Amazing story and a compulsive read. I don't believe I've actually read a WWII book set in France before. I just had to keep reading to find out how Odile got from Paris during the war to Montana in the 1980's.With the recent political occupation that we've been through I was very intrigued with how the regular French person dealt with the Nazi Occupation. I highly recommend this book.

Facinating story blended with fact. Not the intense cruelty of many war history stories, more of a coming of age story built around historical fact. Intense and thoughtful.

Captivating, heart wrenching and overall beautiful work of literature. The Paris Library is the best novel that I’ve read in 2021. Now that doesn’t seem like a big win since it is still the start of the new year, but this book has set the standards for all the rest of the books that I will read this year.
I knew from the very first page of this book that I was in for an amazing journey. Since time travel is not a thing as of yet, my books are the portals, this book time travels. I was immediately transported to the year 1939 in Paris. Each page showed me a part of the city that I never got to see when I was there. I got to see the American Library in Paris because of this book and even felt like I was standing in the middle of the events that the characters were experiencing. I watched the fear that came with the political unrest in Europe in the year leading up to World War II. I watched the lives of the Parisians change when occupation began and even the way that people changed due to the years of war. I became friends with the workers and Odile.
That journey isn't the only journey that readers take through the pages of the book. You travel to Montana in 1983. You meet a young girl and a now mature Odile and the unique bond that is developed through mutual admiration. You too begin to care about what seems mundane but to that young child, they are the most important moments in her young life. We all had those moments when we were young.
This novel is different from most time period novels. The hops in time and between characters is clear and distinct. The story is filled with details that make it become even more real throughout the pages. Overall, you should read this novel and fall in love. There really isn’t much for me to say other than this book is AMAZING!!

The first paragraph features a young Parisian would-be librarian running through the #deweydecimal system in her head at night as she contemplates her interview at #theparislibrary. Oh, the days! I remember the smell of the oak card catalogs and repeating the numbers to myself as I sought a tome. Odile is complicated, but she’s easy to love. War May bring out the worst in so many, and She makes regrettable choices at times, but her better impulses take her all the way to1980s Montana-when she’s a solitary elderly lady. The narrative goes back and forth beautifully. Sometimes I couldn’t wait to return to Paris; other times I longed to stay in Montana with Lily, Odile’s young neighbor. Both narratives converge into one compelling story I couldn’t put down. I could see every single character on my mind’s eye, and I wanted to have tea with all of them. Buy this one now! Or, get on the waitlist at your favorite #library !

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book takes place in Paris while world war 2 is approaching from a distance. Lately I have loved reading books such as this one because it does an amazing job of showing how little many knew about what was actually going on when they weren’t the ones directly effected. However, this book shows how the citizens of Paris were still brave, and hurt, during the war. This book is so charming but yet so deep as it follows the bravery and betrayals of a young librarian trying to make it through the hardships of the war. If you love historical fiction, charming French settings, or books about books then I highly recommend this one. It comes out on Tuesday the 8th!

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Ms. Charles, a former librarian at the American Library of Paris, has written this work of historical fiction. The main story takes place in Paris during World War II. The other story takes place in Montana during very recent times.

Highly recommended for public libraries and book clubs.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of The Paris Library, which is based on a true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris. The book alternates between 1983 Montana, where Lily struggles to find her place at school and her changing family dynamic; to 1939 Paris where a young Odile has started her first job at the American Library in Paris.

I loved reading the Paris plotline as Odile and her fellow librarians fought to keep the library doors open and get books to its readers during the German occupation of World War II. Then back to 1983 where Lily begins a friendship with her neighbor, a now older Odile. Aside from my fascination for the 1939 library plotline, there was plenty of suspense in both timelines to keep me turning the page. This is a must-read especially for historical fiction fans.

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Paris Library
A Novel
by Janet Skeslien Charles
Atria Books
You Like Them
Historical Fiction
Pub Date 09 Feb 2021 | Archive Date 01 Jul 2021

I really like historical fiction, but this one just wasn't a good match for me. It was slow going and I couldn't get interested in the dual timeline. I liked the Paris storyline the most. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the
ARC. Not my favorite book.

3 star

I wanted to love this one, because I’m a sucker for library stories and WWII books. However I didn’t like, don’t get me wrong I loved the Paris setting. But even that couldn’t the two main characters Odile in 1939 France and then Lily in 1983 Montana. Lily was supposed to be a teenager but the way she was written and her behavior she seemed younger than teenage. I had high hopes for this one.

I really enjoyed the history of the PARIS library and Odile, the main character has such strength and humble beginnings .I liked the dual timelines with Lily a very inquisitive teen who learns so much from Odile while struggling with her mothers health issues . Remarkable story !

I was excited to read this one, as it has two of my favorite things in the title--Paris and Library! This one was a slow start for me, and the book as a whole was a bit slow moving for me. The dual time lines that seems to be the recipe for every single WW2 historical fiction lately made it harder for me to get really invested in the book. I loved the Paris story line the most. Overall I liked the book but didn't love it as much as I'd hoped.

It was an insightful view of the times in Paris before and during WWII. A coming of age story set upon the memories of a librarian in Paris, the love,, the pain and the joy really touched me. There was a mystery line in the middle part of the story that was handled well. The part after WWII seemed rushed. All in all a great read.

I'm a few weeks late in typing up my review but I absolutely devoured this book. While I enjoy historical fiction books, my favorite ones to read are centered around WWII and The Paris Library was different than any I'd read before. I enjoyed that it was focused on the American Library in Paris and the brave librarians who kept it open during the Nazis occupation of France. They put their own lives at risk in order to continue supplying their Jewish patrons with books after the Nazis banned them from visiting in person.
I love that some of the characters were based on real people. What they did was admirable and it's amazing what they accomplished.

The book seamlessly alternates between Paris in 1939-1944 and Montana in 1983-1989.
In Paris we follow Odile Souchet when she begins working at the American Library in Paris in 1939.
In Montana we follow Lily Jacobsen, a lonely seventh grader who decides to interview her reclusive neighbor Odile Gustafson for a school report on France.
Odile begins teaching Lily French while telling her about her former life in Paris during WWII. I love the friendship that develops between them. Odile is there for Lily as her mothers health declines and becomes not only a friend but a mentor to the young girl. My heart completely broke for both of them.

I appreciate that both Odile and Lily are flawed characters who've made mistakes but were able to learn from them and grow. It's more realistic. While I enjoyed both timelines, I have to admit that I preferred Odile's story to Lily's. Her story was intriguing and as heart-wrenching as that time period was I couldn't read fast enough. I liked learning more about the American Library in Paris and after reading the authors note, I can appreciate the book even more.

The Paris Library was well-researched and beautifully written. I would highly recommend picking this up if you're a lover of historical fiction!

The Paris Library was an interesting novel to read. I enjoyed learning about the American Library in Paris and the librarians who kept it functioning during the Nazi occupation of Paris. The novel demonstrates the power of friendship and the power of books. The part I didn’t like was the dual timeline-the part set in Montana in the 1980s. I had no interest in an adolescent girl who was trying to pry into Odile’s life and also unsatisfied with her own. The book became almost YA fiction in those parts. Odile’s life was interesting enough to make this novel complete.

I love historical fiction novels, especially those centered around WWII. I loved that The Paris Library had a new focus that I had not seen before, centered around those who tried to keep libraries open to the public, and the books themselves being protected from the Nazi's. I also love when the heroine's have flaws. None of us are perfect, and to see the mistakes that Odile made, and still love her character, was a true testament to the character building that took place with her. I also loved that the book focused on showing different aspects for people when the Nazi's invaded France. There were those that were happy, those that were angry, those that fell in love, and those that were forever lost. It was such a horrendous time, and yet it repeatedly turns into beautiful novel.s. I really enjoyed The Paris Novel.

Really great book! How Lily’s and Odile’s stories intertwined was what made it for me. It was definitely a different twist on WW2 historical fiction, yet so refreshing. Worth the read and the non-fiction aspects of the book added to its character AND its characters. I’ll surely be visiting the ALP this summer when I visit Paris.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book through NetGalley from Atria Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Without toi, there’s no moi.”
― Janet Skeslien Charles, The Paris Library

By 1939 Odile couldn't ask anything better from her life. A new job at American Library in Paris brought her not only joy but many great new friends. Her relationship with the family couldn't be better, loving parents and supportive twin brother. And of course, nouvel amour, that took her breath away. Odile's happiness was short-lived as her beloved country and city were occupied by Nazi's and her idyllic life came to an end. As the War progressed and brought sorrow into her life, Odile began to make decisions that affected the lives of the ones she dearly loved.

By 1983 Odile found herself in a new country, living a new lonely life when a knock on the door gave her an opportunity to make an impact on a young girl's life. Meeting Lily and getting to know her family, and later supporting the young girl thru grief and grand change in her young life made Odile take a look back at her life, and for the first time open up and tell her story, and share her shame.

Odile and Lily's friendship warmed my heart. Despite the significant age difference, they learned a lot from each other's character. I wanted to love this novel, the build-up to Odile's final twist in the novel was grander than the actual ending to her Parisian affair. It was a good but slow read. I read the book in my free time but I didn't free my time to read the book. Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books publisher for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ebook. I was very excited with the premise of the American Paris Library being open to all during WWII. This book was a 3 star for me. I found Odile at times frustrating like she tried to ignore there was a war going on and was so immature with her friendships. The dual timeline with Lily and Odile fell flat for me. It took a long time for them to develop a friendship and with Lily’s snooping to discover Odile’s past.

I loved The Paris Library! I'm a WWII historical fiction fan and this was everything I hoped it would be!

As a book lover, who doesn't love a complicated story that revolves around the lives of those in charge of taking care of a library during a war and ensuring access to books at the American Library in Paris?! The jumps between 1939/WWII and the 1980s were seamless and helped deepen the story.

I fell in love with Odile as she came into adulthood and figured out who she was, what values she stood for, and how she ended up in Montana. And I loved how she became a guiding and steadying force in Lily's life.

In fact, I fell in love with every imperfect character, the lessons and anecdotes shared from favorite books, and the reminders of how books (and libraries) have the power to connect each one of us.

This historical novel takes place in two time periods. In Paris before and during World War II, we see things from the perspective of Odile, a young French woman who gets a job at the American Library in Paris. And in Montana in the 1980s, we see the perspective of Lily, a sad teenage girl who gets to know her older French neighbor - Odile. So unlike some dual time period historical novels, it doesn’t bury the connection between the two stories, though I will say that though they are both very good, they didn’t really gel into a way that made me understand mixing them into one book until almost the very end - but then it really came together. I also enjoyed learning from the acknowledgements that not only was the American Library a real place, but many of the minor characters working at the library were real as well. If you enjoy World War II fiction, definitely add this one to your to read list.