Woolworths Books in Order

In 1938, Sarah Caselton starts a job at Woolworths in Erith and quickly bonds with glamorous Maisie and shy Freda. Together they find love, laughter and independence behind the counter, even as the threat of war turns everyday flirtations and friendships into far more dangerous affairs.

Determined to forget the war for one evening, Betty, Freda and Sarah organise a Christmas party for the Woolworths staff and customers. When air raid sirens shatter the festivities, the girls must shepherd everyone to safety and somehow keep a spark of seasonal cheer alive underground.

Back at the Erith store during the early war years, Sarah, Maisie and Freda work hard to make Christmas special while their loved ones serve at the front. Manager Betty Billington believes her chance at romance has passed until a mysterious newcomer makes her question that resolve.

As 1945 approaches, Betty Billington's surprise pregnancy, Freda's new romance with a Scottish engineer and the reappearance of Maisie's dangerous brother all threaten the fragile happiness around the Erith store. The friends cling to one another, hoping peace will finally bring the future they dream of.

With the war dragging on, life grows tougher for the Woolworths girls. Maisie feels drawn back toward the family she left behind, Sarah and Alan long for another child despite dark clouds ahead, and Freda returns to Birmingham, risking the safety and friendship she found in Erith.

In the summer of 1947, Britain is still rationed but talk of royal engagement brings hope to Erith Woolworths. After a motorbike accident entangles Freda with injured cyclist Anthony and Sarah worries about her marriage, the friends rally to face fresh heartache and new love.

In 1905, heavily pregnant Ruby Caselton moves her struggling family into a cramped house on Alexandra Road, hoping her unreliable husband Eddie will finally change. As secrets, job losses and then war tear at the street, Ruby builds a community that could save them all.

A new generation takes centre stage as the daughters of the original Woolworths girls start Saturday jobs at the Erith store. Bessie, Claudette, Clementine and Dorothy face first love, hard choices and a scandalous pregnancy that will test their friendship and families.

In 1952, as the country prepares for a new Queen, the Erith Woolworths store faces internal upheaval. A difficult temporary manager pushes Sarah toward resigning, Ruby supports her ailing friend Vera through an old scandal, and expectant mother Freda fears her husband will miss their baby's arrival.

Seventeen year old Elizabeth 'Betty' Billington is devastated when her fiancé is killed at Ypres and her wealthy parents reject her friendship with working class Charlie Sayers. Moving into the Sayers' home and then onto a job at Woolworths, she rebuilds her life while clinging to one life changing promise.

Christmas 1953 finds the Erith Woolworths branch under threat of closure if it cannot boost December sales. Manager Betty Billington battles staff shortages, a troublesome new employee and her own doubts while organising events and outings that might save both the shop and its community spirit.

When a bomb destroys the Bexleyheath Woolworths, young assistant Annie helps pull colleagues to safety and is transferred to Erith to start again. There she finds friendship, painful loss and an American soldier, Dean, whose offer of love could carry her far beyond wartime Kent.