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.

Engaging historical fiction illuminating an overlooked part of the English war effort. I rooted for the protagonists and loved interacting with a world that was so formative to our own, so different, yet eerily relevant once again.

The Underground Library is about three women who must use their fighting spirit to save the communities beloved library when the Blitz imperils the London neighborhood. This was a page turner from beginning to end and all of the characters were amazing. The author wrote this really well and I look forward to reading more books from this author. Overall, this is one I loved a lot and would recommend this book to any reader who loves historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love books about books and this one was so much more. Set during WWII, the story is based on some true events, focusing on two women in particular that work in the local community library. After the building is bombed, they relocate the books to the underground shelter. The story brings to life the hardships of the time, the role of women when so many men were off fighting, and the importance of family and community support. I thought the book was well written and well researched and the characters were relatable and likable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

As with other Jennifer Ryan novels, I truly enjoyed this book. I always enjoy her looks into different parts of life during WWII, especially things that may be unfamiliar to most of us.
Her characters are fantastic, always fully formed. The descriptions in the narrative allow me to transport myself to London, the tube stations, the shelters, etc.

While we all know about sheltering in the tube stations, I had no idea of everything that went on in the tubes, or even with the folks who were trying to maintain calm.

Thank you again, Jennifer, for helping us to learn about what was going on in English society.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Books, history, fiction, strong FMC - sign me up!

"The Last Library" is more than just a historical fiction; it’s a tribute to the enduring power of community and the written word. Ryan’s characters are memorable and inspiring, each contributing to a narrative that reminds us of the importance of standing together in the face of adversity. This novel will resonate with anyone who has ever found solace in a book or believed in the strength of their community. A must-read for fans of heartfelt historical fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted ARC.

In The Underground Library, Jennifer Ryan masterfully captures the enduring strength of women and the profound power of books during one of history's darkest times. Set against the backdrop of the Blitz, the story intertwines the lives of three resilient women: Sofie, a Jewish refugee seeking solace from her tragic escape; Juliet, a determined new deputy librarian fighting to transform the quiet Bethnal Green Library into a sanctuary; and Katie, a young woman grappling with personal loss and a life-altering secret.

When bombs threaten to reduce their beloved library to rubble, Juliet bravely moves it to the Bethnal Green Underground Station. Here, amid air raids and uncertainty, books offer a lifeline to the community, fostering connection, courage, and hope.

Ryan’s novel is meticulously researched, shedding light on lesser-known historical events—such as the Isle of Man’s refugee camps—while balancing fictional storylines with real-life details. Each character’s journey is well drawn, though the sometimes overly tidy resolutions can feel contrived for the turmoil of wartime. Still, the book shines in its depiction of community resilience and the unbreakable spirit of these women, making it a moving tribute to libraries and the lives they touch.

For fans of WWII fiction and heartwarming tales of courage, The Underground Library is a touching, insightful read. Four stars.

** Thanks to the publisher for a review copy. The opinions are my own.

Based on a true story, this is a beautiful and frightening reminder of the importance of books of all types, librarians, and libraries, as well as the atrocities “civilized countries” subject people to because they are different.

The author’s note is worth reading.

I read another book, The Little Wartime Library, about this time from another author, which focuses on things a little differently.

When a town library is destriyed in a war. They decide to bring the books to the underground. This was an incredible read. the history of it and reading how people work togerher for the better..

Jennifer Ryan writes wonderful historical fiction with strong women characters. I like that her books focus on average people and how the war affected their everyday lives. All have been based on true events - events that are not widely known about.

In this one, The Underground Library, it focuses on a neighborhood library and three of the women who were affiliated with it. When the library is bombed, library service doesn't stop. The library is moved into the subway where a whole village is set up. The underground is filled with people who are sheltering from the blitz. The story is based on the real Bethnal Green Library in London which did move underground when the library was bombed. And, as described in this novel, there was an entire community down there including doctors, a cafe, theatre, etc. I have read a lot of historical fiction about WWII and had never heard of this. I applaud Jennifer Ryan for bringing these "virtually unknown" stories to life. They are an important piece of history.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

What I liked about this book:

1. Historical fiction that taught me new things!
2. Multi character plot line which is not usually my favorite but done really well here!
3, It's a book about how books "save" us - so what's not to like!

What I wished were different - maybe a little romancing for some but it was a lovely distraction amidst the horrors of the book - so it didn't bother me.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the digital review copy via Net Galley.

Underground Library was published on March 12, 2024.

Loved this. I’ve really enjoyed everything by this author. She’s an autobuy author for me. I love how every one of her stories is completely different from the others but you can still feel she’s the author. A very strong voice - one I really enjoy.