A sweet yet powerful story of how the residents of a small London suburb band together through books. While bombs are exploding outside and loved ones are fighting on the war front, Gertie and her bookshop neighbors take solace in caring for each other and bonding through a shared love of literature. Everyone has something to worry about, especially Hedy - who escaped Nazi Germany but left her beloved family behind - but they manage to help each other. The author creates a memorable depiction of how people survive in trying times, revealing family secrets and interesting twists to keep the reader engaged.

This charming historical novel is set in London before and during WWII. Gertie owned a neighborhood book store with her husband, but now that he has passed away she is a bit lost. But taking in a Jewish refugee teenager changes her life, as does starting a book club for Londoners during the blitz.

This was just such a lovely read. Like Lyons’ previous book The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, it celebrates the power of the unexpected intergenerational friendship and the power of human connection. It’s also a love letter to the power of books and reading to help people and to bring people together in even the darkest of times. It’s also a great portrait of life in London during the war, especially for women - reminding me a little of the also charming Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce. It also was a pleasure to read a historical novel that reads so quickly!

A gripping London blitz story set in a bookstore that brings comfort and hope as bombs fly. Heartbreaking and hopeful.

I truly enjoyed Annie Lyons’s novel about Eudora Honeysett and gave it five stars. I, was then, of course, quite eager to read The Air Raid Book Club. It did not disappoint.

This is an historical novel that will appeal to those who have read Dear Mrs. Bird, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Last Bookshop in London, and other similar titles. It is warm in the same way with characters about whom writers will care. Plus, there are books, lots of books. At the end of the novel titles are listed should readers wish to explore further.

Gertie was married to Harry. Together the two opened and loved a bookshop. Sadly, Harry died from the very thing that kept him from serving in the military. Gertie has subsequently lost her zest for life. When she is asked by one of Harry’s friends to take in a Jewish child as WWII looms, she hesitates before making her decision. What happens as a result of this choice, the importance of books, and more make this title a most satisfying read, even with some sadness in the events of the story. As an extra bonus, get to know Mr. Hemingway…no, not that one! He is Gertie’s lovely dog.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Air Raid Book Club is a heartfelt historical fiction novel set in London during World War 2. It follows Gertie Bingham who is grieving the loss of her beloved Harry. Together with Harry she nurtured and ran Bigham Books.

As WW2 looms, Gertie is talked into taking in a refugee, Hedy, a young Jewish girl evacuated from Germany. We follow Gertie and Hedy and a cast of wonderful characters and are witness to their struggles and triumphs throughout the course of the war.

Read this fabulous story if you love found family stories. It sends the message of the importance of community and reinforces the power of books in our lives.

This subject matter is near and dear to my heart as my grandmother was a teenage who came of age during World War 2. She shared many stories of how this impacted her life, and it was interesting to see several similar experiences echoed in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

4.5 Stars

This was an enjoyable read. The characters were interesting as were the themes. I really liked how the book club brought the characters together. I was not happy with the reference to a possible gay relationship. I felt it was completely unnecessary for the story. There was no connection whatsoever for it to be written.

Pub date: 7/11/23 (out now!)
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: In the leadup to WWII, Gertie Bingham is mourning the death of her husband/bookshop co-owner. She takes in a Jewish German refugee teenager named Hedy, and after a rough start, the two of them use the healing power of books to help London survive the blitz.

I buddy read this one with two fellow historical fiction fans, and all three of us loved it! There have been other books about WWII bookstores/libraries, but the unique characters here helped this book feel fresh. I loved seeing Gertie and Hedy's friendship develop; both were so resilient and made the best of their situations. Annie Lyons weaved in a number of memorable side characters (each on their own journey) to flesh out the narrative and give readers more to cheer for. The ending of this book was so lovely - my buddy readers and I all teared up.

Some historical fiction reads slowly, but this book was a fast read and I loved the quick-moving narrative. There's plenty of sadness in the narrative (it is the Blitz after all), but Lyons also added so much hope and light to balance things out. 4.5 stars rounded to 5 for this beautiful book.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book begins in 1938 in London, just as Jewish families in Germany were beginning to send their children away in order to keep them safe. Gertie Bingham has been lost ever since her husband died several years ago. The only things that still keeps her going are her dog Hemingway, and the bookstore she owned with her husband. When a family friend calls upon her to take in one of the German teenage girls, Gertie is hesitant at first. Finally she agrees, and when Hedy arrives, she is glad she did. The two get off to a somewhat rocky start, but as the war rages on, Gertie grows to love Hedy as if she were her own. Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club. Together with neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions of everything from Winnie the Pooh to Wuthering Heights. After all, a good book can do wonders to bolster people’s spirits, even in the most trying times. As the tragic reality of the war hits home, the book club faces unimaginable losses. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they’ve formed to see them through to brighter days.

This was a very heartwarming book. Even though it was about WWII, which is of course always a hard time to read about, this was also about communities working together, new families being forged, and new friendships being formed. Also, it was about books, and a bookstore, and I am a sucker for any book that is about either of those, If you are a fan of historical fiction, or if like me, you love books about books, then you will want to check this out.

Annie Lyons has done it again! This book had everything I could ever want in a historical fiction. Not only did I fall in love with all the characters and the dog, I also rekindled my appreciation for Annie’s beautiful story telling abilities. This is a touching story of found family and perseverance in the face of adversity and loss. It’s a story of finding love in unexpected places and supporting friends, family, and one’s community. Can you tell I loved it?

If, like me, you adored the Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett or you have a deep yearning for a historical fiction that gives you all the feels, then run out and get this book immediately!

Thank you William Morrow for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was a cute read on the topic of World War II. I absolutely love reading historical fiction especially WWII. With so many historical fiction set to this time period, I don’t think this book was the most memorable. I liked the concept of the bookstore set in London. I found the plot to be a little predictable at times. I wish the book club played a larger part of the books plot. I also found Gertie’s character to be a bit shallow. Thank you NetGalley and Annie Lynn’s for an ARC for an honest review.

What a beautiful, heartwarming, tear jerking story!

This is my first book by Annie Lyons and I fell in love. I adored every single character and really liked how numerous storylines and topics were interwoven.

The book primarily follows the life of Gertie Bingham throughout WWII. She opened Bingham Books with her husband, Harry, in 1911 and is the considering selling the shop and retiring following his death. She is kinda lost, no longer finds joy in stories and has retreated into herself, drawing comfort only from her dog, Hemmingway. Her life is changed unexpectedly when she is asked to consider housing a Jewish Child who has been evacuated from Germany, Hedy Fischer. We then get the joy of watching both Gertie and Hedy blossom over the course of the book.

This book is perfect for any book lover who enjoys reading about books. Throughout we follow the book club and get to see how different characters resonated with different memorable books. I wish I could be a part of this treasured community!

Wow, I could not put this book down. Despite the fact that I cried through the majority of the book, it is uplifting, happy, warm and wonderful, despite the challenges, loss and sadness written on every page. A unique historical fiction - but it was also about family, friendship and perseverance. The characters were incredible - it was so easy to picture myself a part of their life. It was easy to be transported into the book and actually experience their fears, losses and triumphs with them. A unique and well done book - a must read for fans of historical fiction.

Gertie Bingham is a bookstore owner in London during WWII. After he husband's death, she struggles to figure out what she should do next. When her dear friend, Charles, asks her to take in a Jewish refugee child from Germany, Gertie can't say no. Hedy reminds Gertie of herself - and together they create an air raid book club. Working with neighbors and customers, they discuss books to distract them from the war impacting their lives, while they also create bonds to help one another to tragedy and heartache.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This is a heartwarming World War II novel about an older woman who finds a new life in the war. I guess I would describe it as a “cozy” war novel, if the genre exists. Gertie is a widow who runs a London book shop. When war breaks out, she is in her late 50s and considering retirement. However, her decision to take in Hedy, a Jewish teen fleeing Germany, is the first step in giving her life a new purpose.

Although it didn’t shirk from the horrors of life in the war, including a detailed depiction of life in London during the blitz, the overall effect of the novel was heartwarming. Everyone pulling together and carrying on, discussing books in air raid shelters and providing aid to to the displaced. But what stuck with me the most is Gertie’s ability to create a new family for herself amidst the horrors of the war— a wartime found family, of sorts.

The Air Raid Book Club checked all the boxes to appeal to the “cozy” crowd: books, found family, troubled teen, hardship and resilience. I finished the novel with a tear in my eye, as well as a slight feeling of over-indulgence, as if I had eaten too much candy. I feel like I enjoyed it just a bit too much.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel to read and review.

Summary: Ready to close the book on the years she spent running a London bookshop with her beloved husband, a widow welcomes a young Jewish refugee into her home in the early years of WWII and learns that it’s time to write a new story.

What’s to Love? Greta has a yellow lab named Hemingway. That’s probably all I need to say. There are quotes from literary greats like Charles Dickens and Jane Austin, and there are also heartwarming quotes for book lovers, such as, “My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.”

What’s to Leave? It seems that every third historical fiction book these days takes place during World War II, and every fourth women’s fiction novel revolves around a bookstore. Given the seemingly overdone setting, I could have easily left this one on the shelf . . . but I’m so glad I didn’t.

What’s to Learn? Sometimes, books, even historical ones, are just meant to be enjoyed; and I certainly enjoyed this one. However, some of the descriptions in the book did prompt a deep-dive on my part into the use of incendiaries during World War II.

Conclusion: While Lyons doesn’t ignore the horrors of war, she focuses on the help and the hope that sustains us through difficult times. With the message that books can be bright lights in dark days, The Air Raid Book Club is just that.

*Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved all the characters in this story, they really made it come alive for me. Lovely people bonding together to help each other through all the difficult times during WWII, London.

Sunday morning snuggle with my favorite girl reading The Air Raid Book Club.

I loved The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett so when I saw a new Annie Lyons coming out I had to read it! This is her first historical fiction and The Air Raid Book Club was a beautiful book about war, hope, friendship and community.

Gertie and her husband owned Bingham Books in London and Gertie has been questioning everything in 1938. Her husband passed away a few years ago and she's contemplating retirement and selling the bookshop. Her friend encouraged her to take in Hedy,a Jewish German refugee teenager. During the Blitz they come up with the idea of promoting a book to read each month that they can discuss during the air raids. When the bookshop is hit will Gertie have the strength to rebuild?

I really enjoyed this book. It's a sweet story about community and neighbors set around a bookshop. I loved the wonderful cast of characters and seeing the relationship grow between Gertie and Hedy. Seeing books bring people together even in hard times was also a theme of the book.

Check this one out, even if you're not a historical fiction fan as it's more about friendship and community with a World War II setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for the ARC of this book. I had high expectations after loving The Brillian Life of Eudora Honeysett by the same author. The Air Raid Book Club is a sweet story about embracing change, enduring life's challenges, grieving, and healing. Though I enjoyed the main characters and setting, the plot didn't pull me through the pages. Hard things happened, but they were always quickly resolved without too much fuss. I also had a difficult time keeping the many side characters (patrons of Gertie's book store) straight, so that I found myself skimming ahead over their stories assuming nothing very significant would happen with them (it didn't). Another thing that niggled at my subconscious while reading--the author's research came through in the form of book recommendations and other subtext. It wasn't outright textbook-sharing, but some nuggets didn't feel natural or necessary to the flow of the story. Lastly, I'm wondering, is this book anything like The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green? I'm sure the story of literacy and relationships facilitated during WWII can be told millions of ways, but it's too bad that these similar titles are published in the same year. And what about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society? I loved that one, but it draws on similar themes with a different format and story that hit more emotional and tension points for me than this one.

bookseller, widow, WW2, childless, rescued-children, England, middle-aged, personal-growth, perspective, grief, grieving, sensitivity, friends, friendship, support-system*****

There is life after devastating loss if a purpose and the ability to support and be supported by others can be found. This is what Gertie learned when she brought a German teenager into her home and life from before the bombings began. Together they worked with others to bring books into the lives of those under siege at home and to soldiers where they may be found. The story is gently told with great understanding and characters who quickly found a place in my heart.
I requested and receive an uncorrected e-proof from William Morrow via NetGalley. Thank you!

Set in London during World War II, "The Air Raid Book Club" is the story of Gertie Bingham, a grieving widow who is struggling to run her bookshop, Bingham Books, after the death of her beloved husband, Harry. The bookstore doesn't feel the same without Harry, and Gertie wonders if it is time to retire to the seaside with her faithful lab, Hemingway. Meanwhile, in Germany, Hitler is on the rise, and Jewish families are sending their children away for refuge. After a nudge from her friend Charles, Gertie takes in one of these refugees, a headstrong teenage girl named Hedy. As the Germans descend upon London, Gertie and Hedy start an air raid book club. During air raids, as bombs whistle overhead, neighbors and bookstore customers come together to hold lively discussions of everything from "Winnie the Pooh" to "Wuthering Heights." As the grim reality of the war hits home, the book club faces tragic losses, and they will need all the strength of their stories and newfound friendships to get them through the darkest days.

While this is a story about WWII, it is about so much more that: found family, community, friendship, and the power of books. This was an emotional, uplifting, and captivating novel. The characters were extremely lovable and well-developed, and I was truly invested in their well-being. This was definitely a more character-driven book than plot-driven. There were a few time jumps backward that disrupted the flow of the story, in my opinion. Overall, though, a heartwarming and inspiring novel that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely absorbed in this novel set in the World War II era with the stories of the everyday people who found meaning and solace in caring for each other - drawn together by stories and books. The characters seemed real, and the plot was not predictable, making it hard to put down. Thank you to the author for creating such a wonderful novel!