Some Sunny Day by Helen Carey, a Lavender Road novel

It’s 1940, and the women of Lavender Road are trying to cope with bombing, rationing, and other stressful situations as the war continues in the second installment of this appealing six book series but even at the most dangerous times their resilience shines through. Katy Parsons, whose father runs a busy pub, is tired of being treated as an invalid because of her asthma. Now that she is 18, she is applying to be a nurse. 

Her friend Jen Carter is pursuing a career as a singer while Louise Rutherford, their age but from a more privileged background (and a big house at the end of the street), is looking for an eligible man, although does eventually go to work in a factory. Jen’s mother, Joyce, has to deal with her abusive husband, who takes the wages Joyce earns as a cleaning lady for Louise’s mother, Celia. Their employer/employee relationship prevents Joyce and Celia from building a friendship but they develop a healthy respect for each other through volunteering together at the Women’s Voluntary Service canteen. Also on Lavender Road are Pam Nelson, who longs for a child, and the Miss Taylors, whose dashing Canadian nephew, Ward Frazer, intrigues all the women, although he is focused on secret trips to France to rescue Jews from the Nazis.

Nursing, even as a probationer, is exhausting and Katy’s instinct to rush or to console patients in pain conflicts with the strict rules and hierarchy of the Wilhelmina Hospital in Clapham:

“I beg your pardon.” The temperature of Sister Morris’ voice dropped another few degrees.

Katy blinked. What had she done now?

Sister Morris drew herself to her full height which to Katy’s horrified eyes looked about six foot five. “Miss Parsons, I don’t know your background or why you have been foisted on me as you have, but I would like to make one thing quite clear. When you are addressing a senior nursing Sister in this hospital you will address her as Sister. Is that quite understood? . . . You will of course appreciate that as an untrained probationer, you are the lowest of the low. In general, therefore, you will not be expected to speak at all unless specifically asked to do so.”

Probationers mostly clean, empty bed pans, and make beds. Although everyone at the hospital seems hostile at first, Katy does make friends and is able to help Louise avoid disgrace when she winds up in the hospital with a miscarriage.

However, unlike the books where the would-be nurse makes mistakes but eventually saves the day/finds her true calling, Katy realizes she is not cut out for nursing. When she decides it is up to her to keep her father’s pub going, it takes everyone from Lavender Road to back her up and ensure that opening day is a reality.

There is a whole subgenre of historical fiction set during WWII Britain that showcase the struggle and sacrifice of ordinary people. The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard follows an upper middle class family in Sussex and it is very well done, but there is something quite engaging about those enduring the war in London where they are faced with constant bombing as well as the daily deprivations of wartime. As we know from fiction and real life, suffering brings out the best and worst in people! This is an especially enjoyable series because Carey manages to juggle a large group of characters yet is skilled at giving each a distinctive personality. Lavender Road, which I read in 2023, focused on Jen, Louise and their families, and Katy was the invalid observing the street and its goings-on from her window. Her growth in confidence inspires those who previously overlooked her, and the way the residents of Lavender Road rallied around Katy when she needs help makes a very satisfying conclusion to the book. It is a pity this series was never published in the US but perhaps ILL will come through with book three because, of course, I want to know what happens next – there is still quite a bit of WWII to survive!

Vera Lynn, via IMDb

There are a LOT of books with titles based on the song Vera Lynn made famous:

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello

To the folks that I know

Tell them I won't be long

They'll be happy to know

That as you saw me go

I was singing this song

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep smiling through

Just like you always do

'Til the blue skies

Drive the dark clouds far away

So will you please say hello

To the folks that I know

Tell them it won't be long

They'll be happy to know

That as you saw me go

I was singing this song

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

This is book 26 for Marg's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2024. 

Title: Some Sunny Day

Author: Helen Carey
Publication: Orion, hardcover, 1996
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: WWII Britain
Source: Interlibrary Loan. Thank you to the Lynchburg, Virginia Library for sending this book north!