3.75 stars

A great historical novel highlighting London during the WWII bombings, when people were actually living in small communities in the unused underground stations and a small library sprang up -- true stories.

These were hard times, and just about every character is incredibly steadfast and courageous under unbelievable circumstances. Deaths, nightly bombing raids, casualties, relatives and loved ones on the battlefield, children separated from their parents -- the book is full of people trying to make do while their lives were anything but normal.

The main characters are head librarian Clara, whose husband died during the war, and her assistant and best friend Ruby, who lives with her mother and abusive stepfather. Clara and Ruby forge bonds in the community offering hope and distraction to displaced children and empathy to women in bad situations at home. Their supervisor is a supercilious and superior Brit who looks down on any popular literature and on almost all the patrons of the library. Clara continues to battle with him because she sees the comfort they provide.

In the tradition of wartime fiction, there is grieving, romance, desperation, death and peril but also hope. Not everyone gets a happily ever after. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Little Wartime Library {A Book Review}

Review does not always constitute endorsement. The publisher provided me with a galley copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My goal is to share my thoughts in a true, kind, and helpful way. I hope to provide enough information for you to know whether this is the right book at the right time for you and to enrich your life in some way through the review itself, even for those who do not go on to read the book. Thank you for your time here.

The Little Wartime Library, Kate Thompson’s new novel of World War II, brings to life the fictional community that grew up around a very real underground library in London’s East End from the Blitz to the end of the war. Fans of Call the Midwife can readily picture this part of London and the working poor living there a decade later. The socioeconomic situation seems much the same during the wartime years presented here. Thompson’s novel depicts the unique extended family which shared reading melded together in those dark years of fear and bombing; the healing power of love and books and the pain of grief complicated by guilt and shame also thread throughout the novel.

The Bethnal Green Public Library, community and educational center for the borough, was bombed on the very first night of the Blitz. Its roof and most of the books were destroyed. Underground in Bethnal Green, the unfinished Tube station became the ad hoc air raid shelter for thousands of people without other options. Miles of triple-bunked beds lined the platforms. Services including a café, a medical office, a theatre, and a hairdresser’s provided for the community’s practical needs, since many of the Bethnal Green residents lived in the Tube shelter from dusk to daylight for 5 or 6 years. The real-life librarians of Bethnal Green decided the shelter needed a library too. What better way, they thought, to escape from the terror and find a way to grow through the war than to read? This was a free public lending library, with a variety of books on loan with a shelter ticket the only prerequisite.

This novel invents a widowed children’s librarian, Clara Button, to run that real underground library. As a children’s librarian, she naturally reaches out to the “Tube Rats,” as the children of the shelter are known, and starts regular times of reading aloud. Her interactions with these children, especially Sparrow and Beatty, were some of my favorite parts of the book.

Clara’s assistant and best friend, Ruby, is broken from a different kind of bereavement, based on another true story from the Bethnal Green Tube station during World War II. While Clara turns her grief into nurture and outreach to the children, Ruby turns her grief into self-destructive habits of drink and promiscuity.

In addition to the children’s story hours, Clara and Ruby launch a book club for the factory women. Their tastes run to more salacious fare than I am comfortable with, and much is made of an American romance novel which was risqué enough to provoke the censors on both sides of the Atlantic.

To be honest, Clara isn’t sure whether she likes that novel either, but her aim is to serve the shelter residents with literary escape from the very difficult circumstances of their daily life, as well as to inform and educate. This is a democratic view of library holdings, and the book pushes back against the idea of censorship and book bans.

Additional tragedy strikes Clara and the community in the second half of the book, and the suspense and resolution moved me to tears. I liked so many of the characters in this book, and Clara seems to be a lovely person with whom to share a cuppa and talk books. She and Billy the ambulance man are a pair I can’t help but root for, and their hearts to serve others are as big as this underground library is small.

Readers of my blog know how much I love books and reading, and their superpower to transport to other times and places and even eyes and feet is one of God’s gifts. Reading for escape truly is a useful coping mechanism in hard times and keeps us sane in the better times too. It enlarges our horizons and grows our empathy. Sometimes, it sneaks past our defenses and takes us by the hand to grieve our ungrieved grief and cry stored-up tears as we walk with the characters through their trials. This book did that for me.

What I value in reading even more than escape, though, is hope. Real, sure, lasting hope because of a Rescuer far more powerful and committed than Billy the war medic. Hope that illuminates even the most desperate circumstances. Hope that is imperishable and unfading and sustains us through life and death. This hope is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose resurrection bought our pardon and whose presence has sustained me through many dangers, toils, and snares. I wished, in reading this novel, for the presence of the church in the underground shelter. Perhaps it was absent in real life, but I longed for that anchor in the world of the novel. Jewish cultural and ethnic community was represented, but vital, dynamic faith was not. I missed the anchoring presence which Nonnatus House provides to Call the Midwife. For me, despite my fondness for libraries and books, The Little Wartime Library was not as sure and steady an anchor as the Anglican nuns and their faith.

While I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Bethnal Green Tube shelter life in the novel itself, I enjoyed the historical material at the back of the book even more. The photos were a priceless addition. Kate Thompson’s research was clearly thorough and a labor of love.

That said, I feel compelled to offer some content warnings. If this book were a movie, it would probably be PG-13 or TV-14 for language, alcohol use, sexuality, wartime violence (bombings), and some intense depictions of domestic violence. Suicide, PTSD, panic attacks, and depression also appear.

As such I cannot give an unqualified recommendation to my blog readers of this book. I do recommend an Internet search into Bethnal Green Tube shelter life, and if you decide to read this novel you might start by thumbing through the photos in the historical section. For my fellow fans of World War II fiction, I can heartily endorse Madeline Miller’s The Last Bookshop in London and Kristy Cambron’s The Paris Dressmaker. My tastes run more G-PG in content, so those gave me purer enjoyment with fewer mixed feelings. Not everyone shares my preferences there, but I hope in reading my thoughts you have a clearer idea whether this book will suit your taste and sensitivities of conscience.

The Little Wartime Library is a powerful story about the importance of books, libraries and librarian, even in the darkest of times. It is also a tale about friendship.
I really like the characters, and even when there were many, each of them brought something to the story. I liked the alternating POV’s from Clara and Ruby. And I hated Mr. Pinkerton-Smythe, Victor and Clara’s mom and mother-in-law.
I didn’t know about the events that inspired this story and it was interesting to know more about it. It also made me realize of all the other issues that people had to face besides the war (or even due to the war). How unfair things were for women in that time and how people made it and survived the worst, with the help from their friends and community.
This book made me suffer big time, so many things happened all at once. But then it made my heart whole again. I felt sad, angry and also hopeful and happy for the characters.
What I didn’t like that much was the pace. It felt very slow at times, and then it picked up and then it was slow again, and then a lot of things happened. I wish it were a bit more fast-paced in some chapters. I also struggled with the language and jargon. I am not a native English speaker and this proved to be a challenge for me. But overall, it was a nice and enjoyable read and I loved it is based on real facts.

The Little Wartime Library is a fascinating and emotional book that shows readers the importance of libraries in our communities.

The Little Wartime Library is absolutely stunning and so beautifully written. I became so absorbed in the story that I was halfway through the book before I knew it. Kate takes her readers on such an emotional roller coaster ride. Y’all know how much I love a historical fiction that brings out those big emotions in me, and this book does that. There are themes of loss, destruction, hope, friendship, and resilience. They are masterfully woven into this story about two friends, Clara and Ruby, who run this underground library during World War II. I was so fascinated by this whole underground world in London during WWII. Kate includes many historical details and touches upon these larger events in London, such as the Bethnal Green Tube and Hughes Mansions Tragedy. If you are a library fan, then you will love this story. There is this constant message of the importance of libraries and books in communities. It’s also incredibly fascinating exploring this underground library and seeing how it functions and meets the ever-changing community needs during the Blitz.


The Little Wartime Library is told from Clara and Ruby’s POV. Both of these women suffered great losses because of the war. Clara is the librarian of this underground library, and Ruby is her assistant. I adored the friendship that existed between these two remarkable women. The support they gave each other was truly heartwarming. I was utterly amazed at the lengths Clara and Ruby went to get books into the hands of everyday people. It was easy to connect with Clara and Ruby. I cried with them, laughed with them, and cheered them on.

This is the book I was hoping for when I read The Personal Librarian. The Personal Librarian is a very good book - but not one I fell in love with. I am glad I read it and recommend it often, Belle's story is one that students should experience. The Little Wartime Library's Claire just impacted me in a different way. I loved the fact that a library was the beacon of hope for the citizens during a difficult time. (The same exact role during the COVID shutdowns when libraries found a way to still offer their services to patrons.) This is a book I will recommend highly to my students!

I love historical fiction and when you throw books and /or librarians in the mix it makes for one of my favorite reads. This book by Kate Thompson was no exception. The writing and storyline were excellent. The character building awesome. While I read this book a little bit ago, since today is actual release day, I think another read is in order.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

The Little Wartime Library, by Kate Thompson.
This WWII novel set in East End London and the Bethnal Green underground Station shelter.
This story follows Clara Button, the librarian of the only underground library in England and her assistant, Ruby Monroe, as they struggle to serve the underground population and process the death and destruction that surrounds them daily.
Clara works tirelessly with the youth, offering nightly story times while mourning the loss of her husband after the battle of Dunkirk. Ruby faces her own battles after losing her sister in the tragic disaster of 173 lost lives in the crowds’ haste to get down to safety at the Bethnal Green Station shelter.
The courage of these many community members shines through as they support each other, build relationships, read together, and do what they must to survive the bombings. This Little library and it’s librarians become the heart of this community.
The basis of this story comes from real live events with much of the research included at the end of the book. It is a reminder of the importance of libraries as community centers and meeting places in times of trouble and compares WWII with Covid 19.
#netgalley
#littlelibraries

Happy Pub Day to "The Little Wartime Library" by Kate Thompson! This was a sweet read about preserving libraries during WWII in England. 3.5⭐

This historical fiction novel is based on real events! Clara and Ruby run an underground library for the tiny makeshift village that has popped up in an unfinished Tube station. They are challenged by the bombings of London, a misogynistic boss, and family members who disapprove of their jobs. Taking care of their library patrons, including children, the elderly, and women in abusive relationships, causes Clara and Ruby to become almost like social workers.

I thought this book was very well-researched and I enjoyed the extra material in the back, such as descriptions of what really happened in Bethnal Green (along with pictures). I liked the ending and how the end of the war brought Ruby and Clara new opportunities as some doors closed. However, it wasn't un-put-downable and I sometimes struggled to keep track of all the characters.

⚠️ war deaths, bombings, PTSD, tragic deaths, brief mentions of internment camps & torture

Shareability: sort of like a gentle homefront version of a Kate Quinn novel

Clara Button is a librarian during WW2 and she risks her life daily to help keep a secret underground community alive. She is able to smuggle in books along with her best friend. There are so many terrible things going on so it’s nice they were able to do this for others. I loved the found family aspect to the book because sometimes those that become closest to you are by chance and not initially chosen. They stick together and work together to keep a community alive. I loved the cover as well it was so beautiful! I think the author did a great job of mixing the reality of the times with the lovely community of people. I also liked the best friend character.

The Little Wartime Library is historical fiction about a part of WWII that I didn't know about. With all of the bombings, people set up "camps" underground and Clara made sure to also make the library part of that shelter.

Clara and Ruby are friends through thick & thin and they try to help the families and kids that are taking shelter underground. Along the way, they also form relationships with these people as well as romantic relationships with men they feel lucky to have met. Of course, there continues to be incidences that are the cause of the war that they have to cope with and survive.

I felt that the first third or so of the book was a little slow, but then it really did pick up and I was invested as to what was happening with everyone. I rooted for both Clara and Ruby and really enjoyed the end when we found out what had happened to each of them.

BRb SObbing! This wa beautiful ode (love letter?) to libraries and reading, and to friendship and to love - no matter what it looks like !

Clara and Ruby are complex, dynamic characters who take centre stage in the underground library. I love that this book is set towards the 'end' of the war and the focus on Jersey and reading - two unique aspects (for me!). Clara's and Ruby's wars have been different, but both heartbreaking and their combined courage gets them through, around and over hurdles big and small - summoning strength from one another, from the heroines of the books they devour and share and of course, the readers of the library!

I appreciate the focus on trauma and its lingering effects. I also love the idea of a found family - done so beautifully.

Sob.

This little gem was so needed! I was in a bit of a slump after my last read. This is such a beautiful and endearing character driven novel. Steeped with so much imagery you feel you are right there in the middle of the chaos during WW2. Smack dab in the tunnels with everyday people just trying to survive.

The Little Wartime Library is centric to the characters in this book. You will grow to love some of them and loathe others too. Clara and Ruby are the stars of this book-they will have your heart. They run an underground library in the tunnels built over the tracks of the Bethnal Green Tube. It’s a whole community that is displaced, but they make a home, become family and watch out for one another. The library is where everyone gathers and books become a respite and an escape from the darkness around them. Not a soul in this book is untouched by the trajedy of war, yet through the despair you feel the unending hope. The hope that through dark times it’s the people and it’s their love that create an environment that once seemed so bleak, to overflow with light and promise. 5 star read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Happy pub day to The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson!

"Books are a nice diversion, but life, real life, marches on regardless."

Thoughts: The premise of this one instantly captivated me! The story takes place during World War II and follows Clara Button and Ruby Monroe, who are two best friends that set out to challenge the status quo, during a time of war and heartbreak. Clara manages an oasis known as the Bethnal Green Station, which has a little slice of everything needed to survive life during war, shelter, a cafe, and the best part, a library.

I loved the friendship between Clara and Ruby, they care so much about each other and were always encouraging each other to be the best versions of themselves! I also loved how the author depicted Clara as being an advocate for women during this time period, encouraging them to get lost in the pages of a book, when society was pushing them back into the gender roles commonly known for this time period in history.

The author's notes of the Bethnal Green Station and stock images included at the end of the story truly brought the setting to life and I was SO intrigued.

The literary focus of this one was very interesting to me, as it shed some light on some of the popular books and genres common to this time in history. I mean even women of this time period wanted to read steamy nooks!! 😂👏🏼

Some downfalls though I felt that this one dragged on a bit and I could have done without the romance plot, but overall I found it to be well researched, and I loved the strong theme of women overcoming adversity while living in wartime Britain.

Thank you to Forever for providing me with a physical ARC and thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this heartfelt novel in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
This story will take you on an adventure – both emotionally and through your imagination. These characters are so relatable that they feel real, as do what they went through during the course of the story. Thompson has a depth hand at creating a world that draws the reader in and feel so very real. This story sheds a light on the various aspects of the human spirit during the darkest times. The story and characters are captivating and interesting from start to finish.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I finished the last page minutes before heading out to dinner in a wild wind storm. Not focused at all on the rocking of our high profile vehicle, I was back in blitz-torn London, 1944, in an underground library that gave hope to so many.

"It's like Aladdin's cave in here," declared young reader Marie, upon her first visit.

The role of the library during war -- based on a true story -- is revealed in this gripping historical novel featuring courageous librarian Clara and her lively assistant Ruby:

"Young childless widow Clara Button is doing her bit for the war effort, running Britain’s only Underground Shelter Library.... Our barbarous foes may be hell-bent on burning London to the ground, but beneath the city’s surface, Mrs. Button calmly carries on stamping books and ensuring everyone has a thumping good read to take their mind off the bombs."

The library forms the heart of a community of thousands who bunked nightly in the unused tube station, which also boasted a theater, cafe, nursery, even a hairdresser.

And we see how books such as The Wind in the Willows, Rebecca, Treasure Island, and Gone with the Wind gave vital respite from the deadly blitz and the resulting tragic deaths; from grief over loved ones lost on the battlefield; from domestic violence, sexual assaults, and other crimes that ensued as before.

I read THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARY in two sittings, left in awe by this inspiring story that remains with me still. Highly recommended for histfic fans and readers who love uplifting and beautifully written tales.

The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson was an engaging book to read. I love how the author engaged you into a family story about a library in the tubes of the London subway during World War 2.

This story is about a grandmother telling her grandchildren how she ran the library during wartime in the tubes of london. She gives great descriptions of how the library was set up, how tragedies that happened in history were handled and I love stories came about and unfortunately were dashed during war.

This book is a definite read again and again and I highly suggest picking up a copy.

For me, the best historical fiction is the kind that takes you right back to that time and convinces you that it is real. You might even convince yourself that those characters and their stories were real.

As an avid reader, I obviously adore books. But I also adore stories about books and how powerful they could be. So The Little Wartime Library, the story of an underground library during World War II had so much potential.

And these expectations were blown away. I was instantly captivated by Clara, the head librarian, and Ruby, her sidekick and dear friend. Their commitment to the library, books and the community is evident from the first page and makes you get invested quickly.

What I found most compelling were the stories of how impactful the books were on the members of the community. The majority of library members lived underground. And the books gave them an escape. And an opportunity to learn. And be empowered.

Of course, that empowerment rustles feathers. It's no suprise that two strong women running the library a children's reading program and a book club doesn't sit well. And Clara and Ruby have to navigate that as the war rages on.

It is also a story of hope - finding it in the darkest of places. And how family isn't necessarily just what you are born into - but the relationships you seek out and fight for. And also the power of resilence.

It is also a love letter to libraries - I was particularly moved by the author's note, where author Kate Thompson discussed the 100 interviews she did with librarians to prepare for this book. And how for so long they have been so crucial to society - whether that was during war, or during the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who has picked up covid tests and my local library for the last year, I could not agree more.

This was such an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. I fell for these characters and their stories. What a gift it was to read!

I'll post this review to goodreads, retail sites and my instagram @scottonreads

Captivating, rich, and inspirational!

The Little Wartime Library is a heartwarming, tragic, uplifting tale set in England during 1944 that takes you into the lives of Clara Button, a young, plucky librarian with a kind heart, and Ruby Munroe, a loyal friend and hardworking assistant, who after both suffering unimaginable personal loss work tirelessly to give the people and children of East London a sanctuary and source of escapism by moving the library destroyed by bombs at the start of the Blitz seventy feet underground into the haven and community created on the unused tracks of the Bethnal Green tube station.

The prose is evocative and rich. The characters are genuine, determined, and courageous. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine seamlessly into an alluring tale of life, loss, love, family, devastation, hardship, hope, friendship, adversity, self-discovery, wartime living, survival, and ultimately the power of books.

The Little Wartime Library is an insightful, poignant, engrossing read by Thompson that does a wonderful job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into an absorbing, heart-tugging tale that is exceptionally atmospheric, beautifully entertaining and a true love letter to libraries and librarians everywhere.

This was a pure delight to read!! Based on the real story of the Bethnal Green underground library that operated after the original was bombed at the beginning of the London Blitz in 1940.

I switched between audio and physical copies while reading this amazing love letter to libraries and librarians. The book truly had everything I love in a good story: strong female friendship, found family, some romance, ties to Canada plus adventure, a dual timeline and a testament to the power of books to help get us through difficult times.

Filled with great quotes from librarians at the beginning of each chapter (although these were in the audiobook but not the physical copy I have which was sad. I hope my copy is a mistake, there were some excellent ones!).

The reader’s guide and author’s note at the end also made for a fascinating read! The amount of research the author put into this book was commendable and I loved that she included so much of it. There were archival photos, quotes from interviews she held with a variety of librarians, past and present plus so much more.

There were also so many parallels between this story and our present pandemic life - librarians going above and beyond for their communities, books providing a solace and escape from the hardships of life, etc etc

Much thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital copy, Hachette for sending me a gifted physical copy and @libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Favourite quote:
“Sounds strange, but library work isn’t all about books. It’s the people who make it special; you never know who’s going to walk in and what their story is.”

“A library is the only place you can go—from cradle to grave—that is free, safe, democratic and no one will try to flog you anything. You don’t have to part with a penny to travel the world. It’s the heartbeat of a community, offering precious resources to people in need. It’s a place just to be, to dream and to escape—with books. And what’s more precious than that? So, here’s to all library workers. We need you.”
-From The Author’s Note, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson

During WWII, the unfinished Bethnal Green Station not only provided shelter to five thousand people who slept in the bunkers constructed in the tunnels – a safe haven amid the devastation caused by the Blitz but also housed a theatre that hosted opera and ballet, a coffee shop, doctor’s quarters and a wartime nursery and a library.

Set in 1944, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson follows twenty-five-year-old Clara Button, a young widow working as a librarian in the underground library in the Bethnal Green Tube Station and her close friend and assistant Ruby Munroe. Widowed after losing her husband in Dunkirk, Clara is the heart and soul of the library and friend to its patrons- the children, factory workers and those sheltering underground to whom reading provided an escape from the reality outside. Clara’s job isn’t easy, having to deal with misogyny, censorship and petty politics, and her personal losses but she is determined to help anyone who needs her assistance including evacuees fleeing their homes, women facing abusive relationships, those working multiple jobs just to provide for their loved ones and those needing the sanctuary of the library to cope with everything that is happening on the outside. Both Clara and Ruby have much to deal with on the personal front - for Clara it is the loss of her husband, the secrets she harbors and her conflicted feeling for an ambulance worker she meets when he saves her from being attacked outside her home and Ruby is dealing with the tragic death of her elder sister and domestic violence at home with her abusive stepfather’s violence directed toward her mother. As the narrative progresses, we see how both Clara and Ruby not only stand up for their friends and family but are also compelled to make choices that would significantly impact their own stories.

Narrated from the perspectives of Clara and Ruby in alternating chapters, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is a beautifully written story that combines fact and fiction while touching upon themes of war, loss, hope and survival, and the significance of libraries and librarians in our communities, especially during difficult times ( the author also incorporates a discussion on present times and the need for libraries in the context of the pandemic). The author writes with compassion capturing the life and times of wartime Britain – the loss, death and destruction caused by the war, and the hope and resilience of those trying to make the most of what they have. The author incorporates real events such as the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943 and the Hughes Mansions Tragedy of 1945 into the narrative. I loved learning about the subterranean community and found the Author’s Notes at the end of the book extremely informative. The historical context and the stories of libraries destroyed during the Blitz ( with stock images) make this story come to life. I love how the author based some of the characters in this story on actual people who lived down in the bunkers of Bethnal Green Station during those difficult times. I also loved learning about the books that were popular during the war years. The author does a brilliant job of not only painting a realistic picture of life in wartime Britain but also gives us an insight into societal changes during those times that also impacted reading habits and preferences, especially among women.

Informative and enlightening, heart-wrenching yet hopeful, this is a story that will stay with me. Fans of historical fiction and stories revolving around libraries would certainly enjoy this novel.
Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this exceptional novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released in the U.S. on February 21, 2023.

“We have lost so very much, but we have not lost heart nor hope. Books help to keep us human in an inhumane world. Don’t you agree?”