b>a winning combination of warmth, humour and a compelling story of the power of friendship.</b> This book really is a joy. (Katie Fforde, author of One Enchanted Evening)

A pleasure you&rsquo;d be daft to deny yourself . . . Pearce has hit on <b>a winning blend of irrepressible fizz and poignant period charm.</b>

<b>Heartbreaking yet feel-good, we loved it. </b>

. . . beautifully warm and genuine, and with just enough jeopardy to make this wonderful read all the more satisfying.<b> Sheer perfection.</b>

The third book in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series, which started with <i>Dear Mrs Bird</i>, is<b> a ray of sunshine. </b>

<b>Being on Team Emmy makes you feel like you are part of her tight circle of friends. </b>

<b>Both hilarious and heart-wrenchingly sad, this charming book is an utter delight.</b>

If ever there was a book to cheer a heart, it&rsquo;s <i>Mrs Porter Calling</i>. Touching, beyond charming, meticulously researched and full of the best one-liners, it is playful, perky, poignant and perfect. <b>I love, love, LOVED it.</b> (Milly Johnson)

<b>A beautiful story of love and friendship.</b> (Jo Thomas, author of Retreat to the Spanish Sun)

AJ&rsquo;s writing just goes from strength to strength and I can&rsquo;t wait for her next one - <b>such a poignantly happy ending to a perfect book!</b> (Catherine Jones, author of Fates and Fortunes in Little Woodford)

<b>Humorous and sharp, poignant and profound, </b>it is a book that will stay in my heart and on my shelf, and I suspect will become a very battered comfort-read, to be returned to whenever my spirit needs a lift or I need a good old sob. (Iona Grey, author of The Glittering Hour)

<b>A book to sink into. With Emmy and Bunty by your side you know you are in safe hands. Smashing!</b> (Sally Page, author of The Book of Beginnings)

Wonderful . . . I loved <i>Mrs Porter Calling. </i>I cheered for Emmy, I laughed and cried with her - I was with her every step of the way. In a series bursting with warmth and compassion,<b> I think this book might be the best yet.</b> (Shelley Harris, author of Jubilee)