When
the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young
women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved
library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir.
When
the new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green
Library isn’t the bustling hub she is expecting, she becomes determined
to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a
woman is up to the task of running the library, especially when a
confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?
Katie
Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she is only
there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death
of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she
finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to
for help.
Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London
on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a
man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance
she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding
her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.
When a
slew of bombs destroys the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the
local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly,
determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy
after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their
community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own
troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their
neighborhood be lost forever?
About The Author
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ryan writes suspenseful contemporary romances about everyday people who do extraordinary things. Her deeply emotional love stories are filled with high stakes and higher drama, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.
Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession with both is often revealed in the state of her home, and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.
For more information about Jennifer and her upcoming releases, visit www.jennifer-ryan.com.
My Review
A story set in WWII England, and the story of the women who
kept the country ticking. Filling in wherever needed, and going beyond
all that the powers that be expected.
The book focuses on Juliet,
Katie, and Sofie, each contributing, but we get a in-depth look into
their lives, and how they help others.
The author does a great job
with some very tough subjects, things are a lot different now, but the
stigma of some of the happening was great back in the 1940's.
I loved how having books at their disposal while they are taking refuge for their lives in the underground.
Looking forward to more reads by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
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