The Wartime Bookshop cover art

The Wartime Bookshop

The first in a heart-warming WWII saga series about community and friendship, from the bestselling author

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The first in a brand-new nostalgic and heart-warming WWII series, perfect for fans of Donna Douglas and Elaine Everest.

Alice is nursing an injured hand and a broken heart when she moves to the village of Churchwood at the start of WWII. She is desperate to be independent but worries that her injuries will make that impossible.

Kate lives with her family on Brimbles Farm, where her father and brothers treat her no better than a servant. With no mother or sisters, and shunned by the locals, Kate longs for a friend of her own.

Naomi is looked up to for owning the best house in the village. But privately, she carries the hurts of childlessness, a husband who has little time for her and some deep-rooted insecurities.

With war raging overseas, and difficulties to overcome at home, friendship is needed now more than ever. Can the war effort and a shared love of books bring these women - and the community of Churchwood - together?

© Lesley Eames 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 20th Century Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance War & Military Feel-Good Heartfelt War

Critic reviews

'A cosy winter read if ever there was one... a refreshingly comforting book telling the story of a little village, with some wonderful character developments in the process'
'A delightful wartime saga about a young girl making a difference in her new village... a story that illustrates how kindness and refusing to give up can change so much. It is also a sweet love story... Beautiful book and I loved it'
'If you enjoy wartime dramas such as Home Fires you'll love The Wartime Bookshop'
'Written by Lesley Eames, an author with romance at heart, The Wartime Bookshop is a wholesome novel questioning how friendship can be the answer. Snuggle up and experience her storytelling for yourself'
'A pleasure to read for anyone who enjoys a good wartime saga'
'A real cosy novel of women and friendship. I'm looking forward to seeing what this threesome gets up to next'
'Heartwarming... an uplifting tale with well-drawn characters'
'I enjoyed The Wartime Bookshop. Well written, well researched and likeable... It was uplifting to see Kate, Alice and Naomi slowly change and, through the bookshop, reach their potential'
'A delight from start to finish - the perfect comfort read!'
'Filled with a treasure trove of well-drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that's well paced, well written and brilliantly researched. I could spend hours in the company of Alice, Kate and Naomi who by the end felt like firm friends. The Wartime Bookshop is a must-read for all saga fans'
All stars
Most relevant
Having recently found a love for wartime stories and while waiting the next installment of another series I've listened to. I found this and can honestly say I'm hooked and cannot wait to hear the next book in the series of the wartime bookshop

Heartachingly warming

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Loved it and me think of people that I know who think they are better than you and how you can change towards them

A really good book and made me think about how I t

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What a delightful story. Each character has their own troubles but one loving kind person brings them altogether, i love Bert i like the way his character is everyones inner thoughts read this lovely story with its romance and hardship and your understand. Off to listen to book 2. And 3 and who knows no 4.

Uplifting story of love and friendship

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Really wonderful- well read and clear narrative which reaches an agreeable conclusion. All the characters are well rounded and there’s a delightful mixture of humour and and tragedy too.

Wonderful heart warming story

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