After the chronic illness that spared him participating in World War I claims her beloved husband Harry, Gertie Bingham struggles to continuing running the bookstore they established together, the endeavor that, as she sadly never had children, has occupied her life. She’s turned over much of the day-to-day running of the bookstore and the Book Club her husband adored to assistants and is contemplating retiring to the coast when a friend, chastising her for trying to escape life in a way her dear Harry would not approve, challenges her to respond to the burgeoning crisis of the Jews in Germany by taking in Hedy, a teenage refugee sent ahead by the family who hopes to join her in exile. Shamed into taking on the challenge, Gertie gradually finds in the initially withdrawn Hedy both a friend, a catalyst to reenter life, and the daughter she never had. As war comes again to England, the bookstore becomes a refuge for its customers both metaphorically and physically when an air raid shelter is set up in the basement storage room. Here, reading through the Book Club selections as bombs explode overhead, both Gertie and her friends find a sense of community and purpose. A paean to endurance, family, friendship and surviving the blows and misfortunes life deals out, the novel is also a reminder of favorite classic books and how they bring joy and carry us through the hard times. Highly recommended! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

It's 1938 in London and bookstore owner Gertie Bingham is finding it difficult to go on after her husband's death. In Germany Jewish families are making the difficult decision to send their children abroad to avoid Hitler's persecution and Gertie is convinced to take in one of the refugees, a headstrong teenage girl who reminds Gertie of herself at that age.

The two initially struggle to find common ground but books finally unite them, just as the bookstore unites the surrounding community. When the Blitz begins, the bookstore's basement becomes an air raid shelter and the book club is born to take minds off the destruction above them.

This is a quiet but heartwarming book about the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity and the ability to endure.

This was a charming story about found family, community, and perseverance. As a WWII story it hit all the right notes of hardship during the blitz, and the horrors of war, but was held together with the thread of hope as the only way to get through. It was an enjoyable read with a lovable cast of characters.

Finished ✔️ The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons and really enjoyed it.

4.5 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: July 11th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited:

Set in London
Heartwarming story of found family, love, and making connections through books set against the bombing of London during World War 2.
I truly enjoyed this book overall.
It was definitely emotional in some parts.
I can see where this book could be triggering to others
I was engrossed with this brilliantly and wonderfully written, told story.
Yes, I’d recommend this amazing book

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I received an advanced reader’s copy from net galley in exchange for my honest review.
The sweet spot of historical fiction for me is usually between the 2 world wars for me. This was perfect for me. I had not read from this author before, but I’m definitely looking forward to more from her.
The premise of this is a found family/ community centered around a bookshop just before the war really breaks out in Europe. As they sort of lean into one another and come together as the air raids and black outs are happening outside their doors. They would find themselves encouraging each other to read to get through the dark times. When they found themselves in the air raid shelters talking about books, and then making a decision to read the same book at the same time. Then also branching out further so that they are sending books to the boys at the front, they are encouraging children to read.
I’m glad to have found this book, it had found family, no sex, packed with history and everybody talked about books!

An absolutely read! The history covered, the human aspect of it is amazing.
Gertie is a beautiful character, warm and loving. And the bookstore sounds like a perfect home! So many interesting people to meet! And such a range of activities to be involved with, especially during a war that kept people hopping and in shelters to avoid being bombed. To have something to do while waiting out the bombing, other than just sitting would have provided comfort during such trying times. There was heartbreak, as there can only be with a book about war, but there was also hope, happiness, and joy. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good WWII read!

This generally unobjectionable and pleasant book tells the story of a woman, Gertie who owned a bookstore with her late husband. As WWII ramps up, an old friend asks her to take in one of the children from a kindertransport, and she is matched with a headstrong teenager named Hedy. Together, the two must navigate WWII on the Homefront, handling grief, air raids, long-kept secrets, growing pains, and young love. The strengths of this book are in the writing, which flows well, and the pleasant/quirky cast of characters that could be right from a BBC miniseries. This book would make a good gift for an older female relative.

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons is a beautifully told, hopeful story about how even during the most trying times books and good company can bring a whole community together.

I enjoyed the characters and the storyline!
The novel takes place during WWII in England
I thought the characters were extremely well drawn and the plot moved very quickly.
I enjoyed Annie Lyons creativity, her imagination, and her ability to create an utter escape through her storytelling.
A heartwarming story of found family, love, and making connections through books set against the bombing of London during WWII.
Powerful and hopeful, Lyons captures the togetherness and fear in her unique and captivating style. This story is well-written, fast-paced and very detailed.
A beautiful book that explores themes of found family, friends, love and loss, and just how books can bring the happiness they all need in a time like this set against the backdrop of World War Two.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons. Pub Date: July 11, 2023. Rating: 4 stars. I absolutely adored this author's novel titled The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, so when I saw this was available to request I had no question I wanted to read it. Set during WWII, this is the story of a woman who owns a bookshop. She takes in a young woman named Hedy who was sent to London to live there in hopes of escaping the horrors of war and the actions that were being taken against Jewish families at that time. Gertie is a widow and the bookshop is her last connection to her late husband. She is lonely and unsurprisingly bringing Hedy into her life gives her purpose, promise and a make shift family that she did not know she needed. I loved the center of the bookshop and how community was kept throughout the war with the use of books and specifically a book club. I really enjoyed this novel and I think any historical fiction readers who love books would too. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #theairraidbookclub #netgalley

This book was a lovely picture of life during World War 2 in England. It's not a book filled with heroic actions or fighting. Rather, it's about the day-to-day lives of the people back home during the war.
I really enjoyed watching the growth of the main character, Gertie.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves books and wants to learn more about the ordinary lives of people living during a terrible time.

Truly captivating. Couldn't help but to fall in love with each character and feel like you truly knew Gertie and Hedy. I laughed, I cried, I could read this again.

The Air Raid Book Club takes you on a beautifully heartbreaking journey of war, family and just how far you would go to protect and keep the ones you love. The main character, Gertie, is sure to win the hearts of all book-lovers and non-fiction fan everywhere! Her character is brilliantly written by Lyons and this story is one that will not likely leave your memory any time soon.

Aging widow Gertie opens her home to Hedy, a fifteen year old Jewish refugee. Gertie and Hedy meet as strangers, but bond to face the daily hardships of war. Books become a balm to the soul for the characters as they endure daily life under the threat of German bombs and invasion.

The camaraderie of friends and neighbors help each other weather the storm of World War II. A store full of books and endless cups of tea fuel their resiliency.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such an amazing book. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this exceeded what I thought I was getting into.

Well done, Annie Lyons! "The Air Raid Book Club" is a wonderful story about how unexpected families are born from tragedy. It shows that providence often knows more of what's best for us, as if magically we are drawn to certain people and situations. It's also a tremendous example of hope within devastating circumstances.

I would highly recommend this books to readers who enjoy WW2, history, but also books with an uplifting spirit. This story is truly motivational and will give readers the desire to persevere through their own hardships.

Lyons masterful storytelling leaves the reader laughing, crying, hopeful and heartbroken. Following the death of her great love, we follow Mrs. Bingham while she beings to figure out what life, living and loves means again, and again and again. The character development is effective in making you wish you were part of their little corner of the world, reading along with their book club.

This novel is set in WW II London, England. Gertie Bingham owns the Bingham Bookstore. Ever since her husband death, the bookstore she owned with her husband, just doesn't feel the same. Without her husband, Gertie thinks of retiring to the seaside with her lab, Hemingway. But fate has other plans for Gertie.

Hitler has started an upheaval in Germany with the Jewish people. The Jewish people struggle to send their children away for them to be safe. Gertie's dear friend Charles nudges her to take on one of the refugee's. Gertie takes on a headstrong teenager named Hedy. Hedy reminds Gertie of herself at the same age. With the war on the horizon, people need the Bingham bookshop more than ever. Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club.

A good book can do wonders to bolster peoples spirits, even in the most trying times. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they've formed to see them through this war.

This book is so heartwarming. This is about love, loss, friendship and the bonds people develop in a horrible time. There is a thread throughout this book about the friends you keep are your family that get you through the hard times. This book is very well written. I fell in love with all the characters. Especially Gertie.

I loved this book! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review.

I adored The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, so I was thrilled to get an early copy of Annie Lyons’ upcoming book to read and review. The Air Raid Book Club is a World War II novel set outside of London with a story from the eyes of those left home to manage and try to live through the uncertainty of war. I loved the main character Gertie who is a 60-something widow who owns the local bookshop and the cast of characters around her. The younger main character Hedy grew on me, which was probably intentional as it took time for Gertie to love her too. The plot line feels familiar but still interesting and kept me turning pages. This will be a great book for readers who love: WWII historical fiction set in the homefront, stories of found family and mother/daughter bonds, or books set in bookshops with regular mentions of specific books. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an early copy to read and review.

I loved the characters Gertie and Hedy. These two women were great characters. I also love Margery she was awesome.

This book made me feel emotions as if I am there with them. I felt my breath catch, pulse race, and excitement. That makes a great book to me.

This book was such a delight. This was my first book by Annie Lyons and I'm excited to read more by her. This was such a sweet story, though it was marred with the horrors of World War 2, with community coming together and the way books and words connect us. I also loved the bit about sending books to soldiers - this was a big thing during WW2 (I read a whole nonfiction book about it). And of course I loved Gertie slowly opening up to Hedy and everyone in town!