The Variety Girls (The Variety Girls #1) by Tracy Baines
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Pre-war
Read: 26th June 2022
Published: 30th June 2022
★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Cleethorpes 1939
With the country teetering on the brink of war everyone faces an uncertain future.
Destitute after the tragic death of her father, aspiring singer Jessie Delaney and her family have no choice other than to accept the charity of relatives to ensure a roof over their heads.
Spiteful Aunt Iris soon has Jessie dreaming of a life filled with colour and excitement that she knows the theatre can offer. How can Jessie escape the drudgery, support her family and pursue her dreams?
Through her father’s connections Jessie finds work as a Variety Girl in a new show at the Empire in Cleethorpes, a small seaside theatre on the east coast. But taking the job means flying solo and leaving her family and her sweetheart, Harry behind.
Friendships are forged but will the glamour of show business lose its shine without those she loves close by?
A gritty and heart-warming saga perfect for readers of Elaine Everest, Nancy Revell and Pam Howes.
MY THOUGHTS:
Another delightful wartime saga this time set in the seaside town of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire just prior to the war beginning. It moves along at a gentle pace whilst still keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. And by the books end, you will be hankering for the second one to see how things pan out for the characters.
It's 1939 and Jessie Delaney lives an isolated and sheltered life with her aunt and uncle in Norfolk. Her father had died the year before afterwhich her mother Grace called on her only other surviving relative, her cousin Norman and his wife Iris, to take them in. But Jessie feels stifled within the dark dim walls of the Victorian house called The Beeches. She and her fourteen year old brother Eddie dream of bigger things beyond The Beeches and Jessie's hope is that she can make enough money to take them all away from the horrible stifling atmosphere Iris brings to the house. Ruling the place with an iron fist, Iris belittle Jessie every chance she gets deeming her selfish and wilful, the type of girl Harry Newman would never dream of settling down with.
But Jessie knows better. She throws in her boring mundane job at Norman's solicitors office and heads to Cleethorpes where her father's agent, and now her agent, has gotten her a job as a Variety Girl at the Empire Theatre. Grace, Eddie and Harry are thrilled for Jessie...Iris and Norman not so much "after all they've done for her giving her a home and a job". Despite being happy for her, Harry is sad that Jessie didn't confide in him her plans and wonders if she loves him as much as he loves her. Her dreams to be on the stage seem to take up all her energy Harry wonders if there is room for him. But he loves her and he will support her for as long as she needs him to.
Upon moving to Cleethorpes, Jessie knows no one but soon makes friends within the entourage and her new kindly landlady, Geraldine. The work is hard and tiring but Jessie thrives knowing she is doing what she loves. She meets many people and makes friends in Frances and Dolly. But there is a fly in the ointment with overt Billy Lane who thinks the world of himself and tries hooking Jessie for himself.
And then Eddie calls with the news that their mother is ill but when Jessie calls to speak to her aunt Iris answers and says her mother is perfectly fine but is resting; that there is no need to worry for Eddie was prone to exaggerate, she says. However, when Harry calls upon Grace he is shocked and makes the journey to Cleethorpes to bring Jessie home.
As much as Jessie loves singing, music and being on the stage, will she put her dreams ahead of her family when they need her? And will Harry be patient and wait for her? Or will she lose him altogether?
A delightful read from start to finish, THE VARIETY GIRLS begins in the summer prior to the war beginning in September. There are rumours and hints that it is just on the horizon but life goes on and should war arrive on their shores then people will need cheering up.
Although a wartime saga (albeit just prior), THE VARIETY GIRLS has a vastly different flavour to it. It is not of the make-do-and-mend type of tale of rationing and taking shelter from air raids...not just yet. And while there are whispers of the war, life goes on and Jessie has dreams to fulfil. It will be interesting to see how the next book pans out with the war having already begun by that stage to see how it affects the characters and their lives.
I am reminded of Pam Howes Bryant Sisters series and Rosie Archer's The Force's Sweetheart series, in which music and song play a big part through ENSA. I wonder if that will come into the story or will Jessie remain in the seaside town of Cleethorpes?
An enjoyable read all round, THE VARIETY GIRLS is a delightful tale set during the troubling times when war was on the horizon. Gently paced, it is an easy read with likeable characters, as well as some aptly placed unlikeable ones. I look forward to the next book "Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls".
I would like to thank #TracyBaines, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheVarietyGirls in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
So began her love of live entertainment, and with something of a virtual free pass, Tracy and her sisters got to see many variety performers who appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes on the end of the pier show.
From the age of sixteen, Tracy worked backstage during summer seasons, pantomimes and everything else in-between on the pier. She met her husband when he was appearing with the Nolan Sisters and she was Assistant Stage Manager.
The first two books in the Variety Girls series are set in Cleethorpes, in the square mile that was her childhood home.
Tracy lives in Dorset with her husband and springer spaniel, Harry. Her children and grandchildren live close by.
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