The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan

chilburyladieschoir

I absolutely adored this novel.  It is set in a small English village during World War II. The church choir is disbanded because most of the men have gone off to war, but with the help from a new music professor at the nearby university, a new ladies choir is formed.  The story of the villagers is told through letters and diaries, and using this method to tell the story allows the reader to get to know these delightful characters intimately and to learn what is going on in their minds.  The story lines for the various villagers are interesting with stories including love affairs, grief over lives lost, worries over men fighting, a baby swap by a midwife, scandal, a suspected spy,  friendships formed, personal growth, and strong women who come together in a difficult time.

I listened to this book and highly recommend that you listen to the audio.  It was fabulous and really brought this charming book to life.  If you liked the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, you’ll like this book.