Surplus Girls' Orphans

In 1922, after the devastation of war, Molly Watson decides to be a surplus girl rather than marry a man she doesn't love. She joins a secretarial class and gets a job at St. Anthony's Orphanage, where she befriends caretaker Aaron Abrams. A misunderstanding leaves them at loggerheads, damaging her reputation and livelihood. Can she recover her reputation, livelihood, and friendship before it's too late?

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2021
Publisher: Atlantic Books

After the devastating effects of war, a child's love has the power to heal everything. In the bustling city of Manchester, 1922, Molly Watson finds herself at a crossroads. Engaged to a penny-pinching pedant for the past three years, she has grown weary of the monotony and lack of true love. Determined to remain single for the rest of her life, she takes a bold decision and enrolls in a secretarial class, hoping to acquire new skills and open up a world of opportunities.

As she embarks on this new journey, Molly lands a job at St. Anthony's Orphanage, where she meets caretaker Aaron Abrams. Their initial encounter is filled with misunderstanding, causing friction between them. However, their shared love for the children they care for brings them closer together, and Molly begins to form deep connections with the children in her charge.

But tragedy strikes when a misunderstanding spirals out of control, tarnishing Molly's reputation and jeopardizing her career. The children she has grown to love and care for begin to doubt her abilities, and her budding friendship with Aaron hangs in the balance. It seems as if everything is falling apart, and Molly is left with the daunting task of repairing the damage before it's too late.

"The Surplus Girls Quartet" is a captivating series of novels set during the early 1920s, following the lives of three women who find themselves in a unique position after the Great War. The war had claimed millions of young men's lives, leaving a void in the hearts of many women who had dreamed of marriage and a family. These women, known as "surplus girls," were forced to forge new paths and create new lives for themselves.

In the second installment of the quartet, we meet Molly Watson, a young woman determined to live independently and pursue her dreams. Despite the societal expectations and pressures of the time, Molly refuses to settle for a marriage that does not bring her true happiness. She joins a secretarial class, hoping to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to support herself and achieve her goals.

Through her journey at St. Anthony's Orphanage, Molly meets Aaron Abrams, a kind-hearted caretaker who shares her passion for helping children. Their initial encounter is filled with misunderstanding and conflict, but as they work together to care for the children, they begin to develop a deep bond.

However, their happiness is short-lived when a misunderstanding threatens to ruin Molly's reputation and career. The children she has grown to love and care for begin to doubt her abilities, and her friendship with Aaron hangs in the balance. Molly must confront the consequences of her actions and work tirelessly to repair the damage before it's too late.

"The Surplus Girls Quartet" is a powerful exploration of the resilience and determination of women in a time of great change. Through the characters of Molly Watson and Aaron Abrams, the novel sheds light on the challenges faced by surplus girls and the strength they possess to overcome adversity. It is a testament to the power of love, friendship, and the human spirit to rise above circumstances and create a better future for oneself and those around them.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786499691
Edition number: Main