Zofia and her best friend, Janina, are librarians who always had a passion for reading. When the Germans bombed Warsaw, her home, Zofia was separated from her friend Janina who was forced to move to a Jewish ghetto. In an effort to save her friend, Zofia joins the resistance movement. She not only tries to save her friend, but also save thank books that are threatened from being destroyed. Both Zofia and Janina work together to save the written word.

I found both Zofia and Janina to be very relatable and likable. Both of them lived under different circumstances during the Germans’ occupation of Poland. However, they both have a love of reading and have formed a secret book club. They also worked tirelessly to save the books and to promote the written word. I admired their passion, determination, courage, and strength. I liked how both of them were able to make the best of their difficult and troubled times. They were very awe-inspiring characters! Therefore, I was curious to see how their ending would be!

Overall, this book is about friendship, loss, and resilience. I found all of the characters to be very realistic. The setting was very realistic, dark, and gritty! It showed the horrors and tragedies of WWII. I also loved the writing style because it was very evocative and thought-proving! I also liked how the novel discussed banned books! The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was slow, and it took me a while to get invested in the story. Nevertheless,The Keeper of Hidden Books was an emotional journey that was dark but filled with hope! For fans of WWII, you will not want to miss out on this book! I recommend this for fans of The Book Thief, The Blackout Book Club, The Little Wartime Library!

Zofia is living in Warsaw in 1939 during the time the Germans occupied Poland. She is eager to help her country and one way she does this is by saving books banned by Hitler as he tries to erase the culture contained in them from the world. As an obvious lover of literature, the thought of having countless tomes destroyed is gut-wrenching. Zofia is an amazingly strong woman and loyal friend.

As always with her novels, I can tell how much research and passion the author put into this story. Historical fiction based on real life events is one of my favorite genres because of the emotion it evokes while reading. The resilience of Zofia and those connected to her is remarkable.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Wow wow in awe of those for protected all the amazing stories for future. Loved this book. I always learn something even with fiction about real life events.

I am late in reviewing this but still wanted to because I am a big fan of the author. This was a book I loved reading and couldn’t put down not only because of the characters and storyline but also because of the passion for literature that they all had. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of it, but then towards the end when the uprising happened, I honestly skimmed through that part. I was also glad to see it wasn’t heavy on romance but stayed the course and focused on what Zofia was trying the achieve with her convictions.

Because many books have been written about this history, including books by the author, The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin leads to an automatic comparison. I find myself thinking again and again that I have already read this story. I have not, but this one does not stand out and stand apart from the others. This story in and of itself is not memorable, which is a shame because the history needs to be remembered.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/01/the-keeper-of-hidden-books.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Zofia is a young girl during the occupation of Poland by the Nazis. She loves books, learning and her best friend Janina who happens to be Jewish. Zofia becomes part of the Resistance and even hosts a secret book club of books that have been banned by Hitler,
This book is obviously meticulously researched and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It is also extremely relevant to today's times of book banning.
Pick this book up! You won't be sorry.

Loved this one! The writing was wonderful and so descriptive. A great HF can be hard to find and one about books and WWII? Sign me up!

This is honestly one of the best books that I have read in a long time.

In this novel, you will travel to the Poland of WWII and meet Zofia and her family and friends as they engage in their world around them in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. This novel has very rich characters that seem like they come to life right off the page and teach the reader sympathy for the trials that others have gone through. Zofia, though in a terrible situation, does not allow her circumstances to destroy her but rather moves to make the lives of those around her better.

This book is a fantastic novel because it is a very clean novel with no foul language or unnecessary sexual scenes. As a 30-something-year-old woman, I enjoyed this book but I can also see it being very interesting and appropriate for teens and above.

The Keeper of the Hidden Books, along with being a excellently written novel, is also a love letter to books. In this story, Madeline Martin makes clean how important book are in the lives of all people.

This is a novel I will suggest over and over again!

Thanks to NetGalley for a ARC copy of this most wonderful novel!

The Keeper of Hidden Books

by Madeline Martin

This book is perfect for:

—lovers of books, reading, and libraries
—those who think reading is important for continuity of culture
—people who value ideas
—readers who like the notion of discussion in book clubs
—history buffs
—those interested in Poland—culture, history, role in WWII, underground resistance
—Girl Guides and Boy Scouts
—people who want to know more about the horrific treatment by the Nazis of Jews and Poles.

The Keeper of Hidden Books starts gently with Girl Guides preparing their skills for a war they assumed would never happen. Poland had lost its freedom before, and the Poles were determined it would not happen again. We gradually learn about the lives and values of several of the girls and their families. We witness the responses of the Polish citizens—both heroic and traitorous. As the story progresses we watch the destruction by the Nazis of libraries and books and the valiant efforts of librarians and volunteers who resist this extinction of knowledge. We also observe the desire of people of all ages to maintain access to books that provide escapism during times of hunger, persecution and despair.

This is a good book for me because I treasure books as many of the characters in the novel do. It is a warning to all of us to guard our freedoms, especially the freedom of speech which includes the written word. Hitler worked hard to maintain his power through censorship; we must not let history repeat itself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Historical Fiction

Notes: The author concludes with notes about her research into the history behind her story, a tale which is based on real events and people in Warsaw. Buried in her discussion of the destruction of books by the Hitler Youth is the statement “But the power of books still endured.” That is a distillation of the theme of this book.

Publication: August 1, 2023—Hanover Square Press (Harlequin)

Memorable Lines:

Now the world crumbled in on itself, burning away the beauty of Warsaw, and there was no more time for reading than there was food to eat.

More and more children were appearing at the library as time went on. Many of them were desperate for distraction, to read about faraway places they could not go, or to transport themselves to mythical lands that could still tease at their dulled imaginations. They wanted stories where villains were vanquished. But books were more than a means of escape for these children; they offered another life to live. They offered hope.

…why Hitler so feared the books he banned. There was power in literature. Brilliant and undeniable. Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will always be a sucker for a historical fiction book, particularly one involving sabotaging Nazis and Polish uprising, and Madeline Martin did not disappoint in this witty, poignant read.

This is a wonderful book about the brave individuals who continued to keep books safe while Poland was occupied by the Nazis in WWII. While you may think people in the middle of a war, especially the Jewish individuals, would have other things to concentrate on (lack of food, the horrid living conditions, being murdered on the streets, etc.) there's still something inherently human about wanting to escape your world through the pages of a book. And, because of these individuals in this book, others were able to continue to share their small libraries even during the worst of times.

There are some dark, dark moments in this book, which makes sense based on the content the author is focusing on -- but it is written so well that you'll be crying but wanting to move forward with the story. The character development is wonderful. Ugh! I don't have enough words to fully articulate how well this is written and how captivating it is, but rest assured I finished this one in a single sitting.

Definitely worth a read if you enjoy historical fiction, especially if you're interested in "based on true stories" from WWII.

I picked this book to read because I like books that take place in bookstores. This was also a WWII story that took place in Warsaw. I liked the book but didn’t love it. Just didn’t keep me interested but is a good book. It just wasn’t my favorite.

I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction, though it's been a while since I've read a book based in Warsaw. I really liked the parts about hiding the books, but I think the author was trying to do too much in this book, and the story was disjointed at times. I think it would have worked better if she had focused on a year of the war instead of trying to tell the story of Warsaw throughout the whole war. That said, it was still an interesting read.

I loved this book, like everything else I’ve read by Madeline Martin. A book about books, how can you go wrong?
Zofia and Janina are determined to save books from the Nazis. They did what they could to hide books, and kept plenty of books stocked in their underground library. They even had a book club during the air raids that kept book lovers, even the children, occupied and gave them something positive to look forward to when they’re forced underground. The characters were beautifully written. I felt so connected and invested in their lives and loved their determination in protecting the books.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC of this wonderful book.

Wow. I genuinely enjoyed this wonderful story of WWII Poland and the power of people bound together by a love of books. In a rare and unexpected twist, I think I enjoyed the information learned in the epilogue as much as I enjoyed the book itself!

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a well-crafted novel that succeeds in transporting readers to a time of turmoil and triumph. It’s a heart-wrenching yet hopeful story that I would recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction or the enduring power of literature.

In conclusion, Madeline Martin’s The Keeper of Hidden Books is a notable addition to the genre, deserving of its accolades and recognition as a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Historical Fiction1. It’s a story that resonates with the reader long after the last page is turned.

This book for me had a slow start. Once I got into the book I found that I enjoyed it. I would recommend to someone who is looking for a cozy read.

This was a WWII book about books, the love of them, and how war can tear people apart. It was well researched and well written, and I liked the story but didn't quite love it. 4 stars.

Actually 3.5 stars, but don't get me started on 1/2 star ratings!!! I recently discovered an affinity for historical fiction and I always love a book about the love of books and reading. Something just fell a little flat for me with this one. That's not to say it wasn't good, because it really was, and I am so glad I read it. There is so much to be learned about that time in history. I am usually moved to tears and the subject matter stirs big feelings in me, and this time that didn't happen. Again, I really enjoyed it and I think many will love it.

Zofia Nowak and her friends love to read, but in Warsaw in August 1939, reading is becoming a radical activity. With a Nazi invasion imminent, Zofia and her friends scramble to read as many Hitler-banned books as they can before they’re confiscated. When the inevitable invasion arrives, Zofia and her father hide banned books beneath the floorboards in their apartment, hoping to preserve them for a time when Poland might be free again. But when her father, a physician, is dragged off to prison along with so many of Warsaw’s intellectual elite and her best friend, Janina, is confined to the Jewish ghetto, Zofia realizes she must join the resistance against the Nazis.

As the Nazis seek to control the Polish people by controlling the ideas they have access to, Zofia and a few other librarians find stealthy ways to continue getting books into hands and education into minds. As the crackdown against the Jewish people intensifies, Zofia puts her new skills to work squirreling away not only banned books but also Jews she’s helped smuggle out of the ghetto.

Martin has penned a novel that is both heartbreaking and timely. Through Zofia’s eyes, readers experience the agonizing separation of families at the hands of the Nazis and the anger that so many Poles had to tamp down in order to survive. Martin captures the fear that so many families must have felt as friends and neighbors disappeared and there was no way to know who might be next. And through it all, Zofia recognizes the hope and love her beloved stash of hidden books represents and understands that love is precisely why Hitler wanted the books stamped out. Because, as Zofia reflects, “Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone.” Highly recommended.