Lately I can't seem to get enough of all these books that take place during WWII. The Paris Library is another great one!I I loved the story of Odile then and "now" (well, in the 80's that is) and I loved Lily's story and how her life intertwines with Odile's. This book shows the dedication the librarians had at the American Library in Paris and the hardships of the people who lived during that time. I love learning history while I'm relaxing with a good book. I hope to read more by Janet Skeslien Charles in the future!

I normally don't read historical books but I loved, loved, loved Odile's story! It was heartbreaking! Many of us can't fathom how tough and scary those days were. The author brought the characters and story to life in a such a way that I could not stop turning pages. Even if this isn't your normal genre, take a chance and fall in love with Odile and Remy, Paul, Margaret and many other's that Odile opened her heart to.

The Paris Library is historical fiction about an aspect of World War 2 I knew nothing about- The American Library in Paris. I enjoyed learning the history of the library and the courageous acts that took place there during the war. The characters in the library were interesting and unique. You wanted to keep reading to learn more about each one of them.
The main character is Odile, who is a young woman, newly hired at the library when the war breaks out. She is a complicated character, with a range of emotions that makes her very relatable. Her story during the war is juxtaposed with the story of her later life in Montana where she meets a teenage neighbor, Lily. Odile and Lily become fast friends, and we learn of the struggles in each of their lives. They teach each other about friendship, love and human nature.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable book. It kept my interest. It is well written and definitely well researched. I did find some of the narration of Lily to be a little less polished, and perhaps not very original. The story of the friendship between Odile and Lily is heartwarming, and the parts of the story of Odile at the library during the war makes the book a page turner.

This book provided a different aspect to what went on in Paris before and during World War II. I had no idea that there was an American Library in Paris so it was a learning experience for me. Although it is a historical novel, the author brings the characters to life. If primarily follows the life of Odile with her getting a job at the library, her love life in Paris, what she did during the occupation by Nazis, and her life in the United States in the 1980s.
The author develops her characters well. To say this was a character-driven story might detract from the intrigue the author develops throughout the story. She shows that despite the horrors of war, many survived to have full and meaningful lives. For fans of World War II historical novels, this one should be on your list.

This is a historical fiction based on true events of the dedicated staff that kept the American Library of Paris open during the war.
The friendships that started amongst the staff and clientele would last a lifetime.
It is also a story of bravery, love, betrayal, and loyalty.
The characters are strong and likeable. You feel for each of the challenges they faced at that time.
The bravery of the workers to get reading materials to the people who were no longer admitted into the Library is courageous. They put their lives on the line to make sure everyone had access to the books they loved.
This is a wonderful story. I love the characters,. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Excellent book! Recommended!

I really enjoyed this book quite a bit! Although it had a slow start, I certainly really enjoyed it at the end. It was a slow book, but you have to expect that when reading about WWII. I really liked the characters and they were so realistic. The story moved well and I just really enjoyed it. This story captured my love of books, from the smell to the feel. Just all around a fabulous book!

A powerful book about friends, family and books. Heart warming and heart breaking. Historical facts were a great addition to this wonderful book for all book lovers of the world.

Life lessons abound in this WWII story about a young woman's time at the American Library of Paris during the occupation of Paris. War does not bring out the best in people and a moment of venting frustrations can twist fate. Alternating between 1980's US and 1940's Paris, told from many perspectives, each one offering a glimpse into the soul and the good, bad, ugly, joy, sorrow . . . ugh, yeah, EMOTIONS!
Book lovers will love the titles that float through the book and make their own collection of stories that shaped their life.

What a fantastic novel!

The Paris Library captivated me and grabbed my heart with moving tale of two women’s journey through tough times. This novel jumps from Odile in Paris in the 1940’s to Lily in Montana in the 1980’s—as the novel unfolds, we see how these women impact each other.

I love when a novel is so well written you forget the real world. While I was reading The Paris Library I literally could not get these characters out of my thoughts. The storyline is original and will definitely be a novel that stays with you! The Paris Library is a 5 star book that I highly recommend! I cannot wait to read more from Janet Skeslien Charles in the future!

The Paris Library is a 5-star read that will make a bibliophile out of anyone. Based on the courageous librarians and volunteers at the American Library in Paris during WWII, author Janet Skeslien Charles tells a fascinating story of how literature can create community, become an instrument of humanity and resistance, and bring hope and solace to those in need.

Fresh out of librarian school in 1939, with thoughts of the Dewey Decimal system swirling in her head, Odile Souchet lands her dream job at the American Library in Paris. At the library, she develops strong bonds with other librarians and patrons and embarks on a romance with a handsome police officer who works for her father. Her library family is both an inspiration and support system for her as her beloved brother enlists, and her family dynamics shift. When the Nazis invade and deem literature one of the many enemies of the state, the library community stages its resistance. When the war ends, Odile and other characters must deal with the consequences of some of the choices they made.

The Paris Library is my favorite kind of historical fiction, based on the real-life untold stories. I was delighted the author included background information on heroisms of the characters, as well as how their real-life stories evolved. A must-read for historical fiction buffs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Paris Library in exchange for an honest review.

Those of us who are avid readers of historical fiction may think they have read everything there is to read in WW2 novels, but Janet Skeslien Charles has found an undiscovered niche and cracked it open. THE PARIS LIBRARY is a heart-warming and heart-breaking love affair with many dimensions:
. . . . a passion for books and their importance in our lives;
. . . . a romance with the institution of a Library and its ability to offer us a safe haven;
. . . . a story of romantic love;
. . . . and,, the realization of what a friend's love means in your life.

This is a coming of age story during turbulent times, but it is also a moving tribute to the meaning of friendship .

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

During the late 1930's, the English library in Paris is a haven not only for books, but for all sorts of lonely souls. Odile is so thankful to be hired to work there as a librarian as her coworkers and many of the patrons become like her family. But when the Nazi's occupy Paris and there comes fear, uncertainty, deception, and betrayal. It's only years later when a neighbor child befriends her that Odile is able to come to terms with her past.

A nice piece of historical fiction highlighting the work librarians did including bringing books to Jewish people and foreigners, as well as getting reading materials to soldiers. Also highlights the personal dilemmas and situations that Parisian's faced during this time. Well done.

Well written and researched historical fiction is the best kind! Here the author, Janet Skeslien Charles, learned the basis of this novel while working at The American LIbrary in Paris herself. In parallel time lines - Paris in the 1940s and Montana in the 1980s - the life of Odile comes in to focus as she rememebers her past and develops a new young friend, Lily, in the 1982 present. Well developed plot and characters, the reader definitely invests in the storyline and puzzles about how the Odile in Paris became the War Bride in small town Montana. For fans of the The Paris Wife, The Air You Breathe and similar works of historical fiction.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a fabulous and stunning dual-timeline historical fiction novel that travels between a cast of characters whose lives are intertwined with the American Library in Paris during the years 1939-1944 and small town Froid, Montana 1983-1989. Bringing these two places and times together as one is Odile Souchet.

When we first meet Odile, we find her in her early 20s just starting out in her first position of the library of her dreams, The American Library in Paris. Here we get to meet the most wonderful cast of characters whose personalities, intellect, and complexities literally jump out of the page for me. We read about the struggles that she faces at home with her family, with her profession, her colleagues, as well as the German Occupation of Paris.

We then get to meet Odile again in Froid, Montana many years later through her next door neighbor, young Lily. We also get to see Lily’s own concerns, struggles, and aspirations and find that while these are two totally different females, their hopes and dreams are quite similar.

I loved the alternating points of view, as well as the few chapters added throughout that add points of view with: Margaret, Miss Reeder, Boris, and Paul. The way the author was able to weave together this passionate and unique subject with such amazing detail and splendid cast of characters truly made this book my favorite so far this year (and will be a top favorite for this whole upcoming year to be sure). This was so ingenious!

There were several things that I truly loved about this book:

1. The storyline concerning the real-life AL in Paris and the difficulties its patrons, staff, and their friends and families had to experience with the Occupation during WWII made this well-written topic (the Occupation of France specifically) with the wonderful, heartfelt characters made this book unique, fresh, and excellent in every way.

2. I loved the two main characters: Lily and Odile. Often when reading a book with multiple stories, I find myself rushing through a specific character or their story to get to another that I find more interesting, however in this case, I loved both stories equally. That is a rarity indeed! I loved how both women were like-able, realistic, flawed, brave, independent, strong and intelligent, both had a solid moral-compass that was never lost despite their mistakes and errors. Both women valued their friends and family, and even with errors, always found their “north star” back home.

3. I loved the locations and the author’s ability with her dialogue, descriptions, and prose to make me feel as if I was actually under the Montana skies and also walking through the long halls filled with the sights and smells of history and older, trusted books. I loved it!

4. I loved the cast of secondary characters. Often times I find the collection of surrounding characters lacking, or despicable. Here, I actually loved every one of them. Not one was truly “bad” or completely “perfect”. Everyone had faults and made mistakes, but all had definite redeeming qualities and I actually cared what happened to every one of them. A rarity for me!

5. I loved the growth and change of the characters as the years went on. No one was static and everyone changed and evolved due to their experiences and surroundings.

6. I loved the concept of the Dewey Decimal System that Odile used to associate feelings, emotions, character traits, situations, and people. It is so unique and I absolutely loved it!

7. I truly enjoyed the author’s note at the end that discussed what was true, what was an inspiration, and what was changed/added for the purpose of the story. I learned so much while reading this book about the international library systems. It is always a plus to be able to find out something new while reading historical fiction.

8. Finally, I loved the ending: for Lily, Odile, as well as their ending together. No other ending could have been more appropriate and perfect.

This was truly a unique and amazing book. I will be reading this book over and over again. I know I will pick up even more on my subsequent visits.

An excellent and memorable book. Truly a gem.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster/ Atria Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

This is just an awe-inspiring book!

I am a former librarian and of course any story that is about libraries and books is interesting to me, but throw into the pot history and Paris, well I was hooked. I hate to admit that I was not aware of an American Library in Paris or the story it played during the Second World War. After reading this book I am proud to be a librarian and know how important books and libraries are to this world, no matter the times we live in now, we lived in the past, or we look forward to in the future. Libraries are a haven for all and a sanctuary in times of despair. They give us strength to carry on and fill us with joy and optimism. All that and more will you find in the pages of this book and I highly recommend it for your to read list.

This book is scheduled to be published in June, 2020.

This is a wonderful book that I could not put down. I never knew about the American Library of Paris and was swept away by the courage of these librarians during the Nazi Occupation. It is also story about friendships and the power of books as well as the consequences of choices made under duress.

I am so in love with this book. It has everything I love in a good story. Mystery, romance, history, and just so much more.

Odile is a young librarian who works in the American Library in Paris. She eats, sleeps, and drinks books and everything about them. She works with wonderful people and enter a young policeman with romance on his mind and it's perfect. However World War II begins and life changes for everyone.

Fast forward to Montana 1983 and we find Odile in a small town and alone. How did she end up in Montana? What is her story? I implore you to read this wonderful book and find out yourself!

As a librar(y Technic)ian and book lover, I was excited to read this book. My love of books, libraries and WWII historical fiction all rolled into one!

I finished this book yesterday and am still thinking about how to review it. I liked the book, I did. But at times I was confused with all the Paris library staff and subscribers who came and went. I had trouble remembering who was whom. I also wasn't a huge fan of young Odile. I know, right? There was just something about her weak character that didn't work for me. I understand that the book is not necessarily about the war and your typical occupied Paris story, but at times I wanted more. Perhaps that's on me. As well, the scenes depicting the onset of Lily's mom's illness and subsequent death aren't really necessary. The story with her, her father and Eleanor could have been written right from the start - them starting off as a new blended family - and still been as affecting. As was Remy's war experience. But what really didn't work for me, was how Odile could agree to and marry Buck as she did. I understand her need to escape but to have it happen the way it did didn't sit well with me.

That being said, it was overall a great book and I am thankful for having read it.

The Paris Library
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book had good potential about the American Library in Paris during the Second World War. It has two timelines, most of it is in Paris from 1939 to 1944, where Odile a young librarian works with her colleagues to keep the library open even during the German occupation. The second timeline is in 1980’s Montana where Odile now lives. She lives a lonely life as a widow, until a young girl, Lily from next door befriends her. I found the two timelines choppy, the 1940’s somewhat better than the 1980’s. Transitions were sudden, such as Lily starting her senior year in high school in a sentence, she is graduating the very next sentence. I couldn’t really identify with any of the main protagonists.
If you like family relations, romance, collaborations, betrayals you will like this book. I found it at times boring, no more than three stars for me.
Thanks NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Janet Skeslien Charles for the advanced copy.

The author tells her overlapping story of two people who love the warmth of a library book. Not a favourite. Very unsophisticated writing.