The Secret Society of Librarians

by Kate Thompson

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Books About Books, World War II, Drama, British Literature

464 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 21, 2026

About the author

Kate 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...

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun]

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.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️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.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy going read and interesting in parts

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[what.karli.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 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)

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Anna Crichton · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Irina · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Abby | Life-Giving Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

(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

[Michelle Matejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Shakara Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emily Kitto · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lorraine Da Horta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to grab your attention but once about 1/3 of the way through you could not put it down !

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alison McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Victoria Sigsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amy Capewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

England, 1936, a group of librarians meet as they prepare to take their Librarianship exams and make a pact to stay in contact, forming The Secret Society of Librarians. Dorotha and Joyce, two women with completely different personalities, bond over a shared love of Virginia Woolf’s A Room Of One’s Own and become firm friends.
Little could they know that just a few short years later their worlds, once ordered by the Dewey Decimal System, would be torn apart as the world once again tumbles into war.

Amongst the members of the Secret Society, Joyce returns to her library in London, Grace to her library on Jersey and Dorotha to her beautiful library in Poland, where the effects of war would be felt the most fiercely.
In a final, desperate act before the borders close Dorotha manages to arrange for her little sister, Adela, to travel to England and stay with Joyce.

Regardless of their geographical location they each face their own personal wartime struggles, but one determined pledge stands firm - if people cannot get to the books then they must take the books to the people.

At the beginning of war the librarians are still able to exchange updates and bulletins but as the months pass and Dorotha is moved to the Lodz Ghetto, communication is lost and we follow Joyce’s and Dorotha’s stories independently.

The Secret Society of Librarians really does explore some of the horrors of war - from the loss of houses and rationing in London to the inhumane and utterly horrific treatment of Jews in Poland under Hitler’s rule.
There are some truly heartbreaking moments that will make you shudder, knowing that the descriptions of what Dorotha experiences are based on real life events.

But throughout it all, each of the women holds fast to belief that books give us hope and connect us to others even in the darkest of times. Joyce - her library bombed, launches a mobile library service to bring books to the people of Camden. Dorotha, on the verge of starvation, living with the grief of losing family and friends, sets up a secret library in a stationery cupboard in the Office of Vital Statistics.

The Secret Society of Librarians is one of those rare gems - a book which looks interesting but turns out to be such a beautiful read that you simply never want it to end. The characters leap off the page and burrow their way into into your heart. I found myself unable to put this book down until the wee small hours until I knew the fate of Joyce, Dorothy and Adela.
I found myself experiencing the full range of emotions - from laughter to tears and the scenes and characters were described so perfectly that I really felt that I knew each of the women.

There is so much to discuss throughout this book - from the community formed during the Blitz, the resilience of each man, woman and child who lived through the war to the horrors of the Holocaust. This would make a perfect book club read - providing a wealth of conversational opportunities.

This is the first book I have read by Kate Thompson but it will most certainly not be the last. I am already browsing her back-catalogue to find my next read.

The Secret Society of Librarians is a truly beautiful book and a must read. I suspect that this will be one of my highlights of 2026.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

The Secret Society of Librarians is the first novel I have read by author Kate Thompson.  Set during World War II, this is a historical fiction "must read" for fans of books like The Nightingale or The Book of Lost Names.

Inspired by real life heroes who risked their lives to set up underground libraries during the darkest days of World War II,  The Secret Society of Librarians  focuses on two women whose unofficial sorority around their love for books and reading evolved into something they could never imagine - providing an escapism from the terror that thousands of people were living in daily.

 Joyce, a resident of London, and Dorothea, a Jewish woman from Poland  come from two walks of life - but had one thing in common - their love of books. When war breaks out in the summer of 1939, both Joyce and Dorothea are forced to reckon with the surviving.  Dorothea, living under Nazi occupation in a ghetto in Poland under dire conditions and Jenny, surviving bomb raids during the Blitz.

Dorothea's story is absolutely heartbreaking, but resilient at the same time. She is determined to survive, and do the best she can to protect those she can. She watches her own world deteriorate with death all around her while across the fence, she sees a very different world.  

Joyce is the same. Unlike other WW2 historical fictions I have read, this is one of the few books that I have read that captures the destruction and devastation that the German bombing raids. Furthermore, as readers, we get a sense of the class distinction. There is a line in the book that describes how families on London's East side survived in somewhat unsafe shelters while some of the upperclass would be sheltering in the Ritz Carlton.

As an avid reader of World War II historical fiction,  I have read many books of courageous women during this period of history, but this is the first book I have read about the underground libraries. I give this book five stars because I could not put it down. Dorothea and Joyce represent the untold story of unlikely heroes - librarians.  

This book is also a reminder of the power books have on our society, freedom and empowerment.  By banning and burning books, Nazis believed this demonstrated their beliefs over other cultures and communities. Their ideologies were of the right while others were wrong.  Sadly this is something we are continuing to see today with the rise of banned book efforts.

If you are like me who yearns for stories like this one, then I highly recommend reading this book. We need to be reminded that the things that we take advantage of today, ie libraries are there because of people like Joyce of Dorothea.

And finally, I want to close with another character and one that comes up often in The Secret Society of Librarians:

"When the Day of Judgment dawns and people, great and small, come marching in to receive their heavenly rewards, the Almighty will gaze upon the mere bookworms and say to Peter, “Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them. They have loved reading."

Thank you Kate for writing this book, and for giving these unknown heroes the recognization they deserve.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story from a Holocaust survivor of two ghettos and three concentration camps, the book tells the story of a secret library realized from some 30,000 books taken from family heirlooms to become prized and catalogued.

The book follows two librarians - best friends separated by the war, Joyce Kindred in war torn London and Dorothea Berkowicz in the Łódź ghetto.

It begins when during the third annual meeting of the Secret Society of Librarians (whose members met in 1936 at a training) Neville Chamberlain declares war on Nazi Germany and the women vow “if people can’t get to the books, we bring the books to the people.” They plan to communicate monthly via a circular.

Each chapter begins with one of the society’s monthly bulletins. They alternate between the different POVs ofJoyce and Dorotha. Their stories are harrowing but Dorotha’s by far is horrific in the telling. Joyce establishes a mobile library in Blitz-battered London. Over a million books have been lost to bombings, so news of a mobile library is a morale booster - books to read to fight Hitler. Condemned to the Łódź ghetto (“often described as hell on earth” and where “only 5% survived), Dorotha puts together a hidden library for others in the ghetto. Near the book’s end, it jumps thirty years forward when our protagonists are getting ready to publish a book of their messages, they meet to renew their friendship leaving me, the reader, with this quote: “Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt, that you can set upon the freedom of the mind.” Each of them was dedicated to keeping their friends alive through books.

The book ends with Historical Notes, attributing to the research the author put into this marvelous book. There’s a super picture of a hulking mobile book bus - nothing fancy but it did the job! The author records the words of ghetto and concentration survivors in her Notes as well. Don’t miss this part of the book.

The book celebrates the importance of books and reading - for those in war and the ghettos and camps reading was not just an act of defiance but something they had control over: choice. The book also celebrates the women who had the strength and chutzpah to get books to the people.

Finally as the author writes in her Notes, we “must keep listening to the survivors of the Holocaust” which today as they die off I would add we must not forget them. We cannot erase history! I am of that post WWII generation - when I was 17, D-day had happened only twenty years before. My youngest grandchild at 15 is 67 years removed from that date. Memory is fragile and in this county where we seem to disdain learning, remembering the past is crucial.

I gave this book five stars because of its focus on a true story that might have been forgotten had not the author met a Holocaust survivor, for its in-depth research to ensure her fictional story was honest, and for its marvelous storytelling.

My thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me access to this ARC.

[Kelly Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If people can't get to the books, we take the books to the people"

What can I say about this book other than FABULOUS! Another winner from Kate Thompson!
Eight librarians who met at a summer workshop before the war became fast friends and formed the "Secret Society" - Dorthea in Łódź, Poland, Joyce in Camden and Clara in Bethnal Green, both in East London. Jo in Exeter, Beth in Coventry, Evelyn in Plymouth, Annie in Barnstaple, and Grace on Jersey in the Channel Islands. As war looms they agree to keep in touch via missives that they name Libertatem per Lectio – freedom through reading. Most chapters start with one such entry, many from Dorthea who quickly becomes a prisoner in the Łódź Ghetto where she eventually curates a hidden library of books left behind by those deported to death camps.
As the Luftwaffe carries out the Blitz on London from Sept 1940 to May 1941 the other librarians do their part to provide books to harried Brits who crave the escape that reading provides. Joyce who along with Dorthea makes up the two main character storylines procures a large van able to hold 2,000 books and together with Dorthea's younger sister travels to shelters, rest centres and Home Guard units around London's East End.
Both of these libraries – hidden in Łódź and travelling on wheels – were real occurrences during WWII and the author does a remarkable job pulling the reader into both worlds with the help of a cast of wonderful fictional and real life characters.
I read this book immediately after finishing A MOTHER'S PROMISE, another 5 star read from this author but a big step out of her usual HF comfort zone of women in wartime England. Do yourself a favour and read that important memoir of Holocaust survivor Renee Salt (nee Berkowitz) before reading this selection as Renee's story is woven into Dorthea's storyline in the Łódź Ghetto in both small details and significant nods, like the name Berkowitz. While you are at it pick up THE WARTIME BOOK CLUB so you will know what Grace is up to on occupied Jersey, and THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARY which follows Clara into the tunnels of nearby Bethnal Green when their beautiful Carnegie Library falls victim to the first day of the Blitz. None of these are necessary for the enjoyment you will get out of THE SECRET SOCIETY but all three help fill in the background and I so enjoyed reconnecting, even a smidge, with Grace and Clara.
I know of no other HF author who provides as much info in their Author's Note and other historical sections. There is no doubt that Ms Thompson loves writing about women in wartime and thrives on meeting the real life people who endured. "We lived collectively, not individually" is something she hears often from those intrepid East Enders. I absolutely adored this book!

[Stefani Higdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love historical fiction that highlights the resilience of women during World War II, this is absolutely worth picking up. Set in 1939 and inspired by a real-life story the author uncovered in 2022, this novel follows Joyce, Dorotha, and a remarkable group of women connected through London’s libraries during the war. The historical note at the end made the entire story feel even more powerful knowing pieces of it were rooted in truth.

What stood out most to me was the way the book shows libraries as more than just buildings full of books. One line says a library is “freedom and escape,” and that idea runs through the entire novel. Joyce’s traveling library storyline was one of my favorite parts, especially seeing donations pour in from around the world to help save it. I also loved the focus on women preserving books, stories, and hope during unimaginable circumstances. Learning that over a million books were lost during this time was honestly heartbreaking.

Dorotha’s storyline was especially emotional. Her relationship with Oscar, the hidden room behind the bookcase, and the lengths people went to survive added so much tension and heart to the story. There are also heavier topics throughout the novel, including assault, pregnancy, war trauma, and the realities of hiding during the Holocaust, so definitely check trigger warnings if needed.

I really appreciated that this book explored more than concentration camps alone. It dives into life inside the ghettos, the Blitz, underground networks, and the everyday courage of ordinary women. The sections about the women working through the Blitz were fascinating and honestly the kind of overlooked historical stories I always want more of in fiction.

My only frustration was the ending reveal surrounding Dorotha. While I was happy with where things landed, I spent part of the ending yelling internally about why she stayed away from everyone for thirty years. Still, the final twists and Oscar bringing Dorotha’s diary to the signing tied things together in a satisfying and emotional way.

Overall, this was a moving story about love, survival, friendship, and the power books hold during even the darkest times. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys WWII historical fiction with strong female characters, hidden histories, and stories centered around books and libraries.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Kate Thompson, and NetGalley for this ARC

[Laura Carter | Those Book Besties · Rating 5 out of 5]

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The Secret Society of Librarians is one of those historical fiction novels that stays with you long after you've turned the final page. 📚💛 It was beautifully written, incredibly moving, and opened my eyes to so many aspects of World War II that I hadn't learned about before.

The story follows two remarkable women—both librarians, both friends, and both facing the unimaginable realities of war in different countries. Before the war, they were members of the Secret Society of Librarians, a group of friends brought together by their shared love of books who promised to reunite every year. 📖✨

In London during the Blitz, Joyce refuses to let war take away people's access to stories and creates a mobile library, bringing books to those who desperately need a little hope and escapism amidst the bombing. 💙

Meanwhile, in occupied Poland, Doretha—a Jewish woman imprisoned in the Łódź Ghetto—secretly creates a hidden library despite the unimaginable dangers surrounding her. ❤️

I loved how this novel celebrates the power of books, libraries, and the quiet courage of ordinary people. The resilience these women showed in the face of unimaginable hardship was inspiring, and their determination to preserve stories and knowledge felt like its own act of resistance. 🥹📚
One of my favorite parts was learning about the underground communities that formed in London's Tube stations during the Blitz. It was fascinating, heartbreaking, and something I knew very little about before reading this book.

The author's note at the end was also exceptional. The historical research, photographs, and firsthand accounts from women who lived through the Blitz added another layer of depth to an already powerful story. 📜✨

If you love historical fiction that teaches you something new while completely immersing you in its world, I can't recommend this one enough. It's a beautiful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit—and of the incredible power books have to bring hope, even in humanity's darkest moments. 💕📚

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the complimentary advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💛

[Ariana Ochoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am no stranger to Kate Thompson's wartime librarian books, so when I discovered that this new book connected all the others, I was very eager to read it.

The Secret Society of Librarians is a captivating novel about a group of librarians whose bond spans their troubled time during WWII. The story is focused on two librarians, Joyce and Dorotha.

1939: Joyce is a librarian in Camden, England who has risen in the ranks to take the helm of the library service that is providing a momentary escape for all the men and women working during the Blitz.

1942: Dorotha, the founder of the Secret Society of Librarians is facing imprisonment in Poland in a ghetto where she clandestinely puts together a secret library as a beacon of hope for those alongside her in captivity. Her work is dangerous and if found out, could end in her death.

Through their travails, both women find hope, connection, and share their love of books to those around them.

Although the story was wonderful, I would be remiss if I did not mention the graphic scenes that accompany the atrocities of war. You will come across the macabre in the Nazis dealings with the Jewish people in the ghetto and also with those whose lives were lost in the Blitz. Kate Thompson does not shy away from these subjects because the story needs to be told, but with each book she writes, I fall hopelessly enamored with her stories of wartime resilience. I did not realize that the secret library in Poland was a true story, so I am glad to have found this book. I loved every bit of it.

If you are a fan of WWII historical fiction, you will love this book

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.

[LibraryNinja_Beritk · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Secret Society of Librarians, Kate Thompson has delivered a masterpiece of historical fiction. Set during the Second World War and inspired by real people and stories, Ms. Thompson delves into the world of underground libraries that were prevalent in London, as well as in the Łódź ghetto in Poland. The extraordinary amount of research, time and compassion that has gone into this novel is evident as we follow several London librarians, focusing on Joyce in London and Dorotha in Poland.

Both ladies are enormous fans of Virginia Woolf and work tirelessly to deliver books despite the dire consequences they face. London is bombed nightly during the Blitz, and Dorotha must endure the incomparable horrors of living in one of the largest ghettos in occupied Poland as a Jewish woman. The historical background is rich in detail, sparing none that is too gruesome. Life in Poland and the daily atrocities suffered are still incomprehensible to me, yet I can't help but fall deeply in love with Joyce and Dorotha. I admire them not only for their idealism and zeal in promoting reading, but also for their sheer determination to outlive the horrors of the time. Every chapter is fraught with peril, and this book instantly transports the reader to 1939, which is the hallmark of a great author.

It's a beautifully rich story of librarians, the keepers of the books and is remarkably resonate in the times we live now. Both the forward and the endnotes are a vast treasure of knowledge and I'm profoundly grateful for Kate Thompson's writing and talent.

I'm deeply grateful to Kate Thompson and Forever (Grand Central) for allowing me the opportunity to read this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#bibliophile #grandcentral #libraryninja📚

[Angela Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word what a heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking in equal measure book.

I have read the previous two books about libraries and librarians in WW2 written by Kate Thompson - this one was exceptional and brought together Clara and Grace from Bethnal Green and Jersey respectively together with Joyce and other librarians scattered round the country.
This was itself a clever way of bringing those stories to a close and introducing Joyce Kindred in Camden Town and Dorotha Berkowicz in Lodz in Nazi occupied Poland.

Joyce had to undergo the nightly barrage from The Blitz, the loss of lives and homes including her own and Dorotha’s life in a Jewish Ghetto and the absolute and complete inhumanity of man towards man.

I often read in bed before I go to sleep - this is a book that often got put down as I struggled to contemplate the lives that either woman encountered
Joyce had been a guarantor for Adela - Dorotha’s sister who was able to flee Poland only to be treated in the worst way by her employer.

So this is a tale of strong women. War and the resilience of people who lose everything. The tale of the people that were sheltering in a school and what happened is well documented but equally harrowing. Along the way Joyce and Dorotha meet Harry and Oscar who have pivotal roles in their lives and have their own demons to conquer.

There is a long section at the end of the book detailing the authors notes, her research trips and was really interesting and showed the depth of commitment that Kate Thompson puts into her work.

A throughly awe inspiring book that will stay with me for a long time I am sure

Thank you

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson focuses on the stories of two women, Joyce and Dorotha, as well as their friends and family. First we meet Joyce Kindred, a librarian in London and a member of the Secret Society of Librarians. When WWII breaks out Joyce sets up a mobile library scheme in order to get books to those who cannot visit a librbary. Joyce also shelters a young Jewish refugee, Adela, who is Dorotha’s sister. Dorotha’s family was able to get the youngest Adela to safety but could not afford for the rest of the family to follow her and instead they remain in occupied Poland, in the Lodz ghetto. Dorotha, who was also a librarian before the war and part of the Secret Society of Librarians, sets ups a book exchange in secret, helping her neighbours find escape from their exhausting and dangerous realties.

This book is a reminder of how important books are with respect to both the knowledge imparted in them and the escape they provide the reader. This book also demonstrates to the reader that reading truly was an act of resistance during WWII but also today where we see book censorship continuing which both suppresses ideas and information. It also is a beautiful reminder of how important librarians are. The author did an excellent job researching the story and the historical notes at the end are well worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for reaching out with an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on true World War II stories, The Secret Society of Librarians is a riveting and emotionally crushing novel told from different perspectives from two locations, England and occupied Poland. The secret group included librarians from various locations in England and founder Dorotha who was in Poland. They had met previously at a library summer school and became fast friends. I like the epistolary correspondence which gave the members encouragement even in the direst of situations. Dorotha's story is particularly harrowing.

During the horrors of the war, books and libraries to some may have seemed trivial yet they were a means of temporary escape and freedom. The women opened Britain's first underground shelter library and even a mobile library. Throughout, they maintained their humour and passion for giving their patrons hope. The juxtaposition of the suffering Jews on one side of the fence in the Ghetto and Germans and Poles on the other side is stark and hideous and very real. Trading a warm cardigan for a cabbage stood out in my mind. The Women of the Blitz at the end of the book is sobering and personal, a powerful addition. The photos really tugged at my heart. Author Kate Thompson met and became friends with Holocaust survivor Renee Salt, a true heroine in my view.

World War II Historical Fiction novels can become similar in ways after reading so much of it but this one is different. The author goes the extra mile with thoughtful and thorough research. It really is something special, well worth your time.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read to about 25% (around page 82) before deciding to DNF. I was really interested in the premise and I typically love historical fiction, especially stories set during WWII, but this one didn’t fully work for me.

I found it difficult to connect with the characters early on. The introduction felt a bit too brief, and I wanted more time with the characters before the war began to better understand who they were. Because of that, I had trouble forming a strong emotional connection, and even basic details about them didn’t fully stick.

The pacing also felt rushed, particularly at the beginning. Major events and shifts seemed to happen very quickly, which made the story feel compressed rather than immersive. I also found some of the transitions jarring… for example, moving quickly from intense wartime scenes into everyday library moments made it harder for me to stay grounded in the story.

One of the things I love most about historical fiction is feeling deeply connected to the characters and their experiences. In this case, everything moved so quickly that I didn’t feel like I had the chance to fully settle into those moments.

That said, readers who prefer faster-paced historical fiction or stories that move quickly through major events may enjoy this more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.