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Secrets of the Homefront Girls
- Narrated by: Gina Murray
- Series: Secrets of the Homefront Girls, Book 1
- Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
A new series from best-selling author Kate Thompson.
Stratford, 1939.
Britain may be at war, but on the home front keeping up morale and keeping up appearances go hand in hand. For the young women working on the lipstick production line at Yardley's cosmetics factory, it's business as usual.
Headstrong Renee Gunn is the queen of the lipstick belt - although her cheeky attitude means she's often in trouble. When Esther, an Austrian refugee, arrives at Yardley's, it's Renee who takes her under her wing and teaches her to be a true cockney.
But outside of the factory, things are more complicated. Lily, Renee's older sister, has suddenly returned home after six years away, and is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile Esther is finding life in England more difficult than expected, and it's not long before Renee finds herself in trouble, with nowhere to turn.
In the face of the Blitz, the Yardley girls are bound together by friendship and loyalty - but could the secrets they are hiding be the biggest danger of all?
Critic reviews
"A compelling saga set around the tenacious women of the East End." (Daisy Styles)
"Kate Thompson's wartime novels always strike a chord and Secrets of the Homefront Girls is no exception. You can almost smell the Yardley violets drifting over the factory as the girls live lives complicated by the trials and tribulations of war." (My Weekly)
"Kate Thompson is a skillful and humane storyteller who lights up the sooty face of the old East End with tales full of drama and human interest." (Annie Murray)
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What listeners say about Secrets of the Homefront Girls
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Performance
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- Judi in Disguise...
- 19-08-20
Oh dear.
Great story spoiled by, well shocking narration, it really grated on my ears. I was so looking forward to listening to this, I'm an Eastender but afraid the reader really didn't catch a real "cockney" accent.
1 person found this helpful
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- Rebecca
- 24-06-20
I couldn't keep listening.
The actual story was good and I was interested in finding out what was going to happen. However, the narration was so bad (Renee's voice, the voice of the girls in the factory) that I had to stop listening because it spoiled the whole experience. Very disappointed.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 15-06-20
Struggling to finish - dreadful narrator
The story appears to be very good however I am struggling to finish this book due to the dreadful narrator. I can honestly say this is the worst narrator I have ever listened to. Some of the adult characters sound like primary school children which I found very difficult to listen to. I am considering buying the book as I cannot bear to continue listen to this narrator any longer yet I want to know the outcome of the families in the story. The narrator does not do this book justice. Whilst I have only given the story three stars this is purely due to the dreadful narrator I sincerely hope she does not provide the narration for the next book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anne Callender
- 21-05-21
Great story
Great story but the narrative was a bit annoying the voices of characters we're a little grating
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-04-20
brilliant
an outstanding listen, well researched book, took me back to difficult but happy times in my own younger years. Thank you
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- Anonymous User
- 03-04-20
Great Book
A great book, good storyline, well researched and kept me gripped until the end.Had sad parts but it is set in war time but its not all about the war which makes a pleasant change
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- Cheryl M
- 13-10-19
This book had me laughing and crying
Wow! The characters in this book came to life with the individual voices, especially’Fat Lou’ I thoroughly enjoyed listening and found myself wanting more.
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- Ben Reardon
- 12-08-19
A cracking tale
This is an amazing tale of the bravery and camaraderie of the East Ender's during the war. It moves at a great pace and draws you in to the lives, and deaths of some amazing characters.
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- mrs a j harding
- 02-08-19
Great story
Story about a family and community during WW2.
The ups and downs of the family and effects on the each member.
Took a long time to get started but had lots of twists and turns and was very enjoyable.