This story took me back in time to the occupation of the Island of Jersey. For years during WW2, those that remained on the island were under Nazi rule. For years they were brutalized, starved and controlled. This story allowed me to get a glimpse of what it must have been like for the residents.

Drama and fear fill the pages. Grace remains on the island as the librarian. With each passing day, more and more come to the library searching for an escape. She pedals her bike around the island delivering to those that can't get to the library. She becomes a pillar of the community. She becomes a lifeline. She creates a book club within the library under the guidelines of the occupying forces. The importance of the book club is shown through out the story. It became their lifeline.

I was shocked to see what Grace got up too, sometimes influenced by her best friend, Bea. Grace had a hard time saying no to her. Grace had a hard time doing nothing. Reading about small acts against the Nazis were a great way to lift my heart broken as I read about their living conditions. I experienced so many emotions.

It is Grace's greatest sacrifice that had me bawling. What a role model!!!! I knew that the occupation would end. I did not know how difficult it would be for the people to survive. I did not think they would have to fear their neighbors. The need to survive makes people do the unexpected.

I found myself trying to rush through searching for glimpses of happiness. I found myself searching for silence in order to work through the horrors. My heart breaks not only for the characters that lost so much, but for all of those that went through the war. I now understand my mother's love for her own town's library during the war. Like the residents of Jersey, she did everything possible to find an escape in a book.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear." - Kate Thompson

I think this line sums up this entire novel and what the true heroes did during WWII to help others. This novel is so good and has so much depth and history in its pages. I just loved the two characters, Grace and Bea, they were such opposites but the best of friends and both had a different story to tell for their part in the war. Grace is the Isle of Jersey's librarian and does everything in her power to bring the comfort of books and other worlds to those who are most in need, meanwhile doing all she can to keep the Nazi's from taking all that they have built up. This means putting her life on the line everyday to keep forbidden books from being found. Meanwhile, outgoing Bea has asked a huge favor of Grace, one that she cannot say no too, but it puts her even more at risk than what she already is. But during war, there are no easy choices and it is about survival to the next day and the day after that, while also trying to save others. This book has so much emotion and I literally read it from cover to cover and devoured every single word. I loved that the author added all the additional information about these true people after the story. This will be another one of my favorite historical WWII novels. Thank you to the author and Forever Publishing for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

This was a rough read, but a good read.
There is lots of heartbreaking loss, but there is so much good also going on. I really liked the book club, as it brings a light to so many during this time.
The characters are really well developed and I enjoyed going on this journey with them.

A great book for book clubs.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This was my first book by Kate Thompson. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a great historical fiction book about the Nazi occupation on the Isle of Jersey. The characters were very relatable and I loved the book club and the friendships that were made through it! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book!

Despite being set during WWII I actually found this book quite cozy. And I think it was the book club in it that did it. Not to mention that it reminded me a bit of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. So if readers are looking for similar books to either one they book have book clubs and are set on island one being Guernsey and the other being Jersey.

The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson is a story about the Nazi occupation of the island of Jersey during World War II. It's heartbreaking to see how Islanders turned against each other when times got tough, and they were extremely tough for the civilians on the island. Grace works in the library and her best friend, Bea, works for the postal system. Each girl is working to make things harder on the Nazis, but without their friend knowing it. The privations they went through were very sad and I feel this occupation is talked about and written about less often than say France or Poland. It is written from both points of view and I found myself not being able to put the book down as I wanted to see what would happen to each of them next. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved Thompson’s last book (The Little Wartime Library) and her sharp, witty writing about WWII. Just when you think you’ve read all you can about this war, she uncovers a new side of the war experience. This book is set on the Channel Island of Jersey and details the horrific experiences of its citizens during the five years of Nazi occupation. From the food shortages to the constant threat of informers, it’s a wonder that anyone survived this terrible time.

I fell in love with Thompson’s characters from the brash Bea to the bookish Grace. She does a fantastic job at making all of the islanders real and relatable, and it makes me wonder how I would have fared under such brutal conditions. I especially loved the bookish references, and it exposes how the Nazis were threatened by words of freedom.

As with her last book, my heart was in my throat several times, and she does an amazing job at propelling the story forward with surprises around every corner. If you’re looking for a grittier take on the Channel Islands wartime experience after reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book, this one's for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

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

This is a great book. I enjoyed it from the very first page!

I love, love, loved The Little Wartime Book Club, so when I saw The Wartime Book Club was available to request I knew I had to request it.

A great historical fiction about WW2 and the Isle of Jersey. I absolutely loved Grace and Bea’s friendship.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc.

"The Wartime Book Club" is a gem of historical fiction with fantastic storytelling and vivid characters. Kate Thompson tells a story in which literature becomes a beacon of hope amidst chaos and uncertainty.

Through a book club formed during World War II, we read how books can heal, unite, and inspire even in the darkest times. As a bibliophile, I found myself nodding in agreement with the characters' discussions about the profound impact of literature on their lives.

"The Wartime Book Club" is a poignant reminder of the enduring power of friendship, love, and the written word. It's a book that will stay with me.

Thank you, Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for an advanced copy.

A must-read historical fiction book that will take you back to the five-year occupation of Nazi Germans in Jersey, part of the Channel Islands, during World War II. This book is a true masterpiece that combines true events and fiction to tell an inspiring story of how the power of books, the library, and a book club brought hope to the islanders, even during the most difficult times.

The story is narrated from the perspective of two friends, Grace Le Motte and Bea Rose, who brought the fight against the Nazis to life. Their silent fight is a testament to the power of determination and perseverance. Despite heartbreaking sacrifices and pain, Grace and Bea's acts of bravery become more important than ever before, inspiring the reader.

Kate Thompson's writing style is descriptive and compelling, making the book a page-turner that you won't be able to put down. The author's research from the island of Jersey at the end of the book gives the story an authentic touch, making it an even more special read.

If you love historical fiction, romance, and determination, this is a book you don't want to miss. It is perfect for anyone looking for a thought-provoking book that will take them on an emotional journey.

I highly recommend this book to all readers, and I'm grateful to @NetGalley @readforeverpub and the author for providing me with the gifted e-book.

3.75 stars

A great read for historical fiction fans. This is the based-on-real-events story of the occupation of the Channel Islands between the UK and France by the Nazis in World War Two.

Despite the grim realities, hope and spirit shine through the hard times. Most of Jersey's residents had been evacuated, but those who remain were subject to arrest, beatings, and jail for the mildest infractions. Toward the end of the war both the residents and the Nazis were near starvation.

The story is told featuring two friends, Grace, the local librarian, and Bea, who works for the post office. It's a story of a populace just trying to survive, waging small secret battles of resistance. Bea holds back letters informing the Nazis of locals defying the authorities. This ranges from secretly listening to the wireless to hiding prisoners and Allies, all acts of courage in those times. And Grace alerts residents when they have come under scrutiny and delivers censored books to islanders.

The human cost of war is really the theme here, and it is presented in these well-drawn characters and their stories. The author has a section at the end telling about some of the actual people the cast is based on as well as some history of the area in that time. A moving and poignant read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was another heart-reaching book, inspired by true events, set in WW2. It was reminiscent of “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” It focuses on the inhabitants of the Isle of Jersey during the Nazi occupation. The two best friends Grace, a librarian, and Bea, a postal worker, do everting they can to help the people of the island. Grace starts a book club to help the people get their mind of the hardship they are going through. Grace and Bea were such strong and brave women, even after everything they went through.
Besides Grace and Bea, I also loved Red and Peter, their stories were excellent.
This book is well worth a read, especially if you are interested in the historical aspect, but also love reading books about libraries. It was well written and researched. I appreciated the book club discussion questions in the back of the book. This makes it a great book to use to book clubs.

During the Nazi Occupation of the Isle of Jersey, best friends Grace and Bea do all they can to help those in the island community of St. Helier who are desperate to escape the everyday hardships of the war. Bea is full of spunk while Grace is more reserved but together they show the true spirit of community and friendship with each small act of bravery and resistance. The book club at the center of the story brought much-needed happiness to the people of Jersey. The Wartime Book Club is a must-read based on true and well-researched events. Thanks to author Kate Thompson, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

An EXCELLENT WWII historical fiction novel that takes place on the Isle of Jersey during their five years of Nazi occupation. It's no surprise that I loved a book about a librarian hiding banned books and helping her community survive incredibly harrowing times through the joys of reading. This was also a book about found family, friendship, love, loss, strength in the face of great deprivation and sooo much more.

I really liked how each chapter started with a banned book and the incredible author's note and extra bonus content included at the end. Great on audio with a fun reference to the author's last book, The little wartime library. Highly recommended for fans of The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

“The past never fades, only festers. Unshared stories tend to build up and then burst like a dam” -Kate Thompson

This book is one of those dams that burst open life inside the occupied areas. The hardships, the perseverance, tenacity, and sheer will to survive can all be found in this book. I was enthralled with it from the beginning and the characters became like real life friends.

This is a book for anyone who wants to remember the trials of WWII and wants to keep those memories alive so that we continue to learn from them.

Definitely worth a spot on my bookshelf!

When the Nazis come to occupy the Channel Islands in WWII, best friends Grace and Bea try to adjust. When their world starts to completely change, they start small acts of resistance and try to survive. With their jobs in the post office and the library they are help to help many islanders, but often putting themselves at risk. Inspired by true people and events, this story is full of hope and friendship.

This book was wonderful!!! I honestly felt like I was a part of the community. This book showed me again, the spirit of the people of the Channel Islands during the war.

I loved this one about a little known part of history. The story gives you Potato peel pie society vibes . It is well researched and plotted and filled with good history tidbits

What a history lesson. While the book story itself is a good read, the history lesson afterwards is chock full of actual people and events. The Channel Islands were invaded by the Germans during WW2. Their occupation was cruel and harsh. However, some of the islanders found ways to resist. That story is remarkable. If you enjoy reading about WW2, this is a good book for you!