Secrets of the Chocolate Girls

In September 1940, Ann Gilby is busy at home with her children, Martin and Sheila, and her newborn daughter Elaine, while her husband and daughter work at the Cadburys Bournville factory. As bombs fall closer to her Birmingham home, Ann fears for their uncertain future and longs for the carefree days of her youth. However, she must confront her oldest secret, which could tear her family apart.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

In September 1940, Ann Gilby finds herself in the bustling city of Birmingham, juggling the responsibilities of being a mother and homemaker. Her husband and daughter work at the Cadburys Bournville factory, while her youngest child, Martin, and her other daughter, Sheila, have recently returned home with their babies, Elaine and Elsie. Despite Ann's gratitude for having all her children safe under one roof, the looming threat of bombs falling ever closer to her home fills her with fear for their uncertain future.

Part of Ann yearns for the carefree days of her youth, when she also worked the line at Cadburys, filling trays of chocolate shells. She reminisces about the joy and camaraderie she experienced with her colleagues, and how the factory felt like a second home to her. However, Ann tries not to dwell on the past too much, as it would mean confronting her oldest secret—one she has kept since the last war—and that could easily tear her family apart.

As the war rages on, Ann's life becomes increasingly complicated. She struggles to provide for her family and keep them safe, while also dealing with the emotional toll of the bombing and the loss of friends and loved ones. She finds solace in her faith and the support of her community, but the fear and uncertainty never fully dissipate.

Through it all, Ann remains a strong and resilient woman. She loves her children fiercely and will do anything to protect them, even if it means keeping her secrets buried deep within her heart. The Chocolate Girls is a powerful and emotional tale of love, war, and chocolate, exploring the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of family bonds.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 161 x 242 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529064957