This is the start of what looks to be a great new series. Lady Cordelia gets herself a job running an east end library. Not sure how she’ll get on with the people from this community she’s soon making friends with her staff Mavis and Jane. Each of the women all have their own secrets but as the War goes on they all muck in together. With a local Doctor helping out with free clinics at the library Lady Cordelia soon takes a shine to him. I enjoyed this book and look forward to catching up with the librarians again.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable. The plot is one that is engaging and I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

A very good book about the lives of three woman who work in a library.

Cordelia has got a job as the head librarian in the East End of London. She meets Mavis & Jane who certainly are different to one another who work there. They begin a friendship and work well together. Mavis has a son but has had a hard time with things. Jane is a bit timid who has a daughter and her husband is away at war. They all work together to bring the community together in the library.

This is a wonderful start to a new series and really enjoyed the woman and how they overcame obstacles. They were strong characters.

It was a well written book and was interesting to read the hardship of all the bombings in London.

I love historical fiction and this was a really good read, the interaction and feel of the book were engaging. It's a recommended read.

This is a beautiful book and it is so amazing, the story is so lovely and very enjoyable to read. i loved everything about this book and i would recommend to anyone who loves reading to give this book a go. it is a lovely book and i will read other books from this author.

Such a delightfully gentle read. It tells us of three women and their lives and struggles of living in the Eastend during the Second World War and have been brought together whilst working in the library.
Heartwarming with a few worrying issues covered within. This book is a nice curl up in the chair with a duvet and hot drink and just let it drift you along.

A lovely new series for us all to enjoy.

Loved getting to know the library girls and can’t wait for book 2

✨My Thoughts✨
Cordelia’s mother Lady Carmichael doesn’t want her daughter working never mind working in the East End of London!.

Cordelia is determined though and can’t wait to start working at the Library and start making a difference.

The other employees at the Library are Jane and Mavis, they have a very different life to Cordelia and have so much sadness to contend with, it broke my heart.

I felt like I was really getting a realistic story set during the war, it felt so real to me.

I’ll recommend this book so highly to all my historical fiction loving book friends!.

The first of a new series. It is the same type of plot, 3 girls from different walks of life set in a library. A few books have recently been set in a library. ok read Do not think I will read any more

When Cordelia takes the job of head librarian her mother is disapproving as she thinks it is beneath her. The two women who work at the library Jane and Mavis are like chalk and cheese they are so different but somehow they have formed a close bond. The pair soon take Cordelia into there friendship and all three girls have a great working relationship as well as a unbeatable friendship. With war raging, bombs dropping and the library at risk of shutting down the girls have to stick together more than ever. I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down and read it in a few short hours. The sense of community and kindness through heartbreak made me feel emotional. The plot was intense with family dramas for the three girls and made it a page turner. I am so excited for what will happen next for Cordelia, Jane and Mavis. I'm particularly eager to find out what becomes of Jane's little girl. This is the start of a wonderfully addictive historical saga.

An excellent read bursting with history and believable characters who you invest in, Storyline was fantastic too,

A fantastic start to this new series from Patricia McBride. It's so down to earth and easy to read. And the characters are wonderful, particularly Cordelia. Can't wait for the next in the series

As a child, libraries were my sanctuary, so I was excited to read The Library Girls of the East End, the first book in a new series by Patricia McBride. Set in the war-torn London of the 1940’s this novel is about three young women, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane who all discover their best selves while working in the library.

Filled with romance, family drama, and the resilience of humanity this book is a lovely glimpse of a time that is getting further and further away from us with every breath. I loved that each of the three main characters had a distinct story and personality, and I applaud the author’s deftness at braiding them into a coherent whole. I appreciated that class differences were addressed, but never used as an excuse, and I was impressed that in addition to wonderful traits, every character also had a flaw they had to overcome.

Of course the library regulars – the Readers – were integral parts of the story. Whether it was the grumpy man who grumbled over the daily newspaper, or the children learning that books could take them beyond any walls, the community members provided the reason for Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane’s being employed at all, but also provided the tapestry against which the rest of the scenes were played. Without readers, after all, what good is a library?

In addition to reading the text of this novel, I also listened to the audiobook of this novel, which really made me pay attention to McBride’s flair for dialogue. Every character had a distinct way of speaking, which was reflected in print, but really sang in audio. Kudos to the narrator, Julie Maisey, whose pronunciation of the word “ate” specifically really made me feel immersed in the period of this book.

Overall, this is a satisfying read with three strong female characters at its heart.

Goes well with: mushroom risotto and a nice merlot.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. On the whole it is a gentle freindly read that encourages the reader to keep reading and lose track of time. There are a few harder parts of the book but are dealt with in a way so they jolt but do not take away from the normal warn feeling, just contarst with it.

Three very different women thrown togther at work and grasually learning to share their lives with each other and a whole host of visitors to the library to liven things up. I look forward to the next in the series.

Firstly I'm going to start this review by saying how much I loved and adored this book.
You therefore can’t begin to imagine my delight when I found out that it is the first in a new series! (Skips with delight!)

It’s 1940, war is starting to ramp up and we meet Cordelia, she comes from a well-to-do family and has to tell her snobby mother that she has just got a job as the Head Librarian at Silver Town library in the East End of London in 1940. We are then introduced to Cordelia’s new colleagues Jane and Mavis and regulars of the library. Together they work well coming up with ideas on how the library can help the community and with that enters doctor Robert Fernsby who uses one of their rooms as a surgery for the people of Silver Town.

This book was wonderful and was so easy to read and I raced through it. I absolutely loved it and I'm delighted that it is the first in a new series and I can't wait to hear what happens next to the Library Girls Of the East End

This is a brand new series by Patricia McBride and having not read any of her previous books I was looking forward to this one. I am so glad I did as I really enjoyed this book and what it was all about. The East End of London, war, three women and a library.

This book is all about friendships, about the importance of the libraries during the Blitz and about people. I love all the characters and found I could really immerse myself in this book as it brings to life people, personalities and how friendships can help through tough times.

I do look forward to seeing what will happen in the next book in this series and will be waiting patiently for it.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. I found myself really rooting for the characters in a way that doesn't always happen with every book I read.

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride transports readers to the East End of London in 1940. Cordelia Carmichael is taking over as the head librarian of the Silver Town Library over her mother’s objection. Cordelia will be staying with her rapscallion brother who is more interested in having a good time than in helping others. Cordelia works with Mavis and Jane who help her acclimate to the East End. I found The Library Girls of the East End to be easy to read. Cordelia, Jane, and Mavis are the three main characters. I like that each girl has a different personality. Cordelia has a different leadership style from her predecessor. She welcomes input from Mavis and Jane as well as the volunteers. The residents of the East End welcome Cordelia. She may have finally found where she belongs. There are a variety of quirky characters that visit the library. The library is more than a building that houses books. It becomes the heart of the community. Unfortunately, bombings have become an everyday occurrence. You never know how long you could end up in an air raid shelter. The author included a variety of shelters from the underground to Anderson shelters. I like how people comforted each other during the long, scary hours in the air raid shelters. One of the librarians finds romance. We are privy to her thoughts on the gentleman’s looks, behavior, and physique. I found it a tad nauseating after a while. I would have preferred the focus to stay on the three women, their growth, and how they help their community. I thought the author captured the time period and the setting. I liked the ending. It will be interesting to see what happens next for the East End librarians.

This is one of those books that draws you into the lives of its characters. Set during the war, specifically during the Blitz, this is an extremely moving story focusing on 3 women who go to work at a library in the Eastend of London. Each of them is from a different background, yet they become best friends.

I didn't even realise that any libraries were kept open during the war. Not only have I learned that some did, but I also learned just how important they were to people at a time when any escapism was desperately needed.

It was a very moving story which I enjoyed despite becoming teary-eyed a few times. I don't mind a little sadness in stories as long as the happy times outweigh the sad ones. This was the first book in a series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

Warning: the topics of domestic violence and rape is briefly discussed. If you or someone you know has been in a similar situation please seek professional help and support A.S.A.P.

The Library Girls of the East End is a detailed fast paced story, with a slowly revealed plot, through out the year 1940.

McBride has clearly outlined the differences of society, customs and lifestyles within the higher and lower classes. McBride briefly mentions the Holocaust, Jewish immigrants, blackouts, raids, the blitz, well as the restrictions of WW2 to increasing the authentic feel of the plot. The writing style is easy to follow with titled chapters that give hints about what will be happening with the chapters. There is a good mixture of description and dialogue.

The character development of The Library Girls of the East End gives the reader a brief background about the different characters. The characters are relatable and realistic with their own personalities and mannerisms.

Cordelia has a wealthy background. She decided from a young age that she didn't want to be a carbon copy of her mother, wanting to work with the local people where she can make a difference. Her job as head librarian at Silver town Library provides the perfect challenge...she hopes to implement changes for the best...

Mavis is a straightforward somewhat stubborn person, who dislikes change of any kind. Her only son, Ken is in army... he has a temper and tends to lash out at Mavis. She acts very motherly towards others not standing by when they are in need of help...

Timid Jane, married and mother to a young daughter, has little option than to live with her disapproving and demanding mother after her husband, George joins the army. Whilst at work she has to hide her marriage as married women not allowed to work in libraries...

Overall I feel that The Library Girls of the East End has provided an interesting storyline about the destruction and mayhem of war. There is a strong sense of community as everyone helps each other in their hour of need. My heart really goes out to Jane, whose story is shared more in the second half of the plot.

I would suggest reading The Library Girls of the East End to people who enjoy reading historical fiction, women's fiction and sagas based around WW2, as it is an emotional character driven story about hardships, romance and friendship...