The Shop Girls of Harpers by Rosie Clarke is the debut of Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. It is March of 1912 when Beth Grey heads off to interview for a position with Harpers. The store has completed construction but has yet to open to the public. While waiting for her turn, Beth meets Sally Ross and Maggie Gibbs who are also applying for positions. The four girls are thrilled when they are hired and get to work in the same department under Rachel Craven. This is the beginning of a lifelong friendship for these four ladies along with new adventures. I was immediately taken in by The Shop Girls of Harpers. I have enjoyed reading Rosie Clarke’s other novels and this one did not disappoint. The author has an engaging writing style that draws the reader right in. I like the four ladies who are getting an opportunity to work at a brand new store. They are strong female characters. They each come from different backgrounds with differing personalities. Somehow, though, they click. I enjoyed the comradery between the ladies and the bond they formed. I liked reading about the day to day running of Harpers. The various departments and how they functioned. One of my favorite characters was Fred, the porter, who brought the stock up to the various departments. He is such a kind, thoughtful man. I can tell the author did her research for this book. It felt authentic to the time period with the clothing, music, books, and world events. I liked how she worked the Titanic sinking into the storyline. I just loved reading about the fashions from this time period. The beautiful hats were my favorite. These ladies worked among beautiful clothes and accessories that they could not afford to purchase. The Shop Girls of Harpers is a heartwarming historical novel, and I cannot wait for Love and Marriage at Harpers. The Shop Girls of Harpers is a story of friendship where four women stick together through the ups and downs of life.

Can’t wait for the sequel.