Steel Girls in the Blitz by Michelle Rawlins

My huge thanks to Georgia Hester at Harper Collins for sending me a copy of Steel Girls in the Blitz by Michelle Rawlins in return for an honest review. It’s my absolute pleasure to share that review today.

Steel Girls in the Blitz is published by HQ on 7th November 2024 and is available for pre-order through the publisher links here.

Steel Girls in the Blitz

In December 1940, the Blitz has reached Sheffield, but Steel Girl Hattie is more concerned about the war brewing at home between her parents. Desperate to help her mother in any way she can, will Hattie get through with the help of her factory sisters?

Betty is overjoyed to learn that her fiancé will be coming home to complete his RAF training. But when the Blitz begins, he may be in greater danger than ever.

Young Patty has never been prouder of her sweetheart, Archie, than in his role as an Air Raid Warden. But having seen the true cost of war, is he struggling more than Patty could ever imagine?

And as the bombs begin to fall, with heartbreak on the horizon, will the Steel Girls find shelter in each other?

My Review of Steel Girls in the Blitz

World War Two has arrived in Sheffield.

I thoroughly enjoyed Steel Girls in the Blitz and although it is part of a series I never felt at a disadvantage at not having read all the other books. Any backstory was woven into this narrative perfectly and each individual was so clearly depicted that the book can be read as a standalone perfectly well. 

The plot is cleverly constructed. With everything revolving around the lynchpins of Hattie, Betty and Patty there’s a confident balance of events making Steel Girls in the Blitz feel effortless to read. That isn’t to say it is simplistic, but more that the natural dialogue, the authentic historical detail and the realistic occurrences make it flow beautifully. Michelle Rawlins is an author who understands the art of storytelling. Much of the story is quiet and relatable, with friendships developing, ordinary lives going ahead, and the private concerns of the characters feeling identifiable and true. If it doesn’t sound ridiculous, reading Steel Girls in the Blitz felt a bit like getting home from a very trying day, putting up my aching feet and having the perfect cup of tea – in the same way characters reach for the teapot at trying times.

However, the sense of quiet is merely the calm before the storm and there are moments of peril, drama and pulse elevating excitement too. These elements feel all the more heightened when contrasted with the ordinary, daily lives of the women. The effect is that Steel Girls in the Blitz feels akin to a Pathé news reel as its realism shines through.

I loved getting to know more about the characters, and especially the way those like Dolly have a stoic, caring and determined nature. My favourite character was Archie. He epitomises just how hard the war was on those who’d seen action or who were faced with unspeakable sights. His mental health suffers and through him the reader is helped to understand the other characters through the way they respond to him. 

In fact, whilst Steel Girls in the Blitz is entertaining and warm, it is also insightful. Michelle Rawlins explores domestic violence, grief and loss, family and friendship, guilt and forgiveness, and the full range of emotions from deep seated grief to sheer joy, making it a narrative that keeps the reader engaged and caring about those between its pages. I confess I may have shed a small tear on occasion as I read. 

Steel Girls in the Blitz is a super historical saga filled with authentic detail and engaging characters. It’s a must read narrative for those who love the genre. 

About Michelle Rawlins

After working as a journalist for 25 years, writing real life stories, for the women’s magazines and national newspapers, Michelle began teaching at the University of Sheffield.

Around the same time, she finished writing Women of Steel, after spending two years researching this incredible generation. This research has become a series of historical fiction books on this remarkable band of women, who sacrificed so much, by taking highly dangerous and physically relentless roles in the Sheffield steel factories, during WW2, to ‘do their bit’.

When she’s not teaching or writing, Michelle spends her time with her children and cavapoo.

For further information, visit Michelle’s website, follow her on Twitter/X @Mrawlins1974 and find Michelle on Instagram.