Review will be posted on 3/15/24
Three women's lives intertwine at the Bethnal Green Library during World War III in London. First, there's Sophie Baumann, who left Berlin in 1939 and is now a housekeeper, but her boss makes her life extremely difficult. Julie is the librarian at Bethnal Green and works with the librarian assistant, Katie, to plan a book club, which Sofie does frequently. This is a great way to get their mind off the war as Juliet's husband is off fighting, but she gets word he deserted. Katie's is off fighting too, but she recently found out he is listed as missing in action. Katie has a few more secrets as well, but the book club is a bright ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Things change drastically when the Bltiz offers and the library is bombed. The women have to move the library to the Bethnal Green underground where many are sheltering already. Books offer people a chance to escape and prove to be an important endeavor when keep everyone's spirits up. The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan illustrates the power of books during dark times; fans of WWII literature will enjoy this one the most.

One of the most captivating aspects of historical fiction is its ability to offer various perspectives through its characters, and The Underground Library is no exception. The novel entwines the lives of three women during the London Blitz, each bringing something unique to the story while dealing with their own personal struggles. Juliet, for instance, finds solace at the library after her husband is branded a deserter and she loses contact with him. She finds structure and purpose at the library and working with Katie, the librarian assistant, she has found friendship, too. Meanwhile, Katie's boyfriend goes missing in action, adding to her already mounting stress. Sofie's story is equally significant, given that she is Jewish, so the consequences of the war often feel more serious for her. One thing is for sure, the power of books, friendship, and the resilience of women will bring these three characters together during a very difficult time in history.

I enjoy Ryan's historical novels and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable WWII novel without being overly stressful and who doesn't love to read about libraries and librarians who go against the odds to bring joy and books to people who need them most. If you enjoy WWII novels but want something with a message of hope, look no further.

The Underground Library is the second book that I have had the privilege of reading by Jennifer Ryan and it certainly won't be my last. As a steward of a Little Free Library, I love any and all books that cover historical access to book to underprivileged communities. I had not previously been aware of the real Underground Library that existed in London during WWII and was thrilled to learn more about it through the eyes of Ryan's endearing characters that always bring history to life.

What I loved most about this novel is that all of the women portrayed were not only strong, but they went against traditional expectations. For Juliet, she desired to run her own library and fought against the men who ardently wished women to remain in what they perceived to be their place in society. Sofia risks everything to find out information about her family still stuck behind enemy lines in Germany, and Katie makes the most of what others would consider a bad situation and finds a way forward.

All three points of view are very distinct and the characters and plot were both exceptionally well developed. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever Ryan has come up with next. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories about books and libraries, lesser or unknown World War II stories based on historical fact, and novels with strong female characters.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books, and Jennifer Ryan for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't my first story about this amazing underground library but each time I hear the story, it never fails to give me goosebumps and realize how amazing these people were!

This is the story of 3 women trying to survive WW II in London. One is Juliet, moved there to work at the library during the war. She's unmarried and wants to do her part. Sofie has relocated to London for protection, fleeing Germany because she is Jewish. She is alone, without her family, and suddenly has gone from being a daughter and sister to a maid for some stranger in a strange land. Finally, we have Katie. Her fiancé has left for the war and she is left behind, wondering when he will be back and how she can help during the war.

It's so hard now, to imagine these times. How everyone both banded together to find the hope but also suffered together with small rations and bomb raids. It's always shocking to think of details like unwed mothers and 'appropriate jobs for women" during a war, when bombs are falling and people are dying. Each woman in this story rises up and is a true testament to what people can do when we work together and stop worrying about just ourselves and, instead, think for the many.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Juliet Lansdown is the new deputy librarian at Bethnal Green Library and it’s a far cry from volunteering in her small home town one and in the village Upper Beeding. Juliet discovers her boss doesn’t think she's capable and up to doing the job, the beautiful library isn’t as busy as it once was, Juliet has a few ideas how to change this and want's to prove him wrong.

Katie Upwood loves working at the Bethnal Green Library, for the summer and then she's off to university in autumn and she can’t wait. Katie and her neighbour have been dating, both are intellectual and she’s devastated when she hears he's been is killed in the war. Life at home isn’t easy, her father is busy with his ‘war work’ and her mum is tense and Katie is hiding a secret from her.

Sofie Baumann is Jewish, she leaves her sister and father behind in Berlin and travels to London on a domestic service visa, and she works as a maid and her employer is a horrible man. Sofie is all alone and who can she complain to, and would they care? Sofie escapes to the library, here meets Juliet and Katie and other members of a new reading group and they even offer to help find her sister.

When the Blitz begins, the bombs start reigning down, there’s not enough places to shelter, people are at breaking point and they start using the underground train stations as a place to sleep and it grows into an underground community. Juliet starts reading out loud one night in the Bethnal Green Station, she has people of all ages gathered around listening to her, it takes their minds of the lack sleep, bombs and worrying about love ones fighting in the war. Juliet and Katie would love to open an underground library, books and reading provides a way for frazzled people to relax, a break from reality and transports them to another place.


I received a copy of The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan from Ballantine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Once again Ms. Ryan has exceeded my high expectations with her empathetic and eloquent style of writing, attention to detail and a story that will take you back in time. The reader gets to experience what is was like for Londoners during the Second World War, adults worked during the day, many volunteered at night by driving ambulances, mobile canteens, and were fire wardens and Londoners certainly had “Blitz Sprit.”

The narrative is full of likable and memorable charters, some of my favourites are, Juliet, Katie, Sofie, Mrs. Ottley, Sebastian, Marigold, Mac, and sister's Dorothy and Irene Ridley. Reading provided comfort, an escape and brought people and the community together. Five stars from me, I highly recommend The Underground Library and the author's previous book The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle.

A clear view of men’s attitude toward woman’s capabilities in England during the war years.
Not only how man acted towards woman taking a position of responsibility, also the length parents went through to avoid shame when an unwanted pregnancy happens, how the social standing and accepting of them played a significant role in decisions made.
We have three strong willed women.
Juliet always dreamed of working in a library. Her new job is just the ticket to get over the news of her fiancée missing in action.
Kathie works temporarily at the library before continuing her education. With all the young men gone off to war, suddenly openings have become available to woman. With her fiancé fighting it is an unexpected problem when she finds herself pregnant.
Sofie a Jewish girl that managed to come to London on a work visa. Live is not easy for her. Not only did she have to leave her sister and father behind, but her new employer treats her more as a slave than a servant.
As people seek shelter in the underground every night to escape the bombs, Juliet has the idea of moving the library books to be used by all the people seeking shelter for the night.
Nightly reading helps in keeping people calm and new friendships are formed within the community.
The book has so much more. The story of the starting of an underground school for the kids left behind in London. The interment of German Nationals. The loss of loved ones.
A bit of romance. The author has taken actual events during World War II and filled them with frictional characters who all are very believable. If you take a change on this book, I don’t think you will regret it.

4.5 Stars

The Underground Library is told from three perspectives and is a “saving the books” story as bombs rain down on London during the Blitz. When bombs destroy the library, it forces the three women to salvage what they can and move stacks to the local underground station. As the city’s residents take shelter, the books keep up their spirits.

The Underground Library is told from three perspectives:

* Juliet must demonstrate that a woman is capable of running a library.
* Katie is one of the library workers and is hiding a secret.
* Sophie is a young Jewish refugee and the library is a place of escape and safety.

After bombs destroy the library, these three women work together to salvage what they can and move the stacks to the nearby underground station. In addition to dealing with the bombing and relocation of the library, each woman is dealing with a personal challenge.

Women on the home front during WWII is a sub genre that I enjoy immensely. I often wonder what my contributions would be for the war effort and how living in this time would have changed my life. It’s inspiring to read inspiring stories of strong women in the most difficult of times.

If you love women’s fiction in a historical context, Jennifer Ryan is one author I can enthusiastically recommend. I always enjoy a historical context because it adds a layer of depth to women’s fiction themes of friendship, women supporting women, and community.

Content Consideration: unplanned pregnancy

If you’re looking for lighter historical fiction that includes women’s fiction themes, you might enjoy The Underground Library. Book clubs might enjoy this one.

Thanks #NetGalley @RandomHousePublishing @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheUndergroundLibrary upon my request. All opinions are my own.

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.