The heartwarming East End Library Girls series features themes of women supporting women, friendship, and resilience during WWII.

The East End Library Girls (Series) by Patricia McBride

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Books About Books, Friendship, England, WWII (home front)

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of The East End Library Girls (series):

The East End of London is an area of high poverty and illiteracy. (Lady) Cordelia’s mother discourages Cordelia from taking a head librarian position.at Silver Town Library. However, Cordelia is determined to work as a librarian and to make a difference in the lives of people during difficult times. Along with her colleagues, Mavis and Jane, the young women begin to make a difference in the community through books and services. In spite of air raids and rationing, the library becomes the beating heart of the community. Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane see each other through difficult times as war strikes closer to home.

My Thoughts:

Series

Some series are loosely connected and are easier to read as stand-alones. I’m a read-in-order reader whenever possible and highly recommend reading a series in order for the best reading experience. In a series (like this one) that follows the same characters, back stories are important. It’s usually not as satisfying to go back to the first story after you’ve read the second because of spoilers. This series is tightly connected as it follows the same three women, the survival and purpose of the library, and their collaboration, and friendship, I urge you to read them in order.

Home Front

One of the sub genres I love is stories of women on the home front during WWII. Reading these stories always causes me to wonder how I would have helped in the war effort. Jennifer Ryan and Lesley Eames are other favorite authors for these types of stories. I wrote a post about this sub genre here. I need to add Patricia McBride to the list.

Books About Books and Women Supporting Women

I adore books about books and women supporting women! This series strongly explores these themes in the best ways. Books bring the community together and offer comfort in difficult times. We see in these stories how the library goes above and beyond literacy as it offers community support in various ways. Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane each face difficult circumstances that are made easier through supportive friendship.

Up-Lit

Even though difficult things happen in these heartfelt stories, they are handled efficiently and not overly traumatic, drawn out, or emotional. I would consider them “Up-Lit” because of the overall hopeful tone. Small sides of sweet romance add to the “up-lit” feeling but do not overtake the story.  

Recommending The East End Library Girls Series

I’m recommending The East End Library Girls Series for fans of Jennifer Ryan and Lesley Eames. If you enjoy heart warming, “home front” WWII stories with strong friendship themes, you will appreciate these two installments. I’m hoping for a third.

Related: Women on the Home Front During WWII

My Rating:  4  Stars Each

More Information Here and Here

Meet the Author of The East End Library Girls Series, Patricia McBride

Patricia McBride is an author of heartwarming World War II sagas featuring fierce female friendships. She resides in Cambridge, England with her husband. When not writing, Patricia enjoys curling up with a cup of tea and books about strong woman in war time.

Patricia’s latest series follows the adventures of three librarians living and working in London’s impoverished East End during the Blitz. The first book, The Library Girls of the East End, introduces posh Lady Cordelia Carmichael, bold Mavis and more timid Jane. Despite their differences, the three band together to keep their beloved library running amidst food rationing, air raids, and family troubles. And of course, romance.

The idea for the series came from Patricia’s own mother, who was a cockney and told her many tales of her life during WW2. She always marvelled at the resilience and community spirit that blossomed in times of strife.

Patricia’s other popular WWII series features the courageous Lily Baker. Lily and her Welsh friend Bronwyn join the the Auxiliary Territorial Service. The bold duo are thrilled to serve their country, but discover it’s not all excitement. They must overcome challenges like gruelling training, traitors, and the loss of comrades. But their friendship, courage, and devotion to duty see them through.

Growing up, Patricia adored listening to family stories about the war. This fuelled her interest in capturing the bravery and sacrifice of the British people on the home front.

Patricia is an active member of both the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Historical Writers’ Association.

Patricia is excited to join the Boldwood Books family and bring more gripping World War II sagas to readers in the coming years. Watch for the next installments in her Librarian Girls series.

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QOTD:

Do you enjoy “women on the home front” stories?

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