1932: 38-year-old Violet Speedwell is what’s known as a “surplus” woman after her fiancé (and brother) were killed during the Great War (WW1). Violet is living with her embittered mother and just cannot face taking care of her mum for the rest of her life. She decides to apply for a job and move to Winchester. She then joins the Broderers, a group of women who embroider the cushions and other things for Winchester Cathedral. She becomes friends with Gilda, the soon-to-be sister-in-law of one of her work colleagues. And she meets an intriguing man called Arthur, he’s one of the bell-ringers at the cathedral.
When she visits her family for her mother’s birthday, her mother is cold and even more bitter than usual. Her brother tells her that they won’t be going on a shared holiday this year. As a result, Violet decides to take the pilgrimage from Winchester to Salisbury on foot. During the walk she meets up with Arthur again, and she is really attracted to him. However, Arthur is quite a bit older than she is, and more importantly, he’s married.
Gilda’s girlfriend is fired from her job, and chased from her home, for being gay. Violet sends Gilda’s girlfriend to her mother’s house (and she starts looking after Mrs Speedwell).
Then Violet becomes pregnant, after one sexual encounter with Arthur. She decides never to see him again. Of course, as it is 1932, the scandal of being an unwed mum is incredible…
I really enjoyed this book, the camaraderie Violet finds with the Broderers, especially Gilda. And the forbidden romance bugged me a little bit, but she didn’t take it very far.
Read for the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 7: A book about a granny hobby
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
