finished reading

The setting is during World War II, where food rationing has become a stark reality in Britain. The novel centers on a BBC-sponsored cooking competition, "The Kitchen Front," which offers the grand prize of co-hosting the popular radio program. Four diverse women, each with their own compelling reasons, enter the contest: a widowed mother struggling to survive, a kitchen maid yearning for freedom, a lady of the manor seeking escape from an abusive marriage, and a trained chef determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated field. As they navigate the challenges of wartime cooking and personal obstacles, their lives intertwine, revealing secrets, rivalries, and ultimately, the strength of female solidarity.

The audio is very well done, not overly sentimental in tone.

From the publisher:

In a new World War II-set story from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, four women compete for a spot hosting a wartime cookery program called The Kitchen Front - based on the actual BBC program of the same name - as well as a chance to better their lives.

Two years into WW2, Britain is feeling her losses; the Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is putting on a cooking contest--and the grand prize is a job as the program's first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the contest presents a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it's a chance to pay off her husband's debts and keep a roof over her children's heads. For a kitchen maid, it's a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For the lady of the manor, it's a chance to escape her wealthy husband's increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it's a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all--even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together serve only to break it apart?

#52BookClub prompt 50: Set in the 1940s