I’ve read a lot of WWII historical fiction and had decided I wasn’t going to read anymore, but write about books and a library and I’m all in. Many of the books I’ve read cover people going off to fight the war in different ways - like manning radios or trying to sabotage the Germans. This book focuses on the bombing of London and the people who lived through it and how an underground library brought a little normalcy to their lives.

The main character is Juliet Landsdown who has come to be a deputy librarian at the Bethnal Green Library.

The story has her building lots of friendships as the bombing begins and people are forced to take shelter in the underground stations. How people coped and went on with their lives the best they could with day-to-day bombing gave me much to think about. People are so resilient.

My only complaint would be that it is very happy-ending-ish. There are lots of motivational speeches and talks from the characters. It is very well-written and well-researched and I enjoyed the storyline.

Juliet and Katie are both happy to be working at the Bethnal Green Library in London during the Blitz of WWII. Sofia, a domestic worker, loves using the library, When the falling bombs render the library building unusable, Juliet moves the books into the underground subway station. She saves the heart of the neighborhood, not just volumes of printed words.
This story is about what books and relationships can mean to people. It is a good read with believable characters and interesting plot lines.

Words cannot express my love enough for this book. I was so invested in the characters and story it was difficult to put the book down. I cried and smiled many times as families were pulled apart and new ones formed. I hope someday I can be part of a group of friends like the Underground Library.

Historical fiction based on London during WWII. The bombs and air raids. Three women, Sofie, Katie, and Juliet meet at the library. They are from very different backgrounds, but become fast friends, especially because of the bombings, the library must be moved underground. A very different aspect of WWII, which I enjoyed. There are so many stories of WWII on the market not that it is nice to find one that is not the same.as the others. Loved the characters and the setting of this story.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is a historical fiction book based on a true story. This is the first book that I've read by this author. Now I have to obtain her previous books, because I was glued to my Kindle! I didn't - or more accurately COULDN'T - go to bed last night until I finished it, never mind that I had to work this morning. I just love discovering new-to-me authors.

Juliet Lansdown is the new deputy librarian at the Bethnal Green Library in London. It seems a staid place (including the head librarian, Mr. Pruitt), but Juliet has ideas to bring life to the place, at the same time proving that a woman can do a "man's" job. However, her past comes back to her, possibly ruining all of her success she's brought to the library. Katie Upwood is working temporarily at the library until she goes to university in the fall. Her beau is missing, presumed dead on the front line, and her family situation is full of friction. When she realizes she has a life-changing secret, there is no one she can turn to for help. Sofie Baumann is a young Jewish refugee from Berlin who had to leave her family behind. She is on a domestic service visa, but the man she ends up working for treats her like garbage. She finds solace and friendship at the library, and perhaps someone who can help find her sister, who is still attempting to leave occupied Europe. When German bombs destroy the library, Juliet moves the books to an Underground station where residents shelter nightly. She hopes to keep their spirits up with stories and camaraderie. However, tragedy keeps striking; will these young women - who have their own individual problems - be able to save the library, the heart of their community?

I wasn't out of Chapter 1 before the tears started to fall. By the time I finished the book, my face was puffy. But it was worth every tear! Not only was this story about the struggle of these three women to survive in wartime, but also was a love letter to books. Books are such a huge part of my life; they also were for my father and grandfather, who gave me the gift of love for reading. Some of the characters' passages on books were absolutely beautiful. Chapters were divided to focus on Juliet, Sophie and Katie. All three characters were just so likable. Juliet's mother and father kept trying to set her up with the "perfect" husband. She feel in love with someone else, however, and there was a secret about him. (I will not spoil any secrets or surprises for you here; I hate it when that happens!) She starts anew in Bethnal Green, and has such big plans for the library. Except her boss apparently doesn't like change...any change, but especially by a woman. But she surreptitiously makes changes here and there, like starting a book club. She makes great friends. She also joins the ambulance service, where she sees the horror of war up close and personal. Juliet begins to get close to Simon Falconbury, a man she knew from home, but her past rears its ugly head, I loved Juliet's ability to share her love of books with others who desperately needed comfort. Sophie's story was heartbreaking; her situation started the crying fest. Things were becoming dangerous for Jews in Europe, and Sophie's older sister Rachel arranged a domestic work visa to protect her in London; she would come over later when she could. Their father refused to leave his home where he lived with his now-deceased wife. The trip to London was fraught with danger; a nun helped save her life. Sophie's boss, Mr. Wainwright, was just evil, the way he treated this poor young woman who was stuck there! Sophie loved books, and snuck to the library when she could. She met a man, Mac, who said he would help her find her sister if he could...for a fee. But later a friendship developed with this man, who was not as hard as he first appeared to be. And then we had Katie, a smart young girl who was planning to go to university, and she was working at the library before she left. Her beloved, Christopher, went missing in the war, and she was brokenhearted. But she was looking forward to her future. But then the unthinkable happened, her family fell apart and her life would never be the same. I really enjoyed the story from the beginning, but it really came to life when the library was bombed and Juliet moved it to the Bethnal Green Underground station. The Blitz of London was terrifying, but the residents found a sanctuary in the Underground Library. During one horrific bombing there was damage to the library, but everyone helped to bring it back to life. There were some incredible supporting characters. Mrs. Ottley rented rooms in her home while her children were in the countryside to be kept safe, and Juliet moved there; Sebastian, Mrs. Ottley's nephew, was also a resident. I adored both Mrs. Ottley and Sebastian. Mac was a Jewish refugee from Poland who was searching for his missing brother. He was not likable at first, but he really grew on me. My favorite supporting characters, the Miss Ridleys (Dorothy and Irene), were elderly sisters. They were a joy every time they appeared. The author's notes at the end were extremely interesting; she explained some of the real history upon which the book was based. If you love historical fiction - and BOOKS - you must read this one!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Reading about the Bethnal Green library is one of my favorite things in WW2 historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. I look forward to reading other work by this author.

The Beatles famously sang, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” The Underground Library is the book form of those cheery, uplifting lyrics, showing, through the lives of three young women, that a little help can make all the difference.

1939: Sofie Baumann doesn’t want to go to London on her own. She dreads leaving her Jewish family behind in Germany, but they are adamant that she accept the domestic service visa they were able to get her. The journey is fraught with danger; numerous Jews, even those with work visas, are pulled from the train by Nazi soldiers, and it is only the intercession of an elderly nun that gets Sofie through all the checkpoints and into England. But once there, she finds that location fraught with danger as well. Her employer works her slavishly, forces her to sleep in the cold, damp cellar, and leaves bruises on her arms from his anger. When he sends her to the library to get him a book of maps, he doesn’t realize that he is giving her a ticket to a better life. But meeting the people there will change everything for young Sofie.

Juliet Lansdown is thrilled to be offered a position at Bethnal Green Library. It is her shot to leave a home where she is unwanted, unloved, and unappreciated and do work she cares passionately about. It is good to have this slim chance to build a career; the three years of her engagement had not progressed into a wedding, and has ended in possible humiliation. She knows her fiancé is missing, but there’s a chance he deserted - as opposed to being taken prisoner or killed - during those last hectic days in France. Regardless, he will not be back before war’s end, and a lot can happen between now and then. London isn’t without its problems, however. The library has few patrons, and there is talk of shutting it down. Complicating matters, the other tenant at her rented flat is her former nemesis, Sebastian Falconbury. Juliet, determined to ensure this opportunity is a success, quickly works to breathe new life into the fading library and takes pains to get along with Sebastian.

Katie Upwood, an ardent reader, is thrilled to be working at the library until she is able to start at university in the autumn. It’s been a great way to keep her mind off Christopher, her boyfriend who headed to war four months earlier. But just as it seems all her dreams are set to come true, she receives notice that Christopher has died, and she will be left alone to face the consequences of their passionate affair.

When the Germans begin bombing London, the ladies are forced to spend their evenings sheltering from the devastation. It isn’t long before everyone is gathering on the station platforms of the London Underground. Initially, Juliet brings novels just for the reading pleasure of her and her friends. Reading aloud for an hour a night to her little cluster of book-lovers is a way to help pass the stressful nights far from the comfort and former safety of their beds. Juliet’s sessions quickly extend beyond their little group, however, and she soon finds herself bringing many more books along to lend out.

When the library is destroyed during one of the endless blitzes, Juliet gathers what inventory survives. She convinces the council to let her start a new library in a new location in the Underground station, where she has already garnered a small set of patrons. It becomes a beacon of hope and a source of escape for those facing a trial of fire with no end in sight.

As always, Ms. Ryan does a lovely job of setting her story within a rich historical tapestry. While the London Blitz was a horrific event, full of terror and death, the author lands us in the warmest, safest spot of that frightening era - the London Underground. Whole communities built up in these areas, full of people doing their best to carry on through a grim situation. Our characters make a lovely, close-knit extended family out of those who share the space with them. Especially charming are the Ridley sisters, Irene and Dorothy, who play pivotal roles in helping Sophie break free of her sadistic employer and build a new life. The elderly sisters also set up a school for the children whose buildings have been bombed and who need a new place to learn. Mrs. Ottley, Juliet’s landlady, plays the role of the warm, caring mother all of us wish we had, and young Meg, a lonely little girl who must brave the blitz by herself while her father works, is the perfect child who makes all their efforts at education and encouraging reading worthwhile. These secondary characters are richly drawn and make delightful additions to the story.

The theme here is about taking your first steps into independence and helping others as you find your own way along that path. Juliet’s parents had refused to let her go to college or really plan any sort of life except getting married, and it’s pretty clear she chose the man she did simply to fulfill their demands while still maintaining some level of freedom. When everyone is asked to ‘do their bit’, it gives her the perfect opportunity to respectably leave home and fulfill her dream of embarking on a career. It also gives her the chance to make fresh assessments of old rivalries and discover the type of love - and the type of life - that will suit her best.

Sophie has many harrowing experiences on her way to freedom. Finding the right people makes all the difference for her, enabling her to grow strong rather than bitter from her struggles and leading her to love, both of the romantic and of the found family sort.

Katie, too, discovers that the right people make all the difference in the world. While I found her story the sappiest in a saccharine-saturated tale, I appreciated the author showing how difficult it was to rise above an unplanned pregnancy for an unmarried woman at this time. Katie initially tries to get an abortion but quickly discovers how dangerous and difficult that is and has to find other ways to deal with her situation. The author waves a great many magic wands to ensure there are no painful consequences to Katie’s actions, but there are clear implications that things could easily have gone badly for her.

I can’t give details on the heroes because the love stories take place in the second half of the book, but there are two lovely romances, as well as a miraculous HEA in the tale. I enjoyed Sophie and Juliet’s relationships a lot.

Like this author’s previous works, The Underground Library is a bubbly, hopeful tale about rising above any and all challenges life may throw at you with the help of friends. It is heavily sugar-coated, so that bad decisions never lead to bad results, but you should definitely pick this one up when you're in the mood for something super sweet.

With THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY, Jennifer Ryan once again highlights how a small band of determined people can make a huge difference in the world, particularly when constant forces challenge their courage and commitment. In this story, Ryan tells the story of three women who work under harrowing, terrible conditions to keep a library safe and community of readers served during World War II and London's Blitz. I especially appreciated how Ryan brought to life a long ago era with small, telling details as well as the larger events. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own. unbiased thoughts.

Love the setting and characters although it was a slow read for me. I don’t read much historical fiction and that’s my fault.

I was leary of reading another WWII book, but as a librarian, the title resonated. Based on a true story, Ryan has showcased the resilience of Londoners during the Blitz.
Using the viewpoints of 3 women, we see how their lives are affected by the war.
Juliet leaves her small village to be a librarian at Bethnal Green library in London, just about the time the blitz starts. She has left home because her parents are distant and her fiancee Victor has disappeared after Dunkirk.
Sophie is a Jewish refugee who has gotten a visa to be a housekeeper to a very mean man.
Katie has been working at the library before University, while her fiancee goes off to war.
The intersection of the lives of these women, plus all the people in the neighborhood, give the story a happy balance. When the bombing starts, they all take shelter in the underground station. Eventually, the library is moved underground as well.
The book is very moving, the characters are people you would like to meet, and each story is successfully and happily concluded.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my EARC. This is my honest review. I plan to add this book to several of my bookclubs for the future. I also now intend to read more books by this author.

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book. Historical books are not my normal read, but I was enraptured by the three women and their stories right away. Katie, Sophie and Juliet are all going through the same struggle, the Nazi’s bombing London, but they all had vastly different viewpoints. I think the fact that the book was based on true events made it that much more sad.

Juliet has just moved and started a new job. Her fiancé is suspected of being a deserter and she is loving her new job as the head librarian. When the library gets bombed, she starts running the library through the tunnels. She is also sweet, non-judgmental and is very helpful to those that need it. When and if her fiancé returns she will have decisions to make.

Katie is a young woman about to start college. She got word that her boyfriend has died and she is trying to remain strong. She works at the library and when she finds out that her inexperience with boys has led to her “shaming” her family, she isn’t given a choice in what to do. I really liked how she matured and grew during the story.

Sophie is a Jew who came to work for a man, who isn’t very nice to her. She left her dad and sister and is hoping to reconnect with them. When she needs money to get information, she makes a choice that changes her life again. She also grows a lot throughout the book.

As everyone deals with the bombings night after night, these three women become pillars for each other. They help, defend and support each other. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I read it. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

This is a really heartwarming beautiful story about a group of people coming together and forming a family. It is full of great female characters not just the three main women in the story but so many others as well. There are quite a few admirable strong-willed independent female characters in the book. They do not sit around and wait for a man to take care of them. They can take care of themselves but they also care for and help each other as well.

Still, this doesn't mean that there aren't any admirable male characters in the book. True, there are a few horrible male characters who don't take women seriously and/or want to control women and keep them in their so-called place, like Sofie's abusive boss. However, there are also some good caring supportive men as well. This makes for some very sweet and heartwarming romances among equals. All in all, it's a lovely touching book.

I have enjoyed all of Jennifer Ryan's books set in the home front in Britain during World War 2, and The Underground Library was no exception. In this book she focuses on the communities that developed in the underground stations that functioned as shelters during the Blitz.
Juliet has come to London to be the deputy librarian at the Bethnal Green library. Her fiance has been declared a deserter. Katie is another librarian who discovers she is pregnant after her fiance has been declared MIA, believed dead. Sophie is a German Jew seeking refuge in Britain, employed as a domestic servant by a man who holds her work visa over her head. All three of them are linked by being readers.
After the library is bombed, Juliet sets up the remainder of the fiction books into a makeshift library in the underground station. People bond over the books and over the readings Juliet does each night.
My favorite part of this book was the way the characters developed found families, and helped one another out. I loved this glimpse into London during the Blitz.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley and Ballantine Books.

Jennifer Ryan's "The Underground Library" masterfully weaves a tale of historical fiction with a romantic thread, drawing inspiration from real events yet rendering them with a creative touch. Set against the backdrop of a war-torn London during World War II, the narrative centers around three distinct women whose lives intersect in the heart of the city amidst the chaos of nightly bombings and air raid sirens.

Juliet Lansdown, stepping into her role as the deputy librarian at Bethnal Green Library, finds herself in a quiet space yearning for revitalization, a task made challenging by a head librarian resistant to change. Katie Upwood, a library staffer, grapples with family turmoil, harbors a profound secret, and mourns a boyfriend lost to the war, all while preparing for university life. Meanwhile, Sofie Baumann, a refugee from Berlin, battles the disdain of her employer in domestic service, all the while worrying about her family's fate back home and finding solace in the library's offerings and the friendships it fosters.

Disaster strikes when the library falls victim to bombing raids, compelling Juliet to safeguard the books by relocating them to a local Underground station, a nightly refuge for the community. Amidst these trials, questions loom over the fate of the library and the personal resolutions for Juliet, Katie, and Sofie.

Ryan delves deep into the personalities of her characters, from Juliet's intellectual vivacity and desire for independence to Katie's internal struggles and Sofie's reliance on literature as an escape from adversity. The novel shines a light on the strength and aspirations of women, their personal battles, and the societal expectations they navigate.

What captivated me about this book was not just its endearing characters but the exploration of themes such as resilience, friendship, family dynamics, individual desires versus societal roles, and the transformative power of literature. The story is a tribute to community spirit, personal sacrifice, and the enduring hope that binds people together during the darkest times.

"The Underground Library" not only offers a compelling narrative but also provides insightful historical context, particularly about the library's role during the war and the internment camps on the Isle of Man. Ryan's thorough research and rich character portrayal make this novel a memorable read, further enriched by her author's note which I highly recommend exploring after finishing the story.

The Underground Library is a novel from an author I primarily know as a romance writer. However, Jennifer Ryan can write any kind of story that she sets her mine to do. This historical women’s fiction is an inspiring WWII story where Juliet, Kate, and Sofie become friends even though their past are very different during a difficult time with the nightly German Blitz.

The Bethnal Green Library is in danger but so are these women, their lives and their hearts. Daily life as well as nights spent in the underground stations used as shelters give real life feel to the characters, their emotions, and their perspective. Based on a true story it is a vivid portrayal of life in WWII London.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Pub Day to The Underground Library, a historical fiction novel that celebrates the sisterhood of women and love of books and libraries. This sweet story offers multiple points of view of women in London during WWII: Juliette, a deputy librarian who comes to Bethnal Green Library longing to implement new ideas and inspire new readers; Katie, an 18-year-old librarian assistant who is coming of age in a tumultuous time, and Sophie, a Jewish refugee who escapes Germany at the beginning of the war and has a work visa in London. Friendships develop and grow, and this was such a cozy book. One thing I loved is that the book made me want to know more and research the history of Bethnal Green and whether there actually was an underground library during the war. Highly recommended for readers who love Natalie Jenner and Patty Callahan Henry books.

I enjoy historical fiction, including books set during WWII. More importantly I'm a complete sucker for books about books and/or libraries. So this was a bit of a no-brainer for me to dive into, and happily I wasn't disappointed. It centers on three young women who are brought together in London by the war, new opportunities presented by that war, and their love of books. Juliet is a librarian who's moved to London in the early days of the Blitz for the rare (for women) opportunity to be a deputy librarian at the beautiful Bethnal Green Library. Meg is a London native and is about to have the (also rare for women) opportunity to go to university, but while she waits she's working at the library. Sophie is a young Jewish woman who's escaped the increasing dangers of Berlin to London via a refugee work program, and finds a haven, friendship and a much-needed support system at the library. Jennifer Ryan intertwines their stories nicely, and while they aren't actual historical figures, they represent Everywoman of that time & place, trying to cope and survive the nightly air raids and the general uncertainty of the times. As they struggle to survive what life throws at them, they also struggle to keep their beloved library alive, even if it means moving it to an underground train station. I truly enjoyed this lovely book that highlights the strength and perseverance of women in difficult times, as well as the power of books to bring us together and give us comfort in times of need.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

The new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, arrives only to discover that the Bethnal Green Library isn't at all what she expected. The men in charge seem to resent her being there, and act as though they feel a woman is not up to the task. In fact, they are even hoping to close that library, and have patrons use the library several miles from there. Juliet is determined not to let that happen. When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly. She begins nightly readings to those gathered there, and they all begin eagerly checking books out. Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she is only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her fiancé on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret. Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

This book is told in the alternating voices of those three women. All three had different, yet equally heartbreaking experiences during the war, yet were able to come together and make something wonderful out of it. Based on a true story, the Underground Library will make you feel a myriad of emotions. There is tragedy, romance, reunions, and most of all friendship. This is perfect for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction,, romance, or even just loves a good story. I highly recommend it!

Jennifer Ryan does it again! She is fast becoming one of my top historical fiction authors. This book is well written. I could not put it down. I ended up feeling for their situations and finding a friend in each of these women whose stories were brought together in one area of London during the blitz. The underground library, school, medical clinic, and whole other world that came alive when the warning sirens went off every night was magic to step into through this book. It is amazing to me how well Jennifer Ryan writes about hard to face at the time subjects in her books (death, unwed mom-to-be, desertion, being jewish and trying to escape Germany during WWII, being a woman). I will definitely be purchasing my own copy of this, and I'm thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE UNDERGROUND LIBRARY is the latest historical novel by Jennifer Ryan. It is set during the London Blitz in World War II when Germans bombs are dropping nightly on the city. It is the story of three strong women who find themselves spending every night together in the local Underground station, which has been set up as a bomb shelter. Juliet Lansdowne is the new deputy librarian at the Bethnal Green Library. She is determined to make the quiet library into the bustling community hub it should be, if only she can bypass the men in charge who are reluctant to see change. Katie Upwood is working at the library until she heads to university in the fall. After losing her boyfriend in the war, Katie’s library job gives her some respite from the conflicts at home and a place where she can hide a life-changing secret. Sofie Baumann is a young Jewish refugee who came alone to London on a domestic service visa. Little does she know the horrible treatment she will receive at the hands of her employer. The library becomes a place of refuge and friendship. When their beloved library is destroyed by German bombs, the three women and other friends relocate the library to the Underground tunnels where it is a source of comfort, camaraderie and literary pursuits for the neighborhood now living nightly underground. The challenges of war and the perseverance of those living in constant danger are wonderfully-portrayed. I really enjoyed this heart-warming story. Don’t miss the enlightening Author’s Note at the end. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.