If the sex scenes had been slightly less spelled out, or even the "physical aspects" more gently alluded to, I would definitely have voted this new novel for a library reads pick. Those passages were rather awkward except for the apartment exploring segments - the exploring was definitely essential to the plot. The characters were wonderfully fleshed out, especially Odile - she seemed so real and relatable, especially in 1987. The library staff, the regular users, even the overprotective Parisian father were all very well done. Overall, a successful book that was fun to read. If you like history, pick this book. #friendship #wartime #librarians

This story is told alternating between 2 time frames: the first is during WW2 and the second is during the 1980s. Odile in 1939 gets a job at the library in Paris, and works hard to help everyone who comes in. After the occupation, she is told that certain people are not allowed in the library, so she delivers books to some of her regulars. During the 1980s, she is living next door in America to a family where she is befriended by the daughter.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do we really need another dual-timeline historical fiction novel set during WWII? When its an homage to libraries and book lovers, yes. When it reveals a little-known history of resistance, of community, and of unwavering love for literature? Yes. As an avid fan of books about books, books about libraries, books about bookshops, I found this book to be a worthy member of those hallowed genres.

[I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.]

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles took place during WWII in 1939-19944 and during 1983-1989 in a small town in Montana. Odile Souchet, a lover of books and the Dewey Decimal System, landed her dream job at the American Library in Paris. Odile loved her family, had a sweet beau she wanted to marry, and became best friends with an English woman. She felt like she was living her best life until the war was declared and France started having restrictions that affected the library and the ones she loved. Feeling helpless, she helped keep the library open and accessible to their patrons as much as possible, even if it was dangerous.

In Froid, Montana, Odile was a widower who kept to herself even though people tried to get to know her. She seemed out of place in this small town with her fancy clothes and worldly mannerisms. Lily, her teenager neighbor, was fascinated with Odile and tried to befriend her by asking to write a report about her. Their growing friendship unraveled her past and changed them both in unsurmountable ways.

This special story gives us a glimpse of another group of heroic men and women who helped servicemen survive the war by shipping boxes of requested books to different bases. All of the different characters played an essential part of sustaining the library's goal of uplifting their patrons during dark times. They didn't want anyone, no matter their religious affiliation or status, to be omitted from their mission.

The Paris Library would be a great addition to anyone's reading list. I loved the French words and book quotes and titles mentioned throughout the story. It made it very authentic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my copy for an honest review!

It is Paris 1939, We meet Odile Souchet a librarian who landed her dream job at the American Library and has a handsome police officer beau named Paul and seems to have it all. Until Nazis march into Paris, sending Frenchman fleeing to safer territory south and anyone not from France leaving as well otherwise they will be labeled enemies and arrested. But together with her fellow librarians they try to keep the library open and moral up by sending book care packages to all the allied troops while still trying to keep their Jewish patrons safe when they can’t actually go to the library by delivering books to them undercover. But when the war ends instead of freedom she finds bitter betrayal and she flees Paris and ends up marrying an American from Montana. Then we head to Montana 1983 and Lily is a lonely teenager looking for excitement in her boring town. Odile is her reclusive next door neighbor that nobody really knows anything about except for the fact that both her husband and only son are dead and she doesn’t have anyone coming to visit her. Lily winds up befriending Odile while interviewing her for a report she needs to do for school about Paris and get her talking about what it was like living there and during the war. During the next 4 years while Lily is going through her teenage years, Odile is there to help and give advice and Odile finally tells someone what happened to make her flee paris and why she never went back.

Oh man this was super interesting. I really didn’t know anything about the American Library in Paris and what these brave people went through to help their fellow countrymen in Paris and all the troops that they sent care packages of books to just to keep up moral. A lot of the characters in the book working for the library are real people and what she wrote was what actually happened to them. While Odile was a fictional character her experiences where what people experienced like dealing with neighbors sending crow letters which are anonymous declarations of people breaking the laws under Nazi occupation or denouncing rich jewish neighbors so they could take their property. Just such a fascinating piece of history and definitely something I didn’t know happened during WWII. You really felt for the characters and how oppressed they were under nazi occupation and the realities of war with brother and lovers away in battle and not knowing if they will be coming home. Also how mean and cruel people where after victory when they went after anyone who welcomed the Nazis and the women who kept them company and how shamed they were just for trying to survive. Just really great read and I love learning new things especially about a group of librarian resistance fighters.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was captured by the storytelling about Odile. We learn about her in Paris during WWII, and in Montana in the 1980’s. Her story unfolds from both ends and works its way through. Odile works at the American Library in Paris and is passionate about every aspect of this job. In Montana, she is a widow who had also lost her son. Connecting the two worlds keeps us engaged and interested throughout the book. I thought this was a short story and was surprised to see there were over 350 pages. Excellent writing, will definitely look for more works by this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I was lucky enough to win an electronic ARC of THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and I hope you have a safe and socially distanced holiday!

What do a recluse French war bride living in Montana and an obstinate teen have in common? On the surface-nothing. As the author leads us though the tales of each life, Pairs 1939 under the German occupation and present day Montana in the 80’s, we see how age and life experiences can be intertwined leading to a friendship bond that is stronger than family. Odile worked in the American Library in Paris trying to survive unimaginable times through books. The friendships, love and mistakes lead her to flee France and start a new life in America. Lily is a nosey teen that asks for an interview with Odile for school-which is a life changing moment for both. Told in alternating chapters this book gave a very unique insight into WW2 through the eyes of the library and those it served.

I loved this book. As a librarian, the historical content and references to libraries really helped to draw me into the story. The characters were all well developed and the time period was well represented.

WOW! This is such a fantastic book that got me hooked from the very beginning.
This is very well written that you get sucked into the story and just forget all your plans for the day because you just can't stop reading.

This book is a love story to libraries and the uniting power of literature. Set in Paris during the Nazi occupation, the novel highlights the true story of the perseverance of the American Library in Paris and its librarians during a time when books were being confiscated and burned throughout Nazi occupied Europe. The author uses a Parisian librarian named Odile to tell the story of the library as well as of the experiences of Americans, British, and Parisians alike during the occupation. The WWII history is balanced with the telling of an older Odile and her relationship with a young girl in 1980s Montana. This is a story about the enduring love of family, relationships, and growing into your own despite any obstacle set in front of you. It is perfect for someone who feels the power of literature and who gravitates toward the comfort the world of books creates.
Highly suggest to those who enjoyed 'The Alice Network' as the past and present storytelling as well as the younger character and older mentor storyline is very similar.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Such a compelling read!! Based on the true story of Odelie Souchet and the American Library in Paris. Odelie, along with her co workers kept the library open during the war and managed to do resistance work under the nose of the Nazi’s. In 1983 we meet Lily, a young girl that becomes closer to her next door neighbour Odelie, as her mother becomes further ill.
I am a lover of WWII fiction and this story was so new to me, I had never read anything close to this and it was such a great story and a learning experience for me. #TheParisLibrary. #NetGalley

I loved The Library of Legends and the historical information about libraries during WWII that this book covered. This book was entertaining, enlightening and beautifully written.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I received this arc from NetGalley via the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story and the characters very much. It was a different sort of take on WWII and what was happening in the libraries at that time. I found the writing to be lacking though. I felt that the story had holes in it and jumped around very quickly. One paragraph you'd be reading that Odile is at the library, the next jumps to her being at the hospital. I felt that the author tried to put too much into the book without giving enough detail. I was confused in parts too and had to thumb back pages to figure out what had happened. I enjoyed the story of older Odile and Lily much more than younger Odile in Paris. All in all it was an interesting read, but not one that kept me captive enough to get really involved in the story.

I love WWII stories and bringing to light pieces of the war that have been overlooked by history. The American Library in Paris is one such institution. This book felt a bit drawn out with not great character development but the historical content about the library is fascinating. If you are a fan of World War 2 lit then this is yet another novel to add to your reading list!
#Netgalley#theParis Library

'Your words have power, Especially now in such dangerous times.'
Odile is the Paris Library. When she meets Lily, she has advice and life lessons to give, much as a library full of books does. Reading Odile's story of living in Paris during WWII as a librarian at the American Library I found enjoyable. I learned new things, as well it was interesting seeing the war through a different set of eyes as not many stories are told through a librarians point of view at that time.
Odile's story is woven with Lily's very seamlessly as the story is told the majority of the time through their point of view. I enjoyed how as their friendship grows, they both end up helping each other move forward- whether it be from the past or through the trials of being a teenager in a small town.
I enjoyed the book however, I felt that some parts were drawn out more than they needed to. I would rate this book 3 1/2 but have rounded down.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

As we start this story, France like most countries do not want to go back to war, they are still stinging from WWI, and naive to think they are too strong for Germany to bother.
We follow a young woman as she begins her life journey, and her hearts desire to become a Liberian, and starting at the American Library in Paris. Yes, this book is based on true stories.
Lifelong friendships, and betrayal, love and jealousy, sharing and greed, all forms of human emotions, and all played out in this page turning read.
We put faces to this journey, and sometimes what you think is very wrong, and bombshells drop, most I never saw coming, but you will be walking in these characters shoes!
I am glad I decided to read this one!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Atria Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

I love historical fiction, but I think I’ve had enough of WW II stories. This is the story of Odile, a young French librarian at the American Library in Paris as the war comes to France. We experience it all through her eyes, and feel what she feels. This story also has a more current storyline, Odile in the 1980’s in America, and the young girl who befriends her. It’s a very interesting story, but feels drawn out at times. Thank you you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Calling all WWII histfic lovers! Another fabulous book to add to your list!
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1980s: Lily is a teen whose mom recently passed and had formed a kinship with her mysterious neighbor Odile. What will she discover and she unravels Odile’s past?
1940s: Odile has recently begun working at the American Library in Paris. As war consumes their lives, the library inhabitants decide to fight back in their own ways. But will someone betray them all?
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I loved how seamlessly the two storylines were woven together. It really helped build the story to its climax. The book had everything I loved in WWII fiction: romance, resistance, digging deep, finding oneself... plus there’s books! I held off on reading this ARC and I shouldn’t have. I was completely swept up!
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love the way this book plays out. The interweaving of the past and the present is laid out beautifully going back and forth between Odile's life in France and the present in Montana.

Lily begins to interview her her neighbor, Odile, for a school project and unknowingly begins to help Odile heal from the things in the past she's suppressed. As she works through the telling of stories of her early life as a librarian at the American Library in Pars during World War II, they connect through their love of literature and Odile also helps support Lily as she works out her own self exploration following the life changing events that she encounters.

While I had hoped for more detail on Oldile's relationships, as a Historical Fiction fan I very much appreciate accuracy in the stories told of history and after reading the authors nots, the research done for the book was exquisite and honoring to the characters. I absolutely would recommend this book, over and over.