{"title":"Books by Jennifer Ryan","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781529094350","title":"The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Atmospheric, wise and warm . . . comforting and unputdownable . . . an enchanting hug of a novel' - Cathy Kelly on \u003ci\u003eThe Kitchen Front\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo have. To hold. To sew. Jennifer Ryan’s \u003ci\u003eThe Wedding Dress Sewing Circle \u003c\/i\u003eis ‘A Great British Sewing Bee’ set in the Second World War, and inspired by true events.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter fashion designer Cressida Westcott loses both everything she owns in the Blitz, she has nowhere to go but the family manor house she fled decades ago.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCressida is at a loss as to how to rebuild her business from a small country village. The answer comes from an unlikely source: the local sewing circle. With clothes rationed, wartime brides are left with no choice but to 'make do and mend' and after helping local vicar’s daughter, Grace Carlisle, repair her mother’s dress, Cressida finds herself inundated with similar requests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore long, the sewing circle find themselves mending wedding dresses for brides across the country. And as the women dedicate themselves to helping others celebrate love, they might also find it for themselves . . .\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43173027250354,"sku":"9781529094350","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":57685678981493,"sku":"9781529094329","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781529094350_d2712cab-85a3-4651-9eaa-1c3bfa06b199.jpg?v=1792598824"},{"product_id":"9780008163730","title":"The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘The writing glows with emotional intelligence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis atmospheric debut…had me sniffing copiously’ Daily Mail\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIN WARTIME, SURVIVAL IS AS MUCH ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AS IT IS ABOUT COURAGE…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKent, 1940. In the idyllic village of Chilbury change is afoot. Hearts are breaking as sons and husbands leave to fight, and when the Vicar decides to close the choir until the men return, all seems lost. But coming together in song is just what the women of Chilbury need in these dark hours, and they are ready to sing. With a little fighting spirit and the arrival of a new musical resident, the charismatic Miss Primrose Trent, the choir is reborn. Some see the choir as a chance to forget their troubles, others the chance to shine. Though for one villager, the choir is the perfect cover to destroy Chilbury’s new-found harmony…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn uplifting and heart-warming novel perfect for fans of Helen Simonson’s The Summer before the War and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201202815154,"sku":"9780008163730","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780008163730.jpg?v=1785658896"},{"product_id":"9781529084030","title":"The Kitchen Front","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom Jennifer Ryan, the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, \u003c\/i\u003ecomes an unforgettable story inspired by the true events of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘\u003ci\u003eThe Great British Bake Off s\u003c\/i\u003eet in World War Two . . . an enchanting hug of a novel’ – Cathy Kelly, author of \u003ci\u003eOther Women\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘A gorgeous novel about making the best of things during difficult times, whilst celebrating the importance of sisterhood and friendship’ – Jill Mansell, author of \u003ci\u003eShould I Tell You?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSome wars will be fought at home . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo years into the Second World War, and German U-boats are frequently disrupting Britain’s supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio programme called \u003ci\u003eThe Kitchen Front\u003c\/i\u003e launches a new cooking contest – and the grand prize is a job as the programme’s first-ever female co-host.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor young widow Audrey, winning the competition could be a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. However, her estranged sister, Gwendoline, is equally set on success even if her own kitchen maid, Nell, is competing against her. And then there is Zelda, a London-trained chef desperate to succeed in a male-dominated profession – and harbouring a secret that will change everything . . .\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204592730290,"sku":"9781529084030","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781529084030_9a6f5cdb-ec6f-49cb-b0b9-52809697866e.jpg?v=1786022516"},{"product_id":"9781529094596","title":"The Underground Library","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThree women united by their love of books. One library that has the power to change lives, even in wartime . . . \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen \u003cb\u003eJuliet\u003c\/b\u003e begins work at Bethnal Green Library, she discovers it is far from the bustling hub she was expecting. But, in the face of German Blitz attacks, she’s intent on making it a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKatie\u003c\/b\u003e is thrilled to be working at the library, too. But, after the death of her sweetheart on the front line, she’s in desperate need of support.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSofie\u003c\/b\u003e, a Jewish refugee, escapes to the library every chance she gets. Though she finds comfort and friendship there, her position in London remains vulnerable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen bombs wreck the library, the books are relocated to an underground station. As the war rages, can the women use their fighting spirit to overcome their own troubles \u003ci\u003eand \u003c\/i\u003ekeep the library open to all?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInspired by the true story of Bethnal Green Library, \u003ci\u003eThe Underground Library \u003c\/i\u003eis a historical novel about love, friendship and the power of the human spirit. ­\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Jennifer Ryan:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'[Ryan's] emphasis is on how people, especially women, manage to keep life (and love) going when so many others are intent on destroying it' - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHistorical Novel Society\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A deliciously warm and heartrending tale . . . It’s empowering to see women helping women' - \u003cb\u003eMartha Hall Kelly, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eLilac Girls\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56303589851509,"sku":"9781529094596","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781529094596_4c09095f-3213-4c16-9c01-5494d599260a.jpg?v=1786021973"},{"product_id":"queens-coronation","title":"The Queen's Coronation","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBy command of the Queen, you are hereby directed to be present at \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e. . .\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere’s a lot to get done ahead of the queen’s coronation – and even more so when your livelihood is at stake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucy Jones is Junior Wardrobe Assistant to the queen, but dreams of being a singer. 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Meanwhile, Miranda Miller, an undercover journalist in the Coronation Office’s planning committee, needs an inside scoop to keep her job – the only thing she has left.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey are all running away from their own demons but, in order to succeed, they must shed their feelings of shame, trust themselves and reclaim their lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs Queen Elizabeth II takes the throne, will these three women also be able to take their rightful places in the world?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Queen's Coronation\u003c\/i\u003e is an unforgettable tale of female resilience, friendship and having the courage to seize your future.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for Jennifer Ryan \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘An enchanting hug of a novel’ – \u003cb\u003eCathy Kelly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘A deliciously warm and heart-rending tale’ – \u003cb\u003eMartha Hall Kelly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘The writing glows with emotional intelligence’ – \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57483382915445,"sku":"9781035060931","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781035060931.jpg?v=1786178529"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-jennifer-ryan.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}