Jersey, 1943. Once a warm and neighbourly community, now German soldiers patrol the cobbled streets, imposing a harsh rule on the people of the island.

Grace La Mottee, the island’s only librarian, is ordered to destroy books which threaten the new regime. Instead, she hides the stories away in secret. Along with her headstrong best friend, postwoman Bea Rose, 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.

EVERYONE LOVES THE WARTIME BOOK CLUB:

‘One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time. A gripping, emotional rollercoaster and a true hymn to the power and spirit of novels’ Peter James

‘A poignant masterpiece that paints a vivid picture of Nazi-occupied life on the isle of Jersey’ Madeline Martin

‘An engaging, beautifully researched story of love, courage and resistance in time of war and danger‘ Rachel Hore

‘Bravery, traitors, acts of defiance and compassion . . . [and] a beautiful and touching love story too’ Pam Weaver

‘A wonderful, poignant, heartwarming story of the power of books and the strength of the human spirit’ Louise Fein

‘This is a story of bravery and the cost of small acts of defiance . . . simply outstanding!’ Andie Newton

‘An unforgettable page-turner’ Gill Paul

‘A book to be savoured and remembered’ Gill Thompson

‘With her brilliant research, Kate Thompson has brought this terrifying time vividly to life . . . a stunning novel’ Suzanne Goldring

‘This, for me, is historical fiction at its finest – a story of believable, vividly-drawn people trying to live in a world so very different from our own – and I loved it from start to finish’ Anna Stuart

One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time. A gripping, emotional rollercoaster and a true hymn to the power and spirit of novels – Peter James

A poignant masterpiece that paints a vivid picture of Nazi-occupied life on the isle of Jersey and illustrates how books can truly provide hope in the darkest of times . . . raw and real, this story will pull at your heart – Madeline Martin

An engaging, beautifully researched story of love, courage and resistance in time of war and danger – Rachel Hore

A beautiful novel about love, courage, hope and friendship in the darkest of times . . . A book to be savoured and remembered – Gill Thompson

At the core of the novel is the library, and a book group that met there, finding strength and solace in reading during the worst of times. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this is an unforgettable page-turner – Gill Paul

Bravery, traitors, acts of defiance and compassion for others . . . with characters so real that I laughed and wept along with them – Pam Weaver

A story of bravery and the cost of small acts of defiance, and it will stay with me for a long time. Simply outstanding! – Andie Newton

A wonderful, poignant, heartwarming story of the power of books, the strength of the human spirit, and how selfless acts for the good of others is food for the soul – Louise Fein