Inspiring and well written book. Great for fans of WWII historiatical fiction. The message the book carries is very inspiring.
4.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told by a 18 year old girl Zofia who lives in Poland in 1939. She is on the cusp of adulthood and isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She lives with her parents, she loves her papa a physician, her Mama is strict and frequently mad at her. Her brother is off training to be a soldier. She loves her friends and books. They belong to “ Girl Guides” which is like girl scouts, but with extra first aid duties and firefighting as fitting for the times. They start a book club called the anti-Hitler Bookclub and read the books Hitler has banned. They work as librarians to supplement their families meager incomes.
I read the book with a growing sense of dread as we know what is going to happen. First Zofia is sure the Nazis wouldn’t dare attack Poland. Then as bombing start elsewhere in Poland they are sure that it wont happen in Warsaw because the US and UK will step in and defend them. Then after constant days air bombardment in Warsaw the Nazis roll into town. Zofias best friend- Janina and her Jewish parents face increasing antisemitism at home and are forced to move to the Jewish ghetto, where there situation becomes increasingly dire.

The Nazi’s have a fear of educated citizens ( as do all despots) and begin aggressively ban books - stripping the libraries of anything that challenges their dogma or ideas. As an act of rebellion the librarians take to hiding books in secret warehouses, and setting up mobile libraries with books being delivered to patrons homes in suitcases. Keeping ideas and hope alive in the minds of the community and especially the children.

I liked the characters of Zofia and Janina - they are average citizens, constantly looking to help in anyway possible to resist an unfightable force. The situation is dire and their bravery was remarkable. Both girls modeled the “ keep Calm and Carry on” motto ( I know that’s British but it fits here) constantly. My only criticism was that I wish the author had delta a bit more into the trauma they both experienced - they were a bit too James Bond cool to feel real to me. Educational read about what happens when a town is occupied.

A truly inspirational story regarding a group of students and librarians who fought to protect the books in Warsaw during the Geran occupation. The book is based on historical facts and the story is gripping and will hold your attention. I could not put this one down! A must read for all.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Madeline Martin’s novels because of the history she uncovers and the bookish references she weaves into her stories. It’s no surprise that World War II novels are a particular favourite of mine and when you add in a reference to books, reading, or libraries? I’m even more intrigued. Martin’s latest is The Keeper of Hidden Books, published earlier this month, and it was an unflinching look at what it would have been like in Warsaw during WWII.

Here’s the book’s description:
All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.
With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.
But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.
There were times I felt Zofia was...going too far into saviour mode - and I do wonder if that’s an unfair assessment. She could clearly see how the war was affecting not only Christians, like herself, but the Jewish people, like her best friend, Janina. She had as close to a front row seat as you could get and understood how dangerous it was for the Jewish folk in Warsaw. She was enraged and I don’t fault her for wanting to do something. I’m glad Martin had a scene where Zofia realized how dangerous it could be for Janina when Zofia stood up to the Nazis occupying their city because, until that point, she was only thinking of how upset she was and how unfair it all was from her own perspective. Of course it was unfair. I’m definitely not arguing that. She just hadn’t realized how impossible the situation was and how her actions could put others in danger. Would I have done any better? Hell, would I have even tried to stand up to a Nazi? It’s so hard to say, isn’t it? We want to think we’d stand up for others in a dangerous situation but would we? Martin shows all the shades of grey in this situation and illustrates very well how difficult it would have been for all Warsaw residents during their occupation. Once she got her hotheadedness under control, Zofia was able to use her rage for good and I hoped it would be enough to help liberate her city.

Books, reading, and libraries play a huge role in this novel and I loved that element. I was so happy that Zofia and Janina wanted to be educated in working at a library but then, almost immediately, I was heartbroken that these young women (and so many others like them) had their lives turned upside down and weren’t able to pursue their education. Hell, eventually Janina wasn’t even allowed to be in the library, let alone be learning or working there. Martin showed that, amongst all the sabotage and fighting for freedom, books were important to the people of Warsaw. Books have power and the girls used that power as much as possible. Hitler was banning and burning books and Zofia and those she worked with tried to save as many books as they could, to prevent stories and ideas being lost forever. They also tried to read as many as they could, having their own anti-Hitler book club. Martin used a lot of research to illustrate the power of libraries and books, including how important they were in the Jewish ghetto. For a bookworm like me, it was really powerful.



This is probably one of the most grim WWII novels I’ve read in some time. All of them are, to some extent, but this one hit especially hard. Was it because it was about a part of the war I hadn’t read much about before? I knew the invasion of Poland kickstarted the war but I hadn’t really thought about what it would have been like for the Polish people. Not in as much detail that Martin presented, that’s for sure. It was hell for those people. The description of the ghettos, the scarcity of food, the roundups, and the public executions. Pure and utter hell. It can be hard to read about these things and wonder about similar issues going on in the world right now that are being ignored. Are most of us any better than our ancestors were? It’s a sobering thought.

The Keeper of Hidden Books was extremely interesting and I’m glad I read Madeline Martin’s latest novel. It didn’t quite live up to my expectations but I appreciate the insight Martin gave with this story and how she showed the importance of books and reading, even in some of the darkest times.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HTP Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

“When one has experienced the rawest sentience and passion, when you have died a thousand deaths and have learned to tame that agony into prose, that is how great emotion is written.”

Take away wartime romance and give me a story about sisterhood with all of its endless love, loyalty that is boundless and courage that is unwavering.

Zofia, Janina and Maria are childhood friends in the year 1939 when the whispers of war come ever closer to their beloved Poland. together they form an Anti-Hitler Book Club, reading books that have been banned by his regime. Though war comes ever closer, the naïveté of the young girls at first causes them to be in denial that their country will ever fall, and when it does so comes the first epic tragedies of their young lives. Yet, they remain hopeful that the Allies will come. When that doesn’t happen, Poland begins to fight back in any way that it can. For Zofia and Janina this means protecting their culture by hiding away literature that the enemy has already begun to empty.

Janina is of Jewish origin and so is in immediate danger from the enemy. Janina faces much hardship first by the peers who used to be friends but then shun her for her bloodline, by strangers in the street, by soldiers who have nothing better to do but show the world their cruelty and hatred. Janina remains ever more HAPPY and HOPEFUL. Sadly, she and her mother are eventually forced into the ghetto where Zofia is able to maintain communication with her through letters, we learn of the unbearable reality that Janina endures.

Zofia is technically the main character in this story but Janina captured my heart and she’ll stay with me for a long time.

This is fiction based on fact and it shows, you can see it, you can feel it. There is a scene where the Nazi soldiers are rounding up Jews and I found that I had been breathing erratically, having to steady my breath. There are times that my blood boiled with anger and my heart broke with sorrow at the way HUMAN BEINGS were treated. Because this was REAL history. This may be fiction but someone lived through this. Madeline Martin wrote this story with compassionate thought and care. I’m not sorry that I read it. This book will stay with me forever.

I would recommend this story to anyone who appreciates WWII fiction based on facts, and would be willing to feel all of the feelings. While at times, this was difficult to read let it be understood it’s because the author wrote it with benevolence. Despite the pain in these pages, please don’t be afraid to pick this one up. There’s so much more to it than tragedy. There is hope, growth, relationships between mother-daughter, father-daughter (my favorite), yes, even a little bit of romance. Bravery, selflessness. This book is so much more than words and greater than any one feeling.

Huge, heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and Madeline Martin for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of Hidden Books, I don’t even know where to start describing this novel. The love, admiration, devotion, trials and tribulations fought, won, and lost throughout this book have one on the edge of their seat. Madeline Martin has a special finesse for gripping the reading and making them become one with the characters. You’re not just reading about their lives, actions, etc. you are living the battles, trials, tribulations and emotions right along with each of the characters.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is based on historical events around the Jewish holocaust, the polish wars to gain independence from the Germans, and the soviets. It is about people who fight to save those near and most precious to them.

Zofia is the main character she is full of spunk, charisma, and the desire to help, protect and restore Poland to its former glory. Zofia works and fights beside her close and dear friends to protect books from the destruction as ordered by hitler during the war. Throughout this book Zofia and her companions go through many trials and tribulations that would break the weak hearted, and bring most to their knees. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves history as much as I do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A touching yet horrific love story about books, friendship, freedom, and the fight to have and keep them. The story felt à bit long at times, but knowing that people faced these atrocities in the past and still are. It's an open story to tell and remember.

Madeline Martin has been one of my go to authors ever since reading The Last Bookshop in London. Along with The Librarian Spy, she has placed herself in my auto reads for World War II fiction, based on fact.

The Keeper of Hidden Books takes place in Warsaw, told from the point of view of 18 year old Zofia. Zofia is an avid reader, she works in a library and best friends with a Jewish family.

This was a interesting story coming in at over 400 pages. Having read enough WW2 fiction over the years this was a nice refreshing change and highlighted the importance of books during this war. As the Germans slowly strip away those closest to her, friends and family and watching the travesty unfold in her beautiful country leaves her wanting to fight back. She does so in a way that I have never read about before. She has her books and together with others, they preserve those that Hitler deems unacceptable. What follow is a story of dedication, heartache, perseverance and strength.

The author notes at the end was something I was looking forward to, mostly to confirm that the librarians in this part of the book was based on fact, and I love that was.

The power of books still endured though such a horrible time in history.

This book is AMAZING. If you love BOOKS, you need to read this book. Inspired by a true story, it is about how a group of book lovers in Warsaw, Poland created an underground library to save many of the books in their libraries when the Nazis wanted them destroyed.

Zofia and her best friend Janina love books and their book club informally called the anti-Hitler book club. It is so-called because they read books that Hitler has banned. When Janina is forced to move to the Jewish ghetto, Zofia is devastated. But she then shows incredible bravery fighting to save her friend and helping to save precious books.

Beautifully written, this book is both a heart-wrenching and a heartwarming story. The power of literature is a core theme in this book, along with the strength of friendships and the human capacity to be resilient.

I loved Zofia and was held in suspense each time she risked her life…and that was often. I loved how the Polish people found such comfort in books and how the brave librarians risked their lives to save books. The author also writes of the Polish people's pride in their culture and their battles for independence throughout history.

Two of my favorite quotes from the book:
“…why Hitler so feared the books he banned. There was power in literature…Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone.”
“I want to be enraged by injustice and let myself mourn for those who are lost. How can we see wrong if we let ourselves go numb?”

I recommend this to all historical fiction fans and all book lovers.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin is a highly recommended historical fiction novel inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw.

Zofia and her best friend, Janina, who is Jewish, both love books. When bombs begin to fall and Warsaw is occupied by Hitler's forces, looting of the city begins, Jews are being locked up, and books are being banned. Zofia knows both her friend and all books need saving. She begins to salvage books from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starts a book club. The one thing that continues to sustain Zofia and Janina is their love of reading. The struggle is to preserve the books along with the Polish culture and community.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a very well-written historical fiction novel. The narrative is set in Poland from 1939 to 1944 and follows the campaign to eliminate Jews and the Polish population. The author's notes that follow the novel are must reading as they provide information about Martin's research into the story. The events she covers are based on the real life efforts to preserve the underground Warsaw Library during WWII. Real historical figures are woven seamlessly into the plot.

It is a story of struggling, loss, and grief, but is also an ode to the determination and bravery of those individuals who were courageous enough to risk their lives in a common goal. Those who love reading historical fiction, especially novels set in WWII will want to read this novel. 4.5
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Hanover Square Press via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

4.5⭐️

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟖.𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

Thank you @HTPBooks and @BookClubbish for a gifted ebook.


📖1939, Warsaw: All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend since childhood, Janina.
But now as Germany bombs and destroys their city, and the horror increases around her, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina, half-Jewish, is forced to relocate into the newly formed Warsaw ghetto.

But life only becomes more dangerous for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. Through the war raging around them, Marta and Janina find hope and the will in each other to survive, and fight using the only weapon they have left – literature.

—---------

I can’t resist books about books. But reading about Zofia, to be so brave as to start a book club amidst the war that raged around them in Poland, with books banned by the Nazis, made my love for books grow even more.

This book is incredibly well-researched and written. My heart went out to Zofia, her family, and the Jewish families. It was amazing how the people risked their lives - not only to help the Resistance but save the books that were to be destroyed too. It truly speaks to the power of the written word.

𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 - 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.

This book is fantastic! I love how much historical context is used in the story and you can tell reading this book how much research Madeline Martin did. I love how this story shows how powerful literature can be in bringing people together. This is an absolute masterpiece and a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys literature. This is an absolute gem! Special Thank You to Madeline Martin, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This review was published on Goodreads on August 18.

The power of books is the focus of this WWII novel. Hitler’s troops troops wreak havoc, but the Polish people fought back. Small victories maybe, but victories nonetheless. This is a unique focus among WWII stories.

THE KEEPER OF HIDDEN BOOKS by Madeline Martin is a tour de force historical fiction novel featuring a group of friends in Warsaw, Poland during WWII inspired by the true story of the public and underground libraries that continued throughout the war. This is a must read for all lovers of books who believe books have the power to uplift, nurture, embolden, and provide escape during the worst of times.

Zofia Nowak and Janina are inseparable best friends bound by the love of books. This novel follows their lives, their families’ lives, and friends during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw during WWII. It is a poignant look at the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi’s in the Warsaw Jewish ghetto and against the general Polish population in general. Hitler looked down on all Poles and wanted them eliminated or used as slave labor.

Zofia not only worked with Polish Resistance, but also worked in the library warehouse to save as many books and historical documents as possible from the Nazi book banning and burning. Janina and her family are Jewish and end up in the ghetto, but both continue to find ways to share books, remain friends and resist.

This story is beautiful and inspirational as well as so hard at times. There is a reason autocrats ban and burn books because the words and ideas are powerful. Books give hope, teach empathy, and spread ideas that can change hearts and minds. This book has an inspiring friendship at its center, mentions wonderful literary novels throughout, and reminds us to be ever vigilant of those who seek to ban and destroy books and history.

I highly recommend this marvelous historical fiction novel!

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a well-researched, page-gripping, heartbreaking story of a young girl who profoundly loves books. Set between 1939 and 1945, the story is told through the perspective of a young girl named Zofia Nowak and her friends, who have a deep love of literature and will do anything to defy Hilter to destroy the books he deems not worthy of his new world. I enjoyed seeing this glimpse of how people fought Hilter in the form of a book club, hiding books inside a forgotten warehouse and, at times, in a suitcase behind a wall. The book reminds us that although Hilter stole many things from many people, some were determined that Hilter wouldn’t steal their love of reading, their books, or their freedom to choose what to read. The bravery of these young people in a time when their world is torn apart by bombings, war, and friends being pointed out as unworthy of living is fantastic and to be admired. There are a lot of stories from that time in our history, and we should never forget and pray it never happens again.

What an intense, inspiring, heartbreaking, hopeful, poignant story, authentic story about a group of Poles (both Christian and Jew) working together to fight their Nazi occupiers in a courageous effort to protect the treasures of Poland: her citizens, her history, her cultural heritage, the knowledge of her leaders (doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc.), and perhaps most important of all, her humanity.

This book was almost impossible to put down. The characters are so incredibly well developed and complex. They put a human face on a devastatingly difficult time in our world's history, immersing me in their lives in a realistic and relatable way that left me in tears more than once. Martin doesn't shy away from the heart-wrenching realities of the Nazi regime. That, and her impeccable research, bring an authenticity to the events in the book that affords intimate insight into Zofia, Janina, their family, and friends. It's that intimacy that brings these characters to life as they risk everything to protect all they hold dear, including one another.

As a lover of books and a staunch believer that all books should be available to all people, I was especially impressed to learn that this book is based on actual people who risked everything during WWII to preserve and protect the libraries of Warsaw and the books housed within. It speaks to the knowledge to be found in books, to the free thought, ideals, patriotism, and resistance within. To the empathy that occurs from learning about and understanding other people, religions, and cultures rather than attempting to homogenize a populace by denying access to any book that goes against the government's chosen ideals. It's no wonder the Nazis were determined to ban and then destroy the literature of Poland. There's a lesson there that all generations should take to heart.

The Keeper of Hidden Books is a powerful, thought-provoking, beautifully-written story. I highly recommend it.

*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review.

I always say that I enjoy Historical Fiction even more when it is about an event or time that I learn something new about. The Keepers of Hidden Books did just that. When Hitler and the Nazis defeated Poland when they invaded, their goal was to destroy the Polish identity as well as 85% of the people. They didn't expect the Poles to fight back and save so much of their culture through the Warsaw Lending Library. Zofia leaves school to support her best friend, Janina, who happens to be Jewish. They get jobs at the library and soon become part of a group saving books that Hitler has banned. When Zofia's father, a doctor, is arrested and imprisoned with not reason given, she wants to do even more to support the resistance and get Hitler's Nazis out of Poland. Eventually Janina and her parents end up in the Warsaw Ghetto and Zofia risks her life to help them. Eventually working for The Home Army in the Warsaw Uprising, Zofia and her friends do what they can to free Poland.

As a book lover, I can't imagine a world without books, but knowing that these women working in the library were willing to risk their lives to save books and get them in the hands of people wanting to read them is hard to believe. As I read this book, I got to know these women and understand that this was a symbol of their fight and freedom. There was a quote in the book that blew me away:

"There was power in literature. Brilliant and undeniable. Books inspired free thought and empathy, an overall understanding and acceptance of everyone. In the pages of books that were burned and banned and ripped apart for pulping, Zofia had found herself. These were the parts of her that were human and strong and loving, parts that understood lives she had never led."

I can't recommend this story enough. It is emotional, full of loss and grief, but it is also the story of brave, courageous people. People who stood up to bullies at risk of their own lives. A story of family, friendship, and the power of books to bring people together and to open minds. Another well written and researched book by Madeline Martin.

I was gifted this book in exchange for a review from NetGalley. All review opinions are my very own.





I love historical fiction and when I find a new story about World War II, I am eager to read it. And it has a book club, too? Be still my heart! Read on to find out what I thought about it!

From NetGalley:
All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books, and her best friend, Janina. But few could have imagined the depths of the evil and destruction brought by the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, and Zofia finds that everything she so treasures desperately needs saving. The Keeper of Hidden Books is the story of Warsaw’s brave librarians and of a secret book club, formed with the purpose of reading the books and saving the culture that Hitler was determined to remove from Poland’s shelves – and erasing from the world.

My Take:
This book couldn't be more timely here in the United States. With libraries being under attack as I write, I found this book to be chilling yet brilliant. This book moved me in ways I am still pondering about. Madeline Martin has created a story based on history yet touches the very heart of what we are experiencing today. We are supposed to learn from history or be doomed to repeat it. I think it is obvious where we are today.

I loved the relationships built by the author, those of family, friends, and culture. The last few chapters moved me to tears. I cannot wait to share this with my own book club. This is the one book I may have to insist on for this year!

My mark of good historical fiction is how well the author does the research. I believe that Madeline Martin has earned her "A" on research with this book.

The Author:






Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), one incredibly spoiled cat, and a man so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves research and travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.



The Keeper of Hidden Books: A Novel

By Madeline Martin

On Sale: August 1, 2023

ISBN: 9781335455024

Hanover Square Press Paperback Original

Price: $18.99



Buy Links:
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martin?variant=40957166223394

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1335455027?tag=harpercollinsus-20

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-keeper-of-hidden-books-madeline-

martin/1142592141

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-keeper-of-hidden-books-a-novel-of-world-war-

ii/18842611?ean=9781335455024



Social Links:
Author Website: https://madelinemartin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadelineMartinAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadelineMMartin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinemmartin/


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12062937.Madeline_Martin

I'm not a huge fan of women in the European Resistance during the WWII as I think there's too many book and something which was very important is becoming a literary genre.
Plus my father was in the Italian Resistance so I tend to be hypercritical
This is a different type of story, well plotted and poignat. I appreciated the setting, Warsaw, and the originality of the story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Such a timely story of what happens when books are banned by a small group of closed-minded people. As long as there are books, and people, there will be book bans and reasons to be angered. It's so important to keep reading those books, and to read books about book bans (though this is a bit different than what we are currently dealing with in the US). This was the message I kept hearing while reading this, and I think it's very important!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.