Okay, Addison Armstrong wrote an absolutely brilliant novel! The War Librarian reminded me why I love Historical Fiction, specifically the World War era.

I’m not even sure where to begin. This dual timeline from 1918 during World War I and 1976 in the US Naval Academy had me in every single emotion. I felt rage, mostly, as Emmaline and Kathleen’s stories unfold and the detail of segregation are laid out in plain view. These women were absolute badass’s and I know that they are fictional characters, however, I know these women represent so many who actually went through all of this.

I was not at all prepared for the ending, I audibly gasped and immediately started crying. I’m not sure any book has gotten that sort of reaction out of me.

Addison Armstrong has written a masterpiece that will be a classic one day. And I will read any and everything she writes. If she wrote the dictionary I would be first in line to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for allowing me to review this book!

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong is a wonderful dual timeline historical fiction that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

I just adored Ms. Armstrong’s previous book, The Light of Luna Park, which I also highly recommend by the way, so I knew I had to read this gem. I am so glad I did.

The author takes two timeframes (1910s and 1970s) and weaves them both together to make one beautiful story.

This book is also a multi-generational novel of two strong women decades apart, blazing their own trails in their own respective ways against obstacles that know no timeframe.

Here we get a gripping, suspenseful narrative with strong female characters that exhibit strength, courage, grit, passion, and loyalty. This is a beautiful story of two women: Emmaline coming out of her shell as a “War Librarian” (the term I am using here does not do her justice, but as not to spoil too much for fellow readers, I will leave it at that) in WWI and Kathleen as part of the first coed class in the US Naval Academy. Both seem worlds apart. Both seem so different, yet reading their courageous and unique stories and to see all that they faced, we can see how similar both women truly are.

Truly a wonderful, unique, and inspirational story.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for this wonderful 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, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/9/22.

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"Books are the best place to hide," I said quietly. "When the world is just too much to take."

WHEW, that line got me. And encompassed a lot of what I have felt over the past few years.

What a JOY this book was! Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Books for gifting me an early copy to read.

A historical fiction novel about two women, decades apart, struggling with so many of the same things, striving to break barriers in their own fields. A book about the importance of relationships, trusting yourself and your people.

Emmaline Balakin is a quiet, book lover working at the Dead Letter Office in 1918. She leaps outside of her comfort zone to become a volunteer librarian on the frontlines in France. She quickly forms close friendships and joy in her work. I

Kathleen Carre is admitted as part of the first coed class at the Naval Academy in 1976. She is confident and talented, knowing she deserves her spot while the majority of the men feel she does not.

I love books with multiple storylines and points of view, and Addison Armstrong nailed it here. There is such a high level of difficulty, but I couldn't imagine this story being told in any other way. Weaving in a bit of mystery had me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself gasping a few times in the last 100 pages.

What really struck me, though, is how many of these themes are still so prevalent today. The book was set in 1918 and 1976 and yet here in 2022 we are continuing to deal with such blatant censorship, racism, and misogyny.

This book was such a delightful escape. I could not recommend it more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Addison Armstrong for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book captivated my attention from the moment I began reading it. Although I found the WWI timeline more interesting at first than the 1976 timeline, I liked both Emmaline and Kathleen from the very beginning and it didn't take long before I was just as eager to get back to Kathleen's story as I was to return to Emmaline's.

It never occurred to me that there was such a thing as a war librarian, but as it turns out, starting during WWI, the ALA and the YMCA joined forces to provide books to soldiers as a means of mental escape. I found this fascinating and loved reading about the complications associated with it. As Armstrong points out in her author's note at the end, this story is more about books - their recreational value, the importance of the discussions they inspire, and the danger of banning controversial works - than it is about military history. I found that aspect of this story so thought-provoking and it had me absolutely riveted!

I also felt that the plot itself was so wonderfully thought through and executed. The twist totally blindsided me, yet made so many pieces of the story fall into place. I stayed up later than I usually do to finish this book because I couldn't put it down, and then it took me even longer to fall asleep because I just couldn't stop marveling at all the little insignificant details that were actually clues foreshadowing the plot twist 😂 and of course, that's exactly what a reader wants in a book!

I loved this book, and recommend that you pick up a copy of it today, especially if you feel passionately about the topic of book banning. The book is both well-researched and well-written, and I hope you'll like it as much as I did!

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P Putnam’s Sons for a copy of this eARC to review!

My Rating: 5/5 stars
TW: racism, sexism, SH, SA
My Thoughts: This book follows two young women about 60 years apart experiencing journeys of self discovery through times of war. Emmaline (1918) and Kathleen (1976) are from different times but end up having similar experiences. Both women need to prove themselves in a world run by men, and it is not made easy for them.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that it was amazing. The writing was great and the pacing had me turning the page one after another. And the twist???? Was not expecting! I loved the dual timeline and I also loved how those timelines came together at the end. We experience two perspectives and I loved how different the characters were but at the same time they had a lot in common. It is set both in the late 70’s and late 1910’s during World War 1. Kathleen is a Midshipman in the first female class in the naval academy and Emmaline is a war librarian.

I do want my fellow readers out there to keep in mind the trigger warnings that I have for this book. While nothing happens graphically in reference to the SA a character does experience it. I did appreciate how the author chose not to add graphic content but still acknowledged that such things do happen to people. There was also blatant racism that was infuriating. The reader sees it through the perspective of a white person so I’d like to hear from a BIPOC reader to see how they think it was handled! The sexism was also infuriating, but understand why the author included it and to not include it would erase what women went through during that time.

Overall this book was great and I think lovers of historical fiction will enjoy it!

Split between the end of WWI and 1976, we see how two separate but intertwined women forge out on their own to try to make a difference in the world.

Emmaline is put on a trajectory that will lead her to lending books near the front lines in France in the fall of 1918 when she learns her childhood love, Nicolas, is off at war. 60 years later, Kathleen finds links between Emmaline and Nicolas in her grandma Nellie’s estate after her passing. But why would Nellie have these things?

You will like this book if you’re into:
📕 The Things We Cannot Say or The Nightingale
📗 Historical fiction with dual POV
📘 Feminist undertones
📙 Perserverance, hardwork, and dedication

CW/TW: war, battle injuries, racism, sexism, book banning, assault, hazing, death of a loved one, abandonment

I had such a hard time putting The War Librarian down!
This book has a duel timeline and follows two women, Emmaline Balakin and Kathleen Carre.
Emmaline's storyline takes place in France in 1918 during World War I, where Emmeline is serving as a librarian at a field hospital.
Kathleen's story takes place in 1976, where she is one of the first women to be admitted into the United States Naval Academy. Despite facing discrimination and harassment from male classmates, Kathleen buckles down and is determined to persevere to achieve her dreams. However, shortly after she arrives, her grandmother who raised her passes away. This triggers a series of secrets and events that threaten Kathleen's place in the Academy but help her to unlock her grandmother's past.
I was absolutely sucked in reading this, as the book continues to play out we get to the heartbreaking reason that these women's lives are entwined- and books and words can influence their destinies.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you so much Netgalley for allowing me to preview this book.

What a wonderfully written story! I loved the two timelines and the way they came together. Learning about the ALA and the librarian's role during wartime was a great topic!
This book was beautifully written. The characters really came to life.
I will definitely recommend this book in the future!

What an absolute gem of a book! As soon as I finished it, I wanted to start it again.

This book is a dual timeline that follows Emmaline Balakin in 1918 and Kathleen Carre in 1976.

1918 - Emmaline Balakin works for the Dead Letter Office when a letter graces her desk from a childhood crush. It starts a chain of events that sees Emmaline sailing to France to become a volunteer librarian on the Front. She strives to give soldiers the simple pleasure of escaping the real world, one book at a time, and creates a book club to help foster animated discussion. However, as she settles into her role she must contend with banned reading material and racism.

1976 - Kathleen Carre has just received her acceptance as part of the first coed class of the Naval Academy. She is enthusiastic and determined to prove she deserves to be there just as much as any man. Military service runs deep in her blood as her grandmother, Nellie, was a Red Cross Volunteer and motor corps member in the Great War. However, she quickly becomes a target and struggles to handle discrimination, questioning who she can really trust.

This book was wonderful! This is not some war torn love story instead it touches on racism in 1918, sexism in 1976, censorship, banned books, military service and so much more. It was clear the author had put time and research into this book in order to share real life anecdotes and experiences that both women would have faced being involved in military service in both time periods. I was deeply invested in both timelines and felt anger and frustration on their behalf for the situations they were dealing with. All side characters were also fully fleshed out. Nellie, Nicholas, Perlie and co in 1918 and Susan, Linda and Derrick in 1976. Each character served a purpose and made me emotionally invested in all the events that occurred.

The authors note also summed up a lot of my feelings perfectly about this book. It starts with "reading has always felt as necessary to me as breathing. If you're reading this, it's quite possible you feel the same way". I do and always have. Reading has always been very important and provided an escape from day to day life. I simply adored the storyline books and reading added as a result. I loved that the author demonstrated how important reading is, for everybody, in every scenario. I also wholeheartedly agree that this book is not about war but about the magic and power of words.

I can't wait to read more books by this author!

I love a historical fiction novel about women kicking butt. I am also a big fan of historical fiction in two time periods. I am ALSO a fan of novels where women break stereotypes and pave the way for future generations. It instills hope that it might get better.

These characters were lovable and intelligent. Their stories were profound. I also appreciated the fact that this historical fiction did not have women pining over men for 3/4 of the book. Let's get beyond that and just let women do great work.

WOW!!!! Boy did I love this book. The writing, the characters, the romance, THE TWIST!!!!! everything was so good.

The War Librarian follows a shy and book loving Emmaline Balakin as she heads into world war 1 in 1918 France to be a librarian for the wounded soldiers and also the story of Kathleen Carre 59 years later who is one of the first women to have been accepted into the navy. Both these stories unfold chapter after chapter and I was equally invested in both. I couldn't see how both these two stories could be intertwined and needed to know how it would end and how the could possibly be related. I loved both main characters in their own stories and their own supporting characters too. Both stories has difficulties, struggles, and friendship that kept you equally invested in both.

but the plot twist! WOW. I did not see that coming! I was shocked, heartbroken, confused, I just love when things start making sense like a puzzle piece being put together. If you love historical fiction I definitely think this is a story worth picking up. Emmaline has inspired me and I will definitely be reading more of Addison Armstrong.

Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Both timelines, both stories, in Addison Armstrong's The War Librarian kept me reading. For one thing, I'd had no idea that there was such a thing as the Library War Service in World War I. Furthermore, I hadn't read anything related to the first coed class at the Naval Academy. Those two points alone guaranteed my interest, and I appreciated the author's notes at the end of the book telling of her research.

Both Emmaline and Kathleen are united by more than just their experiences, which becomes clearer as the story progresses. Emmaline comes face-to-face with racism and censorship, while Kathleen has more than her share of gender bias and ignorance. When reading the part where Kathleen and the other women attend a mandatory class in which the male instructor tells them that "The hymen... is often broken during childbirth," I choked as I was swallowing a mouthful of iced tea. Superficially funny, the incidents those women in that first coed class had to face became maddening (and not much different from what women are facing today).

The War Librarian shows us the power of friendship, of family, of women. There's nothing particularly earth-shattering in its pages, but readers don't always need to be shaken to bits when they pick up a book. What they will find when they start reading The War Librarian is a solid, engrossing read that's a good way to spend an afternoon.

As a lover of historical fiction--especially those revolving around either of the World Wars, I instantly wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it. 

And I'm so glad that I read it. There are two stories in this one--one of Emmaline in 1918 and one with Kathleen in 1976.

Admittedly, I much preferred Emmaline's story. Which is why I didn't give this four or more stars. I was a little bored with Kathleen's story and kind of kept waiting to get back to Emmaline.

However, Armstrong did a fabulous job of going back and forth and blending this whole book into a fabulous tale of two strong women. 

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will be live, at the link given, on 8/14/22.

One woman gets into the all male military academy in the 1960s and is put thru hell. One woman is a librarian bringing books to wounded warriors during WW1.

3.5 stars

A dual voice historical novel featuring several strong women: Kathleen Carre, who in 1976 became one of the first women accepted into the Naval Academy, and two women who became friends while volunteering during the first World War -- Emmaline Balakin, a volunteer librarian, and her friend Nellie who is the grandmother who raised Kathleen and who worked as one of the first female motor pool drivers in the Great War.

Both stories are interesting. Kathleen sadly suffers all the awful hazing, assaults and harassment you would expect from the male cadets. When her grandmother dies, she discovers some old documents that she explores with unexpected results. And Nellie and Emmaline's experiences highlight the grimness of the war and some mostly unknown censorship history from that era.

A captivating story -- thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a longtime fan of historical fiction; Addison Armstrong’s The War Librarian did not disappoint. The author beautifully weaves two separate characters’ stories & timelines: that of determined Kathleen, one of the first women to enroll in the Naval Academy, and Emmaline’s, the reluctant war librarian stationed in France during World War I. The two womens’ stories have some things in common, such as the themes of racial segregation and oppression of women, but not so much that it makes the overall book boring, predictable, or repetitive. I enjoyed learning about the Naval Academy and what the plebes endure, all the way to the traditional climbing of the greased Herndon Monument at the completion of their first year. It was plain to see that Armstrong did thorough research. There is a twist that you most likely won’t guess until the author wants you to, and as a solid predictability hater, I LOVE it when a twist takes me by surprise. This book made me want to immediately read Armstrong’s other novel, The Light of Luna Park. Definitely recommend this book to those who love historical fiction and strong female characters.

The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong is a historical novel based on the real history of both the first volunteer librarians during World War I and the first class of women to attend the United States Naval Academy. The plot is told by two strong women. Emmaline is in her twenties and from Washington DC. She has led a sheltered life and her parents are both dead. She becomes a war librarian in France to see more of the world and help her fellow countrymen. She also wants to find her childhood sweetheart Nicholas who she believes is hospitalized in France. Emmaline meets
Kathleen has been raised by her beloved grandmother. Her Nana served as one of the few Motor Corps drivers in World War I and this accomplishment has fueled Kathleen in her quest to attend the Naval Academy. It is 1976 when Kathleen enrolls in the academy. She and her fellow female plebes are subjected to horrible hazing, harassment and physical brutality. Kathleen is relentless in pursuing her dream-regardless of the cost.
Armstrong has created two memorable characters and she deftly connects their stories. The War Librarian is entertaining and it is also filled with lessons for us all.

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows two women. Emmaline in 1918 France as a volunteer during WWI as a volunteer librarian and Kathleen in 1976 as one of the first females accepted to the Naval Academy! As the two stories develop you start to realize the connection between these women. For one, they are both dealing with similar issues and trials, 60 years apart, in a world dominated by men. It was interesting, and tough at times, learning about these two unique positions of women in history. As the story progresses we learn more and more about how the two characters are connected, but I can't say anymore about that without spoilers!
If you are a fan of historical fiction or learning about women making history this book is for you! It is set to be published on Tuesday, 9 Aug, so keep an eye out for it!
#NetGalley #TheWarLibrarian

I wish that history classes could be taught by reading historical fiction novels. I learn so much! Ms. Armstrong has written a good book... I just wish I didn't have to go back and forth between time periods. I really like the historical story.

The War Librarian alternates between two perspectives and times — Emmaline in 1918 and Kathleen in 1976. Emmaline, who is pretty quiet and introverted, decides to volunteer as a librarian in France during the war. She works with the wounded soldiers to help keep their minds off of the war and their pain. Kathleen is in the first coed class at the Naval Academy. It’s the first time allowing women to join, so there are many people not wanting her and the other women there.

I loved seeing both story lines and how they were tied together. If you are looking for a feminist historical fiction to read, I would highly recommend this one!

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for an advanced copy of The War Librarian