This is an interesting historical setting that has not been written about enough. However, this book did not do justice to the setting or title. There were so many amazing places this story could have gone. I would have loved to learn more about the librarians work, but instead there are the usual contrived enemies to lovers that does not seem genuine and rushed. I would love to read this story if the women did not fall instantly in love with first bad-boy spy who comes along.

Mmmmm, this was okay. Kind of mid. It was good and kept me interested, but a bit slow and I kind of forgot everything about it as soon as I finished it.

The audiobook was tough to listen to - the narrator used such a strong French accent for some characters that I really didn’t understand what they were saying.

Unfortunately I don’t have much to say about The Librarians of Lisbon.

Wow! This book is so beautifully laid out. Selene and Betrice’s characters are both so distinct and I love that they have such distinct manners in which they shine when dealing with subterfuge. This book is unique and distinct in all the right ways. It was truly a joy to read. I love that we are hearing more and more about women and men who were not always highlighted previously in novels. This novel will not disappoint. It has intrigue, romance, joy and sadness, and doesn’t sugar coat the trials of helping fight against the Nazis.
Thank you so much to Zando Projects and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I received a copy of The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson from NetGalley and Zando Projects. This was a very well researched book but I feel like the focus was more of listing relevant food, people, areas in Lisbon on every page than the story. I did enjoy the character depictions of Selene and Bea - they felt real.

Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love. Brimming with evocative writing and meticulous research, award-winning author Suzanne Nelson spins a web of secret aliases, sweeping romance, and great sacrifice. Inspired by real historical figures, this is the captivating story of two remarkable young women, their bravery and heartache, and a friendship that withstands the ravages of war.

With World War II raging across Europe, best friends Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan are enlisted by the U.S. Intelligence Office and sent to Lisbon—a sparkling city and hotbed of trouble, harboring exiled royalty, hunted refugees, and spies trading double-edged secrets in seductively dark corners. In official capacity, librarians Selene and Bea have been recruited to catalog the vast mountain of information gathered by the Allies, but by night, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network.

This was a great read for me. I've read a lot of WW2 historical fiction. A lot of it is great, but even the great stuff tends to meld together after a while. This one is different. I don't think I've read a novel set in this time from Portugal, and it was fascinating to read from that standpoint. It was also a great story on its on with great characters, a compelling plot, and solid prose. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes WW2 fiction! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

1943: Selene Delmont and Bea Sullivan are best friends and librarians from Boston, they are trained to be agents for the U.S. Intelligence Office and sent to Lisbon. Selene and Bea are here to catalogue the vast quantities of information gathered by the allies, and by night, both women are undercover agents and they can’t tell anyone and including each other.

Selene is from a wealthy family she’s beautiful and poised, Bea is bookish and lacks confidence. Both librarians are caught up in treacherous game of cat and mouse alongside two of Lisbon’s most notorious men, Luca Caldeira a social outcast, and Rafael Delgado is an agent known as Gable. Despite Portugal and Lisbon being neutral, it’s the last gateway to Europe, full of desperate refugees and nobility, spies and double agents, a thriving black market and the top producer of wolfram and a mineral used to make ammunition.

Both Selene and Bea have night time missions and are under pressure to find out who’s the main leader of the spy ring, Selene and Luca, go to Lisbon's casinos, ballroom’s and hotels and she’s hoping to make friends with the mistresses of the underworld figures and get into their inner circle. Bea works for Colonel Fitzgerald and so does Gable and he doubts the stuffy librarian has what it takes and is shocked when he discovers she excels at deciphering codes and has a photographic memory.

I received a copy of The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson from NetGalley and Zando Projects in exchange for an honest review. Based on real people, events and what happened in Lisbon during the Second World War and the debut novel is told from the points of view of the two main characters. The reader gets an idea of the roles women played in helping the allies win and how important they were and what stopped me from giving the book a higher rating was the “romance” was a bit over the top, especially when the characters are agents and on high alert, very odd timing and it didn’t fit into the narrative. A story about friendship and secrets, survival and danger, action and intrigue, loss and heartbreak and four stars from me.

'The Librarians of Lisbon' is a novel from Suzanne Nelson that is both charming and well-crafted. The narrative is immersive and the author manages to keep the reader captivated from start to finish, exploring themes of courage, friendship, and the importance of women behind the scenes of the Second World War.

The story takes place in Europe during the rage of the Second World War in 1943. Best friends Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan are recruited by the US Secret Service and sent to Lisbon - a sparkling city and hotbed of trouble, harboring exiled royalty, hunted refugees, and spies trading double-edged secrets in seductively dark corners. Selene and Bea are officially hired as librarians to catalog the vast mountain of information gathered by the Allies, but they also have another task to complete during the night...

Lisbon emerges as a central character in the narrative, and the author offers a vibrant portrait of the city in 1943. In the midst of the Second World War, Portugal presents itself as a refuge, apparently neutral, but full of tension and clandestine activity. The descriptions of its streets, cafés, and esplanades bring to life the beauty and complexity of the Portuguese capital, while global events shape the daily lives of its inhabitants. The author is brilliant at drawing a picturesque portrait of the period, and the reader gets lost in every corner of Lisbon.... Exceptionally well done!

The book's female protagonists are full of personality, and each contributes equal weight to the narrative. Selene is confident and fearless, Bea is reserved and careful. Selene longs to escape her family's impossible expectations and embrace her independence, while Bea just wants to heal from a heartbreak and keep the impulsive Selene out of trouble. The duality of these personalities is transcendent and their dynamic is living proof that women are a force for resilience, even in the darkest moments...

Suzanne Nelson's magnificent novel captures the essence of life during troubled times!

Thank You to Zando Projects, Suzanne Nelson & NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading The Librarians of Lisbon. The story following Bea and Selene during WWII working as spies in Lisbon was both fast-paced and suspenseful. The chapters rotated between their perspectives which portrayed their own experiences and missions which intertwined as the story went on. The epilogue at the end did a nice job of tying up loose ends that the story could have ended on.

The author's note at the end dives into the historical events and figures that inspired the book along with further readings to learn more which I am excited to read in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The history shared in this book was fascinating. The research done was incredible. As someone who reads a lot of WWII historical fiction (and studied WWII History in College!) I learned a lot about Portugal's not frequently discussed role during the war. As a neutral country, it was fascinating to learn just how pulled they were by both sides of WWII. And that the people seeking safety were also part of both sides. Lots of spying, refugees and undercover activities. I loved that the main characters were librarians in the USA who became undercover spies for the Allies. I loved that they were strong, powerful and incredible women who were helping with the war. They found love, discovered a lot about themselves and most importantly they were able to help with the war efforts. I was truly engaged with all aspects of this story and loved the dual timelines - discovering just how much impact women had during the war. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this was a wonderful and fascinating read.
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy

4.25 I really enjoyed reading this! I had no idea what part Portugal played during WWII so it was really interesting learning that they wanted to keep neutrality during the war and became a hotbed of spies and refugees.
I really enjoyed the story of Bea and Selene navigating their secret roles as spies while also trying to maintain their friendship and unintentionally finding love amid war.
While I thought the ending was maybe a tad rushed, I overall thought the pacing of the story was good and it kept me interested and entertained. I also enjoyed the mystery element of figuring out who is who and who supports what/what side they’re really on.
I do wish that we could have gotten more information regarding their training before arriving in Portugal so we could get a better idea of how prepared/unprepared they were to face their new roles so we could’ve also gained a better understanding of how they were feeling going through it all.
I really wanted to rate this five stars, but ultimately I didn’t feel the emotional connection to the characters that I wanted to have.

Side note: Honestly, I don’t normally read the author’s note at the end of books, however I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was really informative and gave additional information to better understand and appreciate the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Zando Projects for providing me with this ARC! This is my honest review with all thoughts and opinions being my own.

Release date: February 4th, 2025.

Quotes:
“She’d gotten her job with her looks, but would master it with her wits. Being catnip for tigers might be perilous, but it could also be wickedly amusing.”

“You don’t need to see my legs to know my mind’s worth.”

“We can’t let this war take every piece of us.”

“Grace was one of the strangest gifts this war had given her. The ever-present threat of death made it that much easier the grant forgiveness.”

“You invade my thoughts, every second of every day.”

“I want you. I love you, God help me, I love you.”

Librarians of Lisbon told me a part of history I'd never heard of and although a work of fiction it has its roots deep in real facts. The story can be thought of many points of view: Rafael Salazar/Gable's the bon vivant who was easily seen in the best parties and places in town but who was an extremely good spy, Selene who worked hard to infiltrate society and important contacts for the Allies' side of war, twin brothers Andre and Luca who gave their lives to help people in need at an atrocious time, and Bea who besides a librarian was a woman ahead of her time and an expert in infiltrating, disguising, and decoding complex messages. All characters are based on real people and the role they played to help defeat Hitler. I also had never heard of the wolfram trade and its importance in WWII. Besides being a romance, Librarians of Lisbon is a powerful account of one of the world's worst moments and well researched historical story.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This WWII novel drives home the fact that librarians are indeed everyday heroes. And sometimes heroes that end up in harms way.

A historical fiction spy thriller set in Lisbon during World War II. When I started reading it, I expected it to be a fairly standard historical fiction book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had been ready for the spy part of the book - I didn't pay close enough attention at first to follow the intricacies of the spy story. I didn't love the romance parts and felt them somewhat unnecessary. A fascinating look at the role women played in spying during the war

4.5*
"The city was a roulette wheel, dolling out hope and despair, wealth and destitution- a place where any stranger might be a welcome friend, or a dreaded foe. Even if treachery lurked in its shadows, Lisbon was a beacon of light during one of the world's darkest hours. The people who lived there during that extraordinary time, understood that, in wartime Lisbon, live and loss walked together side by side." [excerpt from the Author's note]

Set in Lisbon, Portugal during WW2 this was such a refreshing take on a Era that is often over done. Based on real events this author captures the complexities of maintaining relationships while trying to help serve the war effort. Perfectly capturing how things aren't always as they seem and proves that while you may think you know what's going on you have no idea what the bigger picture is. I absolutely devoured this and couldn't put it down, would be perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah and strong female leads.

Publication Date February 4th 2025

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent, well researched work of historical fiction set in Lisbon, Portugal during WWII. The story really taught me so much, about what neutrality meant to Lisbon, while flooded with spies from both the Allies and the Axis sides. Two librarians, Bea and Selene, join the effort to save important books and manuscripts from destruction by the Nazis. They also worked for the OSS, becoming spies to help the Allied cause. Bea was the brainy one, with a photographic memory while Selene used her aristocratic background and beauty. I had never heard of Sousa Mendes, who the character Luca was based on, saving over 3,000 Jews. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an excellent read. The characters were well written and the setting was nicely done. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have recommended it to others. This is not a book to read without a box of kleenex nearby.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, riveting historical fiction novel that pulls you in from the very first page, The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson is a must-read! With its impeccably researched backdrop of World War II Lisbon she perfectly blends intrigue, espionage, romance, and friendship into a gripping story.

Synopsis (spoiler free!)

Beatrice Sullivan and Selene Delmont, best friends from Boston, are swept into the heart of World War II espionage when they are recruited as Allied spies and sent to Lisbon—a city teeming with intrigue, danger, and secrets. Officially tasked with collecting banned books, their true mission is far more perilous: infiltrating the Axis spy network.

Bea and Selene’s journeys are as different as their personalities. Selene, charming and vivacious, infiltrates Lisbon’s elite social circles alongside the enigmatic and dashing Portuguese baron, Luca Caldeira. Bea, introspective and methodical, delves into the shadowy underworld with the lethal and mysterious operative known only as Gable. As they navigate deception, danger, and the treacherous pull of unexpected love, their friendship is tested like never before.

When a betrayal threatens to unravel everything, both women must decide: will they remain loyal to their mission, or risk it all for the men they love?

If like me you loved The Rose Code or literally anything by Kristin Hannah this is definitely for you!

The Librarians of Lisbon by Margarida Engracia is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and heartfelt storytelling. The author does a remarkable job of creating a compelling atmosphere, painting a vivid portrait of Lisbon during the war. The city itself almost feels like a character in the story — with its labyrinthine streets and hidden corners, providing a backdrop for the librarians' courage and resourcefulness. Engracia also excels at creating strong, multidimensional characters who feel real and relatable, each of whom brings their own strengths, flaws, and backstory into the narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC

This was great historical fiction that will keep entertained and pulled into the story.

Selene and Beatrice are best friends, librarians, and spies. They work for the U.S. Intelligence Office and are sent to Lisbon in 1943 where World War II is at full throttle. Their official jobs are to catalog the information the Allies gain, but when night drops on the city, they try to get information from the Axis spy network. Both spies must take large risks for their country. Is there anyone they can trust? What relationships will crash and burn?

The Librarians of Lisbon is a historical fiction thriller that started out great and then fizzled as the story continued. Nelson did a wonderful job creating the backdrop of World War II female spies and the troubles they went through. I liked how many of the characters were based on real people who did similar things to support the Allies’ cause, but there was something missing in the end. This was a different WWII story than usual, so that was a saving grace. This will be a good read for some but not all historical fiction fans.