I loved The Underground Library. Jennifer Ryan is a favorite author of mine for historical fiction when I am looking for something that isn't too heavy. The characters are well developed and have depth, and while the story still confronts the realities of war, there is an underlining of hope, resilience, love, friendship, and the ways the people still found light in the darkest of times. Anything by Jennifer Ryan is an auto-add to my reading lists!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books, especially when they are written during the time period of WWII. The characters are well developed and the primary focus on females was a positive change of pace. I love learning something new with each new WWII historical fiction book I devour. This one gave me a glimpse into the lives of three women who were determined that the library would survive … even after the bombings. I also learned about the internment camps on the Isle of Man. When a book has a primary focus on how books make a difference in people’s lives and bring people together, I am cheering it on. While I am not a romance genre fan, the addition of this did not distract too much from this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Adult
Adult Fiction
Books About Books
British Literature
Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
War
WWII

I want to throw all the stars at this one! What a wonderful book! It is set in London during WWII. We follow some immensely strong women and the library that they open up in the tunnels during the blitz. Wonderful characters and fulfilling stories!

A perfectly written historical fiction. A lot of fact and based on true events, this book shows how community comes together, that books are more than just a story, and how important your comity is in tough times. I thought this was a nice read, putting me outside of my normal genres.

This book was amazing!! Sometimes historical fiction falls a bit flat for me, but this book was just 5 STARS. All 3 of the main characters (Sofie, Juliet, and Katie) were so well written and I was immediately drawn into all of their stories. Seeing how all 3 of them experienced WW2 in similar but different ways was wonderful (even if heartbreaking at the same time). And I loved the author’s note at the end of the book about how the story of an underground library of Bethnal Green in East London actually happened and that the book was based on a very true story.

I really enjoyed this unique look at the London Blitz through the stories of three young women who are each facing a great struggle, yet somehow find a way to deal with their challenges and make a positive difference in helping people through the horrors of the Nazi bombing raids. Rather than a typical WW2 fiction, this book was uniquely focused on the daily lives of Londoners who had the face the horror of nightly bombing raids and still somehow manage to keep their humanity. Each of the characters discovered strength through a sense of community that the library provided. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I really didn't know if I would like this book at first. The more I read the more I learned how hard it was for the three women running the library in this time period. There is a little love story in here but most important is the way people pulled together. You wouldn't think they could be more different and yet the same. I'm so glad I read this story. Even more so with what is going on in the world now. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this book.

This heartwarming story features three women—Julia, Katie, and Sofie—who, alongside some supporting characters, make the Underground Library a success. Each woman, with the help of kind-hearted volunteers, understands the transformative power of books and their ability to inspire and bring hope. They come together to help Julia by volunteering their time and involving the whole village, all with the belief that books should be accessible to everyone. As they work together, they form deep bonds of friendship, realizing the empowering support they can offer each other in ways their families haven't been able to. Julia and Katie, in particular, find strength in these friendships, as Sofie already has a loving family behind her.

Julia's landlady, a compassionate woman, also plays an important role, as do the elderly sisters Dorothy and Irene, who act as surrogate family to the women. Together, they all aim to ensure the success of the Underground Library. Meanwhile, the head librarian wants the library to shut down so he can move on to a new opportunity, but Julia and her friends have different plans.

Set in the time of World War II, this story is a testament to the strength of women in an era when men were typically granted more power and freedom. By coming together, these women challenge the societal norms that confined women to the roles of wives and homemakers. They prove that they are just as capable as men in the workforce, defying conventions and creating something meaningful that leaves a lasting impact.

#ARC #netgalley

What a wonderful story!!

I read a lot of mystery and suspense and sometimes you just need a good story about a few very special people to cleanse the brain. This was just that book!

My Nan was in England during WWII and I grew up listening to stories about the war and the blitz, I remember how afraid she would get every time we had a thunderstorm and she would make us go to the basement. She said some of them reminded her of the bombing and nights in the shelter.

The characters were well written and the story was so well written, but not too flowery that I could see London, the library and most of all the tube station. This story and these characters will stay with me for a long time!

I have loved previous Jennifer Ryan books, and I love the way that she writes historical fiction based on true but lesser known stories from World War 2, often finding uplifting and hopeful stories to share! The Underground Library was no different. I really enjoyed learning something new about the Blitz, life in the tunnels during it, and specifically the Bethnal Green Underground Library. I spent a summer living in East London near Bethnal Green, so I was especially drawn to this story. There were a few aspects of the book I have quibbles with, specially with some of the choices of characters that where I felt modern sensibilities were sneaking in in a way that didn’t feel as authentic to the time period. Nevertheless the characters were lovely, the story was heartwarming and Jennifer Ryan proves to be an author who writes World War 2 historical fiction with hope.

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan. This well researched WWII historical fiction focuses on the Bethnal Green library relocated to the tube in 1940, during the Blitz of London. Jennifer Ryan created a diverse community coming together in difficult times, with resilient and strong characters, showcasing the power of books. Highly recommend!

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is a truly captivating historical novel that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Set against the backdrop of the Blitz, this heartwarming story follows three remarkable women - Juliet, Katie, and Sofie - who find solace and strength in the face of adversity within the walls of their beloved library. This is a celebration of the enduring power of books, the resilience of the human spirit, and the profound impact of community.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I gave this book 5 stars because I read through it quickly, but would probably say more like 4.5 only because everything was wrapped up a little too nicely, especially for a book about WWII.

It was interesting to learn about the underground library and school which was a part of WWII I had never heard about. The characters and their relationships were heartwarming.

I've read one other book by this author and will keep an eye for further ones from her.

Poignant, moving, and emotional, "The Underground Library" is a powerful story set during WWII. The stories of three women, Juliet, Katie, and Sofie, whom all find an escape in books, intertwine as they work together to save the library and provide books in an extremely heartbreaking and dangerous time. Showing the power of books and literature, the power of coming together and supporting one another, and the power of standing up for what is right, this book truly is so meaningful. I was truly pulled in to each of the characters' stories, and reading this book kept me up until the early hours of the morning as I simply did not want to put it down.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this incredible novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.5/5 ⭐️
A historical fiction work that follows 3 women at the start of WWII in England. Sophie is a Jewish refugee from Germany who is on a work visa as a housekeeper for a cruel man. Juliet has taken a job in London as a librarian, trying to escape the painful memory of her fiancé who deserted from the army. And finally, Katie who has lost her boyfriend and finds herself pregnant out of wedlock. These women are brought together by the library, and find themselves creating another one in the underground after bombing starts hitting their area.

I thought this overall was good, but I think it was a little slow. It took a long time to get to the underground part, and then I don't feel like much actually happened until the last quarter of the book. Pretty much all the plot points were predictable, which isn't inherently bad, but it can take the magic out of the read when you already know pretty much exactly what is going to happen. Not my favorite historical fiction I've read, but I am pickier about this genre. People who love this genre will probably enjoy it more than I did!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When you have a book about books i am sold. This was a fast paced heart felt story. I enjoyed the multiple story lines and the stories of each of the woman characters. Shows how woman were not taken seriously and how families looked down unwed woman who got pregnant. It was not over whelming in WWII back ground, but enough to give you an idea of what life was like back in the time.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is one of those books that totally takes you by surprise. It’s about a group of people during World War II who risk everything to protect books and keep them out of the hands of the Nazis. The story focuses on these brave women who create an underground library in a small French village, sharing books with their community and fighting against censorship.

What I loved most was how it showed the power of books and how they can bring people together even in the darkest times. The characters are super relatable, even though the setting is decades ago, and their courage just makes you want to root for them from start to finish. Plus, there’s a little bit of a mystery element to it, which keeps things interesting.

The only thing that felt a bit slow was the pacing in some parts—there’s a lot of detail about the characters’ lives, which is cool, but it can drag a little when you just want to get back to the action.

What a wonderful story of wartime London! I loved reading from each character's point of view. I never felt that one POV lagged behind the others. All characters were equally well-developed. The story included tragic, real-life events without making the reading experience feel too solemn or depressing. Jennifer Ryan truly knows how to write relatable, complex characters.

an absolutely phenomenal read!!! what a beautiful story. i loved the underground library so much and adored our three protagonists sofie, juliet, and katie. in a time filled with so much hatred, these three women showcase the power of love and acceptance. the safe space that the library served as allowed so many people to find joy in the most horrific of times, and what a lovely thing that is. each of these women had intense personal stories and experiences, but it allowed them to bond with each other and create a world full of friends that was lit up by small blessings. i really enjoyed this!

The Underground Library was such an uplifting story which feels absolutely in opposition to the time at which it takes place, and I say that as the highest compliment. Jennifer Ryan did such an excellent job sharing the intertwining stories of the women of Bethnal Green. The bond that they formed felt so real and to have it tied to a love of stories made it even better for book lovers. Ryan did a good job of inputting facts to keep the story more realistic while giving us more hope than I imagine there was often times during WWII. This kept the story moving forward and piqued my interest. I don’t often read historical fiction novels, but I may be a convert because of this book.