Just let me dry my tears! I cried for the entire epilogue and maybe a few pages before.

This is such a well told story of female friendship, love, pain, name the emotion - it’s here in the pages of this story.

I loved the inclusion and focus on banned books and censorship - a beautiful and unfortunately timely parallel with the story of the German occupation of Jersey. When we talk about history we don’t get taught, this one is included. When will I stop being surprised that there are stories about this conflict that I, a student of history, am unaware of? Perhaps never. And perhaps that’s beautiful in its own way because we get to keep discovering the stories of the past and how they are intertwined with lives being lived today across the world.

All the cheers, the stars and the bravos for this beautiful, if lengthy, work. Will be recommending!

this was a heartbreaking, fascinating, and overall a powerful read. it's the second historical fiction i read this year that i can confidently rate 5 stars. it is obvious the author did very in-depth research of true events, more so by using real people for inspiration. this truly does read like it's beautifully written to honor those who lived, suffered, fought, and died through WW2.

i LOVED that every chapter started with a book that was banned during those times because "they said so." but even then, the very premise that books had kept some people alive is, in my opinion, a testament to how powerful books are and can be. i personally read for escapism, adventure, and to keep my mind and imagination strong. so knowing that many came together to do the same to help them keep going through dark and devastating times... it's remarkable.

all in all, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! this is one of those novels that deserves plenty of praise and appreciation, especially for it's historical accuracy. even if you don't care for historical fiction, if you love books... then this book is for you!

thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. i received this as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

I deeply loved and enjoyed this book so much that I IMMEDIATELY posted about it on my personal Facebook page to recommend it to my family and friends and one of my daughter’s teachers immediately purchased as a pre-order.

Thompson manages to squeeze SO much into this incredible book. Beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring. I loved that every chapter begins by highlighting a particular book (or author) banned by the Nazis and their reasoning. There is so so much more to this than just a group of Jersey islanders who gathered to read together. There is so much more to this than the secret stash of “verboten” books Grace hid and smuggled to her patrons. This is a book about friendship, family, betrayal, loyalty, love, perseverance, bravery, and the lengths one will go to in order to just do something, even a small thing, to make a difference, even if it means risking one’s freedom. It is a testament to the belief in holding onto hope, choice, and small bits of freedom and it pays tribute to an island of individuals who hung onto whatever tiny thread of hope and will to survive they could, especially during a time when they felt forgotten and lost.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever, and the incredible Kate Thompson for an ebook ARC of this amazing novel which haunts me still, days after having finished it.

Thompson does a tremendous amount of research for her books and provides an additional 70 pages of information about the occupation at the end of the story. The characters of Grace, Bea and Red are based on information she obtained from oral histories of the islanders and jump off the page. No one knows exactly how they would react in the same situation. We can only hope we would have the courage to endure five years of an occupation and will continue to protect the right to read what we choose.

Just when I think that every WWII book has been published, I find a title that exposes me to another aspect of the war which I have not previously encountered. This follows two young women through their experiences during the occupation of the Channel Islands of England. Told in alternating views, the story is easy to follow and engaging. Thompson’s writing pulls the reader into the setting in a vivid fashion that allows you to feel as if you were peeking into the scene over Bea or Grace’s shoulder and feeling their feelings.

I especially appreciated the lengthy addition at the end of the book that gives a history of the occupation of the Channel Islands, as well as providing histories of the real-life occupants upon whom various characters in the book were based.

The Wartime Book Club is an incredible story about light in the darkest of times. With complex and interesting characters and told in two POV’s, we get to know the story of Grace, a librarian doing her best to survive occupation in Jersey, and Bea who works at the post office and feels compelled to do something about their situation.
It is such an interesting story and it is filled with emotion. It is sad at times but there is also hope and joy. Reading Historical Fiction books about WWII is not easy but with such talented writers as Kate Thompson who captivate you and choose to tell us stories that we might not know about, it becomes easier.
I really liked this book and I hope to continue reading Kate Thompson’s books.

This book was a fascinating read with moving characters and intriguing moments in the plot. I would encourage this to friends.

A nicely atmospheric novel of friendship- conflicted thought it might be- on Jersey during the German occupation. Grace and Bea are very different women who react to to occupation differently. That however changes and makes this a good look at the impact on life in the area. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good addition to the WWII homefront genre.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. The writing style had me invested in the story and the characters and I like Grace a lot as well as Bea even though she sometimes had me shake my head in disbelief about what she just did. The book captures the mood the islanders must have been in during the war years very well and the atmosphere is hopeful but desperate at the same time. Judging from the extensive commentary and sources at the end of the book, it was excellently researched and I loved to learn about the people who were real but also characters in this book.

Concerning the characters, Bea is a bit of a stubborn hothead at times but she is very likeable in that. She believes in a better world being possible and that sitting idle and not resisting the occupation by the Germans is not an option. In addition, Grace is my favourite character in this book. She is so kind and considerate and I just loved reading about her.

What I liked in particular was that every chapter opened with information on 1 book banned by the Nazis during WWII and the reason why. That was incredibly interesting to me and gave the book extra credits in my view. I haven’t read Kate’s other books yet, but I will change that as soon as I can. This book has my full recommendation for any historical fiction lover!

(A review will be posted on pub day April 9 on my accounts on instagram and Goodreads)

This was good, but also a fairly standard historical fiction novel set during that time period. I enjoyed the book club, but that has been done before and there are just so many books set in this time frame that this one didn't particularly stand out. There were a lot of characters and side stories to keep up with as well. Overall I liked it but it was not an all-time favorite.

Thank you for the ARC!

I have mixed feelings on this book. There were many things to like about this novel. It is clear that the author has done extensive research in order to write this story. She really brings to life the grim realities of war for the residents of Jersey. The book started off very strong but as it went on, I began to lose interest. I think it was just too long with too many characters and side stories.

The Wartime Book Club
By: Kate Thompson
Review Score: 3 1/2 Stars

Why Was This Book “Just Ok”?
While interesting, this book was very long. There were so many characters and storylines, it was hard to keep track of everything going on. I think, if the book was shorter, it would have been more engaging.

Do I still recommend it?
Yes. Overall, I think the story was well done, and fans of historical fiction might like it.

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The Wartime Book Club was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). Thank you for allowing me to read this book!

Release Date: 4/9/24

Today’s “Just OK Wednesday” is about The Wartime Book Club.

I went into this book with very high hopes. I have only read a few books about the Nazi Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War 2, so I was very excited to give this one a whirl.

Overall, I have conflicting feelings about this book. There are ALOT of characters, and they all seem to be doing things on the side of the main plot, which made it hard to keep up with at times.

I also feel that, if this book was shorter, it would have been more engaging to stay with. You could almost have 2 stories here, but because they are interwoven, it actually makes it hard to follow.

I did like the additional notes in this book. It's always nice when questions for a book club are added in!

With that being said, I do think people who like Historical Fiction would like this book. I did like it, I just didn’t love it.

Powerful and just so good!! It’s very rare for a book to leave me utterly speechless but this one…I just am in awe by the story that was told. Please write another one

This was a beautiful and heartbreaking story about two best friends living on the Island of Jersey during WWII. Grace is a librarian tasked with keeping the library open after the head librarian went to war. Bea is a postal worker, the only female mail carrier on the island. The two women could not be more different, but they have an unbreakable bond that keeps them together through many hard events. During the war both women do their part to help the resistance and try to keep their friends safe. This story was beautiful, and as to be expected of a book set during WWII, filled with so much heartache and sadness. A beautiful story about the power of books, friendship, and hope during dark times. I loved that this book was inspired by real life events, and all the information and pictures at the authors note at the end. I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

I am hooked on historical fiction, especially WW2 times, both the memoirs and the ones like this, based on actual events. I love that people were brave enough to save books, hide them, and yet keep people reading in the darkest times.
I enjoyed this book, both regular and audiobook. I am a fan of this author and will definitely keep reading her in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

The Wartime Book club was an incredible book. While trying to be spoiler free, it's about two friends, one of which is a librarian, during the occupation of Jersey. This book was heartbreaking and incredible at the same time. You get wrapped up in the characters lives and each page has you yearning for more. The only downfall was the ending. I feel like it was a bit rushed. It did tie up all the loose ends. Despite the ending, I loved this book and everything it had instore for me.

The Wartime Book Club is stunning novel about the power of books, friendship, courage, and loyalty in dark times. This book made me laugh, cry, and feel anger, hope and fear. It was both gut wrenching and hopeful at the same time.

I enjoy reading historical fiction, and I seem to gravitate to historical fiction set during WWII. This is such a dark period in our history, and there are many, but there is also something about the tales of resiliency, the acts of courage and bravery taken by ordinary citizens who refused to allow their humanity to be completely stripped from them.

This book is set on one of the Channel Islands, Jersey, during its occupation by the Germans during WWII. The book is told from the perspective of Bea and Grace, two childhood best friends as they each endure what the occupation means for them. Bea worked for the post office and Grace was the Chief Librarian. Both of these women took great risks as they each found ways to resist the occupation, and help out their fellow islanders. Neither woman quite realizing the extent of the others little acts of resistance. Until, in an effort to protect her best friend and her newborn nephew, Grace makes a huge sacrifice that will have impacts on her throughout the rest of her life.

I am also particularly drawn to books about books. The Wartime Book Club, told the story of the books during the war. Books that were banned and burned and books that were saved at great risk. But, also about how books and reading lifted the spirits of those islanders living under terrible conditions during the occupation. The Wartime Book Club brought islanders together at a time when hunger and deprivation were causing neighbour to turn on neighbour. It brought joy, escapism and camaraderie. Sprinkled throughout the book were these insights into bibliophile's that I absolutely related to. I loved when I'd come across these in the book. For example, how book lovers will collect multiple copies of their most beloved books!

This book is so well written, the descriptions are so vivid I could imagine myself as Grace or Bea. It seems so well researched. I absolutely love how at the end of the book there are all these extras. Stories from the author's trip to the island, the real life stories of islanders, along with pictures, and even a recipe for a Jersey Bean Crock.

I have been so fortunate to have read some marvelous five star reads so far this year. I would definitely include this one amongst them. It was just a wonderful read from start to finish, even given the absolutely difficult topic.

Thank you to Forever for my advanced copy of this beautiful book! My opinions are my own.

The Wartime Book Club follows the stories of Grace La Mottée & Beatrice Gold, two best friends, as they struggle under occupation by German forces on the Isle of Jersey. Bea is a postal worker and Grace is a librarian. Each of these women face excruciatingly difficult situations that call for unimaginable choices to be made.

I did not know what to expect going into this book other than that it was set in an occupied territory during WWII. I half expected a light hearted read based on the idea of it revolving around a bookclub; I was incorrect in that assumption. This book was heartbreaking at times and detailed the sacrifices made my seemingly average civilians as they faced horrible situations. The strength of the citizens of Jersey was inspiring. I found myself holding my breath at times, waiting to find out what happened to certain characters and what their fates would be.

Thompson did a wonderful job of bringing the island and the characters to life. From her use of descriptive language to her distinct language used by each character, she was able to give each character encountered their own unique personality that is sometimes missed in books. I also appreciated the additional information she included in her author's notes following the conclusion of the novel. I will definitely be checking out her other work.

This is a historical fiction novel set on the island of Jersey during the occupation by Germany during WW II. The main characters are Grace and Bea - Grace is a librarian on the island and her best friend Bea, works for the post office. When the German officers start banning and confiscating books, Grace starts hiding the ones that she believes they may take next. The book provides a lot of detail of the hardships the residents endured during the occupation and while I did enjoy the book, to a certain extent I found that it went over storylines that other historical fiction books have already covered.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a review copy of this book.

This story was set on an island in Jersey patrolled by German soldiers, who imposed harsh rules for the residents. It’s the story of best friends Grace and Bea, who secretly team up and use their positions to fight the enemy. It was dangerous work, but they were determined not to let Germany win.

Grace creates a reading club at the library to provide the islanders, who no longer recognize their home or life, with a little bit of hope, fellowship, and refuge as the resistance battles on. I enjoyed how the story was told from Grace and Bea’s points of view and how every chapter was clearly marked. I liked how this author started each chapter with the title of a banned book and the reason it was banned. I loved reading about how bookstores and libraries secretly passed around banned books they loved so others could read them. How books gave people hope as their world became unrecognizable fascinated me.

This story will captivate you if you have an interest in books, libraries, book clubs, or anything else literary. I was intrigued by how the author immersed readers in the book-ban issue throughout the novel and how people and Germany realized the power of words.
Book Quotes: “People will need books now more than ever,” Books were like medicine for the soul, light in the darkness, a sliver of hope in their hopeless situation.”

It was exciting to read about this community and what happened to them after the war. As the novel came to an incredible finish, tears ran down my face, distorting the words on the page. This hard-edged, well-researched story involved characters you felt you knew, and saw ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It’s a brilliant, realistic, and captivating scenario; I couldn’t put the book down.
This is a wonderful novel for a book club pick. You don’t want to miss reading this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/