Land Girls: A Spirited Novel of Love and Friendship

I like books of this era, particularly Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher so picked up Land Girls with great expectations. I was not let down. This novel is a thoughtful character study of how three extremely diverse young women react to the difficulties of farming, isolation, and each other during the frightening days of World War II. I enjoyed that the story is bookended by scenes from the future. This offers greater insight into the girls. Truly a book that will absorb you!

I enjoyed this somewhat simplistic novel, but wish it had dealt a little bit more with the war. If anything, the war merely provided a backdrop for this gentle drama, which came dangerously close to becoming a romance several times, what with all the romantic entanglements in which the young women found themselves involved.

Huth's novel is peopled with endearing and memorable characters, but the actual plot left me hungry for something more. Greater depth? Richer detail? A more complicated dilemma? I think I expected to learn more about the Second World War and its effects on the rural communities in England; what I came away was more of a gentle beach read, if you will. Not exactly "fluff" but definitely not "literary" quality.

I liked this book. It was very well written, thoughtful, had strong character development.