First published 2012
Lilian Tull arrives at the Tate & Lyle sugar factory in East London's docks shortly after the war ends. At 23, she's older than most new workers. Her colleagues in the can-making department notice something different about the tall, fair-haired woman. A distant sadness fills her eyes. She carries a heavy heart that sets her apart from the other girls who left school at fourteen to work the factory floors. The Tate & Lyle plant offers more than just the best wages along the docks. It becomes a community where women find independence, friendship, and romance despite the back-breaking labor and dangerous conditions. During the Blitz and rationing years, these Sugar Girls kept Britain's sweetness flowing. The factory floor buzzes with tribal energy, creating bonds that sustain workers through hunger and hardship. Lilian must navigate this world while guarding whatever pain brought her here. The story captures a woman seeking her place in a tight-knit community while the echoes of war still shape daily life. Personal photographs document the real experiences behind this tale of working women in post-war London.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adult-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, resilience
Setting: East London, Tate & Lyle Sugar Factory
Period: Post-War
64 pages · Kindle Edition · Harper