Cordelia, Mavis, Jane and the East End community are excited and preparing the library for a visit from the King and Queen. The community all came together for this project and how they rally around shows there support and kindness for one another. I love how even those who are less fortunate and don't have much still give and do what they can. It showcases the best of humanity during the wartime. The library girls are the sweetest as they supply more than just books. I appreciate that this book is more about joy, peace and happiness than war. I am very eager to read the next book in the series and find out if Mavis finally got to adopt Joyce.

Another wonderful book by this author and did not disappoint was good to continue with the lives of the woman.

We see what Cordelia, Mavis and Jane get up to in this book. They have exciting news that the King and Queen are going to visit the Library so they need to organise things and see if they can improve the library. The community all work together with the different projects they have.

All the books are excellent and it is interesting to what they all get up to in the series. Certainly look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I like these kind of books where there is romance and also some sadness and the interesting facts about this period in history.

Would recommend this book.

An enjoyable read - I enjoyed this book very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was great to catch up with Cordelia, Mavis and Jane again. This time they are excited about a royal visit to Silvertown library will they get it all scrubbed up ready for the special visitors. If you like reading sagas set during World War Two then I can highly recommend this series. They have their ups and downs but the Camaraderie between these people is great.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Having read the previous books in the series, I was looking forward to reading about what happens next in the lives of Cordelia, Mavis, Tom and Jane.

When a telephone call received by at the library informs them of a royal visit taking place near Christmas, the community come together to ensure the library is looking its best. Especially at a time when due to the war, they don’t have much to spend and buying gifts is difficult to do.

Each of the ladies had their own worries and things happening in their lives, like illness, loved ones not near and some secrets too that come out in the story.

The story was well written and the characters were all lovely.

I recommend this book.

Another good book in the series. Easy reading, perhaps a bit far fetched at times but enjoyable all the same. Lots of happiness in this title. I do wish more had been said about Doreen who Cordeila took in and who joined the ATS. It would have been nice to hear more about how she got on. Mavis's son also seemed to arrive then suddenly disappear with little said about how their relationship was after he broke down in tears.

All in all an enjoyable read. Nice and easy and not too serious to enjoy before bed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for allowing me to read an Arc copy of the title.

This is the third book in Patricia McBride's latest wartime saga. It can easily be read as a standalone story, but if you really want to immerse yourself in the lives of Mavis, Cordelia and Jane it won't hurt to read the series in order.

The three women might not have been friends had it not been wartime, and had they all not had a love for books leading them to work in the East End Library. Brought together there has helped them form firm friendships and they will always be there for each other.

There is an array of sub-characters who are the library's regulars, which makes for many a fun scene, and the occasional moment of sadness. In this story, these characters happily come together to do what they can to get the library ready for a royal visit. Nobody can quite believe that the King and Queen are coming to visit, but they are, and the Eastenders are particularly excited.

As well as enjoying the preparations the characters make in the library, we also get more involved in the personal lives of Mavis, Cordelia and Jane. A particularly moving scene was when the girls exchanged Christmas gifts. That was so beautiful especially as they have different incomes.

Although there were some sad moments, this is quite a feel-good story and I enjoyed it. It was a little slow at times, but for the most part, it was just right.

this is the third book in the East End library series, they can all be read as standalones. sweet, quick reads.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I have read the previous books in the series and looked forward to the next instalment - the lives of Cordelia, Mavis, Tom and Jane - and I was not disappointed.

Each had their trials and tribulations, loved ones far away, illness in the family and secrets that come home to roost.
But the community of Silvertown also came together for a Royal visit - much needed around Christmas time when money was short and presents hard to come by.

As is the way with the series its well written and well researched - and a pleasure to read.
I really hope that there will be more instalments to look forward to.

A real feelgood series

Another feel good book that you will not want to put down. Thoroughly enjoyed reviviting the library and seeing what the characters were now up to. Great read at anytime of year.

This is the third book in a series about the East End Library girls and I have read and enjoyed the first two books in the series. While this third could be read as a stand-alone, I think the reader will enjoy it more if the books are read in order. This is a book about women who lived in one of the poorer parts of East London during the Second World War and as such I think it will be of particular interest to female readers interested in this time period. The characters and lives of Mavis, Jane and Cordelia have already been well developed in the earlier books. The library where they work is almost a character on it's own, filled with quirky locals speaking with Cockney twang and doing their best to manage all the hardships of war.

The author has clearly researched the time period and location well (I believe she had relatives who lived through this to tell her tales.) The novel is filled with little tidbits on how to make do and mend, including the suggestion that a piece cut from an old hot water bottle could be used to repair the leaky sole of a shoe. In this book, the librarians and all their regulars are gearing up for an expected visit from the King and Queen. Only as a community can they make this all work.

As a reader in 2024, I have to admire how they worked together to survive and make the best out of things. They didn't take little luxuries for granted. I think there is much we can learn from them and put to use in building community in this day and age. I suspect we have not seen the last of the library girls!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book due for publication later this month. All opinions are my own.

I love the East End Library Girls books and this new one was a welcome addition to the series.. It made me feel very Christmassy by the end of it! It was well written and had a bit of everything - excitement, drama, romance, humour. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

World War II is ongoing, London is being bombed, and the Queen and King want to visit the East End Library for Christmas. The patrons and community come together to prepare for the Royal visit. Characters that are zany and relatable. Each one unique with their own personal challenges and dreams. What could they possible be given for Christmas?

Releases Aug. 25th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A nice continuation of the characters' lives. This book centers around an upcoming Royal visit to the East End Library while weaving in the everyday workings and happenings of the major characters. Rouge brother Jasper's story also resurfaced as he took sick in Northern Scotland which necessitated a visit and some sisterly nursing. Overall, an enjoyable read that felt like catching up with old friends.

A wonderful addition to the library girl series.Wonderful characters emotional moving I really enjoyed visiting with them again.A series I love to recommend.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks.

A Christmas Gift for the East End Library Girls continues the World War II saga Library Girls Book 3, created by Patricia McBride, set during the Blitz in the East End of London, an area hit hardest in the Bombing.
It’s October 1941 with London still reeling from the German Bombardments when Mavis, Cordelia and Jane are left stunned by a call from Buckingham Palace saying the King and Queen want to visit their Library. They are all seriously flustered at this unexpected honour and wonder how they are going to clean up the tired looking building with nothing much to work with to make presentable.
True to their very roots the people of the East End and Library users rally to the cause with even the crustiest, most difficult people offering their skills, help and treasures, to get the library ship shape over the next few weeks. Christmas is fast approaching as well just to add another layer of challenge to life in Silvertown.
A slow burn to begin with it takes a little while to understand the protagonists: Mavis who desperately wants to adopt a little girl orphaned in the Bombings. Jane whose husband is away fighting on the front, their daughter having been sent to a family in the country, is in despair as she misses her beautiful girl and wonders how she is faring.
Cordelia, whose beloved Robert is a Doctor serving on the front, runs the library and to her, the ladies along with Tom their young volunteer are like family, banding together to get through the hardship of daily life.
Within the structure of the story Patricia McBride looks at the issues of domestic abuse, post-traumatic stress and the heart breaking devastation war causes, through the eyes of the men and women of the East End, out to make their Library a showcase for visiting Royalty.
Heart breaking at times, but written as a tribute to all the women who struggled to survive physically and emotionally through indescribable hardship on a daily basis, A Christmas Gift For The East End Library Girls is a most enjoyable, if slightly old fashioned, read.

Joining the library offers so much more than books! Cordelia, Mavis and Jane try to help their community which is struggling with constant air raids. Who knew that they offered attention when someone just wanted to be noticed, like Floppy Flossie, they could help trace your missing relatives due to bombing, keep the children entertained by reading to them, help the likes of Bert who is usually engrossed in papers uncover talents he hasn’t used for some time, then the icing is when they are informed that royalty is going to make a visit. This big event really helps to show the librarians how much they mean to their readers. Mavis has a lot going on in her life, awaiting word on the adoption of Joyce who she helped rescue during a raid, trying to establish a relationship with her son Ken. All this while worrying about her beloved Joe who is overseas with the forces, will they still have a relationship when he returns?

I loved the selection of characters, and the fact that there was so much going on throughout the story. It just keeps you page turning. Loved it.

A wonderful story about friendships and hardships in the east end of London during the Second World War. A story full of hope and Christmas spirit despite the tragedy’s that have befallen the courageous families of the east end.

The east end library girls are looking forward to a visit from the King and Queen. Cordelia Jane and Mavis are still dodging the air raids and trying to update the library for the upcoming visit.
Mavis is trying to adopt the orphan Joyce she rescued in the blitz and waiting for Joe to come home from the war. Cordelia is writing faithfully to Robert and then gets news of her brother who needs her help.
Jane is getting used to her daughter Helen being back from evacuation and also awaiting news on her husband from the front.
This Christmas may prove full of surprises for each of the librarians.
Great series already looking forward to the next visit.

Heartwarming historical drama continuing the series set during the war in an East End library. A great bunch of characters.