“Books are the best place to hide when the world is just too much to take”.

Great read. The story follows two women: Emmaline, a librarian at the front of WWI, and Kathleen, one of the first women accepted to the Naval Academy in the 1970s. Written in duo timelines, the characters are very likable and well developed. The story focuses on the challenges both women have to go through in very male dominated military environments. It also showcases their strengths and the wonderful friendships they made. Reading about all the racism and sexism was difficult during those times was difficult, but both women were brave and so determined. A great insight into volunteer librarians during WWII. Very much enjoyed this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Two women lead parallel lives sixty years apart. In 1918, Emmaline Balakin is newly arrived in war torn France to serve as a librarian at a base hospital just behind the front lines. Decades later, Kathleen Carre is a member of the first cohort of women admitted into the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. Despite the years between them, a devastating secret will have lasting consequences for both.

I usually avoid dual timeline story lines, but the sixty year gap in events intrigued me…at the start. It was fascinating to focus on two women actively eschewing typical gender expectations: Emmaline with her flight to the western front of WWI and Kathleen attending the Naval Academy. Their parallel lives kept me interested until I hit a point where I’d rather have focused solely on one heroine rather than the other. I sometimes found myself wishing to get back to 1918 rather than stay in the 70s. It wasn’t as though Kathleen’s story wasn’t captivating, but it felt almost secondary in nature to Emmaline’s.

I do very much appreciate setting half of the plot in World War I era France. Great War-set works are few and far between compared to those of WWII. It’s a time of untapped potential for great stories, both fiction and true. Having Emmaline serve as a librarian for the wounded soldiers was a new and interesting concept that should be covered more often. Not everyone sent to the Front was a nurse or a driver. People often found themselves relying on a variety of different jobs.

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong is a fascinating look at two women: Emmaline Balakin in 1918 and Kathleen Carre in 1976, who are proving to themselves and to others that they are individuals with courage and conviction. Emmaline goes to France during the later stages of WW1 to serve as a librarian in a hospital in the war zone. Kathleen goes to another war zone: the United States Naval Academy as a member of the first class of women to attend a military academy. I was drawn into their lives from the first pages of the book, and was hooked until the ending. I highly recommend this novel!

#netgalley #TheWarLibrarian

The title of this book is what prompted me to request it and read it. It is the story of Emmaline Balkin, a young woman from Washington, DC who accepts the opportunity to go overseas and be a librarian to the wounded American soldiers fighting in WWI. This timeline alternates with 1976, when we find Kathleen Carre admitted to the first class of women at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. As with most books having dual timelines, the stories converge, and we learn of the connections between the two women.

Having just read a denser, richer historical fiction novel, this one seemed a little light in comparison, but not in a negative way. The sense of time and place was satisfying, and I did not find it predictable until almost the very end. The characters were likable, and the author did her research, providing back matter and suggested further reading.

What detracted from the book, for me, were some trite phrases about racism and other themes brought forth by the story. I also found the title a bit misleading; I would have liked there to be more of a connection with Emmaline's role of a librarian with the 1970s part of the book. I do appreciate the way in which Ms. Armstrong told the story of Kathleen and the other female plebes, who dealt with ridiculous treatment (by today's standards) from their fellow male classmates and superiors. I found it interesting that the American Library Association provided so many books to our heroes overseas during WWI; I wonder if this organization would do the same in this day and age.

Overall, I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and and books with strong female characters. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced e-reader copy of this book!

Run and do not walk to preorder this book! It will be hitting shelves August 2022!

This is my first book by Addison Armstrong and this one did not disappoint!

I have read a lot of historical fiction books but the majority of them are set during WW2. When I saw that this was set during WW1, I instantly requested it. There are so many things that I loved about this book. First, this book is rich in history. In Emmaline's timeline, we read all about WW1 history and the history of what war librarians do. In Kathleen's, we get a glimpse into the mid 70's and all the history surrounding this time.

Second, this isn't your typical dual timeline book which I'm thankful for. I got to see two strong female characters trying to navigate very similar (and different) historical issues.

Lastly, Armstrong did an amazing job bringing to life these characters that I felt sucked into the story. I felt all their emotions as if they were my own. If an author can elicit this type of response from me, I have to give the book 5 stars.

This would be perfect for fans of: Lisa Wingate, Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an exceptional novel that I found hard to put down. At first, I was confused by the two timelines, the Library War Services of WWI and the US Naval Academy in 1976. However, it soon became very apparent that these two
strong women protagonists were making their place in a man's world under very difficult circumstances. Many thanks to the author for highlighting their worlds and time.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

This book featured two specific moments in history that I knew nothing about. The first was the War Library program in World War I. The second was when women were first admitted to the Naval Academy in the late 70s.

For both time periods, I was drawn into the stories of the characters and their experiences. Since both main characters were female, it gave a unique perspective of how hard it was for them to be the trailblazers.

I started out the book more interested in Emmaline's story in WWI, but as the book went on I found myself looking forward to Kathleen's story in the 70s more and more. I admire Emmaline for her courage to go to France as a volunteer, and I really loved that she is a bookworm. But beyond that, I struggled to connect with her.

Kathleen is such a strong character, fighting to fit in to a world of men. I admire her determination to succeed.

Some books with dual timelines don't flow well, but The War Librarian really works! I recommend this to anyone who loves history and strong female characters. It was a very informative and compelling read. I consider a historical fiction successful if I learn something new while being entertained, and this book was definitely a success!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Addison Armstrong for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

A wonderful dual timeline novel, set in WWI and the mid 1970's, featuring two strong women fighting to make a difference in a male-dominated arena. Both women are well-developed characters and the two time periods are rich with historical detail. The two stories ultimately converge. A very satisfying read. Highly recommended.

Living in this period of time makes it hard to imagine that not so long ago women were still fighting hard for the rights to be treated equally in places like the armed forces. And then once those rights are granted to have to deal with prejudice and cruelty (which is still issues today). Reading this book covers two periods of great change for the world and for women. Both Emmaline and Kathleen had obstacles to overcome both internally and externally. And both had to fight against the prejudices of the government and the restrictions of being a low cog in a mighty military machine. I applauded their efforts to keep their principals and dignity.
This felt well researched and fresh. The horrors of the front during WW1 were not made more palatable for the reader and the horrific treatment of Kathleen was handled very well.
I will be taking a trip to the library to find this authors other work.
Thank you NETGALLEY for this ARC.

What an amazing inspiring and epic read. I truly enjoyed every second of reading this. It was emotional and thought provoking. I cannot wait to get a physical copy for my shelf. Thank you so much for the opportunity .

A truly immersive dual-timeline (1976/WWI) historical novel. Both timelines were equally compelling. When I finished it, I immediately requested Armstrong's first book from my library, as I somehow missed it when it came out! Highly recommended.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I try not to say much during a review because I don't want to give anything away. Thank you for introducing me to the Library War Service, I did not know it existed.
This is not the first book that had an ending such as this but I am always surprised by it. I did not see it coming.
I hope you read this book. If you do please read the Author's Note at the end. It has great information.
I loved it.

I requested this book from NetGalley because I was interested in the theme of women in the armed forces through the generations. The 1918 timeline follows a war librarian and a female driver in France near the end of WWI, and the 1976 timeline follows a young woman who is part of the Navy's first class including females. Each of these women meets challenges due to their gender, but they also create most of their most serious problems all on their own.

"My stomach turned. What had those women's hands been doing before the war? Delivering life, baking bread, sewing clothes?"

In this poignant line, the author gives a brief nod to traditional women's work and its value. Neither of the main characters seemed to embrace much of this attitude or even the mindset of their era. Instead, they both came across as 2020s social justice warriors. The 1918 chapters especially came across as highly anachronistic in attitudes and dialogue. I had a difficult time connecting with the 1976 granddaughter as well, not so much because she didn't fit her timeline, but she was just so unlikeable.

Other readers may enjoy this novel for its strong female characters and unique points-of-view, but I was disappointed that it failed to transport me to another era.

Book received from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

THE WAR LIBRARIAN
BY: ADDISON ARMSTRONG

I couldn't have loved Addison Armstrong's second novel more! I knew that I was going to love this fantastic new novel called, "The War Librarian," because I saw how talented this Author was when I read and reviewed her last novel called, "The Light of Luna Park," which I greatly enjoyed and I will insert a link to that review down at the bottom of this one. In her former I loved the premise set in the past a lot. In this current historical novel I loved both timelines equally and I had a warm feeling as I read "The War Librarian," from the very first sentence to the last. It is sooooooo much more than a War Librarian that takes place near the end of World War I. The Author admits that she took some liberties with the timeline in placing War Librarian's for their purpose of distributing books solely as War Librarians during the fighting. I was disappointed for a change reading the Author's Note and reconciling with the fact that a book that I loved so much wasn't historically accurate. Red Cross worker's and YMCA did distribute books to injured soldiers during the war and the men loved to receive them. In the story most of the injured wanted something funny or with a happy ending.

The second timeline which takes place at the United States Naval Academy featuring Kathleen was totally based on factual elements (not Kathleen in the novel), but the first class of 1980 most of the research was taken from a true account from one of the first female to be entered into Annapolis wrote a book, which she also includes in the Author's Note. In Kathleen, the Author gives us a strong female protagonist that is conscientious and driven and I was surprised to learn that back in 1976, a few of the men wanted to see the women plebes fail. The women made up a small percentage of a male dominated Navy in 1976. While Kathleen has just settled in for the first grueling week--she calls her beloved Grandmother who raised her for the phone to go unanswered and Kathleen begins to worry until she gets the upsetting news from an Officer that her Grandmother has died.

Each point of view alternates with short and interesting cliffhangers making this truly a book that I didn't want to ever put down. I even rearranged my schedule to be able to keep reading it. All I can say is that I can't recommend this highly enough. I wouldn't have read it twice unless it was excellent. I know that my review doesn't give the book the justice that it deserves. This isn't the first or the last dual timeline that I am likely to read as it is a popular writing device many Authors' use. That being said, this is the only instance that I was so engrossed in both dual timelines and they both were equally outstanding! My review to "The Light of Luna Park," can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Publication Date: 08-09-2022

Thank you to Net Galley, Addison Armstrong and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam-G.P. Putnam's Sons for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheWarLibrarian #AddisonArmstrong #PenguinGroupPGPutnam'sGPPutnam'sSons #NetGalley

This book was really interesting.

I don't normally read much historical fiction but it's a popular genre at our library and the books that War Librarian are toted as being similar to have been popular circulators here. I'm probably not the typical audience for these books but I liked this one and I think it will be a hit with fans of the historical fiction genre.

I think the most impressive part of this book was how Armstrong juggled the twin narratives. When I read the blurb I was skeptical because they didn't seem to have much connective tissue but Armstrong linked the two stories very well and I was impressed.

I think I preferred the Kathleen parts of the story than the Emmaline but both were really well written characters and I'll definitely read Addison Armstrong again.

Here is the thing: I love a dual timeline. I love strong and independent-thinking female leads. I love characters that don’t always play by the rules. Addison Armstrong wrote three beautiful women into one story that came together in ways that I wasn’t expecting. And while I found myself having trouble connecting with Kathleen at points, I could understand and empathize with all of the characters, keeping me engaged throughout. Such a unique perspective of WWI that I haven’t read much of in historical fiction, and who doesn’t love a book about books?!

Thank you NetGalley, Addison Armstrong and Penguin for the eARC of this beautiful book!

Loved this story. As a librarian myself, I could relate to the love of books and stories in this one. I also love historical fiction so this book was perfect for me. Loved it!

I loved every second of this book! I was so sad when it ended, I never wanted this to end. It could have gone on forever and I would still love every second of it. This was a great reminder of always standing up for what is right no matter what. I was surprised by how well the double timeline worked, some times double timelines confuse me, but this one didn't and it was a nice surprise. I am so glad I got to read an early copy of this. It's totally worth it, and I can't wait to see what else this author offers us. Thank you for this opportunity! EVERYONE PLEASE READ THIS AMAZING BOOK!

"Two women. One secret. A truth worth fighting for." Told in the alternating voices of Emmaline Balakan and Kathleen Carre, I was immediately drawn into their lives during World War 1 and 1976. Each woman is fighting a battle to make a difference in a man's world and to find relevancy for themselves. Emmaline Balakan, modeled after a real-life war librarian, Mary Frances Isom, travels to France to bring and distribute books to injured soldiers in army hospitals. Emmaline is shocked to see the living conditions and segregation at the hospitals and the fact that the government restricts certain materials from being read.

Kathleen Carre, against her grandmother’s wishes enrolls as one of the first women at the Naval Academy. The men make it quite clear that the women are not welcome and even go so far as to manufacture and lie about Kathleen's actions to get her kicked out.

Both women face discrimination, less than ideal living conditions, isolation, etc. and accusations of sedition. Their stories are connected by a secret from Kathleen's Grandmother's past.

It's frustrating that in the year 2022 many of the same issues are discussed and fought -- discrimination, censorship, hazing, etc. While the issues of book banning and censorship are different in the military during war time, who has access to books and book burning is still relevant today. Even though I have a Master of Library and Information Science, I have never heard of war librarians or the ALA's efforts in supplying books to soldiers. This historical fiction book has new insights and information to offer, Armstrong does an excellent job of weaving their stories together. Librarian books are in vogue right now and this will make an excellent book club choice. I highly recommend it.