Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Thank you to NetGalley and Laguna for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

The American Library in Paris is one that serves both the French and Americans/British. It provides periodicals, fiction and non-fiction as well as community resources for those who find themselves living in the grand city of Paris. This title was inspired by the author's real work at the American Library several years ago. While there she heard of the librarians' efforts during WWII to keep hope and reading alive. Drawing from actual events and people she created a fictional story about one librarian in particular, Odile Souchet.

It's 1939 in Paris and Odile Souchet has just landed her dream job. She's a librarian at the American Library. The library hosts the Dewey Decimal System of shelving and Odile is enamored with that system, so much so that she often translates what is happening around here into the Dewey place it would hold on a shelf. The library also hosts a colorful cast of characters, some French and some American/British. As Odile settles into the library and her tasks the Nazis are marching closer to France. Nobody thinks they will be able to take France but when they do Odile and her fellow librarians fight to keep hope alive through reading.



It's 1983 in Froid, Montana and Lily is looking for things to do. A school report prompts her to knock on her elderly neighbor's door and approach Mrs. Gustafson about being interviewed for the report. Mrs. Gustafson agrees and so begins a friendship between a young teenager and an elderly transplant from France. As Lily gets to know Odile's story she senses there are parts being held back. Through the next several years Odile becomes a key person in Lily's life, helping to raise her, teaching her French, and providing stability in some turbulent times.

The reader is taken back and forth between Paris, Montana and time to tell the story of Odile's life in Paris during WWII and how she got to Montana and eventually to 1983 when she and Lily become acquainted. As the story goes along a tension is definitely building toward the reveal of Odile's secret but when it comes I felt let down. In my opinion, it was rather anti-climatic. It also left me with more questions than a feeling of closure on Odile's story. And while it's true that not all stories get wrapped up with a nice bow this one felt incomplete to me as I read the last few words. I can't put my finger on what, but something is still missing from the story. Until the end, however, I enjoyed the read. I mean, I'm a total bookworm so I'm always going to have a fondness for reading about reading and libraries and bookstores and all things literary.

As WWII approaches the author, Janet Skeslien Charles introduces us to the people working at the American Library in Paris. Mainly told to us by Odile a young woman seeking her first job. The book really shows the impact of war on ordinary people. We come to know Odile's coworkers and how the war impacts them and their passion for books and loyalty to the library. There is friendship, love and loss.
Fairly soon we are taken to the 1980's and introduced to Lily. We find that in the 80.s, Odile has moved to the United States and is Lily's neighbor. The story takes us from Lily's middle school years through high school.
They form a friendship and Odile's story is unveiled through this friendship.
It's well written and will be a favorite for book clubs. It has mystery, strong women, love and friendship in addition to learning about history.

Great book that reminds us all why our job as Booksellers is important and essential! HIstorical Fiction that has many relevant parallels to what is happening in 2020. Great read with so many reminders of what books mean to so many people at all times of our lives. Must read!

This is a well written book that tells the story of Odile from two different places in her life. The mystery slowly unfolds of her time as a librarian at the American Library in Paris during World War II and then when she is an older woman living in Montana. The story is based on some real life heroes who fought to save books during WWII. I found it to be a very interesting book and was sucked right in to trying to solve the mystery of why Odile did not talk about her past. Highly recommend this story that looks at a different side to WWII that we don't often hear about.

Highly enjoyable historical fiction about the American Library of Paris during WWII. I really enjoyed Odile's story as a librarian during this period. I didn't feel like this was too heavy or dark. And although there was a romance between her and boyfriend it wasn't detailed and therefore I think appropriate for older YA. I believe I will recommend it to students coming back from college that enjoy adult historical fiction.
There was another storyline between Odile and her teen neighbor in Montana in 1989. I got a little bored with some of these parts and found I just wanted to get back to the past. However as a story telling device it was effective in revealing some secrets.
I will definitely purchase this for our library and recommend to 20 year old adults

Anyone who thinks libraries are in danger of becoming obsolete or irrelevant needs to read this story of the staff of the American Library in Paris during the Occupation of Germany in World War II. Librarians have a weird, true passion for stories, knowledge and information and go to great lengths to protect them and make sure these resources are available for all people all the time.

Odile's side of the story tells of landing her dream job as a Librarian during the pre-war days. Her father, who is a ranking police officer, and her twin brother, anxious to "do something worthwhile" are both worried about the impending war as much of Paris is in denial that it will ever reach the city. Of course, Germany occupies the great city, shuttering businesses, taking over hotels, and ransacking museums and libraries in order to stamp out the cultures honored in them. Odile -of true librarian heart- joins the resistance by carrying books to library subscribers who were no longer allowed or who were too scared to venture out of their homes to continue visiting the Library. As she secrets books to these friends, her relationship with police officer Paul develops and grows as does her friendships with the other library staff members and volunteers. Although Odile is successful in keeping books in people' hands, she fails many times in her relationships, and this where her path connects to teenager Lily in America.

Odile escaped Paris and married a soldier from Montana. She lived a quiet, nearly reclusive life until Lily asked for French lessons one day. As both Lily and Odile's story are revealed, the reader can infer how alike the two are, and how Odile sees the mistakes Lily has made in her own relationships with family friends and the ones she is on the verge of making that mirror her own.

If you are a librarian, you must definitely read this story. The spirit and passion of librarians is inspiring. I also thought the story was unique in how the parallel stories converge on the character similarities, with the older one trying to help the younger one not make the same painful mistakes instead of coming together in the form of an unknown shared relative that is typical of this genre. It is a story of growth and perseverance and righting past wrongs and not making the same mistakes over and over.

I did not enjoy this chirpy little book, although it apparently enchanted many others. It's a dual story. First in 1939, there is the young Parisian Odile, who becomes a librarian at the American library. In 1983, a young preteen, Lily is struggling with her mother's decline in health in a small Montana town. This is the same town where the cosmopolitan Odile now lives. There is the romance and budding career of Odile against a background of WWII. There is the obsession of Lily with the mysterious widowed Odile in 1983. I thought both stories were somewhat flat and predictable. The constant injection of Dewey call numbers in the beginning was initially cute, then annoying. Read about one third then skimmed the rest. That said I think the audience for this title will skew towards younger readers identifying with Lily's tale.

Anything that has to do with Paris I have to pick up! But this book kept me interested! I never knew about these important people keeping the library open during ww2. And how they put their lives at risk for their Jewish patrons. I loved the characters and this heart warming story. So important! A must read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!!

It's 1939 and Odile is working at the American Library in Paris while her twin, Remy, goes off to war. Besides Odile, most of the characters in the earlier time line are real people, or based on real people. (Make sure you read the author's notes at the end, they are fascinating). As we move through Odile's life in Paris during the war, we switch back and forth with Lily, a teenager in Montana in the 1980s. Lily is struggling with bullies, teenage angst, crushes, and family issues, but is fascinated by the widow next door who no one really knows. While some might find the switching between timelines distracting, I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into how Odile's life moved on and changed after the war. And, I found Lily's story to be relatable, too.

I love strong female protagonists and Odile, though flawed like all of us, is a strong woman. She's surrounded by mostly strong women and it was a pleasure to see them relate to and overcome the horrors of war. I also loved that they were all flawed and real, too. Everyone made mistakes, some learned, some did not. The same is true with Lily and the women she is surrounded with in Montana.

One thing that I expected that never materialized was more focus on the horrors of war. There were really no graphic descriptions of violence/gore, mistreatment of others (with two exceptions near the very end of the book), or lengthy scenes of suspense related to the Nazis. This book really wasn't focused on the war itself or the Nazis, but more on the library and their efforts to carry on service and on Odile and her life. It was actually refreshing since many historical fiction novels lately seem to focus on the brutality of war.

I definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, strong female protagonists, and good descriptive writing. I wasn't blown away, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Paris Library by Janice Skeslien Charles, is a dual time line historical fiction.

Paris: 1939: Odile Souchet has her dream job, working at The American Library in Paris. Her family would love to see her married, but her priority, is to be self-sufficient. Times are difficult, especially with the prospect of war. At least Odile's job at the library, allows her to take refuge in her one true solace, books. When squabbling with her parents or her beloved twin brother, books always provided a means of escape, and the American Library in Paris provided a like minded community.

Froid, Montana: 1983: When Lily decides to do a school project focusing on Paris, she rings the doorbell of her lonely neighbour Odile. After the 3rd ring, Lily wanders in through the unlocked door. Lily and Odile, both lonely, become quick friends.

As the story alternates between Odile and Lily, the author describes the heroic efforts made by the community at The American Library in Paris to help its subscribers, as Paris fell under German occupation. Much of the story is based on fact, little known by most of us, but researched in depth by author, Janet Skeslien Charles. Those of us who frequent libraries often, know how they are actually mini "communities", a place where the librarians (and all the staff), become our friends. They are also places to meet up with friends, and of coarse, places with just the book we are looking for. The American Library in Paris was just this place, but what was remarkable, was that the people that worked there during the war, placed themselves at great risk, and the author wanted people to know this little documented part of history.

Interestingly, at one point in the novel, the author describes what it was like in Paris, just as France fell to Germany, before the Germans actually invaded Paris. The way the author described the uncertainty of the future for the people of Paris, sounded almost like the uncertainty we are facing today, with the cover 19 pandemic:

The city of Paris ... "turning to a ghost town. Could the Germans get this far? Even the generals did not know. Maybe that was the most frightening - we didn't know what would happen."

As our cities and downtown centres turn to ghost towns, perhaps we could relate to the fear the Parisians felt back in 1940. I certainly felt this description was more real to me now that our cities have become ghost towns and we face incredible uncertainty.

Thank you #netgalley and Janet Skeslien Charles for giving me the e-ARC of #theparislibrary, in return for my honest review. I highly recommend reading it! On book shelves June 2nd, 2020.

I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction about the Nazi reign in France lately, but this one had a unique storyline that I enjoyed.
The Paris library is a story centred around Odile who worked at the American library in Paris before and during the war. What I liked about this book was that it really humanized regular citizens throughout the war and really showcases real struggles that they had. Odile faces many different types of struggles such as sending her families only rations for the week to her brother at war, delivering books from the library to Jewish people, determining what she can and can’t say to her police officer father and fiancé. The list goes on. This book has a major twist at the end that will definitely stir up some emotions. If you like historical fiction, you’ll definitely like this one! 4/5⭐️

Thank you to Atria books & Net galley for the advanced reader copy. This title is released June 2nd 2020!

“Grief is a sea made of your own tears. Salty swells cover the dark depths you must swim at your own pace.”

Lily feels lost in the aftermath of her mother’s death and her father’s marriage to another woman just a year later. She then gains two brothers in quick succession and starts helping more at home than being with her friends. A neighbor, Odille, has taken a liking to Lily and starts giving her a place of sanctuary at her house where she can learn French and vent about her life. Odille is a Frenchwoman who married an American soldier at the end of WWII. As Lily opens up, she wonders what Odille’s story is and why she never talks about the family and friends she left behind in Paris.
I received an email about The Paris Library from NetGalley and requested an advance copy to read. All they ask in return in a fair review. The storyline looked promising as I love historical fiction and it was focused on the American Library in Paris during WWII.
The Paris Library flashes back to give the story of Odille who applies to work at the American Library in Paris before the war starts. She wants some independence after seeing her aunt be ostracized after divorcing a cheating husband. Her father, the police commissioner, brings home a new potential suitor once a week, but Odille has not interest. Her twin brother, Remy, is not being pushed to marry. Their world quickly changes as German troops approach France and eventually get to Paris. Remy enlists, Odille splits time between the library and the hospital and her father must abide by the German’s new laws. As Odille falls in love with a policeman, Paul, she starts seeing that their world isn’t simple and betrayal can happen in just a few words.
The Paris Library is a captivating read, especially since it’s historical fiction based on real people who worked at the American Library in Paris and kept it open during the entire occupation of Paris. There are rumors that the library was a possible hiding place of some Jewish patrons. The books gives a glimpse into an important part of what happened in Paris during WWII and will leave a reader wondering what they would do in Odille’s shoes.

I love WWII stories, and as a former librarian, of course I love libraries as well, so this was a novel I couldn't pass up. I love the fact that so much of the story revolved around the American library in Paris; it was so fascinating to see how the library operated and to get glimpses of the patrons and employees. I also loved how the book took place in two time periods, and how Odile tried to pass along some things she'd learned to Lily--and how Lily also imparted some wisdom to Odile. The writing has an elegance to it that makes me wish I were more eloquent; while I'm hopelessly blunt American in my language, I adored the graceful French feel of the book. The characters in the book were realistic, with both virtues and flaws, and while I wish it were possible to dig deeper into some of their backstories, what I did get to see of them made me want to scoop them off the pages and bring them into my life. They're also the sort of characters you desperately want to discuss with someone, so this is definitely a book to share with friends and book clubs!
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The cast of diverse but likeable characters in this WWII story reminds me very much of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. What brings this motley group together is the American Library in Paris. It's their refuge.

Odile desperately wants to work at the library. She's memorized most of the Dewey Decimal System and even thinks in Dewey! Quite frankly, she doesn't need the job because her father is a good provider but books are in her blood. She soon adopts the "regulars" as her family and feels more at home at the library than with her own family, except for her brother Remy. However, their idyllic life is about to be shattered beyond recognition with the arrival of the Nazis, especially Odile whose youth and inexperience will prove to be her greatest challenge.

The story alternates between WWII Paris and Montana in the 1980's. Odile has retreated into herself but a young teenage neighbour girl has decided that Odile needs to start living again. She wants French lessons. Odile recognizes a younger version of herself in Lily and the two form a bond that will prove to be invaluable to them both.

A WWII account that is different from the rest.

When I started this book, it was with a sense of been there, done that. We've seen a lot of WWII historical fiction with current day characters learning about events and people and alternating past and present throughout. But, WWII is my jam and and libraries are, too, so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised by The Paris Library.

This is Odile's story - she's a Parisienne who works in the American Library in Paris as the Nazis invade and occupy the city. Her brother joins the army and is captured. Her fiance is on the police force and is pretty much doing the Nazis' bidding - which only escalates as the occupation continues.

The reader is introduced to the many characters who work at or are patrons of the library. They are the everyday sparks of joy (and sometimes sadness) in Odile's life.

The present day is actually the 1980's in Montana. Odile is a widow living in a small town that has pretty much just left her alone. Her neighbor is Lily, a motherless teen who decides to get to know Odile and learns about herself in the process.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughtful novel with a dual timeline, telling the story about a librarian during WWII, and flash forward to Reagan-era as she teaches a young girl French.

What an interesting story about librarians and life in Paris during WWII. Think it's only for librarians? Not at all! The story keeps you involved in the lives of Lily, Paul, Margaret, Boris and all that visit the library in times of uncertainty.

The Paris Library is a book lover's dream. It's not a fast paced page turner, but it's rich in well developed characters, varied relationships, questions, life lessons and history. I loved Odile, her library team and her book references with Dewey decimal connections. She is human and flawed but a wonderful teacher and companion years later for a lonely teenager she meets, Lily.

In the author's notes at the end, we learn Janet Skeslien Charles actually worked at the American Library in Paris and was inspired to write this story from her time there, the people she met and the records she came across.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of “The Paris Library”. compliments of Net Galley, Janet Skeslien Charles, and Atria Books, in exchange for my honest review.
I have to begin with this…. I LOVED reading this book!!!
Odile Gustafson is an elderly widow living in a small town in rural Montana. The townspeople know that she arrived after World War II as the wife of a local young man who had been stationed in France during the war.
Lily, the teen-aged girl who lives next door, has always been curious about Odile. A school project, to write a report about France, provides an opportunity for Lily to learn about her neighbor while obtaining first hand information about France.
This story travels between 1940’s Paris and 1980’s rural Montana. It is a story of love, family, friendship, loyalty, fellowship, feat and forgiveness.
It is a story about books, the love of reading, and The AmericanLibrary in Paris, a wonderful sanctuary for the book lovers and readers of Paris.
Odile felt incredibly fortunate to have been employed at the library. She loved all of her co-workers and the wonderful group of loyal patrons who regularly visited the library.
Miss Reeder, the director of the library, and an American (she was a real person!), was committed to maintaining the purpose of the library, despite the Nazi invasion of France and the swarms of Nazi soldiers who had infiltrated Paris.
Several of the friendships and the experiences of the time period shaped and influenced the life of Odile…
As the bond between Lily and Odile strengthened, Odile shared many of her own experiences. Her goal was to prevent Lily from making some of the same mistakes she made. There are some things that Odile will never share though…. Private experiences during the war have caused her much pain.
Love and deceit can occur no matter the place or time. Whether in Paris during WWII or small town Montana during the 1980’s, it is possible. But, forgiveness…is it just as possible?
Prepare yourself to experience the wide range of emotions that accompany this story.
I loved this book!!!

This book focuses on the American Library in Paris during WWII, but specifically the relationships of the people who work there and the regulars. It is based on some real people. I kinda wish books would mention that at the beginning instead of the end because when I read the postscripts about being based on real people and/or events, it gives the book an even deeper meaning for me.
I rush to pick up any book that mentions libraries or bookstores in the title and this one is a strong read if you are into relationships. It doesn't really delve as deep into the nitty gritty of WWII.