Mrs Porter Calling is the third book in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series by British author, AJ Pearce. Emmy Lake has been married for over a year to Charles Mayhew, but misses him terribly: like so many husbands, he’s away fighting. She continues to live with her best friend, Bunty, and they share her grandmother’s Pimlico house with needy women.

But now the top flat is free, while their friend Thelma is in an awful damp flat with her three children. It seems the perfect solution: a nice flat and a back garden for the children; sharing cooking, chores and ration coupons, and good company. Soon they have former army bomb squad Captain Harold Thomas, who has a gentle eye on Bunty, rebuilding the dilapidated back shed.

At Woman’s Friend, major changes: Lord Overton’s death sees his niece, the Hon Mrs Cressida Porter becoming owner and publisher. And while her fluffy persona initially wins over staff with charm and sweets, editor Guy Collins is wary. It’s quickly clear that Mrs Porter (call me Egg) isn’t as daft as she seems.

Beguiling, rich and frivolous, she has ideas of her own about the magazine, and Emmy is dismayed to find they include cutting just about everything that readers love about their publication, things Mrs Porter regards as “A Bit Mis”. She wants prettier models, less ugly babies, evening frocks, and fancier recipes. Is she trying to turn it into a society magazine?

Guy Collins is having to tread a fine diplomatic line between sustaining what they have seen as the magazine’s raison d’etre, being a voice for the reader, and pleasing a superficial, demanding owner and her snooty 2IC. Emmy despairs at the idea of culling the readers letters to Yours Cheerfully to include only the “cheerier problems”; she’s told that the war work articles need feature less dreary careers; and readers’ own contributions, Woman’s Friend to Friend, will be heavily cut to allow room for Mrs Porter’s own column.

Worse still, Mrs Porter thinks she’s doing Emmy a huge favour by sending her out to interview wealthy brides-to-be about their society weddings. As the months progress, Guy concedes that he may have underestimated their new publisher. His valiant attempts to preserve their important connection with the readers, by cajoling, negotiating, flattering, and in the end, more or less begging Mrs Porter, are to no avail. Emmy is shocked to find him on the point of giving up.

Their cleverly contrived three-point plan to curb Mrs Porter’s more radical changes unfortunately works too well, in a direction that Guy and Emma hadn’t anticipated. Can they rescue Woman’s Friend and her loyal staff from a terrible fate?

An audacious plan born of a casual remark gets the staff enthused about potential salvation, but before that can get off the ground, the war intervenes and a tragic loss sees Emmy facing a bewildering challenge that takes precedence over Woman’s Friend.

This instalment features guinea pigs, chickens and ducks, a very spoilt dog with a discerning bite, a traitorous staff member, a budding romance (or two), and some very brave children. Pearce’s portrayal of life and its challenges during war demonstrates her thorough research.

Pearce easily captures her era and setting, her characters are endearing, and the plot is realistic. While most issues seem to be neatly wrapped up, more of this engaging cast is most definitely welcome. This is heart-warming and uplifting historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Picador.