The previous year, on 7 September, 1940, a bomb had crashed through the roof of Bethnal Green Central Library. Set in London, Clara has created Britain's only underground library, built over the tracks of the disused Bethnal Green tube station. You’ll be in awe of the sense of community the author creates and come to love many of the library patrons. While war ravages the city above her, Clara has risked everything she holds dear to turn the Bethnal Green tube station into the country’s only underground library.

It’s about ordinary people getting on with the business of living, in spite of such unforgiving odds. This unusual set up in wartime conditions becomes a community hub, where people can connect and escape from the trials of everyday life. And we see how books such as The Wind in the Willows, Rebecca, Treasure Island, and Gone with the Wind gave vital respite from the deadly blitz and the resulting tragic deaths; from grief over loved ones lost on the battlefield; from domestic violence, sexual assaults, and other crimes that ensued as before. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country’s only underground library, built over the tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Today it reverberates with the drone of Central Line tube trains but 80 years ago it was the magical sound of children’s laughter and the satisfying thunk-thunk of a librarian’s stamp which echoed up the tunnels.While I enjoyed the story of Clara and Ruby -- our little library protectors and guardians, I must say that the notes at the end of the book really elevated the experience for me. Great book and I learned a great deal, especially about the tragedy that happened at Bethnal Green in 1943. I was totally absorbed in this book- showing the power books have , allowing people to escape nightmare situations creating a magical oasis.

I had never heard of the underground library or the wonderful underground community that existed in Bethnal Green during the war. I have to admit that my admiration for those people who had to endure the conditions prevalent at the time has only grown after reading this book. Six people are pulled dead from the scorched wreckage, eviscerated by Hitler’s first ‘revenge weapon’. Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hodder for my copy of this book. The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is a wonderful WWII-era historical fiction saga that is based on true events and is so gripping and unique, that I can guarantee nothing else will keep your attention while you are immersed into this book.Contrary to popular belief, during the Second World War, not all shelterers slept in an amorphous huddle on a dirty Underground platform. Although both women find themselves with male admirers it’s far from plain sailing with turmoil aplenty along the way, and not just in their love lives. What works so well is that there is no guarantee of a happy ending for anyone, creating moments of deep emotion. Drawn from real life events, The Little Wartime Library is an engrossing title that will rouse all Second World War fiction fans.

Ably assisted by her best friend, irrepressible Ruby, both set aside their own heartache to keep the community library seventy-eight feet underground operating whilst the bombing continues. Rescuers’ hair turned grey overnight, whole families were torn apart – Patsy lost five members of her family on her father’s side. I read this book in two days as I just couldn’t put it down as I has to find out what was happening next.

This historical fiction set in London’s east end during WW 2 resonates with stories of family, community, friendship, loss, love, grief, the absolute treasures librarians are, and the value of public libraries. I loved getting to know the people who live in this underground world, I cried with them and cheered them one, anyone who loves reading and loves a library must read this story, it truly shows what a library means to so many people. Amongst the plethora of WW2 stories, The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson is a shining beacon of factual truth, authenticity and beautifully written fiction. While the book is filled with a lot of heart-wrenching moments, it left me feeling so much love for the characters and story.

I received a copy of The Little Wartime Library in exchange for an honest review, Kate Thompson’s book is outstanding, and five big stars from me. Based on the real history of the Bethnal Green Library, Thompson’s book reveals that although COVID and The Blitz are both very different, the effect on reading has been the same. The entire idea behind this novel – not just highlighting the remarkable library but the community at large, the war effort, the community spirit, the resilience, the love of books and so much more = is just brilliant. Treasure Island, The Secret Garden and many other classics, including Enid Blyton, nourished young minds and helped children to escape the nightmares above. The library played such a big part in their lives and all the emotions that came through the book so well and so vividly in the story made me laugh and cry.At the time Bethnal Green Underground was a half-completed station which had been locked up and left to the rats when war broke out in 1939. Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is an inspiring and heart-wrenching story of life on the homefront, and of the strength of courage required to fight for what you believe in. They start a travelling library for the factory workers who can’t get to the library they also have pamphlets on different issues for woman in desperate need. I also really liked the character of Ruby, a fun, bubbly person who in many ways while appearing light hearted and trying to live in the moment was the real backbone of the whole story.