I loved the concept of the women of London (and those who found their way there as refugees) during World War II trying to keep the library alive. The Author's Note provides more details on how it is based on a true story and that thought just solidifies the community spirit that was present in this book. I did have a tough time connecting with some of the main characters, but I found that those who started as ancillary characters and became more important really helped make this story come to life. There are parts of this book that still stick with me, especially how strong the women were to keep something going that felt nearly impossible. The comraderie and friendships that were formed were truly special.

I read this one back in March of this year. It was an ARC from NetGalley and I thank them for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book.

The story was set during the Blitz in London and follows the lives of three young ladies. One, Julie, is a new under-librarian at Bethnel Green Library. She has moved to London from her small village and has big dreams about her work at the library. She is met with resistance from the head of the library, a man. She is also boarding with a woman whose husband is serving in the war. The other tenant of the house is the man her mother wanted her to marry, but she thought he was too much of a ladies man and flirt to be taken seriously as a husband.

The second girl, Katie, is working at the library until she leaves for university. Her family is very conscious of reputation even though her father is a bit of a cad. Her fiance is at the front and she gets devastating news about him. And she is hiding a big secret from everyone.

The third girl, Sofie, a Jewish refugee, came to London to escape the Nazis. She is on a domestic service visa with a horrible man as her sponsor/employer. She misses her family and is worried about their safety. She visits the library down the street in order to find some relief from the hard work and the worry about her kin.

A Nazi bomb hits the library, damaging some books, but many survive. Katie moves some of the salvaged books to the underground station and starts reading to people who are sheltered there. Eventually, she convinces the board of the library to allow the lending to continue from that location.

Many events occur with the lives of these three women, including issues with family, a theft, a trip to the Isle of Man, and some heartbreaking scenes with Katie.

A great book, written in a simple style that would be easy for teens to read. Some of the subject matter is sensitive, but there is nothing here that would take this book to the level that it isn't appropriate for anyone over the age of fifteen. As well, it is also suitable for older readers. I enjoyed it immensely. Lots of conflict for all three protagonists and the journey of each is well done and believable.

I loved following the stories of Juliet, Katie, and Sofie on their separate but together adventures. WW2 Women's Fiction is one of my favorite go-to adventure books and this did not disappoint!

Books have an ability to allow an escape at a time of stress or bring people together to debate their meaning or appreciate the beauty of the written word. Jennifer Ryan’s The Underground Library centers on the stories of three women whose lives were all changed by books and the bombing of the Bethnal Green Library during WWII. Sophie. Bauman was a German Jew who escaped from Berlin with a work visa that allowed her to work as a servant in London. Her employer is mean spirited and her only respite is the time she finds to run to the library between chores. Katie works the reception desk at the library. Shortly after receiving news of her boyfriend’s death, she discovers that she is pregnant. She has few options and even her parents turn against her. It is her family of friends that she found at the library who offer their support. Juliet has been hired as the deputy librarian because there was no man available for the position. Her ideas are all rejected until Katie suggests that they work behind the librarian’s back. During the bombings they bring books to the underground to hold readings and sign books out to anyone who would like to borrow one. Their audience grows each night. When the library is bombed, they find the support of the people to transport the books and re-open the library in the underground.

This is a time of war and each of the women is touched by tragedy. There is also hope. As the community comes together, there is a new life and the women find love. Sophie faces scorn and distrust as a German immigrant, but ultimately finds a way to aid the war effort. Juliet volunteers as an ambulance driver and finds support from Sebastian, her landlady’s nephew, as she sees the death and destruction around her. These are beautifully written characters who will stay with you long after the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book.

Books and the love of books change the lives of three young women caught in the London Blitz. Juliet Lansdown is enthusiastic about her new position at Bethnal Green Library only to find her ambitions curved by her new supervisor. In spite of this, she successfully manages to establish an underground library to meet the needs of those seeking shelter in the railway station. Katie Upwood is working at the library while planning to attend university when she finds out her boyfriend is missing in action. Sofie Baumann is a young Jewish refuge who accepts a housekeeping position to escape persecution in her homeland. The lives of these three women intertwine as they mature and discover their own self-identity and self-worth during this harrowing time.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially World War II and with strong women characters.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a heartfelt and wonderful story! The fact that this is based on a true story makes this story even more intriguing. The characters are so well done. Highly recommend

As soon as I picked up this one I knew I was going to be an emotional mess by end. I was right.

This book was so beautifully written. It was fast paced, but each POV brought me so close to each character. I felt their pain and their happiness. The devastation and war. Ugh. Amazing.

The characters were so well developed and I was able to feel through them and empathize. The story felt so painfully real and it flowed so nicely! I loved the writing and how easy it was to follow the story without any mix ups!

This was a story of hope and it truly warmed my heart! The ending for me was not as realistic as I hoped taking into account the war times and the conditions in which the characters were living under. Yet, it didn’t make me enjoy it any less!

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in historical fiction and women’s fiction!

The Underground Library follows three women in London during World War II. Juliet leaves her small home town to be the deputy librarian of Bethnal Green Library. Katie works at the library and is heading to university in the fall as enrollment is open to more women with so many men are at war. Sophie reluctantly leaves her father and sister in Berlin because she has a work visa to be a maid. The story is told from three POV and I was hooked from the beginning. Once the three cross paths at the library and then work together to keep the library accessible in the Underground Station serving as a bomb shelter, it's absolute magic.

I've been burned out on WWII novels for a few years. I'm so happy I read this one, the blurb was intriguing and the whole story was really well-told. There was an interesting "fun fact" in the author notes as well. ;)

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. I am required to disclose this by law.

I really enjoyed "The Underground Library" by Jennifer Ryan! An excellent novel about young women in London, making a difference for their community during WWII, creating new careers and finding their strengths. A lovely blend of friendships and support in a time of great despair. Loved the story of saving the books and the delight and hope that it provided. Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Wow this was such a sweet story about many women and the challenges they faced during the Blitz. I loved all the characters and the plot moved along quickly. I couldn't wait to pick it up to read each day when I had a few moments!

Highly recommend for a book club pick as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book #sponsored

This is my first Jennifer Ryan read.

Synopsis: When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

My thoughts: If you enjoy a book about community, sacrifice, and the transformative power of literature, this is the book for you! “The Underground Library” 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.

As a person who works in a library, I really appreciate stories that include them as places for everyone. We all know what it's like to work with people from other walks of life - The Underground Library is told from three such people. I loved their mission to save the books when bombs destroyed their library. I can only imagine the strength and resiliency it took to salvage what they could and move the stacks to a local underground station. Books are magic and healing. I know how they have comforted me and imagine what it did for those in wartime London during the raids.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing a book that brings wartime London to life, from the thunderous roar of bombings to the quiet moments of camaraderie shared among sheltering residents. Libraries are magical places!

This is a story about London during the Blitz of WWII. It’s a pleasant and interesting read about a number of women and their actions during this time. Central to the story is love of books, and a true story of various activities, including a library, that the English undertook during the raids when they would escape to the underground stations.

Historical fiction and a book about books? Count me in! The Underground Library was a happy surprise for me. I found the whole book to be engaging and I enjoyed reading it.

While very readable, The Underground Library just seemed to be missing something to me. It took me much longer to read than it should have - not because it read slowly but because I just didn't fell compelled to pick it up. I wasn't dying to keep reading to see what happened. It was certainly interesting reading about the literal underground library put together by the characters, but in the end, I think my overall impression is that this book turned out to be perhaps one of the most lighthearted (if that's possible) WWII historical fiction novels I've read (and I've read A LOT). It's not that I'm looking for death and horrifying details, but it almost seems hard to believe that these characters had it so "easy." Everything was wrapped up so nicely, which as a reader is lovely, but it just didn't ring true to me. I would give it a solid 3.5 stars, but since that's not possible I will bump it up to 4.

Based on a true story, The Underground library follows three young women in London during the war. With the Nazi’s bombing London they help bring their library underground where most everyone goes to shelter. The three girl’s resilience, brings not only themselves together but many in their community. When it is the worst of times, they endure love, loss, friendship and every other emotion to make things easier on their community. Saving their library, in turn, saves their own lives as well.

I have generally enjoyed Jennifer Ryan’s WWII fiction. It was odd at first to read this one, since Kate Thompson had written about the same topic so very well last year. I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to like this book, after reading Thompson’s.

But Ryan’s characters are completely different—though they fight some of the same battles—and Ryan takes a different angle on the Bethnal Green Underground Library.

As always, Ryan’s characters and their trials feel real. I like how she brings her diverse group of characters together seamlessly, bringing them into a cohesive unit working to a common goal. The character of Mrs. Ottley was delightful, and the secondary characters in this book are well-developed. Some you love, some you hate—as it should be. Dialogue is natural, and the evens believable.

Like Thompson, Ryan provides historical references and explanation of the real events that she used to inspire her story.

Would I have liked this book better if I hadn’t read Thompson’s? Yes. But this is still a solid, worthy effort, and holds its place among slice-of-life WWII books.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/04/wwii-books-about-books.html

Possible Objectionable Material:
Sex/pregnancy outside of marriage. One character considers a back-alley abortion. Parental pressure. One character is mistreated by her employer. Stealing. Lying. The usual issues you get in a book about WWII London.

Who Might Like This Book:
Again, those who love books, who like WWII stories, and enjoy a little romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Juliet Lansdown, the new deputy librarian at Bethnal Green Library, vows to revive its dwindling spirit despite facing skepticism due to her gender. She forms an unlikely alliance with Katie Upwood, who is grappling with personal loss and a hidden secret, and Sofie Baumann, a Jewish refugee finding solace amidst adversity. As they battle personal demons and the ravages of war, they strive to preserve their cherished library, their refuge, from the devastation of bombs and the turmoil of their lives.

Though I usually prefer historical novels set earlier in time, I enjoy stepping into World War 2 fiction now and then. This one caught my attention because of the title. The author does a fine job incorporating real-life experiences into the story, though at times it feels a bit crammed. Like, I felt like Sofie being on the Isle of Mann was glossed over.

The majority of the story stays with Juliet, though we get chapters for all the characters to get their experiences. I’m not usually emotionally invested in a story, but the death of a secondary character hit me hard. Everyone, for the most part, has a happy ending.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to readers looking for a World War 2 novel.

Jennifer Ryan has once again given us a gripping and entertaining WWII novel. The multi plot line story revolves around 3 women Juliet, Katie and Sophie who band together to save the library during the blitz attack in WWII. Each woman's life is as different as the stories they read, yet they find a way to survive the attack and save the library.

Ms Ryan does a wonderful job of keeping the storylines connected while also giving each woman their own story to tell. The descriptions take you back to a deep, dark time in history while also showing you that there is hope and life in the midst of darkness and death. I was given an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion and review of the story.

The Underground Library is told from three POV - Juliet, Katie and Sophia. Juliet leaves her small hometown during the war and heads to London, working at the library. Katie, living in London with her parents, is stuck at home while her boyfriend is on the front line fighting in WWII. And Sophia has to flew Berlin as the Nazi's are closing in persecuting Jews. After the library is bombed, Juliet and the community move it down into the Underground far away from the bombing. It's here that the community comes together and each protagonists storyline weaves and intertwines together to get their happy endings.

Half way thru the book I paused to google Bechnal Green Underground and learn about the real Underground Library and tube bombing. It doesn't matter how many historical fiction books I read, I learn something new about the war in each and every book. The author does a great job trying to imagine how everyone kept their spirits alive in the library during this time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

The Underground Railroad by. Jennifer Ryan was a stunning portrayal of WWII. I have read a lot of books on this topic and this perspective was unique for me. It is told from the view point of three women and how the war affects them. The main plot is surrounded by the fact that the library was bombed and not usable. These women brought the library to the underground subway area that was being used as a bomb shelter. The descriptions and antidotes between these women are wonderful, heartbreaking and at the same time they build a bond that is life changing. I highly recommend this novel.