Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts

This book is the kind of book you read with a strong brew and a cream bun For me, this was a mediocre read I ve read books similar to this before, and I remember being impressed.The story is based around the first world war, and we meet a sixteen year old girl called Nellie, who takes us on a journey through her life, her hardships, her laughs and her loves To be honest, I think the story as a whole was way too dragged out, and would have been okay being 100 pages less The story was very predic [...]

It s been a long time since I ve enjoyed a book as thoroughly as I did Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts by Mary Gibson.It s hard to believe this is Mary Gibson s first novel The writing is superb fluid, enveloping, unpretentious, comfortable and completely entertaining.The story mainly focuses on Nellie Clark, her life through the strikes of 1911, the years leading up to the first world war, and the war itself.There are plenty of giggles, a few gasps, and towards the end, a few tears and yes, it [...]

I do not normally leave reviews either good or bad, but in this case I just feel the need to speak my heart out I bought this book because of the high rating both on and , expecting to find a good piece of historical fiction However, to my bitter disappointment I found many hours of boring read, skipping through the pages to get to the essence While I give the author the credit for creating a very authentic atmosphere, and do believe that one can learn a lot about the historical events of the ti [...]

I enjoyed this book so much I ve read it twice to make sure I didn t miss anything the story is fantastic not to predictable and it keeps you gripped with each new turn of events about half way through so much had happened I had to check to make sure it was half way this book took me in a journey back in time and in between reading I googled the history and what I imagined was spot on I cant say enough brilliant this will be a keeper.

This book deserves a 5 plus.hooked hooked hooked couldn t put this book down,starts of girls working in a custard factory its friendships hard times family war.Brilliant book worth reading.well written book.

Have had this book in my TBR for absolutely ages but I have no idea why it kept getting lower down the pile I can happily say it is a fantastic, heartwarming read Loved the characters, the relationships and the friendship of the ladies in the custard packing factory It is also thought provoking in an era where I feel accomplished just getting the kids on the bus on time, to think what these incredible women went through is amazing and the joy they got when they had so little Well written and hig [...]

I found Custard Tarts And Broken Hearts in the book exchange at Broadgate Farm CL campsite It is set in a similar time period to We That Are Left, but instead of focusing on the upper classes experiences of the First World War, this novel examines the lives of working women in Bermondsey, London.Nellie, a young Bermondsey woman is one of the custard tarts of the title a worker at a custard powder packing factory The women work eleven hour days with scarcely a break for half the pay of male staff [...]

Absolutely wonderful read I have to say that this is not normally my kind of book but as I was giving it away for World Book Night I felt compelled to read it By three pages in I was hooked Mary Gibson takes you straight back to a time where struggle was real struggle It was an emotional journey thoroughly enjoyed I was proud to have passed them on to others to enjoy.

A few late nights were involved, I was so keen to read about what was happening in Nellie s life the lives of the people around her.

I doubt I d have picked this one up if it hadn t been one of my local Library Reading Group reads I ve given it a 3 stars or 6 10.It was overly long in my opinion, there were a lot of characters that I seemed to lose track of along the way It was well written though, but I m sorry it just wasn t as engaging to me as some of my other reads.If you like saga style stories set around the early 1900 s then this is the ideal book for you.

Not the type of book I would normally pick out for myself, but thought I d give it a go due to good reviews and I loved it It felt very authentic, like growing up alongside these people, and it s really interesting to see a common period of historical fiction from a completely different perspective It also portrays the hardship, poverty and the public mood in the time before the War which was very interesting Books like this make it easier to empathize and comprehend what people lived through, a [...]

I liked the way this novel explores the social issues which prevailed in the early 1900s in the UK and in particular in this part of London.This is a well written family saga which encapsulates a vast range of inequality and class issues The central character, Nellie is well created and provides a focal point around whom a plethora of family and extended family are framed.As the novel progresses it also deals with the horrors of the Great War, seen from the viewpoint of those left at home.On the [...]

Mary Gibson has set the seen of the factory women s struggle for equality in Bermondsey so well you feel as if you are fighting alongside them The twists and turns of the friendship, love and family keep you gripped throughout The Characters are engaging and soon feel like old friends A real insight into London during the first world war, a great story I won this on a Advanced Readers Giveaway

not a book I would probably have bought but thanks to my lovely friend Lubna who gave me this book as part of world book night I finally sat down read it I found it to be an enjoyable easy read of fiction mixed with fact

Another lovely readLooking forward to the next Mary Gibson book, a heartwarming story full of history Loved all three of Marys books.

Brilliant read,hooked from the starteat author.

Not my kind of book at all Totally predictable, boring at times and I didn t care much for any of the characters.

I really enjoyed this book The characters were great and the story kept me interested It was recommended by a friend and I recommend it to my friends and to anyone who reads this review.

Sixteen year old Nellie Clark works in Pearce Duff s custard factory in East London and with three younger siblings, her family depends on her wages But when the factory women of Bermondsey go on strike in 1911, Nellie must decide where her loyalties lie Whilst she and her family struggle to make ends meet, times get even tough when the Great War breaks out And as the young men get ready to fight for their country, Nellie and her friends wonder if they ll ever see their male loved ones again.Ne [...]

Nellie is a 16 year old girl from Bermondsey living with her widowed father and three younger siblings in the years before the First World War This novel follows her as she falls in love, fights to keep her family together after a tragedy and waits for news of her man when he goes off to fight in the trenches Along the way, she takes part in a strike, learns how to ride a penny farthing and packs a lot of custard powder It s a fairly predictable tale, with Nellie falling for the bad body and ign [...]

Set at the start of WW1 in London, follow the story of factory women Working in the custard packaging plant, the women organize for better wages, thankfully supported by the male dock workers The story continues through the war when women were given supervisor jobs and even munitions plant jobs There s unrest throughout the story and poverty galore But, the heart of the people sustains them.

Loved this book Positively is heartwarming Touches on a lot of emotions, love, hardships, friendships and the ravages of war and the affects on people in so many different ways Certainly was a page turner for meNow I looking forward into reading the 2nd,3rd 4th book of The Factory Girls Series I highly recommend this book

Fun read with a few twists and turns but once again, historical fiction tied up in a pretty bow Really, one conversation can cure a fellow of PTSD None the less I learned a few things about pre World War 1 I did not know about as well as the working conditions of factory workers at that time and beyond.

A light read with interesting characters set in East London working class neighborhood in a time period before and during WWI Centered on young, likable and determined Nellie Clark, her family, workmates, loves and hopes, it explores the trade union and conscientious objector movement, roles of women, fate of orphans, survival techniques and courtship manners of the age.

I bought this by accident years ago on my kindle and never read it, it s about a girl in 1911 who works in a Custard Powder factory they have a strike and then a Great War and all through it she brings up her family as it grows, none her kids there is love, there is poverty, there is grime and humour it s naw bad and I ll imagine I ll read worse.

Couldn t put it downGreat story about East London during WWII The story line and characters were well developed It was very easy to follow what was happening throught the book I will definitely recommend this book to others.

Well written about women living in London during the time of war, watching their men go off to battle and dealing with the hardships of keeping the families together It draws you in and gets you invested in the characters.

Loved it

A story full of struggle, warmth and love It was fascinating how a young girl like Nelly could survive through all that and always be full of love and hope Defenately worth reading

I enjoyed the subject matter but this book was too predictable and twee at times It was an easy read though.