Book Review: The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan

This story takes place in a small village in England during World War II. It is a story about those who were left behind—the women, the children, and the elderly who did not go to war. Their story is told through a combination of letters and journal entries that reveal their hopes, dreams, aspirations, and secrets!  This book includes humor, romance, and life lessons.

Although this book has a large number of interesting characters, the story focuses on the lives of four main characters who are all members of the local church choir. Each character is unique and has her own share of idiosyncrasies. The women in the choir have to fight to keep the choir together after the men of the village have gone to war. The choir seems to have a calming influence in their otherwise chaotic lives. It offers them a sense of community and provides them with ways to create joy in their own lives while serving others.

Kitty Winthrop is thirteen-years-old, the youngest of the group, and has lost her father to the war. She has aspirations of becoming a professional singer and has a crush on a young man from the village.

Venetia Winthrop is Kitty’s older sister, age eighteen. She is a flirt and falls in love with Mr. Alastair Slater—a young man who is both an artist and a spy. In an attempt to get his attention, she volunteers to pose nude for a painting.

Mrs. Margaret Tilling is a widow who has a son off fighting the war in France. She is required to provide lodging to Colonel Mallard who is working on the base.

Miss Edwina Paltry is a midwife with a love for money—she appears to be willing to do anything for money. She even agrees to participate in a baby-swapping scheme and ends up blackmailing the man who hired her to make the swap!

This is a heartwarming story of women bonding together for the better good, finding their voice in society, and learning to stand up for themselves and others. I like how this story of war was able to show many positive changes that occurred in the women despite their many trials and character flaws. It shows that working together made the women a strong force for creating and doing good. 

On a 1 to 5 scale, I give this book a solid 4 stars. It is funny, intriguing, and keeps the reader wondering just what will happen next in the lives of these crazy and loveable characters.