Inspired by the true story of Bethnall Green Library.

When the Blitz threatens the heart of a London neighbourhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to keep their community together in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Kitchen Front and The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle.

On the day Juliet Lansdown reports to work for the first time at Bethnal Green Library, it isn’t the bustling hub she’s been expecting. But, in the face of German attacks, she’s intent on making it a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, too, though she’s only there until she heads off to university in autumn. But, after the death of her sweetheart on the front line and some unexpected family strife, she’s more in need of support herself.

Sofie Baumann, a Jewish refugee without any family to lean on, finds comfort and friendship in Bethnal Green’s rapidly growing literary scene and escapes to the library every chance she gets. But, with her asylum in London tied to a domestic work visa issued by an unscrupulous employer, her position is vulnerable.

When bombs damage the library, Juliet can’t bear to give up on her safe haven of books, so she relocates the stacks to an underground station, where the city’s residents shelter nightly. The three women must work together to overcome their own troubles and keep the library - the beating heart of their community - open to all . . .

A delight! Jennifer Ryan cooks up a fresh take on the popularity of World War Two fiction and brings the battle into the heart of the wartime home. A charming blend of intriguing characters and a high-stakes cookery competition, served with the perfect amount of pathos and humour -- Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of The Bird in the Bamboo Cage, on The Kitchen Front
What a dream of a book! Absolute perfection! Nostalgia, rivalry, friendship and fun – a real treat. Beautifully detailed – you will be right there with a cast of vivid characters, cooking their way to a new life -- Veronica Henry, author of The Secret Beach, on The Kitchen Front
Delightful . . . it manages to be sad and funny, exciting and heartwarming, all at the same time. Quite an achievement -- Barbara Erskine, author of The Ghost Tree, on The Chilbury Ladies Choir
Evocative, nostalgic and comforting with a wonderful story of female friendship. A delight -- Alex Brown, author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage, on The Kitchen Front
Delightful . . . -- People Magazine on The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir
The writing glows with emotional intelligence. This atmospheric debut, based on the author’s own family history, had me sniffing copiously -- Daily Mail on The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir
[A] quick and delightful mystery . . . Ryan’s subtlety shines in her acknowledgment of the importance of remembering the people who pass through our lives and in her descriptions of how war and conflict can teach empathy and change people for the better * The New York Times Book Review *
Intrigue, romance and an unforgettable cast of characters who aren’t always as they appear . . . a charming slice of English wartime life that warms the soul like a hot toddy -- Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls on The Chilbury Ladies Choir

Jennifer Ryan lives in Ireland with her husband and two children. Originally from Kent and then London, Jennifer worked as a nonfiction book editor before she took up writing herself. She now writes historical fiction inspired by her grandmother's tales of the war in Britain. Her work has featured in Literary Hub, Moms Don’t Have Time to Write, The Daily Mail, The Irish Times, The Express, BBC Online, YOU Magazine, The Simple Things Magazine, and Good Reading Magazine.