Inspired by the first female volunteer librarians during World War I and the first women accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, The War Librarian tells a story that spans half a century.
In 1918. timid and shy Emmaline Balakin volunteered as a librarian on the frontlines in France. She befriends Nellie, a driver, and several soldiers, including Nicholas. With an iron will, Emmaline speaks out against imperfect segregation by providing books for all the men. She also makes an ultimate sacrifice that changes her life.
In 1976, Kathleen Carre decides to prove to herself and join the first coed class at the United States Naval Academy. But she soon becomes a target and must decide how to fight back while managing a tragedy at home.
This book is a tough one to rate. I enjoyed most of the story, but the characters didn’t grab my heart. The concept is interesting, though, and prioritizes the power of strong, determined women. For that reason alone, I would recommend this book.
Favorite quotes:
“Books are the best place to hide when the world is just too much to take.”
“We don’t make the rules, but with enough hope, we can challenge them.”
“Sharing your story is never a weakness. When we realize we aren’t alone, we grow so much stronger.”

During WWI, Emmaline leaves the Dead Letter Office to serve as a librarian on the front lines. Stationed at a hospital in France, Emmaline must overcome her fears to serve the bored and wounded soldiers. There, she encounters an old crush, a man from her past. In 1976, Kathleen has been chosen as one of the first women to enter the Naval Academy. There, she experiences hazing, prejudice, and downright hostility from the men who are supposed to be her comrades.

Although the two stories were related, they were extremely different. I did not think that Emmaline and Kathleen's stories worked well together. Each could have been a standalone book, but together they were very discordant. I did think the naval academy story was a bit stronger, and found myself waiting for those chapters. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

This is a very compelling read! WW1 and WWW2 stories always pique my interest and when I saw this had a librarian element-I had to read it. It did not disappoint. It drew me in from the beginning and it didn't let go once. I was all in for Emmaline and Kathleen's stories. There is a very surprising twist that was a great addition to the book to make it even more exciting. Great read!

The title grabbed me, being a librarian and lover of words, the story kept me engaged right up to the very end.

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

I love historical fiction - a story rooted in the past, but told with imagination. So when I saw "The War Librarian" and heard it was based on the War Department and the American Library Association providing 7-10 million books to soldiers libraries, I had to know more. Addison Armstrong definitely gave that to me and more.

Told in 2 timelines, 1918 and 1976, both relevant to women soldiers and librarians, this is a fascinating read. In 1918, Emmaline arrives to provide books to wounded soldiers, hoping to give them peace in troubling times. And 1976, Kathleen is a plebe in the first ever womens class at the Naval Academy. Both women fight for acceptance in a male dominated world. Both find the path difficult.

I agree with others, the title of this book is simplified although I can't think of what else I would have named it. Between the cover of Armstrong's book you will find the strength of family, both blood and by choice, raciscm, politics, feminism and most importantly the power of the written word. 'Emmaline's world begins with words and Kathleen's future depends on them.

So while this is a story told during war times (Emmaline) or preparing for war, (Kathleen), its ultimately about the strength of character and the power of words to transform society for the better.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group and Addison Armstrong for introducing me to war librarians. I was shocked I had never heard of them! Thank you for this thought provoking, important story! I am already telling my coworkers, and library patrons its a must read!

This historical novel is a dual-timeline book.
One storyline set in WWI France, based on a real program that provided books to soldiers serving overseas.
The other is 1976, the first year women were accepted at the American service academies.
Both storylines feature young women embarking on difficult, groundbreaking journeys.
There are twists and turns that kept me reading to a surprising conclusion.

This was an amazing story. I loved the two different perspectives in the two different times. The connection between was interesting and surprisingly mysterious at the end. Highly recommended.

Really 4.5/5 stars !

I loved this book! It was a unique read & new detail of war that I hadn’t heard of before: a war librarian. I loved the emphasis on freedom, importance of reading, and love throughout these chapters.

It’s dual POV and timeline, which expertly wove together.

As someone who works at a service academy, the chapters of Katherine at the Naval Academy (as a member of the first class to admit females) stressed me out beyond belief but was also incredibly interesting.

⚠️MAJOR spoilers ahead.

I had a feeling pretty early on that grandmother Nellie was going to end up being Emmaline. I loved that Nicholas came forward & was involved in Katherine’s life after discovering the truth. Living a lifetime apart from his love & only realizing it after she died was heartbreaking 💔 I loved his character from the moment Emmaline shared the childhood story that he waited for her outside on Christmas Eve 🥹

A couple quotes that stuck with me:
▪️"We're all afraid," she repeated. "But being scared like that just means you still have your humanity. And going on anyway makes you far braver than if you didn't have any fear at all."
▪️ "Books are the best place to hide," I said quietly. "When the world is just too much to take."

Thank you to NetGalley & G. P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC. This review is unbiased & voluntary.

4.5*
Two timelines and two women fighting for their beliefs. There’s Emmaline Balakin who goes to France during WWI to bring books to wounded soldiers. She worries about her patients, especially the Black men who do not get the same treatment as the Whites. She is a true librarian at heart, firmly believing in inclusion and access to diverse ideas. Unfortunately, the government is not open to any perspective other than the official government line and segregation is still enforced among the military.

The other timeline is set in 1976 and follows Kathleen Carre who is a member of the first class of women to be accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis. As expected, the women face an uphill battle to get recognition and acceptance into the ranks. But Kathleen is singled out by another “plebe” and subjected to abuse, as well as a threat to her very career.

Both women face accusations of disloyalty to America. If convicted of sedition, they could not lose their jobs and positions, but even their very freedom.

Based upon real situations, the book calls attention to the little-known efforts during WWI to bring books to our soldiers fighting overseas. Reading about the joy the men show when offered access to books is music to the ears of all librarians and book lovers. The story of the first females at the Naval Academy is also based upon real situations. Though Kathleen is fictional, much of her story stems from a real former female plebe’s memoir.

Armstrong tackles racism, sexism, freedom of the press and censorship. Both women are targeted because of their beliefs in equal opportunity. They each struggle and find support from the friends they encounter in their new placements. This is a book not to be missed.

In this book, we move between two timelines and meet two women who, though separated by years, both fight to make it in a man's world. I enjoyed, in particular, Kathleen Carre's story. Women who join the armed forces but strive to be at the top of their classes or get into programs that men typically hold, interest me. I connected with her spirit. The parallel story, however, was not as exciting. I thought that one dragged a little more. Overall, it was an interesting read, but not one that I struggled to put down. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

What a ride!!!! I loved every second!! I can't even come up with the words to express my feelings for this beautiful book.... all I can say is go read it, and tell me what you think!!

Perhaps I am not the target audience for this book. While it's not my typically genre, I usually enjoy stories about the "other" people involved in the war. I thought that I would love this story from a librarian's perspective. I found the concept to be very interesting. I would have never thought about the need for calm entertainment, such as books, for soldiers who are in the hospitals. On the other hand, I thought the story was very slow. I found myself feeling very angry at the treatment of Miss Carre while in the Naval Academy. For some reason though, rather than feeling drawn in and captivated, I felt angry and like I wanted to pull away.

In this book the author will take you through two different time lines, the 1910s and 1970s, it is written in dual POV with view points from Emmaline Balakin and Kathleen Carre. When it comes to dual POV, I love them usually, however it took me a minute to really get into it because I had a hard time following along initially. Once, it all started clicking I really did enjoy this book.

This historical fiction takes a look at WWI as well the first women admitted to Annapolis. I found these storylines to be interesting and I felt like I was reading something new that I haven’t read before (I feel like there’s only so many storylines you can write about this time period before it becomes redundant and I thought the author did a great job at making this seem like it was something new). Our characters Kathleen and Emmaline’s stories are incredibly inspiring. The two woman go through something difficult that ultimately shapes them into the woman they are present day. It is an inspiring “girl power” story with a mix of historical fiction and if that’s your thing, you should totally give it a read!

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam Books for the eARC in exhchange for an honest review!

The War Librarian is historical fiction with all the best tropes: two women from different eras fighting parallel but unique battles that, in the end, bring them home to each other. There are cases of mistaken identity, strong themes of sexism in the military and female empowerment, and, of course, lots of talk about the power of books.

All in all, a very satisfying read if you, like me, love historical fiction.

Emmaline is a volunteer librarian during World War I and is more interested in books then her own life. Until she receives a letter with a name from her past, sending her on an adventure. Decades later, Kathleen is trying to get accepted in the United States Naval Academy. She would be the first woman and not everyone is okay with that.

I love stories with a strong female character and this one had two! Told in dual timelines, the author shared the stories of these women living decades apart. It was an interesting concept but honestly this book didn’t really hold my attention. Thank you to the author and Penguin Randomhouse for the ARC! This book is out now!

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

The War Librarian was a story I didn't know I would want to read, and then would devour so quickly. There are two stories-one of Emmaline, a young woman in 1918 who becomes a war librarian, bringing books to wounded American soldiers in France, and Kathleen, a woman in the first Navy class to accept female midshipmen. As the story progresses, we see how these two characters' lives line up and intertwine.

I really enjoyed this book, but at the same time, it was hard (as always) reading through the sexism and racism that was definitely realistic and prevalent during the time periods. Books like this always light a fire under me. I appreciated the strong female characters throughout the book, and I appreciated learning about a job during WW1 that I didn't even know was a thing! The ending of the book was very bittersweet and thoughtful. If you're into historical fiction, definitely give this one a go!

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the e-ARC!

I loved this book for many reasons. Firstly, I love a good dual timeline story. And the timelines for this book were set in time periods that I'm not as familiar with. Emmaline is a volunteer librarian in World War I, while Kathleen is a part of the first class of women allowed into the naval academy. Both of the women were strong characters who had their flaws, but also showed remarkable strength and courage. I loved learning more about their different lives and the challenges that each had to face. Also, I had no idea that there were librarians serving in hospitals during World War I, and I found that fascinating.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and a strong female main character who isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Historical fiction transports readers into the past and unlocks portions of history. Addison Armstrong pens a novel that straddles the line between 1918 and 1977 where women are thrust into war while fighting against prejudice.

In 1918, Emmaline's bookish dreams take center stage as she dons the cloak of a war librarian and reconnects with a former friend. Sending letters secretly as Nicholas' flame, new feelings spark after meeting him again in person.

Flash forward to 1976 where Kathleen Carre prepares to enter as a plebe in the Navy. Selected as the inaugural group of women, the honor becomes horror as they are mistreated and ridiculed by their male counterparts.
As pieces of the dual-linear puzzle emerge, the stories intertwine. Will the price of glory be too expensive to pay to survive?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of the #TheWarLibrarian in exchange for an honest review. I love historical fiction and Armstrong's novel is one of the best books I've read this year. Filled with courage, determination and second chances, readers will step into the past to appreciate the future.

I really enjoyed this interesting dual timeline historical fiction novel! Both storylines were strong though they wove together, had compelling stories alone. I felt transported into the World War I era and the post-Vietnam 70s as the two main character women served their country in different ways.

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.

In 1918, Emmaline Balakin works in the Dead Letter Office. An only child, timid and bookish until she discovers a letter bearing a name from her past. It is the spark she needs to break out of her shell and embark on an adventure that takes her to a frontline hospital in France as a volunteer librarian. She reunites with a man from her past, befriends black servicemen and protests banned books as she discovers she is stronger than she believed until the military steps in.

In 1976, Kathleen Carre is eager to prove herself in the first coed class at the U.S. Naval Academy, but not everyone wants women at the Academy. The harassment only makes Kathleen more determined to succeed until the death of her grandmother who raised her almost breaks her. The solitary Kathleen soon finds herself being accused of crimes that could be the end of her dreams at the Academy unless she learns to trust others and uncover a secret from her grandmother’s past.

I loved this story and the strong, independent women characters. I found the history of the voluntary librarians overseas fascinating and the ongoing discussion of banning books relevant, to my dismay, to this day. The integration of women into the service academies occurred when I had just graduated from high school, and I always found those women to be brave leaders in the fight for equality. To read and realize that some of the problems encountered by the female midshipmen still occurs today, almost 50 years later is at times disheartening and at times maddening. This story opens the readers eyes to so many societal issues that are still considered issues and have never been resolved. This is an emotional rollercoaster with great characters that I could not put down.

I highly recommend this dual timeline historical fiction!

Strong female characters, even stronger female friendships, and a secret that crosses generations.

✨ Book Review: THE WAR LIBRARIAN by Addison Armstrong ✨

📖 Synopsis: Emmaline Balakin and Kathleen Carre are breaking boundaries across two timelines—one serving during the Great War, aka WWI, and another who’s part of the Naval Academy class of 1980, the first graduating class with women. Both must find courage amid harsh environments and against those who do not want to see them succeed. Connected by Emmaline’s Nana and a monumental secret, these two women have much more in common than they think.

😍 Review: Really enjoyed the story, the characters, and all the historical details. Then once the secret was revealed, it all came together even more. Such a good twist! Highly recommend for fans of historical, women’s, and/or family drama fiction.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

🎉 THE WAR LIBRARIAN by Addison Armstrong is out now! Thanks to @NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the early eARC of this book. I loved it!