The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson is a poignant and gripping tale set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Jersey during World War II. Inspired by true events, this novel celebrates the quiet bravery of ordinary people who, in the face of oppression, used books and literature to resist and maintain their humanity.

The story follows Grace La Mottée, the island’s only librarian, who is ordered to destroy books that could threaten the German regime. Instead, Grace secretly hides them, determined to protect the power of stories. Together with her best friend, she forms the Wartime Book Club, offering a refuge to islanders through reading in the midst of fear and uncertainty. As the occupation intensifies, the stakes of their resistance grow ever higher.

Thompson masterfully blends historical drama, romance, and suspense, highlighting the emotional cost of standing up to tyranny. The Wartime Book Club is not only a tribute to the bravery of those who fought back in subtle yet powerful ways, but also a reminder of the vital role that books can play in sustaining hope during the darkest times. This beautifully written novel is a testament to the enduring power of literature and the courage of individuals who dare to resist.

From enchanting cliff tops and white sandy bays to the pretty cobbled streets of St Helier, Jersey is known as the land of milk and honey. But for best friends Bea Rose, the local postwoman, and Grace Le Motte, who works in the island's only library, it becomes the frontline to everyday resistance when their beloved island is occupied by German forces in 1940.
Inspired by astonishing true events, THE WARTIME BOOK CLUB is an unforgettable story of everyday bravery and resistance, full of romance, drama, and camaraderie and a tribute to the joy of reading and the power of books in our darkest hour.

Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

This book is one of my top reads this year. I’m not a big fan of fictional books but this one made me love this genre, I can’t even explain how good it is without spoiling the plot. But It kept me hooked on the story and I reallly had a good time reading it. Definitely a heartbreaking story and the sad part is that it was based in true events.

Grace and Bea are best friends in St. Helier, Jersey, an island facing German invasion in June 1940. Grace, a librarian, and her best friend Bea, a postwoman, are unaware of the hardships that await them during the occupation. Grace hides banned books to prevent them from being burned, while Bea participates in small acts of defiance as mail services are cut off. As the story unfolds, Grace starts The Wartime Library Book Club, needing approval from German officials.

The pace of the story is even, and the characters, especially Grace and Bea, are well developed, likable, and relatable. I really appreciated that the beginning of each chapter begins with the title and excerpt of a banned book. Based on true events, The Wartime Book Club is a beautifully written book of friendship and community during dark events.

A solid 4 starts from me. I will look forward to reading more of Kate Thompson's books.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kate Thompson, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kate Thompson sent me off to the Channel Islands to be with Grace and Bea during the German occupation of that community. I learned about the powerful undercurrents of rebellion woven with ancient languages and hidden books. Every chapter is headed up with a book banned by the Third Reich. . .just makes one want to find a copy immediately to celebrate reading as an act of rebellion.

While the greater part of the story has its bright and shining moments, it is a somber tale of true events wrapped in fictional reimaginings, mixing fictional characters with actual ones. In places it is an uncomfortable read of traumatic happenings that left scars on bodies, hearts and minds, as well as lands and nations. It is the least we can do to acknowledge and remember.

Bonus: end notes, book lists, non-fictional heroes of WWII Jersey, and author's report on her journey writing this book. An added delight.

All the stars!

*A sincere thank you to Kate Thompson, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

I loved the author’s previous novel, so seeing this release made me giddy! I love books about books and libraries. This one is perfect for September Banned Book Week reading, leading readers to many titles that have been banned during WWII. I love all the extra details at the beginning of each chapter. There are some things I wish weren’t the typical storyline, but it seems used so often that it must have been a common situation during the time. This book will help readers connect with some of the fights librarians have to keep books on the shelves for all readers. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars! This book was so well done. I appreciate how it has a lot of characters, but you do get to know how all of their stories turn out for the most part. I also love how well researched this book was and how you get a piece of that research at the end of the book is very cool also. I think this was a great story of how humans kept themselves going during the occupation of the channel islands in England during World War Two. This was really well done.

Kate Thompson brings the Isle of Jersey to life in #thewartimebookclub weaving together the stories of two women trying to stay afloat during the Island’s WWII occupation.  Cut off from Britain and supplies needed for survival, there was 1 German solider for every 2-3 civilians. Acts of resistance, though not organized, were incredibly dangerous as the chances of being caught and the resulting repercussions were severe.  

Told through a dual point of view, we meet Bea, the grieving fiery redheaded postmistress with a whip sharp temper who can’t help but delay messages to warn her neighbours of raids and who returns fire with words whenever the soldiers or the Wolf are nearby. We also meet Grace, calm, measured, and gentle librarian of Jersey (in an architecturally stunning library - I looked up pictures) who hides forbidden books, delivers messages and books, and has her finger on the pulse of the community. Both women face love, heartache, grief, hope, the brutality of the German regime, and the determination that Germany will not succeed in breaking them.

I was frustrated by the foolishness of some of their actions and words which would leave them exposed. This is a testament to Thompson’s skill for creating characters that will capture your heart: dynamic, kind-hearted, thoughtful, tenacious, resilient, and courageous.

I loved the inclusion of banned books at the start of each chapter.  This added depth while connecting to the current climate of book banning.  Inspired by true events, be sure to read the back matter material which includes author’s notes, inspirational islanders, postscripts, unsent war letters, book club questions, and so much more.

I loved #thewartimebookclub and can’t wait to read @katethompsonauthor next book.  Thanks @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the #drc

I picked this one up because I loved The Little Wartime Library. I have to say, I loved this one just as much! This gave me The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society vibes (which is one of my favorite books!), but a completely different storyline. If you’re into historical fiction, specifically WW2, then this will be right up your alley!

I do believe Kate Thompson has become an auto-read author after this. I’ll have to catch up on her backlist and I’ll be snagging anything new she releases as well.

When the Channel Islands become occupied by the Nazis, St. Helier librarian Grace and her best friend Bea decide to take a stand. Townspeople need hope, and that includes books. First Grace starts a book club , then goes further by switching covers and disguising the books and delivering them. Bea works at the post office and discovers incriminating messages about fellow townspeople given to the Nazis. Bea and Grace help warn those who are mentioned before the Nazis have a chance to discover evidence of their misdoings. With two strong and resilient female characters who not only endure physical torture but personal emotional struggles as well, this is story of history we all should read.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Kate Thompson and ReadForever. As an avid historical fiction reader, and someone who passionately advocates against any type of book banning, I cannot express enough how beautiful the overlap of these concepts was done in this book. I loved that this WWII book was set on a small island instead of in the heart of mainland Europe, giving us a sense of the devastation beyond the parameters we usually read in stories or history. So well done!

I love historical fiction books and this book is a gem. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

My manager and I was heading to the Book Warehouse to purchase books for the store, and we listened to this book, it's a 3-hour drive and when we retuned, we continue to listen, it was and is the most amazing book I have every read.

During WWII on the Isle of Jersey, Nazi's invade the city and of course, one of the things they destroy is the library, which made my boiled to the 10th degree. Two best friends, Bea Rose, who works at the post office, which was another area the Nazi's invaded to promote their propaganda and Grace Le Motte, the local librarian. While their island is being occupied by the Nazis, they are forced to comply with German restrictions, such as rations, curfews, prison camps and transportation. When Bea loses her finance to the Nazis, she begins to intercept letters to German officials that put her neighbors in jeopardy. You know Grace was emotionally wounded when many books were burned, but she did find a place to hide some of the books that the Nazis found, in their sick minds, offensive. These two women lives changes due to the suffering conditions, the found love and the community who comes together to when Grace starts a book club in the library under the watchful eye of a Nazi, one person reads the book out loud and the warmth and happiness filling that one room in the library, is worth making a movie. It's amazing to me how these women were brave and strong thru this evilness, such as other evilness in history - slavery, holocausts, internment of Japanese Americans, etc. This is the type of book everyone should read. Kate Thompson is an amazing writer and I'm going to read the wartime library and find other books by her.

I forget how I stumbled across The Wartime Book Club. I think it was an email saying something like, "Since you read and liked this, please come try The Wartime Book Club." The plot sounded right up my alley, since I love WW2 stories, so of course I had to try it out.

The novel takes place in Jersey, part of the Channel Islands between England and France, during WW2. The Nazis are the occupying force and the residents are living under German rule. Grace, the town's librarian, has been ordered to destroy any books at odds with Nazi ideology, but chooses instead to hide them in the library in an act of defiance. Bea, her best friend and postal worker, commits her own acts of resistance within her role. But both women continue to draw the attention of the Germans on the island, making their roles ever more dangerous.

I think the most compelling part of the novel is that it is based on true experiences of those who lived in Jersey during WW2. The island was occupied for around 5 years by the Germans and they did not treat the residents much differently than they did those in Eastern Europe. Censorship abounded, acts of resistance were punished, and neighbors turned on each other to curry favor with the occupiers. Somehow, throughout this, groups held on, much like Grace's book club did, in order to support each other and come out stronger at the end. It is hard to imagine what it took to survive those times, and for women like Grace and Bea's to be under an almost constant surveillance is harrowing to even think about.

I love historical fiction novels and this book does not disappoint. Will be reading more by this author. Thanks to @forevergrandcentralpublishing @netgalley and the author for this ARC.

I loved this story. I thought it was so real and genuine. The characters were relatable but also just enough that you remembered you were reading a story. The storyline is heartbreaking but so informative. The way the Germans took advantage of things and there were informants among the civilians is hard to read but so important to remember. I would say this is a good crossover book into the historical fiction category if you want to dabble in the genre.

This is historical fiction at its finest!

Librarian Grace and postmistress Bea are best friends living in St. Helier, Jersey while the Germans occupied their British island. The story covers their bravery, struggles, and the life or death decisions they and other islanders faced. The book is well researched, and some of the characters are based upon people who have lived through the German occupation. This is one of those books that transport you to the setting and has you cheering for the heroes and wishing you could give that crust of the bread you threw away at lunch to one of the characters in the book.

The book also covers the topic of censorship, which is sadly still an (increasing) issue for librarians today. Thompson begins each chapter with the name of a book that was banned by Nazi Germany. May those who read historical fiction learn and remember that it's never the 'good guys' who call for books to be banned.

Thompson includes some information about the actual occupation and other resources that readers can find to learn more about the little known British Isles that were occupied by Germans in World War II.

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

Bea and Grace are best friends in Jersey at the start of WWII and the occupation of the Jersey Islands. Bea is a postmistress and Grace is a local librarian. Grace helps to create the Wartime Book Club, with fellow librarian Ash. They had to run it by the Germans and had a censor there during meetings. It's mostly told from Bea and Grace's perspective, and the story includes their families and the book club regulars.

This was an interesting read about the occupation of Jersey during WWII and how books help get people through difficult times. I enjoyed Grace and Bea's story and how the book club and their friendship got them through the wartime occupation. The author weaved some of the real-life stories during that time. It was interesting to read at the end of the book, different stories of the people interviewed and that she learned about during her research.

Thanks to @forevergrandcentralpublishing @netgalley and the author for this ARC

I didn’t want this book to end! I loved it. The story is based on real life events on the Island of Jersey starts in 1943, with the German occupation. It’s a story of Grace, a local Librarian and Bea, a postmistress their lives during the occupation and continues into the later years of their lives. The story is beautifully written. It had me crying, cheering and warm with joy. I highly recommend this book. We must never forget.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Forever, #GrandCentralPublishing, #KateThompson and #TheWartimeBookclub for the advance copy for my honest review.

The Wartime Bookclub by Kate Thompson is an amazing and inspiring historical fiction based on true events.

Grace is a local librarian, while her best friend Bea works for the post office during the occupation of Jesery during WWII. These women become more than just a librarian and postal clerk to their patrons...they become friends, family, educators, advocates and protectors.

I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it.