The Richard & Judy Book Club Pick and Sunday Times Bestseller. Irresistibly funny and moving, Dear Mrs Bird by AJ Pearce is a wartime love letter to the enduring power of friendship, the kindness of strangers and the courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times.

'The sweetest, most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love' - Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups.

London, 1941. Amid the falling bombs Emmeline Lake dreams of becoming a fearless Lady War Correspondent. Unfortunately, Emmy instead finds herself employed as a typist for the formidable Henrietta Bird, the renowned agony aunt at Woman's Friend magazine. Mrs Bird refuses to read, let alone answer, letters containing any form of Unpleasantness, and definitely not those from the lovelorn, grief-stricken or morally conflicted.

But the thought of these desperate women waiting for an answer at this most desperate of times becomes impossible for Emmy to ignore. She decides she simply must help and secretly starts to write back - after all, what harm could that possibly do?

'Utterly charming and helplessly funny' - Jenny Colgan, author of An Island Wedding

'A proper comfort read' - India Knight, author of Don't You Want Me?

The debut Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller.

About the Author
AJ Pearce grew up in Hampshire and studied at the University of Sussex. A chance discovery of a 1939 woman's magazine became the inspiration for her ever-growing collection and her first novel Dear Mrs Bird. She now lives in the south of England.

Reviews
If I had only known how much I was going to adore Dear Mrs Bird, I wouldn't have gobbled it down all at once. Funny, fresh, and touching, Dear Mrs Bird is a treat of a read. -- Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I fell in love with Dear Mrs Bird on page one and completely adored every single word . . . a wonderfully heartwarming book, which I will recommend to everyone I know -- Jill Mansell
Utterly charming and helplessly funny -- Jenny Colgan
Witty, wise and full of charm . . . I absolutely loved it -- Rachel Lucas
The sweetest, most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love . . . It'll be huge; it deserves to be -- Marian Keyes, author of The Break
A winning wartime romp . . . as hilarious as it is moving. Emmy is truly charming. When her upper lip finally wobbles, the reader's will, too. In the end, the novel's spirit is madly winning, and its foregrounding of wartime women seems spiffingly modern. * Guardian *
This story of female friendship is just the tonic for that jaded feeling that the world is ugly and mad. * The Times *
A joyfully uplifting and optimistic novel . . . a timely story of courage and good humour in adversity. * Observer *
A marvellous treat. Charming and delightful. -- Nina Stibbe, author of Love, Nina
When we need it most, Dear Mrs Bird is a wonderful, uplifting novel and, like its heroine, its breathless, giddy tone has real depth and heart. -- Sarra Manning * Red *
Here's a refreshing take on the Second World War novel. Dear Mrs Bird is charming without being twee, full of fun and heart, and will being you to tears. -- Sarah Shaffi * Stylist *
Dear Mrs Bird is an adorable novel, charming, funny, and uplifting . . . Catch a cold immediately and retire to bed with it -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted To Tell You
Irresistibly charming and delightful -- Kate Eberlen, author of Miss You
A joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs Bird is as funny as it is heart-warming. -- John Boyne, author The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
An utterly charming story of friendship, heartbreak and heroism... You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it -- Lucy Diamond
I've never read a novel that has grabbed me by the heart quite so much as this one * Shelley Harris *
Books that make you shake with laughter and sob with tears are rare. I gulped this one down but didn't stop thinking about it for a long time -- Katie Fforde
Dear Mrs Bird is an utterly enchanting debut: cheering, compelling, charming. If you loved Their Finest this is for you. -- Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of The Land
A thoroughly lovely book, and reading it is like a great big shot of serotonin in the arm. I defy anyone not to fall for its numerous charms -- Kate Riordan
Dear Mrs Bird is an adorable novel, charming, funny, and uplifting; a WW2 London-Blitz tears 'n' cheers plucky-gal romance. -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted to Tell You
A story bathed in good cheer, it celebrates the power of female friendship in difficult times and how writing a letter might heal the sorest of hearts. -- Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs Walker
Dear Mrs Bird is a triumph - authentic, funny and packed with heart. -- Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times Bestselling Author
Imagine Bridget Jones running amok in the wartime world of Mrs Miniver. AJ Pearce's hoot of a debut, Dear Mrs Bird is a comic confection that is sweetly uplifting. * Sunday Times *
I loved the concept of a light-hearted historical novel inspired by real Forties letters sent into advice columns, which highlight how women's lives were affected amid the 'stiff upper lip' attitudes of the time. -- Millie Hurst * Stylist *
A wonderful wartime story that is funny, yet poignant and realistic. I can't wait for the next in the series. -- Kate Fforde * Daily Mail *
A delight: witty, tear-jerking and a vivid depiction of the time. I absolutely loved it. -- Woman & Home magazine 'Pick of the Month'
Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Dear Mrs Bird manages to strike a delicate balance between funny and heart breaking. When we need it most, Dear Mrs Bird is a wonderful, uplifting novel and, like its heroine, its breathless, giddy tone has real depth and heart. * Red magazine *
A proper comfort read -- India Knight
Incredibly funny yet very touching, [Dear Mrs Bird] explores friendship and romance against the bleak backdrop of the Blitz with trademark British humour and a stiff upper lip. * Daily Express *
Charming, funny and moving, this is a total joy of a read -- Fabulous magazine
I loved Dear Mrs Bird, the joyous debut of AJ Pearce * Good Housekeeping *
(A) moving and funny debut of friendship and kindness in the Blitz. -- Elle magazine
A sweet and charming read -- Prima magazine
Emmy, her best friend, Bunty, and Mrs Bird herself are wonderful characters. Rich, warm, funny....I loved them. [...]And I loved A.J. Pearce's writing. It's warm and humorous, and brilliantly engaging. * The People's Friend *
I just adored Dear Mrs Bird and think it should be available on prescription, it is such a tonic. It's so clever and wise but sweet and moving too. Just the ticket -- Harriet Evans, author of The Wildflowers


Awards
Short-listed for Books Are My Bag Breakthrough Author Award 2018 (UK) and HWA Debut Crown 2019 (UK). Long-listed for Waverton Good Read Award 2019 (UK) and Comedy Women in Print Prize 2019 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781509853922
Author AJ Pearce
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Picador
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 241g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 129mm * 22mm