The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 64: A Bookchat about Remember Me with Tracie Peterson & a Review of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green
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.
The Review
World War II, a plethora of wonderful books, and a diverse cast of characters make up the latest book from Amy Lynn Green known as The Blackout Book Club. Each chapter features the daily life and sometimes history of one of four main characters. Avis is the first one we meet, and she’s been thrust into the role of librarian on behalf of her brother who is enlisting in the war.
We also meet Martina and Ginny, two women who are as different as night and day, but each with their own unique struggles.
Louise is the owner of the library, though she does not intend for it to be open much longer. Avis comes up with the idea of the book club as a way to save it from being turned into a nursery school.
These four women are the founding members of The Blackout Book Club, and as time goes on, they slowly start adding more townspeople to their ranks. The “minutes” are taken at each meeting, and these are a fun glimpse into the personality of whoever steps into the roll of secretary.
As time goes by, each woman must deal with the hand life has dealt them, all while trying to do their part for the war effort and praying that all their men will return home.
For fans of World War II fiction, this is a different take on the history of that era. There is mention of victory gardens, women working in factories, and men taking on roles that would have ordinarily made them unfit for traditional military duty. Fans of Christian fiction will be disappointed not to find much faith-based content throughout, though it is a clean read.
The Author
Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys. Connect with her on Facebook or Instagram (@amygreenbooks), or sign up for her newsletter at amygreenbooks.com to get quarterly emails filled with bookish fun.
You can read reviews by Christy by clicking here. Find Christy Janes on Instagram @blissbooksandjewels, Twitter @Blissbooksandj1, Facebook, and her website BlissBooksAndJewels.com
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.