The Blackout Book Club

By: Amy Lynn Green

Narrated by: Leah Horowitz

In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different—a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

©2022 Amy Lynn Green (P)2022 Recorded Books

Stands out among WWII novels

Set in Maine during WWII was the first major difference between this and the plethora of so-so novels set in Europe. The main characters were fairly well drawn, but some of the minor characters were more difficult to distinguish from one another. The narration was fine (though “promontory” was mispronounced a few times). Recommended

Book Club Read

I enjoyed this book, from start to finish. The different story lines were very interesting.

Good but predictable

Was a good listen but was pretty predictable. Read it for bookclub and liked it.

Heartwarming book!

I loved this book! It made me remember stories that my mother and aunt told me about, when so many men where gone to war and women stepped up to keep the country and economy going. It was a different time in history. As a woman I can’t imagine, putting on lipstick to run the vacuum in case my husband came home. But I love the community and how people come together to support one another, despite their differences in status or culture. That is something we all need to strive for even today. Wonderful book!

Wow - Loved This!

Good grief, I adored this story. I got this on a bit of a whim because I live in Maine and was interested that it was set here in WWII. I was worried it would be cheesy/overly preachy but instead it was a lovely story of humans coming together in a difficult time and building community. It was heart warming and thought provoking - and I learned a lot I didn’t know about the home front in my home state during WWII. I love a story with multiple perspectives and the narrator did them all justice. HIGHLY recommend!