A lovely dual timeline novel, featuring two strong women, working to overcome life's challenges while finding themselves.

In 1918, Emmaline crosses the ocean to become a volunteer librarian in France during WW2. After finding a letter at the dead letter office meant for her, she leaves the comfort of home. In 1976, Kathleen is among the first class including female midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. The men are less than happy about the development and Kathleen faces hazing and false accusations.

The author does an amazing job with the research in this novel, basing both characters on real people (minus the connections). The writing is stellar, drawing you into both stories. Every time the timeline switches, one has wants to switch back, then back again, and again, and again. Both plot lines just make you want to continue to read, late night or not.

Book Review
The War Librarian
Addison Armstrong
Published: August 9, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Blurb: "1918. Timid and shy Emmaline Balakin lives more in books than her own life. That is, until an envelope crosses her desk at the Dead Letter Office bearing a name from her past, and Emmaline decides to finally embark on an adventure of her own—as a volunteer librarian on the frontlines in France. But when a romance blooms as she secretly participates in a book club for censored books, Emmaline will need to find more courage within herself than she ever thought possible in order to survive. 

1976. Kathleen Carre is eager to prove to herself and to her nana that she deserves her acceptance into the first coed class at the United States Naval Academy. But not everyone wants female midshipmen at the Academy, and after tragedy strikes close to home, Kathleen becomes a target. To protect herself, Kathleen must learn to trust others even as she discovers a secret that could be her undoing."

My thoughts: Overall I really enjoyed this book. Let me start with that. The pacing was a little too slow for me. Because of that I overall found this read a bit of a slog. Pacing aside, though, this was such a unique war read. Most war books are either based on the Civil War or World War 2. This was World War 1. I didn't know a ton about World War 1 so I loved learning more about that. Additionally, this is a dual timeline story, so getting to see women first entering the Naval Academy in the 1970s was really cool. They went through so much.
Anyway, like I said, I overall enjoyed the story and reading about a different period of history.

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"The War Librarian" skillfully weaves together the stories of two remarkable women, separated by time but connected by their unwavering courage and determination. This historical novel takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of Emmaline Balakin and Kathleen Carre, shedding light on the sacrifices and challenges they faced during pivotal moments.

The novel delves into the lives of these two protagonists, both driven by a thirst for knowledge and the desire to make a difference. Emmaline, a shy and bookish young woman, finds her world expanding when she embarks on a daring adventure as a volunteer librarian on the frontlines in France. As she navigates the perils of war, a secret book club becomes her refuge, where the power of literature bridges gaps and ignites her courage in unexpected ways.

Kathleen's journey, set decades later, brings readers into the challenging world of the first coed class at the United States Naval Academy. Faced with resistance and adversity, she must prove herself while grappling with personal loss and a dangerous secret that could unravel everything. Her resilience in the face of adversity is both inspiring and relatable, making her a character readers will root for.

The novel excels in portraying the strength of female camaraderie and the ways in which books can transcend boundaries. The camaraderie between Emmaline and her fellow librarians, as well as the connections Kathleen forms, showcases the bonds that can develop even in the most trying of circumstances. The clandestine book club serves as a poignant reminder of the power of literature to provide solace and spark hope in times of darkness. If you're drawn to stories of courage, friendship, and the transformative power of literature, this novel is a must-read.

My library won't purchase this, only because I work at a middle school, but I will definitely be recommending it to my high school counterparts. I loved this book and could hardly put it down.

This dual time line story will keep you reading into the night. It's a little bit of a slow start but the stories of Emmaline and Kathleen are based on true accounts of women who served near the front during WWI and of women who were the first to be accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis. It takes courage and stamina to be a woman in a man's world.

I am a sucker for a historical Fiction novel.. and this one got me! It was very well written and I enjoyed the characters and storyline.

"The War Librarian" by Addison Armstrong is an enchanting historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a world of courage, love, and the transformative power of literature during wartime. The author takes on the tired story of wartime-librarian and infuses it with new life. Armstrong brings the setting to life, vividly capturing the challenges faced by the librarian and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel beautifully weaves together elements of romance and adventure, creating a compelling and heartwarming narrative.

Through the protagonist's journey, readers are reminded of the unwavering strength found in literature and its ability to provide solace even in the darkest of times. "The War Librarian" is a captivating tale of bravery, sacrifice, and the enduring love for books that will leave readers inspired and deeply moved. Perfect for readers that enjoyed "The Paris Librarian."

The Light of Luna Park by Addison Armstrong was one of favorite reads in 2021, so I was really excited to read her new book. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me a bit. The story was slow, and the two parts didn't feel cohesive to me. It also felt like she would randomly throw in facts about the time period into the story. I liked Emmaline and Kathleen, and it was interesting to read about being a librarian during World War I and the first class of women at the Naval Academy, but I think the story would have been stronger if she had picked one topic or the other. Also, I don't know if I just read a lot in this genre or if the author intended this, but the ending was really obvious to me from the beginning.

I generally love historical fiction and am particularly fond of a story with strong military heroines. This book follows two women from timelines that are nearly 60 years apart. Unfortunately, while I very much enjoyed Emmaline’s POV set in 1918 France, I didn’t find Kathleen’s parts of the story - set in 1976 after her acceptance into the US Naval Academy - nearly as engaging.

I appreciate the way the lives of the two women finally converged at the end, but it still wasn’t enough for me to give this one more than a 3 star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't put this book down once I started it! This has by far been my favourite historical fiction read of the year. Though I typically don't go for time switching point of views, this was done excellently and made complete sense for the plot. The surprise ending was in fact a surprise, I didn't quite pick up on the subtle clues dropped in the second half of the book. I am definitely recommending this for a book club read!

Having recently finished the previously published “The War Librarian” by Addison Alexander, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnum!

This is a well researched dual timeline story that transports us back to France, World War I hospital encampments and horrific wounded warrior moments; as well as a look at The Library War Service, The Books for Soldiers initiative program, and the challenges that librarians faced while trying to provide comfort for the injured wanting to take their minds to another place through books and their stories.

The second timeline was a look at another type of military struggle, that of the first women entering the grueling and sometimes hostile Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

The struggles and personal backgrounds of both Emmeline and Kathleen, and their resilience during each of their military experiences, felt somewhat over dramatic and a bit far-fetched at times, but their eventual connection, decades later, made for a satisfying, and at the same time… this can only happen in fiction… ending.

*** Look for the Author’s Note and Conversation with Addison Armstrong if that is available to you. These extras often explain the creative process, and sometimes help make sense of the moments in the story that sometimes don’t.

THE WAR LIBRARIAN by Addison Armstrong is an emotionally captivating dual timeline historical fiction story featuring two women finding their voices and standing up for what they believe is right against injustice and inequality no matter the personal cost. So much in this historical story mirrors the ongoing moral struggle occurring in current society.

I enjoyed this interesting dual timeline historical fiction novel! Which was surprising to me because I am not usually a dual timeline fan. It has strong female characters, even stronger female friendships, and a secret that crosses generations. It was great learning about the ALA and the librarian's role during wartime was a great topic! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is quite topical censored books during World War II and banned books in 2023. I’ve read a number of books on World War II historical fiction. This book has a different take. I was immediately engrossed in, couldn’t put it down.

👩🏻‍🏫 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆👩🏻‍🏫

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

"Books here calm me. Things end happily in books - and when they don't, there's a reason."

A historical fiction, two different time lines, 1918 and 1976. Emmaline lives in Washington D.C. and leaves her home town to work as a volunteer librarian during the war, bringing books to soldiers who have been wounded. Emmaline is dismayed to find out that books are being banned and black soldiers are enduring discrimination. She secretly participates in a bookclub bringing white and black men together to read all the banned books.

Kathleen on the other hand is one of the first women to be admitted in the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 1980. She has been ready for this challenge but she is taken back with the discrimination and hostility she has had to endure while there.

I am not too big on historical fiction sometimes but this book outdid itself. Emmaline and Kathleen are two amazing women who face many challenges during these times. I loved how strong they both are, they fight for what they want and believe that is right.

What a perfectly written historical fiction read! Oh, how I loved this book. The War Librarian was written in dual timelines, one surrounding Emmaline, the first female volunteer librarian during WW1 taking place in 1918 and the other in 1976 with Kathleen, the first woman accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy. I always love a dual timeline read and it was so incredibly well done here! I was equally invested in both timelines and eager for the characters and unfolding story in both.

What stood out to me the most here was the compelling storyline that had me hooked from beginning to end. A story of courage and resilience that really resonated with me. There was so much I learned and took away from this book. I was so inspired and loved coming along and rooting for these strong female characters!

I’d you’re looking for your next historical read, I highly suggest that this one be it!

Many thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

This book is a dual time line story set at the end of WWI France and 1970's US. The two time lines are interested and at first it seems pretty clear cut but as the story unfolds there are twists and turns.
I enjoyed learning and reading about the hospital librarians during WWI and also about the first women cadets admitted to the Naval Academy.

I really enjoyed this author's previous book as well as this one and she will be be a favorite to look for in the future.

The War Librarian features two women, one in 1918 and one 1976, striving to work and serve in male dominated arenas: war and the U.S. Naval Academy. I was particularly in Kathleen’s timeline as she was in the inaugural coed class at the Naval Academy. This was an intriguing read, that at times, made me reflect on how much and yet how little things have changed for women. Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam for DRC and feeding my love of historical fiction stories.

Both Emmaline and Kathleen had interesting tales to tell but it was ultimately Kathleen’s that kept drawing me in. What she and her fellow cadets went through was terrible and completely unfair and yet most of them not only endured but succeeded.

It was not always an easy read but one that made me think on all women have had to overcome to succeed and to do so when the odds are stacked against them. This was a book I’m glad I read and one I suspect I will think about for awhile.

I really enjoyed this dual timeline story that was inspired by the first women accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy and the Library War Service established during WWI. My first book by this author, it won’t be my last.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of The War Librarian. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed above are my own.

1918: Emmaline Balakin, though timid and shy, embarks on a journey across the ocean as a war librarian and finds herself hosting a book club for censored books. Emmaline will have to dig deep inside herself to find the courage needed to survive on the frontlines.

1976: Kathleen Carre is determined to show the world, and her nana, that she is more than deserving of being part of the first coed class admitted to the United States Navel Academy. Not everyone thinks a female should be at the academy. When tragedy strikes close to home for Kathleen, she becomes a target.

Back at it again with another historical fiction rec! I haven’t read much World War I fiction but this one was so well done and compelling. I feel like I’m always saying it, but y’all I LOVE dual timelines! Especially when the two timelines connect by the end of the book. Is there anything better than strong, empowered female leads? This book highlights female librarians serving in World War I and the first women admitted to the United States Navel Academy. Their resilience when facing adversity is so incredible and inspiring. Highly recommend this one! Thank you to Putnam, Addison Armstrong, and NetGalley for my gifted e-arc. This book is out now!