In the Paris Library we are swept up in the story of Odile, a young librarian working at the American Library. With the Nazi's occupation of Paris, Odile must learn to navigate family expectations, helping to keep the library open and the harsh realities of war. No one is above suspicion and there are lasting consequences for the choices that are made. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this memorable story of friendship, courage, loss and betrayal.

THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles is a February2021 LibraryReads selection as well as being a "most anticipated book" for Library Journal and Goodreads. I truly enjoyed learning about the library (where Skeslien Charles has actually worked) and its functioning during WWII. The story alternates between Paris during the war where Parisian Odile is a young girl with her first job in the reading room and in Montana in the 1980's where Odile, now widowed and a bit of a recluse, is neighbor to Lily who recently lost her mother. Readers will appreciate both the European setting with its sense of menacing German occupation and the more modern intergenerational story where Odile and Lily gradually set loneliness aside, develop trust, and support each other. A coming of age tale involving friendship, betrayal, and books.

Novel reveals wartime heroism at the library
By Sandy Mahaffey For The Free Lance–Star
A By Sandy Mahaffey For The Free Lance–Star
A personal connection of the author to a story seems to give a novel even more life on the pages. Such is the case of Janet Skeslien Charles’ “The Paris Library.” I seem to have chosen a wonderful assortment of World War II fiction lately, this being the most recent. Charles actually worked at the American Library of Paris, a unique library in France providing books in English and other languages to the residents of the city. This book is based on the story of the heroic librarians who struggled to keep the library open during the German Occupation.

“The Paris Library” has dual timelines: Paris in 1939, and Froid, Mont., in 1983. Odile is fresh out of library school. Against her father’s wishes, she seeks and acquires a position at The American Library of Paris. She has loved the library since her aunt first took her there and taught her how to use the card catalog and the Dewey Decimal System. (Odile categorizes much of her life using Dewey.) Her father, a police captain who is determined his daughter will marry, brings a new young, single cop home for dinner every week, much to Odile’s dismay. She becomes an integral staff member of the library, and comes to care deeply for the staff and the international group of members who frequent the library nearly every day. World War II impinges upon their lives in unspeakable ways. The characters are brilliantly developed, and I came to really care about them.

In Montana, Lily is experiencing typical teenage angst combined with a great loss. When she decides to interview her reclusive neighbor, Odile, a war widow, for a school assignment. They discover that they are similar in some ways—“the same love of language, the same longings, the same lethal jealousy.” Odile teaches Lily to speak French and makes Paris during the war come alive with her stories as she becomes a mentor to the teen, whose home life is rather chaotic. While it is lovely to see their friendship blossom, Paris during the war provides the backdrop for the primary story. I must add that the love of books and reading and the importance of libraries to a community also play major role.


The author’s notes were wonderful, going into great detail revealing which characters in the book were real people, and giving even more details about Paris during the occupation. The bravery of the librarians to get materials to patrons when they were no longer permitted in the library was stunning. This book was obviously well-researched and gives the reader a perfect view of a part of wartime that I had never even thought about prior to reading it.

It is a book about families torn apart, friends lost and found, fear, hope, inspiration and books and a love of reading. Bravo to Janet Skeslien Charles for a job well done.

Paris, 1939: Odile Souchet is working at the American Library in Paris and spending her free time with her police officer boyfriend, Paul. When the Nazis take over Paris, Odile tries to save the library, it's patrons, and her loved ones. Along the way, choices she makes change her life forever.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a teenager in the midst of experiencing a horrible loss. She seeks out her reclusive French-born neighbor, Odile, as an escape and to learn more about France. As Lily learns more about Odile's past, she finds a friend and a refuge in the midst of her storm. Will Odile's secrets separate them forever?

This is an exquisitely written book which is ultimately about friendship and choices. It is about how a few words, said in haste, can change a life forever. It's about strength in the midst of chaos and evil, and choices that one makes that you can never take back..

The book moved a little slowly for me at times, but it is a compelling read. I learned so much about the American Library in Paris and the evil actions of the Nazis in France. I really enjoyed the friendship of teenage Lily and elderly Odile. I was also riveted by young Odile's attempts to protect Jewish patrons of the Library and to bring them books after Jews were banned from the library by the Nazis. If you are a fan of World War II historical fiction, you will enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary

“Books and ideas are like blood; they need to circulate, and they keep us alive.” - The Paris Library 📚

A book about books, a library, and World War Two? I knew as soon as I read the synopsis of this one I needed to read it.

Odile is a young woman working as a librarian at the American Library in Paris throughout WW2, a time when the free sharing of books and ideas was not welcome. I loved her dedication to getting books into the hands of those who need them. This book was very much character-driven and focuses on the day to day life of Parisians during the German Occupation which I always enjoy. While this book wasn’t told exclusively through letters, I really enjoyed how they were incorporated to tell aspects of the story that we didn’t see.

This book does have a dual timeline, with the other following Odile as an older woman in Montana during the 1980s and her relationship with her teenager neighbour, Lily. While I saw the purpose for it, I definitely found myself trying to zip through these chapters to get back to Paris.

If you believe in the importance of books during hard times and enjoy WW2 historical fiction focused on the daily lives of those trying to get by, I think you’ll like this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is the untold story of the American Library in Paris and the people who worked there. Based on true events and with characters who were actually alive and working there during World War II, The Paris Library tells of the bravery and sacrifice that was made to keep books in the hands of their subscribers, or patrons. The actual story follows Odile, a young woman whose dream is to become a librarian. However, when the war comes to Paris, she and her colleagues must find a way to save the books that mean so much to them, as well as deliver to those patrons who are no longer allowed, such as Jews. In present time, the story follows Odile's young neighbor Lily, whose mother dies and she bonds with Odile. As the two form a friendship and the stories of war are told, both learn from each other and discover new meaning and hope.
I truly enjoyed this new look at war. We so often hear of battles and hospitals, but so much of the war was also fought at home, in libraries, in stores, and in small ways. The hope that came from books for so many people in that time is the same hope that we see today in a good story. My only wish was that there was a resolution at the end of the story that never comes, thus my four star rating. As always, I am grateful for the chance to learn and enjoy and experience a world I will only ever read about. Thanks to #NetGalley for this opportunity. #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

I loved this story! Told in a duel timeline which I love! Heartfelt characters and story... highly highly recommend!

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy of The Paris Library in exchange for my honest review.

Historical Fiction can be a ticky genre for me, I tend to either be totally drawn in and fascinated by the story, or bored by it. I'm very happy to say that The Paris Library fell in the first category! The dual timelines, strong lead characters, and beautiful story makes this one a must read for anyone that enjoys the Historical Firction or Women's Fiction,

The story is told in alternating time lines of Odile in the 1930s - 1940s in Paris, and of Lily in the 1980s in Montana. In her older age, Odile is very quiet and private, and when her young neighbor, Lily,comes knocking on her door one evening it is the beginings of an unlikely friendship that will save them both. What unfolds is a story of trust, bravery, struggle, and heartache.

Odile has always dreamed of being a librarian at The Paris Library. During the years she is there, she finds relationships that will change her for better and worse, and she will become braver than she ever imagined. Her story was so powerful and heartbreaking.

Odile comes in to Lily's life with clandestine timing. Lily is a young girl at the time, and goes through her own hard times. The friendship and love that Odile shows her, and the lessons she learns from her, will shape the woman she becomes.

The Paris Library is based on the true story of the heroic work done by the librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II. This story features key themes of friendship, family, and the power of literature. I loved that this book gave a new perspective to the World War II time period. If you like historical fiction but find a lot of WWII fiction too “heavy,” this book is for you. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to read The Paris Library and enjoyed the details of this historic library that survived WWII and still lives today. Otherwise, I struggled to finish this book as it seemed like multiple books I have read. I read many books each year and it's my hope your adventure into the years preceding WWII and during the war will be exciting and enjoyable.

I Received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was quite a nice book. The subject about a library during WWII was pretty cool but I tend to have an issue with transitioning timelines which affected my ability to get into it.

I was drawn to this book, based on the name alone and my interest in Paris and libraries. I have read a lot of historical fiction set during World War II. This was different in that it was about protecting the books, but similar to others about the tough times during the war and the horrible treatment of the Jewish people. I loved reading the authors notes at the end of the book and to find out that some of the people in the novel were based on real people. This book was about friendship, family, and love of books and so much more,
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it.

One of my favorite genres is historical fiction, and I love when I find a new author, (to me), who writes a story about something I know nothing about and makes it come to life vividly and beautifully.
The Paris library is a story in two time periods, also one of my favorite types of storytelling, Paris 1939 and Montana 1983. Both time periods feature Odile, a Parisian, who introduces the reader to the glorious American Library in Paris. As a lover of books and libraries I enjoyed the brilliant descriptions of the library's subscribers as well as its setting.
The Montana story line is just as enjoyable as we meet the older Odile. Her close relationship with her young neighbor, Lily, helps us discover Odile's journey from Paris librarian to Montana widow.

An excellent book.

I love Historical Fiction, especially when it’s been inspired by a true story, so I was very excited to receive an ACR of “The Paris Library” from NetGalley. Set partially during WWII in Paris, the story follows Odile and her fellow librarians who help keep the American Library open during the war. The second timeline is set in the ’80s, where Odile now lives in a small town in Montana next to a curious teenage-aged girl.

While kind of slow at times, this book had plenty of twists that kept me interested and ultimately did not end the way I anticipated. I think this would be perfect for fans for “The Book of Lost Names” and “Beneath A Scarlet Sky”. It was such a unique perspective of the lives of librarians during the war, that I think any book lover will appreciate and love its plot.

This fabulous novel explores the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and most important, the need--- and the desire---for information. It illustrates how important libraries are, even in these days of Google and the internet.

The library in this novel is The American Library in Paris. A real, still-functioning library in Paris’ 7th arrondissement, ten minutes from the Eiffel Tower, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020. From their website: “The American Library in Paris was established in 1920 under the auspices of the American Library Association with a core collection of books and periodicals donated by American libraries to United States armed forces personnel serving their allies in World War I. The Library has grown since then into the largest English-language lending library on the European continent. It operates as a non-profit cultural association…”

I loved looking at the website photos to help clarify my visions of what the library looked during the novel’s time frame (1939-1944). That is one timeline in this fabulous story. The other is 1986-87 and takes place in Montana.

The war years’ part of the story mostly takes place in the library. There is a whole cast of employees and patrons that readers get to know as the noose of the German Occupation grows tighter and tighter. However, the main protagonist is Odile (Oh-deal) Souchet. The Montana part of the story gives readers full-circle about what happened after the war.

Odile has just landed her dream job at the library. She is so happy to be there, she doesn’t even mind that her parents are desperately trying to find her a husband. Her dad, a police commissioner, is always bringing single officers home for Sunday dinner. Odile has no interest in marriage.

As the Nazis goose-step down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, most Parisians flee the city, except for the library employees and a few faithful patrons. The employees stay behind because they believe in their mission, to provide information and entertainment.

What happens in this novel is not unlike what is happening at libraries in 2021. They are doing their best to stay open and meet patrons’ needs. I work at a library (not on the frontlines though) and felt a symbiotic relationship with Odile and the others. Even when they were in danger (as our staff is with the coronavirus running amuck), they showed up to complete their mission---even if that meant home deliveries and hiding patrons of a certain religious persuasion.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. I also recommend visiting The American Library in Paris; website at americanlibraryinparis.org.

The Paris Library receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

This is another fun take on a WWII novel. Is there anything that readers love more than reading about other readers? yes, we also love reading about libraries! This book has both and is a book of hope set against a backdrop of war and loss. It also has a dual timeline, which is always fun. 3.5 stars.

I learned so much from this novel—and so much of this story was familiar to me. I didn't know anything about the American Library in Paris before reading this book. I am amazed at the strength and determination of the librarians who went to great lengths to continue to provide service and books during the war. But I guess that shouldn't really have surprised me, because from working in libraries, I understand how passionate library people can be.

I loved the fact that I was learning so much about a library of the past but I also loved how the author really 'got' the people and nuances of the library world. It was amusing to see characters that I have known in real life, personalities that I recognize from my own library experiences. And what a great, interesting cast of characters they were.

The Paris Library was an amazing read and one that I can highly recommend. It's the perfect World War II historical fiction story that will especially appeal to anyone familiar with libraries. This book about a great library and its people will always have a special place in my heart

The Paris Library is absolutely marvelous, and it's become one of my favorites. I love the era(s) in which the book takes place, and the way that the story is told. In the 80s, Lily is the exact age I was, so it was so easy for me to relate to that time period. And books set during and around WWII are among my favorite types to read, so the fact that that was Odile's "timeline" made this even more enjoyable for me.

The characters are wonderfully well-written. I loved the patrons of the library; they are unique and colorful, and I think you will love them.. The relationships between and among characters are completely believable....even one which you'd think impossible. I love that the characters grow and change throughout the book.

I love how important saving the books and keeping the library open is to the characters....and how important books are to them in general. Can you imagine our world without stories?

There is so much to love about The Paris Library, and much of what I love would spoil the book for you if I shared it. If you're reading this review, I'm sure you're a book lover, and this book is for book lovers! You'll love it even more if you are a fan of historical fiction. I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Paris Library for free. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

The year is 1939, WWII is on everyone’s mind as the war is moving closer to home. Impressed with the American’s Dewey Decimal System, Odile decides that an American library is where she wants to works and lands a position at the American Library in Paris. Odile loves her new position: being surrounded by individuals who care and enjoy reading. This truly becomes her second home and her refuge.

We move to the year 1983. Lily has heard that this woman in her neighborhood was a war bride yet to Lily, she didn’t match what Lily envisioned. For school, Lily interviews this neighbor and discovers what a treasure Odile really is. While Lily feels like her own life is crumbling apart, she finds a true friend in Odile and someone that she can confine in. Although they are generations apart, Odile finds that being with Lily, she’s able to share the story of her life and her talents, which brings her tremendous joy.

I enjoyed how the author alternated the stories throughout the book. As I read, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a true account, that this story actually took place. Although at times, I didn’t want one story to end, I was excited to get back into the lives of all the characters. I had a hard time in the beginning chapters getting settled into the book but after those few chapters, I enjoyed it. I loved how everyone who was a part of the library tried so desperately to make sure their subscribers had access to the materials that they wanted. It wasn’t just making sure that the books were safe during the war but getting them out and into the hands of the individuals who really needed them, during this difficult time. Doesn’t this sound like what we are going through now, to a point? Is your own library meeting the needs of the people that it serves during this uncertain period in our history?

Odile’s relationships had me up at 3:30 in the morning as I couldn’t sleep thinking how things were going to work out. Between her father, her brother, her girlfriends and her romance, it’s a wonder I slept at all the past couple nights. I appreciate the author’s research in putting this book together as it was a fantastic read and one that I highly enjoyed.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @librofm @atriabooks @netgalley @jskesliencharles for this #gifted ALC and ebook.

This is a story based off the heroic librarians that helped protect the American Library in Paris while the city was occupied by Germany during WWII. The Paris Library not only tells of every day heroes, but also of friendship, family, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

The Paris Library is a character driven WWII story, unlike any that I’ve read before. It’s told in a dual timeline and from different POVs (but primarily from Odile & Lily). While most WWII historical fictions I’ve read in the past are heartbreaking and tragic, this is story is a bit more uplifting with its focus on friendships both past and present. I love how much attention was given to the library and the Dewey decimal system; this really is a great read for any major book lover.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜: I loved the narration of this book! This is narrated by several different ladies, which gave the characters their own unique voice and helped bring them to life. Even with Odile’s accent (which I loved) I was able to speed up the pace and still understand her.