Skip to main content
Listen-and-Read x-book®
A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts x-book

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls

The Foyles Bookshop Girls (Book 1)

Narrator
Helen Keeley
Publisher
Boldwood Books
Publish Date
21 February 2024
Run Time
7 hours 41 minutes
Format
x-book®
$13.95

Log in to see your price

Gift

What to expect

London, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop, where there is friendship, there is hope… Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest.

Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father’s shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London’s docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father’s rules and seek employment. She finds a position at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.

But there are dark times ahead. Ellen’s father is accused of gathering intelligence from the docklands for the enemy, and the police seem determined to see him shot for spying. With the help of her new friends, can Ellen clear her father’s name and save her family from destitution?

Praise for Elaine Roberts:

'A delightful story of friendship, love and hope during the dark days of WW1' Elaine Everest

'It’s great to be back at Foyles Bookshop in London during WW1. The shop girls stories have been told before so this time it’s the turn of the Beckford family. Ellen the eldest daughter has to take on more responsibilities as her Father is accused of spying. Lots of great characters as well as those you love to hate' Netgalley reviewer

'A book about working in a bookshop just what I love. This is another wonderful family saga in this series. A quick read but, very enjoyable' Netgalley reviewer

'Kept me enthralled from start to finish' Netgalley reviewer

'Offers a heart-wrenching insight into how hard life was for the women left at home and how emotions ran high as war continued. A highly recommended read that will pull at your heartstrings' Netgalley reviewer

'Was immediately drawn in to this story' Netgalley reviewer

'A real heart-warming read. Great story and characters, would love a sequel' Netgalley reviewer

'A strong start to what looks to be a trilogy of books about these women and I cannot wait to go back and see how they are all faring' Netgalley reviewer

'Skilfully crafted characters and an exquisite storyline all kept my attention from the first page to the last' Netgalley reviewer

'If you're looking for something to make you cry over your tea and warm your heart on a wintery morning, then this is a book you'll want to reach for' Netgalley reviewer

'The author did an outstanding job of finding a niche in the saga genre' Netgalley reviewer

'A richly drawn character study of different women coming of age during a time of much social and political upheaval' Netgalley reviewer

'Poignant ... A brilliant start to a series. I can certainly recommend this to any reader who enjoys this genre' Netgalley reviewer

'A phenomenal read ... A fantastic debut ... Rich in atmosphere and period detail and full of wonderful characters readers simply cannot help but care about!' Netgalley reviewer

'A lovely, original story ... The historical details create a lush setting ... If there will be a sequel, I look forward to it!' Netgalley reviewer

'The perfect book for book lovers who love to read about bookstores, those who love historical fiction set in WWI and those who enjoy stories of strong female friendships' Netgalley reviewer

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details

Author
Elaine Roberts
Narrator
Helen Keeley
Duration
7 hours 41 minutes
Release Date
21 February 2024
ISBN
9781805497028
Format
x-book®
Publisher
Boldwood Books
Genre
Fiction: general and literary, Family life fiction, Historical romance, Historical fiction, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Interior life, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Fiction: mashup

Synopsis

London, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop, where there is friendship, there is hope… Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest.Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father’s shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London’s docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father’s rules and seek employment. She finds a position at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.But there are dark times ahead. Ellen’s father is accused of gathering intelligence from the docklands for the enemy, and the police seem determined to see him shot for spying. With the help of her new friends, can Ellen clear her father’s name and save her family from destitution?Praise for Elaine Roberts:'A delightful story of friendship, love and hope during the dark days of WW1' Elaine Everest'It’s great to be back at Foyles Bookshop in London during WW1. The shop girls stories have been told before so this time it’s the turn of the Beckford family. Ellen the eldest daughter has to take on more responsibilities as her Father is accused of spying. Lots of great characters as well as those you love to hate' Netgalley reviewer'A book about working in a bookshop just what I love. This is another wonderful family saga in this series. A quick read but, very enjoyable' Netgalley reviewer'Kept me enthralled from start to finish' Netgalley reviewer'Offers a heart-wrenching insight into how hard life was for the women left at home and how emotions ran high as war continued. A highly recommended read that will pull at your heartstrings' Netgalley reviewer'Was immediately drawn in to this story' Netgalley reviewer'A real heart-warming read. Great story and characters, would love a sequel' Netgalley reviewer'A strong start to what looks to be a trilogy of books about these women and I cannot wait to go back and see how they are all faring' Netgalley reviewer'Skilfully crafted characters and an exquisite storyline all kept my attention from the first page to the last' Netgalley reviewer'If you're looking for something to make you cry over your tea and warm your heart on a wintery morning, then this is a book you'll want to reach for' Netgalley reviewer'The author did an outstanding job of finding a niche in the saga genre' Netgalley reviewer'A richly drawn character study of different women coming of age during a time of much social and political upheaval' Netgalley reviewer'Poignant ... A brilliant start to a series. I can certainly recommend this to any reader who enjoys this genre' Netgalley reviewer'A phenomenal read ... A fantastic debut ... Rich in atmosphere and period detail and full of wonderful characters readers simply cannot help but care about!' Netgalley reviewer'A lovely, original story ... The historical details create a lush setting ... If there will be a sequel, I look forward to it!' Netgalley reviewer'The perfect book for book lovers who love to read about bookstores, those who love historical fiction set in WWI and those who enjoy stories of strong female friendships' Netgalley reviewer

About xigxag and the x-book®

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.