This is a captivating read.
The main character is a librarian who is let go because of war constraints. Mrs. Donaldson finds a new job in a manor outside of Bath.
Between a girls school for officer’s children and an American hospital the place is full of people.
I really liked Sir Giles character.
This read is full of moral questions and dilemmas. Communication is the key!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinion are my own.

An excellent foray into wartime Britain.

Esme Donaldson loves her job in the library. Devastated to be widowed due to the war, it is another knock when she is told that her job has to be cut. Worried about what she's going to do and how she's going to pay her rent, Esme is thrilled to land the job of librarian at Redcliffe Manor, a grand estate in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Not only is the job ideal for her, but accommodation is provided making her life far easier. As she settles in, she realises that this is not ordinary estat e as a girls' school has been relocated there and an American military hospital is being constructed in the grounds; there is plenty going on!

This is fiction based on fact and the author's diligence in research shines through. Not only focusing on life in the manor, we also follow family life and it is both interesting and enlightening on so many levels. Thoroughly enjoyable, and one I'm happy to recommend. I'm happy to recommend and give this one 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Thoroughly enjoyable read from Molly Green. Set in 1942, the Wartime Librarian's Secret focuses on Esme, a widow and her time at Redcliffe Manor. There were some really great characters especially Giles Carmichael who came out of the novel as a gentle soul. Location wise, it's great to read a novel not set in London and Bath was perfect. My only criticism was that the friendship between Esme and Stella felt rushed, I would have preferred them to have had a bit more of a backstory but it didn't detract from it at all. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy

This was a lovely book as many of Molly Green’s are.
They are well written and well researched and this time was based on the Longleat Estate during WW2 - I am unsure why there was a need to change the name as the US hospital and the Girls school are well documented and easy to find through an Internet search - the photos certainly add to one’s imagination as you read this book.

Esme or to give her her full name Esmeralda has had a tragic trail through the war so far - she is a widow though through illness not warfare - and has lost a beloved baby. It transpires that she was advised not to go through pregnancy again due to rheumatic fever as a child. Hence the ‘Secret’.

She meets an enigmatic Doctor, Brad Parker, in charge of the hospital - and inevitably falls for him - there are many obstacles in their way - if only they actually talked to one another.

So there is life in Somerset (again why? Longleat is in Wiltshire) with many characters brought to life by Molly Greens writing. And of course love.

A thoroughly enjoyable read for those that love WW2 historical fiction and another view on life in WW2 - based on real life events.

This WWII novel is so beautiful.
Esmie's story left me feeling so sad - her secrets and struggles resonated long after finishing.

But my heart swelled at her sweet father-daughter friendship with Sir Giles...

And I found it utterly amusing that a royal visitor calmly solved crosswords during nearby bombing raids (!)

The slow-burn romance with Colonel Dr. Brad Parker was such a lovely 'Will they, won't they'

Set near Bath, inspired by the stunning Longleat House and gardens, featured as Redcliffe Manor. I didn't find this information out until I read the authors notes. I did end up going down a Google rabbit hole and found photos of the estate during the war.

I love Molly's books as they are such an easy read and always so interesting. Wartime sagas are one of my favourite genres so it's always easy to get lost in one of her books. The characters were all so sweet and the setting was beautiful. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It’s September 1942 Esme Is an assistant librarian and still getting over the death of her husband.When cuts are made at the library Esme looses her job.A chance meeting in a cafe finds her going for another job at Redcliffe Manor for Sir Giles.Esme gets the job of looking after and moving Sir Giles’s library and also typing up his memoirs.An American hospital has been built in the grounds and also a girls school has taken over rooms there as well..Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK.

I am always amazed by the stories authors create. Molly Green has created a wonderful story of World War Two historical fiction. It doesn't just give the reader glimpses of one or two issues. The story is filled with secondary stories to touch at the heart of the reader.

Esme stumbles into a new life after being let go by the Bath Library. She had loved her job, but budget cuts left her unemployed. As luck would have it, drowning one's sorrows in tea can be the beginning she needed.

Working at Redcliffe Manor would be many readers dream job. Esme will be moving and organizing thousands of books including first editions. The British goverment has taken over part of the manor, providing space for a girl's school. The American government has taken over part of the landscape building hut after hut creating a hospital. I loved all the different stories that branch out from her new job. So many hours of lovely entertainment.

I have come to expect a romance when I read this type of story. Molly Green did not disappoint. Esme is healing from tragedy, reminding us of the horrors of war. It must be fate when she keeps coming across Colonel Parker, an American doctor.

The Wartime Librarian's Secret doesn't just contain stories of the British during WW2. The healing American soldiers give glimpses into issues in America and fighting in England. Esme's brilliance will make their lives better. And when Queen Mary comes to the manor get ready to fall in love with Queen Mary. She adds class and a bright spot to a time that always leaves me crying.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Esme has had some sad news, still grieving she’s informed that her role at Bath lending library is over.

So that she can think of what to do next, she takes herself to a tearoom, but all tables are taken, and the only seat available is at a table where a lady is sitting, Esme goes to sit at that table and soon they start to talk.

Stella, the lady that Esme was taking to leaves her contact details and advises her that she’ll be in touch if she hears of any positions suitable for her. Soon Esme is offered a position in a manor with lots of possibilities.

Her father isn’t well and her stepmother, Muriel isn’t cable the caring type. Esme isn’t sure what to do, if she leaves to do the job she’s offered, would her father be cared for properly by Muriel, or is she doing this for a reason?

I highly recommend this book.

A lovely story of the WWII Homefront. Everything has gone bad for Esme but then she gets a job as a librarian at Radcliffe Hall and her life changes as she makes new friends and finds a new love. She still must deal with her father's ill health and her horrible step mother Muriel but now she's got hope. Can she build a life with Brad or will their secrets (and other things) get in the way? No spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Enjoyable book - I'm still not entirely sure what the "secret" in the title actually was.

I liked getting to know the characters and thought it might be the first of a series until the rather abrupt end when they moved to Denver and lived happily ever after -- even getting the less-than-likely perfect baby. I particularly liked the interactions between Sir Giles and Esme; it seemed to be the most realistic, with its ups and downs.

I thought the resolution of the inheritance conflict between the daughters and the stepmother was too smooth; all of a sudden, the assistant's tactics were revealed and the old will was reinstated.

As an American, I was kind of annoyed by the milquetoast "Brad Parker" character name, only to find out in the author's notes that he was a real person she met and incorporated into the story! That tidbit mitigated my thoughts and I was glad to learn it.

Small nitpicking commentary aside, it's a readable story that felt like a 2.5 rounded up rating.

Poor Esme. She was grieving a giant loss, as well as losing her job.

After meeting a woman in a cafe, she gets a chance at a job at Redcliffe Manor in Somerset. She ends up taking the role of the manor’s librarian.

Redcliffe Manor was a huge estate that had to be changed into a displaced girls’ boarding school, and the grounds made into an American military hospital.

I felt for Esme; her grief was profound.
An American colonel and part of the hospital meet Esme, and the chemistry is immediately apparent.

I loved reading about Esme’s character development, from a grief-stricken widow to a strong, confident librarian.

I constantly wondered if Esme would face her past and move on from it. The outcome was so good and exactly what I needed.

Esme Donaldson has just been given the worst news her beloved job at the library is gone due to cutbacks she is devastated. Still grieving the loss of her RAF husband she doesn’t know what where to turn. Then a chance encounter takes her to Redcliffe Manor where she finds herself living life again.
She meets a handsome American colonel but with her past how can they have a future.
Brilliant book as usual from Molly Green who brings us right back to Ww2 every time she spins a story.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @AvonBooksUK for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Wartime Librarian's Secret is set in wartime England and follows the main character, Esme Donaldson. Stuart navigates her readers through Esme's love of books as an assistant librarian into the halls of the refined Redcliffe Manor where, as the Manor librarian she is charged with overseeing the reorganization and move of the Estate library. Esme discovers the library is not only filled with rare books but long-held secrets of the family who lives there. While there, Esme is also tasked with writing the memoir for Sir Giles, the owner of the estate. Reeling from her own losses and family drama, Esme also has secrets of her own.

Set in the countryside near Bath during WWII, the British and American's collaborate on establishing a military hospital for American Airforce pilots on requisitioned land of the estate. Enter in a handsome American doctor, the heartbroken Esme and you have the prime ingredients for a romance!

Stuart weaves together a lovely tapestry of family loss, forgiveness, heartbreak, second chances, coupled with a little intrigue, jealousy and deceit. While her characters are enjoyable, there was not a lot of depth to them, and the plot is not surprising. All in all, I enjoyed the story and found it worth the read. If you like romance, WWII England and books, this is one that you will want to read!

#TheWartimeLibrariansSecret #NetGalley #WWII #historicalfiction #womeninfiction #Librarys @wartimelibrarbies #WWIIEngland

You really can't go wrong with a historical novel by Molly Green, and The Wartime Librarian's Secret is no exception.
This time we meet Esme Donaldson, a librarian who takes a dream job at an English country manor that has been pressed into service by the country's war machine during WWII. This is part family drama, part home front story, part romance, and in large part a story of overcoming past adversity to start life anew. Superbly written and well researched, this novel grabs hold of you with relatable characters and a story that never lets up.
I highly recommend this and any others of Green's books; they make history come alive as mere facts can never do. I always know that I will enjoy whatever book has her name on it.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheWartimeLibrariansSecret to #NetGalley.

this was such a smart and powerful book. and i instantly immersed myself into the world. i felt like i could almost have been walking along the corridors with both fear and intrigue with Esme. shes also a brilliant character to follow.
Esme has been through a lot. shes has lost her husband and so much more besides. then to make matters worse the war has caused budget cuts and therefore her to lose her job. the job was keeping her upright at times.
then a chance meeting means there might be something in the pipeline for her. a new chance. and she knows she needs to brave it.
the position she comes to is at a local manor. a manor with so much going on behind its walls. her job is to organise the estates library first and foremost. there is also more going on at the manor though as its housing a displaced school and also army officers with more secrets and whispers mixed in than you can shake a stick out. boring this job and living is not.but thoughts of war and home including her father seem to ever linger on her mind.
there's also a colonel keeping at her thoughts and these feelings are uncertain and she is not sure she can cope with them as they are new, new since her husband.
but Esme is strong. we all know it by now. and i loved following her and rooting for her all the way through. this was such a book of resilience and hope. and i felt luck to be able to follow Esme as she heals, forges on and fingers crossed gets all she deserves. particularly in a time that happy endings is definitely not a given.

📚 A library tucked inside a country manor. A widow with a past. A spark that defies wartime grief.

In The Wartime Librarian’s Secret, Molly Green weaves a heartfelt, immersive tale of love, loss, and quiet resilience set against the backdrop of WWII Britain.

Still mourning her husband and reeling from the loss of her job, Esme Donaldson finds unexpected purpose in the quiet corridors of Redcliffe Manor—now home to a relocated girls’ boarding school and an American military hospital. Tasked with curating the estate’s library, Esme slowly rebuilds a life among book-lined shelves, curious students, and convalescing soldiers. When a charming American colonel enters the picture, a flicker of hope begins to warm her grief—but Esme’s past may be the one story she’s not ready to share.

Green’s storytelling shines in the rich period detail and emotionally grounded characters. Esme’s journey is quietly compelling, and the dual setting—a home transformed by war—offers a fascinating glimpse into civilian resilience and wartime adaptation.

A moving, romantic read for fans of historical fiction with heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Warm, nostalgic, and quietly powerful. Perfect for fans of Kate Thompson, Lorna Cook, or readers drawn to wartime fiction with emotional depth and a dash of romance.

4 Stars

Reviewer’s note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Wartime Librarian’s Secret is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant WWII novel set against the backdrop of a mysterious countryside manor filled with secrets, schoolgirls, and second chances.

Esme Donaldson, newly widowed and adrift, accepts a position as the manor’s librarian after losing her job due to wartime budget cuts. What she doesn’t expect is to walk into a world filled with hidden operations, spirited children, and a quietly magnetic American colonel. As she begins to heal from grief, Esme is also forced to confront secrets from her past that may threaten her chance at happiness.

Molly Green captures the time period with elegance and care—there’s a clear sense of place, duty, and emotional struggle. I especially appreciated the depth given to Esme’s journey, as well as the gentle yet compelling romantic thread that weaves through the novel.

While some plot developments wrapped up a bit too neatly, the emotional storytelling and strong character work left me satisfied and engaged throughout.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction with romance, strong female leads, and stories of personal growth in times of uncertainty.

I was quickly absorbed into this and with my experiences of Molly Green’s other fantastic books, I knew this one was going to be a winner too. Her previous Bletchley series was amongst one of my very favourites so she’s very much an auto read author for me! She really is great at writing wartime historical fiction.

This one was true to form, awesome read. Getting to know a new character always feels like a treat and none are easier to root for than Esmerelda. She’s had a lot to overcome and when she finds herself laid off and looking for a new job, she somewhat lands on her feet maintaining a library and writing Sir Giles’ memoir at Redcliffe Manor House.

She faces her challenges but I was there in every page, rooting for her and eager to find out what was going to happen. Books like these make for such easy and enjoyable reading!

I finished the book wishing I had known Sir Giles as he was such a lovely old man!

It was a heart warming and easy read and nice to be based around something different whilst still have the war storyline weaved into it. I found the middle of the book a bit slow but the last third was exceptional. It was satisfying when Muriel got her comeuppance although I did have an inkling it was coming!

Although I was aware of segregation of blacks during the war by America it was a harsh reminder of how cruel the human race can be. No matter what their skin colour these people were prepared to fight for their country and should have been treated equally with respect and care.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction. Molly is a great author and I look forward to her next title.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and of course the author for allowing me to read and review an Arc copy.