I cannot find the words to express how much I loved this story. I lived in London for many years so much of the book and descriptions felt like home to me. This is the story of three women, Juliet, Kate and Sophie in the midst of the blitz in London, and is based on a true story. Most of the story takes place in Bethnel Green which was the hardest hit in London from the German bombings. All three shared a love of books. Juliet was Deputy Head of the library in Bethnel Green. Juliet had great ideas about how to increase membership and encourage children to read. The Head, Mr Pruitt, was a real chauvinist but Juliet found ways to get around him. The library was badly hit during the bombings but Juliet did not want to see the library close. So she arranged to move the library underground , where the trains run, although at that time trains weren’t running to and from Bethnel Green. Each of the three women survived during very hard times never losing hope.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel focuses on three young women, Juliet, Katie and Sophie, who live in London during the Blitz. Juliet and Katie work at the Bethnal Green Library, and Sophie — a Jewish refugee who has escaped Nazi Germany — works as a housemaid and frequents the library. When the library is bombed and suffers extensive damage, these three women and others work together to save as many books as possible and to recreate as much of the library as they can in a nearby underground tube station.

The characters are well-developed and interesting, and the underlying storyline seems to be thoroughly researched. Even though I found parts of the plot to be more soap opera than anything, I definitely enjoyed reading this and think it would make a great movie (a feel-good one at that!).

I'm so sorry. I don't know if it's becuase I've been reading a lot of stories similar to this type (Historical/Fiction), and I'm saturated with them. But I'm finding that I can't seem to 'get into' this story. I'm at 65%, and I'm just ready to give it up.

I see so many glowing reviews that I wonder if it's something to do with me. There are three main characters, which I would not find a problem with, but add to this so many secondary and tertiary characters, and I started needing a scorecard!

The idea is interesting and true; it tells how the Bethnal Green Library helped win the war!

Excerpt taken from https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Bethnal Green underground was a half-completed stop on the Central line when war broke out. Builders were working on connecting it to Liverpool Street, but from 1939 it had been locked up and left. One week after the blitz began, East Enders defied Churchill’s orders not to shelter in tube stations and claimed their right to safety. At 78 feet below ground, it was one of the few safe places to shelter in the area and was referred to by locals as the “Iron Lung”. Over the next 12 months it was transformed into a fully-functioning subterranean community with an astonishing array of facilities."

Had we stuck with more about the library and less about the love lives of these women, I think I would have enjoyed this a little more.


*ARC supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books, the author, and NetGalley.

Jennifer Ryan has done it again with a novel rich in historical detail and atmospheric in nature. I was mesmerized by this story and couldn’t stop reading.
Many thanks to random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I expect a lot from historical fictions. I want an addictive story. I want characters that I can invest my time with. I want realism. I want truth with fiction to make a great story. What I don't expect is to finish the story with a smile and giddiness with happiness. I got all of this and more while reading The Underground Library. I read late into the night. Upon waking, I picked up the book again wanting to know what the characters would be dealing with next.

I have read about the Bethel Green library during WW2. I have devoured the pictures published in books and posted on websites. The characters in this historical fiction humanized the pictures and facts. Jennifer Ryan created characters to spark my imagination, bringing the tragedies to life. Many of the characters felt like family and friends. I became invested in them.

The London Blitz created devastating damage all over London. The bombing of the library at Bethel Green stole one of the few escapes for many until Juliet, Deputy Librarian, brought the library to those seeking safety in the tubes. The Underground Library became a place of safety, a place to congregate and a place to learn.

With air raid sirens blaring, the people sought refuge within the tunnel system. It became a mini village. Thanks to the author, I was transported back in time, given glimpses into the lives of the people. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't think about how refugees could be treated, and it was not always with kindness. I knew how some unwed mothers were treated, but hadn't thought about the extreme measures that some went through to save a family's reputation over the life of an unborn child.

The story has a lot of heart breaking moments. There is great loss of life. There is great loss of the familiar. War changed the way people lived. War changed people. If I had just been reading a textbook I would not have thought about any of this. This story made it real.

What I loved about this book was the reminder that there was beauty as well. Hopes can become reality. Love can be found. Families can be reunited.

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy to review. This is my second Jennifer Ryan book and I so enjoyed falling in love with the characters. Jennifer is good with multiple character stories and with this story there was no character I preferred over others. I loved the strength each woman had in the story. Sophie for being able to leave Berlin during WWII and moving to Britain as a housemaid/refugee. For her to venture out and find people that will accept her as well working to find her sister. Juliet for learning who she is and finding the family she needed and wanted. Katie for being growing up and standing for herself and making the choices she needs for herself.
The underground community seemed magically wonderful, community spending time together, having food, healthcare, a library! all in the tunnels. I know there was a war going on but Jennifer wrote it so beautifully.
Learning about the Bethnal Green Library during the 40's and how they moved the library underground was incredible. It made me do some background research on the situation as I had not heard about this. I would highly recommend this book. I am loving Ryan's books and am eager to read The Wedding Dress Circle that's on my bookshelf.

Historical fiction is my book of choice as I love to read and learn at the same time. The Underground Library had me at page one. Filled with well researched history, drama and expected romances (all the historical fiction books I’ve read have a romantic component or two), this book is beautifully written and engages the reader as they meet the main characters - Juliet Landsdown, Katie Upwood and Sofie Naumann I came to love these women and most all the people who lived in London’s Bethany Green neighborhood. The spirit of community that thrived in Bethnal Green was moving and the camaraderie that existed in the subway shelter was amazing and heart-warming.

The Underground Library is based on true incidents that took place during the London Blitz in 1940. I’ve read a lot of WWII novels yet was unaware that an Underground Library existed in a subway shelter. Nor had I fully grasped how limited and challenged women in London were in gaining acceptance and recognition in the male dominated world of 1940.

The synopsis for The Underground Library provides a prospective reader with an good idea of what’s ahead. I was quite taken with Sofie’s story - that of a German Jewess whose family plans her escape from Nazis Germany by arranging a domestic service visa at a home in London. Traveling to London by train was harrowing and dangerous. Little did she know that her “contract” would be in service to a mean-spirited man who threatened her with having her visa revoked if she didn’t work long, hard days and do exactly as he ordered.

Katie is a young woman, planning to start college in a few weeks, as her fiance serves in the war. Her family life is less than stellar as her wealthy father is demanding and superficial. He feels he married “beneath” him and Katie’s mother does all she can to accommodate her husband’s obsession with their social standing. Katie is raised in a beautiful home on the outside, but one filled with false images and stress on the inside. Despite the twists and turns in her life she matures to becomes a vital and much loved member of the Underground Library staff and community.

Juliet, the main character in this story, is more forceful and braver than she realized. Faced with opposition from the head librarian, Juliet pushes forward with her ideas, first in the library itself, and then in the subway shelter once the bombs start creating havoc in everyone’s life. She creates a warm, caring underground “family”, builds a strong network of friends and finds the strength to make surprising, but welcomed, changes in her life. As we follow the growth of all three women we see how overcoming the pitfalls and rejections facing women in that era can build strength of character leading to successful outcomes for the future.

Historical fiction novels centered around books, librarians, libraries always appeal to me. Juliet describes my feelings perfectly as she speaks to the Underground Library community. She said, “ Books give us so many things….They give us hope, joy and inspiration. They help us to see inside someone else’s world, empathize with people we’ve never met - and if there is one thing the world needs right now, it is the willingness to understand and connect”.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Underground Library.

The Underground Library
By: Jennifer Ryan
Review Score: 5 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•I loved learning about Juliet, Katie, and Sofie and how they ended up at Bethnal Green Library.

•Every single character adds to the story in a purposeful way.

•There is so much power in the connection of books, and Ryan really does such a great job of highlighting that.

•It was interesting to learn more about London during the Blitz, and how people survived in the Underground during that time.

•Ryan’s writing is so engrossing, I wanted to know what was going to happen to each character!

———

The Underground Library was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 3/12/24

The Underground Library is one of my favorite books so far this year. I was sucked into the story, following Juliet, Katie, and Sofie as they navigate London during World War 2.

Ryan does such an amazing job of describing what that time was like, and how scary it was to face the nightly bombs, but also fearing for your loved ones on the continent.

Every single character had a purpose in this story, which gave even further depth to the main characters and their struggles.

This was such a great book, I cannot recommend it enough!

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #historicalfiction #arcreview #netgalley #boogiesbulletpoints #theundergroundlibrary #jenniferryan

I really enjoyed Ryan's other books, but this one just seemed overly sentimental. The ending was too much for me, and I love a WWII novel with an optimistic ending.

Three women unite in Bethnal Green to create an underground library during the London blitz. This library creates an escape from the violence of the Nazi blitz both for them and for the people around them. Sophie, a German Jew, has recently escaped Germany and is working as a servant in the house of a cruel man, hoping her family will soon join her. Juliet has recently become the deputy librarian and is trying to keep the library alive amidst a war-torn London. Katie's fiancé died during the war and she was left behind; however, she soon discovers he left her with more than a broken heart. These three women band together with other members of Bethnal Green to create a library in the London underground, where hundreds shelter during the blitz.

This is a feel-good tale for book lovers everywhere as well as those who enjoy WWII fiction. It gives a portrait of England during the war, and is especially interesting since it's based on the true story of a library in the underground in Bethnal Green during WWII. Hearing Sophie's story was especially interesting, especially her peaceful interment as a suspicious German Jew in England.

Unfortunately, this story wasn't a win for me. I've read too much multi-POV WWII recently, and while I wanted this story to be unique, it just wasn't. The characters lacked depth, the writing was extremely cliche, and the ending was far too happy and trite. Everything turned out well, the characters got happy endings, and the war seemed almost extraneous to the plot at times. While the element of the underground library was interesting, the two-dimensional characters (2D because of the multi-POV) really detracted from the story. This book just wasn't for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

This is another very interesting novel by Jennifer Ryan built on the ingenuity of the British people while living through the Blitz. I had no idea of all the services that were moved underground and offered to the general public. This book only addresses the public library, but the Afterward tells of many others designed to help people survive in those appalling circumstances. It’s a sweet story with lots of good people seeking ways to help each other through terrible events.

There were lots of characters, all with back stories and all with particular problems which really slowed the start of the book down. Personally, I could have done without all the whining and complaining. I guess that was to make the characters more lifelike, but to me, it made the characters less real – more caricatured.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Ballantine Books, for the early readers’ copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a historic fictional account of the Bethnal Green Underground Library during the London Blitz. This book weaves together the story of a diverse group of three women striving and surviving during the worst of the Blitz. Juliet, the librarian, sets up the library. Katie, a recent high school grad, whose life has gone in unexpected direction. Sofie, a German Jew, recently escaped Berlin, Germany.

I am a huge WWII historic fiction fan and recommend this book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an early read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Jennifer Ryan has become one of my favorite writers of historical fiction and here she has written another successful WWII set story. In The Underground Library, she follows three main and many auxiliary characters.

Juliet has gotten her dream job, even if it may only be because the men are away. She is now the Deputy Librarian of the Bethnal Green Library. (Look it up for some great photos). She hopes to liven up the rather staid premises with a book club, children’s story hour and more. What will she contribute to the project that is the title of this book?

Juliet lives with a landlady and it turns out that she knows the other boarder. Juliet used to have no respect for him. Will her feelings change?

Katie has been working in the library while waiting to attend university. She becomes a friend and colleague to Juliet. However, Katie faces a serious crisis. Will she be okay?

Sophie lived a nice upper middle class life in Germany before the war. She has become a Jewish refugee in London. Sophie works for an incredibly mean spirited man and some in London view her in a rather prejudiced manner. She finds solace in the library. Will Sophie get a chance at something better? Will she ever be reunited with her family?

Readers also get to know a number of the library’s patrons. These include two older sisters and the rather bold Marigold. All of them interact over the course of the story including, of course, the three main characters.

The author does a good job of depicting wartime London. The descriptions of bombing raids, Anderson shelters and running to the underground for safety are all well portrayed.

This is a novel that will be enjoyed by those who like books about books, women’s fiction and WWII set stories. The pages definitely turn.

Look for all of Jennifer Ryan’s novels starting with The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. They offer engaging reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This novel is interesting and well-written, but it’s not for me. I wasn’t able to connect emotionally to the characters. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A testament to the “Blitz spirit”, this novel details the relocation of the Bethnal Green library to the Underground, after a night of severe bombing. Although the outcomes of many of the characters are a bit more positive than some of the real life stories, I learned about some things I was unaware of that occurred during WWII in England. I was not aware that Jews were accepted into the country if they agreed to be servants and housekeepers, even if they were educated. I was also not aware of the Internment camps on the Isle of Man, which included not just Nazi sympathizers, but German Jews who were looked upon as possible spies even though they were fleeing the Nazis. The three main characters were extremely likable; Katie, the young woman assisting at the library, Juliet, the deputy librarian, and Sofie, the Jewish young woman sent to England on one of the servant visas. I recommend the book, particularly for how it emphasizes the importance of books and libraries to all communities. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Pick this up if you want to read historical fiction set in WWII that has a happy ending. Pick this up if you love a company of strong women who have each other's best interests at heart, if you love books and reading, and believe that the library - no matter where it's located - is a place of refuge and finding community. The author does a great job of creating the atmosphere - you can almost hear the planes overhead and feel the concussion from bombs exploding in the distance. Good if you want to be transported to another time and place where good triumphs. I found it to be perfect for bedtime reading.
(Do not pick up if you hate a tidy ending.)

Another great Christian historical fiction read! This new book coming soon, The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan, is a page turner! The story is so beautiful written, and the characters are very likable and relatable too. You got a sense of what it would be like to live through air-raids or be Jewish and forced to leave your home during World War II.

Plus, all the books mentioned throughout the book gave me more book ideas to read. What do I mean by that? Juliet, one of the characters, takes on managing the library and eventually moves it to the underground (rail tunnels) after the library was destroyed. She also started a book club to help build community and a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. So, throughout the story, books they were reading or referencing would be mentioned. So, it’s almost like reading a book in a book!

There are other important characters in the story Katie and Sophie who also had to overcome difficulties in relationships, persecution, finding family, pregnancy, and loss.

This story is probably going to be on my favorite list of books to read. I will even pass it unto my teenage daughter to read, who also enjoys historical fiction books.

Jennifer Ryan can totally engross you in her stories. I just loved this one about Juliet Lansdown, a young librarian who wouldn't keep the books out of hands. Even during the Blitz in London, she dragged books to the Underground so people could read and entertain themselves. I highly recommend this one.

Set in London during the Blitz of WWII, the story shows how the lives of various people are drawn together through the local library and highlights the power of community.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for my free digital copy for review.

This touching tale weaves the lives of three women, who, amidst the harrowing backdrop of WWII, discover their voices and forge an unbreakable bond of friendship. It's a narrative that highlights the profound impact of books, offering refuge during the darkest of times and uniting a community in the face of adversity. Truly, it's another must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of books.