Just finished 'The Wartime Book Club' by Kate Thompson and wow - what a story! This isn't your typical WWII novel. Set on Jersey Island during Nazi occupation, it follows two incredible women who use books as their silent rebellion.

What really got me was how the author blended fiction with real historical events. That bit about the stolen Nazi letters? Actually happened! The way Thompson weaves these facts into the narrative makes everything feel so authentic.

The friendship between Bea and Grace is everything. One's a fiery postwoman intercepting Nazi mail, the other's a librarian secretly saving banned books. Their courage had me reading way past bedtime - I just had to know what happened next!

As someone who loves bookish themes, seeing how literature became their resistance weapon was powerful. Those library read-aloud scenes? Chills. It's amazing how stories can unite people even in darkest times.

Fair warning - bring tissues. Some parts wrecked me emotionally, but in that good way that makes you appreciate what people endured. The ending especially packs a punch when you realize much of this actually happened.

If you enjoyed 'The Nightingale' or any WWII historical fiction, this needs to be your next read. 4.5/5 stars from me - docking half a star only because I wanted even more of those fascinating author's notes at the end!