The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is a hopeful story of people coming together with books and shared tragedy. It is a World War II novel, but the story takes place at home, in London. There are half a dozen main characters and many adjacent ones. It is based on a true story of a library that reopened in bombed out England in a subway tunnel, where many people took refuge from the bombs falling almost nightly. Women are working now, out of necessity, but they are not in positions of authority. Juliet Lansdown is one such woman who has come to London to be the new deputy director of the Bethnal Green Library. She learns almost immediately that her ideas would not be welcome so she learns to circumnavigate Mr. Pruitt, the director, as all he really wants is to be left alone. She meets new people in the library but it isn’t until the library is hit by a bomb that they come together as a community.

People fall in love, babies are born, men cheat, others are judgmental and unkind. These things happen both in and out of war. The only way a Jew could get a visa to England was to come as a domestic. Many people took advantage of that fact and mistreated them and underpaid them. It was not an easy time for the elderly. Getting to the tunnel and then sleeping on the floor night after night, was difficult. It was also difficult to drive an ambulance at night and go to one’s regular job during the day. All of these things happened in this heart-rending story. Ryan has woven it together in such a fashion that one hardly notices how much is going on. It is a different time and a different place and well worth delving into. Thanks for another great book, Jennifer Ryan.

I was invited to read The Underground Library by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallanatine #JenniferRyan #TheUndergroundLibrary

The Underestimated Library by Jennifer Ryan is a fictionalized story of a real-life underground library during World War Two.

Three women Juliet, Katie, and Sofie come together in this story. They are very different from one another, yet they bond over books. There are amazing supporting characters as well, and they form a wonderful community. As always, Jennifer Ryan's book is more of a community of women who defy society's rules and show that women are individuals with ideas, strength, and brilliance.

Jennifer Ryan is one of my favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint. Reading historical fiction set during World War Two can get tedious, but stories like these show the other side of the war where individuals were just trying to adjust to the new norm. A story about libraries, books, and the community coming to read is the dream of any reader. Anything Jennifer Ryan writes, I am going to read!

Thank you, Random House @randomhouse , for this book.

I love a good WWII historical fiction. This book follows three young women of different backgrounds, along their journey during part of WWII.

The storylines were very easy to follow and I found I loved each one. Usually with multiple POVs, I find there is always one that I am not interested in. That was not the case for this book. Even the side characters were fantastic and brought so much more to the storyline. I love the found family aspect woven into the story and loved that this showed a lightness and hope, even in the darkest of times.

The only thing I would say "against" the book, is I felt it had a checklist of tropes to add to the story and that came to be a lot at times, but didn't necessarily take away from the book.

I would definitely recommend this to others who want a hopeful outtake on a WWII historical fiction. I plan on checking out other works from this author.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is the story of three women during the London Blitz trying to survive and save their beloved library. When Juliet Lansdown comes to the Bethnal Green Library as the new deputy librarian, she realizes that the library needs a bit more life. Katie Upwood loves working at the library as she prepares to head to university. After learning that her beau was killed in action and growing strife in her family, she finds herself with a life-changing secret with no help and no options. Sofie Baumann is a young Jewish refugee who came to London on a domestic service visa in order to escape the horrors in her home country. She finds herself treated horribly and her only solace is the beloved books of the local library. When the library needs to go underground where the city’s residents are sheltering during the nightly bombings, Juliet, Katie and Sofie find a community that come together for the love of books and friendships that only grow stronger with each bomb dropped.
Based on the true story of the Bethnal Green Library and the London Blitz, Jennifer Ryan weaves a story of survival, friendships and courage in uncertain times. Despite a bit of weariness of World War II stories, I was captivated by the stories of these three women and the strength they find to endure the uncertainty of their futures. Their world is changing around them and, despite the social rules, they fight back against racism, gender biases and finding love in the most unlikely places. Ms Ryan also brings to life the horrors and uncertainties of the London Blitz. I felt as if I were there with the characters, huddled in the underground shelters as the bombs exploded above them and in the aftermath as they searched for survivors and dealt with the unfortunate loss of life. My heart broke as the character suffered and I cheered for them as they rose above their circumstances and survived. If you enjoy World War II stories, I highly recommend The Underground Library.

The Underground Library is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

This is an incredibly thoroughly researched novel set largely in an Underground station in London during the Blitz. Jennifer Ryan writes talented descriptions of the everyday life of Jewish refugees, East Enders hiding from German bombs, and the ordinary people who stepped up to take care of themselves and their neighbors. Most of the endings are happy ones, so even though this was a time of deep trauma, the reader is able to relax into the development of the characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jennifer Ryan's "The Underground Library" is a compelling WWII historical fiction novel set in wartime London. The story revolves around three women whose lives intertwine within the confines of Bethnal Green Library's underground shelter. The novel skillfully combines historical accuracy with a fictional narrative, portraying the resilience of the human spirit amidst the darkness of the Blitz. Through nuanced exploration of themes such as community, sacrifice, and the power of literature, the author creates a captivating story that celebrates friendship, love, and hope in the face of adversity. Ryan's evocative prose and meticulous research bring the bygone era to life, making this novel a must-read for fans of wartime fiction and historical dramas.

The Underground Library is the story of three women struggling through the London Blitz in World War II. Juliet moves to London to be a deputy librarian and is met with a boss that does not like change. Sophie escapes Germany leaving behind her sister and father to be employed as a housekeeper. Katie has been accepted to attend university, but mainly because of the men being away at war. Once the bombings force people to move into the underground to stay safe at night, Juliet recognizes the need for a library to be set up underground to inspire people and keep them occupied during this scary and chaotic time. This is based on a true story that shows another aspect of WWII while still demonstrating the resilience and innovation of the civilians in London. The book was hard to put down in order to see what happened to the three characters as well as some of the ancillary characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Underground Library.

Jennifer Ryan definitely has a gift for bringing history to life on the page—for bringing readers alongside her characters to experience life in a different time. And that makes The Underground Library a novel that’s heartwarming and uplifting—and eye-opening, too.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

The Underground Library
By: Jennifer Ryan
Published: March 12
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 368

Bethnal Green Library is at the center of this novel. Juliet Lansdown is the deputy library trying to revive the library, which is a challenge as the head librarian does not like change.

Katie Upword whose family life is not the best finds the library as a refuge and has been going for years.

Sofia Bauman received a visa to work as a refugee. Visa’s were rare for the Jewish to get, but she gets one to London to work as a domestic.

When the library is bombed, Juliet relocates the books to an underground station where people take refuge.

Family, war, hope, sacrifice and community come to life in this novel. Ryan knows how to pull you in and I was invested in the lives of these women.

Out now! Happy Pub Day!

The Underground Library is a wonderful depiction of life in London during the Blitz of WW2. We see how life was braved through the eyes of three women. Sofie, a young Jewish girl who fled Nazi Germany, has come to work for the most awful of men just so she can keep her visa to stay out of harms way. Juliet has fled her small village in hopes of escaping the controversy around her fiancé's disappearance from the war and has become the new deputy librarian. Katie has grand plans to go to university only to find she's in the family way and must fight to keep her secret.

These three strong women find friendship and solace in the patrons of the library, who eventually move the establishment underground in the tunnels of the Tube stations in order to survive the bombings. The details of how they manage to survive are eye opening. We get a glimpse of the women working the ambulances, and internment camp, and those who fight to find and be reunited with their loved ones.

This was such an inspiring tale of bravery and perseverance that these women displayed during such a horrific time in history. I was left in awe of what society was put through and how they survived and helped others to survive. It shows just how great humans can be when they are called upon to love their neighbors.

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I loved absolutely everything about The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan (thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC). It’s out today and I encourage all historical fiction readers and book lovers to get their hands on a copy of this five star read. I’m jealous of everyone who gets to read it for the first time. I’ll be purchasing a copy for my permanent shelves.

Based on a true WWII story, The Underground Library tells the story of three remarkable women: Juliet Lansdown, the new deputy librarian of Bethnal Green Library in London, Katie Upwood, a summer librarian preparing to attend university in the fall, and Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee who escaped without her family from Berlin to London. Each woman has a trial to overcome and they must learn to overcome on their own and with their new friends. When bombs destroy the library, Juliet and her new friends relocate the stacks to the local Underground station. It becomes a life-line for all those sheltering at night and needing stories to soothe their souls.

For readers who love found family stories, you will fall in love with each character and who they connect with and what they overcome. The writing is magnificent – I felt transported back to WWII London and could easily imagine the library in the Underground. And the way Ryan writes about the power of books, stories and libraries was simply beautiful and made me so proud of my librarian past and of all librarians. I found the author’s note fascinating as well. Jennifer Ryan is definitely an auto-buy author for me. This is a hugging book for sure.

"Friends can make life bearable through the unbearable." And thus begins the story of three women and their journeys during WWII in London. Sofie, Katie, and Juliet learn to find their own strength through the horrors of the war. They also learn to find strength through books, each other, and the kindness of strangers. Each has their own stories, their own tragedies, and their own loves. (And yes, while this is not a romance, it IS a love story or three). Through injury, pain, and sorrow, the intersection of their lives brings joy in lives well lived. I absolutely adored this story and would definitely read this author again.

SYNOPSIS: This is the story of three women whose lives were changed forever by The Blitz in London during WWII. Sophie is a German Jewish immigrant who leaves her family behind on a work visa only to find an unwelcoming employer in London. Her only saving grace comes from the library and the book club she steals away to whenever she can. There she meets the deputy librarian, Juliet, who has worked very hard to overcome her cold parents and gender norms of the time. Her passion for books and people is contagious, and inspires Katie, a young girl working at the library just waiting to go to university. When the library is bombed by enemy planes, the women are forced to take what is left of their books to their underground shelters in the train stations each night. The most unlikely of friendships become the heart of the story as lives are changed and none of them will ever be the same.

MY THOUGHTS: I have read a multitude of WWII stories. Because of this, finding a new topic or a new way of telling the same stories becomes challenging, but WOW! This book blew me away. The stories of three women intertwine to tell the story of what it was like to live in the Bethnal Green area of London during The Blitz in 1940. I think I have found my favorite trope(?) in books–books about books and bookish people. This is not the first book I have read where books bring people together, especially when they don’t have much more to be thankful for. Jennifer Ryan weaves history and fiction with ease, and I became utterly obsessed with the characters’ stories. Each woman is going through pain and struggles, but with the community that they build they are able to confront anything. All of the women, old or young, educated or uneducated, Jewish or Christian, show bravery and resourcefulness in a time when they could have considered themselves victims. These women are supportive of each other without questions or hesitation. It is such a beautiful reminder that books can connect us, bond us together through interests and art, and bring us friends that become family. Anyone who loves this genre should pick this one up immediately!

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This story follows three ladies as they navigate life during the London Blitz. Juliet came to London to be the deputy librarian and uses her skills and love of books to make the public shelter, an underground station, more comfortable for the neighborhood. Katie also works at the library while she waits for the beginning of university, but bad news about her fiance on the front lines, and struggles in her family may change those plans. Sophie, a young Jewish refugee, fled for her life from mainland Europe and is in London on a domestic servants visa. But although she is safe from the Nazis, she is not safe from discrimination. These ladies lives intertwine with a few more fun neighbors to show the struggles and resiliency of those who kept calm and carried on!
The beginning took me a bit of time to get into and all the different characters were difficult to keep up with at times. But as they came together and I got more into the story, I began to fall in love with this neighborhood and their love and courage. Although I've read a lot of WWII fiction, this one had some new elements that I hadn't read about before. There were sad and tough things to read about, but not too descriptive, I can only think of one scene that might be considered gory.
Overall it was a great book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction! And lucky for you it is set to be published tomorrow, 12 Mar, so you can go ahead and grab it!
#NetGalley #TheUndergroundLibrary

The Underground Library by was a joy to read. Most of the historic fictions depicting WWII are about the bombings, the camps, the resistance and the everyday life of those trying to fight or hide. This dealt with the people of London and how they made due during the Blitz. We saw this through the eyes of 3 extraordinary women, Juliet, Sophia, and Katie, and how they were able to bring some semblance of normal with the help of the library.

The Bethnal Green library in London appointed a new director, Juliet. The library was not during well and the chancellors wanted it to close. One of the changes Juliet made was to form a book club. Once the library was destroyed by bombs, juliet and several others decided to open the library in the underground station. With the help of those who frequented the library like Sophie nd Katie, the library was organized. Bookcases as well as books were transported down to the tube station and the library was ready for operation.

The book also went into details about the lives of these 3 women, where they came from, how they arrived there, what happened in between and how their lives ended up. I enjoy reading historical fiction but I especially enjoyed this because it was a light and basically happy story. Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this book.

I received an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Based on the true formation of an underground library in the tube station following the bombing of the Bethnal Green Library in London, England. Fictional characters Juliet Lansdown, the new Deputy Librarian, Katie, the library worker heading to college but carrying a secret, and Sophia, a German Jew who has traveled on a work Visa to escape Nazi Germany, all find their lives intersecting. The novel has a strong sense of community, reflecting the Blitz Spirit of WW II London, as people gathered for hours in underground tubes during bombings. Each women faces strong impediments to breaking them off from their community and each other’s lives.
The novel is well written and developed. Unfortunately, having read a lot of WWII fiction, I grow tired of the time period, as well as, the happily ever after ending. That all said, still a good read.

“Libraries aren’t only about books, they’re about people. They’re about human life, how books can mend hearts, comfort wounds, and inspire us. But must of all books can bring people together.”
Jennifer Ryan has a knack for bringing us uplifting stories that take place in a devastating time. In her newest book, The Underground Library, she once again takes us on a historic journey based on true events. While fictionalized, her research shows as the pages are turned and the story unfolds. Based on the Bethnal Green Library in that was damaged in the London Blitz of WWII and what happens in the community when it’s moved underground for people to enjoy during the nightly air raids. A lovely story of friendship, diversity, camaraderie and most all hope in the midst of despair.
“Books are like old friends, telling us great truths, holding our hands through the difficulties, showing us light and joy at the end of every tunnel”.
Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book touched my heart as a historian, but it really hit home because I work in a library. The beauty of realizing that a library is about more than just books. It is about bringing people together of all ages, all creeds, and all backgrounds, especially in a time of war and uncertainty just speaks to my heart and soul. I finished reading this book and straight away recommended it to my colleagues. This book really highlights a piece of history so many people don’t always think about. Yes, there was a war, but there still were people who were not fighting in the war, who were trying to still find normality in a time of turmoil. All three women highlighted in this book are beautiful and strong. This book is perfect for your next book club book. I can’t recommend it enough.
Truly thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is very interesting and tells about events during WWII. It was new to me as I have never heard about this important part of history. You must read the author’s notes at the end of the book, but not until you have finished the book. I have been very impressed by Jennifer Ryan’s research on historical events. This novel is based on the true story of Bethnal Green Library in London. The library was bombed at the beginning of the Blitz shortly after a female librarian went to work there. I did not know about tunnels that were used as shelters.
Many thanks to NetGallley, Jennifer Ryan and Random House-Ballantine Publishers for this ARC, which in no way influenced my review.

A bit different from my normal genre but I totally enjoyed it. My first Jennifer Ryan novel but definitely not my last. This book was steeped in history and culture. The characters were vivid and evoked super strong emotions. Some I loved and some I loved to hate.
Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Ryan and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.