The Library Girls of the East End

Library Girls #1

by Patricia McBride

The first instalment in a BRAND NEW series from bestselling author Patricia McBride 1940, London

When Cordelia accepts the post of head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disapproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it’s no place for a woman of her status.

But Cordelia is determined to make a difference in these times of strife, and along with her colleagues, Jane and Mavis, she begins to help the local community, making sure everyone knows what the library can offer them.

And maybe even a romance will blossom, giving Cordelia the strength to make it through the chaos and destruction that constantly threatens their livelihood.

Against a background of war, air raids and rationing, it becomes clear the library is more than a building filled with books - it is the beating heart of a community refusing to be torn apart.

'a brilliant read - the sort of book you can immerse yourself in completely ... You couldn’t read the story without it reaching your heart, or without wanting to know what will become of these women' Fran Smith, author of The Painted Penny Stamp

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, World War II, British Literature, Historical, Womens Fiction

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2023

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in a new series and a good read. There are a mix of characters from all walks of life but it is set in a part of London where poverty is endemic and which was badly hit during the war. Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are the three main characters and completely different from each other. Mavis is my favourite of the three, a tough woman who has her secrets but lets no one walk on her. She stands up for her friends and is a stalwart in the library and to Cordelia who manages the place.
There is a lot going on during the story, not all of it pretty and it doesn't shy away from any of life's unsavoury happenings. At times parts of it seemed rushed and some of the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out.
However, I'm looking forward to seeing how the girls get on going forward.

Thanks to Boldwood Book and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library Girls of the East End is the first book in the Library Girls series. I read the second book before this one and I recommend that you read them in order. There were things in this book that were spoiled because I already knew the outcome. Lady Cordelia Carmichael wants to make a difference so she applies and get the job as head librarian at the Silver Town Library in East End London. She shares the family flat with her brother, Jasper. She has a staff of two, Mavis, a single mother, and Jane, a married woman, whose husband is away serving in the military. They are a great team, and although it takes to the end of the book to become real friends, they worked well together. With a quirky and eccentric group of library patrons, these three do what they can to keep the library open and operating for all the people in the neighbourhood who need it. There is even a handsome doctor, Robert Fernsby, who operates a general practice for those in poverty and can't afford doctors or trips to the hospital. As the war progresses, the Blitz hits London and more and more children were being sent to live in the country. I enjoyed seeing the women become closer to one another and feel comfortable sharing secrets and asking for each other's support. The story seemed very realistic to me, as I could see the friendships develop, the community move into the library and even Jane's decision of whether or not to send her daughter to live elsewhere. There is some romance in the story, but that is secondary to the story of surviving the blitz and waiting at home for news of loved ones and the war. An enjoyable listen for me. The narration by Julie Maisey was well done. She gave each of the women their own voice using accents, tone and expression. I recommend this book in whatever format you prefer.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a good read set in the East End during the second World War. The story was good and had a little romance thrown in for good measure. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver town library east end London 1940, and Cordelia Carmichael becomes the new head librarian sharing a flat with her brother Jasper, she meets her new employees Jane and Mavis and lots of customers, floppy Flossie and angry Bert among others that are a group of characters that rely on the library daily. First day she meets the handsome gorgeous doctor Robert Fernsby who's looking for a room to use as GP for the poverty in the east end, WW2 has started and many times the sirens go off sometimes a false alarm but they had to close and run to the underground stations in the area how long is this all going to go on for?
Cordelia gets close to Mavis and Jane who are as different as night and day and they form a bond working together and their private lives out of work, she is welcomed in the community as they are known as the east end library girls.
This book is such a delight to read, and the ending makes me feel we will be reading more on this story as it becomes a series with a whole new more characters added in, I do hope so. I loved it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't dismiss this one thinking that it's just a light, feel-good read because it is so much more than that. Serious issues are threaded throughout the story that are totally relevant today. Like what you ask? Child abuse, rape, unplanned pregnancy & its consequences, gender inequality, and health issues that result from poverty are all here. On the lighter side, we see the incredible sense of community in the East End and how they watch out for each other. Because of the war, women of all classes are doing jobs that would have been unthinkable before and are enjoying working outside the home.

This novel is rich in characters, some you'll wish you knew personally, others that are simply horrible. I thought that posh Cordelia would be the heroine, but for me, it was definitely Mavis. Everyone needs a Mavis in their life...at work, as a neighbor, or as a best friend. Best of all, this novel is a celebration of books, libraries, and the comfort they provide, especially in troubling times. I can't think of a better message right now. I look forward to the next book in the series. I hope I don't have long to wait.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a brand new series and what a wonderful read it was . Cordelia has just accepted a job as head librarian at a library in the East End of London, much to the dismay of her rather snooty mother . Surely people like Cordelia shouldn’t be lowering themselves to work in the East End amongst all the poverty stricken people . However Cordelia sticks to her guns and takes up the post . Her two library assistants Mavis and Jane are eager to meet their new boss and between the three of them they thrive to make this east end library a place for the east end people to visit and make use of. The library helps to take people’s minds off the ongoing war and it’s a place they can come not just to read but to be amongst people and share their fears and troubles . This truly was a wonderful read and right from the very first chapter I was completely hooked . I loved the 3 main characters, Cordelia, Mavis & Jane. The three of them were as different as chalk and cheese but they soon developed a deep friendship. It’s an easy read but one that makes you realise how important places like libraries are especially back during war times . As the story progresses we learn more about the backgrounds of the three library girls and life hasn’t been easy for them all . I was quite sad to reach the final chapter as I was enjoying this book so much but I’m looking forward to reading book two in the near future . ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming and wholesome wartime story, you’ll be left in awe with the strength of the East End community and the town of Silvertown as they navigate such hard and perilous times.

Bombs are dropping on London, family members are off to war and our three girls all have their own dramas to be getting on with. Coming to know these three was a joy and I loved all of these bright, loud and happy characters doing their bit to stay above it all and ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Cordelia, who coming from a very well to do background, has a lot to adjust to taking up a post as head librarian at a library in the East end. Jane and Mavis both work at the library and worry a snooty posh toff has come to take over but instead they find friendship and understanding from an unexpected place. Family dramas, romances and deep friendships follow and you’ll be flicking through the pages faster than anything.

It was so easy to read and super entertaining, the wartime vibes spot on and characters you can very easily get to know and love. Hearing that this book is the first in a series is getting me all kinds of excited because I can’t wait to read more and see how the town fairs in love and war!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Sams_Fireside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good old-fashioned story, particularly if it’s set around the Second World War. The Library Girls of the East End was no exception. It’s full of (mostly) wonderful characters, from all walks of life, ranging from the very posh and well-off to the cockney people from the depths of the East End. You know the ones I mean, the people who have to work for a living, who don’t have any airs and graces and actually appreciate everything they’ve earned for themselves.

Cordelia has managed to snag a dream job for her and despite being one of the ‘posh-uns’, she actually wants to get her hands dirty and muck-in. She sets about putting her mark on Silver Town Library and increasing the amount of borrowers it gets. She has a task on her hands as she changes everything that has come before whilst keeping her staff happy and all with bombs dropping on their heads!

An easy read that’ll while away an afternoon or two as the days become much colder. So snuggle up in front of the fire with a cup of ‘Rosie-lee’ and join Cordelia, Mavis and Jane at Silver Town Library.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride.

[Fauzia Shereen-Saggar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick yet heartwarming read, perfect if you're craving a wholesome escape from the non-fiction world. McBride skilfully captures the perspectives of three distinct protagonists, bringing each voice to life in a compelling way. While the ending felt a bit rushed, I would have loved a deeper dive into Robert’s role - perhaps in the next sequel? I’m genuinely surprised this story hasn't been adapted into a movie yet.

[appleblossomorchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library Girls of the East End is a wonderful story of friendship, love, and resilience during World War Two. As a keen reader, I loved the library setting and was always excited when picking up the book to see what the next bit of action would be!

I’ve read books by Patricia before and am very much looking forward to reading the next Library Girls book when it is released!

[Nancy Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[linda hole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely comforting war time book with some good characters plenty of emotion and romance. Really enjoyed it especially as its set in a library which is where I worked when I left school, in the 1970s, despite this being set 30 years earlier it brought back lots of memories.

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been on my Kindle for ages and now I'm wondering why I waited so long to read it.
I keep changing my mind as to who my favourite character is as it kept changing depending on the situation they were in. I'm rooting for all of them and I can't wait to carry on reading the rest of the series.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rather fond of a WWII novel, and a new series is just too hard to resist!

Cordelia is a young woman who knows her own mind and is determined to have a career, despite the horrors that thought is visiting on her mother. Working as Head Librarian in a poor area of London is not what she has in mind for her only daughter, but Cordelia is a very headstrong and determined young woman. Living in the family flat in London along with her brother makes it acceptable to society at least . . .

This is a very different take on a domestic war tale to those I've previously read and I lapped it up. There were one or two bits I though could have been better but on the whole it was an easy, enjoyable read. New friendships and fresh challenges abound, and I look forward to continuing with this series. For me, 4*.

[Tessa Wooldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s 1940 and the Blitz is about to re-shape England (literally). Hardly the ideal time to be moving from the relative security of the countryside to London’s East End. But that’s just what 23-year-old Lady Cordelia, recently returned home from Cambridge, is about to do. She’s been appointed library manager in Silvertown, an area better known for its docks and mills than its literacy levels.

Author Patricia McBride paints a somewhat idealised picture of life in this impoverished part of London. She highlights caring neighbours, community spirit and wartime camaraderie. Suffering is not entirely overlooked – diminishing housing stock, food scarcity and family violence are all noted, along with a surge in anti-Jewish sentiment.

The heart of the novel is the burgeoning friendship between Cordelia and her two library staff, timid Jane and bolshie Mavis. Together the three women bring new life, and new patrons, to the library, cementing its place in Silvertown at a time of great upheaval.

3.5★

* * * * * * * * * *

Although set some years earlier, The Library Girls of the East End put me in mind of Jennifer Worth’s Call the Midwife Stories and the associated television series. Worth’s memoir is based in Poplar, an East End suburb not far from Silvertown, and it draws out similar themes of affection and connection in a disadvantaged neighbourhood.

* * * * * * * * * *

McBride’s novel also reminded me of Sally Vickers’ The Librarian. Vicker’s protagonist Sylvia Blackwell is another energetic young librarian who wants to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

* * * * * * * * * *

Book two in the Library Girl series is Hard Times for the East End Library Girls.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, libraries were my sanctuary, so I was excited to read The Library Girls of the East End, the first book in a new series by Patricia McBride. Set in the war-torn London of the 1940's this novel is about three young women, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane who all discover their best selves while working in the library.

Filled with romance, family drama, and the resilience of humanity this book is a lovely glimpse of a time that is getting further and further away from us with every breath. I loved that each of the three main characters had a distinct story and personality, and I applaud the author's deftness at braiding them into a coherent whole. I appreciated that class differences were addressed, but never used as an excuse, and I was impressed that in addition to wonderful traits, every character also had a flaw they had to overcome.

Of course the library regulars - the Readers - were integral parts of the story. Whether it was the grumpy man who grumbled over the daily newspaper, or the children learning that books could take them beyond any walls, the community members provided the reason for Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane's being employed at all, but also provided the tapestry against which the rest of the scenes were played. Without readers, after all, what good is a library?

In addition to reading the text of this novel, I also listened to the audiobook of this novel, which really made me pay attention to McBride's flair for dialogue. Every character had a distinct way of speaking, which was reflected in print, but really sang in audio. Kudos to the narrator, Julie Maisey, whose pronunciation of the word "eat," specifically really made me feel immersed in the period of this book.

Overall, this is a satisfying read with three strong female characters at its heart.

Goes well with: mushroom risotto and a nice merlot.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since falling in love with the TV Series, Call the Midwife, I’ve wanted to learn more about what happened to the East End of London during WWII. After all, when Buckingham Palace was bombed, Queen Elizabeth made a comment to the effect that they could now look the residents of the East End in the face because the royal family’s residence had been bombed, too.

The book follows three women who work at a library in the East End during the early days of The Blitz. As nightly air raids and buildings get demolished all around them, Cordelia, the head librarian, is tasked with building up the numbers of the library or it will be turned into a school. Mavis and Jane work for Cordelia, and as the story progresses, you learn a little bit about each of the three’s backstory. Since this is the start of a series, all questions about their previous lives aren’t answered, but you get a good foundation into how each of these women’s lives brought them to the library.

World War II fiction never gets old for me because there are so many different aspects of the war that can be mined for stories. The Library in the East End is an appealing setting to read about the abject fear and courage the east Londoners had during the early days of the war, and I look forward to future volumes in this series. And at a reasonable price point for an e-book, it’s another Bargain Sleuth-approved series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital eARC of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library Girls Of The East End by Patricia McBride is the start of a fabulous new historical series set during World War II.
Everyone does their bit for the war effort. The library has a new female boss to join the other two female workers. It is a new era with fresh ideas. The library becomes the heart of the community. No longer a dusty space, it is light and bright, serving the locals with books, health and a safe space during air raids.
All three women have lives that can be challenging. We see a wayward brother, a victim of a vicious attack and rape from years ago and a poison-tongued grandmother. Each women tries to leave their troubles at home until they feel comfortable sharing about their lives.
We see how the tongue can wound. “Her mother’s harsh voice was always whispering in her ear that she was useless, ugly, unlovable.” The tongue-lashing came to a mother when she was young, and is now being directed towards her daughter until enough is enough.
There are the black shirts in the area. We witness a verbal lashing directed towards a young Jewish girl. People stand idly by, saying nothing. Only one takes a stand to help the innocent.
Diphtheria is a killer. There is a new vaccine but ignorance threatens its effectiveness.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Library Girls Of The East End. The library is more than just a building. It is the heart of the community offering care and support to all.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride transports readers to the East End of London in 1940. Cordelia Carmichael is taking over as the head librarian of the Silver Town Library over her mother’s objection. Cordelia will be staying with her rapscallion brother who is more interested in having a good time than in helping others. Cordelia works with Mavis and Jane who help her acclimate to the East End. I found The Library Girls of the East End to be easy to read. Cordelia, Jane, and Mavis are the three main characters. I like that each girl has a different personality. Cordelia has a different leadership style from her predecessor. She welcomes input from Mavis and Jane as well as the volunteers. The residents of the East End welcome Cordelia. She may have finally found where she belongs. There are a variety of quirky characters that visit the library. The library is more than a building that houses books. It becomes the heart of the community. Unfortunately, bombings have become an everyday occurrence. You never know how long you could end up in an air raid shelter. The author included a variety of shelters from the underground to Anderson shelters. I like how people comforted each other during the long, scary hours in the air raid shelters. One of the librarians finds romance. We are privy to her thoughts on the gentleman’s looks, behavior, and physique. I found it a tad nauseating after a while. I would have preferred the focus to stay on the three women, their growth, and how they help their community. I thought the author captured the time period and the setting. I liked the ending. It will be interesting to see what happens next for the East End librarians.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Cordelia accepts the post as head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it's no place for a woman of her status. But Cordelia is determined to make a difference in these times of strife, and along with her colleagues, Jane and Mavis, she begins to help the local community, making sure everyone knew what the library can offer them. And maybe romance will blossom, giving Cordelia the strength to make it through the chaos and destruction that constantly threatens their livelihood, Against a background of war, air raids, and rationing, it becomes clear the library is more than a building filled with books - it's the beating heart of a community refusing to be torn apart.

Bombs are dropping all over London. Cordelia, Jane and Mavis are brought together due to the war. There are serious issues in this story that are still relevant today. The three women all have their own dramas. There's romance and new friendships. I liked the three main characters. Cordelia came from a different background to Jane and Mavis, they all work in Silver Town Library. There's a mixed bunch of likeable and unlikeable characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #PatriciaMcBride for my ARC of #TheLibraryGirlsOfTheEastEnd in exchange for an honest review.

[Connie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library Girls of the East End is written by Patricia McBride. This is the first book that I have read by this author. It will not be my last. This is the first book in a new series by the author. One of the things that I loved most about this book is her characters are at all different walks of life.

Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are the three main characters and completely different from each other. Cordelia's mom is not happy when she accepts a position as head librarian in Silver Town Library, which is located in the East End. There is a lot of poverty in the East End. Cordelia wanted to make a difference and along with Mavis and Jane - she wants to show everyone what the library has to offer. Mavis is a tough cookie - she holds onto secrets - but also does not let others walk over her. Jane was worried when they heard there was a new librarian that it would be someone who is full of themselves. However, the three form a deep friendship.

Life is not all sunshine and summertime for our girls. They are dealing with a variety of issues. These issues include: gender inequality, domestic abuse, unplanned pregnancies and the adjustment of women taking over male roles.

The book is well written. The storyline is engaging. I have read a lot of WWII books this year, and I love that this one is set in the East End of London.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the start of a wonderful new series set in a library in the East End of London during WWII. I've lived in London and heard stories of the time during WWII so I always enjoy reading about life during that time. Cordelia is wealthy but wants to make her own way. Mavis is a no-nonsense woman whose son is off to the war, and Jane is raising her daughter at home with her verbally abusive mother, while her husband is off to war. When Cordelia takes over, along with the support of Mavis and Jane it becomes a gathering place for the local community. It provides a place for locals to gather read, and even get their medical needs met as one of the handsome local doctors works there a few days a week seeing patients.

The author did a great job weaving together the stories of the girls and their secrets while writing about how it was to live in London during WWII with the continuous bombing and the need to run to the shelters every time the air raid sirens went off. Since I lived in London and have heard the stories of life during WWII, along with the incessant bombings by the Nazis this book was of particular interest to me. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next in the lives of the library girls.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cordelia takes the job of head librarian her mother is disapproving as she thinks it is beneath her. The two women who work at the library Jane and Mavis are like chalk and cheese they are so different but somehow they have formed a close bond. The pair soon take Cordelia into there friendship and all three girls have a great working relationship as well as a unbeatable friendship. With war raging, bombs dropping and the library at risk of shutting down the girls have to stick together more than ever. I loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down and read it in a few short hours. The sense of community and kindness through heartbreak made me feel emotional. The plot was intense with family dramas for the three girls and made it a page turner. I am so excited for what will happen next for Cordelia, Jane and Mavis. I'm particularly eager to find out what becomes of Jane's little girl. This is the start of a wonderfully addictive historical saga.

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I'm going to start this review by saying how much I loved and adored this book.
You therefore can’t begin to imagine my delight when I found out that it is the first in a new series! (Skips with delight!)

It’s 1940, war is starting to ramp up and we meet Cordelia, she comes from a well-to-do family and has to tell her snobby mother that she has just got a job as the Head Librarian at Silver Town library in the East End of London in 1940. We are then introduced to Cordelia’s new colleagues Jane and Mavis and regulars of the library. Together they work well coming up with ideas on how the library can help the community and with that enters doctor Robert Fernsby who uses one of their rooms as a surgery for the people of Silver Town.

This book was wonderful and was so easy to read and I raced through it. I absolutely loved it and I'm delighted that it is the first in a new series and I can't wait to hear what happens next to the Library Girls Of the East End

[Tina(why is GR limiting comments?!!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy WWII historical fiction. Add in the mix of ladies working in a library and it's got to be a hit! This is the first in the series and I'll surely continue on. It's light and wholesome Wartime fiction but it does involve some serious issues.

Three ladies that come from different walks of life come together to work in an east end London library in 1940. Lady Cordelia is an educated and strong woman. She's an aristocrat who is the new head librarian for, "Silver Town" library in the east end of London. There she meets two other women who are working in the library. Mavis, is a single mother with a grown son who is troubled and is a soldier fighting in the war. Jane, is a married women with a small daughter whose husband is also away fighting on the front. Together these women will bond and become great friends.

I can't wait to read more about these ladies and the adventures that await them. A strong first book!

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic violence, bad language, hardship

I was really intrigued about the Library Girls at the East End.

I thought a historical fiction book involving people working at a library and helping to change people's lives in an area of London historically known for poverty and difficult times would be a book that was going to be enjoyable.

And it really was.

I loved the level of detail and felt immersed in the atmosphere immediately. The sense of community that the library brings is amazing to witness. It's because of this and the library that this is a feelgood book despite all the hardship in society at the time. The pacing swept me along and I felt I was experiencing what the characters did. I felt concern, happiness and more as the story mved on, and above all hope that the library would make a difference to people's lives. Books are always my first method of relaxation and escapism, and I just love books with a book theme in them somewhere. Books are a huge theme in this story, as is the power of friendship and resilience.

This is my first book by Patricia McBride and I am eager to review more in the future.

Thanks to Patricia McBride, Rachels random resources and Boldwood books in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

[Courtney Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, light historical fiction read, set in London during the early part of WWII.

While I felt that the editing could be tightened up a bit in places (several paragraphs started out with the same thought as in the previous paragraph, which momentarily took me out of the story) and it felt like some bits were just tossed in for drama that didn't work at all - mainly because it went nowhere. Perhaps there are plans for a second book that'll draw it together more, but as of now, it seemed just seemed slightly overdone, perhaps in an attempt to draw more parallels between the time period then and current readers, yet ended up falling flat for me.

Despite the issues, if you're looking for a light read set in a historical setting, you'll likely enjoy this one.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that draws you into the lives of its characters. Set during the war, specifically during the Blitz, this is an extremely moving story focusing on 3 women who go to work at a library in the Eastend of London. Each of them is from a different background, yet they become best friends.

I didn't even realise that any libraries were kept open during the war. Not only have I learned that some did, but I also learned just how important they were to people at a time when any escapism was desperately needed.

It was a very moving story which I enjoyed despite becoming teary-eyed a few times. I don't mind a little sadness in stories as long as the happy times outweigh the sad ones. This was the first book in a series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book about the lives of three woman who work in a library.

Cordelia has got a job as the head librarian in the East End of London. She meets Mavis & Jane who certainly are different to one another who work there. They begin a friendship and work well together. Mavis has a son but has had a hard time with things. Jane is a bit timid who has a daughter and her husband is away at war. They all work together to bring the community together in the library.

This is a wonderful start to a new series and really enjoyed the woman and how they overcame obstacles. They were strong characters.

It was a well written book and was interesting to read the hardship of all the bombings in London.