The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green | Review

World War II historical fiction novel set on the home front, anyone?

Check out the back cover below, followed by my review of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green.

Back Cover

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 Review

Amy Lynn Green did such a great job developing this group of book-loving characters (although they didn’t all start out book-loving) in The Blackout Book Club.

She wove a heartfelt and very original tale while using the backdrop of World War II. All facing the hardships of war, and a blackout law, food rations, waiting for loved ones to return from war as they themselves stayed on the home front, plus daily life conflicts … this group became friends, maybe even family, bonding over books as danger lurked above them. Quite a fascinating story.

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and I really enjoyed the narrator. So if you’re picky about those, I recommend this one. The narrator’s name is Leah Horowitz, so audible listeners, keep an eye out for her.

4 out of 5 stars for The Blackout Book Club from me. You can get your copy on amazon.ca or amazon.com.

I received this audiobook courtesy of netgalley. All opinions are my own.

About 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.

“The Blackout Book Club is an engaging story that illustrates the power of books to unite and encourage us in trying times. . . . A wonderful read.”–LYNN AUSTIN, author of Long Way Home