Mrs Boots - Deborah Carr

Description

An incredible historical novel inspired by the true story behind the Boots empire.

Jersey 1885

On the beautiful island of Jersey, Florence Rowe lives a quiet life working in her father’s bookshop. Life for the Rowe family is good, but Florence can’t help yearning for more…

When Jesse Boot, the successful owner of Boots the chemist, arrives on the island, Florence is immediately captivated by his tales of life in a busy, bustling city on the mainland. For the first time ever, Florence imagines a life away from the constraints of Jersey society, of being someone more than just a shopgirl.

Until her parents reveal the shocking news they will refuse any marriage proposal from Mr Boot. Can Florence find a way to be with the man she loves and make a new life for herself?

Review

I was eager to read this book as coming from Nottingham I have an interest in Boots and have been to some talks about its background. So, I was looking forward to this book to flesh out the story of Florence and Jesse.

I did find the book a little slow and the letters between Florence and Jesse sometimes repeating what we already knew had happened in the story. I was also eager to get to when Florence became Mrs Boots and began her wonderful work of which I know a little.

This is where I find the title misleading as this book only covers the period up to Florence becoming Mrs Boots - whilst a nice book and obviously a literary account and not historical as such, I feel this could have been background to the sequel book Mrs Boots of Pelham Street.

I did enjoy the social history aspects of the book and learning how young ladies had to behave at the time and also the setting of the Island of Jersey.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for an ARC to review. The book is out on 27 March.

Comments

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