Based in London in WWII , Juliet leaves the staid constraints of her parents to become deputy librarian at Bethnal Green Library.

The book is based around 3 main characters, Juliet, Katie working until she goes off to university and Sofie a Jewish refugee.

When the library is bombed, Juliet takes the library much to the angst of her boss to the underground, where it is a success bringing the community together.

Lots of laughter, tears and sadness in the book.... but all good in the end.

I like the fact that when you read books set in WW2, you learn so much more about what happened to 'normal' people and their survival through some torrid times in our history.
We join Sofie trying to leave Germany to be safe in London, Juliet leaving the countryside for the 'bright lights' of London and leaving her past there and Katie wanting to leave Bethnal Green to go to University and escape her restricted home life. They all have one thing in common, the love of books and libraries, and it is the Bethnal Green library that brings them together and takes them all on a new adventure, with many other fun and complex characters that make this book a joy to read and learn from.
During an air raid the library is bombed and not wanting to loose such a precious place for the community they manage to move it to the underground station, where it becomes so much more than a library, a place of refuge and somewhere to make friends and to feel wanted and needed is what they all need to get through the war and the hardships that it brings.
Strong friendships are formed and romance is in the air!

"When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighbourhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library"
Following the stories of Juliet, an aspiring librarian nursing a lack of confidence, Sophie, a Jewish refugee treated appallingly by her employer and Kate a teenager experiencing young love. This book is as all Jennifer Ryan's are a tale of women working together to support each other in the war years and on the home front.
I loved the (true) idea that libraries moved to the underground during the Blitz and the way in which our characters grow as a result of their terrible experiences.
Another great story of unrewarded bravery.

The Underground Library tells the story of the Bethnal Green library and its important role during the Blitz. And what an uplifting story it is!

Follow Sofie, Juliet and Katie as they navigate the perils of living as women during the Second World War. From Sofie's experience of being a German Jew, Katie's experience as the daughter of a mother driven by appearance and Juliet's love for books and people, you will feel all the love and hurt as you walk the streets of London with them. Based on a true story, The Underground Library is ultimately about the hope we can find in seemingly hopeless times and the joy that friendship can bring.

I loved this book - and I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction! It made me want to read more about the Blitz Spirit.

I’ve enjoyed all of Jennifer Ryan’s wartime books,and this one was no exception.I was interested to find out that there really was a library in one of the London Underground stations during the Blitz,and this book certainly showed the positive power of books and reading.
The book tells the story of three women who are all involved in the setting up and running of the library,and the community it served.Each of the three has an interesting story and it was good to see how these evolved as the book progressed. There were many interesting details about life during the Blitz in London and the ways people overcame the difficulties of living during this time.
A very enjoyable read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

A little bit disappointing, if I'm honest.

I have loved Jennifer Ryan ever since picking up The Chilbury Ladies Choir, and I've read all her books. I was super excited to start this one especially as I'd recently read another book about the Bethnal Green Underground Library, and I was sure this would be even better. Maybe I came to it with too high expectations but I found it quite formulaic and predictable. It didn't have the sparkle of Ryan's earlier books and I struggled to get through it, actually putting it down for a long period when I was halfway through.

It has got a lot of positive reviews, however, and it did pick up a bit for me in the second half. The characters were sweet and the story was sweet and there were parts I enjoyed, just overall it wasn't my favourite. I'll definitely still read her next one though!

I'd say it's worth trying if you are a fan of the author, but if you are new to her books then go for The Chilbury Ladies Choir or The Kitchen Front first. They are much better In my opinion.

I'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A new author to me, it is like the Kate Thompson book. Same location and idea. Why do authors have to copy ? be original ! gave up

This was a delightful WWII saga. There were three main characters - Sofie, Juliet and Katie, each with a story of their own. All of these characters shared a love of books, and I felt very aware of that love, and identified with it. I think that I connected with each character in a different way, as each character was fighting her own personal battle.

I think that a library can feel like a much needed escape for a book lover, and books themselves provide an escape during difficult times. That's why this book appealed to me. This was a story about a library, a lovely of reading, and a whole lot more. It was a story of love, loss, and hope, and I enjoyed escaping into it for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

This is the second book that I have read about the underground libaries during the bliz on London. Although fiction it gives a great insight into the plight and courage of the staff and the publics eagerness to find escapism in reading. Although my first read from this author, I will definitely be looking for more.

This is the story of 3 girls , Juliet and Katie who work in the library and Sofie who is Jewish and escapes to the library from a man who treats her badly.When a bomb lands on the library Juliet starts the library up again in the local underground.Can these 3 girls overcome all the troubles that they have to save the library. Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan.

I enjoyed the start of the book with the description of Sofie leaving Germany. It really brought it home to you how dangerous the situation was and how hard choices had to be made. Throughout the book Sofie was strong and her storyline was probably the most powerful.

I was disappointed with Katie's story when she realised she was pregnant - it seems to be the storyline for so many war fiction books with girls always falling pregnant outside of marriage. For an intelligent girl she seemed quite dim.

I particularly enjoyed Juliette's ambulance work. It was a positive ending for her to get recognition for her hard work at the library.

The minor characters were all very well portrayed and all so likeable.

Knowing the storyline was based on truth makes the book even more enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read an Arc copy. I'd highly recommend the book to others and will follow the author for more work in the future.

Set during WWll and based on true events, we follow the lives of Juliet, Sofie and Katie whose paths cross at their local library in Bethnal Green. When it’s bombed, the remaining books are transported to the underground station to serve the local community.
I enjoyed how facts are interwoven with fiction to create an uplifting story about love, friendship and how people came together during The Blitz.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Underground Library is a novel about a library and so much more! Based on the true story of London's Bethnal Green library which was relocated in the tube station after the library itself was bombed early in the war. This book tells the mostly fictional stories of some of the people who used the underground library. I say 'mostly fictional' because the author has carried out extensive research of the real people who inhabited the library and shelter during the war. The story follows three key protagonists whose experiences all highlight different aspects of the time- Sofie is a young Jewish refugee who has sought refuge from the Nazi threat, Katie is a teenager who finds herself in a difficult position and Juliet the deputy Chuef Librarian whose passion and drive works hard to keep the library open. These characters shine through the story, I felt truly engaged in their stories and found myself willing them on in their various battles.I loved this book and the stories of the women who gathered together on a nightly basis, escaping the bombing and building an underground community in spite of opposition. The role of the library as a key community support/resource shines throughout the story and I just really wish that libraries today were as valued as the Bethnal Green Underground Library was during wartime.
Highly recommended!

A story of resilience, community, and the power of literature to uplift and unite people during the challenging times of war, a good read with great likeable characters, would be interesting to read a sequel.

London in the Blitz, how the people spent their time trying to stay safe. This book tells the tale of what happened during the time of WW2. Learn some extra history of London in that ere. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

I absolutely loved this book and learnt so much history whilst reading it. How did I not know that Londoners spent every night sheltering in the underground? Loved the mix of fact and fiction- what a treat for them to have access to a library underground?
It’s a huge recommendation from me.

A story of three, very different, remarkable young women.
When Sofie Baumann leaves Berlin in 1939 and flees to England she hopes that her sister and father will soon follow. Working for Mr Wainwright is far from easy, he is miserable, vicious and cruel but as a Jew, Sofie has been granted a visa for as long as she is working for him.
Unexpectedly finding a little joy in the Bethnal Green library, Sofie meets deputy head librarian Juliet and her assistant Katie.
Juliet has moved from the countryside to take up the senior position and the chance to get away from her strict parents was one she couldn’t pass up.
Katie is working there while she waits to take up her university place in September.
As the three women become friends, they each share their hopes and dreams for the future, but fate has other ideas. When the Library takes a direct hit from a German bomb, they determine that far from losing the comfort that books bring, they will take the library underground and reach even more people.
This wonderful heart-warming story of friendship, love and triumph against the odds will leave you with a warm glow. It has moments of sadness that can move you to tears, but is also full of humour, joy and characters that you will love.

Jennifer Ryan is a very talented author who succeeds in bringing historical facts and events into a fully cohesive and captivting story. The story covers the war with all its sadness, treatment of women as second or even third class citizens portrayed in such a positive manner. The characters were all so realistic and the decriptions of the way people lived made me realise how lucky we are today.
The facts about Bethnal Green Station tied in with the underground libray were so unique, real events wound beautifully together. I could almost feel the bombing and the terror that abounded, especially when the water flooded the station and caused a mass panic to get out.
This has a lovely plot with a superb ending.The main characters were all so different but oh so likeable. It was wonderful reading at the end the notes to follow the story giving so much detail of what happeneded during that time.
Keep on writing Jennifer as I love your books.

The underground library, a great read set in the days of the blitz, a great historical story of people pulling together to help each other during the war.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Ryan's previous book, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle I was thrilled to get my hand on The Underground Library - from sewing to books, two of my favourite things!

In this story we follow three strong women, all finding purpose and solace in the library.

When the library in Bethnal Green in London is hit by the bombs during the second world war, they are threatened with closure, but the deputy librarian Juliet and the other staff have other plans. They are determined to keep the library going, to provide a safe and welcoming place for the locals, helping them escape from the horrors of the nightly bombings.

With more and more people taking shelter in the underground station, Juliet and her team move as many books as they can there and the underground library is born providing a social place for everyone to meet.

Based on various true event, with the freedom of a fiction writer, Jennifer Ryan has created another amazing story which drags you in and makes you want to know that everyone will be OK in the end - be it an unexpected pregnancy, the death of a loved one, a malicious boss or stolen jewellery.