The Little Wartime Library: A gripping, heart-wrenching WW2 page-turner based on real events Paperback – 1 Sept. 2022

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's full of hope, love, and gritty women who survived deprivation and bombs but never gave up..

Just finished the little wartime library, I found tears streaming down my face especially towards the end, a book that’s very hard to put down. Loved it

There really was a library a bit like this one though Kate Thompson has made it bigger and more like a normal, overground library. She offers us many insights into what it must have been like for families sheltering in the tube station. At times her characters are a little too rational and a little too philosophical to be 100% convincing. Nevertheless this is a good read. Each chapter is headed by a quote from a librarian and what they say is reflected in the chapter. This makes the story even more interesting.

Excellent story

Have always been a bit put off by the covers on these books about war girls but thought I would try this. It was an excellent read. Fascinating to hear about real history and how the ordinary people coped. Such a sad story at times but human resilience and love shone through. Angry about attitudes to women. Shows the importance of studying history and trying to learn lessons from it. I will now read more of this authors work.

I really enjoyed this heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking story about the underground library at Bethnal Green. Peopled by a host of lovely characters including Clara, Ruby, Billy and Sparrow, the novel shows how, in the worst of times, people stuck together and cared for each other. Based on a true story the library provided people with a way to escape the day to day hardships and terror and is a testament to what books and reading can offer. I was surprised that the idea of women reading books was discouraged “in case it gave them ideas” and the comment of one character that if all women wanted to read was “trash” (romance and mystery novels) it would be better to dissuade them from reading at all was truly shocking and arrogant. I liked the quotations from librarians at the start of each chapter and as a lifelong enthusiastic reader of all types of book I am grateful to everyone who worked hard to ensure that public libraries continue to flourish for anyone wishing to use them. The backdrop of the last two years of the war was well portrayed, especially when the V2 bombs fell indiscriminately as people were going about their daily lives with tragic results for some of the characters. Highly recommended.

Loved this book . Didn't know it was Bethnal green based when purchased . I previously lived in Hackney . Was wonderful. I knew about the terrible loss of life at the tube station. But this book really bought it to life.Also loved the Jersey connection , my nephew and family live there now in at at helier , so really bought dry facts home thank you great read

Lovely book. Very interesting and the characters were beautifully written.

This was a wonderful book full of wonderful characters and awful villains. It is a heartwarming story with tears and laughter.

I received exceptional service for getting this product. I wanted this book because I've heard it is a good story. Thank you Amazon!

Fantastic read - recommended for others to dive right in.

As an avid reader and supporter of libraries, I loved reading about characters willing to move mountains to encourage the magic of literacy. The romances interspersed throughout kept it fun and light, while the dark historical aspect kept it grounded. Overall, I enjoyed this book but felt that the second half lagged compared to the first.

Una historia sobre la resistencia de las mujeres y el poder de los libros durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial en Londres.No era fácil ser mujer en los años 40 y menos aún en tiempos de guerra. Pero Ruby y Clara sobreviven y su biblioteca del metro también.