One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time. A gripping, emotional rollercoaster and a true hymn to the power and spirit of novels

A beautiful wartime story of bravery and books

A poignant masterpiece that paints a vivid picture of Nazi-occupied life on the isle of Jersey and illustrates how books can truly provide hope in the darkest of times . . . raw and real, this story will pull at your heart

An engaging, beautifully researched story of love, courage and resistance in time of war and danger

A beautiful novel about love, courage, hope and friendship in the darkest of times . . . A book to be savoured and remembered

At the core of the novel is the library, and a book group that met there, finding strength and solace in reading during the worst of times. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this is an unforgettable page-turner

Bravery, traitors, acts of defiance and compassion for others . . . with characters so real that I laughed and wept along with them

A story of bravery and the cost of small acts of defiance, and it will stay with me for a long time. Simply outstanding!

A wonderful, poignant, heartwarming story of the power of books, the strength of the human spirit, and how selfless acts for the good of others is food for the soul

The courage and daring of [Kate Thompson’s] characters was breathtaking . . . a stunning novel’

This, for me, is historical fiction at its finest – a story of believable, vividly-drawn people trying to live in a world so very different from our own

Engrossing and well-researched . . . A compelling story of resilience and rebellion in the most testing of times

An absolute treasure of a read . . . it’s a book about women first and foremost – their strength, their friendships, their profound courage – and it’s also an extended love letter to books and libraries; the unique power stories have to unite people, to bring hope and comfort in the very darkest of times. By turns heartwrenching and harrowing, humorous and warm, it is completely absorbing and ultimately uplifting

I was captivated by this propulsive, darkly beautiful novel about love, wartime occupation, and the power of reading. Kate Thompson is a master storyteller

Kate Thompson delivers another heartfelt story with her signature impeccable research and cast of wonderfully endearing characters. She is the master at writing books about both the power of books and the power of women, a combination I adore

A piercing novel . . . This book take its rightful place on the shelves dedicated to Jersey’s war, and reminds us only too powerfully of the essential comfort of literature in despairing times