The Strawberry Field Girls
Dickson is garnering an ever-increasing fan base. Her novels weave family lives and dramas, connected by a backdrop of the two World Wars. This fourth book, following hard on the heels of A Songbird in Wartime (2021), tells the story of a seemingly idyllic summer for friends Leah, Alice, and Dora. They agree to spend their time on a farm helping the harvest. But the summer is long, romance beckons for Leah and Alice, and steadfast Dora is left trying to manage it all whilst also caring for her ailing father. Yet for this trio, and the world, a much bigger threat is looming—the threat of war.
With her well-drawn characters and a pull-you-in plot, this is sure to be another hit. The plot and pacing move along consistently, and the world-building is particularly good. The Strawberry Field Girls is packed with courageous characters and interweaves family sagas with all their inherent difficulties. This keeps the reader turning the pages. It’s a big warm-hearted book to lose yourself in on a dark winter’s day curled up with a blanket and a hot drink. The ideal nostalgic comfort read, this will no doubt be a welcome new addition to Dickson’s portfolio. If you haven’t yet discovered Karen Dickson but are fans of authors such as Rosie Goodwin, Val Wood, and Kitty Neale, then this comes recommended.
