Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC. I do love a book about books. Historical fiction based on the true story of the bombing of Bethnal Green Library in the London Blitz. All the characters, mainly women, were very well developed and I enjoyed the progression of their lives. It did come together very neatly in the end...not sure real life would have played out that way but a very enjoyable read. Recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy of The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan.
I loved Ms Ryan's previous book The Kitchen Front so I was eager to read her latest historical fiction.
The story takes place primarily in London during World War II, and revolves around three women, each facing different wartime struggles: Juliet, the librarian determined to keep morale up with the power of books; Katie, dealing with rumors that her soldier boyfriend is a deserter; and Sofie, a Jewish refugee struggling to find out news of the family she left behind.
Despite being set in wartime, this was an uplifting story of the power of helping others - highly recommend.

The power of libraries to connect people has never been more evident than in Jennifer Ryan’s latest novel, The Underground Library. The story features three, bright, strong-willed women and a cast of supporting characters who find themselves in London during the Blitz. The one thing they all have in common is their love of books and the public library. It’s quite impressive how Jennifer Ryan has incorporated so many firsthand accounts of the period into the book. I felt transported to the underground shelters along with Juliet, Sofie, and Katie and enjoyed the list of Classics they were reading as part of their Underground Library Book Club! I would love to know how the characters fare after the war and wonder if Ryan is considering a sequel.

This is not the first book I have read set during WWII at the Bethnal Green shelter tunnels, but it was still interesting to me. I liked it because the story is told through three interesting characters: Juliet and Katie, who work at the library and Sofie, a young Jewish refugee. Adding Sofie to the storyline added an interesting layer to the story.

I appreciate the Author’s Note section that goes in depth into the background research, which I’m sure was extensive. I need to add the London Transport Museum to my list of places to visit if I am ever back in London.

This WWII story focuses on a group of women in London during the war who come together from different classes to save their beloved public library, and help one another out during the Blitz. There's a lot of bonding and supportiveness and most of the main characters get a happily-ever-after ending. A few things bothered me throughout the book, including a lot of homonym errors, the fact that the author seems to have deliberately excluded Bethnal Green's large Jewish population, making it hard for one Jewish character to find help and community, and the author's treatment of the POW camps, describing being interred as going on a vacation. I suppose some readers might be able to overlook these issues and focus on the relationships and romances of the book, but I couldn't.

Objectively, The Underground Library is a great story of resilience and the power of community during dark times. I connected easily with the characters and became invested in their heartbreak and in their triumphs. Book lovers and fans of WWII historical fiction will enjoy this story.

Personally, my biggest hurdle with this book is that it seems so similar to other WWII books I’ve read recently. The WWII historical fiction market is always a bit saturated, but in the past year or so I’ve noticed an influx of books related to libraries and bookstores during the war. And I’m a librarian so I should love this! But I think I’m ready for some new stories to be told.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Just when I think I've read every possible angle on WWII, this wonderful story comes up on NetGalley. How can I resist? What's better than a book about books? A story about books...underground. So yes, geek out with me here for a minute, and enjoy librarians creating a sense of community in the most adverse circumstances imaginable. (I especially recommend to fans of AJ Pearce's Emmy Lake Chronicles). While the drama may not be as tense or gripping as you might think, the lovely story and the delightful characters are cause enough for compelling reading.

I believe this is the second book I’ve read by Jennifer Ryan, the first being The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle. I enjoyed both books ver much!

The author has certainly done her research into happenings during the Second World War, and has a knack for telling delightful stories that happened despite the war going on. This book focuses on the London Blitz and the moving of the Bethnal Green library branch into the nearby tube station after the building was bombed. She populates the story with lovable characters and the friendships that develop, not to mention love stories. She does a marvelous job of wrapping things up in the end.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Four stars!i

Thank you Penguin Random House for the ARC of The Underground Library. There are a lot of WW2 novels written but I appreciate the new angles and stories that need to be told.

Author Jennifer Ryan brings the focus to the London Blitz and the Bethnal Green library moving down into the underground. The historical facts are interesting but it did feel like many other “cozy/quaint” WW2 novels. I wish the writing was stronger; I noticed a few character reactions repeat in the same paragraph “she said under her breath, she balled her fists” etc. I don’t mind the phrasing but they were so frequent and close together it took me out of the story.

This book was a wonderful book about three very different young women whose lives intertwine during WWII. At the beginning the women are dependent on others in their lives . The story takes you through as these characters grow , change and become independent . They meet through the love of books and actually bring an entire town together because of a library . You learn about their different experiences during the war. Each chapter is told from the view of a character . I enjoyed this book very much .

**Thank you to Random House for this free digital review copy.**

The Underground Library was an engaging novel about London during the Blitz, based on true stories of the men and women who kept the city going while it was getting bombed by the Nazis nightly. The bravery they showed and resilience to stay positive in such terrible conditions was incredible to read about. It's hard to imagine living in a time when it became normal to sleep in the subway tunnels while your home was getting bombed above. But that's exactly what this novel explored, and I truly enjoyed every storyline this novel followed: from Sofie escaping Berlin and all that she's put through once she reaches London to Katie's unplanned pregnancy and her determination not to lose the last piece of her love that she has. Juliet's ambition to help create community through the library is beautiful, and it makes her inability to see Victor's true motives so frustrating. While perhaps a bit cheesy, I was so happy with how everyone got a happy ending, even in the midst of the war.

The Underground Library is a phenomenal book that really captured me as a reader. I love historical fiction and the ones set around books are even better. I read through this book so fast and loved every minute of it. Suggesting it as a buddy read so I can reread it over the summer.

This was such a lovely and heartwarming novel. I don’t think there’s a limit to the number of WWII novels I can read, especially when they’re about the heroism of a community of people, women especially. I loved the interwoven storylines of the main characters and the true events that were incorporated into the plot. This was just really enjoyable.

Wow! I was skeptical about another story about a European library during one of the World Wars, but I loved it! I did not know about the Bethnal Green Library or Juliet Lansdown, but I am glad that I do now!

I have decided to get the physical copy of the book and read it at a later point. I will be reviewing this at a later date.

I admit that I have read so many books set in World War II that I am a skeptic whenever a new one comes out. That said, I loved this book. The characters are well drawn and having finished the book, I find myself wishing I were still reading it, because I miss them.
The story gives color to the facts of war. Women join the workforce because the men are off fighting. Romances are condensed, rushed, and focused. The main character, Juliet, is an ambitious young woman from a well-off family who only wish for her to marry well, Juliet loves books though, and is thrilled to find a position at the Bethnal Green Library in London, at the beginning of the Blitz. She is full of ideas, which are not received well by the men in charge. Operating with some subterfuge, Juliet enlists the assistance of woman in the community…all wonderful characters themselves, to implement her ideas.
Then the library is bombed, and thus begins the underground library.
This is a wonderful story for anyone who loves books, libraries, and women with their own mind. While it is reminiscent of The Paris Library, by Janet Charles, (another good book!) this book is different in spirit and the setting of London is unique and endearing. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for the review copy. This book releases March 12, 2024.

I know that this is the kind of book derided as "emotional" women's fiction, but I don't even care. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it, from the descriptions of the Blitz to the relationships between the women (and men!). It's such an outstanding example of the women's World War II genre. I think the tone of the book is thoroughly enjoyable and I can think of at least a dozen people to recommend it to--without thinking very hard.

Well researched historical fiction but somewhat a hard to get into start, by the end I was invested. I wish some of the characters were a bit more developed. Overall would read again and recommend to those who devour historical fiction.

"Underground Library" is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of literature, community, and resilience in the face of adversity. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the novel follows the journey of Juliet Lansdown, Katie Upwood, and Sofie Baumann as they navigate personal challenges while striving to preserve the heart of their neighborhood - the Bethnal Green Library.

Jennifer Ryan skillfully crafts a narrative the intertwines the lives of these three dynamic women, each facing their own struggles and seeking solace within the walls of the library. Juliet's determination to revitalize the library despite facing gender biases, Katie's grief and secrets following the loss of her beau, and Sofie's quest for safety and family amidst the chaos of war, create a compelling tapestry of interconnected stories.

As the bombs rain down on London, and tragedy strikes close to home, the library becomes more than just a repository of books. It transforms into a beacon of hope and refuge for the community. The decision to relocate the library to the Underground station showcases the resilience and ingenuity of its caretakers, who refuse to let adversity extinguish knowledge and connection.

Overall, "Underground Library" is captivating from the beginning to end. With its blend of historical intrigue, heartfelt storytelling, and themes of hope and resilience, it leaves a lasting impression on readers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review. #NetGalley #UndergroundLibrary #JenniferRyan

This is a book lover’s book. Based on the real Bethnal Green Library which opened in 1922 and by necessity was moved underground during the London Blitz in WWII providing a place of sanctuary for so many people.
The author has captured the fear and horror of bombs dropping overhead and people scrambling for cover but she has also captured the sense of companionship, friendships and strangers helping one another in times of dire need. Something we could use more of today.
We are introduced to the private lives of many of the people that made use of the underground library, and I can assure you they all have interesting stories to tell. Our main characters Katie, Sofie and Juliet are portrayed very convincingly, but you will be hard pressed not to become involved in the heartbreaks and triumphs of all these people.
If you love books and believe libraries are special this is the book for you: