Yours Cheerfully

Reading about British women keeping a stiff upper lip during WWI feels a lot different in 2021 than it did when the previous book in the series, [b:Dear Mrs. Bird 36373413 Dear Mrs. Bird (The Emmy Lake Chronicles #1) A.J. Pearce https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515690904l/36373413.SY75.jpg 81085892], was published in 2018. I couldn't help thinking about how poorly we are reacting to a pandemic, compared to Emmy and her friends whose homes were literally bombed and whose men were fighting and dying in a horrible war. Emmy feels ashamed if she complains at all about her situation, because everyone needs to rally together, support the troops, and do their part to defeat Hitler. Meanwhile in 2021 we're still freaking out over wearing masks and getting vaccinated. Pearce does shine a light on the challenges faced by the women who worked in factories to support the war effort (we called them “Rosie the Riveter” in the US). Those with children had to rely on family members or neighbors to care for them, and if they didn't have those options, they were basically screwed. Plus the women whose husbands were killed in action were given very little in survivors' benefits. There were supposed to be government-funded nurseries, but they were few and far between. Emmy, in her new role as Serious Journalist, tries to find a way to highlight the plight of these women while still fulfilling her mandate to support the war effort and encourage more women to work. Emmy is fortunate to have a loyal best friend, Bunty, who is recovering from her own tragic loss, and a loving, virtually perfect boyfriend, Charles. It's easy to root for Emmy to find career and personal success, even if her actions seem almost inconceivable to 21st century Americans like me who express every emotion we feel and take every opportunity to complain about our situations. Yours Cheerfully is a reminder that women always get screwed by the system, but Pearce tempers this reality with humor, sisterhood, and the quiet courage of the women who lived the popular saying “keep calm and carry on” before it became a 21st century meme.