The Underground Library

Lovers of hopeful historical fiction, books about books, and Blitz-era stories, take note: Ryan’s latest tracks three women who are brought together by London’s Bethnal Green library in the early days of the Blitz in WWII London. Juliet is the newly appointed Deputy Librarian, who shocks patrons (and her male bosses) by moving the branch to the nearest tube station to evade Nazi bombers—and bring residents some measure of solace and distraction during the raids. Katie is a young library clerk with a secret, whose imminent departure for university is surprisingly disrupted. And Sophie is a Jewish refugee who escaped Germany’s dangers only to find herself employed by a cruel boss in London, but who finds strength from and safety with her library friends. Some readers may find this twee, but fans of The Secret Book of Flora Lea and The Paris Library will call this a must-read.