Welcome to Litsy!

This is based loosely on a real life Underground Library established in Bethnal Green station,& all the community building activities /events that occurred there.The “found family” group of women the novel follows over the course of a year (1939-1940), are transformed by the challenges of the bombing during the Blitz,sustaining the library underground,reading aloud as a community bookclub,& as a consequence,creating an ever expanding community.

#publiclibraries #librarybook

Three resilient young women are brought together by a London library and their shared love of reading. When the library is damaged by bombs they help set up a small library in an Underground station working for their neighbors as they deal with their own issues. It has its melodramatic moments but overall balances strife, pluckiness, friendship, and a dash of romance to tell a charming story about the power of books and community.

My #july pick for #12booksof2024. Was really surprised that this #ww2 novel was as enjoyable as it was, as I have not enjoyed #ww2 books as much in the last few years, as I have felt that there are way too many books on this topic (suppose that‘s what happens when you open up the records).

Ebook on sale!

4.5⭐️ I can‘t remember where I first heard about this book but I am so glad that I did. I haven‘t read this author before, but it probably won‘t be the last, as I really enjoyed the story. I found the tempo to be quite quick and even though there were three different characters, the storylines were never really compromised by switching pov‘s. #2024 #fiction #historicalfiction #wwii #londonblitz

#COVERLOVE
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks
@LitsyEvents
#LitsyEvents

Today‘s Prompt: BROWN

BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS - HISTORICAL FICTION

Based on a real library and a true event.

THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY is another lovely, heartwarming read by Ms. Ryan as we follow three women and see that books are the saving grace for many during these dark times of WWII. 5/5

LOVED this book!! Be sure to add it to your TBR.

https://tinyurl.com/2s38jh7u

I know a lot of people are sick of WWII fiction but I still absolutely love it! This is a great installment, with lovely, realistic characters thrown into heartbreaking situations. It was a great audiobook with a lovely narrator and I just ate it up! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This one shares some things with Ms Ryan‘s other books: a group of women having to be resourceful against the backdrop of WW2. In this case, when part of the library is destroyed after bombing by Nazis, they take the surviving shelves and books underground and set up there. The characters are plucky and likable, and they find an inner strength while dealing with awful circumstances. My favorite is still The Kitchen Front, but I loved this one too.

I‘m trying so hard to meander thru this book to drag it out, but it‘s so hard! I ADORE this author‘s books and am always so impatient while waiting for each of her new books to come out. Her stories tend to feature women being resourceful during WWII, when things were being rationed or banned, but she is always able to write such humor, light, and levity into the stories so they don‘t feel heavy at all. Really loving this so far #currentlyreading

The Underground Library

I can't believe this is my first book by this author. It was excellent. Very well written and researched. Based on a true story. One that I had no idea existed. To move a library underground was such a great thing to do. It helped people who did not have access to it before. And there is the fact that it was bombed and needed to be moved....
One of the best I've read this year.

Full review: https://tinyurl.com/3rprht3j

Fine but not as good as Ryan's other books. All the conflicts felt too easily resolved, and the characters did a lot of Talking the Talk about Grand Ideas but not a lot of simply walking the walk. Telling and not showing is such a letdown. #historicalfiction

I really enjoyed this. Focusing on three young women in London during the Blitz, the author weaves a heartwarming story around real events. Impeccably researched and with compelling characters, I flew through this. Definitely recommend.

Another day, another of hubby‘s medical appointments, and another book. I am really looking forward to this one; I‘ve heard so many good things about it. Also happy that hubby‘s pain level has-finally-decreased. Not gone, but a step in the right direction.

Themes: WWII Historical Fiction, Libraries & Book Lovers, Women Coming Together

I really liked Jennifer Ryan‘s newest book. It wasn‘t my favorite by her (“The Kitchen Front” holds that honor still), but still definitely worth reading, and don‘t worry, the whale meat makes another appearance here 😂🐳🥧 A definite pick if the themes above strike your fancy 👍

A wonderful novel by Jennifer Ryan.A story about the blitz about the importance of a library about books especially during tense times.Highly recommend.

BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS - HISTORICAL FICTION

Based on a real library and a true event.

THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY is another lovely, heartwarming read by Ms. Ryan as we follow three women and see that books are the saving grace for many during these dark times of WWII. 5/5

LOVED this book!! Be sure to add it to your TBR.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/2s38jh7u

PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 12, 2024

@jennifer_ryan_author
@penguinrandomhouse

Oh, I enjoyed Ryan‘s latest! Set during the Blitz, the Bethnal Green Library goes Underground & brings the community closer together. Juliet, striving for her own independence from her strict parents takes a position with the library. Volunteer Katie loves her work but must also come to terms with her family; Jewish refugee Sofie finds friendship & solace within the library. Predictable but in the best of ways, I enjoyed this from start to finish!

FULL REVIEW 3/13.

Based on a real library and a true event.

London is being bombed, and we meet three women with troubles of their own who want to save the library and its beloved books.

They save the books and the people of the town by moving the books to the Underground after the library is bombed.

The book also focused more on the library and its importance to keep up morale and friendships instead of the war. 5/5

@penguinrandomhouse

I enjoyed this interesting tale based on true events during the London Blitz of WW2.
Told from several womens' perspectives, the book centers around the Bethnal Green Library and its importance to morale and kinship during a bleak and frightening time for Londoners.
The women were diverse in their backgrounds and their current circumstances, and I found that engaging and entertaining and the sense of sisterhood and support was heartwarming 🔻

This has a lovely cast of characters and I was drawn into their stories. A library is bombed and sets up in the London Underground where people are sheltering during air raids. But that's almost incidental to the story.

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Pub date is 3/12/24
#ARC #Netgalley