The Paris Library tells the story of Odile Souchet, a young woman who worked at the American Library in Paris during World War II.

The story is mainly told from Odile’s perspective during the war but with some chapters flashing forward to the 1980s where we are introduced to Odile's teenage neighbor Lily, who becomes obsessed with learning more about Odile and her secrets.

As someone who has read a fair share of WWII focused historical fiction novels, The Paris Library offers a fresh perspective on the war. The role of the library during the war was not something I had wondered about previously but was very interested to learn more about - how the employees smuggled books to Jewish subscribers who were banned.

My favorite part though was the relationship between Odile and Lily. I enjoyed how it was Lily who initiated it, and learned so much from Odile, but it was Odile who we later learn ended up needing Lily the most.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a fantastic job of character development and bringing this based-on-a-true story to life in a meaningful way. I would definitely recommend this to any lover of historical fiction, especially those looking for a more unique perspective.

Thanks to Netgalley, Janet Skeslian Charles and Atria Books for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical fiction and I am especially intrigued by WWII based stories, having had a Dad that fought in WWII and a father-in-law that was put into a prison camp (and survived). With "The Paris Library", add that this was a meticulously researched story and gave a fresh angle to the Nazi invasion of Paris story. So in short, I LOVED the book!
The book is told in two parts. First we meet Odile who is starting a job at the American Library in Paris, just prior to the German invasion of the city. Besides getting to experience this time in history through Odile's eyes, we also get an illustration of how the library tried to reach out to all its members, even as it became dangerous to make the trip through the city streets to get there.
The second part of the story is set in 1980s Montana. It is told through Lily, a teenager whose life is undergoing some dramatic changes. Odile, her next door neighbor, enters her life during this time and becomes a trusted friend and a great influence. We see Odile's story slowly unfold as we jump back and forth between the two story lines. The Montana story is much shorter than the Paris one.
What I enjoyed most about this book is how it made me feel I was really in the library with the staff. What a surprise to find out after I finished the book that some of these staff members were real people who had worked their during this era! There were daily details of the everyday life of the library that made it all seem very real. Odile was a young woman who made mistakes, as all young people do as they grow and become the person that hopefully they were meant to be. In the second story we see Odile learning to forgive herself.
Has anyone else noticed how many books are being written lately about readers and libraries? I love it!
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Set in dual timelines, 1939-1944, The Paris Library, follows Odile's journey to becoming a librarian at the American Library in Paris as war was imminent. The 1980s storyline follows Lily, who is Odile's neighbor, who is known as the "war bride" in the small close-knit community of Froid, Montana.

Honestly, in dual timeline novels, I usually find myself more attached to one timeline over the other, but in this book, I was equally invested in both timelines.

After reading the author's note, I learned that some of the characters were real people and some events actually occurred. I found it fascinating that the author worked as the programs manager at the American Library in Paris and that is where she learned about the premise of this novel (how the courageous staff kept the library open during WWII and provided books to subscribers who were otherwise not able to visit the library).

I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction. Book lovers everywhere will love the setting of the library and the belief that books like no other thing possess the "mystical faculty to make people see with other people's eyes".

"Love is accepting someone, all parts of them, even the ones you don't like or understand."

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Beautifully written and kept me wanting more. I read it in two settings. The characters were so well developed, I felt like I was on the journey with them.

A well-constructed blend of history and fiction, The Paris Library takes you back in time to Paris before, during, and immediately after WWII. The character Odile brings the angst of a young woman whose primary desire is to be a librarian at the American Library in Paris (ALP.) Odile gets the opportunity to work at the ALP where she helps the library director, makes friends, and helps the library subscribers to locate the books and periodicals they seek. She also has a boyfriend, a young police officer. However, as the Nazis invade France and then Paris, her idyllic life changes. Her brother joins the French army, her co-workers who are not French nationals or who are Jewish find themselves in danger, food becomes scarce, and her boyfriend finds himself assigned to hateful and distasteful tasks. Nonetheless, with the director’s guidance, Odile and her co-workers and volunteers strive to keep the library available to all who wish to access its books, even those who are banned from the library or those whose books are confiscated by the Nazis.

Jumping ahead about forty years, we see Odile’s postwar life in Montana as she gets to know Lily, the teenager next door. As the two stories, past and present, alternate, we get to compare Odile’s life in Paris to her life as a widow in small town America and see the affects the former has on the latter. She is also able to help Lily navigate the ups and downs of adolescence. However, it is not just a one-way relationship and Lily is able to help Odile face some of the unresolved issues from her past.

Odile’s story is compelling as it describes her choices and their consequences. Both she and Lily are believable characters who have to come to terms with the lives they live. This is a thought-provoking novel which presents the little-known history of the ALP.

Beautiful historical fiction. Loved the two timelines. I wish there would have been more Lily and Paul. I needed more answers but overall a very well written story.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is truly a masterpiece.

Set in two different timelines : 1930’s France and 1980’s Montana, USA, this novel tells the story of Odile, a librarian working at the American Library in Paris, and Lily, a young girl living in Montana. The stories come together beautifully, and left me wanting to visit Paris and the ALP as soon as this pandemic is over.

Solid 5 stars!

Another fascinating story set during World War II, this time during the German occupation of Paris. I found it interesting to learn about the American Library and those who worked to keep it open during the war. This is a love letter to libraries and books and how necessary they are, especially in times of strife. I love the character Odile and the way the author slowly unveils her story. I also enjoyed the more modern story of Lily growing up in the 80’s in Montana. Definitely recommend!

The American Library – February 1939 -home to many; not just scholars and readers but friends, collaborators, lost souls, and non-repentant strong-willed women. It becomes the most important part of Odile Souchet’s life. Her true home is among the musty books and crisp newspaper pages in the American Library. She has studied the Dewey Decimal System and knows the numbers which represent the subjects, which represent the books. This becomes a clever distraction in the descriptions of her day-to-day existence as she is learning about herself and life in Nazi occupied Paris. She is at times meek, self-conscious, insecure, questioning, naïve, brash, impetuous, and ultimately a phantom. She has found home, she has made friends, she has discovered love, she destroys it all.

Montana, Spring 1985 – day by day, minute by minute a young girl is losing her mother. She needs help, someone to care and understand the devastation wrought by the death parent betrayal by the remainder. She becomes a Francophile and forms a relationship with the solitary neighbor, known as the war bride, who will give her French lessons. She will teach young Lily so much more.

I found great depth in this book. I was so engrossed that I never stopped to take notes and write down my thoughts which would have made for a better review but a lesser reading experience. The story is compelling. It does not shy from selfish and bad choices and the harm caused to those in the way. It explains but does not forgive or offer an easy escape. It imposes consequences. It finds reason at times where there appears to be none. It offers thought.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria and NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Paris Library is a wonderful historical fiction based on a true story.

There are two things Odile loves the most in the world, her brother and books. When Odile lands her dream job at the American Library in Paris she is overjoyed. As war ravages through Europe, Odile is extremely optimistic that the war could never come to Paris...until her brother enlists in the army. Before she knows it France is in the center of the war and Odile must find the courage to continue to do what she loves most.. making sure books are available to everyone.

A true gem of story, I thoroughly enjoyed each page. If I had one word of criticism it would be that I wasn’t 100% convinced of Odile’s behavior at the end. But, that a small issue in what is a fabulous and highly interesting overall.

This is a wonderful book to read, both educational and entertaining. Portrays live in Paris just before and during German occupation intermingled with live in 1983 in a small town in Montana. It shows that war brides where not always welcomed with open arms but often treated as the foreigner that they were who had stolen the man from the local girlfriend left behind when the man went to war.
Prior to the second world war the adult population in Paris still had vivid memories of the First World War and would often talk about it now that a new occupation seem to be hanging over their heads.
The father that wants to see his daughter safely married, to become a housewife and mother instead of a self-depending woman that brings in her own salary, starts to invite eligible bachelors (daddy approved) from his work for Sunday dinner.
The description of the mother guarding the daughter when they notice her having some interest in one of the men reminded me of my older sister’s dating. There wasn’t much private time allowed.
The changing attitude of the population that had to be careful what was said and who they associated with.
The role the French police played in arresting Jews, not that they have much choice if they wanted to keep their jobs.
As a reader you slowly become involved with the various characters, like or dislike them, know their fears and joys.
I highly recommend this book.

I used to read many WWII historical fiction books but went on a little hiatus/break this past year. I was so excited to start this book and immediately feel a bond with the Odile, the main character. Then, when Lily was introduced in Montana I really enjoyed her. I really enjoyed most of the library "cast", but I wish it was a smaller group and we got to learn a little more about Boris, Mrs. Reeder and even Bitsi rather than have so many people involved in the storyline. Margaret was an absolute gem. I was very engaged through the first half of the book, but as the occupation in Paris got more intense the book somehow got a little dull and dragged on a bit. I was also a little frustrated with how Lily's coming of age was treated - I didn't feel like we got a fair picture of her and so much was spent explaining some of her shortcomings which were normal teenager things to go through. The book did wrap up very nicely and overall, this was a very successful WWII historical fiction book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my, I loved this. As someone who enjoys working with elderly people and learning the stories they tell, I find that I am glad Lily took notice of Odile and began to listen to her. Odile had a treasure trove of experiences you wouldn't find in a history book from her time in Paris. I look forward to more books by this author!

Absolutely delightful! I adore dual timelines, and some books make you only like the characters from one, but not this book! You will enjoy each timeline and story arc, and it is just so interesting about the WWII library in Paris! Highly recommended!

Odile Souchet lives a charmed life. She landed her dream job at the American Library in Paris, she’s courting a handsome police officer, and she has a loving family even if her father drives her crazy most of the time. Odile believes she’s on track for living the life that she’s always wanted, but everything changes once war breaks out and the Nazi’s take over Paris. With her twin brother off fighting, Odile takes it upon herself to help out at home wherever possible. She and the rest of the staff at the Library join forces to help smuggle books to those deemed “unfit” to enter the premises and to soldiers all over to keep up morale. When the war comes to an end, Odile is hopeful that the horrors and heartbreaks she’s endured are finally over, but unfortunately, instead of her happily ever after she’s left with only more betrayal from those closest to her.

Lily is a lonely teenager in a small town in Montana. She longs for adventure and the world outside the wide stretches of farmland that surround her. Nothing piques Lily’s curiosity more than her elderly neighbor, Odile. Lily is fascinated by this strange, solitary, elegant woman. The pair strike up an unusual friendship based on their mutual love of stories, languages, and the same longing to live their lives to the fullest. The more time they spend together, the more they start to view one another as family, but will their newfound foundation start to crumble after a dark secret from the past comes to light?

I’m a sucker for books about libraries, and couple that with the fact that this is based around the true history of the librarians at the American Library in Paris, and you’ve got me hook, line and sinker. I enjoyed how this was set in two different timelines and places, both Paris during WWII and Montana in the 1980s, and also from the POVs of a young, ambitious Odile and Lily, an awkward teen. From a historical point, I did enjoy Odile’s chapters more because it was fascinating reading about Paris during the war and the library itself. These chapters especially came across as very atmospheric and heartbreaking, but also hopeful. Lily was a fine enough character and I liked seeing her grow and develop as the book went on, but she just didn’t interest me as much as Odile did. If you enjoy well-written stories about friendship, family, and the power of books, I’d definitely recommend it.

A story of love, war, books, and redemption. This book is set in the American Library in Paris before and during WWII. It also flashes forward to Montana in the 1980s. As a librarian, a history buff, and a lover of France, this book was right up my alley. I visited the American Library in Paris on a study trip several years ago, but I didn't learn much about how it came to be. This book brought the library's history vividly to life. I was delighted to learn that it is based on true events and that many of the characters were real people. It is beautifully written, with a strong sense of place and peopled with characters who are real, flawed, and sympathetic.

4.5 STARS - I have been on a Historical Fiction kick lately because there are so many amazing books that will publish this winter! I have read a lot of books in this genre set during WWII, but The Paris Library stood out for me due to its different perspective of the war. This is a story about the heroism of a group of librarians working in the American Library in Paris (ALP) during WWII who surreptitiously smuggled books to their Jewish patrons, despite the constant threat of the Third Reich.

The story is told using two timelines and POVs. The first is set during WWII and follows Odile Souchet, a young librarian who has just started working at the American Library in Paris. This story line was my favourite of the two, particularly because I'm a Library Assistant and book lover myself. The strength of this book is in its characters. Instead of focusing on the front lines of the war, we witness its devastation through Odile's experiences of love, loss, betrayal, and perseverance. I especially enjoyed seeing the connections she forged with the diverse group of library patrons who become Odile's support system.

The second timeline occurs in the mid 1980's and focuses on Lily, a lonely high school student who lives next door the elderly Odile. The two create an unlikely friendship and its through Lily's POV that we get more of a personal look at family dysfunction, loss, friendship, and the lasting effects of the war on Odile.

This story is a great combination of history and heart. I strongly encourage readers to not miss the author's note at the end where she explains how she wove her story around real events during the German occupation of Paris. I loved that Skeslien Charles included the lives of real people, in particular, Dorothy Reeder (the perfect librarian name if ever there was one!), who was the director of the ALP from 1936 to 1941.

This well-researched story blends fact and fiction into an impressive and engaging story that focuses on the impact of the war on the lives of regular people and the heroism of a group of librarians who were determined to keep the library accessible to their Jewish patrons despite the strict Nazi ban. These librarians also instigated the Soldiers Service which shipped over 100,000 books to English, French and Czech soldiers on the front lines. The book has a lull or two, but overall, this is an engaging story that focuses on the power of community and how books and libraries bring people together, making them an integral part of society even in the darkest of times.

‘No other thing possesses that mystical faculty to
make people see with other people’s eyes.
The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.’
- Dorothy Reeder -

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Historical fiction at its best. Well researched, documenting the survival( still in existence today) of the library through the harrowing years of the German occupation of Paris in WW2 and the role the library, and mainly the people who worked there, struggled to survive and distribute books. The book alternates between Paris in WW2 and a small town in Montana, with the same book loving mysterious frenchwoman who worked at the library now lives. If you love reading,and the importance of books, you will be deeply moved by many sections in the book

I was worried about going into another book that was flipping time periods in different chapters, but this one worked well. The majority of the book is set in Paris during the war, and for every 1980s chapter there are at least three World War 2 chapters.

I found myself connecting deeply with Odile. I love boos and would love to work in a library. I know the emotional power of books. I have many friends from different backgrounds that I have learned so much from. I love a man who regularly puts his life on the line. And I know how easy it is to lock myself away when th world outside doesn’t understand how I feel, or when I don’t want to allow others to try to understand.

I enjoyed this one. I am seeing a trend of world war 2 books shifting story focus to life going on throughout the war and not encountering combat scenes at all. I like this trend; its refreshing and brings new flavor to the world war 2 stories.