In the fourth instalment in the East End Library Girls series, Patricia McBride brings readers back to London and the horrors of World War II where Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane continue to face new challenges in their upkeep of the East End Library. Organizing rent strikes against unethical landlords and their practices, dealing with an influx of American GIs, and experiencing a brief respite from the air raids and constant destruction of the city, readers explore these new struggles and their improvements for their little wartime library in this fantastic continuation of this excellent historical fiction series. With three unique and highly capable protagonists who alter narrating chapters with their own struggles and chances at happiness, readers will enjoy seeing the location of the East End and the library develop over the course of the novel. The development that Mavis, Jane, and Cordelia go through in this novel is particularly interesting on the emotional and social levels, so there are some new stakes and changes ahead for the librarians and the readers. With the brilliant characters and their charming community and library, readers will love the latest book in this engaging World War II historical fiction series and the opportunities ahead of these relatable women.

As soon as I see that Patricia has written another book, I'm champing at the bit to read it and, in particular, this series about the East End Library Girls. Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are an inspiration to the community they live in, opening the library doors to young and old alike, as well as helping their fellow EastEnders in the best way they can.

It was fun to see the American GIs appear in the East End of London, helping out with repairs in the areas that have been affected by the bombing before they were deployed to fight, and of course all the local girls are flirting at every opportunity they get!

Some of the old characters make an appearance too, and I loved how Edith's future looks to be panning out, and it'll be interesting how the absent men are brought back into future books as they return from war.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride.

Patricia McBride’s A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls is a heartrending, touching and emotional saga perfect for Jean Fullerton and Donna Douglas fans.

With the war showing no signs of slowing down, the Library Girls find themselves determined to do everything they can for their beloved East End. Cordelia, Mavis and Jane have certainly got their hands full as they struggle to make a difference – even though the odds are stacked against them. Still, they refuse to let anyone or anything get between them and their goals and together they organise rent strikes where they stand up against unfair practices and unscrupulous landlords who force their tenants to live in squalor.

The Library Girls’ social conscience might be keeping them busy, but that doesn’t mean that they have no time for romance. With the American GIs arriving in England, heads are soon turned and Cordelia is definitely no exception. But will she turn her back on Robert for the sake of a quick fling with someone who will return to the other side of the world when the war is over?

The three women are determined to fight for what’s right. But will their efforts for a better tomorrow be enough? Or are they fighting a losing battle?

Saga fans will find plenty to enjoy in Patricia McBride’s A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls. Touching, uplifting and full of heart, this wonderful tale of courage, hope, drama and romance is full of characters readers cannot help but care about and root for.

An enjoyable saga that will bring a tear to the eye, Patricia McBride’s A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls will hold readers everywhere spellbound.

Another good instalment in this series.

Having previously read earlier novels in this series - although I suspect I may have missed one - I was keen to find out how things were progressing. Now at a stage where the Americans have joined the war, that is encompassed beautifully into the story as the war trundles on.

This is a lovely series for any book reader, to discover how libraries fared during conflict. A very enjoyable read and one I'm happy to give 4* and my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

Another great book about east end life and how the library helped educate and change peoples mind about education

This is a great book that gives you a hint to how people lived during the Second World War and with the added element of the American G.I whrn they entered the war

Love this series

The library girls are stepping up to help everyone in Silvertown who are living in terrible conditions due to greedy landlords not maintaining their properties. Mavis is the one behind the revolt.
Jane is having to find inner strength when dealing with her erstwhile mother in law and Cordelia is finding herself longing for the company of an American GI.
The library girls as usual showing grit and determination in the face of the war.
Can’t wait for the next visit to Silvertown to catch up with the girls.
Brilliant book, brilliant series.

The war is still raging on and the lovely librarians from Silvertown are trying to help everyone make the most of things. As well as suffering the blitz the locals are also struggling with poor upkeep of their homes and unscrupulous landlords who are not doing anything to help. Can the ladies help these people who are being exploited by their greedy landlords. Yet another great read in a fabulous series

A Better Tomorrow for The East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride is a WWII stay-at-home-in-England novel. Full of typical young English women with a variety of concerns. One of the community issues they embrace is the slumlords who are overcharging for apartments in the area and raising rents in defiance of the law. There are personal things, too. As always, a man is involved and creates a dilemma for Cordelia who is attracted to an American soldier. Should she be faithful to her man fighting abroad or should she explore this possible new relationship? There are all kinds of nuances in the story: racism, war and its deprivations, maturing young women, and Cordelia’s struggle with her being her father’s daughter.

It is a moving and entertaining story, well worth the read. Life was so different then, not to mention a different country, one much closer to the war. McBride does a good job outlining some of the issues these women face while trying to keep the library open and functioning.

I was invited to read A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #PatriciaMcBride #ABetterTomorrowForTheEastEndLibraryGirls

This is the 4th book in the series, I have just loved these books, the girls feel like old friends, great historical drama

Another great novel in this East End Library Girls series. I liked the introduction of Eugene to a point. Mavis showing how strong a character she is was fantastic. I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of saga novels.

The fourth in McBride's Library Girls series sees us back in London nearing the end of the war.

Our girls are back, their community spirit is still unwavered, and their resilience and strength shines bright.

'𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀'

Alongside their research into the time period, the imagery and a charming cast of likeable, realistic characters allowed the story to emerge from the pages.

A thoroughly enjoyable inclusion to the series that's both evocative and engaging.

If you enjoy a historical saga with strong female characters then this is the book for you.

It was lovely to reacquaint myself with the three main characters, Cordelia, Mavis and Jane. They all work at the Silvertown Library and are fantastic characters.

I have previously read and reviewed the first and second book in The Library Girls series; The Library Girls of the East End and Hard Times for the East End Library Girls. A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls is actually the fourth in the series.
Community spirit was a prominent thing at the time, and the library of Silvertown as described in the book is the hub of the community. The setting feels absolutely authentic, and the author does a great job in developing such believable scenarios.

The three women are very strong characters. Cordelia comes from a very contrasting and more affluent background to the other two, but she works alongside them in support of the hardships they face. Not only are their men away at war but in this book we see them stand up for the rights of the poor against illegal practices of the landlords. Many live in squalor and Mavis shows great courage in leading the community in a rent strike. She is an admirable character and extremely likable.

This is a heartfelt and compassionate book and it felt like catching up with old friends. I love this series and I highly recommend it.

This is book number 4 in the East End Library Girls series . This is a series that I’ve loved from reading the very first book and I’m always excited when a new addition is published. As like the previous books in the series I read this one in one sitting. It’s one of those reads that once you start it’s impossible to put down. Everything about this book was wonderful and as I caught back up with the characters of Cordelia, Jane and Mavis it felt like I was back among friends. In this book a lot of focus is on Mavis who is fighting for the rights of tenants who are being let down by unfair and greedy landlords. With the help of her two friends she is determined to get justice. As I progressed through this book I became more and more aware of how important a library is for the community of Silvertown and not just because of the books . It offers so much more than that to the community. As mentioned above this is the fourth book in the series and while it can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the previous books as they are all fabulous reads.

Saturday, December 7, 2024
A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls

Cordelia, Mavis and Jane were known as the Library Girls. But they were so much more than that. Each played such an important role in the community that they lived.

You will love each one of them. Cordelia or Lady Cordelia worked hard to make the library a place for all. Mavis fights for better housing for her friends and neighbors. Jane attempts to get along with her difficult mother in law.

How hard it must have been to live in those times. Loved ones off fighting in different countries. Sirens going off and having to rush off to the air raid shelters not knowing if your house will still be standing when you come out. Foods rationed and shortages everywhere. They did the best they could to survive.

Thank goodness the Library Girls had each other, the people in their community and the library.

This is the latest instalment of the Library Girls series and it was great to catch up with Cordelia, Mavis and Jane. I really like how they all get the same amount of attention in each book. This time round Mavis rallies the community when it becomes obvious that tenants are getting a raw deal when rent prices increase but no maintenance is being carried out on the properties. Cordelia meanwhile is struggling with temptation when an American GI shows an interest in her and Jane has family issues to contend with. All this is going on whilst the library continues to be open with plenty going on! The descriptions of the characters, areas and events makes it feel very real giving an insight into what life was like in the East End during the war. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley.

I absolutely love everything about this historical fiction series. My only complaint is that I love these books so much so I read them very quickly and then I have to wait for the next one. The life of a reader, right?

This entry, like the others in the series, does an excellent job of focusing not just on the individual stories and lives of each of the main characters, but also including a main story line that involves everyone. Here Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane are determined to do something about the awful living conditions residents of the East End face due to the unscrupulous behavior of greedy landlords. I love that the library is a true center for the community and is about books and more! Each librarian is also dealing with their own issues and Patricia weaves all these stories together seamlessly. I was fascinated and captivated by all the stories.

I adore Cordelia, Mavis and Jane and all the side characters we meet. Each woman is strong in their own way and the way they work together for the betterment of the community demonstrates their great care and even bigger hearts. I love that these women see just how BIG of an impact that library can have, and they aren’t afraid to try bold new things.

The East End of London during WWII is a setting I didn’t know much about until I started reading this series. And I am once again amazed by all that this community dealt with during this time and the great pride they have. They take care of one another and work together. Patricia’s vivid, detailed writing brings this area to life on the page. I truly feel like I’ve visited with Mavis in her house or the library after I have finished reading.

Fans of character driven, page-turning historical fiction shouldn’t wait to read this series. They are also excellent as audiobooks. Five stars.

A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls is the fourth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Having read the other books in the series, I can safely say that if you haven't, you should because they are wonderful stories. The sense of community always leaves me with a warm feeling inside! I wish communities could be like that today but without having to be at war or in a pandemic to make it happen.

Amongst other things, in this book, the author highlights the dubious landlords that took advantage of the war-torn East End. Tenants suffered high rents but atrocious conditions in their homes. The Librarians decide that something must be done, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading what they did.

Of course, the book also has some romance, and we are introduced to a new character, an American GI who tempts one of the librarians to stray.

What I particularly like about this book, and the series, is that I find myself immersed in the lives of the characters. They are like old friends and I am sad when a book finishes and I have to wait to find out what happens next for them. This book in particular has an ending I didn't see coming and I am desperate to find out what happens next. I hope that the author writes quickly because talk about an exciting ending!

This story gives a real sense of a community working together to improve their lives. Set around 1942, amid the bombing of the East End, the story focuses on those that work in the library and how they try to improve the lives of the people living around them. The reader also discovers more about the women who work in the library, in particular, Mavis but also Jane and Cordelia. Mavis is concerned about the illegal rise in rent and the lack of repairs by the landlords. Jane has a domestic problem and Cordelia is questioning her love life. This was an enjoyable read and is part of a series, although It can be read as a stand-alone. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of the Library Girls series, which takes place during WWII. I've enjoyed all the previous books in this series, so I was looking forward to this.

I was pleased to return to this series and read about these characters again. There were also some new characters that I warmed to, such as Eugene.

As I was reading, I thought about the importance of a library as a community. It is a place that can bring people together through a shared love of reading, and I think that belonging to a community is important, as it can offer support and comfort to those who need it. This book wasn't just about the library, it was about making a difference.

The author presents the characters in a way that makes them likeable and relatable, and these books are always easily readable. I finished this in a couple of hours, and it left me in the mood for another similar type of book. As I've enjoyed all of this series, I may look into reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Another fantastic addition to the series - great to meet up with Cordelia, Mavis and Jane again and other old friends we have me in previous books in the series.
I have to admit to wondering what Cordelia thought she was doing getting friendly with Eugene though.

Mavis finds her fighting spirit and decides to tackle the landlords who keep slum properties and not maintain them but insist on rising rents - sadly Cordelia finds that her own father is one of these landlords.

And Jane has her own battles with her mother-in-law.

Once again the book is well written and well researched and a pleasure to read. Hoping there will be another instalment