The Paris Library by
Janet Skeslien Charles
February 3, 2021

“Accept people for who they are, not for who you want them to be.”

Yes, another war book. But, in THE PARIS LIBRARY, readers glimpse a slice of history most of us know nothing about.

Based on true people and events, this novel traces the steps of the courageous librarians at the American Library in Paris. The library remained open during World War II, supplying books to those subscribers banned by Hitler.

In 1939, Odile works at the library—a dream job in troubled times. Lily, in 1983, lives in small-town Montana and shares a love of literature and independence with her elderly neighbor.

Both learn lessons the hard way.

During WWII unlikely people often showed great bravery in helping the Jews. In this book we learn about the librarians who continued to support their Jewish patrons, despite the German edict that Jews not frequent libraries. The American Library of Paris was a subscription library that was a lifeline for intellectual investigation for professors, thinkers and the general public.

Odile Souchet is thrilled when she is hired to work at the library and she comes to appreciate the international staff who are committed to keeping the library open. As the Parisians suffer under German occupation, they watch their beloved city become a place of diminishing goods and rights. Odile is French and one of the few librarians who remain when some staff leave for their own safety. Odile is committed to circulating books to the library’s faithful Jewish patrons, despite the serious danger she would be in if caught.

Another plot line is set in 1983 Montana where a young girl reaches out to the elderly neighbor who has been a very isolated widow. Lily is intrigued by the older Odile and she enjoys learning the French language with the old woman. But Lily wants to learn more about the neighbor’s past. Both plots focus in the naivete of the young Odile during the war and the inquisitive teenager, Lily. Making assumptions gets both of them into trouble and betrayal plays a role in both their lives.

Charles has included quite a few real figures in this fictional tale of the American Library of Paris. Readers will get to love the eclectic group of regulars who frequent the library as well as the varied staff members who are dedicated to their jobs. If there is a failing in the book, it’s in the slight attention given to the heroic acts of the librarians to make home deliveries to their banned patrons. Confronting German guards and living with the threat of physical harm was a reality they undertook, as they refused to turn their backs on the Jews.

The two central characters Odile and Lily are imperfect. They make mistakes but they have good hearts and they evolve. The best part of the book centers on the efforts of the American Library to serve the public both before and during the dangerous times.
3.5*

The Paris Library is a love story to books as well as a history lesson. I didn’t even know an American Library existed in Paris, much less that it stayed open throughout WWII. I loved hearing about all of the subscribers and how they stuck together with the staff. I loved learning that the staff made sure prisoners, invalids and Jewish people still got books. I really appreciated Odile and seeing how she learned from her mistakes then passed her wisdom to Lily. This was a book I never wanted to end.

"...what can we do now to ensure that libraries and learning are accessible to all and that we treat people with dignity and compassion."

This is the first time I have used a quote from the Author's Note portion of a novel but it expresses perfectly the love of libraries in The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles.

This book wrecked me in the best way possible. I cried a lot but I smiled so much too. Our main protagonist Odile is a beautifully flawed character. She is a young Parisian woman who lives to read and sees the world through the Dewey Decimal System. I loved when someone would say a subject she visualized where the books could be found in the library.

Just as war breaks out in Europe Odile gets a job at the prestigious American Library in Paris. Through the German occupation in France Odile and her coworkers not only send care packages of books to soldiers in hospitals, war prisons, and at the front lines but smuggle them to those no longer allowed in the library like Jews and residents from Allied countries.

Odile naivete is shocked by the horrors people commit in name of patriotism and the choices made by so many she loves. Odile herself suffers from a lack of forgiveness when she perceives a wrong done to her. I didn't always agree with her harsh decisions but in her place at that time who knows how our hearts might break.

We also meet a young Lily in the 1980s who befriends the elderly Odile now living in the U.S. Through her eyes we round out Odile's journey which is refreshingly original, sympathetic and honest. The author has written a beautiful story about people who through the love of books found solace during the worse period of their lives.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles tells the story of Odile, a young Frenchwoman living through World War II in Paris. Her life of library work and romance is turned upside down when German forces occupy her city. Eventually, she ends up in Montana, and 40 years later finds a confidante in her teenage neighbor Lily.

The novel goes back and forth between the 1940s and the 1980s, so that we see Odile's history unfold and understand more of how she ended up in America and why her advice to Lily is so important.

I really enjoyed reading about Odile and the American Library in Paris, which was a real place and many of the book's characters were real people or based on real people. The 1940s part of the book was much better than the 1980s part. It wasn't until I got about 75 percent of the way through the book that I started to see why the author had us going back and forth between the two time periods. Knowing what I finally knew, I understood and appreciated the transition better.

This book was hyped up during last year's BookExpo, so I was really excited to read it, but I can't say that I finished the book with the same amount of enthusiasm. I wasn't a fan of the author's writing style, which was very fast-paced and felt like details that would help guide the reader were being left out, and as written above, I didn't like the 1980s part for the majority of the book.

But if you can get past some of that and you want to read about a little-known part of World War II history, then you'll enjoy the details of the American Library in Paris and what the librarians did to keep knowledge accessible to all.

The Paris Library is published by Atria Books and is on bookstore shelves today. I received a free e-ARC in exchange for my review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Odile has finally secured the job of her dreams. With a love of literature and the Dewey decimal system, she is now a new librarian at the American Paris Library. All that's left is to satisfy her father by picking a husband and spend her days with her twin brother. However, things are starting to look worse and worse for France with Hitler and his army. As each day threatens advancement, Odile and her fellow librarians do what they can for the Resistance, via books and letters. Eventually everything Odile holds dear will fall to pieces and she'll find herself in positions she never imagined.

Forty years later, Lily is in the throws of adolescence. Curious about her secretive neighbor from France she decides to break her silence and interview the older woman. Odile is quiet and reserved, not revealing much information about her time in France. However, Lily is persistent and slowly Odile's story emerges. Lily learns about life in France during the Second World War, and also tries to learn the language as well. When times get hard at home for Lily, it's Odile she begins to turn to, creating an amazing friendship neither of them expected.



I was apprehensive to read yet another WWII historical fiction novel, but I'm so glad I did. The language this author uses is beautiful. Descriptions so clever and crisp to vision. The story is also unique and wonderful. The library theme is different from other WWII novels and I appreciated the wide arrange of characters, especially with the 1980s timeline. My only complaint is I felt the ending felt rushed. Lily mentions reaching out to Margaret, however it didn't seem to go in depth with that reuniting connection that was such a huge part of novel. It also didn't seem like Odile resolved much of her past, only deciding to maybe do something about it. Irregardless, it was a wonderful novel and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes novels like The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

Rate: 4.5/5

Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII genre

Page: 384

Author: Janet Skeslien Charles

A love letter to libraries and a wonderfully engrossing story set against the horrific events of WWII. The Paris Library is a sweeping story that switches between to timelines. While sometimes the flow felt a bit choppy, I enjoyed reading Odile a bit more than Lily. I appreciate the time and research the author took with this story. You can tell this was a labor of love. Overall, this was a typical WWII story but with a twist and would recommend it.

Good historical fiction with more

This publication date of book was delayed by over 6 months due to the pandemic but it is worth the wait! A well researched historical novel about a real library where the staff fought to keep their library open during ww2 and serve their subscribers, the writer includes so much more about living (or not) through the war. She examines the role of women, expats, and families, the challenges of friendship and love, and, above all, survival.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Courageous, dedicated, compassionate librarians in WWII Paris remain steadfast and hopeful in the face of intimidation, betrayal and lies. Outstanding portrayal of the people and the times. The alternating story set in Montana complements the Parisian one.
Based on actual people and events.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheParisLibrary for this advanced digital copy.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a Second World War novel set in Paris, but without much focus on the Holocaust aspect of it. It tells the story of a French librarian, Odile, who works at the American Library in Paris. The plot moves back and forth between the War years and 1980s in the US, telling the story of Odile, and a young girl, Lily. There's a colourful cast of characters who make the story interesting, in both timelines.

One thing I didn't like is how at some points in the beginning the story seemed to skip a few sentences and it was almost as if I, the reader, had to patch things and figure it out. As the story progressed, though, it got better and it didn't stop me from getting invested into it. Similarly to the beginning of the novel, towards the end the pace started rushing to wrap things up. However, it was a nice story overall.

I liked the different aspect of the War that was described; I didn't know anything about the American Library or any of the other international libraries in Paris. It was a fascinating aspect, and it didn't bogge me down with administrative aspects. Oh, and I just loved all the books mentioned and how they were part of the characters' lives. I wish there was a list of tall the books mentioned in the novel at the end of the book.

All in all, I enjoyed the novel, I liked most of the characters, there were some twists and turns that kept me even more interested, so I recommend this to readers who like reading novels set during this time.

A beautiful story about the power of books, words and stories and the importance of libraries even in the darkest times.
This is a captivating story about the America Paris Library during the World War II and the occupation of Paris. Based on real facts, the author gives a story filled with hope about a little known side of history: how the library helped keeping people’s spirit alive through books.
It was interesting and captivating, I liked how all the characters were depicted, and getting to know some of their POV’s besides Odile and Lilly’s, it felt more real.
I enjoyed both parts Odile’s in the past and Lily’s in the present, knowing about Paris and Montana. Both parts were good and heartbreaking at times. I enjoyed how Lily’s part starts putting some pieces together about Odile’s past but it also was a different story and a different Odile as well.
The author’s notes complement the story and it was nice reading more about the real characters and the basis of the story.
The book felt slower at times and Odile was sometimes a bit exasperating but it was a fascinating story and I really enjoyed it.

The Paris Library is a beautiful novel based on the true World War II story of heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris. It centers around two main characters in two timelines: a young French librarian in Paris beginning in 1939, and a precocious teenager in Montana in 1983. Sprinkled with French words and definitions, memorable people and places, friendships, courtships, laughter and tears, The Paris Library is everything I’d hoped it would be. It’s about Love and loss, and the connections that last in our memories long after those people are gone. It’s a wonderful set of stories, connected by happenstance, based in history and crafted in such a fantastic way. Absolutely adored it!

Okay, it’s official. I’m falling in love with historical fiction. “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles is another wonderful WWII novel based on the true story of the incredibly brave librarians working at The American Library in Paris who joined the resistance and fought the Nazi’s through books for their Jewish subscribers. This book was incredibly well researched, beautifully written, and I loved how clearly evident the author’s passion for this story was throughout the entire book.

The characters in this story are absolutely wonderful and will tug at your heartstrings. I adored Odile so much. Her bravery, resilience, and intelligence were absolutely captivating and inspiring. Odile began the story as a young and naive woman who wasn’t exposed to many dangers of the world but we were blessed to see how much she grew as a character and into a powerful force to be reckoned with. The unlikely friendship between Lily and Odile was something I enjoyed too and I loved how much they helped one another overcome serious pain they’ve carried for a long time, transforming into better people because of it.

My favorite part about the characters though are that several of these characters are in fact the real names and backgrounds of the individuals working at the library during WWII. The authors note at the end of the story had a ton of fascinating information about these characters, making this story even more magical.

While this book addresses a lot of heartbreaking topics such as grief, loss, betrayal, and violence, there are also a lot of joyful moments about friendship, hope, love and forgiveness. If you’re looking for a slow paced, but highly enjoyable, WWII story that’s unique, exciting and heartwarming, I highly encourage you to check out “The Paris Library,” coming out 2/9. I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you so much Atria and NetGalley for gifting me this wonderful eARC in exchange for my honest review 💛

This one started out slowly for me, and gradually pulled me in until I couldn’t put it down. If you are a fan of WW2 historical fiction this one should definitely be on your TBR!

For the most part The Paris Library revolves around the American Library in Paris, and the people who worked there and frequented it during WW2. But it also takes place in a small town in Montana in the early 80’s. Our main character, Odile, is the link between the two times and places. Odile was a librarian at the American Library during the war, married a US soldier at the end of the war, and subsequently moved to her husband’s home in Montana, where she is still referred to as the “war bride” decades later. Lily, her teenage neighbor, and Odile strike up an unexpected friendship that helps both of them navigate through the past (Odile), and the present (Lily).

This isn’t a rapid novel of war passion, intrigue, and Résistance, but one of how everyday Parisians navigated the war, and the choices they made doing so. All of the characters are well-rounded human beings, with their good sides and flaws, and all make mistakes, even when they are trying to do good. I really enjoyed learning more about the American Library, and all of the important duties the library performed during the war, and how the author weaves both fictional characters and real-life characters together in the narrative. Odile is a complicated character whose actions often go against her kind nature, as she does not always think before she speaks. Lily is similar, she bottles her feelings up inside, and it is really heartwarming to see how the teen and the older woman help each other work through their lives, choices, and trauma immensely.

I would absolutely love to see this novel made into a TV series that would do the author’s character development justice (and maybe even explore what happens after the novel finishes). Also, Paris will always be my home, even if I haven’t lived in France for over 15 years now, and Janet Skeslien Charles loves Paris in the same way I do, so reading this book warmed my heart so much.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In 1939 Paris, Odile Souchet is working at the American Library in Paris and falling in love with a handsome policeman. When France is occupied by the Nazis, Odile and the other librarians join the Resistance by delivering books to the troops and Parisian Jews.

In 1983 Montana, Lily is a troubled and lonely girl who befriends her elderly neighbor, Odile. As Lily uncovers Odile’s past, we learn in flashbacks what Odile went through during the war and how she came to be in Montana.

This is based on the real life American Library workers who were part of the Resistance, but other than that setting, there isn’t much new here. The troubled-teen-befriends-elderly-woman has been done before in books like The Orphan Train, and there are plenty of other books about women in the WWII Resistance that do it better.

Still, there isn’t really anything to dislike about this either, save for the cringe-worthy descriptions of Odile and Paul’s trysts. This is a fine addition to any historical fiction reader’s library, especially those interested in WWII and women’s fiction.

Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

I hadn't read a WWII historical fiction book in awhile even though they tend to be some of my favorite stories. The Paris Library just added to my love of the genre. Told in two different timelines, I couldn't help but become engrossed in the characters in both. My love of books and libraries was heightened by the story. Anyone who likes historical fiction set in this time period will enjoy this book.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc. I am voluntarily leaving a review.

A great and realistic book about the love of working in a library and the courage of making sure that knowledge and books remain available during dark times. Had good twists and turns that kept you interested until the end.

This was an inspirational story about the American Library in Paris during World War II.
Odile is a young French girl who adores books and the Dewey Decimal Classification. I loved that her favorite “contemporary” book was Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” (published in 1937) and was quoted throughout the book.
Odile gets a job working at the American Library just before the start of World War lI. The books of the library are a lifeline for the librarians and patrons during the war and Odile and her fellow librarians come up against many dangers and challenges in very uncertain times. They risk much to keep the library open and Odile is quite naive to begin with, but the horror of war and what people are capable of doing to each other opens her eyes to the world.

The story is set in alternating timelines, 1940s Paris and 1980s Montana when Odile is an older lady and seems shrouded in grief and mystery to the young girl next door, Lily. The two become unlikely friends as Odile shares more of her past with her and helps her cope with grief of her own.

The book is in part based in fact as quite a few of the characters are real people that were working in the library during World War II which adds an extra layer to it. I loved the author’s note at the end highlighting the real people and events behind this story !

This book was a very interesting work of historical fiction, I liked it a lot and enjoyed the view at the events of World War II from the very specific aspect of the American Library in Paris.

It was captivating to read of the courageous librarians fighting the good fight through books, resisting the Nazis and facing the dangers associated with this. This wonderful book deals with grief, loss, betrayal and friendship and overarching hope !

I received an eARC and thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this. The review and the opinions expressed are my own !

I was very excited for this book. A WWII story centered on a library? That sounds amazing. And I really did like that part of the book. And I wish that was all the story had been. However, it also included a more modern timeline that I did not think added to the story at all. This one didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Let’s make a list of all the things I love:

✔️ Paris
✔️ Libraries
✔️ The American Library in Paris (they host online events that are so much fun - I’ve recently enjoyed their interviews with Amor Towles and V.E. Schwab)
✔️ WW2
✔️ Insight and wisdom
✔️Characters I love being realistically flawed and human

Now, take all of those things and roll them up into one novel of ✔️historical fiction, and you have a book that was pretty much written for me.

ADD TO THAT, this isn’t just run-of-the-mill, I-like-this-period-so-I’m-going-to-write-about-it historical fiction. This is meticulously researched by someone who ACTUALLY WORKED at the ALP and heard many of the stories from people who knew what they were talking about. This is Ariel Lawhon Level Writing and Research, where so many of the events in this work of “fiction” truly happened, and she’s turned real people and events into a compelling read.

I couldn’t put it down, couldn’t wait to see how it all played out, and couldn't wait to see how the last mystery unraveled. And I have so many feelings about so many of these characters - the library subscribers are such a plucky group - I just know I’m going to spend half the night googling them to see how the rest of their stories played out.

Thanks to Atria and Net Galley for a a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.