The Air Raid Book Club

by Annie Lyons

London, 1938: The bookstore just doesn’t feel the same to Gertie Bingham ever since the death of her beloved husband Harry. Bingham Books was a dream they shared together, and without Harry, Gertie wonders if it’s time to take her faithful old lab, Hemingway, and retire to the seaside. But fate has other plans for Gertie. In Germany, Hitler is on the rise, and Jewish families are making the heart-wrenching decision to send their children away from the growing turmoil. After a nudge from her dear friend Charles, Gertie decides to take in one of these refugees, a headstrong teenage girl named Hedy. Willful and fearless, Hedy reminds Gertie of herself at the same age, and shows her that she can’t give up just yet. With the terrible threat of war on the horizon, the world needs people like Gertie Bingham and her bookshop. When the Blitz begins and bombs whistle overhead, Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club. Together with neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions of everything from  Winnie the Pooh  to  Wuthering Heights.  After all, a good book can do wonders to bolster people’s spirits, even in the most trying times. But even the best book can only provide a temporary escape, and as the tragic reality of the war hits home, the book club faces unimaginable losses. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they’ve formed to see them through to brighter days.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Books About Books, World War II, Historical, Audiobook, War

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2023

About the author

Dear Reader,
thank you for dropping by to visit my Goodreads page. I am the author of seven novels and one novella. My first book, Not Quite Perfect was a Kindle number one bestseller and my novel featuring octogenarian, Eudora Honeysett was a USA Today bestseller as well as being nominated for the RNA Contemporary Novel Award. My latest book, The Air Raid Book Club is my first historical fiction novel. It tells the story of recently-widowed bookseller, Gertie Bingham and fifteen-year-old Hedy Fischer, who are thrown together by the events of the Second World War and who form a book club to support their community through these dark times. This book is particularly special to me as I’ve spent my life around books, from trips to the library with my mum as a child to my early career as a bookseller on Charing Cross Road and then over ten years in publishing and now as a writer and creative writing teacher. If I’m not writing or reading books, I like nothing more than to lose myself for an hour (or two if I can manage it) in a library or bookshop. I love the quiet calm and the smell of books, old and new. My favourite writers are Anne Tyler, Ruth Hogan, David Nicholls, Rachel Joyce, William Boyd, Katherine Heiny and Maggie O’Farrell but I love anything which makes me laugh and cry. I try to reflect this in my own writing and for me, it begins with the characters. I work to get to know them as well as my own friends and family as I write and allow them to lead the story. My aim is to write stories which are uplifting and ultimately hopeful as these are the books I love to read. My stories feature families, friendship, grief, love, happiness, singing, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, death, hope, books, joy and plenty more besides, and they invariably include a beloved family pet! My favourite thing about being an author is when readers contact me to let me know that a book has touched them, made them laugh or just served as a companion for a while. I recently received a card all the way from New York from eighty-four-year-old Rita in praise of the story of eighty-four-year-old Eudora and that was my week made. If you would like to get in touch, you can also find me on social media (links below) where I mainly talk about books, writing, my garden and my black Labrador, Nelson.
Happy reading!
Annie x
Instagram: @annielyonsauthor
Twitter: @1AnnieLyons
Facebook: www.facebook.com/annielyonswriter
Website: www.annielyons.com

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: ....when she spied the "For Lease" sign in Buckingham Milliners on the High Street, her impatient mind saw a solution and an exciting new future for them both.
'A bookshop?' said Harry as she linked her arm through his and led him on a lunchtime walk around the rose garden next to the library.
'Why not?' We could run it with our eyes closed, and besides, wouldn't you like to work in a place where you didn't have to whisper all the time or get snapped at by Snipp?'
'Now, Gertie, Miss Snipp isn't that bad.'
'Yes, but she's not a patch on your wife,' said Gertie, leading him behind an oak tree out of sight and planting a kiss on his lips.
Harry smiled and kissed her again. 'Where would I be without you, Gertie Bingham?'
'Tragically alone and terribly broken hearted,' she said.

ABOUT 'THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB: London, 1938: The bookstore just doesn’t feel the same to Gertie Bingham ever since the death of her beloved husband Harry. Bingham Books was a dream they shared together, and without Harry, Gertie wonders if it’s time to take her faithful old lab, Hemingway, and retire to the seaside. But fate has other plans for Gertie. In Germany, Hitler is on the rise, and Jewish families are making the heart-wrenching decision to send their children away from the growing turmoil. After a nudge from her dear friend Charles, Gertie decides to take in one of these refugees, a headstrong teenage girl named Hedy. Willful and fearless, Hedy reminds Gertie of herself at the same age, and shows her that she can’t give up just yet. With the terrible threat of war on the horizon, the world needs people like Gertie Bingham and her bookshop. When the Blitz begins and bombs whistle overhead, Gertie and Hedy come up with the idea to start an air raid book club. Together with neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions of everything from Winnie the Pooh to Wuthering Heights. After all, a good book can do wonders to bolster people’s spirits, even in the most trying times. But even the best book can only provide a temporary escape, and as the tragic reality of the war hits home, the book club faces unimaginable losses. They will need all the strength of their stories and the bonds they’ve formed to see them through to brighter days.

MY THOUGHTS: I certainly didn't expect to love The Air Raid Book Club to the extent that I did. The tender warmth and beauty in the pages snuck up on me and took me unawares. I read half of the book in one sitting, enchanted and engrossed.

Although there is romance in this story, it is not a romance novel. Any romance definitely plays second fiddle to the story of Gertie Bingham, Bingham's Books and its role in the community; one of particular importance once the war begins.

The Air Raid Book Club is a story of displaced people, of fortitude, friendship, the power of hope and love, and the importance of books. Annie Lyons had me crying several times during this read, but she also had my heart soaring, my emotions tender. I just want to hug this book and never let it go.

TW: Books are harmed during the telling of this story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheAirRaidBookClub #WaitomoDistrictLibrary

THE AUTHOR: After a career in bookselling and publishing, Annie Lyons published five books including the best-selling, Not Quite Perfect. When not working on her novels, she teaches creative writing. She lives in south-east London with her husband and two children.

All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was London in 1938, and Gertie Bingham of Bingham Books was on the verge of selling her bookshop and retiring. Since her beloved Harry had died two years prior, Gertie didn't feel the same in her bookshop. Without Harry, the memories were too sad for her to continue. But fate has a way of stepping up, and when she and Hemingway, her faithful labrador, heard of the Jewish children who were being evacuated from Germany, she put her hand up to take a child, with the gentle persuasion of her and Harry's good friend Charles. And so, fifteen year old Hedy Fischer arrived on her doorstep.

After initially stumbling with their relationship, soon Hedy and Gertie, and especially Hemingway, were friends. Hedy helped in the bookshop, and their regular bookclub soon turned to an Air Raid book club. They built a safe shelter in the back of the bookshop, and when the air raid sirens sounded, everyone made for Bingham Books Air Raid shelter, and the books they knew would be inside. The discussions about the books - from Wuthering Heights to Winnie the Pooh - were lively and entertaining, and managed to take their minds away from what was happening outside. All the while, Hedy - and Gertie - were wondering what was happening to Hedy's family. Her mama, papa and brother Arlo - would she ever see them again?

The Air Raid Book Club was a wonderful, heartfelt story which was inspired by true events. Annie Lyons has created perfect characters, from the old curmudgeon-type, stiff-upper lip customers to the young and young-at-heart. Gertie knew the majority of people who came into her shop, and knew underneath the crusty outer-layer there was kindness. I loved that the story was written around books, the hearty discussions that would take place, and the uplifting and poignant bringing together of people in the most devastating of times. Highly recommended.

With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gertie Bingham and her husband Harry opened Bingham Books in the Beechwood High Street as newlyweds in 1911 and since he passed away she misses him terribly. Gertie and Harry weren’t blessed with children, Gertie has Hemingway her Labrador for company and she’s thinking about retiring.

With the threat of another war looming, Gertie is approached by her friend Charles who works for the Red Cross to take in a Jewish child from Germany as part of the Kindertransport program. A nervous Gertie is waiting at the train station, her evacuee Hedy Fischer is from Munich and she’s fifteen years old. Hedy misses her parents and brother Arlo and Gertie feels way out of her depth. She tries hard to help Hedy learn English, she introduces her to one of her young sales assistants from Bingham Books and enrolls her in high school.

When the Blitz begins, Hedy and Gertie sit in the Anderson shelter in the backyard and invite their new neighbors a young mother Elizabeth and her son Billy to share it with them. Hedy reads stories to Billy to take his mind off the noise, and during this time she and Gertie decide to start the Air Raid Book Club. It’s held once a month in the basement of Bingham Books, attended by regular customers, nearby traders and friends.

Choosing a book to read always is a challenge, with so many choices and everyone gets somethings different out of each novel. The book club is a huge success, from fire wardens to housewives, they need something to occupy their minds, take their mind off their problems and it boosts morale. They expand the program to cater for children and send care packages overseas to prisoners of war and here books are in high demand.

As the war drags on, the bookshop and book club become very important to the community, unlikely friendships are made and others are repaired and bonds are formed. While, Hedy anxiously waits for news about her family, she knows Arlo has been sent to Germany to work and she has no idea what’s happened to her parents.

I received a digital copy of The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons from Hachette Australia, Edelweiss and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Oh my goodness, it is one of the best books I have read this year and I was bawling my eyes out by the end. A narrative about war, friendship, hope, love, the power of books and reading and many of the book club member’s believed knowledge and using their minds would help England be victorious.

They read and enjoyed books from a variety of genres and some of the authors are; Jane Eyre, Agatha Christie, Louisa May Alcott, Pearl S. Buck, Georgette Heyer, Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll. The characters are wonderful, some are delightful and sweet and others are crotchety and downright grumpy. Most of all it's a story about relationships, connections, and families come in all sorts of packages, forms of mothering and kindness and five big stars from me.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you remember the feeling that you got from reading the first book that hooked you on reading, whether it was Little Women, Lost Horizon, Treasure Island or the Harry Potter series, or whatever it was, please put this book on your have to have it list. I was enchanted and visualized these characters in front of me as alive as words can make them, perhaps with a bit more kindness than we see these days. London during World War II was brought to life for me. To be published in July, 2023.

My thanks to the author, Annie Lyons, and the publisher, William Morrow, for my advance copy of this wonderful book. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

***SPOILER ALERT***

In spite of the title and the story being set in 1940 London during WWII this is a very light read.

The theme is similar to the author’s previous book “The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett” whereby a young girl comes into the life of a lonely older woman to ease her sadness.

In this case lonely book store owner and widow, Gertie, missing her dead husband is contemplating retirement when she is asked to take in a German Jewish teen, Hedy. Hedy is one of many German children being sent off to safety by her parents while it’s still possible, leaving her parents and brother in Germany as they await travel documents which, unfortunately, do not arrive in time for the family to flee.

Hedy, of course changes Gertie’s lonely life but (surprisingly) nothing much is made of the fact that Hedy is Jewish as she assimilates into English life with the greatest of ease.

The Air Raid Book Club does not even appear until the middle of the book and is not the focus of the story, it’s all about the people and the relationships forged during difficult (war) times, which of course is nice, but I am not a fan of such light reading set during WWII.

Because I really enjoyed “The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett” I expected more from this book.

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gertie Bingham is feeling the loss of her husband as she runs their bookstore in London in 1938. A good friend is working to transport Jewish children out of Germany as Hitler gains power, and he persuades Gertie to take a child into her home. Gertie is paired with Hedy, a fifteen-year-old girl who desperately misses her family and worries about their safety.

Soon nightly bombs drop over London during the Blitz. Both Gertie and Hedy do volunteer work to help the community. They also develop a casual book club where people talk about books as they huddle in bomb shelters. The bookshop also started a program of including books in care packages sent to prisoners of war.

Each chapter of the story starts with a quote from a famous classic book. Some of the quotes are about reflecting on your blessings, the joy of reading, overcoming adversity, and loving wisely.

While there was fear, grief, and sorrow since the story was set during wartime, themes of courage, friendship, romance, a sense of community, and the importance of books also filled the book. The friendship that developed between Gertie and Hedy was very special and came at a time when each of them needed someone. One unforgettable character is a sensitive Labrador retriever named Hemingway who offered comfort and captured everyone's heart. "The Air Raid Book Club" is heartwarming historical fiction that probably would also be considered women's fiction. 3.5 stars.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't just another typical WWII novel. It dealt with grief, fortitude, courage in the face of great adversity, and above all the love that can come from the giving of yourself to others. I especially liked the wonderful book references-most are well known classics but still thought they were conducive to the storyline. Very well done!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is heart-breaking and heart-warming story all rolled into one, it is 1938 in London and It appears that another war is close, Gertie Bingham is still struggling after the loss of her beloved husband Harry and is running Bingham Books with a couple of staff, books mean so much to Gertie and she has a very good clientele in the small village.

Times are hard but when Gertie is asked by close friend Charles who is working for the Red Cross to take a young German Jewish child after they have been evacuated from Germany in, although worried she says yes and fifteen year old Hedy Fischer arrives, at first it is hard for them both Hedy is missing her family and Gertie is unsure about caring for a child and is worried she will not be able to do it.

Once war is declared and the bombs start dropping Gertie and Hedy along with Hemingway the dog become very close especially while spending many hours in the bomb shelter they both love reading and soon they bring more and more people in when they start The Air Raid Book Club with many books discussed, the varied personalities of the members makes for some wonderful times together.

This is a beautifully written story that will have you in tears and cheering them all on with what they go through, I loved it very much, it shows that books can make a big difference to people’s lives. I loved all of the characters in this book young, old, grumpy and easy going. I do highly recommend this one it is a wonderful story of strength and courage.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, well-written, WWII historical fiction novel. It has likeable, interesting characters, supportive community and friends, an adorable little boy, the bonding over books, a secret, heartbreak, tragedy, strength, resilience, and the beauty of a mother's love. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Jilly Bond, does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities.

[Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Air Raid Book Club is a unique historical fiction story set in London during WWII. It follows Gertie, a grieving widow who is struggling to run her and her late husband’s bookstore on her own. However, Gertie’s life instantly changes when she learns about a volunteer program to support Jewish refugees from Nazi occupied Germany. When Gertie gets paired with a teenager named Hedy, the last thing she thought was how much this girl would lift her spirits and keep her connection with the book store alive.

What I loved most was how this story was not really about the war despite it being the backdrop of the story. It was about community, friendship, found family and the healing and unity that books can bring. The characters were well-developed, and I found it special that they all came together during air raid shelters, which seemed to become a place of growth for them. This was my first book by Lyons, and I am excited to dive into her backlist/ see what she writes next. Her writing was heartwarming and simplistically beautiful.

Read if you like:
-Historical fiction set during WWII
-Book clubs and reading classics
-Found family theme

Thank you William Morrow for the ARC! Pub Date: 7/11

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unable to write a proper review as I have no electricity and water until who knows when. So all I can say is, it's book about love and loss. Endings and new beginnings, about how friendships are tested and tried and during the horrible times of WW2 in London and the power of books to bring everyone together in wartorn London's air raid shelters.

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫💫📚

[Paulien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mooi boek, lief verhaal. De scènes in de boekwinkel vond ik het leukste.

Wat ik wel gek vond was de naam van de buurjongen van Gertie. Zijn roepnaam was Bill, zijn moeder noemde hem William als zij boos was en in de epiloog heette hij ineens Will. Beetje verwarrend.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book.
It spans more than 15 years and has a lot of characters in the mix, and somehow never seems to lose the engagement or clarity of the story.
Extremely heartwarming found family vibes in a small town during a difficult time.
I cannot wait to discuss this at next month's book club!

[Darya Zarya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book's idea is brilliant and it started so good: beautiful language, cozy English vibes, and a promise of a moving story.

But OMG, the characters were so shallow, plain, and completely one-dimensional. It felt like the majority of them were simply functions to move the plot with no background or further development, whatsoever.

They didn't feel like real people at all, that's why, it was hard for me to become emotionally invested into the story.

In a nutshell, my overall impression is "great idea, poor execution".

[nickireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne - wirklich ein tolles Buch

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s (but only because I felt like the end was a bit rushed)

Let it be known that after thrillers, historical fictions are my favorite books to read. The Air Raid Book Club was a unique viewpoint into the experiences many and during WWII. It was very different than many I have read.

Imagine that you are the owner of a successful bookstore in a close knit neighborhood of London. You have already survived WWI and with it, all the devastation that it brought. You never thought you’d see another war, let alone a “great” one. Yet, here you are, being asked to welcome in a young German girl (before war has even been raged with England) and deciding do you stay and run your beloved bookstore or do you count your blessings and split. Throughout this beautiful depiction of a community striving to survive and thrive together, the authors quote “Wars weren’t fought by generals or politicians, they are fought by armies of originary people battling, struggling, and holding up one another as they pushed forward.” was beautifully put on display time and time again.

I came to love the (very) many characters and I felt like I, too, would be welcomed into their book club.

Thank you William Morrow Books for the ARC!

[Elisabeth Plimpton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Graceish ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a true three star for me. To be entirely fair, this is not my typical genre. I have read historical fiction, but it’s not my go-to, so take this all with a grain of salt. What do I know?

The Air Rad Book Club felt cozy to me, which is odd given it's wartime for the majority of the book. I felt conflicted while reading because I felt comfortable when I knew I shouldn't. I didn't catch the fear and suspense that was sure to have riddled our characters. That said, there were characters that I was moved by, invested in, which kept me moving briskly through the story.

My three biggest disappointments are:
1. The book club plays a surprisingly minor role in the book. The back describes what all readers crave: a place to discuss your newest book with other folks who have read it. The back reads,

“…together with the neighbors and bookstore customers, they hold lively discussions about everything from Winnie the Pooh to Wuthering Heights”.

But good luck reading those lively discussions. At most you’ll get a page or two of observations, but nothing close to the deep-dive discussions I was itching for. That was disappointing.
2. The lack of true, elucidating detail. While I typically don't care for OTT, flowery language, Lyons pendulumed to the exact opposite. The details were so sparse and disjointed that I struggled to feel the anguish of war.
3. Similarly, the transitions between paragraphs could be quite jarring. I noted one example on page 247: in one paragraph Gertie, Hedy, and Elizabeth are discussing E's parents, then the next paragraph — with no logical transition or thread of connection — jumps ahead in time and space to an event that was being planned by the community. I went from being engrossed in the family drama of E's parents, to wondering how Gertie's kitchen was suddenly the event venue.

All of that said, I was truly invested in the well-being of Hedy, Gertie, and Betty. The rest of the characters were underdeveloped, which ultimately impacted how I felt about the tragedies inflicted upon them. When Barnaby died, for example, I felt for Betty, but because the relationship had been so brief on page, I didn’t feel the heart-tug that I would have otherwise.

Ultimately, that’s my hang-up with this book. It lacks the depth I desperately wanted, both in character development and the terror that war brings. A large theme of this book was about the trauma and horror of war, but I didn’t feel it at any point other than when Hedy was buried in the shelter

For all of my frustrations with the book, the ending did get that gut-punch in. I would have loved to have gotten to know Else. She seems like my type of woman.

Thank to you to William & Marrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirjoihin kadonnut || Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kuinka ihana kirja! 🫶

Pommisuojan lukupiiri sijoittuu yhteen maailman historian synkimmistä ajoista. Silti se yllätti olemalla yksi lämminhenkisimmistä kirjoista, joita olen koskaan lukenut. Kirjan henkilöhahmot olivat taiten rakennettuja ja heidän välinen dynamiikka sekä konfliktit toimi joka suhteessa hyvin. Juoni oikeastaan perustuu ihmisten välisiin suhteisiin sodan jaloissa sekä kirjallisuuden yhdistävään ja lohdulliseen voimaan. Rakastin sitä sävyä, jolla kirjassa puhutaan kirjoista sekä lukemisesta ja kaikki ne intertekstuaaliset viittaukset ja kirjadroppaukset, ne olivat mannaa tällaiselle kirjanörtille. Kiinnyin kirjan henkilöhahmoihin niin syvästi, että myötäelin joka solulla heidän tarinaansa ja loppumetrit meni kyyneleitä nieleskellessä. Tekisi vain mieli halata tätä kirjaa, niin paljon se mieltäni lämmitti!❤️

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve never had the giddy pleasure of diving into an Annie Lyons book, start with The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, because, well…it��s BRILLIANT ✨

The Air Raid book club was indeed enjoyable, but feels like something I’ve read before.

[Jessica Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fear there hasn’t been a WWll book I haven’t liked yet lol

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was beginning to think there was nothing new to write about WWII historical fiction but Annie Lyons proved me wrong with this latest book that and had me falling in love with these characters, their found family and their love of books during difficult times.

Gertie is a widow mourning the death of her beloved husband Harry. She's contemplating closing their bookstore and moving to the country to live a quiet life but when a friend encourages her to take in a young Jewish refugee, suddenly she finds a new reason to live (and fight).

I loved the way classics were sprinkled throughout this book and how Gertie helps people find the right book for them. I also adored her relationship with young Hedy, trying to help her reunite with the other members of her family still left in Germany.

Equally heartbreaking and heartwarming and sadly still very relevant to our times today where the importance of standing up for those being persecuted is more necessary than ever! Good on audio narrated by Jilly Bond. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.

[Amanda Borys · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would have you convinced that World War 2 wasn't really that bad. It trots out every known trope under the "Keeping Your Chin Up" category to bounce from seeming dark times to everything works out for the best in the end with little regard for character development, story line, or even logic.
Characters act in ways that don't seem to fit their personalities when needed to darken the mood and, of course, everyone finds love and happily ever after in the end. All the bad stuff happens outside the pages of the book and you know who will live and who will die by how much time is spent talking about them and giving them a personality.

So if you are looking for an easy read where you can turn off your brain and not question things, this is a good book. The characters aren't unpleasant and most survive to the end. But if you are looking for a good read about Londoners surviving the Blitz and getting through one of the most destructive conflicts in European history, this is not for you.

[Marissa Finnerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

The Air Raid Book Club is a novel set in World War 2 London, England.

Gertie is a bookseller who takes in a young German refugee, Hedy.

Gertie and Hedy take on the bookstore together, along with the perils of war. Together they create the Air Raid Book Club to help their community through the challenging times.

The themes of love, loss, found family, friendship, and resilience are overwhelming. I found myself so emotional over the character growth and touching relationships that formed. This book is so powerful. I cared deeply for every character which can be challenging in a cast of so many. It was raw, earnest, and felt like a love story of humanity and kindness.

This is my first 5 star read of the year and I will be recommending this to everyone for a very long time!

[Autumn D’Auria | bookedbyautumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a cute read on the topic of World War II. I absolutely love reading historical fiction especially WWII. With so many historical fiction set to this time period, I don’t think this book was the most memorable. I liked the concept of the bookstore set in London. I found the plot to be a little predictable at times. I wish the book club played a larger part of the books plot. I also found Gertie’s character to be a bit shallow. Thank you NetGalley and Annie Lyons for an ARC for an honest review.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I absolutely loved The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, and was so excited to read this new historical fiction.

THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB was such a beautifully written story about war, community, and books that offer hope in a time of need.

I loved the friendship, the characters, and the relationships that grow, and how at the center of the story books give a sense of community to come together during hard times.

*many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for review

[Sesili · Rating 1 out of 5]

Da sam cugnula svaki put kad sam pročitala splendid, jolly i chap, već na polovini knjige bih bila pijana kao engleski navijač i to je sve što treba da znate o ovom promašaju u mojoj čitalačkoj godini. :(

[Olivia Caridi · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, World War II books are my absolute favorite - and The Air Raid Book Club is one of the best I've ever read.

Synopsis: This book is set in London with main character Gertie Bingham, who owns a bookstore called Bingham Books. She ran it for years and years with her late husband Harry, and when Harry passed, Gertie felt like life had lost meaning. She felt lonely at home and her work at the bookstore didn't give her the same energy it once had. World War II looms, and Gertie's close friend asks whether she'd be open to opening to her home to Hedy, a Jewish child evacuated from Germany. At first, Gertie can't imagine taking in a child during her retirement years, but she has a change of heart, and throughout the duration of the book, we see how bringing Hedy into her home brought her a new sense of purpose and new definitions of love. A slow start, yes, but Hedy begins to open up and the two become fast friends that grows more into a mother-daughter relationship - and as the air raid sirens continue to go off in London, the two, along with other workers at Bingham Books, spark the idea of creating the Air Raid Book Club, reading books to distract from devastating wartime and then sending books to POWs as a means to fight back. The running theme is books - how they can change your life . and impact others. There's also a constant reminder that friends are the family you keep, that to get through hard times, leaning on close friendships is necessary and a gift.

This book is so well written, and I truly fell in love with all the characters. Gertie, Hedy, Charles, Sam, Betty, Mrs. Fortescue...the list truly goes on. Each character is so fleshed out, and all I know is that Gertie is someone I'd love to be friends with. I feel truly honored to have read this book before publication and I can't encourage it enough when it is available for purchase!

Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[❀⊱RoryReads⊰❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I did enjoy this book quite a bit. It's very well researched and the author does a fantastic job with the characterizations. It has so much charm and atmosphere, it feels like it was written in the late 1940s by someone who lived in London during the war. So Bravo! to Annie Lyons. She has thoroughly succeeded where many have failed.

The only drawback was a tendency to maudlin sentimentality, which I've never been able to abide. But that's on me.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read.

Gertie Bingham, newly widowed, is struggling to keep her book shop going and even considers giving it up and retiring. With war on the horizon, she is asked by an old friend to take in a Jewish refugee - how can she refuse? She has doubts that she can provide what a young person needs but when 14 year old Hedy Fischer arrives, she does what countless Brits have done through the ages - and makes the best of it.

Ever since reading 'Eudora Honeysett is Quite Well, Thank you' by this author I've been on the lookout for her next one and it is absolutely everything I hoped it would be! Annie Lyons creates such wonderful characters that it doesn't take much for me to see them in my mind's eye. This is a tale of war, hardship, empathy and - more than anything - the message that whatever happens, life goes on. I relished each and every word. This is one of 'those' books - you know the ones I mean - where you want to race through the pages, devouring the words and yet you desire to slow down and caress each word lovingly so you don't get to the end too soon. I adored Gertie and all the rest and really cannot recommend this one highly enough. If you only treat yourself, or a friend, to one book, please make it this one - you really won't be disappointed. All five sparkling, singing and dancing stars from me!