Try free for 2 months

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir cover art

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

By: Jennifer Ryan
Narrated by: Gabrielle Glaister,Imogen Wilde,Laura Kirman,Adjoa Andoh,Tom Clegg,Mike Grady
Try for $0.00

AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.82

Buy Now for $25.82

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Featuring specially-recorded choral music!

The village of Chilbury in Kent is about to ring in some changes.

This is a delightful novel of wartime gumption and village spirit that will make your heart sing out.

Kent, 1940. The women of Chilbury village have taken umbrage at the Vicar's closure of the choir now that its male singers are at war. But when spirited music professor Primrose Trent arrives, it prompts the creation of an all-female singing group. Resurrecting themselves as The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, the women use their song and unity to embolden the community as the war tears through their lives.

Dependable Mrs Tilling sees the choir as a chance to finally put herself first and a welcome distraction from thoughts of her son fighting on the front line. For Kitty Winthrop, the precocious youngest daughter of Chilbury Manor, singing is the only way to outshine her glamorous sister Venetia, who isn't letting the war ruin her plan to make every bachelor in the county fall in love with her. Meanwhile, when midwife Edwina Paltry is presented with a dastardly job which she's convinced will make her rich, she will have to misuse more than the trust of the choir's women to carry out her scheme - and nothing is going to stop her.

Filled with intrigue, humour and touching warmth, and set against the devastating backdrop of the Second World War, this is a lively and big-hearted novel told through the voices of four very different but equally vibrant characters who will win you over as much with their mischief as with their charm.

Choral music sung by Mums N' Roses, with musical direction by Craig Hudson

©2017 Jennifer Ryan (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"I am completely and utterly in love with this book. What a joy! It may be in my all-time top five - I just adore every single thing about it." (Jill Mansell)
"I adored it, it made me want to sing with joy." (Alex Brown, author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage)
"Delightful...it manages to be sad and funny, exciting and heart-warming, all at the same time. Quite an achievement." (Barbara Erskine, author of Sleeper's Castle.)

What listeners say about The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    34
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting story and characters

Would you listen to The Chilbury Ladies' Choir again? Why?

Yes. Loved it all and want to revisit WW2 in Kent with Kitty and Mrs Tilling.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Different actors for each part.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Rivetting

Any additional comments?

Loved the addition of choir music - could be more and louder.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Chilbury Ladies Choir

Made a nice change from the usual books I listen to - a "light" no stress

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • TJ
  • 19-11-2022

Wonderful

A magnificent story. Listening to it was so easy, the narrrators a delight who transported the listener to that time and place.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fab book and beautifully read

I loved both the content and delivery, beautifully read by several narrators it was a joy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

stronger themes than other titles.

There didn't feel enough lift in this story....just one upset after another. yes it came together at the end, but I didn't enjoy it as much as other titles of hers-sadly.
At times, it felt somewhat like a reflective piece of writing, rather than a key part of the story-sneaking in modern day themes etc which detracted from the overall story for me.
Hasn't turned me off her writing, but I hope future titles stay the course and don't try to squeeze themes in to be current...
it truly did detract from the story.
I also found most of the characters unlikable, which made it a bit of a hard slog as I listened. There were only 2 characters that I could cheer for, and they weren't always on the scene.
Maybe this is why I didn't enjoy it as much.
🤷‍♀️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just delightful!

Beautiful story, amazing performances. I might just listen again!. Absolutely loved it, and now looking for moire titles by Jennifer Ryan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable

Gives another side of WWII. Great characters and a good story. Bonus was the intermittent vocals of the choir. Recommend that you read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a great listen!

A very entertaining book with a dynamic set of characters, not too heavy or too light! I'm very picky when it comes to narrators, but I did not dislike any of them in this book, it was very well produced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Ooh what annoying characters.

The yelling actors are awful. Not comparable to Guernsey Literacy Potato Peel Pie Society. Ugh!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

World war 2 from the ladies point of view.

I loved this book I am glad that I listened to it on audible I think I got a better idea of the different personalities I am sad it is finished.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.