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The Blurb
As the war nears its end, the library girls rally for their community...
With London still in the grip of war, Cordelia, Mavis, and Jane find themselves facing a new challenge. Determined to make a difference, the librarians band together to organise rent strikes, standing up against dirty landlords and unfair practices.
Meanwhile, with the arrival of American GIs in the East End, Cordelia is presented with a temptation too irresistible to bear. Should she follow her head or her heart – stay faithful to her beloved Robert fighting abroad, or enjoy the brief respite from the constant air raids and destruction?
As the women fight for what’s right, the promise of a better tomorrow begins to take shape. But will their efforts be enough to secure a better life for their community?
A stirring tale of courage and camaraderie, perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Elaine Roberts, and Lesley Eames.
My Review
If you enjoy a historical saga with strong female characters then this is the book for you.
It was lovely to reacquaint myself with the three main characters, Cordelia, Mavis and Jane. They all work at the Silvertown Library and are fantastic characters.
I have previously read and reviewed the first and second book in The Library Girls series; The Library Girls of the East End and Hard Times for the East End Library Girls. A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls is actually the fourth in the series. The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that I have not read the third book in the series. That is because I have been saving A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls as a little Christmas self-indulgence and I am planning on reading it at some point during the festivities.
Having grown up in the East End of London myself I recognise so much in these books of that which my mother told me. Like me she grew up in the East End but during the war. She told me countless tales of the hardships and camaraderie of the time and I see much of that echoed in this book.
Community spirit was a prominent thing at the time, and the library of Silvertown as described in the book is the hub of the community. The setting feels absolutely authentic, and the author does a great job in developing such believable scenarios.
The three women are very strong characters. Cordelia comes from a very contrasting and more affluent background to the other two, but she works alongside them in support of the hardships they face. Not only are their men away at war but in this book we see them stand up for the rights of the poor against illegal practices of the landlords. Many live in squalor and Mavis shows great courage in leading the community in a rent strike. She is an admirable character and extremely likable.
This is a heartfelt and compassionate book and it felt like catching up with old friends. I love this series and I highly recommend it.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1835180310
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 272 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author:
Patricia McBride is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books as well as numerous articles. She loves undertaking the research for her books, helped by stories told to her by her Cockney mother and grandparents who lived in the East End. Patricia lives in Cambridge with her husband.
You can also find Patricia at
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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