Synopsis: “Hope is on the horizon, but her greatest battle is about to begin. . .

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Dear Mrs Bird, Dear Miss Lake returns us to wartime London, where Emmy Lake is facing her greatest challenge yet.

London, July 1944. Journalist Emmy Lake’s career is soaring: Woman’s Friend magazine is a huge success, and she is finally realising her dream of becoming a Lady War Correspondent. On the personal front, Emmy’s husband Charles has been posted closer to home, and they and their friends Bunty and Harold have escaped to the countryside for a few precious summer days. They all know how lucky they are.

But after nearly five years of war, the nation is struggling. The “Yours Cheerfully” advice column receives more letters than ever, and even though it looks like the war might finally be over by Christmas, the situation is far from resolved. For Emmy and her team, it’s all about pulling together and pushing on. But then disaster strikes. Soon Emmy needs her friends more than ever . . .

Endearing, engaging, and full of heart, Dear Miss Lake is a testament to the power of friendship in the hardest of times.”

My Review

This was another fantastic audiobook, the fourth and sadly final book in the wonderful Emmy Lake Chronicles, but it’s a lovely final book.

I loved being back in the company of Emmy, Bunty, and Guy and company. Following on from Mrs Porter Calling, the magazine is now being run from the house in Pimlico where Emmy and Bunty lived, with Monica taking on the role of publisher. In this book they all decamp to Bunty’s granny’s country house in Hampshire, to escape the V1 rockets bombarding London. They have a wonderful time together, a real tonic, which helps them recharge.

It made me smile and laugh just like the previous books, especially where the children were involved, particularly Stanley and his animals, and Margaret’s crush on Emmy’s brother, who’s in the RAF.

It also made me quite angry at the way the women and children on the home-front were treated by the government, especially in regard to when soldiers went missing in action, and until they were registered as found in some capacity, no wages were paid to those at home! It’s these sort of details that really makes this series come alive to me. Also I didn’t realise that there were nurses and medics at the Normandy landings, which seems obvious today, but I don’t remember them ever being mentioned.

Anna Popplewell’s narration was perfect again, she has been the voice of Emmy, Bunty, Guy, and so many more in this series. I really can’t imagine anyone else reading these books.

Highly recommended on audio, especially if you enjoy uplifting books set in WW2.

Book 17 of 20 Books of Summer 2026