Based on the true story on a library which moved into an underground station during WWII, we meet Juliet, Sofie and Katie - all from different walks of life but brought together by their love of books. A magical story of friendship and perseverance in the face of adversity. A must read.

I read a lot of World War II novels so it is a treat to come across one that is unique. The Underground Library was captivating from beginning to end. The novel is well researched and presented events and information that I did not know, yet it never seemed bogged down by presenting historical facts as can happen with historical fiction. I enjoyed the variety of characters that populated this novel. It will be a very welcome read to those who love happy endings.
The underground library is excellent and would present a great deal for book clubs to discuss, in fact I will be presenting it to mine.

"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.”

The Underground Library is inspired by real life events. During the Blitz of WWII, London's Bethnal Green library was bombed, and the staff moved the library into the underground train station to continue to serve the community. These stations were used as shelters by thousands of people, featuring subterranean schools, medical facilities, and even theaters. This book tells a fictional story against this backdrop, of several women whose shared love of books and reading create a community based on mutual aid and support. Juliet moves to London with dreams of being a librarian, and an AWOL fiance believed to have deserted his military unit. Sofie is a Jewish refugee who managed to escape Berlin with a visa permitting her to work as a domestic in Britain, desperate for news of the sister and father she had to leave behind. Katie is about to begin university when she receives two pieces of shocking news - an unplanned pregnancy, and a boyfriend who is MIA and presumed dead. Their friendships with each other and with others in the community help them find comfort and security in a terrifying and devastating time.

The story itself is quite well researched, rich with period details that make the setting feel immersive, detailed, and specific to the time and place. The author does a good job capturing the feeling of the period, sensitively handling topics such as anxiety, PTSD, army desertion, the plight of Jews in Europe, and exploitation of Jewish refugees in "safe" countries.The characters are sympathetic and well developed. The plot has a satisfying arc and resolution. The writing, however, is inconsistent - at times strong and eloquent, at others clumsy and unpolished. It makes me wish I could edit this book, or that its current editor would have another go at it.

There are frequent spelling errors (principle/principal, pedal/peddle, sight/site, wretch/retch, prize/prise, etc) grammatical errors (eg. "ladened" instead of laden) and incorrect word usage ("plundering" when blundering would be a better fit, or "unmitigated" when unqualified would be more appropriate because to mitigate means to help make less bad so it's usually applied to negative things - we don't really mitigate good things). There are factual errors (for example, postpartum lochia lasts for about six weeks, not a day or two). The dialogue is occasionally a bit weird (commenting on the job of ambulance drivers who deal with the human carnage in the aftermath of bombings, a character opines "“It’s not always a pleasant way to spend an evening.” as if... sometimes it is?) The writing is sometimes awkward ("even now, at a quarter to four, the sun beamed warmth onto her exhausted face." Is it really so weird that the sun is actually still up in the afternoon in August?) And some plot elements seem unrealistic (for example, it's difficult to believe that there are no real qualifications or educational requirements to become a head librarian or a teacher beyond simply wanting to be one). It's unfortunate that the story is marred by many instances of awkward writing, because otherwise it's very good.

P. S. There are many literary references to well-known books, as a book about a library should have, but when the characters were swooning over Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights as a sexy romantic hero I beg to freaking differ. Heathcliff is a violently abusive human dumpster fire, unless wife beating, child abuse, and rage-killing puppies are romantic green flags to you. I hate Heathcliff. I hate Wuthering Heights. And I hate that it gets hailed as a romance when it's not. This is just a me thing, however, and does not affect my rating.

I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I want to thank Penguin Random House/Ballantine Books for allowing me to read and review The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan. She previously wrote The Chilbury Ladies Choir.
“The pages had been read, the knowledge absorbed, the ideas around her already challenged.”
The book begins in Berlin in 1939. The Nazi’s are making life impossible for the Jewish people. Sophie is being sent to England to work as a housekeeper. Juliet has gotten a job at a library for the summer before going to college. Katie finds the library an escape from domineering parents.
The bombs are falling nightly. The local library is partly destroyed. These three ladies bond with each other and some wonderful people in the community. The underground becomes a safe refuge. Juliet, with a lot of help, transfer books and creates The Underground Library. There is a lot of drama, Survival is the key!
The Underground Library is the kind of book you just want to curl up in a big comfortable chair with a cup of tea and read! Jennifer Ryan’s characters seem so real! Women in particular will enjoy this book
It will publish 03/12/2024..

Readers who enjoyed the Ladies of the Chilbury Choir and their dogged determination will LOVE The Underground Library. A beautifully crafted story, women once again take center stage. The spoils of war necessitated the women’s willingness to step up, step in and assume responsibility. Residents were clustered in underground rail tunnels to shelter from nightly bombing raids on London. When a library is obliterated by a bomb, a quick thinking employee saved the books by moving shelves of books underground. Soon, the highlight of evening sheltering was a literary event, with readings and sharing. Equally well written are the stories of individual characters as they navigate their individual lives and relationships.

This was an interesting bit of history about London's Blitz period that I didn't know about. It was heartwarming to read about the Bethnal Green community coming together during this time through their love of books. At times the Katie character's plot seemed a bit out of place, or perhaps deserving of her own novel, but it did come together at the end.

I really enjoyed this book! The character building was perfection, even though the characters converged on each other, they had very strong personal storylines. The way the background building was written for the budding love stories, the writing of the conflicts. This was written for the purpose of the reader, very easy to get through. I could feel the emotional struggle of having to leave all you knew behind for the purpose of saving your life, the community when the bombings began having to pull together morale up, the struggle the women endured to create an identity for themselves, the hunger, the fear.

I do not wish to give any spoilers in this story but OH MY! There are characters that you will love and characters that you will NOT. To find out that this is a true story made the book even better.


Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC read!

Juliet is finding things a bit slow at the Bethnal Green Library where she is the new deputy librarian. She intends to change that, no matter the men doubting her.

Katie is happy to be working at the library until she begins university. Her boyfriend has died in the war already and her family is a mess. Not to mention a secret she is holding tight.

Sofie is a Jewish refugee. Coming to London as a worker, she is stuck with a cruel man and she escapes to the library as much as she can.

When the library is bombed, Juliet moves the books to the underground station where a lot of people are taking shelter.

As trouble piles on, are the ladies strong enough to survive?

An excellent look at WWII, the Blitz, and the unbreakable spirit of these women. A beautiful story and very well written.

Netgalley/ RHPG Ballentine March 12, 2024

In WWII London women took on roles that were formerly unavailable to them. Juliet Landsdown is thrilled to get a position as deputy librarian at the Bethnal Green Library. She makes friends with Katie, a co-worker. Together they start a book group and other services, flying under the radar of the head librarian. A young Jewish refugee, stumbles into the library and is also befriended. When a bomb lands on the library they move the books to the underground shelter and continue to provide library serv ices - supporting the community and each other.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

The Underground Library is the second Jennifer Ryan World War II novel that I have read. Like the Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, in The Underground Library, Ryan has taken a true event from World War II and created a wonderfully researched historical novel. During the Blitz bombing of London in 1940-41, citizens took shelter in the Underground. Although there was an initial attempt to not allow the Underground to be used as a shelter, it quickly became evident that those deeply buried underground tunnels could provide safety for people. Medical facilities were established in the Underground, and when libraries were bombed, creating libraries in the safety of the Underground was a natural response. These true events form the basis of Ryan's novel.

Juliet, who is the fictional librarian of The Underground Library, creates a welcoming community for all who gather to shelter in the London Underground. Another librarian, Katie, joins in helping to establish this Underground library. Both librarians are joined by Sofie, a Jewish refugee, for whom the library provides a lifeline. The Underground Library focuses on these 3 women. Ryan creates believable characters with complex lives. Each woman must overcome personal tragedy and do so with fortitude and strength. Ryan's research in a numbers of subjects, from military deserters, to unmarried pregnancy, to the plight of Jewish refugees, to the importance of community are all part of the research for this novel. The plot is complex, with lots of details. It is easy for readers to embrace this novel. And like many of Ryan's novels, readers can count on a happy ending, at least for some people. In a time of war and tragedy, it is a relief to have a happy ending.

I want to thank the author, publisher, Random House, and NetGalley, where I first discovered Ryan's novels, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The statements above are definitely my honest opinion of Jennifer Ryan's The Underground Library.

This was good not great. I agree with those who say the women could have been further developed but as a romance it was good.

Loved this book so much! I found the historic details of the underground library fascinating. I have worked in a library and have experienced the bonds often made between co-workers and library patrons. I adored each character and found myself cheering for each one of them. The book wraps up at Christmas time and put me in the holiday spirit! I will remember this book always!

Fantastic! Often WW2 based historical fiction has very similar storylines, but this was creative and had me hooked from the beginning. I love the way we followed three women with very different lives and backgrounds as they navigate the difficulties of war and limited options for women. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have read previous books by this author and enjoyed them immensely so I was so excited to read her new book since I am a fan of this author and I especially like World War II historical fiction. This book centers on three young women , Juliet a librarian in a London library, Katie a library worker and aspiring college student, and Sofie a Jewish refugee from Germany. The main focus of this book is the location of the London library after it is damaged during an air raid, it was moved to the underground or the tubes, this was a somewhat controversial move , but it provided much relief and comfort to the many citizens who utilized the underground during the air raids. The story focuses on each woman individually and as a group working together to ensure the success of the library in an unusual location. I enjoyed this book immensely, the friendship between these young women, the love, caring, support was so strong and heartwarming. The book also had additional characters who added depth to this enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, that shows the strength of the people who lived through these difficult days with courage, love, support , faith, and friendship.

I loved learning about the underground library! I am drawn to WWII British titles because I am enamored of the fortitude that the folks living through that time. The fact that books could bring a community together and help the people get through that awful time speaks to the power of books. I appreciated the references to the book burning that was happening in Germany and the importance of saving literature.

This book just sort of fell flat for me. The story follows three women (Juliet, Katie, and Sofie) in London during WWII and while the historical portions of the book are interesting - if a bit on the "history-lite side. And the predictability of the women's story lines did not improve the story. It was too much romance as well... predictable romance that I felt the story could have skipped and delved deeper into the women themselves.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the copy of the book.

Loved this story. Three strong, awesome women find their way into love, friendship and independence, by standing up for themselves, their families and friends. WWII, full of awful times, situations and persecution, yet the perseverance of small yet important steps toward making these terrible situations better, Do not miss this book, it is a heartfelt reminder and treasure. Definite addition to your TBR list.

The Underground Library was a very interesting story of London during WWII. It follows three women and how they are intertwined; Juliet, a new deputy librarian, Sofie, a Jewish refugee from Germany, and Katie, a young woman who is planning to start at the university. Juliet pivots and starts a library in the tunnels of the underground tube station after the library she is working at is bombed. The story follows the 3 women as they work together for the library and support each other. A wonderful read about women during WWII.

Jennifer Ryan has done it again - taking a lesser-known fact about World War II and England and bringing a story alive.

Juliet leaves her home to become the Deputy Librarian of the Bethnal Green Library, located in East London. Juliet brings a dying library back to life, offering activities and friendship to people in the neighborhood. Sofie's Jewish family in Germany realizes they are not safe and resolve to get Sofie to England where she works as a maid for an English family. She is treated badly. The library becomes her refuge. Katie is helping at the library over the summer, heading for university in the fall. Her boyfriend joins up to fight for England. Then Katie's life receives two major blows which have the potential to change the trajectory of her life. Juliet's fiance is a soldier and he has gone missing. When a bombing destroys much of the library, Juliet resolves to move many of the books to create the Underground Library. Her boss pooh-poohs the idea. Juliet, with the help of her library patrons, does it anyway.

We see Sofie's aloneness and her search for her family who she hopes will make it out of Germany. Katie, facing a life as a single mother, resolves to change society starting with her own family. And Juliet meets a longtime friend who gradually becomes more than a friend. These three women form the core of a group of women who come together to support each other and create their own families.

Juliet says, " Books help us to see inside someone else's world, empathize with people we've never met. And if there's one thing the world needs right now, it's the willingness to understand and connect." In this time of increasing censorship, this is the power of books, the ability of books to help us see and understand others.

I have now read two books by this author. “The wedding dress sewing circle” and this one. Both excellent stories. I love her writing style.

This story brings us to London during WW-ll, when the city is being struck by bombs every night.
The three major women are:
Juliet Lansdown, the new deputy Librarian at the Bethnal Green Library.
Katie Upwood, happy to be working at the library until she leaves in the Fall for the university.
Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee who has escaped from her home town on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably .
These three women come together over their love of books, when the library is bombed in an overnight raid and they see a way that they can keep books in peoples lives, especially during these hard times.
Most people near them congregated at night during the bombings in the Bethnal green subway station.
They found a way to bring books underground and create this well needed library and even a school.
Each one on these characters has an amazing story to tell, and between them and the wonderful people around them, you will read an amazing story.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a copy of this book.