I love time-slip novels and if it's a book about a library, I'm there. This story captured me, entertained me, and inspired me. While it doesn't shy away from the hard topics, it's not grim. It takes you back in time to wartime Paris and to Montana in the 80s. And shows how very different circumstances can lead bring a teenager and a mature woman together.

This is one of those stories that stays with you, long after you've finished it - thank you for this story!

The book drives itself purely on so much emotion. The reader is transported back in time to Paris in the 40s and the representation of characters is fascinating and colourful. The times seem hard and the characters are faced with difficult decisions that we are right alongside for the ride. I felt connected to the people in the story and genuinely cared about what happened to them!

I wanted to give this book more stars. The “future” story didn’t appeal to me as much as the war story. I wish the book was only that, but understand the choices the author make to deepen Odile’s story. The afterword is simply amazing! To learn that all characters in the book were actual people in that time. What wonderful research!

Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy.

One of my favorite genres is historical fiction. I have also been enjoying books about WWII. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles fits the bill. While I enjoyed the story, it was not my favorite. Would I read it again? Would I recommend it to others? I would, however, I would add that the story is a little slower going than I would usually like. I wish I could use half stars in this review as I think it is higher than 3 stars, but not quite four.

WWII Historical Fiction is by far my favorite genre and this one did not disappoint. This story is told in dual timelines. I have read many a book that tries to make this work, some work well and some, well, not so much. This one works!

As a fan of historical fiction, I was intrigued by this morsel of history. I found the book a bit slow to start and too laden with characters. As other have mentioned, I think the story could have been told without the parallel timelines, though I did appreciate how they showed that each person is not easily understood or defined by a snapshot in time.
Overall, an enjoyable story. Stick with it and you will not be let down

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. Since I started #bookstagram and discovering new genres, authors I have discovered that I absolutely love books that are poetic in nature. Where the references create vivid illustrations in my mind and are able to transport me into the story and be with the characters. The Paris Library is one of them.

The Paris Library takes place during 1939 during WWII, the Nazi occupation in Paris and 1983, Montana. Odile is a loyal, independent woman that lands a job at the American Library in Paris due to her love and knowledge of books. She has a twin brother, Remy, that enlists in the war and her father is a police constable that is required to follow orders, whether he likes them or not.

During the war, Odile finds love, finds herself willing to do whatever it takes to save the library, and by joining the Resistance. Odile does her part in helping to support the library and its readers, even those subscribers that were banned from entering the library. Her fellow librarians found a way to ensure that all readers, and even injured soldiers got their hands on reading material.

The story then fast forwards to 1983 where Lily, a high school student, lives next to a foreign neighbour which no one really knows about. All they know that she is from Paris. Curiosity gets the better of Lilly and when the opportunity for a school project presents itself, Lilly knocks on her neighbours door and asks for an interview.

From there, a beautiful friendship forms as Odile supports Lily and her family through the loss of her mother, her father remarrying and having stepsiblings. The friendship is important for both them as Lily, unknowingly has given Odile a sense of purpose and joy in her life.

I absolutely fell in love with the storytelling and the descriptions of events and characters. I loved how there were quotes from different books, placed throughout the story, each one relating to the events taking place. The story came to life through the pages and gave us a glimpse into the history of WWII though the eyes of the inhabitants of The American Library in Paris. There were many losses, much heartbreak and betrayal due to the war. Through the power of hope, of friendships and love, the survivors were given another chance at life.

Thank you @netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book!!

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a memorable account of life during World War II in Paris after the German invasion. In 1939 Odile is thrilled to be hired at the American Library in Paris (ALP). Her love of the written word soon makes her an important and respected member of staff. As the German soldiers take control, the library is in danger of being closed permanently, like so many others. This is the story of how library staff coped with years of foreign dominance while serving their subscribers. They were years of hardship, fear, terror, prejudice and survival of the human spirit. But it was also a time of love, friendship and kindness. These are the heroic lives of the librarians during a terrible time. To this day, the American Library in Paris is still thriving, in part due to these courageous people. This is a well-researched and fascinating look at the dedication needed to stand against the Nazis and save an important and beloved library. The author worked at the ALP in 2010, which accounts for the atmospheric retelling. Highly recommended. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to this book--I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly surrounding the World Wars. This story explores the real-life American Library in Paris during WW2, and I was so excited to read about books and librarians and trying to preserve a library under Nazi rule.

But I only made it about 30% before I found that I really couldn't connect about the characters. There is some mystery and intrigue, especially as the story skips between 1939 and 1983, but I just really struggled to care. The story is beautifully written, certainly, but I didn't feel anything.

Unfortunately, a pass.

The Paris Library is more than a story about WW2. Oh it’s a very interesting, well written, and well-researched book. I loved the historical aspects - a library kept open during the war, how it functioned as the Nazis take control of France. It only stands to reason that those who not just work there but those that patronize it are also affected.

But my take away is more. The Paris Library is an emotional story about human nature and what happens when confronted with the unimaginable and how one reacts. Who do you trust? Whom should you fear? When one is scared it's easy to lash out in anger and confusion, to make decisions not anticipating the consequences.

Told in dual time periods, I am usually drawn to the past but I enjoyed the 1983 storyline also. The developing friendship between Lily and Odile added that little something extra and actually a nice diversion from the heartbreak of Paris life during the war.

The author's note rounded this book out nicely. So much of this story is based on historical facts along with a lot of real people from the past making this book all the more compelling. Written with compassion The Paris Library is a book that will stay with me for a while.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although the story is set during WWII it is not a war story per se; rather the focus is on the well-developed characters rather than the war. It deals with many powerful emotions such a joy, love, jealousy, hope and the power of friendship. With the dual timeframes it is about the coming of age of Lily and the wonderful role that Odile plays in helping her through this difficult period. Odile, who has made so many terrible mistakes in her life does not want her young protegee to repeat them.

This is a wonderfully insightful and well written book about the role played by the librarians at the American Library in Paris. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in a good story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing read.

This is the story of Odile Souchet, librarian at the American Library in Paris during WWII. When the Nazis take over Paris, Odile finds her own way of joining the resistance. She continues to distribute books to some of the enemies of the Third Reich.

Fast forward to Montana in 1983 and Lily's discoveries of her neighbour and her past.

Gives a flavour of Paris during the occupation and the damage perceptions can do.

I was really excited when I got this book. It has everything I usually love in a book but I was very interested in Odile's story and the rest of it I could have done without. I found the book lacking in so many areas that my mind started to wonder. The basis for this story has been done to death and it really didn't provide anything original in my opinion.

I only just managed to finish it. Having said that the author has a talent, I just think a new perspective on an old tale was needed rather than the same storylines that keep being regurigated.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me an advanced e-copy of The Paris Library in exchange for an honest review.

This book has three of my most favourite elements bundled up together. My favourite genre (Historical fiction), my favourite holiday destination (Paris) and my love of books. I was gripped right from the beginning when the library and its staff were mentioned.

The Paris Library captures the voices of the courageous library staff who defied the Nazis to help the subscribers and to share a love of literature during the Occupation.

There are a lot of books written on WWII and the Nazis Occupation, the story (a true story and events) about a library was something new to me. I liked reading about the number system used in the libraries during those years for stacking the books and the reference of classics throughout.

The author, Janet Skeslien Charles, worked at the American Library, Paris and she used her extensive knowledge and love of books to enrich the language of The Paris Library. The dual timelines are an interesting way to reflect the contrast and similarities between WWII (Paris) and 4 decades later in Montana. Janet’s brilliant storytelling technique is reflected on how she wove the story around the real characters and it is so captivating.

The author’s note, in the end, was an eye-opener when I found out that most of the characters and the events in the book were real. She researched them well and wrote this gripping book.

If you love books, historical fiction and Paris - The Paris Library is a MUST read.

Mark your calendars, it is coming out on 02 Feb 2021 now.

A sweeping tale of a dark period in history. It is one that many people to this day choose to sweep under the carpet. Charles has brought to life that brings the beauty with the very ugly. Based on real people that endured this time and got through it as well as they could. My hope is that this enlightens people so that this is not repeated. Loved The Paris Library, thank you Janet Skeslien Charles.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

I love historical fiction books that are based on true events;I love books about books and libraries; I also love dual timeline books. This book had it all. This was a lovely book. It’s so interesting to read of this library, during the time of the World War II. There are so many historical fiction books from that time frame and it was nice to read one that was a little bit different.

The library is the centre of the community, in those days especially, people went there for more than books, they went for news, for gossip, for friendship and comradery. For Odile, the library was all of these it was a place she felt safe, a place she felt important and a place she felt needed. I loved her story, this will be a book you think about long after you read it. In the present, in Montana in the 1980s, it is a story of an unlikely friendship between teen Lilly and her French neighbour, Odile. Lilly thinks Odile is fascinating and wants to know everything about her, especially how she came to be in Montana. The past is 1940s Paris, at the American Library, where we follow Odile and her co-workers at the library.

I loved this story, it was heartwarming and heartbreaking, I loved all the reference to the Dewey decimal system, I could almost smell the books. When I was young, there was nowhere I lived more than the library. This book was well researched and well done.

Odile is a Parisian young woman in love with literature, and dreams of working in the American Library in Paris. Her dream comes true just before WWII erupts in Europe, and France gets taken over by Nazis. The library is allowed to stay open, but, of course, Jews aren’t allowed to use it. The remaining employees band together to do what they can, bringing books to the usual Jewish clients and keeping the library fro Nazi influence.

We also get a story from the 1980s, Odile is a widow living in Montana, and her young neighbour Lily befriends her and tries to find out the truth about her past.

I really enjoyed this, based on a true story. I actually hadn’t realized most of the characters had actually existed until I got to the end! Rather than being one of those usual love-in-the-time-of-war stories, this was a beautiful tale of friendship between Odile and Margaret, an English volunteer at the ALP. We know from the time in the 80s that Odile does not marry her beau from the 1940s, and that she hasn’t returned to France since the war, but we don’t know why until the end. The mystery was well constructed, building up steam but never leaving us frustrated. And Odile's love of books was so well transcribed, I loved it!

My only criticism was that sometimes the pacing was odd, and things would happen much too quickly, leaving me with a bit of whiplash.

Oh and I almost forgot to add that the French was perfect, which is SO rare in a book written in English but set in France! A real breath of fresh air.

I had a hard time getting through this book. I was very interested in Odile's story, but couldn't care less about Lily. As I was reading, I came to realize that I'm sick of stories that are set in two different time periods and have a connecting thread. I guess I've read too many books in this theme lately. I love books set in WWII, and I love Paris, but this book just did not grab my attention for the most part. It didn't help that I began reading this at the start of the pandemic, so it was very hard to concentrate for a long time.

I'm a newly big fan of historical fiction and although this book was based on real people and real events, I found it to be too long and detailed at times making me put it down often. I think having the 2 storylines was a bit much and took away from Odeline's original tale. I almost wish the main and only focus was her story from start to finish.

Even though this wasn't an easy or favourite read for me, I can definitely say that the writing was very descriptive and the research for the events and people was meticulously written and portrayed.

I am thankful and appreciative to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book has been archived very early. Luckily there is another listing, so I have obtained a new copy and will review it.