A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls continues the World War II saga Library Girls Book 3, created by Patricia McBride, set during the Blitz in the East End of London, an area hit hardest in the Bombing.
It’s October 1941 with London still reeling from the German Bombardments when Mavis, Cordelia and Jane are left stunned by a call from Buckingham Palace saying the King and Queen want to visit their Library. They are all seriously flustered at this unexpected honour and wonder how they are going to clean up the tired looking building with nothing much to work with to make presentable.
True to their very roots the people of the East End and Library users rally to the cause with even the crustiest, most difficult people offering their skills, help and treasures, to get the library ship shape over the next few weeks. Christmas is fast approaching as well just to add another layer of challenge to life in Silvertown.
A slow burn to begin with it takes a little while to understand the protagonists: Mavis who desperately wants to adopt a little girl orphaned in the Bombings. Jane whose husband is away fighting on the front, their daughter having been sent to a family in the country, is in despair as she misses her beautiful girl and wonders how she is faring.
Cordelia, whose beloved Robert is a Doctor serving on the front, runs the library and to her, the ladies along with Tom their young volunteer are like family, banding together to get through the hardship of daily life.
Within the structure of the story Patricia McBride looks at the issues of domestic abuse, post-traumatic stress and the heart breaking devastation war causes, through the eyes of the men and women of the East End, out to make their Library a showcase for visiting Royalty.
Heart breaking at times, but written as a tribute to all the women who struggled to survive physically and emotionally through indescribable hardship on a daily basis, A Christmas Gift For The East End Library Girls is a most enjoyable, if slightly old fashioned, read.

Joining the library offers so much more than books! Cordelia, Mavis and Jane try to help their community which is struggling with constant air raids. Who knew that they offered attention when someone just wanted to be noticed, like Floppy Flossie, they could help trace your missing relatives due to bombing, keep the children entertained by reading to them, help the likes of Bert who is usually engrossed in papers uncover talents he hasn’t used for some time, then the icing is when they are informed that royalty is going to make a visit. This big event really helps to show the librarians how much they mean to their readers. Mavis has a lot going on in her life, awaiting word on the adoption of Joyce who she helped rescue during a raid, trying to establish a relationship with her son Ken. All this while worrying about her beloved Joe who is overseas with the forces, will they still have a relationship when he returns?

I loved the selection of characters, and the fact that there was so much going on throughout the story. It just keeps you page turning. Loved it.

A wonderful story about friendships and hardships in the east end of London during the Second World War. A story full of hope and Christmas spirit despite the tragedy’s that have befallen the courageous families of the east end.

The east end library girls are looking forward to a visit from the King and Queen. Cordelia Jane and Mavis are still dodging the air raids and trying to update the library for the upcoming visit.
Mavis is trying to adopt the orphan Joyce she rescued in the blitz and waiting for Joe to come home from the war. Cordelia is writing faithfully to Robert and then gets news of her brother who needs her help.
Jane is getting used to her daughter Helen being back from evacuation and also awaiting news on her husband from the front.
This Christmas may prove full of surprises for each of the librarians.
Great series already looking forward to the next visit.

Heartwarming historical drama continuing the series set during the war in an East End library. A great bunch of characters.

I loved catching up with the staff and patrons of Silvertown library in the East End. The individual lives of Cordelia, Jane , Mavis and Tom are all covered and intwined within the story. This time round there is the excitement of a royal visit but life in war time goes on. Even though each member of the community has their own struggles they all rally round to help make the library look amazing for the royal visit. This just flows so well and is so descriptive you can really imagine what life was like during this time. Fabulous characters, drama and a real sense of community and support. There is a wide range of topics covered but they are all relevant and are woven in to the story. A brilliant read and I’m really hoping there’s more to come in this series. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I love getting stuck into a feel good wartime book and these ones sure do deliver! I’ve so enjoyed the others so far in this series and every new book is an opportunity to dive back into a much loved story and catch up with our fav characters.

Our library crew all have their own compelling respective storylines and I so enjoy getting to know them more and seeing their stories develop. It’s such a trying time and with so my difficulties, it’s amazing to see the girls (and the whole town) pull together in the wartime spirit. And with the King and Queen planned to visit the library, there’s plenty of preparations to be done!

Banding together, they spruce up the library and look out for each other along the way. It’s so heartwarming and it’s another easy 5/5!

I also loved the wintery Christmas vibes in this book and even though I’m reading it in the height of summer, fan on and complaining about the heat, I truly appreciated sinking into the festive atmosphere and channeling one of my favourite seasons into the UKs oppressive sticky heat!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

What another brilliant book in this series family saga, Christmas and wartime what more could you ask for

A great addition to this series. Historical fiction that is still good with each book that comes out. This book is full of hope and a great Christmas story

A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls

With the echoes of war reverberating around London, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane are delighted to be blessed with some good news: the King and his Queen will be making a visit to the East End.

As excitement builds, so does their apprehension. With each passing day, the threat of destruction from air raids increasingly plagues their worried minds.

But with Christmas on the horizon, their morale is at an all-time high, and the girls are determined to display to their esteemed guests all they have done with the library – and with so little.

For Mavis especially, she is more focused on the library than ever – her beloved Joe is still fighting overseas and she is waiting for news on whether she might adopt young Joyce.

Loved this book and the characters within , such a great story to have around Christmas to read.
Captivating

This book is a story of resilience. This was a hopeful and heartfelt story about WW2. The characters were enjoyable, I felt a connection to them, I could feel their feelings. The author was able to show their courage, and determination despite their daily struggles. Wonderful read!

This is my first Library Girls book. I know it is part of a series and I’m definitely gonna have to go back and read the rest. I really enjoyed this book and it’s historical fiction set during wartime in London.. if that’s a genre, you enjoy, you’ll also enjoy this book.

This is a hopeful and heartwarming story about 3 women who work in a library in the East End during WW2. It’s a slice of life story where we learn about life inside as well as outside the library as the women and the whole town prepare for Christmas and a royal visit. I really enjoyed all of the characters and appreciated the author’s ability to show their courage and determination despite their daily struggles. It’s a story about working together during tough times and finding unexpected joy. Thank you to netgalley for providing a review copy.

Book number 3 in the series i believe. For me this book is about the atmosphere, the east enders resillience, their look on life. Their proudness of being an eastender . The children , how they are still able to play and laugh during a war. All this combined i love the series.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Working in a library I just love this series. Always so heart warming and wholesome! Highly recommend and can’t wait to see what is next for our gutsy librarians!