The Wartime Book Club

By: Kate Thompson

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Inspired by true events, The Wartime Book Club is an unforgettable story of everyday bravery and resistance, full of romance, drama, and camaraderie and a tribute to the joy of reading and the power of books in our darkest hour.

The Isle of Jersey was once a warm and neighborly community, but in 1943, German soldiers patrol the cobbled streets, imposing a harsh rule.

Nazis have ordered Grace La Mottée, the island's only librarian, to destroy books that threaten the new regime. Instead, she hides the stories away in secret. Along with her headstrong best friend, she wants to fight back. So she forms the Wartime Book Club: a lifeline, offering fearful islanders the joy and escapism of reading.

But as the occupation drags on, the women's quiet acts of bravery become more perilous – and more important – than ever before. And when tensions turn to violence, they are forced to face the true, terrible cost of resistance . . .

Based on astonishing real events, The Wartime Book Club is a love letter to the power of books in the darkest of times – as well as a moving page-turner that brings to life the remarkable, untold story of an island at war.

Critic reviews

"A page-turning adventure, dripping with historical authenticity.”
—Jenny Lecoat, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl from the Channel Islands

Wonderful Book

I love historical fiction books especially when they are based closely on real life events. This did not disappoint.

Just lovely

From character development to great narration, this was wonderful. Sad and happy and all the feels.

WWII From a Little Different Perspective

Over the years I have read many books and watched many movies dealing with WWII. This is the first one I've read telling of the occupation of the British Channel Islands. The author weaves her story around the strong framework of actual events that took place on the island of Jersey in a way that draws you in to a world that no one would want to live through, yet these brave souls did just that. This is an emotional roller coaster that is well worth the read (listen). Bravo Ms. Thompson!

Wonderful story

Heartwarming and wrenching. Loved it the story. It was hard to put down. Great narration.

Think about how powerful stories can be — and how dangerous they seemed to those in power.

I was really drawn in by the characters and how their lives were shaped under the German occupation of the island. Each chapter starts with a book that was banned by the Nazis, which made me think about how powerful stories can be — and how dangerous they seemed to those in power.

Some parts were heartbreaking, especially seeing what happened to people who fell into Nazi hands. But I also loved how the library became a safe place, and how books gave people a way to escape and hold onto hope.

A few of the banned books mentioned really caught my attention, and I thought it would be fun to add them to my future reading list:

• The Call of the Wild by Jack London — Buck’s journey from comfort to survival in the Yukon is unforgettable.
• My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell — a funny, charming look at his childhood in Corfu.
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier — a haunting classic full of mystery and atmosphere.


I think reading The Wartime Book Club alongside some of these titles could spark some really great conversations for a book club.