The library is the perfect setting for this tale of survival, friendship and love during WW2 in Paris. I enjoyed the dual timeline with the past and present versions of Odile. I enjoyed getting to know her in her youth and also through the eyes of a young friend. I wanted MORE from her friendship with Margaret and felt like a little more resolution was needed (or wanted) in the end. Otherwise, a good story with lots of heart.

4.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a lifelong library user who has since gotten her MLIS and has been hoping fruitlessly to establish a career in libraries, I love books that surround them. And finding out that The Paris Library was inspired by the real American Library of Paris and its efforts to combat Nazi censorship and preserve the right to read for all, including the Jewish population, intrigued me. Despite being set (partly) in the 1940s, there are some anecdotes that warmed my heart, like an exchange that comments on the stereotypical “shushing” librarian and earnest conversations in both timelines about the meaning of censorship.

And while I admit I was a bit concerned with the amount of POV characters, with a supporting character having the stage for a chapter then fading into the background again, otherwise it is fairly solid (and I was intrigued to find out who from the narrative actually existed when I reached the Author’s Note).. While some might struggle a bit with Lily’s chapters (I did a big at times), as she’s a teenager and her thoughts are rather juvenile at times, I like that Charles was able to convincingly replicate the mindset of a teenage girl. And the revelations about Odile’s past obviously have an impact on her.

As for Odile, her own story resonated with me more, with a balance in her dedication to her work and the personal troubles she deals with during that time.

This is a well researched historical novel and a love letter to books and libraries that I would recommend to any historical fiction fan or book lover.

100% my jam! This novel is set in dual timelines and follows the experiences of heroic librarians during WWII. Historical fiction is by far my favorite genre and this book was riveting from the start. The Paris Library covers how Librarians other staff help to save some of their patrons as well as providing books to those who are no longer allowed to enter the library due to laws created by the Nazi regime.

This book is for anyone who believes in the power of books as well as any historic fiction lovers. I found this novel to be powerful and engaging. Even the cover is gorgeous.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I will be ordering a hardcover for my home library!

The premise of The Paris Library seemed right up my alley. Historical fiction - check. Paris - check. Books and/or libraries - check. Yet somehow the book didn’t work for me. The main characters of the two timelines, Odile and Lily, were not particularly appealing, and the story, despite its main setting of Paris before and during World War Two, didn’t live up to its billing. Odile was naive and self-centered and I could never warm up to her, although her character in the 1980s in Montana was a bit better. I did enjoy learning about the American Library in Paris and that it still exists, although in a new location. Among the real people in this novel are Library Director Dorothy Reeder, the Countess de Chambrun, and staff member Boris Netchaeff.

The author successfully illustrates the privations of the French during the German occupation, the dangers of being a foreigner in Paris during the occupation and being Jewish during that time. However, she glosses over, with a single sentence, the horrific roundup of Jews at the Paris Velodrome, so graphically described in “Sarah’s Key”, which took place at the same time as the story.

It took over half the book for me to finally get invested in the story. If I hadn’t been reading this for NetGalley, I probably would not have persevered and finished it. The publisher’s blurb states that Odile joined the Resistance, but that’s not really the case. She did some things that most definitely would have gotten her in trouble with the Nazis occupying Paris, but she did not “join the Resistance.” Also, the blurb states that Lily and Odile have a “dark secret from the past [that] connects them.” Nope. Odile has a dark secret, sure, but it has nothing to do with Lily. I didn’t feel that the 1980s timeline added much to the story and took away the narrative flow of the main story arc.

Overall, I think there are much better books written about this time period. Three stars is being generous.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

It has been a while since I've read a good historical fiction and this one sucked me back into the genre! I really liked the alternative timelines and how they worked together to tell the story. It felt like there were so many layers to the books and characters and I loved the main character. I loved the library setting and couldn't get enough of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

You can read the book jacket to get an idea of the plot of this book, so I'll tell you what you don't get. This is a novel told in multiple voices through time; the story's anchor is a woman named Odile, her love of books, and the American Library in Paris where she first worked and shared her love of books with others. It's a story of self discovery, secrets and lies, and jealously and forgiveness. I felt like the book was a little long and there were a couple of unnecessary "scenes", but I don't want to give any spoilers. I would certainly recommend this book to others.

The Paris Library is a historical fiction based on a young women from Paris and how she navigated World War II. The story intertwined with her life at present day and her relationship with a young child trying to navigate her life as well.

I don't usually love books that have a split story telling part of their history, and a present day story, because it usually means you know how it ends. You know she lives, you know who she ends up with, what happened to her family, etc. That's how I treated the first half of the book and It wasn't a book I really felt the need to rush through.

However, the ending I thought I had all figured out, was nothing like I thought. There was so many twists and turns, and the way the little details entwined with the beginning chapters, was brilliant. I did not love the characters - they seemed naïve, and had such trivial problems, but I think that was just part of the story and portrayed the ignorance people had during one of the worst times in our world's modern day history.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for an advanced complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I always love a good book about books and this story did not disappoint. The Paris Library is a tale of heroic characters at the American Library in Paris during the German occupation. Set in two different time periods this an unforgettable read full of wit, empathy, betrayal, romance, friendship, family and the power of literature to bring us together.

Highly Recommend!

CW: Nazi sympathizer side character

This has been a difficult book for me to decide how I feel about it. For the first 75% of the book, I was fully engaged and could not put it down. But then the focus of the story seemed to switch for me and it lost me completely. I'm giving it 3 stars because I enjoyed the first 75%.

As a dual time frame, dual point of view book, we are in WWII occupied Paris at the American Library with Odile, and in Montana, United States, in the 1980s, with Lily. The first part of the book is about the library, the cast of characters who cared for it, helped patrons, and ultimately saved the library from the Nazis. I enjoyed the component a lot. There is a clear love of books communicated by the author through her characters, particularly Odile who goes to work there. The pressure of the War is told in small vignettes, some are dream like, others much more harsh.

Lily is a teenager in Montana, with a recluse French woman living next door who she eventually befriends, Odile. Lily is a typical 1980s teen. There isn't a lot of growth with that character, she seems to be mostly there to eventually explore Odile's post War story, or perhaps Odile's own regrets about the war and her own actions.

It is the deviation into Odile's regrets and actions where the story loses me. The focus of the character arc is missing and most of the connections we need to make to feel any empathy or sympathy, are missing. There is a story line involving Odile and her best friend which for most of the book, is one with a great of heart. A lonely, wealthy British woman, Margaret, who becomes friends with the young French woman. We are sympathetic because Margaret is out of her league with her wealthy husband's colleagues and frankly, he's a philandering ass.

However, Margaret then takes up with a Nazi soldier. While the character at one point argues she's done it to get nice things for Odile and her family, there are far too many characterizations of Margaret as dreamy or happy with this soldier. Sorry, I'm not here to read about Nazi sympathizers. Not at all. And it made for a discordant note with the beginning them of the effort to save the library. Eventually ((SPOILER)) Margaret suffers at the hands of Odile's husband, because of her Nazi sympathizing. This is the catalyst that sends Margaret out of France to the US.

Fast forward 40 years and we know little of what happened in Odile's life in the US other than her American husband and son. That narrative is pushed aside. Yet we're supposed to follow the character arc from her devastation in Paris to the woman who befriends Lily in 1983, without explanation other than a few details at the end. It all came crashing down for me there.

The author's note make it clear that the characters at the library are real people who saved the American Library in Paris. I would have preferred to spend all of my time with them and not had the Nazi story and the American story. I have always enjoyed WWII historical fiction but this one ultimately did not work for me.

This is a profound work of historical fiction told from a librarian’s perspective. Odile was born and raised in Paris when she becomes a librarian at the American Library during WWII. The difficulties that she faces are seemingly insurmountable: loved ones are taken away to death camps, her brother is captured by nazis and the whole of Paris is under the oppression of Nazi rule.

As a librarian, what I appreciated most about this were the descriptions of the goings on in the library, as well as Odile’s thought processes in relation to the library. There are so many beautiful sentences that fittingly describe libraries and why they are so profoundly loved and cherished. The historical aspect of this was also interesting, though heartbreaking. I was touched when the librarians took it upon themselves to deliver books to the Jews who were banished from the library. We always hear about the atrocities of WWII, but there are also some real life, everyday, unsung heroes like these librarians. This will appeal to many readers and will be a book club hit.

This is a wonderfully and powerfully written book. It is based on the true story of the librarians of the American Library of Paris during World War II. The story is very well written. It shows how brave the librarians were when faced with the Nazi invasion of Paris. They risked losing the books and their lives. Their belief in the power of books to help everyone through tough times kept them going through the danger and their fears. This book will transport you back in time. It helps you realize that your choices, your actions and your words can have dire consequences. It also shows how the people in our lives shape who we are. It shows the power of friendships and family and what we can be capable of when we are trying to protect the ones we love.

I loved this WWII representation.
The duel time line was really well done.
I loved how it teaches that past events can be useful in the present in all kinds of ways. How books are universal and expand across time. I feel like this book is really important especially in current times as a highlight on how books can be an escape in trying times.
The relationships were exceptional and beautiful and I loved learning about the people in the library. It made me want to look into it further. It is definitely a positive spot light on a book if it motivates me to research more.
I love books about books but I have never read it in a historical fiction setting until now. And I feel like the basis on true events really hammers this home.
I loved that there was more to the story as well. Instead of a historical overload we got to witness the development of beautiful relationships and some heaviness. Kindness in the darkest of times and a whole lot of hope. It really made this book relatable for all kinds of trope lovers. A wide expanse of different genre lovers will surely enjoy this.
The descriptions were incredibly colorful. And the characters were complex and had a lot of depth.
The authors note at the end was the cherry on top.
I was so absorbed and connected to this story. I can not recommend this enough.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a chance to read this incredible book. All thoughts are my own.

The Paris Library was actually an American library is the heart of Paris during WW2. Our central character, Odile, was a young French woman with an extraordinary love for books. She categorized many of the things in her life according to the Dewey Decimal system. Of course that was only in her mind.

The dual timeline takes us to Froid, Minnesota and the 1980s. Odile now lives next door to young Lily, a young teen who had lost her mother. A wonderful friendship develops between the two of them.

This is a historical novel, extremely well researched by the author. The author actually worked at the library. Many of the characters in the book are tributes to patrons of the library during the war.

This is a great book for readers who like to see a different aspect of the war. And, it is also a great book for lovers of books.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy

Trigger warnings: death, antisemitism, war, violence, attempted suicide

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

In the 1940s, Odile is a librarian at the American Library in Paris. She is obsessed with the Americans' notion of assigning numbers to subjects and has memorized the Dewey Decimal System. Her father is a constable who is determined to set her up with one of his police officers, as he doesn't approve of a working woman. Odile's twin Remy is in law school but quits to join the army.

In 1980s Montana, young Lily is curious about her foreign neighbor Odile. After her mother's untimely death, she finds herself at Odile's house asking to learn French. Lily learns life lessons from Odile in addition to French, and Odile's wartime story unfolds as their relationship grows.

The two women learn from each other and have their past hurts healed by their closeness.

Recommended for fans of World War II fiction and Francophiles who enjoy historical fiction. Readers who enjoy intergenerational tales of bonding will also appreciate the story.

An amazing tale set during World War II filled with historical detail that brings the story alive. Janet Skeslien Charles weaves a remarkable tale that takes the reader on an amazing journey.

If you are a book lover and you feel joy at the thought of found family, The Paris Library will make you smile and possibly cry. In 1939, Odile Souchet works at the American Library in Paris, and she stays there to keep the library running during the war. In 1983 in Montana, she befriends a young girl named Lily who is much like Odile's younger self. As Lily and Odile get to know each other, the darkness in Odile's past comes to light.

The storyline sounds great on its own, but this book is based on real events and people, which makes it even better. This book displays the power of stories in creating community, and it shows how libraries and librarians played a part in World War II.

My favorite part of the story is the friendships and complex relationships between the characters: Odile's friendship with Margaret; Odile's relationship with her brother, Remy; Odile's friendship with Lily; and Odile's friendship with the library subscribers.

I got sucked in to the book around the halfway mark; there's an increase in tension, and the mystery element of the narrative becomes stronger as the war goes on. The stakes feel higher, and the emotions rise. Part of the story is written through letters, which is a nice change of pace and makes the story more immersive.

Overall, I give The Paris Library 4/5 stars.

Release date: February 9, 2021.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the ARC!

This book reminds me why historical fiction will always be my favourite genre. I love to read stories based on past events, as they all at least have some kernel of truth to them. Reading the author's notes in historical fiction novels is something I highly recommend - you can learn about the actual group of people in history who inspired the story, and it makes the characters all the more real.

The Paris Library is set in two timelines - Odile, twenty years old and working as a librarian at the American Library in Paris, is seeing the war tear apart everything she loves. Her twin brother is off fighting, her chief-of-police father is being enlisted by the Nazis to round up Jewish citizens, her British best friend is doing what she can to look out for her daughter, and the staff at the library are under constant surveillance. Odile learns that her actions, even the smallest ones, have deadly consequences, and that war changes even the people you thought you knew best.
In Montana during the 1980's, Odile has suddenly become an object of interest to her teenage neighbour, Lily. Having continuously stayed distant from her neighbours, Odile suddenly finds herself with a surprising friend, who she shares her past with. While Lily is going through more than her share of teenage troubles, she and Odile develop an unlikely friendship, that helps each of them open up their hearts in ways they never expected.

This is a story about a love of books, but more importantly, it offers many valuable life lessons. Life is fleeting. The choices we make have consequences on everyone around us, and are often irreversible. Odile teaches Lily that jealousy can get the best of you, that family is always worth the sacrifice, and that finding your passion allows you to make the most of life. I found this to be a beautiful story, and one I would recommend to anyone looking for a historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read an advanced copy of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. As a Library Technician in the field for over thirty years reading a book that is “Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris” I so wanted to like this book. And in some way I did. The historical parts I found fascinating. Some of the story was riveting, some parts were not. Odile Souchet, is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System and wants nothing but to work at the American Library in Paris …and obsessed is correct. She spews out Dewey numbers constantly. This for me became a bit irritating. The main issue I had was with the dual timeline, which seems to be an “in” thing these days. I just wasn’t interested in Lily’s storyline in 1983 as much as I could have been. The Paris Library is one of those books where some readers will love it, while others won’t, but you decide. Either way remember this woman Dorothy Reeder (Director, American Library) 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

So I really loved this book, and I always love books taking place in Paris, sigh, I miss living in France. And the part that takes place in a library, for a book lover, is lovely. So very very very sad, but these stories must be told. Thank for letting me have an advanced copy for review I am so happy to Recommend this book to others. I love learning about the war and the different parts that people played, and Frances place as well.

I only wish that the “present day 1980s” story The girl would’ve been a bit older than her middle school age years, I also wasn’t as invested in that storyline as odiles Paris storyline, took awhile to see any connection I felt to it.

Overall 3.5 stars

This book combines one of my favorite genres (WWI historical fiction) with one of my favorite places and ideas (the importance of a library). Here's what I loved: It is based on the history of how the American Library in Paris stayed open during the German occupation. As all libraries do, it had a dedicated staff and a cast of colorful visitors. The book focuses on Odile, a French-born librarian, and her personal and family's dramas with regards to the war and occupation. Odile has later ended up in Montana and the split narrative slowly solves the mystery of how and why she ended up there. The book spent more time on the "past" part of the story which I appreciated.
So although there's a lot to like, it didn't keep me as engaged as I hoped, I couldn't remember all the library characters (this could be because I started it a long time ago and took a long break from it...but again, why did I take a break??) and the ending chapters seemed off to me. But it is a worthwhile read if the topic strongly appeals to you. I can't quite bring myself to write a blogpost about it so my review is here.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advance digital copy in exchange for a honest review.