Review: The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

The Blackout Book Club

by Amy Lynn Green

About the Book

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.

My Thoughts

This book was a pure delight from beginning to end. I love a good WWII novel, and am always drawn to stories about book clubs. The book brings that era to life, and is filled with all kinds of wonderful bookish goodness, but it is the characters that make it such a spectacular novel. 

There’s Avis, the uncertain and perfectionist librarian who does not like to read, but is determined to keep the library afloat because it means so much to her brother who is fighting overseas. Then we have Louise, the stern and wealthy spinster who is hiding secrets and is determined to see the library go because of what it has taken from her. And then there’s Ginny, a bold, albeit rough around the edges, twenty-something factory worker with a penchant for romance novels, who has made promises to a life-long friend in the service, yet can’t help but feel a spark for new-to-town Freddy. And of course, sweet Martina, an Italian immigrant who loves books deeply and is doing her best to get by while working at the local factory, while also shielding her family from her dodgy husband. The women are so different, but they learn so much from one another, about themselves and the world, as they meet in the library and bond over books. The characters are living and breathing, leaping right off the page, ready to tell you exactly what they liked–or did not like–about the book club’s latest read.

The quaint small town Maine setting is a lovely backdrop for this war time novel. It’s a cozy place, yet not exempt from the threat of war. Add in the unraveling of secrets from the character’s pasts, spot on writing, and the stories of a community coming together to do their bit for the war effort, and you have a novel that is not only a most delightful read, but a book that has something for everyone, as well.

The Blackout Book Club is a marvelous read. Not only is it a book I would recommend to anyone, it’s truly one of the best books I’ve read this year, and a new addition to my shelf of favorites.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.