World War Two is finally over.

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. Homecoming for the Chocolate Girls is not just a really captivating story that is incredibly entertaining, but it is a well researched and deftly executed insight into the society of the historical setting, with sexuality, health, divorce and family so sensitively explored that there is much, much more than a physical homecoming for some of Annie Murray’s characters as they come to terms with their experiences and who or what they have become.

Although Homecoming for the Chocolate Girls is the concluding part of a series, at no time is the reader at a disadvantage because the histories of the characters are woven in effortlessly. It’s quite hard to define, but I felt this was a proper story. There’s such skill in Annie Murray’s writing as she leads her readers through events alongside her characters. Brilliantly researched for its historical accuracy and context, the narrative is absorbing, drawing in the reader and ending by making them feel they have been fabulously entertained by real people. Homecoming for the Chocolate Girls would make a brilliant television series because it is episodic, pacy and interesting.

I loved the dynamics between the characters. Alan’s damaged mental health following his WW2 experiences felt especially poignant given that our modern world seems determined to plunge itself back into global conflict. Annie Murray deals with difficulty in her story with sensitivity and compassion. She also balances light and shade so perfectly that I found Homecoming for the Chocolate Girls made me immensely sad and wonderfully uplifted. Alongside highly dramatic aspects there are quieter, more prosaic moments of ordinary life that make the narrative all the more engaging, because they lend authenticity.

I think what works so well is that all the characters, even the fairly sanguine and steady Tom, are so human. They are messy, foolish, strong, principled, reckless, petty and forgiving so that it feels as if all life is here. Add in themes such as those of guilt, betrayal, mental and physical health, family, identity and self-acceptance and this is a story with an aspect for any reader to relate to so that it reverberates long after it is read.

I thought Homecoming for the Chocolate Girls was excellent. It’s a riveting story, skilfully told without recourse to saccharine sentimentality so that it has emotional impact and resonance. I don’t often read sagas, but Annie Murray has persuaded me that I’m really missing out!1 Vix434 20

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads.

I am so glad there was another book in the Chocolate Girls series and it was a great conclusion to some very emotional journeys.

I loved diving back in to Joy's story and I was so angry on her behalf at multiple points in the story. Also, I warmed more to Sheila and was glad she stood her ground.

I loved how, even though the war is over, the family is still picking up the pieces and learning how to live in this new world. Although this book is all about the strength and power of these women, Tom is a lovely male edition when most of the other men are hard work (to put it lightly).

I'm still not a lover of these covers - I don't think it does the story justice. I would have also d a little more about Martin at the end.

Overall, a lovely ending to a wonderful series - it's been an interesting journey with the family and I'm happy with the conclusion.

*I received a complementary copy of the book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.1 Sally197 3

Let's get the teeny quibble over with first: 'Tom laid down his knife and fork'.

Anyway, apart from that, the book was very good. I understand that it's the third in a trilogy – well, it does seems to have the air of finality about it, even though you could still return to the characters (especially the younger ones) for a continuation (see below). However, it then wouldn't really be the story of Ann, the central thread. She has, by the end of this book, gained a point of happiness, after her wider family's struggles continued way beyond her own. She deserves that inner peace.

Warning: this will be full of spoilers. If you want a review that just hints and doesn’t give away the plot, don’t read on, please! I to vent and ramble about my thoughts about the characters as I have no-one else to discuss them with, really.

This book seems to have Men as its theme. If only we all had a ‘Tom’ – or a Simon, who seems just as wise. They are the gem characters and one hopes that others try to become more them.

The ‘creep’ (we’d now term him a stalker) storyline was well-played-out, with the tension kept up quietly but in a sinister way. It didn’t come to the melodramatic head that lesser authors might have written. These stories are all about valuing patience, but not to the extent of endangering yourself. Joy got away with it thanks to the caretaker and some luck. Of course, Howard’s fate may have been hanging, although his disturbed mind may have put him in an asylum.

Martin’s going to have a difficult life, having to hide his nature from most people, but we know things will ease for him, eventually. And in the final scene we have hope that he and his mother will regain closeness. Their mother-son relationship is at the centre of this trilogy, with all its repercussions.

We had the contrast of Sid and Kenneth and how they dealt with frustrations of marriage and family life. The caravan was a genius idea, I must say. Sadly Beryl and her children’s story wasn’t brought to a happy conclusion. I was hoping that Sheila might have thought of having Audrey set up a women’s refuge in her country house – she was looking for something useful to do.

Poor Alan – that was a shock, after he had seemed to be recovering but, given what he’d been through, and the limited mental health services at the time, not exactly a surprise. The army had not helped Joy much, either – remember the doctor saying he expected ‘they’ had told her not to give him rice, but she was clueless? Obviously, they must have been overwhelmed by PTSD after the war and everyone, especially good employers Cadbury’s, did their best but sometimes it sadly wasn’t enough. The discovery of Alan’s period of infidelity abroad before capture was difficult for Joy (the author never did resolve that storyline of her thinking she’d seen Alan with another girl once, before he left England; I was wondering if that was at the back of Joy’s mind). But she had forgiven him and was doing her best.

We had nice old Cyril suddenly taken ill and dying, and saw the changes this caused for his widow, despite his having been the quiet one in the marriage. Ida’s sad life was obviously due to sexual double standards, and it had been interesting to see this realisation soften Margaret. As the world moves on from the 1950s we know Cadbury’s sadly won’t be a family business for ever. On the other hand, restrictive views were starting to soften in society.

And now I’m thinking about George and Len – hoping they will be OK with each other after a difficult start. The cousins all seem to get on. George’s mum seemed a character that had leaked out of one of the author’s tougher books; I think she will find her feet – is she safe from the men who were after her? Jeannette is rather volatile. Will she stay in understanding mode and remain Ann’s friend from now on?

So, to take the characters forward: Joy might have a second child? If Kay can manage with a baby, so can she! How about some funny stories about Sheila and Kenneth’s travels, or more a challenging book about Martin and Simon’s relationship under pressure (I hope it lasts), or Elaine enjoying her youth in the ’60s?

Calm down, it’s only a book. Sacrilege! Sorry! You can see how real it seems to me, can’t you?
End of ramble.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review1 comment Tracy117

These 4 books in the saga of the chocolate girls.
Are an absolute must read
They follow the family and community of women who work in the Cadburys factory even though these families are fictional the lives of this particular family seem so true to life
Can’t wait for book 5 to come out unfortunately not until 2024
Helen Patrick3

Annie Murray never writes a bad book

This kept me reading till well past midnight ,it was a brilliant story covering a vast amount of different social attitudes in that time line .l just wanted to keep on reading and for the story Togo on and on Julie Homer198 4

Loved this
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