In this latest instalment in the Woolworths series it's 1950. The war ended five years earlier, rationing lives on, and yet things are starting to change for women with the original Woolworths girls, Sarah, Freda and Maisie, branching out in ways they could never have imagined. This book focuses on the next generation, teenagers Clemmie and Dorothy, and Bessie and Claudette. At an age where they are starting to think about their futures, they all take on Saturday jobs at Woolies in Erith.

Whilst three of them do very well, Bessie has her head turned by a young rogue and ends up in a bit of a mess. What I really loved was not only that her friends stood by her but also the change she underwent herself. Bessie's situation felt very real and I imagine a lot of girls in the 1950s had similar experiences.

It was nice to see the young girls step forward but long-time readers of the series will be pleased to note that all the regular characters still play their parts. One of my favourites, Freda, experienced quite a change in her life too and I really hope there will be more books in the series so I can find out what happens to her next, as well as everybody else. It's so heart-warming how such a big group of people, many of whom aren't actually related by blood, treat each other as part of one big, mostly happy, family.

The Woolworths Saturday Girls is a superb addition to the set. Elaine Everest writes such warm and nostalgic stories that transport me to a different time and place. I really enjoyed the historical markers such as the advent of television, and some of the characters meeting Margaret Roberts when she was just starting out in politics. I also enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of the teenagers making plans at the start of such an interesting decade. As always, I raced through this book and then felt bereft at the end, especially now I haven't got another one to go onto. I have everything crossed for a new Woolworths book before too long. ( )