There have been some wonderful books written on the military occupation of the Channel Islands s by Nazi Germany, but this one stands tall against the many in this genre.

Kate Thompson’s vivid descriptions of St. Helier, the capital of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands is breathtaking. I longed to walk the cobbled streets and breathe in the salty air rising from the bay. This picturesque landscape under occupying forces provided the juxtaposition Thompson relied on to tap into readers’ emotions.

Thompson also crafted endearing characters. Grace and Bea held a special spot in my heart for the duration of this absorbing read. Bea Rose is the postwoman and her best friend, Grace Le Motte, is the island’s librarian. Thompson examines not only the bravery and tenacity of these women but brings to light the island mentality of ‘united we stand’ in contributing to the mindset of the islanders. Readers truly get a sense of location and how it plays out in (1) her character’s courage to defy, (2) their resilience in surviving the occupation and (3) the ill feelings that distrust caused by not being able to trust neighbours.

I choked back tears as the library was closed and the islanders were evacuated, and was exasperated as they feverishly worked to hide the banned books to protect them from the Nazis. The manner in which the author introduces her readers to these banned books is unique and a great addition to the story. I appreciated that this novel was stuffed with bookish goodness from cover to cover. There are many novels that are deceivingly ‘bookish’ and disappointment sets in when the ‘bookish’ elements are surface elements and take up very little of the plot. Not here.

The balance of location, to characters, to desperation and to hope was well-developed and kept me turning pages. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end!

I was gifted this copy by Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

3.5 stars rounded up

Set in the Isle of Jersey in the early 1940s, German forces have come to occupy the island. Best friends Grace (librarian) and Bea (postal worker) both use their positions to fight back in secret. The Wartime Book Club is started at Grace’s library to offer escapism and a small sliver of hope to the islanders who no longer recognize their homeland or lives. The longer the war wages on, the riskier the resistance becomes from Grace and Bea. Told in alternating POV, The Wartime Book Club tells a tale of hope, despair, love, and bravery.

I enjoyed seeing the story from both perspectives. Grace and Bea’s friendship felt realistic, as they had a deep love for one another and a sisterly connection, but still held secrets of their own. The author wasn’t afraid to show the more devastating impacts of war, and I appreciated that not everything was wrapped up in a neat little bow. This seems like a good choice for an actual book club, as the subject matter can foster a lot of discussion.

One of my favorite parts was the addition of a Banned Book listed and explained at the beginning of each chapter. I was able to add some to my TBR (not that I needed help there). It also gave an interesting perspective on the *quite ridiculous* reasons for why the books were banned. In an appendix, the author also takes time to explain places, interviews, ideas, books, etc. that she researched while writing The Wartime Book Club. It honestly makes me want to visit Jersey, an island I had barely heard of before reading. Believe me, my travel list doesn’t need help either!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the eARC.

“The Wartime Book Club” is a WWII historical fiction book by Kate Thompson. This book, unlike most WWII books, takes place on the island of Jersey. This book is about the friendship of two women - Bea and Grace, who are in their 20s when the book starts. This book centers around not only their friendship, but also their jobs - Bea is a postal delivery person and Grace is a librarian. Bea is determined to undermine the Nazis on the island, and does so through her mail delivery, and Grace doesn’t want to do anything overt likes Bea, but finds herself being drawn into the island underground network in different ways. However, this book is also uplifting - the book club that is formed brings together people from the community and they help each other out as best they can through the island’s hardships. Do read the Author’s Notes for more information about Jersey during WWII, they were rather interesting and informative.

The story of Bea and Grace, two close friends in their early twenties, living on the occupied Isle of Jersey during World War II was a very interesting book. This story centers around Grace’s job as the head librarian and Bea’s job as a postal worker and how they motivated , kept moral going, and “ helped” their fellow citizens during the occupation. I enjoyed the fact that this book had a lot going for it, historical fiction is a favorite of mine, I also enjoyed the friendship between Bea and Grace, I enjoyed the other characters introduced in the book , I can’t say anything bad about the character interaction and development. This book at times was joyful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and so full of the courage and tenacity of the people living through such horrific conditions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction especially from the World War II era.

This book was beautiful and sad and happy and heartbreaking and made me feel all the things! If you want a wonderful WW2 book, I highly recommend!

I fell in love with the characters of Bea and Grace from page one. I have always been a fan of historical fiction and when I read the description I knew I had to give “The Wartime Book Club” and chance. The book is filled with heartbreak and pain, but you see the power of hope and love as well. I could not stop reading as I was desperate to learn what was going to happen next. I am most definitely recommending this book to my book club and family members when it releases. This this a book that needs to be on every bookshelf.