The Girl Who Dared to Dream

By: Diney Costeloe

Narrated by: Bea Holland

The captivating new novel from Diney Costeloe, bestselling author of The Throwaway Children and The Girl With No Name.

London, 1912.

It is two years before the outbreak of World War 1, and the Oakley family are typical of their time. Andrew has been clerk at a City solicitors for twenty years. Alice, his wife, keeps the home fires burning. Their sons plan on becoming skilled apprentices. And Mabel, their daughter, says she would rather die than go into domestic service like her cousin. She is going to go to train as a secretary.

Andrew Oakley little imagines, as he sets off for work one February morning, that their lives are about to change in the most dramatic and tragic fashion. In one fateful instant the family dreams are crushed. And Mabel will have to swallow her pride to take that position as in-between maid after all. It is every bit as unpleasant as she expected. But help is going to come from a quite unexpected direction and bring her dreams to life again.

Brilliant storytelling, wonderful characters, here is everything we have come to love about a Diney Costeloe novel.

©2022 Diney Costeloe (P)2022 Head of Zeus

the girl who dared to dream

this audible book is very easy to listen to, the reader is very talented. the story is. not too complicated but keeps your interest until the end.

THIS BOOK WAS A VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE

This book was the fifth I’ve read by this author. Each of the other books started out slowly and before I knew it, I was completely hooked.

From the book description and sample, I was not at all sure I would enjoy this book, but decided to trust in the fact that I had enjoyed the other books by this author SO MUCH.

I not only LIKED this book, I was sad when it ended. It was so much better than I expected it to be!

The main character, Mable, is a young girl who has dreams of attending school for an extra year and becoming a secretary. But after her father has a terrible accident and can no longer work, she and her brother have to put aside their own wants and needs and take jobs to keep food on the family table and a roof over their heads. Their mother takes in piece-work sewing from a local shop, which earns her just pennies each, but the sewing allows her to stay home with her husband who no longer has use of his legs.

As the whole family adjusts to the father’s new condition, Mable goes to work as a maid in the home of a prominent judge and his family. There, Mable learns there are many, many rules to follow, and even a pecking order among the servants. She quickly learns it’s ill-advised to make enemies of the staff.

Before long, Mable is accused of stealing a ring and a very valuable brooch from the daughter of the house. Unable to prove she didn’t steal anything, she is immediately dismissed, not only now labeled as a thief, but having no character reference letter for future employment.

Ashamed, Mable has no choice but to return home. She has no job and no way to bring in money to help support her family. Fortunately, Mable has the support of her family who never believed for a minute that she stole anything.

An old man who had befriended Mable years before hears about what happened. After much thought, he approaches Mable’s father with a proposition: Would he allow Mable to work for him in his print shop as his apprentice and errand person? It’s a most unusual job for a young lady in the 1800’s, but Mable has always loved Mr. Clark and wants to help, and Mable IS a rather unusual young lady. Mable has NO IDEA how her (and her entire family’s) future is about to change.

I didn’t want this book to end…I wanted to know what happened after a big event happened — how did everyone’s lives change? Because I loved all the main characters in this novel, I wish there was a sequel!

I enjoyed this book so much more than I ever thought I would. If you are a Diney Costeloe fan as I am, I know you will enjoy this novel too (I listened to this one twice, back-to-back).

The narrator did a terrific job with a difficult Cockney accent.

Great story

I loved the story of a woman living in this era and how she overcame the status quo!

Great storyline and well read!

Loved the characters. Good portrayal of the historical reality. Kept me interested throughout the story. Worth your time.

Enjoyable listen and book

I love this author. If you’re a fan of Diney Costeloe, you’ll enjoy this book. Excellent narration. I’m sad it’s over!

The theme of a woman making it against the odds is attractive

Very domesticated compared to the author’s other books I’ve listened to. Without the WWI or WWII element woven into the plot, I found the plot to be far less captivating. The theme of a woman making it on her own against the odds was compelling. There were just few moments in the story which kept you in suspense.