A.J. Pearce
A.J. Pearce has published 4 books. The recommended reading order starts with Dear Mrs. Bird (2018).
A.J. Pearce is a British novelist who writes historical fiction set during World War II, and she came to her first book through a 1939 women's magazine that fell into her hands one day. That discovery became the seed for Dear Mrs Bird, the 2018 debut that launched her Emmeline Lake Chronicles and became a Sunday Times Bestseller, a Richard and Judy Bookclub Pick, and a shortlisted title for Debut of the Year at The 2019 British Book Awards. The novel has since been published in the USA, Canada, Australia, and in translation in over fifteen languages.
Born in Hampshire, England, Pearce studied at the University of Sussex and Northwestern University before turning to fiction. Her books follow a group of women facing the challenges of World War II with humor, sadness, and resilience. The series continued with Yours Cheerfully and Mrs Porter Calling, and the fourth and final installment, Dear Miss Lake, is set for publication in July 2025 in the UK and August in the USA and Canada. She lives in the south of England, where she pursues various hobbies including painting, which she has recently taken up with what she describes as messy but enthusiastic results.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of The Emmeline Lake Chronicles Books
- Tagschildrenhistorical-fictionliterary-fictionDescriptionLondon, 1940. The Blitz is tearing the city apart night after night. Emmeline Lake dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, so when she spots a job advertisement at a newspaper, she doesn't hesitate. She applies immediately, convinced this is her big break. Except it's not what she thought. Emmy finds herself typing rejection letters for the formidable advice columnist Mrs. Henrietta Bird, a woman with rigid opinions about what problems are suitable to discuss in print. Anything too scandalous gets tossed in the bin, unread and unanswered. But Emmy can't ignore the desperate letters from women facing impossible situations—loneliness, heartbreak, fear. So she does something unthinkable: she starts writing back in secret, signing Mrs. Bird's name. This is wartime fiction with heart and humor in equal measure. Emmy is plucky without being precious, navigating bombed-out streets and her own romantic confusion with the same determined optimism. The stakes feel real—both the external danger of the war and the personal risk of Emmy's deception. It's a story about finding your voice when the world tells you to stay quiet, about friendship between women, and about small acts of courage that matter just as much as the grand ones. Charming, warm, and surprisingly moving.Publication dateJuly 3, 2018Amazon rating4.2/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherScribner
- Tagshistorical-fictionDescription1941, and London is a city of women holding the world together while their men are away at war. Emmy Lake, a young journalist with more enthusiasm than experience, has landed a job answering letters at a women's magazine—though not quite the hard-hitting war correspondence she'd imagined for herself. The letters arrive by the hundreds, each one a small window into the lives of women navigating rationing, loneliness, factory work, and the constant hum of uncertainty that defines wartime Britain. Emmy throws herself into her work with characteristic determination, offering advice that's equal parts heartfelt and slightly out of her depth, all while the magazine's formidable editor watches with a skeptical eye. But when Emmy begins receiving letters that go beyond household tips and knitting patterns—letters that reveal the real struggles, fears, and quiet acts of courage happening across the country—she realizes her role might be more important than she thought. The question is whether she can rise to meet it without losing her job, her friendships, or her nerve. A.J. Pearce captures the texture of wartime London with warmth and specificity, balancing the weight of history with moments of genuine humor and tenderness. This is a novel about ordinary women doing extraordinary things, one letter at a time, and the power of connection when the world feels like it's falling apart.Publication date2021
- Tagsromancehistorical-fictionDescriptionThe war is over, but the work of rebuilding lives has only just begun. A.J. Pearce returns to the world of Emmeline Lake, the plucky wartime advice columnist who charmed readers with her earnest determination and unfailing optimism, now navigating the uncertain terrain of postwar Britain with the same spirited resolve. Emmy has traded her typewriter at Woman's Friend magazine for a new challenge: helping her best friend Bunty launch a business while managing the complexities of marriage, friendship, and a society struggling to find its footing after years of upheaval. When a new opportunity arises that could change everything, Emmy must balance her loyalty to those she loves with her own ambitions and the question of what, exactly, a modern woman's life should look like when the air raid sirens have finally gone silent. Pearce captures the peculiar limbo of postwar England with warmth and precision—the rationing that persists, the men who return changed, the women who discovered capabilities they're now expected to forget. This is historical fiction that resists nostalgia, offering instead a clear-eyed portrait of a moment when the future felt both promising and precarious. Emmy remains an endearing guide through it all, her voice as distinctive as ever: hopeful without being naive, determined without being tiresome, utterly herself in a world still figuring out what comes next.Publication date2023
- Tagschildrenhistorical-fictionDescriptionThis is what historical fiction should do: transport you so completely into another time that you forget you're reading at all. London during the Blitz hums with tension and heart in A.J. Pearce's hands. Emmeline Lake works at a women's magazine, answering letters from readers navigating wartime life—rations, loneliness, impossible choices. The atmosphere is thick with both dread and determination, the kind of everyday courage that doesn't make headlines but keeps a city breathing. Pearce captures the peculiar intimacy of crisis, when strangers become family and a letter to a magazine advice columnist might be the only lifeline someone has. Emmy herself is wonderfully drawn—plucky without being cloying, earnest without being naive. She's trying to do right by her readers, by her friends, by a world that's crumbling and rebuilding itself daily. The stakes feel personal and urgent, even as bombs fall in the distance. What makes this book sing is its refusal to romanticize suffering while still finding joy in small rebellions: a shared joke, a defiant lipstick, the act of writing back. It's a love letter to women who held things together when everything was falling apart. Warm, sharp, and deeply human.Publication date2025
Frequently Asked Questions about A.J. Pearce
A.J. Pearce writes the Emmeline Lake Chronicles, a series of books set during World War II. The books follow the experiences of Emmeline Lake and her friends as they navigate life in London and contribute to the war effort. The series focuses on themes of friendship, resilience, and finding one's voice in challenging times. Each novel introduces new characters and plotlines while building upon the established world and relationships from previous installments, offering a rich and immersive reading experience.
Readers new to A.J. Pearce should begin with the first book in the Emmeline Lake Chronicles, Dear Mrs. Bird. This novel introduces the main characters and the setting of wartime London. It establishes the premise of the series and provides the foundational story from which the subsequent books develop. Starting with Dear Mrs. Bird allows readers to fully appreciate the character arcs and the unfolding narrative of the series as a whole. It sets the stage for the events and relationships that continue in the following books.
Yes, it is recommended to read the books in the Emmeline Lake Chronicles series in order. The series follows a continuous narrative arc with developing characters and plotlines. Reading them chronologically ensures that readers can fully understand the progression of events and the growth of the characters from one book to the next. Each installment builds upon the established world and relationships, making the chronological order the most rewarding way to experience the series and its overarching story.
A.J. Pearce writes series, specifically the Emmeline Lake Chronicles. This series follows a connected storyline and recurring characters, with each book contributing to the larger narrative. While individual books might offer some resolution to their specific plots, the overarching story and character development are best experienced by reading them in the order they were published. This approach allows readers to follow the complete journey of the characters and the unfolding events within the series.
A.J. Pearce has written four books in the Emmeline Lake Chronicles series. These include Dear Mrs. Bird (2018), Yours Cheerfully (2021), Mrs. Porter Calling (2023), and the upcoming Dear Miss Lake (2025). Each book expands on the lives of Emmeline Lake and her circle, set against the backdrop of World War II London. The series is designed to be read in sequence, allowing readers to follow the characters' journeys and the evolving narrative.
The first book A.J. Pearce wrote in the Emmeline Lake Chronicles series is Dear Mrs. Bird, published in 2018. This novel introduces readers to Emmeline Lake, a young woman working at a women's magazine in London during World War II. The book sets the tone for the series, establishing its focus on friendship, wartime life, and the power of communication. Dear Mrs. Bird is the starting point for the narrative and the character development that continues throughout the subsequent books in the series.
A.J. Pearce's most recent book is Mrs. Porter Calling, published in 2023. This installment continues the Emmeline Lake Chronicles, following Emmeline and her friends as they face new challenges and adventures during the war. The book builds upon the relationships and events established in its predecessors, offering readers more of the signature blend of humor, heart, and historical detail that defines the series. It is the third book in the ongoing Emmeline Lake Chronicles.
A.J. Pearce writes historical fiction, specifically focusing on stories set during World War II. Her books often explore the lives of women during this period, highlighting their contributions, resilience, and personal growth. The Emmeline Lake Chronicles blend elements of drama, humor, and social commentary, offering a warm and engaging look at a significant historical era. The stories are characterized by their focus on character relationships and the everyday experiences of people during wartime.
Elise Hooper
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Joanna Toye
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We verified the reading order for A.J. Pearce's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: March 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “A.J. Pearce Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/a-j-pearce