A review by melissasbookshelf
The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

5.0

Absolutely loved The Blackout Book Club! This is my first book by Amy Lynn Green and I’m excited to read more books by her. This book had so many things book lovers will enjoy. There was romance, mystery, delightful engaging characters, intrigue, and so many wonderful references to classic books by authors like Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe. I also loved the unique small town set in Maine during WWII.

There are quite a number of characters in this story and at first they’re a lot to keep track of, but once I got several chapters in, the story was easy to follow. There’s a young wife who doesn’t like to read whose brother is going away to war and asks her to take his place at the library. An Italian mother and her two children whose husband is fighting in the war. She leaves her home in Boston so he won’t find them when he returns. The older, somewhat aloof single woman who owns the library, but resents it and harbors a deep secret. There’s the plucky young woman whose home has been confiscated by the government for war purposes who’s trying to save money to buy it back and attends the Book Club for the food. A handsome ex-pilot who lost an eye during the war who’s now the gardener for the wealthy woman and has secrets of his own.

All of these characters come together for a book club at the library. As they discuss classic works, they form a strong bond and learn to rely on each other. It’s a character driven story that builds as each layer and secret is revealed. The lessons they learn from each other and the books enhances the story even more. Some books become beloved favorites while others like The Tell Tale Heart aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and may hit a little too close to home.

I love the relationships that grew and the slow reveal of each person’s story. The audiobook version was especially good. I enjoyed the way the narrator brought the story to life and distinguished each of the characters. I also liked the bit of mystery and inspirational messages expertly woven into the story. This is one of those stories to be savored and enjoyed slowly. I received an advanced complimentary audiobook copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.