Heartwarming historical drama,set in the East end of London ,during the war. An unlikely friendship blossoms between the three library girls as they struggle with their own problems. A good read.

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride is a great historical fiction saga that is the first book in a new series.

This is the first book that I have read from this author, and I really enjoyed it. A WWII-era HF that takes place within the East End of London. Cordelia, Jane, snd Mavis are brought together through war, circumstances, and the love of a community library.

Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Boldwood Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/27/23.

Don't dismiss this one thinking that it's just a light, feel-good read because it is so much more than that. Serious issues are threaded throughout the story that are totally relevant today. Like what, you ask? Child abuse, rape, unplanned pregnancy & its consequences, gender inequality, and health issues that result from poverty are all here. On the lighter side, we see the incredible sense of community in the East End and how they watch out for each other. Because of the war, women of all classes are doing jobs that would have been unthinkable before and are enjoying working.

This novel is rich in characters, some you'll wish you knew personally, others that are simply horrible. I thought that posh Cordelia would be the heroine but for me, it was definitely Mavis. She is a force of nature. Everyone needs a Mavis in their life...at work, as a neighbor, or as a best friend. Best of all, this novel is a celebration of books, libraries, and the comfort they provide in troubling times. I can't think of a better message. I look forward to the next book in the series. (I hope I don't have long to wait.)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

This was a great family saga read. I enjoy these books as they make you feel like you are actually in the books with the characters.

Am awaiting more from this author

I had never read anything by Patricia before and now I'm left wondering why not?! I read this book in a day - which is good going for me, these days! It was FANTASTIC. I loved the 3 main characters and I can't wait to find out more about them in the next book. I loved Cordelia, but I loved Mavis and Jane equally. I think they are going to become firm favourites.
I'm off to find out what other books Patricia has written, now. I'll be buying this one for my mum for Christmas, for sure!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Wow what a brilliant family saga. Loved the book hoping to read more of this becomes a series

The Library Girls of the East End by Patrica MacBride

When Cordelia accepts the post of head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disapproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it’s no place for a woman of her status.

I hadn't thought about how important a public library would have been during the war , in fact I'm surprised they were even kept open , but can see just how much of a positive to people's lives it must have been.

This book is the first in a series and I can't wait to find out what lies ahead for Cordelia and friends in the future.
A great read.

Fantastic read. Hoping this is the start of a new series!
Loved getting to know Cordelia, Jane and Mavis. They are the east end library girls.
Set during ww2 this shows the family orientated spirit which lived among the people. All set in a library the girls have to deal with various issues but they always have each other.
Highly recommended read

This was a book l enjoyed reading. It was the story of three ladies working in a library in the East end of London. We found out how they lived during the war and the dangers and hardships that people had to endure. The characters were interesting and you knew all about them. It was a lovely book to read and l wanted to find out what was happening to them and their families. Thank you for letting me read it.

A really wonderful read ,I love books about libraries and librarians,A story that drew me in to the library setting the characters their lives interactions.There are twists and turns that kept me turning the pages.Looking forward to next in the series.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks.

This book proves that “you should never judge”.
It’s a story about changing lives during the war, not least Cordelia Carmichael who escapes the confines of her mother. Cordelia starts a new job as head librarian, unusual for a woman. This takes her to the east end of London where the neighbours are a close community, looking out for and helping each other. Her colleagues are Mavis who appears to have a forthright way of speaking, maybe she has reasons for this., Then there is Jane who appears to be lacking confidence and wouldn’t dream of contradicting Mavis. Will they accept Cordelia, or think her too posh?
As the story progresses each change for different reasons, some facing their demons along the way.
There are some great characters, grumpy Bert, floppy Flossie, councillor Montague Smythe and dashing Robert Fernsby.
Loved the changing characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this title before publication.

An excellent read with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. My Grandmother, Mavis, was a librarian at the end of the war so it felt a very poignant read for me. The characters were all well portrayed and likeable. Some parts of the storyline were a bit far fetched but it was an enjoyable read all the same.

I hope this is the start of a new series.

Set in London’s East End during World War II, this book follows three women as they try to ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Wealthy Cordelia takes up a post as head librarian at the library, where co-workers Jane and Mavis worry she has come to take over. Instead, they friendship.

While there is a little romance thrown in, this is by no means a romance books at all, rather a women’s fiction with romantic elements.

A simple, light read, easily finished in an hour.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This review will also be posted to my Instagram account @kathleenryderauthor

A sweet story set during wartime and how Easter Dersingham coped with all the hardships. The way people showed alot of strength and courage during those times. I love stories about .libraries and books and this one was great. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I am so happy to have found this book. I loved the three Main characters
Cordelia from a rich family, but with so much strength
Mavis the strong east ender, the rock of the community.
And jane a little bit timid, but you Will soon know her strength. And all the other quirky strong personalities in this book.
Dark secrets, past secrets, and some glimmer of hope. You Will fall in love with the book.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

A heartwarming and wholesome wartime story, you’ll be left in awe with the strength of the East End community and the town of Silvertown as they navigate such hard and perilous times.

Bombs are dropping on London, family members are off to war and our three girls all have their own dramas to be getting on with. Coming to know these three was a joy and I loved all of these bright, loud and happy characters doing their bit to stay above it all and ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Cordelia, who coming from a very well to do background, has a lot to adjust to taking up a post as head librarian at a library in the East end. Jane and Mavis both work at the library and worry a snooty posh toff has come to take over but instead they find friendship and understanding from an unexpected place. Family dramas, romances and deep friendships follow and you’ll be flicking through the pages faster than anything.

It was so easy to read and super entertaining, the wartime vibes spot on and characters you can very easily get to know and love. Hearing that this book is the first in a series is getting me all kinds of excited because I can’t wait to read more and see how the town fairs in love and war!

Silver town library east end London 1940, and Cordelia Carmichael becomes the new head librarian sharing a flat with her brother Jasper, she meets her new employees Jane and Mavis and lots of customers, floppy Flossie and angry Bert among others that are a group of characters that rely on the library daily. First day she meets the handsome gorgeous doctor Robert Fernsby who's looking for a room to use as GP for the poverty in the east end, WW2 has started and many times the sirens go off sometimes a false alarm but they had to close and run to the underground stations in the area how long is this all going to go on for?
Cordelia gets close to Mavis and Jane who are as different as night and day and they form a bond working together and their private lives out of work, she is welcomed in the community as they are known as the east end library girls.
This book is such a delight to read, and the ending makes me feel we will be reading more on this story as it becomes a series with a whole new more characters added in, I do hope so. I loved it.