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The Secret Society of Librarians
The Secret Society of Librarians is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming wartime library-set novel, inspired by real people, real stories, and extensive research.
Meeting through real-life Secret Society of Librarians in London, two women form a close bond. When WW2 hits, they take their libraries underground, creating create a roaming underground library.
But when one of them is taken to Poland and a concentration camp, they think there is no chance of ever being reunited again...
This is an inspirational, true and compelling story about friendship, everyday bravery and the power of books, with a dual narrative set between London and Poland in the 1940s.
Meeting through real-life Secret Society of Librarians in London, two women form a close bond. When WW2 hits, they take their libraries underground, creating create a roaming underground library.
But when one of them is taken to Poland and a concentration camp, they think there is no chance of ever being reunited again...
This is an inspirational, true and compelling story about friendship, everyday bravery and the power of books, with a dual narrative set between London and Poland in the 1940s.
464 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2026
About the author
Kate Thompson
11 books608 followersKate Thompson was born in London and worked as a journalist for twenty years on women's magazines and national newspapers. She now lives in Sunbury with her husband, two sons and two rescue dogs. After ghost writing five memoirs, Kate moved into fiction.
Kate's first non-fiction social history documenting the forgotten histories of East End matriarchy, The Stepney Doorstep Society, was published in 2018 by Penguin. She is passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories.
Today Kate works as a journalist, author and library campaigner. Her most recent books, The Little Wartime Library (2022) and The Wartime Book Club (2023) by Hodder & Stoughton focus on two remarkable libraries in wartime. Her 100 libraries project, celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities.
Kate is also proud to have worked in collaboration with one of Britain's oldest Holocaust survivors, Renee Salt, to research and write, A mother's Promise (UK) Do Not Cry When I Die (US and Canada) to be published on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Podcast host - From the Library With Love. Interviews with librarians, best-sellling authors and our remarkable wartime generation. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
Kate's first non-fiction social history documenting the forgotten histories of East End matriarchy, The Stepney Doorstep Society, was published in 2018 by Penguin. She is passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories.
Today Kate works as a journalist, author and library campaigner. Her most recent books, The Little Wartime Library (2022) and The Wartime Book Club (2023) by Hodder & Stoughton focus on two remarkable libraries in wartime. Her 100 libraries project, celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities.
Kate is also proud to have worked in collaboration with one of Britain's oldest Holocaust survivors, Renee Salt, to research and write, A mother's Promise (UK) Do Not Cry When I Die (US and Canada) to be published on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Podcast host - From the Library With Love. Interviews with librarians, best-sellling authors and our remarkable wartime generation. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
July 23, 2026
The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson
Historical fiction. WWII.
London 1939. Joyce Kindred knows the comfort and escape of a good book. As a librarian, she is proud to be able to meet the community and provide them with a book to read, even in the middle of war. It can be dangerous. A mobile Library is the goal to be able to continue her job. Seeing so much suffering and destruction, she does what she can to help.
Poland 1942. Dorotha left London a few years back for Poland, worried about family. She is now stuck behind a barbed wire fence in a ghetto, forced to live there as the war destruction leaves devastation behind. She begins lending books to others knowing the written stories can be an escape for the realities crushing the spirit.
Similar to the prior two wartime books by this author, this story is a homage to librarians while imparting historical facts and a really sad time in our history.
Impressive research and storytelling of librarians helping others unselfishly during wartime.
I can’t help weeping for the loss of so many lives and personal histories. The loss of freedom, dignity, respect and in the end, life of thousands.
Devastating stories.
A bit of hope in the form of a book or story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Historical fiction. WWII.
London 1939. Joyce Kindred knows the comfort and escape of a good book. As a librarian, she is proud to be able to meet the community and provide them with a book to read, even in the middle of war. It can be dangerous. A mobile Library is the goal to be able to continue her job. Seeing so much suffering and destruction, she does what she can to help.
Poland 1942. Dorotha left London a few years back for Poland, worried about family. She is now stuck behind a barbed wire fence in a ghetto, forced to live there as the war destruction leaves devastation behind. She begins lending books to others knowing the written stories can be an escape for the realities crushing the spirit.
Similar to the prior two wartime books by this author, this story is a homage to librarians while imparting historical facts and a really sad time in our history.
Impressive research and storytelling of librarians helping others unselfishly during wartime.
I can’t help weeping for the loss of so many lives and personal histories. The loss of freedom, dignity, respect and in the end, life of thousands.
Devastating stories.
A bit of hope in the form of a book or story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
April 2, 2026
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson is an incredibly beautifully written historical fiction story and it opened my eyes to events in London during the blitz, it also shed light on what happened before the holocaust in occupied Poland. The story is moving and extremely atmospheric creating the unimaginable trauma war brings.
We follow two incredibly courageous women, librarians living in different countries, both friends and facing the breakout of World War II. Both women prior to the war were part of a group of fellow librarians that studied together and created The Secret Society of Librarians, meeting up together once a year.
London 1939 - The war breaks out and London is being bombed yet Joyce is determined as an act of resistance to set up a mobile library scheme to bring books into peoples hands so they can read as a form of escapism when libraries were no longer an option or accessible for some.
Poland 1942 - Doretha a Jewish woman is imprisoned in the overcrowded and inhumane Lodz ghetto and creates a secret library, hidden from the Nazis.
I loved the way these women stood up to their beliefs and their love of books and reading, the characters and their stories are incredible. The new world created underground in the London tube stations blew my mind!
The author devotes a section at the end of the book detailing the extensive research which was also very interesting and includes photos, historical notes and stories coming from women of the Blitz in their own words. A truly beautiful and inspirational read every librarian and book lover should read.
Publication Date 10 March 2026
Publisher Hodder Paperbacks
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson is an incredibly beautifully written historical fiction story and it opened my eyes to events in London during the blitz, it also shed light on what happened before the holocaust in occupied Poland. The story is moving and extremely atmospheric creating the unimaginable trauma war brings.
We follow two incredibly courageous women, librarians living in different countries, both friends and facing the breakout of World War II. Both women prior to the war were part of a group of fellow librarians that studied together and created The Secret Society of Librarians, meeting up together once a year.
London 1939 - The war breaks out and London is being bombed yet Joyce is determined as an act of resistance to set up a mobile library scheme to bring books into peoples hands so they can read as a form of escapism when libraries were no longer an option or accessible for some.
Poland 1942 - Doretha a Jewish woman is imprisoned in the overcrowded and inhumane Lodz ghetto and creates a secret library, hidden from the Nazis.
I loved the way these women stood up to their beliefs and their love of books and reading, the characters and their stories are incredible. The new world created underground in the London tube stations blew my mind!
The author devotes a section at the end of the book detailing the extensive research which was also very interesting and includes photos, historical notes and stories coming from women of the Blitz in their own words. A truly beautiful and inspirational read every librarian and book lover should read.
Publication Date 10 March 2026
Publisher Hodder Paperbacks
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
I love historical fiction books set in libraries!
I loved the premise of taking books to the people when they couldn’t get to the libraries. Wartime caused many people to rise to the challenges of war, to pivot and create new ways of doing things. I liked the idea of reading as being an act of defiance and a means to strengthen for the ‘battle’ on the home front.
My highlighter was working overtime with wonderful quotes and facts.
I would have loved more connection with the characters. I felt this was sacrificed for the sake of a fact-rich plot. With so many 'librarians at war' books out there, a memorable character or two would have helped this plot.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I love historical fiction books set in libraries!
I loved the premise of taking books to the people when they couldn’t get to the libraries. Wartime caused many people to rise to the challenges of war, to pivot and create new ways of doing things. I liked the idea of reading as being an act of defiance and a means to strengthen for the ‘battle’ on the home front.
My highlighter was working overtime with wonderful quotes and facts.
I would have loved more connection with the characters. I felt this was sacrificed for the sake of a fact-rich plot. With so many 'librarians at war' books out there, a memorable character or two would have helped this plot.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 22, 2026
The Secret Society of Librarians is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming wartime novel, inspired by real people, real stories and extensive research.
With a dual narrative the story is set between London and Poland in the 1940's.
Meeting through real-life Secret Society of Librarians in London, two women form a close bond. When WWII hits they take their libraries underground creating a roaming underground library. But when one of them is taken to a concentration camp in Poland they think there is no chance of ever being reunited again.
This is an inspirational, true and compelling story about friendship, constant bravery and the power of books.
I have read many novels set during WWII and this novel is by far a unique and fascinating read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
With a dual narrative the story is set between London and Poland in the 1940's.
Meeting through real-life Secret Society of Librarians in London, two women form a close bond. When WWII hits they take their libraries underground creating a roaming underground library. But when one of them is taken to a concentration camp in Poland they think there is no chance of ever being reunited again.
This is an inspirational, true and compelling story about friendship, constant bravery and the power of books.
I have read many novels set during WWII and this novel is by far a unique and fascinating read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
June 24, 2026
easy going read and interesting in parts
August 17, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. World War two historical fiction is my favorite genre, outside of memoirs. This book was a little more "soapy" than others in the genre but still very compelling and heart breaking. I gravitated toward Dorotha's story line but overall, this was a great read. Heavy subjects.
July 29, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
"Libertatem per Lectio, Freedom through Reading"
Joyce and Dorotha, two librarians united through their love of books and their membership in the Secret Society of Librarians, find themselves separated when WWII begins. Joyce remains in London during the Blitz, wondering what has become of her dear friend Dorotha, who is suffering in a Jewish ghetto in occupied Poland. Both women take the words of Virginia Woolf to heart: "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."
While London is being bombed and libraries are being destroyed, Joyce takes it upon herself to start a mobile, underground library to allow the people to escape into books while taking refuge in the subway tunnels during the air raids. Meanwhile, as Dorotha is suffering under Nazi rule in a ghetto in Occupied Poland, she has a similar idea, starting a small, secret library in their prison itself.
This was a beautiful story of hope in the midst of profound suffering. I particularly appreciated the way the author didn't gloss over the intense despair experienced by Jewish people under Nazi oppression, however, she also expertly wove in threads of hope in a place where there seemed to be none. I also enjoyed learning about the makeshift shelters created in the subway tunnels during the Blitz in London. The camaraderie between people, forced to live side by side in the underground bomb shelters, was inspiring.
I would never compare what I have experienced with the unimaginable suffering of those who lived during World War II, but I can still relate to the freedom through reading described in this story. In books, we are able to escape into another world, and while I can't fully comprehend what these people endured, I can imagine how books could transport them to another place, even if only for a moment.
Content considerations:
-Wartime peril, described in some detail but not graphic
-Spice: none; just a couple of kisses
-Moderate occasional language
-Rape/sexual abuse referenced, but not described
"Libertatem per Lectio, Freedom through Reading"
Joyce and Dorotha, two librarians united through their love of books and their membership in the Secret Society of Librarians, find themselves separated when WWII begins. Joyce remains in London during the Blitz, wondering what has become of her dear friend Dorotha, who is suffering in a Jewish ghetto in occupied Poland. Both women take the words of Virginia Woolf to heart: "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."
While London is being bombed and libraries are being destroyed, Joyce takes it upon herself to start a mobile, underground library to allow the people to escape into books while taking refuge in the subway tunnels during the air raids. Meanwhile, as Dorotha is suffering under Nazi rule in a ghetto in Occupied Poland, she has a similar idea, starting a small, secret library in their prison itself.
This was a beautiful story of hope in the midst of profound suffering. I particularly appreciated the way the author didn't gloss over the intense despair experienced by Jewish people under Nazi oppression, however, she also expertly wove in threads of hope in a place where there seemed to be none. I also enjoyed learning about the makeshift shelters created in the subway tunnels during the Blitz in London. The camaraderie between people, forced to live side by side in the underground bomb shelters, was inspiring.
I would never compare what I have experienced with the unimaginable suffering of those who lived during World War II, but I can still relate to the freedom through reading described in this story. In books, we are able to escape into another world, and while I can't fully comprehend what these people endured, I can imagine how books could transport them to another place, even if only for a moment.
Content considerations:
-Wartime peril, described in some detail but not graphic
-Spice: none; just a couple of kisses
-Moderate occasional language
-Rape/sexual abuse referenced, but not described
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kate Thompson’s novel centres on a group of librarians separated by the Second World War who form a secret society, united by a shared commitment to getting books into the hands of civilians. At its heart, the novel is about the power of books, but also about friendship, courage, and quiet determination in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
Thompson mentions how she used her interviews of many people, and thorough research to give the novel added weight and authenticity, and this really makes some of the most emotionally heavy sections particularly effective.
The narrative moves between London and a ghetto in Poland, gradually revealing the experiences of the main characters as the war unfolds and echoes the very different, yet interconnected realities faced by people at that time.
I wasn’t always fully engaged while reading, though this may say more about my own reading history than the novel itself. Having read many books set during the Second World War, I found parts of it more familiar than surprising, and I suspect readers newer to the subject may connect with it more strongly. That said, there are moments of real emotional impact, and the author handles these really well.
Overall, I appreciated the concept of books as a form of resistance and hope and the emphasis on collective action rather than individual heroics. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Thompson mentions how she used her interviews of many people, and thorough research to give the novel added weight and authenticity, and this really makes some of the most emotionally heavy sections particularly effective.
The narrative moves between London and a ghetto in Poland, gradually revealing the experiences of the main characters as the war unfolds and echoes the very different, yet interconnected realities faced by people at that time.
I wasn’t always fully engaged while reading, though this may say more about my own reading history than the novel itself. Having read many books set during the Second World War, I found parts of it more familiar than surprising, and I suspect readers newer to the subject may connect with it more strongly. That said, there are moments of real emotional impact, and the author handles these really well.
Overall, I appreciated the concept of books as a form of resistance and hope and the emphasis on collective action rather than individual heroics. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
March 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.75/5
𝙾𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!
𝙱𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝟸 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗; 𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖.
𝙼𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜, 𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜.
𝚄𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚍𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘.
𝙰 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
𝙾𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔!
𝙱𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝟸 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗; 𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖.
𝙼𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜, 𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜.
𝚄𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚍𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘.
𝙰 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
May 13, 2026
I was gripped by this true story, set in Poland and London during the 1940s, that reveals how books sustain and support life during the most tragic times. Highly recommended!
August 24, 2026
Full Review to Follow Soon
July 4, 2026
4.25 stars!! ♥️ as a book lover, hearing the impact and importance of books during the war was so special. The woman in this story are so brave!!! I loved this
August 7, 2026
I went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars on this one.
This book had everything I love: World War II, strong female characters, books, libraries, and a story inspired by real events. I expected it to be an easy five-star read.
The only thing holding it back was the pacing. There were definitely sections that dragged, but then there were stretches where I couldn’t put it down. The ending pulled everything together and reminded me how powerful books, courage, and ordinary people can be in extraordinary times.
I’m giving it 4 stars…for now. I reserve the right to change my mind after it sits with me for a few days. 📚🕊️🔐🌍
This book had everything I love: World War II, strong female characters, books, libraries, and a story inspired by real events. I expected it to be an easy five-star read.
The only thing holding it back was the pacing. There were definitely sections that dragged, but then there were stretches where I couldn’t put it down. The ending pulled everything together and reminded me how powerful books, courage, and ordinary people can be in extraordinary times.
I’m giving it 4 stars…for now. I reserve the right to change my mind after it sits with me for a few days. 📚🕊️🔐🌍
August 9, 2026
Oh man, what a read. It was heartbreaking, heartbreaking, heartbreaking. I knew it was going to be sad (I mean its set in WWII, in London and in a ghetto in Poland). I knew our characters were going to experience loss, but boy howdy.
Joyce and Dorotha met with a group of other librarians and became fast friends. When war breaks out the two of them don't stop being librarians. Joyce sets up a mobile library, protects Dorothas sister Adela, and works hard to bring books to people who are displaced because of the bombs.
Dorotha collects books from empty homes to create a library that trades under the occupations noses. The people there are killed, sent off and slowly starving, but even the lending is slowly taken away.
It took me awhile to realize these are two different timelines (it tells us in the blurb!). And the hits kept hitting our heroines. I kept thinking to myself how much more can these two lose? It didnt stop! But it felt so close to atrocities that we are seeing right now. Didn't feel so far away.
But there was still small hopes and kindnesses throughout. The bravery of these two.
In the authors note we find out its based on true events! Read the authors note.
Joyce and Dorotha met with a group of other librarians and became fast friends. When war breaks out the two of them don't stop being librarians. Joyce sets up a mobile library, protects Dorothas sister Adela, and works hard to bring books to people who are displaced because of the bombs.
Dorotha collects books from empty homes to create a library that trades under the occupations noses. The people there are killed, sent off and slowly starving, but even the lending is slowly taken away.
It took me awhile to realize these are two different timelines (it tells us in the blurb!). And the hits kept hitting our heroines. I kept thinking to myself how much more can these two lose? It didnt stop! But it felt so close to atrocities that we are seeing right now. Didn't feel so far away.
But there was still small hopes and kindnesses throughout. The bravery of these two.
In the authors note we find out its based on true events! Read the authors note.
April 16, 2026
Well, this is surely not the book I’d like to read again. In fact when I started reading it I was thoroughly disappointed… Checking the reviews prior to it I expected a great read. Quite contrary - it was slow, disengaging, very repetitive and I had to force myself to continue. I wouldn’t given it more than just 1 star. Till nearly the very end where it finally became something that left me in tears. Surely a great ending!
The Notes afterwards - too much for me. Way too much.
So… if you’re planning to read this book - don’t expect much till the last few chapters.
The Notes afterwards - too much for me. Way too much.
So… if you’re planning to read this book - don’t expect much till the last few chapters.
Read
July 27, 2026The Secret Society of Librarians is a historical novel set during World War II. In London, Joyce Kindred is a librarian who finds her library has been bombed. It is during the Blitz, and she starts a mobile library with the help of a young Jewish refugee named Adela. In Poland, Dorotha (older sister of Adela) can no longer work as a librarian in the Polish Ghetto due to the oppression of the Nazi party. She creates a small secret library. Dorotha and Joyce are part of a group of friends from library school, and the story involves their network of friends.
I wanted to read this book because I have enjoyed Kate Thompson's other WWII novels (especially The Little Wartime Library). I read a lot of historical fiction, and am interested in the 1940's time period.
This novel is told in alternating viewpoints by Joyce and Dorotha. They face struggles both personally and as librarians, but they were very committed to the motto of their group of librarian friends:
"And thanks to Virginia Woolf, it came to her. “What about ‘Libertatem per Lectio’?” Joyce asked, her eyes shining. “It stands for ‘freedom through reading.’” (eBook location 191).
Joyce shelters in the London underground along with Adela and an older friend they look out for. The book depicts the frightening bombing that happened during the Blitz. In one dramatic scene, Joyce and her beau are visiting St. Paul's Cathedral with its huge and winding library passages and they leave just to find the city being bombed.
The hardships that Dorotha faces are unimaginable, and heartbreaking to read. She loses family, work, and lives with hunger and deprivation beyond imagination.
These women hold on to their ideals - the importance of books and reading, kindness and compassion for others, and a long lasting friendship. They are truly heroic figures.
I recommend The Secret Society of Librarians for historical fiction readers, and especially for anyone with an interest in World War II fiction.
I wanted to read this book because I have enjoyed Kate Thompson's other WWII novels (especially The Little Wartime Library). I read a lot of historical fiction, and am interested in the 1940's time period.
This novel is told in alternating viewpoints by Joyce and Dorotha. They face struggles both personally and as librarians, but they were very committed to the motto of their group of librarian friends:
"And thanks to Virginia Woolf, it came to her. “What about ‘Libertatem per Lectio’?” Joyce asked, her eyes shining. “It stands for ‘freedom through reading.’” (eBook location 191).
Joyce shelters in the London underground along with Adela and an older friend they look out for. The book depicts the frightening bombing that happened during the Blitz. In one dramatic scene, Joyce and her beau are visiting St. Paul's Cathedral with its huge and winding library passages and they leave just to find the city being bombed.
The hardships that Dorotha faces are unimaginable, and heartbreaking to read. She loses family, work, and lives with hunger and deprivation beyond imagination.
These women hold on to their ideals - the importance of books and reading, kindness and compassion for others, and a long lasting friendship. They are truly heroic figures.
I recommend The Secret Society of Librarians for historical fiction readers, and especially for anyone with an interest in World War II fiction.
July 15, 2026
3.75 rounded up for goodreads. I really applaud Thompson’s research in the topics of the Lodz ghetto, mobile libraries, the blitz; it really grounded the novel and the different viewpoints. However, the timeline changing with each chapter got to be pretty confusing and made it really hard for me to really engage with Dorotha and Joyce. I also found a lot of the language to be quite modern and this also took me out of the story. A lot of the romance was predictable and rushed. I do wish she spent a little more time growing those relationships, but in war time it is probably believable. The messaging of reading being resistance is still true today and was powerfully clear.
July 24, 2026
Another incredibly well written and heavily researched historical novel by Kate Thompson. This story follows our librarians again as they form The Secret Society of Librarians. This time we have Joyce during the blitz in London and Dorotha in the Lødz ghetto in Poland. Both of their stories are so rich in detail and I was rooting for a happy ending for both. Both women view reading as an escapism and come up with plans to get books into the hands of people no matter the circumstances. The society's motto is Libertatem per Lectio - Freedom through Reading and both women embody this statement in the book. The end of the book is so moving! Keep your tissues handy. The historical note in this book is incredibly detailed with pictures included. Definitely a must read for librarians and book lovers!
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this book.
August 26, 2026
What an amazing book! As someone who loves reading about WWII history, this book completely reignited my fascination with the time period. I truly loved the multiple character perspectives and all the unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. There were so many heartwarming and happy moments, but also plenty of heartbreaking ones that really stayed with me. I was completely invested in the characters and their journeys from beginning to end. A beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable read!
May 17, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
I applied for this one as soon as I saw a Kate Thompson book available. She does such a great job of crafting fictional stories that are based so firmly in reality and based on the true history. I am a sucker for books about library’s/ librarians and this one doesn’t disappoint.
In the darkest of times we turn to literature for strength, an escape, hope, etc. In this beautifully crafted masterpiece it doesn’t matter if you can’t make it to the library, the library will come to you as a symbol of hope. This story is moving and beautiful in so many ways but it also doesn’t hide the facts of war. Heartfelt and not without tears this was a masterpiece.
I applied for this one as soon as I saw a Kate Thompson book available. She does such a great job of crafting fictional stories that are based so firmly in reality and based on the true history. I am a sucker for books about library’s/ librarians and this one doesn’t disappoint.
In the darkest of times we turn to literature for strength, an escape, hope, etc. In this beautifully crafted masterpiece it doesn’t matter if you can’t make it to the library, the library will come to you as a symbol of hope. This story is moving and beautiful in so many ways but it also doesn’t hide the facts of war. Heartfelt and not without tears this was a masterpiece.
April 14, 2026
5 ⭐️ - a truly touching and emotional book. You can definitely see how much research and devotion the author gave to this story. I really liked the addition of historical notes with photographs at the end.
April 18, 2026
The fact that I found time to read this book in 3 days says as much as is needed about how good it is.
The balance of historical fact and fiction was perfect. The storyline was equal parts tragic and beautiful, and the pace and structure made it a book I couldn’t put down. The characters in this book will be in my thoughts for a while after finishing this one, definitely one to cause a book hangover.
The balance of historical fact and fiction was perfect. The storyline was equal parts tragic and beautiful, and the pace and structure made it a book I couldn’t put down. The characters in this book will be in my thoughts for a while after finishing this one, definitely one to cause a book hangover.
May 16, 2026
Took a while to grab your attention but once about 1/3 of the way through you could not put it down !
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Joyce is a librarian in London and is helping to bring books to many people who cannot visit the proper libraries. With the air raids happening relentlessly, and everyone rushing to get to safety she knows that there is one thing people need and that's escapism and she can provide that in the form of a good book, whether it's a murder mystery romance or historical.
Dorotha is in occupied Poland in August 1942 and she still has a sort of freedom through her reading but she is living in a shanty town in the ghetto of Lodz, where the buildings are made from old pieces of wood. Disease is spreading throughout the area and many people have died. Many people have also been rounded up especially the young and the elderly, there is no food to be had and the situation is really bad.
In December 1940 Joyce and her friend Ruby opened the first underground shelter library, after being bombed this was just the thing that was needed, giving books to read to people who have lost everything. Joyce herself lived underground on a triple bunk bed on the Bakerloo line, this was a new way of life for all, sleeping in your clothes and using the toilet facilities for a quick wash, there was even a showers van that came round every few days offering free showers and soap. Meals were often bought from local schools and the station cafe and their clothes were washed at the local launderette. It was certainly a new way of life but one thing there certainly wasn't was any privacy.
But over in the camps in Poland, especially the Lodz ghetto in Poland and Auschwitz things are really dire, the people not knowing if they will survive to see another day but even there is a secret library, where books are read till the pages almost disintegrate, and they still give hope and comfort to men, women and children.
Two different wartime experiences, but in both places the women have a love of books and are determined to keep the supply of reading material available as long as they possibly can. They both have the same aim, that is to bring books to the people and they will do their utmost to achieve it.
This book really tugs at the heartstrings, it's heartbreaking at times, it's certainly thought provoking yet at the same time an extremely good read, as always Kate Thompson knows how to write an extremely good book. I found the historical account's given by survivors of the blitz at the end of the book, to be both informative and interesting. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time, a well deserved five-star read.
Dorotha is in occupied Poland in August 1942 and she still has a sort of freedom through her reading but she is living in a shanty town in the ghetto of Lodz, where the buildings are made from old pieces of wood. Disease is spreading throughout the area and many people have died. Many people have also been rounded up especially the young and the elderly, there is no food to be had and the situation is really bad.
In December 1940 Joyce and her friend Ruby opened the first underground shelter library, after being bombed this was just the thing that was needed, giving books to read to people who have lost everything. Joyce herself lived underground on a triple bunk bed on the Bakerloo line, this was a new way of life for all, sleeping in your clothes and using the toilet facilities for a quick wash, there was even a showers van that came round every few days offering free showers and soap. Meals were often bought from local schools and the station cafe and their clothes were washed at the local launderette. It was certainly a new way of life but one thing there certainly wasn't was any privacy.
But over in the camps in Poland, especially the Lodz ghetto in Poland and Auschwitz things are really dire, the people not knowing if they will survive to see another day but even there is a secret library, where books are read till the pages almost disintegrate, and they still give hope and comfort to men, women and children.
Two different wartime experiences, but in both places the women have a love of books and are determined to keep the supply of reading material available as long as they possibly can. They both have the same aim, that is to bring books to the people and they will do their utmost to achieve it.
This book really tugs at the heartstrings, it's heartbreaking at times, it's certainly thought provoking yet at the same time an extremely good read, as always Kate Thompson knows how to write an extremely good book. I found the historical account's given by survivors of the blitz at the end of the book, to be both informative and interesting. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time, a well deserved five-star read.
May 17, 2026
This book deserves a read, although it took me a while to finish because the chapters constantly switch between characters and timelines. One chapter might follow someone in 1939, while the next jumps to a different person in 1942. I found it a bit jarring, especially with the long chapters, but overall it was an interesting story.
July 24, 2026
The Secret Society of Librarians celebrates the bravery of women during WWII and the power of books as escape and a form of resistance.
Two friends, separated by war, share a belief in the power of books and are part of a librarian support group. As war reaches London in 1939, Joyce is determined to act, and she sets up a mobile library so that readers can find comfort and escape in books. Joyce also takes responsibility for a young Jewish Refugee, Adela. In Occupied Poland, Dorotha’s life in the ghetto is focused on survival. In addition to her job as a typist for the Germans, she organizes an underground library. Her circumstances are becoming more dire with each passing day, and although she can no longer receive or send letters to her librarian friends, she keeps a journal.
The power of books as escape and a form of resistance…
What helped people survive WWII? Often when reading historical fiction, I’m reminded of the power of books and the importance of reading for earlier generations. In this story, Joyce and Dorotha risked their lives to bring the comfort of books to fellow readers. How many people today would turn to books as a source of comfort and encouragement?
How important is friendship during difficult times? One of my favorite subgenres in historical fiction is women supporting women on the home front during WWII. These stories demonstrate the power of friendship, and I never tire of them. In The Secret Society of Librarians, a group of women bond in their roles as librarians. This wasn’t exactly a secret group. It was simply a group of like-minded female librarians who formed a support group. Over time, many moved to other locations, but they continue to support each other through written communication. When WWII reaches London, Joyce relies on these friends, although she (and the others) eventually loses communication with Dorotha, which causes great concern. Will this group of friends be reunited after the war years?
What did I think of the Story Structure? The Secret Society of Librarians is told in dual perspectives between the years of 1939 and 1942. Chapters alternate as we follow the wartime experiences of Joyce and Dorotha. I found Joyce’s home front challenges and experiences most enjoyable because Dorotha’s ghetto years are tragic and heartbreaking to read about. Once I was settled into the structure and knew the characters, it was a compelling read. Will the two friends reunite after the war? [no spoilers!]
Content Consideration: ghetto and wartime conditions, bombing, difficult circumstances and choices
Kate Thompson is one of my auto-buy authors for WWII home front fiction. Although the Poland content is heartbreaking to read, fans of the author, books about libraries, and women supporting women will find a great deal to appreciate in The Secret Society of Librarians. The title might be a bit misleading because it sounds like these women might be spies or working with the resistance. There really is nothing secret about their friendship or their meetings. They are simply librarians who share reading tastes and similar opinions.
Thanks #NetGalley @GrandCentralPub | Forever for a complimentary eARC of #TheSecretSocietyOfLibrarians upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
Two friends, separated by war, share a belief in the power of books and are part of a librarian support group. As war reaches London in 1939, Joyce is determined to act, and she sets up a mobile library so that readers can find comfort and escape in books. Joyce also takes responsibility for a young Jewish Refugee, Adela. In Occupied Poland, Dorotha’s life in the ghetto is focused on survival. In addition to her job as a typist for the Germans, she organizes an underground library. Her circumstances are becoming more dire with each passing day, and although she can no longer receive or send letters to her librarian friends, she keeps a journal.
The power of books as escape and a form of resistance…
What helped people survive WWII? Often when reading historical fiction, I’m reminded of the power of books and the importance of reading for earlier generations. In this story, Joyce and Dorotha risked their lives to bring the comfort of books to fellow readers. How many people today would turn to books as a source of comfort and encouragement?
How important is friendship during difficult times? One of my favorite subgenres in historical fiction is women supporting women on the home front during WWII. These stories demonstrate the power of friendship, and I never tire of them. In The Secret Society of Librarians, a group of women bond in their roles as librarians. This wasn’t exactly a secret group. It was simply a group of like-minded female librarians who formed a support group. Over time, many moved to other locations, but they continue to support each other through written communication. When WWII reaches London, Joyce relies on these friends, although she (and the others) eventually loses communication with Dorotha, which causes great concern. Will this group of friends be reunited after the war years?
What did I think of the Story Structure? The Secret Society of Librarians is told in dual perspectives between the years of 1939 and 1942. Chapters alternate as we follow the wartime experiences of Joyce and Dorotha. I found Joyce’s home front challenges and experiences most enjoyable because Dorotha’s ghetto years are tragic and heartbreaking to read about. Once I was settled into the structure and knew the characters, it was a compelling read. Will the two friends reunite after the war? [no spoilers!]
Content Consideration: ghetto and wartime conditions, bombing, difficult circumstances and choices
Kate Thompson is one of my auto-buy authors for WWII home front fiction. Although the Poland content is heartbreaking to read, fans of the author, books about libraries, and women supporting women will find a great deal to appreciate in The Secret Society of Librarians. The title might be a bit misleading because it sounds like these women might be spies or working with the resistance. There really is nothing secret about their friendship or their meetings. They are simply librarians who share reading tastes and similar opinions.
Thanks #NetGalley @GrandCentralPub | Forever for a complimentary eARC of #TheSecretSocietyOfLibrarians upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
June 24, 2026
Look, I wanted to love this book, I really did. I do appreciate a good historical fiction that is based on well researched fact. That is about all this book has going for it and for that I give it an extra star.
Sadly, there were many moments where I wanted to give up and walk away. What kept me going is that in desperation, I eventually came here to read the reviews and saw one that said the ending was worth persisting for. But honestly, I just don’t get these 4+ star reviews????!
What made me want to give up on it? The Mills and Boon soap opera script and most of the key characters (or perhaps I should say “charicatures”) were simperingly irritating or typecast. Without giving away spoilers, the final scenes were aggravating and very difficult to believe thus undermining the storyline even further. The narration was clear but annoyingly cloy.
The best part of the book was the final section (“Historical Notes) where the author, Kate Thompson, explained her inspiration, motivation and facts she’d utilized to tell her story. If you have the patience to persist, this will be your reward.
Sadly, there were many moments where I wanted to give up and walk away. What kept me going is that in desperation, I eventually came here to read the reviews and saw one that said the ending was worth persisting for. But honestly, I just don’t get these 4+ star reviews????!
What made me want to give up on it? The Mills and Boon soap opera script and most of the key characters (or perhaps I should say “charicatures”) were simperingly irritating or typecast. Without giving away spoilers, the final scenes were aggravating and very difficult to believe thus undermining the storyline even further. The narration was clear but annoyingly cloy.
The best part of the book was the final section (“Historical Notes) where the author, Kate Thompson, explained her inspiration, motivation and facts she’d utilized to tell her story. If you have the patience to persist, this will be your reward.
April 2, 2026
My kids are always asking me what my favourite genre is and I usually say, I’ll read anything. However, I think it might be historical fiction! It combines my love with facts and history and a good story.
I discovered this at my local bookstore. I was looking for something to read while my daughter recovered from her tonsil surgery and this was perfect. I don’t think I have written down so many quotes before. Maybe I need to be one of those who annotates her books?
With this story, you have two librarian friend separated by time and distance in World War II. Joyce runs a library in London and Dorotha was sadly one of the Jews rounded up and put in the Łódź ghetto.
Both women have to come up with a more creative way to get books to the people because of the war. Joyce’s library was bombed during the Blitz so she set up a mobile library van to take around her borough. What a cool fact of history this was! There’s even photos in the back of the book as to what the van looked like.
Now Dorotha had a real struggle. She and everyone around her in the ghetto were starving and losing their will to live when her boss, Oscar, suggests she collects all the books left behind by the Jews sent to the extermination camps by the Nazis. With the help of her friend, she manages to do this and set up a library.
Of course there’s a tremendous amount of tragedy on both sides of the story. I won’t spoil anything.
However, there’s some history that I didn’t know of such as the guard protecting St Paul’s cathedral throughout the entirety of the Blitz. I love these unsung heroes of the war who protected and hid art, books, jewels, and protected landmarks often sacrificing themselves in the process.
Another part of history I didn’t know was the school bombing tragedy in Canning Town. Mothers and children waited there for 3 days even though it was only a rest stop and the people meant to move them out of there went to Camden Town instead of Canning Town. The school was bombed and so many adults and children were killed.
When the ghetto was evacuated, some Jews were left behind as a clean up crew for the Nazis and one of their last tasks was digging their own graves. Those graves at the Łódź ghetto are still empty to this day as a symbol of defiance.
And my last cool thing I learned was that there was a newspaper printed in the London Underground during the Blitz shelter called The Swiss Cottager. Look it up.
Fun fact…Wartime readers: fiction readers typically devoured their books in just four days, while non-fiction readers took three times as long. Women generally went for romance or historical fiction while men went for mysteries such as Agatha Christie novels.
Quotes:
Liberatatem per Lectio. Freedom through reading.
You have a book you have a friend.
Reading wasn’t just an act of defiance. It was the only thing left in their lives over which they had any control.
Reading reminded them that there was more to the world than Nazis: and one day, they would be gone, and books would remain.
Libraries are the very last things humans can do without
You’ll often find lampposts near Carnegie libraries. It’s a subtle reminder that libraries offer enlightenment.
Reading calms a troubled mind and whiles away the centuries. Why would you not want to be able to grand the gift of peace and time travel?
She knew, more certain than ever before, that books were portals to other worlds, capable brewing magic in even the darkest realm. And that sharing stories was a fundamental part of who she was.
You can’t hear the bombs if you’re lost in a good book.
If they could bomb innocent civilians with the eyes of the world in them, what were they doing in secret?
Hitler hates women wearing lipstick.
Books, libraries, education, knowledge, culture and learning are all the enemy of dictatorship and the foundations of freedom and democracy.
A library’s worth is measured by the people who use it. It doesn’t become a place of value until a hand slips a book from the stacks and opens it. Without readers, books are meaningless.
Introducing books to readers is a form of magic, is it not?
People without books are like houses without windows.
Reading is not only an escape, but also a discipline of the mind, wouldn’t you say?
Reading is in itself an act of resistance.
One of the perks of old age is not giving a shit who one offends.
Old things are better than new things because they contain stories.
Side books to read: A Room of One's Own by Virginia Wolfe, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I discovered this at my local bookstore. I was looking for something to read while my daughter recovered from her tonsil surgery and this was perfect. I don’t think I have written down so many quotes before. Maybe I need to be one of those who annotates her books?
With this story, you have two librarian friend separated by time and distance in World War II. Joyce runs a library in London and Dorotha was sadly one of the Jews rounded up and put in the Łódź ghetto.
Both women have to come up with a more creative way to get books to the people because of the war. Joyce’s library was bombed during the Blitz so she set up a mobile library van to take around her borough. What a cool fact of history this was! There’s even photos in the back of the book as to what the van looked like.
Now Dorotha had a real struggle. She and everyone around her in the ghetto were starving and losing their will to live when her boss, Oscar, suggests she collects all the books left behind by the Jews sent to the extermination camps by the Nazis. With the help of her friend, she manages to do this and set up a library.
Of course there’s a tremendous amount of tragedy on both sides of the story. I won’t spoil anything.
However, there’s some history that I didn’t know of such as the guard protecting St Paul’s cathedral throughout the entirety of the Blitz. I love these unsung heroes of the war who protected and hid art, books, jewels, and protected landmarks often sacrificing themselves in the process.
Another part of history I didn’t know was the school bombing tragedy in Canning Town. Mothers and children waited there for 3 days even though it was only a rest stop and the people meant to move them out of there went to Camden Town instead of Canning Town. The school was bombed and so many adults and children were killed.
When the ghetto was evacuated, some Jews were left behind as a clean up crew for the Nazis and one of their last tasks was digging their own graves. Those graves at the Łódź ghetto are still empty to this day as a symbol of defiance.
And my last cool thing I learned was that there was a newspaper printed in the London Underground during the Blitz shelter called The Swiss Cottager. Look it up.
Fun fact…Wartime readers: fiction readers typically devoured their books in just four days, while non-fiction readers took three times as long. Women generally went for romance or historical fiction while men went for mysteries such as Agatha Christie novels.
Quotes:
Liberatatem per Lectio. Freedom through reading.
You have a book you have a friend.
Reading wasn’t just an act of defiance. It was the only thing left in their lives over which they had any control.
Reading reminded them that there was more to the world than Nazis: and one day, they would be gone, and books would remain.
Libraries are the very last things humans can do without
You’ll often find lampposts near Carnegie libraries. It’s a subtle reminder that libraries offer enlightenment.
Reading calms a troubled mind and whiles away the centuries. Why would you not want to be able to grand the gift of peace and time travel?
She knew, more certain than ever before, that books were portals to other worlds, capable brewing magic in even the darkest realm. And that sharing stories was a fundamental part of who she was.
You can’t hear the bombs if you’re lost in a good book.
If they could bomb innocent civilians with the eyes of the world in them, what were they doing in secret?
Hitler hates women wearing lipstick.
Books, libraries, education, knowledge, culture and learning are all the enemy of dictatorship and the foundations of freedom and democracy.
A library’s worth is measured by the people who use it. It doesn’t become a place of value until a hand slips a book from the stacks and opens it. Without readers, books are meaningless.
Introducing books to readers is a form of magic, is it not?
People without books are like houses without windows.
Reading is not only an escape, but also a discipline of the mind, wouldn’t you say?
Reading is in itself an act of resistance.
One of the perks of old age is not giving a shit who one offends.
Old things are better than new things because they contain stories.
Side books to read: A Room of One's Own by Virginia Wolfe, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
April 5, 2026
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this when I started it. I read Kate's first one, The Little Underground Library and as yet, have not read The Wartime Book Club. The reason being that , from the beginning, the story gets going immediately and at the break out of the war. However, having thought I was going to take my time to read it, the way it was written found me being able to continue quicker than I had expected. For me, it is also better than the The Little Underground Library and that takes some beating. See my review of this in my Goodreads list.
What I particularly like about how Kate writes is that, when she is describing an injury or a death or an atrocity, she doesn't spend a long time detailing it all; much of it is left to the imagination and quite honestly, she gives you all the description you need. There is also nothing gory, just the facts. When I was 16 and had to read a book from the English department, I remember reading Fair Stood The Wind For France, H E Bates and that was quite the opposite. I know readers need to be made aware of these atrocities but I don't always think it's necessary to go as far as some authors do.
I also really enjoyed reading about the libraries, knowing that they all had existed then and so the details were real. For me, that made it even more special. Also having been out on Mobile libraries and absolutely loving it, reading about the reason the one in this novel started, made me realise this was why and just how special they are and how so often, they go unappreciated. Reading about Joyce and Adela travelling round, made it even more alive for me . I can't put it into words how joyful it felt and knowing that I have been part of this type of library work. It made me feel emotional and proud. As with The Little Underground Library, this is partly a love letter to Mobiles as well as to all those working to maintain a service during the war and to those held in ghetto's in Poland who were also doing their utmost to bring reading to the people. It made me ask myself, " would I or could I have done this then? ". I found it hard enough during Covid and although the people in this story are fictional, I know they are based on real people and I take my hat off to them. This novel is also about telling other stories from the war and how the people throughout Europe suffered and it is so very important that we have brilliant writers like Kate keeping doing it. This is why, fiction as well as non fiction is vital.
" Libertatum per Lectio." This means freedom through reading. This sentence repeats through all the chapters and stands for so much. Reading to free your mind through horrible things in the main but also it teaches people about things that brings them knowledge which in itself can bring freedom.
On page 163, she writes, ' "If you want to know where anything is, ask a library Assistant." '
It has to be said, from being a young girl, before I even thought about working in a library, my parents would always ask me where something was or what date was mentioned and I always knew. Maybe even then, it was my destiny. Once again, this book feels so personal.
This book is a big contender for my book of the year. It is so so good. Not many books make me choke at the end but this one did. I felt so emotional after reading it and also so proud of all those many people over the years who have or do work in libraries. I have worked with many and in many and once again, I thank Kate for writing this. This is the year of reading and while many people buy books, swap books and read digitally, if you are lucky enough to have a local library, please try and use it and give it support. They are a precious community resource. For example, you may not be sure you want to buy the book that is really expensive, borrow it first, it will save you money which is also very necessary at the moment. This is a fantastic book.
What I particularly like about how Kate writes is that, when she is describing an injury or a death or an atrocity, she doesn't spend a long time detailing it all; much of it is left to the imagination and quite honestly, she gives you all the description you need. There is also nothing gory, just the facts. When I was 16 and had to read a book from the English department, I remember reading Fair Stood The Wind For France, H E Bates and that was quite the opposite. I know readers need to be made aware of these atrocities but I don't always think it's necessary to go as far as some authors do.
I also really enjoyed reading about the libraries, knowing that they all had existed then and so the details were real. For me, that made it even more special. Also having been out on Mobile libraries and absolutely loving it, reading about the reason the one in this novel started, made me realise this was why and just how special they are and how so often, they go unappreciated. Reading about Joyce and Adela travelling round, made it even more alive for me . I can't put it into words how joyful it felt and knowing that I have been part of this type of library work. It made me feel emotional and proud. As with The Little Underground Library, this is partly a love letter to Mobiles as well as to all those working to maintain a service during the war and to those held in ghetto's in Poland who were also doing their utmost to bring reading to the people. It made me ask myself, " would I or could I have done this then? ". I found it hard enough during Covid and although the people in this story are fictional, I know they are based on real people and I take my hat off to them. This novel is also about telling other stories from the war and how the people throughout Europe suffered and it is so very important that we have brilliant writers like Kate keeping doing it. This is why, fiction as well as non fiction is vital.
" Libertatum per Lectio." This means freedom through reading. This sentence repeats through all the chapters and stands for so much. Reading to free your mind through horrible things in the main but also it teaches people about things that brings them knowledge which in itself can bring freedom.
On page 163, she writes, ' "If you want to know where anything is, ask a library Assistant." '
It has to be said, from being a young girl, before I even thought about working in a library, my parents would always ask me where something was or what date was mentioned and I always knew. Maybe even then, it was my destiny. Once again, this book feels so personal.
This book is a big contender for my book of the year. It is so so good. Not many books make me choke at the end but this one did. I felt so emotional after reading it and also so proud of all those many people over the years who have or do work in libraries. I have worked with many and in many and once again, I thank Kate for writing this. This is the year of reading and while many people buy books, swap books and read digitally, if you are lucky enough to have a local library, please try and use it and give it support. They are a precious community resource. For example, you may not be sure you want to buy the book that is really expensive, borrow it first, it will save you money which is also very necessary at the moment. This is a fantastic book.
May 7, 2026
I have read a number of Kate Thompson’s novels, and every one of them has been enthralling; this one is no exception. Apologies for the long review, but there is so much to say about this absorbing novel.
A group of women librarians who first met at library training in 1936 are having the third annual meeting of the Secret Society of Librarians when the British Prime Minister declares war on Nazi Germany. They vow to always ensure that their communities can access books, their only wartime rule: ‘if people can’t get to the books, we take books to the people’. They are scattered all over the UK from Exeter to Jersey; from Coventry to Plymouth to London, with one member living in Poland. They decide to stay in touch via a monthly circular. Each chapter begins with one of these bulletins.
Some of these librarians we have met before in Kate’s previous books, but you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this one. As in her previous novels, Kate celebrates the importance of books and reading: Reading wasn’t just an act of defiance. It was the only thing left in their lives over which they had any control. And this, after she reads Pepys’s diary entry about the Fire of London to an enthralled crowd in Swiss Cottage underground shelter as the bombs dropped: Pepys’s writing was unleashing a storm of emotions in the Blitz shelterers that had remained buried until now. But perhaps that was the power of a good book? The author had spoken to their experiences, his prose chiming so perfectly with their own feelings, it was as if he had found a time machine from 1666 to 1940, and it occurred to Joyce then, that books weren’t simply paper, ink and glue. They were portals to other worlds.
She also celebrates the women whose tenacity, bravery and chutzpah ensured that books were put into the hands of those who needed them.
So much of the detail in this book has come from first-hand experience. Kate has interviewed as many survivors as possible and uses their experiences to make this book sing with authenticity. We grow to love these women who risk their lives to provide much-needed respite and distraction from the horror around them.
The main two narrators are Joyce from Camden Library in London and Dorotha in Poland. Joyce’s experiences during the Blitz are harrowing, and many of us are aware of the horrors of London during the blitz. However, it’s Dorotha’s story that is the most shocking. Together with a quarter of a million Jews, Dorotha was condemned to Lodz ghetto, often described as ‘hell on earth’. Only 5 per cent survived the war. How she not only survives, but creates a hidden library, providing books for her fellow prisoners, is nothing short of extraordinary. The deprivations experienced in the ghetto are horrific. Books provide solace; they remind the reader of their humanity and they provide a short respite from the hell in which they find themselves.
There are so many details that Kate’s meticulous research reveals that I found fascinating. Here are a few that piqued my interest:
*Most Carnegie libraries have a lamppost nearby as a subtle reminder that libraries offer enlightenment.
*London’s first mobile library began in response to libraries being destroyed by the Blitz.
*There was a dedicated team of volunteers called The Watch who lived at St Paul’s Cathedral during the Blitz, ensuring any incendiaries were extinguished before they could do any damage.
*Jewish orphans who had survived the ghettos, camps and death marches in Europe were brought to Lake Windermere to help them recover. (The Windermere Library has an excellent permanent display about this wonderful scheme which I was fortunate enough to see recently.)
As always, Kate provides copious Historical Notes, notes from interviews with women of the blitz and an extensive list of further reading and sources.
Another outstanding historic novel from Kate Thompson that I highly recommend.
A group of women librarians who first met at library training in 1936 are having the third annual meeting of the Secret Society of Librarians when the British Prime Minister declares war on Nazi Germany. They vow to always ensure that their communities can access books, their only wartime rule: ‘if people can’t get to the books, we take books to the people’. They are scattered all over the UK from Exeter to Jersey; from Coventry to Plymouth to London, with one member living in Poland. They decide to stay in touch via a monthly circular. Each chapter begins with one of these bulletins.
Some of these librarians we have met before in Kate’s previous books, but you don’t need to have read them to enjoy this one. As in her previous novels, Kate celebrates the importance of books and reading: Reading wasn’t just an act of defiance. It was the only thing left in their lives over which they had any control. And this, after she reads Pepys’s diary entry about the Fire of London to an enthralled crowd in Swiss Cottage underground shelter as the bombs dropped: Pepys’s writing was unleashing a storm of emotions in the Blitz shelterers that had remained buried until now. But perhaps that was the power of a good book? The author had spoken to their experiences, his prose chiming so perfectly with their own feelings, it was as if he had found a time machine from 1666 to 1940, and it occurred to Joyce then, that books weren’t simply paper, ink and glue. They were portals to other worlds.
She also celebrates the women whose tenacity, bravery and chutzpah ensured that books were put into the hands of those who needed them.
So much of the detail in this book has come from first-hand experience. Kate has interviewed as many survivors as possible and uses their experiences to make this book sing with authenticity. We grow to love these women who risk their lives to provide much-needed respite and distraction from the horror around them.
The main two narrators are Joyce from Camden Library in London and Dorotha in Poland. Joyce’s experiences during the Blitz are harrowing, and many of us are aware of the horrors of London during the blitz. However, it’s Dorotha’s story that is the most shocking. Together with a quarter of a million Jews, Dorotha was condemned to Lodz ghetto, often described as ‘hell on earth’. Only 5 per cent survived the war. How she not only survives, but creates a hidden library, providing books for her fellow prisoners, is nothing short of extraordinary. The deprivations experienced in the ghetto are horrific. Books provide solace; they remind the reader of their humanity and they provide a short respite from the hell in which they find themselves.
There are so many details that Kate’s meticulous research reveals that I found fascinating. Here are a few that piqued my interest:
*Most Carnegie libraries have a lamppost nearby as a subtle reminder that libraries offer enlightenment.
*London’s first mobile library began in response to libraries being destroyed by the Blitz.
*There was a dedicated team of volunteers called The Watch who lived at St Paul’s Cathedral during the Blitz, ensuring any incendiaries were extinguished before they could do any damage.
*Jewish orphans who had survived the ghettos, camps and death marches in Europe were brought to Lake Windermere to help them recover. (The Windermere Library has an excellent permanent display about this wonderful scheme which I was fortunate enough to see recently.)
As always, Kate provides copious Historical Notes, notes from interviews with women of the blitz and an extensive list of further reading and sources.
Another outstanding historic novel from Kate Thompson that I highly recommend.
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