You really can't go wrong with a historical novel by Molly Green, and The Wartime Librarian's Secret is no exception.
This time we meet Esme Donaldson, a librarian who takes a dream job at an English country manor that has been pressed into service by the country's war machine during WWII. This is part family drama, part home front story, part romance, and in large part a story of overcoming past adversity to start life anew. Superbly written and well researched, this novel grabs hold of you with relatable characters and a story that never lets up.
I highly recommend this and any others of Green's books; they make history come alive as mere facts can never do. I always know that I will enjoy whatever book has her name on it.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheWartimeLibrariansSecret to #NetGalley.

this was such a smart and powerful book. and i instantly immersed myself into the world. i felt like i could almost have been walking along the corridors with both fear and intrigue with Esme. shes also a brilliant character to follow.
Esme has been through a lot. shes has lost her husband and so much more besides. then to make matters worse the war has caused budget cuts and therefore her to lose her job. the job was keeping her upright at times.
then a chance meeting means there might be something in the pipeline for her. a new chance. and she knows she needs to brave it.
the position she comes to is at a local manor. a manor with so much going on behind its walls. her job is to organise the estates library first and foremost. there is also more going on at the manor though as its housing a displaced school and also army officers with more secrets and whispers mixed in than you can shake a stick out. boring this job and living is not.but thoughts of war and home including her father seem to ever linger on her mind.
there's also a colonel keeping at her thoughts and these feelings are uncertain and she is not sure she can cope with them as they are new, new since her husband.
but Esme is strong. we all know it by now. and i loved following her and rooting for her all the way through. this was such a book of resilience and hope. and i felt luck to be able to follow Esme as she heals, forges on and fingers crossed gets all she deserves. particularly in a time that happy endings is definitely not a given.

📚 A library tucked inside a country manor. A widow with a past. A spark that defies wartime grief.

In The Wartime Librarian’s Secret, Molly Green weaves a heartfelt, immersive tale of love, loss, and quiet resilience set against the backdrop of WWII Britain.

Still mourning her husband and reeling from the loss of her job, Esme Donaldson finds unexpected purpose in the quiet corridors of Redcliffe Manor—now home to a relocated girls’ boarding school and an American military hospital. Tasked with curating the estate’s library, Esme slowly rebuilds a life among book-lined shelves, curious students, and convalescing soldiers. When a charming American colonel enters the picture, a flicker of hope begins to warm her grief—but Esme’s past may be the one story she’s not ready to share.

Green’s storytelling shines in the rich period detail and emotionally grounded characters. Esme’s journey is quietly compelling, and the dual setting—a home transformed by war—offers a fascinating glimpse into civilian resilience and wartime adaptation.

A moving, romantic read for fans of historical fiction with heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Warm, nostalgic, and quietly powerful. Perfect for fans of Kate Thompson, Lorna Cook, or readers drawn to wartime fiction with emotional depth and a dash of romance.

4 Stars

Reviewer’s note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Wartime Librarian’s Secret is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant WWII novel set against the backdrop of a mysterious countryside manor filled with secrets, schoolgirls, and second chances.

Esme Donaldson, newly widowed and adrift, accepts a position as the manor’s librarian after losing her job due to wartime budget cuts. What she doesn’t expect is to walk into a world filled with hidden operations, spirited children, and a quietly magnetic American colonel. As she begins to heal from grief, Esme is also forced to confront secrets from her past that may threaten her chance at happiness.

Molly Green captures the time period with elegance and care—there’s a clear sense of place, duty, and emotional struggle. I especially appreciated the depth given to Esme’s journey, as well as the gentle yet compelling romantic thread that weaves through the novel.

While some plot developments wrapped up a bit too neatly, the emotional storytelling and strong character work left me satisfied and engaged throughout.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction with romance, strong female leads, and stories of personal growth in times of uncertainty.

I was quickly absorbed into this and with my experiences of Molly Green’s other fantastic books, I knew this one was going to be a winner too. Her previous Bletchley series was amongst one of my very favourites so she’s very much an auto read author for me! She really is great at writing wartime historical fiction.

This one was true to form, awesome read. Getting to know a new character always feels like a treat and none are easier to root for than Esmerelda. She’s had a lot to overcome and when she finds herself laid off and looking for a new job, she somewhat lands on her feet maintaining a library and writing Sir Giles’ memoir at Redcliffe Manor House.

She faces her challenges but I was there in every page, rooting for her and eager to find out what was going to happen. Books like these make for such easy and enjoyable reading!

I finished the book wishing I had known Sir Giles as he was such a lovely old man!

It was a heart warming and easy read and nice to be based around something different whilst still have the war storyline weaved into it. I found the middle of the book a bit slow but the last third was exceptional. It was satisfying when Muriel got her comeuppance although I did have an inkling it was coming!

Although I was aware of segregation of blacks during the war by America it was a harsh reminder of how cruel the human race can be. No matter what their skin colour these people were prepared to fight for their country and should have been treated equally with respect and care.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction. Molly is a great author and I look forward to her next title.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and of course the author for allowing me to read and review an Arc copy.

After suffering terrible loss Esme Donaldson is taken aback to lose her job at Bath lending library. To give herself time to think about what her next move will be she goes to local tearoom where the only available seat is with a young woman tat she soon gets talking to, after introductions (Stella Stratten) leaves her details with Esme with a promise to keep in touch and think of any possible jobs for her. This opened up a whole new world to Esme, with many possibilities for her.
Meanwhile Esme’s father is in poor health and her stepmother (Muriel) isn’t what you’d describe as the caring type. This puts Esme in a dilemma, should she move away from him, how would Muriel treat him, does she have ulterior motives?

I really enjoyed this book. Esme, who was my favourite character, had more than her fair share of sadness in her life but still managed to think of others and show kindness. Least favourite was Mrs Grant, who I don’t think was capable of showing compassion.
It also served as a reminder of the loss and destruction suffered by families during this period, yet they remained resilient
Fascinating hearing about the school and hospital that was in the house and based on fact.
Now to wait for the next book by this author.

This is a fascinating WWII story of a woman who has lost her husband and her job during the war. She takes a job in a manor as the librarian. The manor is full of more than books. I won’t say more as to not let out spoilers. Great story!

A compelling story about two people who overcome personal difficulties throughout WW2. Esme who is working to restore the library at the local manor and American doctor Brad who has set up and runs the hospital in the grounds of the manor. The attraction between them is instant but they both have secrets that they are unwilling to share. This is a charming book, one that I was unable to put down.

Set against the backdrop of the second world war in England it will tell the story of one woman's brave journey of trying to navigate through life. Overall this was a very lovely book not only about having a second chance at finding love but also trying to keep the family bonds strong. I was overall very impressed with this novel the characters were wonderful and the way that the plot played out was very impressive.
Our main character Esme has had it difficult the last couple of years what with her husband dying and losing a child. Her father's health is also failing and her stepmother doesn't seem to care. To make matters worse the war has caused jobs to downsize and she ends up losing her position at the library. However, a meeting with a stranger at a coffee shop gives her good prospects obtaining a new position.
She ends up obtaining a position at a local manor. On top of organizing the estate library she is also been employed to write the memoirs for the man of the house. Things seem to be looking up for her but she has constant worries about the war and her fathers declining health. Then there is also the handsome new Doctor whom she starts developing feelings that she hasn't had since her husband.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Amazing book. Easy five stars! I did not want to put it down! Will be recommending in my Facebook group! Also buying copies for my book loving family members!

I loved this book from start to finish.
Without spoiling it for anyone who hasn't yet read, Esme could be a bit of a meddler.
Muriel was a horrid person and I was so glad things turned out the way they did for her.
I wish some of the characters like Stella, and Bertha had an ending to their story.
Well worth a read for Molly Green and Historical Fiction fans.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I have really enjoyed reading Molly Green's Bletchley series, so when I was asked if I would like to read her new novel I did not hesitate to say yes. I was not disappointed with the story at all but I have found the title to be a bit misleading as yes Esme has secrets but in my mind I thought that the story would be about her being some sort of spy, passing on war secrets whilst working in a library. Unfortunately it isn't that kind of story but it is still a great read.

When Esme is given her notice from the public library in Bath, she needs to find another job quickly, as she doesn't want to have to move back with her ailing Dad and her step mother. She also doesn't want to move too far away from her dad as he is extremely poorly and she is not comfortable that her step mother is looking after him properly. After meeting a young lady in a coffee shop, she gets offered an interview to work in a stately home as a librarian but all is not what it seems.

The book follows Esme as she navigates her new life, whilst having to deal with the death of her husband, losing her job and home and trying to look out for her dad, whilst living in at her new job and all that it entails, whilst a war is going on

Again another book set in the WW2 era (I have said I love books about this era). It is a lovely book with some interesting characters, based on events that really did happen even though the names may have been changed. You can tell there was lots of research done (especially with the location of the stately home).

There was a small extract at the end of Molly's new book so I am hoping I am offered to read this one too 🤞

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Brilliant author with brilliant family saga books and this one didn’t disappoint