Cardiff, 1939. Best friends Becky Morgan and Laura Evans step out of school and into a world on the brink of war. Becky dutifully helps in her mother’s grocery shop, while Laura pursues a job that sparks envy and ambition. But as the shadow of conflict falls across Britain, their youthful dreams are tested by air raids, rationing, and the call to serve.
Through hardship and heartache, Becky and Laura discover the strength of friendship, the courage of ordinary lives, and the resilience of a community determined to endure. The Way Things Were is a moving saga of love, loyalty, and survival on the home front, perfect for readers of Catherine Cookson and Margaret Dickinson.