The Great Western Railway Girls

The Great Western Railway Girls #1

by Jane Lark

Enthralling WWII industry saga, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Maisie Thomas.

September, 1939.

When war is declared, Lily sees an opportunity to escape her domineering she will join the Great Western Railway factory to win her financial independence and move out of home.

Maggie doesn’t want to simply follow in her sisters’ footsteps and work in the laundries at the GWR. So, when the chance comes to volunteer for men’s work in the machine shop, she’s the first to raise her hand.

Catherine, a clerk in the GWR office, has been helping with London’s evacuation efforts, organising trains to move children out of the city. But when her task is completed, will she defy her family and fiancé’s wishes and sign up for a more dangerous role?

Taking on demanding new duties, Lily, Maggie and Catherine – and others – develop an unexpectedly close bond.

But will friendship be enough to carry them through the ups and downs of life at war?

The first instalment in a brilliant new wartime series set in Swindon's Great Western Railway works.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, British Literature, Womens Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2025

About the author

Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance, and a Kindle top 25 bestselling author.

She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write.

Now Jane is writing a Regency series and contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others' imaginations at last.

You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality.

Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots.

'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.'

Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life.

Reviews

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never Know what to Write in a review. But i loved the book.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book of a new series and set just as war is declared in England. I call these set up books as we're getting to know the characters, there are a lot of them, the plot and the setting. The story follows five girls and their stories. Three of them have been friends a long time and two become part of the group when they start war work. One of them is keeping a secret and I enjoyed her story a lot. This is an open ended story but the finish stunned me!
It started off well and I was enjoying it but it lost me a bit along the way. The story could have been tightened up more, it sorted of rambled at times. There's a guy who chopped and changed his feelings and I couldn't get to grips with him at all. One nasty fella is mentioned a few times and I guess he'll make a more substantial appearance in the next book which I will read as I'd like to see what happens to them all.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[annasbook nookk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the lives of Lily, Maggie, and Catherine, "The Great Western Railway Girls" was written against the backdrop of World War II.
As the war raged on, they forged unbreakable friendships while getting used to their newly found independence and defying society.
A must-read for historical fiction readers.
I had never heard of this author before, but I thought her writing was excellent, so I will check out more of her books.

[Glenn Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Western Railway Girls is a wonderful story which I enjoyed immensely. It is a WWII historical fiction book which there are a lot of, however this one was different. The story centred on a group of young women from a town in England whose fathers, grandfathers, husbands, brothers and boyfriends etc all worked at the local railway workshop. The workshop historically built locomotives but at the outbreak of the war, began manufacturing munitions and other supplies for the war effort. Women were forbidden from working in the workshop however as all the men gradually signed up to fight in the armed forces, the women took over the workshop roles. It was a steep learning curve and the jobs were physical and dangerous with few safety standards. I liked getting to know all the girl’s backstories and how they all came from very different pasts. By the end of the book they formed a close bond with each other and became a kind of “sisterhood”. I felt slightly unfulfilled at the end of the book as there didn’t seem to be an ending as such. All of the different character’s storylines were left open ended and I was left wondering what happened to them all. Clearly there is going to be a sequel however when I chose the book I thought it was a standalone. I will be keen to read the follow up to see how each character’s stories progress. The book was well written and researched, and the story an interesting one. I would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Katie Awdas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable easy read with likeable characters. I would have liked more about what they were doing in the factory and more about GWR (it could have been any factory throughout Britain in which the girls were working as I felt it lacked a link to GWR).

The storyline at the start of the book also seemed to chop and change quickly; the Jewish twins seemed to play a significant role in the book but were never mentioned again until we were told they had returned to London.

I also feel that every book set in wartime seems to have an unwanted pregnancy and it is very repetitive and boring for the reader. My Gran lived during this time and says she didn't know anyone who got themselves in this situation but authors today seem to portray someone on every street getting pregnant!

I would recommend the book to others and assume this is start of a series which I look forward to continuing to read.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and author for allowing me to read an Arc copy and give my opinions.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the women working the GWR during WW2

This was a really interesting story about a group of women who began working together at the Great Western Railway right as the war was beginning and men were signing up to fight. Each woman brought their varied life experiences and loves, and they became as close as sisters.
I was hooked early on in the story as one woman stood up for herself when her father was abusive. Life was not easy for women in those days, and the author chose her characters well to demonstrate that no matter their individual backgrounds, they worked hard to do their bit against the Germans, and they were there for each other in times of trial.

There are storylines that still need to continue, and I look forward to book number two, whenever it arrives.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in a new series. I enjoyed the various characters and their backgrounds. The drama kept my attention and makes me want to continue to read the series. For fans of historical WWII fiction, I recommend reading this book.

[Nanette Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. The three main Railway Girls plus their families and friends are a lot of characters to keep up with. I had to make a chart, actually, and the conflicts just weren't that interesting to me. Best quote "War changes everything," but there were many important changes unmentioned in the tangle of petty squables.

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book best read so far this year

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to hear about this novel, because I really enjoy reading these kinds of books and this is the first one in a new series.
It begins in September 1939 and the start of World War II. Set in Swindon, we meet the main women characters over the first few chapters.
Lily Franklin lives with her father, stepmother and brother and their younger half-siblings. Her brother Art works in the Great Western Railway’s iron workshop, but is an army reservist so he is soon called up. When he leaves, Lily knows she needs to get away from their violent father.
Maggie Abbot (21) has three older sisters (Dot, Edith and Marjorie) and has just started work with them at the GWR laundry. But Maggie and her best friend Violet Turner soon volunteer to work in the metal works instead, as more women are having to do “men’s jobs” due to the war. Maggie likes Violet’s lodger Ron the carpenter, as does Violet.
Catherine Pearce is first seen helping to sort out the evacuees. She has four brothers and lives with her parents in a big house. Her father works for GWR as the chief clerk. She begins a friendship with Jewish girl Naomi Isaacs and they both begin doing the new “men’s” jobs as well, Catherine changing her surname so her new friends don’t realise she’s related to her father.
The five of them – Lily, Maggie, Catherine, Violet and Naomi – form a tight knit group of women, becoming friends and sisters to each other during the dark days of the start of World War II. I love stories where there’s a great camaraderie between women and this is a great example of it.
I really like reading about both World Wars from the point of view of the social history – finding out what went on at home, while the men were fighting away in Europe. It was an important time for British women as they had to often stop being housewives to join the war effort. They began earning their own money and having more independence from husbands and parents.
There’s a bit of everything in this book – romance, money issues, family arguments, work issues, housing conditions, rationing and plenty more. I loved the inclusion of little bits of ‘evidence’ from the time like the wording of the Identity Cards after the enumerator’s visit.
I love how I always learn something from this genre of books. I never realised how huge the Great Western Railway was and how many jobs it provided for the local people at the time, across many different occupations and trades, with whole families working for them. I looked up the Railway Village on Wikipedia to find out more and you can tell the author has researched the period extensively, as she really brings the facts to life in her book.
Overall, The Great Western Railway Girls is an excellent introduction to a new series and I will look forward to reading the upcoming books too.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Lark’s The Great Western Railway Girls is an enjoyable wartime tale about friendship, romance and community saga readers will not want to miss.

September 1939 and England is at war and while apprehension, fear and panic are in the air, Lily sees this as the perfect opportunity for her to escape her domineering father’s clutches by joining the Great Western Railway factory. Financially independent and living far from home, Lily is finally free to do whatever she pleases for the first time in a very long while.

Maggie wants to do more with her life than merely follow her sister’s footsteps and work in the GWR laundries. When the opportunity arises to volunteer for men’s work in the machine shop, she’s the first to raise her hand. But does she know just what she has signed up for? Catherine works as a clerk in the GWR offices and has been helping with London’s evacuation efforts, moving children out of the city. But with her work completed and the opportunity to do far more dangerous work, will Catherine defy her family and her fiancé’s wishes and do her duty to her country? Or will she always regret not following her own heart?

Lily, Maggie and Catherine are on the precipice of great change and in times of great difficulty and upheaval will find that their friendship is worth its weight in gold…

Having loved Jane Lark’s historical romances and her thrillers written under the name of J S Lark, I was really looking forward to her first saga and I was not disappointed. The Great Western Railway Girls is a touching, emotional and compelling tale with three wonderful heroines readers will cheer on and care about. A gripping yarn that will tug at readers’ heartstrings, The Great Western Railway Girls heralds the start of a fantastic new saga series by Jane Lark.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Great Western Railway Girls” is the first book in a new series by Jane Lark. There’s a lot of set-up in this book (as there should be) with most of the story focusing on four women. All of the women work for the Great Western Railway - not on the actual train, but in the factory as WWII begins ramping up in England. It’s obvious that a lot of historical research went into this book and it shows. Ms. Lark mentions some of the places she visited and researched in the back of the book. There are a number of characters in this book - and some of the side stories were undeveloped (but maybe they’re developed more in the following books of the series?). I found this an interesting read - Catherine’s story I found most interesting, with Lily’s a close second. There’s a lot of talk about family and friendships, but - for me - most of my interest was in learning more about the town and infrastructure of the village supporting the company (GWR) opposed to the people. While this was an enjoyable read, with something happening that I wasn’t expecting, in many ways the story felt like others I’ve read based in this timeframe with the tropes I’ve come to expect. Maybe it’ll get better in the forthcoming books as the characters are now established and the reader won’t need all the background information. Overall, if you like WWII historical fiction novels with some interesting history thrown in, this may be a book to look into reading.

[Helen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to read this first book in a brand new series! The Great Western Railway Girls is a delightful offering of friendship, love, duty, bravery and resilience in the midst of civilian wartime.

The story is rich in detail and the author’s research is evident, particularly in relation to the wartime history of Swindon and the Great Western Railway works. Being an employee in this industry and a ‘railway girl’ myself is what attracted me to this book. Railway history is vast and fascinating, and the author has done a brilliant job of reflecting this specific location and railway company, and highlighting the women who contributed and continued factory production during wartime whilst husbands, brothers and fathers were serving in the military.

There is a wonderful dialogue between the characters - ranging from witty exchanges to more down to earth approaches. The way in which the friendship and camaraderie between the girls blossoms and becomes a real source of strength for them is beautifully portrayed.

I highly recommend this enjoyable and engaging story, and very much look forward to reading book two in the series, particularly as the ending felt slightly abrupt so I hope there won’t be too long a wait to be reunited with the GWR girls and continue their stories.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher, Boldwood Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this and other book content, subscribe to my blog, www.bargain-sleuth.com

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is the start of a new WWII series, and as with any introductory volume, this book introduced a ton of characters before whittling down the narrative to three women: Margaret, Lily, and Catherine. I really appreciated Catherine’s story the most since she came from wealth and is working for her father but doesn’t want anyone to know that. She wants to help out more with the war effort and her father allows her to work alongside the other workers instead of just being stuck in an office. Her story carries the most weight, as there is a really good character arc and a shocking conclusion to the book.

I absolutely love this kind of book and reminds me a bit like the Goodwill House series from Boldwood Books that I also enjoyed reading. As any good WWII fiction series, this one also shows the resilience and resourcefulness of the women who were left behind to work in place of the men, who were off fighting the Nazis. Women were busy back home helping the war effort in their own way. I’ll definitely be following along with this series. Highly recommend!

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this opening to a new series. It was full of period detail and conjured up the start of the Second World War beautifully. There are so many lively characters to follow. As you follow their lives and see the different decisions they are making,you get involved in their lives. Family and friendship are most important to keep everyone going and the ties they gorge at work shine through. You certainly believe that they are all working for the war effort but struggling to keep going at times.

It is fascinating to see the different lives of the classes with a strict pecking order shown through their clothes and home lives. The role of women are central to the story and you can sense that there are big shifts coming in the attitudes, particularly towards married women working. In the early days of the book, women are looked down on at work, paid less and assigned more menial work but you van see their cabailities coming through, Not all families are happy with instances of neglect and brutaklity hiding behind the cutais. However, there are also kind and close families looking out for each other. I am looking forward to Book 2 to see where the GWR Girls go next in propping up the Home Front.

In short: great historical fiction
Thanks to the publisher

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark. The author captured the time and place. The story is told from multiple points-of-view. It took me a little while to get into the story and to keep track of each character. The characters are likeable and relatable. I liked seeing the ladies’ come together and become friends. I wish, though, that the author had let us know more about what was going on at the factory. We learn about their jobs at the beginning, but then we do not learn more until the end. The women could have been working at any factory in England. It sounded like GWR was a large factory and I wanted more information about it (what the girls did each day, what the factory made, how they contributed to the war effort). The author included the predictable wartime pregnancy in the story (why is there one in every book set during World War II). There is an incident near the end that I expected, but I still found it shocking. This story takes a reader through a range of emotions. I am assuming that The Great Western Railway Girls is the first book in a series, and I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I want to know what happens next with these women and how one is going to handle her new reality.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly enjoy fictional stories based around a factual time and place. In this instance, the time is World War 2 and the place is the Great Western Railway factory in Swindon. The author researched well and I enjoyed learning new things about what the GWR did to help in the war effort.

The fictional characters and their relationships kept me entertained. The 3 main female characters, Lily, Maggie and Catherine are as different as chalk and cheese. They meet when they all sign up for work at the factory. Over time they become firm friends and share in each other's highs and lows with family life and relationships.

There are some lovely characters, but some equally nasty characters that will make you run the gamut of emotions. There are some heartbreaking moments, but they are balanced with enough light-hearted moments to ensure the book doesn't become dark. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading future books in the series.

[Jeanette Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II gave women the opportunities to work in what would be typically called "man" jobs. Catherine wanted to do more at the factory then just being a clerk. She got her wish and met some amazing friends. But she needed to keep her true identity a secret.
Lily, Maggie, Violet and Catherine became the The Great Western Railway Girls. Each young woman had a story to tell. Each had a hardship to bear. Their stories are what made this book so entertaining.

This is my introduction to the author, Jane Lark. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. It must have been so very difficult to carry on with day to day life when loved ones were sent to war. The future is unknown. When the men returned, the women that were left behind also changed.

A powerful story. I loved it.

I received this book to review from Boldwood Books.

#blogtour

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thrilled to say this is the first book of a brilliant new series which starts just as war is declared in England. It follows the story of three young women my favourite being Catherine! I came to feel like I really wanted to be a part of their friendship and I was eager to see them all happy and thriving. The research that has been done to write the story shines through the knowledgeable words. The banter between the characters is easy and flows creating a great dialogue. I would have liked to learn and explore more of the GWR but maybe it will develop further in the series. It was great getting to know Maggie, Lily and Cath and they are the picture of strength, determination and resilience. The story is engaging and rich in detail.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set in Swindon and begins in September 1939, just as war is declared. It focuses on three young women and the friends they make as they contribute to the war effort on the home front. They work at the Great Western Railway in roles previously done by men. The cast of characters is diverse, and they form friendships that bridge social divides and prejudices. The story is emotional against the backdrop of an encroaching war and all the heartbreak and uncertainties of being young. The female protagonists draw readers into their lives, and you care what happens to them. The historical details bring the Swindon to vibrant life.
I like the originality, the characters and the immersive storytelling; I can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Great Western Railway Girls has an appealing historical premise and a setting that initially drew me in. While I appreciated the concept and the period detail, I found it took me some time to settle into the story and I never quite felt fully immersed in the narrative.

The characters and themes will likely appeal to readers who enjoy gentler, character-led historical fiction, but for me the book didn’t quite deliver the sense of engagement I’d hoped for. That said, it’s a pleasant and competently written novel that may suit those already fond of the genre.

Overall, this was an enjoyable enough read, even if it didn’t quite stand out as a memorable one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book about the woman who worked for GWR certainly will turn into a brilliant series.

The book is based on three woman in the book Catherine, Maggie and Lily there is also Naomi but mainly it is the first three. All the woman come from different backgrounds. Catherine is engaged to Charles, Lily is friends with Lenny and Maggie is single. The work is hard and as more men are called up then the woman help with the jobs the men left.

I really liked the characters and how the book flowed there was some sad bits in it and of course romance as well.

It was well researched and well written.

Would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book.

[William Hallworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in its entirety, so I guess I'd have to say I enjoyed it well enough. However, a rather major historical error (in my mind at least) made me question everything else I read.

Catherine's fiancee, Charles, was reportedly fighting in Poland during the early days of WW2. That never happened. The British forces fought in Belgium and France before Dieppe. In Poland, just 20 British special agents were sent to give the Polish forces some guidance, but that never happened because Hitler's forces captured Poland so quickly, in just 2 weeks.

Other than that glitch, I enjoyed the book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I love historical fiction is the opportunity to learn new information. Being an American, I knew nothing about the GWR, and I found it absolutely fascinating. Many social issues of the day are woven into the story through an eclectic group of young women as they begin to take on jobs formerly reserved for men. This was the first time I've read about this type of work, done by the young women at the GWR. I quickly became invested in the lives of these women, and the plot was anything but predictable. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, although it looks like dark days are ahead for them.

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly just wow at the Cathy storyline, that ending! I loved this book, it was a really interesting and informative read. The story is about a group of women who meet up working at the Great Western Railway yard and as war is declared they are moved into the men’s jobs who have gone off to war. It felt real, this was how it was in war time England. It was sad, shocking, hopeful and full of love and compassion amongst friends. I loved this book it was great, well written and drew me in from page one. Highly recommend, bloody brilliant book.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Western Railway Girls is the first book in a brand new series by Jane Lark. As always when I start a new series I feel a tad nervous, what if I don’t enjoy it or it’s just not for me. Well I can honestly say after a few chapters I was completely absorbed in this story. I loved the characters of Catherine, Maggie and Lily and how they were determined to help the war effort by working at the Railway Factory in jobs which at that time were potentially for men. Each of the girls had their own reasons for working there and I was hooked on all their stories. The three of them came from different walks of life but they formed a unique bond of friendship which I thought was wonderful. There were other characters that I really warmed to also and I look forward to getting to know them better as the series progresses. All in all this was a wonderful and at times emotional read of friendships and helping each other during tough and difficult times. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Caroline Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from NetGalley.
An entertaining a light hearted WWII homefront story of a group of young women that start to work in a factory at the beginning of the war. However, this book suffers with a major historical inaccuracy in that British soldiers never set foot in Poland before or after Dunkirk. Poland was overtaken by the Nazis in a matter of days, before England could mobilize troops.

[Rachel Brimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so looking forward to release of The Great Western Railway Girls as it is set in Swindon which is very close to where I live and I am familiar with the wonderful railway museum they have there - a series that will bring what snippets I know to life! I couldn't wait and I wasn't disappointed.

The book opens in September 1939 when there is still so much uncertainity, or maybe misbelief, in Britain that the war will come to affect the people's way of life - children once evacuated are returning home and talk is rumbling that the war is not even real. This underlying tension is written really well and adds to the overall suspense in the main characters lives.
Friends and factory workers Lily, Maggie and Catherine are wonderful in their individual ways and I couldn't decide which was my favourite by the end of the book!

A truly great read and I'm looking forward to the next instalment coming in October...

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me and this is also a new series. Set in Swindon it’s based on a group of girls that meet at the Great Western Railway at the start of the Second World War. Cathy,Lily, Maggie and Violet all have their own reasons for wanting to work there but they soon become friends with each other. There are some good characters that you feel for as they all go through their own struggles at this testing time. I think this will be a great series

[S D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice historical WWII novel

It's always interesting to read about how England coped during WWII: the extreme measures taken to protect children living in high risk-areas, various programs to decode enemy messages, training people to spy, to assist farmers (land girls), and shifts to war time manufacturing. This is a well-written, clean novel, loaded with lovely characters. A most enjoyable story!