SYNOPSIS: This is the story of three women whose lives were changed forever by The Blitz in London during WWII. Sophie is a German Jewish immigrant who leaves her family behind on a work visa only to find an unwelcoming employer in London. Her only saving grace comes from the library and the book club she steals away to whenever she can. There she meets the deputy librarian, Juliet, who has worked very hard to overcome her cold parents and gender norms of the time. Her passion for books and people is contagious, and inspires Katie, a young girl working at the library just waiting to go to university. When the library is bombed by enemy planes, the women are forced to take what is left of their books to their underground shelters in the train stations each night. The most unlikely of friendships become the heart of the story as lives are changed and none of them will ever be the same. 

MY THOUGHTS: I have read a multitude of WWII stories. Because of this, finding a new topic or a new way of telling the same stories becomes challenging, but WOW! This book blew me away. The stories of three women intertwine to tell the story of what it was like to live in the Bethnal Green area of London during The Blitz in 1940. I think I have found my favorite trope(?) in books–books about books and bookish people. This is not the first book I have read where books bring people together, especially when they don’t have much more to be thankful for. Jennifer Ryan weaves history and fiction with ease, and I became utterly obsessed with the characters’ stories. Each woman is going through pain and struggles, but with the community that they build they are able to confront anything. All of the women, old or young, educated or uneducated, Jewish or Christian, show bravery and resourcefulness in a time when they could have considered themselves victims. These women are supportive of each other without questions or hesitation. It is such a beautiful reminder that books can connect us, bond us together through interests and art, and bring us friends that become family. Anyone who loves this genre should pick this one up immediately!