Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

So...I'm a big historical fiction fan. It seems like WW2 histfic has been really popular these last few years and honestly I've resisted reading a lot of it. The stories all seem to blur together after a while and sometimes the war/Holocaust/orphan storylines just get me down.

This book's description intrigued me though because I am such a library nerd. And I am heading to London in a few months, so I decided to give it a go.

I found this book charming, but almost YA/soap opera-ish in execution. There was a LOT going on in this book and new twists were hurled at the main characters throughout, with quick and easy resolutions which wasn't entirely satisfying. I loved learning about the Tube library as its story was one I did not know. The main two characters are lovely, and I am glad that most of the storylines ended up with HEA endings, but this novel just didn't resonate entirely with me. A good beach read perhaps.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

This is a beautiful and heartening story set in the Bethnal Green tube station which became, not only a shelter, but a community after the Blitz during World War Two. Among cafes, pubs, nurseries, and a theater, a war time library was built underground. Clara and Ruby, two very formidable and very different women, ran the library, and the story is told from each of their perspectives in alternating chapters.

Things that I loved:
-The beauty of the story as a whole and, of course, the power of books to change lives
-Learning about events in history of which I was unaware. Part of the story focuses on the largest civilian disaster of the Second World War during which 173 people were killed in a stampede to shelter in the Bethnal Green underground tube station.
-The focus on the obstacles that women had to face, over and above the crisis of the war, just for being women, and the strong female protagonists who fought back.
-The focus on the struggle to readjust post war and the impact of the varying types trauma with which people were faced.

Things I did not love:
-The story had a very slow start. It really took me until almost halfway through to become invested in the story.
-Many times I struggled with the writing structure and word choices which made parts of the book “choppy” to read

Overall, I would recommend this book as I feel like it tells several imports stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for providing the ARC digital copy of this novel!

England, librarian, library, WW2, friendship, London, loneliness, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, photographs, interviews, The Blitz, grief, grieving, tunnel, disaster,*****

This book is a love letter to libraries and librarians. The story is based on interviews with those who lived through The Blitz in the tunnel at Bethnal Green tube station where they lived and slept and carried on as best as they could, but mainly about the library that served them all and the librarians who were so important to so many in their wartime library. It also pays deference to the Bethnal Green tube disaster during The Blitz when 173 people were crushed to death and the survivors lived with the grief and horror of that day for the rest of their lives. The epilogue, notes, acknowledgements and more after the fictional tribute are all the more moving and important. Especially with its referencing the problems of libraries everywhere during the quarantines of the Covid pandemic. I am a library addict and bookaholic since forever, so I highly recommend this book to all who are blessed with the ability to read.
L requested and received an EARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley. Thank you!!

First sentence: An old woman walks up the westbound platform of Bethnal Green Underground Station, moving painfully slowly on account of her arthritis.

Premise/plot: A book about libraries and books set during the Second World War??? YES please. That was my initial first impression.

The novel has a framework--for better or worse. The opening and closing chapters readers meet an elderly woman and her two daughters. The rest of the novel is set in London's East End during the Second World War. It alternates between two librarians (or one librarian and one librarian assistant). Clara Button is a widow who before the war was a children's librarian. During the war she is managing an underground--literally--library. Bethnal Green tube station is serving many functions these days--including a temporary library structure. She works closely with all classes, all ages. Ruby Monroe, her assistant, is a fiery/feisty vixen who loves living life big--living for today, throwing all caution [and morals] to the wind. She is carrying a burden, though she hates to let it show to just anyone. She encourages Clara, always, to take chances.

Ruby meets an American soldier, Eddie, with whom she has a whirlwind romance. He is smitten. She's less so, but, wouldn't it be lovely to dream of flying away to America after the war and starting over.

Clara meets an ambulance driver, Billy, who is hot and cold. She sometimes gets the strongest impressions that he loves her truly and deeply, that this relationship is going somewhere. Other times, he acts like a complete stranger who couldn't care less if he ever sees her again.

These two meet plenty of people--all ages, all socioeconomic classes, different races. But Clara becomes especially fond of a handful of children. Sparrow, a young boy, whom she is teaching to read. Beatty and Maria, two Jewish refugees from Jersey.

My thoughts: My first impression was YES PLEASE. It just sounds like it would be an amazing fit for me. Set during the Second World War. A Book about librarians making a difference. BOOKS changing lives. Books as a way to make connections.

But....this one, sadly, wasn't for me after all. I didn't enjoy the framework, not really. I almost wish we'd had Beatty's perspective in the past too. It was an odd switch, for me, to spend 95% of the book with Clara and Ruby's perspective--all very adult and adult-oriented. And then throw in the bits at the beginning and the end that are from Beatty's perspective seventy plus years later. The past flashbacks contain things that Beatty could not have actually known.

I felt that the novel was TOO busy. There are a million story threads. A story thread might sit vacant for a hundred plus pages only to suddenly make a reappearance. There is so much telling and not showing. And there were literally pages--sometimes whole chapters--that were just info dumps.

The characters. It makes sense that there would be personal tensions. But why did this story need SO many villains???? So many characters that are one-dimensional and "evil" "mean" "cruel" "vindictive" "callous" "despicable" for literally no reason whatsoever. Two people can disagree on something--even strongly--and not have to be downright EVIL.

For example, the EVIL man who is out to get Clara Button fired. I can see two librarians--especially at the time--having differing opinions. She wants to serve EVERYONE in the community. She wants the library to be a safe place regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, social class, education, etc. He doesn't. Libraries are for refined folks of a certain class or distinction. She wants the library to have ALL the books, and offer information freely. He wants the librarian to be a gatekeeper of morals and virtues. She believes that knowledge is power and that the more you know, the better informed you'll be when it comes to making decisions--big or small. He believes in withholding knowledge/information to maintain the status quo. They have completely different philosophies on HOW a library should operate. His ideas alone would make him a despicable character with modern readers. [I'm not arguing that]. But why did he have to be portrayed as extra-super-exceedingly evil on top of that????

The undercurrent of this one is that Ruby and Clara are fighting against the system, a system that wants to hold women down and deny them. A system that protects rapists and wife-beaters and blames women for daring to speak up. A system that thinks women shouldn't be allowed to read, encouraged to read.

So much of this one was just ugly. I may not have liked the super-villain-y-villains, but I didn't really like Clara and Ruby either. The writing style just felt hammer-like; let's hit readers over the head for the entire novel to make sure they understand that anyone who would limit access to books is evil.

I loved this book! I had no idea that the Bethnal Green tube station became an underground community during the Second World War, and it was fascinating to read this book and then research the actual events.
The author obviously loves libraries and librarians, which made me feel happy and appreciated. Highly recommended!

Marvelous read about a librarian, her assistant, and an ambulance man in Bethnal Green tube station in Greater London which had been converted as a bomb shelter. The story is set after the tragic trampling deaths of 173 people going into the tube shelter during an air raid. The story centers on a library set up in the tube shelter after it was bombed out above ground. We get to meet a whole host of inhabitants of the shelter as they seek respite from the war in the library. The book is endearing, but also has important messages, one of which is that libraries serve the people not the administration who oversees them. I loved the several love stories that were depicted, the deep friendships that developed, and the enduring courage of the people who endured the bombings. A host of human frailties are included in this story: PTSD as well as verbal and physical abuse are just two of the prominent ones included. I developed an affinity with the main character, Clara, the widowed librarian as well as Ruby, her flouncy assistant. I hated for the story to end as I felt I was friends with many of the characters.

A friend posted about this book in anticipation of it's release and I immediately did a search for it. The cover reminded me a bit of another book I read that I loved. It took me a bit to get into the story, I was overwhelmed by so many people, but it didn't take long for me to get sucked into this book and I found it very hard to put down. The story was unique and full of wonderful vivid characters who will stay with you long after you finish the last page. I highly recommend The LIttle Wartime Library!
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a librarian, I may be a little biased. <em>The Little Wartime Library</em> reminds us of how timeless a library is, wherever its setting. How a library is more than a place that just lends books to a community, but also serves as a safe space. A place where you can escape to, and still see the world.

Thompson transports you back to 1945 wartime Britain, and it’s obvious that she has done her homework. The characters are likeable enough, but I think I enjoyed learning about everything happening around them instead of the MCs themselves. I think that’s because there wasn’t much depth to them. Even though a wartime story, this was a light read.

If you love books and libraries, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson will touch your heart. Based on real events and people, Thompson wove a tale of untold heroes during London during WWII. When the library in Benthnal Green was bombed, the librarians set up an underground library in an unused part of London's tube system. In fact a whole community live there with 5000 beds, a theatre, AND a library. This story is about the people in that community and the impact the young librarians had on that community.

At the end of the book, Thompson gives a historical look at the real events and people who made this underground library a success. It was a wonderful read. I was allowed to read this on #NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book for the historical context. I greatly enjoyed the two main characters figuring out there voice being a female during the time of war and growing into their roles.

One more spunky and the other more reserved. I believe this book will do well in the general adult genre and should sell very well.

This wasn't a 5 star book for me but I still believe this has a good place in the library setting.

Over the holidays I read the ARC for The Little Wartime Library that’s due to be released February, 21. I’m thinking all of you will want to preorder this delightful read. It’s got wonderful characters and humor but also takes a serious look at the devastation of war. Plus you’ll learn all about the history of the library that was moved to an underground tube station after it was bombed in the blitz.

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to read and throughly enjoy this book.
Set during World War 2, this book is based on Clara Button who created and underground library in London. As they are today libraries are extremely important, but no more so than during times of war. Not only was the underground library a place for people to find the positive and uplifting morale, it was also used as a safe space for shelter.
Based on actual events, Kate Thompson wrote a wonderful and positive book which is pure joy for all to read.

The best thing about this book was the historical information piece. I had no idea that underground stations were used as shelters during the war or that there was an unground library. I loved learning about the history of Bethnal Green at this time.

The beginning of the book seemed to be quite slow for me. I had trouble getting into the story and while there were plot points that seemed interesting, it just seemed to fall a little flat.

Even though I had trouble getting into the story, I am really glad I stuck with it. About halfway through, the action really started to pick up and it started to become more of a page turned for me.

I did really enjoy the characters, especially Ruby. She was scandalous and a rule breaker and I just found myself falling in love with her any time the story was told from her point of view.

During World War 2, Clara Button, a young widow, and her friend Ruby, have opened a library down in the underground tube, an unfinished section of the subway, now containing bunks, a theatre, and a library.

Clara believes that during trying times, books become even more important, providing an escape, entertainment, and information to people who are trying to cope with the war.

This book was good, but not great. There was a lot of British slang used that kept me stopping to try to understand the meaning. There were a lot of characters but none really fleshed out. I did enjoy Clara, as a librarian, matching people to books she thought they would enjoy.
Three out of five stars.

Clara and Ruby and friends guide the reader to a world underground during the London Blitz era.The love and dedication to each other, readers of all ages and occupations warms the heart. The background of the war breaks the heart. Despite one “ gentleman,” the love and support these struggling people demonstrate throughout the tragedies and joy,causes gasps of shock as well as sighs of kindness. The overarching theme of tenacity and selflessness renders late night page turning and worthwhile sleepless evening. The author’ s note adds to the understanding of this precious library, the importance of libraries and appreciation of librarians. The atrocities of WWII Ned to be told as does the resourcefulness of so many. Highly recommended read.

This is a fantastic book with characters that are loveable. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it even more wonderful to read.

A good story with some strong points. I would recommend for people who have an interest in the topic.

This will be a book I’ll be recommending to everyone to add to their TBR list! The imagery was just fantastic. So many heartbreaking moments wound together in a story of survival, loss, and love. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this novel.

📖 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 📖
📕 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: The Little Wartime Library
✍️ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Kate Thompson
🗓️ 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: February 21, 2023
🚇 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Historical Fiction
📱 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓: eARC
✨ 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭- 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?!

Attention historical fiction fans… add 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 to your TBR list or pre-order NOW! You’re sure to love it. It’s based on the true story of the library built over the tracks of the Underground in London— specifically at the Bethnal Green Station— during World War II. This shelter was used to escape the bombings during the Blitz. It ended up being an incredible refuge consisting of a theatre, nursery, cafe, sleeping bunks, and of course… a library!

The Little Wartime Library follows the life of Clara Button, the big hearted librarian who does so much for the residents of this resilient community. She’s no ordinary librarian, more like a social worker at times, especially for the children and the women of the shelter. Though the wartime setting is somber, there are so many inspirational and uplifting moments. I especially loved the relationship between Clara and her glamorous best friend and library assistant, “Ruby Red Lips” (i.e. Ruby Monroe). Their bond is more like that of sisters than best friends! Ruby brings a lot of light and humor to the story. The theme of love is woven throughout the story and overall it’s a beautiful read that I highly recommend.

I love that this book is based on actual events. After reading this, search “Bethnal Green tube station” on Google and read about the history. It’s so interesting.

This book was a delight to read. I’ve heard my mother’s stories of London during the Blitz, but she was a child, so she doesn’t remember much. And of course, in case you hadn’t noticed, I love books. I strongly believe in the power of books to change lives, and that is the message of this novel.

Based on a true story and well-researched, with plentiful notes at the end, this book tells the story of a library in a tube station. There was actually a thriving community of people in the station, sleeping there every night to be safe from German bombs, then working in their normal jobs by day.

Clara and Ruby are the opposite—working in the underground library by day and returning to their own homes at night. Clara, widowed, is lonely, while Ruby seeks the company of many many, affirming life the best way she knows how. She avoids going home, where her mother has been beaten down by Ruby’s stepfather.

In addition to the dangers inherent in living in London in the Blitz, there is also someone attacking women on the streets at night. Clara herself is almost attacked, only to be saved by Billy Clark, a conscientious objector who worked for the ambulance corps.

Clara’s supervisor has vastly different ideas from hers about the purpose of a library. He doesn’t believe uneducated people should be allowed library cards. He wants to censor what books are allowed in the library. They are constantly at odds, and their conflict is integral to the story. I kind of hate him.

The characters are varied—in class, in status, in personality. They are all well-drawn. While Clara is the protagonist of the story, Ruby is a close second, and there are many others who are well worth our time in getting to know. The dialogue is natural and the conflicts are real. And the conclusion is very satisfying.
There are references to many books of the period, some which I know and love, and others which are now on my TBR list.

I will definitely read this book again.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Domestic violence, bombing attacks, death (including of children), drinking, sex (closed door), attempted rape, wartime atrocities. A little bit of salty language, including the F word occasionally.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who likes stories of WWII, especially WWII London. Book lovers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/01/upcoming-fiction-releases.html