Author: Jean Fullerton
Publisher: Bookoture
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Family Saga.
Year of Release: 2025
Release Date: 21/11/25
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book 2 of 3 Can be read as a stand-alone
Synopsis
East London, 1942: With the war still raging, can the East End Girls help bring comfort and joy to their friends and neighbours this Christmas?
Christmas is coming, and Alice Starling is trying hard to get into the festive spirit. Two years ago, she lost her beloved husband at Dunkirk, and it feels like a piece of her heart will always be missing.
With almost nightly raids on London, all Alice can think about is her important work defending the city with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force until, on a rare night out with her friends Nell, George and Maeve, she encounters US Army Lieutenant Brogan Rafferty. Sparks fly at their first meeting, and when Alice walks away, she isn’t sure whether the brown-eyed soldier was infuriatingly handsome or just plain infuriating…
But when Brogan volunteers to help to drum up rations and decorations for the Christmas party for local families that Alice and her friends are organising, she begins to warm to the smooth-talking American. There’s a kindness in his smile as he plays with the children who have lost everything in the Blitz that has her wondering if there might be more to this man than meets the eye…
Their relationship deepens as they spend more time together, and Alice begins to hope with all her heart for a future with Brogan. But as sirens wail over the city on Christmas Eve, they are separated in the rush for the air raid shelters. When the dust clears, will they find their way back to each other and their happy ending?
Review
East London, 1942. Christmas is just around the corner, and Alice Sterling is doing her best to embrace the festive spirit. Despite the Luftwaffe’s nightly raids, she’s determined to bring comfort and joy to her neighbours while continuing her work with her friends in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
On a rare night out with Nell, George, and Maeve, Alice crosses paths with US Army Lieutenant Brogan Rafferty. There’s an instant spark — though Alice isn’t entirely convinced whether she finds the brown-eyed soldier handsome… or infuriatingly aware that everyone else thinks he is.
When Brogan learns of the plans for the new Relief Centre, he quickly offers to use his American connections to gather rations and donations. As the pair begin to cross paths more frequently, Alice’s once-frosty attitude begins to thaw. She can’t help noticing the kindness in Brogan’s eyes, especially when he plays with children affected by the Blitz. Soon she wonders whether she’s misjudged him — perhaps there is far more to this American than first meets the eye.
Brogan, meanwhile, is spending more and more time at the Maid of Norway pub, where Alice is billeted. And when he’s not there, he’s turning up anywhere he’s heard she might be. Alice finds herself wondering where Brogan is as well — even imagining what a future with him might look like.
But on Christmas Eve, just as the festivities are in full swing, the air-raid sirens begin to wail. Alice and Brogan are separated in the chaos as people rush for the shelters. Can they find their way back to each other and claim their happily-ever-after, or will the Luftwaffe take yet another life and leave Alice heartbroken once more?
Effie, Alice, George, and Maeve are back on barrage-balloon duty in East London, 1942 — and with Christmas around the corner, how could I possibly resist catching up with the East End Girls again? I adored getting to know these women in book one, so returning to them — this time with Alice as our protagonist — felt like stepping back into something warm and familiar. Winter Wishes for the East End Girls carries a festive magic threaded through every chapter, making it impossible not to feel the Christmas spirit early (not that I’m complaining).
Jean Fullerton has done a fantastic job of keeping Winter Wishes for the East End Girls connected to book one The East End Girls without making it feel repetitive. The story feels fresh, and the tension is dialled up enough that I occasionally felt like I was right there in the danger zone.
I did initially struggle to feel the instant connection between Alice and Brogan, but as the story progresses, so does the authenticity of their bond. The relationship becomes more believable as the novel deepens.
Winter Wishes for the East End Girls places Alice Sterling front and centre, and from the opening chapter it’s clear she’s the perfect protagonist for this instalment. She is generous, deeply loyal, and committed to supporting her community, all without expecting anything in return.
Jean Fullerton once again gives each of the women a distinct backstory that stands out rather than fading into the background. It’s easy to tell the author cares deeply for every character she writes — none of them feel minor or underdeveloped. They’re believable, strong women the reader could imagine befriending.
In the beginning, I found myself questioning whether Alice was as likeable as I remembered from book one. She spends several chapters with a metaphorical cloud hanging over her. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that her defensiveness isn’t arrogance — it’s fear. Watching her walls gradually come down felt genuine and satisfying. Jean handles this emotional journey as a subtle, ongoing development rather than something the reader must “fix” before the finale.
Finishing the book has made me curious to research this period more — particularly the air-raid sirens and how exactly they operated, as well as the American Red Cross centres. I hadn’t realised those centres existed, and they were a brilliant addition. I would have liked a little more detail about the sirens, similar to how the barrage balloons were described.
I realise that in 1942 London was very much a city under siege, but I would have liked to see Nathan and Effie play a larger role. Call me fussy, but returning to East London makes me want to follow all the characters closely.
Brogan Rafferty is a memorable and charming leading man, and his kindness provides a welcome light in the darkness. I found myself curious about his life before arriving in England and think the novel could have benefitted from more dual-perspective scenes. Brogan does have a perspective, and I would have loved to see it used a touch more. I think the novel could’ve benefited from the dual perspective technique Brogan does have a perspective I believe this could’ve been better utilised throughout the book.
If you’re considering a slower, more atmospheric read for your next pick, may I recommend Winter Wishes for the East End Girls. The book isn’t motionless by any means, but like book one, I didn’t feel compelled to race through it until the plot demanded it. The pacing suits the emotional tone of wartime London beautifully.
As with many historical family sagas with a romantic thread, a little predictability is expected. I’m fond of Alice and Brogan, so I didn’t mind it at all. Still, I do think the author could have left a breadcrumb or two for readers to discover some things themselves, which is why I landed on a four-star rating.
East End London makes for a brilliant backdrop — almost a character in its own right. Jean Fullerton’s personal connection to the city shines through. By the end of each book, the setting feels alive, familiar, and deeply rooted in the characters’ experiences. As someone who loves destination reads, this remains one of my favourite aspects of the series.
“If I had to describe Winter Wishes for the East End Girls, the first thing that comes to mind is…”
Is it’s A Christmas wartime romance where the Blitz hums in the background.
Subplots and Tropes included in Winter Wishes for the East End Girls:
- America and Europe as Allies
- Christmas time
- East End of London
- Family disapproval
- Family expectations
- Family ties
- Found family
- Grief
- Political and social upheaval
- Pregnancy and motherhood
- Self-discovery
- Wartime
The ending left me smiling and eager for future instalments. I already can’t wait for A Wartime Promise for the East End Girls — book three, arriving in May 2026.
Fans of Kerry Greenwood, Laura Sweeney, and Natalie Meg Evans should definitely add Jean Fullerton to their bookshelves.
I recommend Winter Wishes for the East End Girls to mature readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly wartime-era stories. With book three scheduled for May 2026, now is the perfect time to dive into the series.
With continued thanks to author Jean Fullerton, Bookouture, and NetGalley for sending a copy of this eBook to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.