I really like this WWII era book that focused on the blitz in London from 3 women’s points of view. The characters were charming and resourceful, and I love how the community came together and created not only the underground library, but many other social services as well. The author did a lot of historical research but there was one small detail that bothered me. The librarian, Juliet talks about books she loved as a child and mentions Narnia, when the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe wasn’t publishing until the 1950s ( and is actually about children evacuating to the countryside during the blitz, so not something she could have read before the war). It’s a small detail but it made me then look up every book that was mentioned to see if it had been published before the story takes place. I also have to say that everything tied up just a little too neatly for each women, and while they endured the horrors of war and deserve a happy ending, I felt that pretty much everything working out alright detracted a bit from the story.
Overall, a very solid historical fiction on focusing on community and a love of reading!

Once again Jennifer Ryan has given me characters to root for. Played out against The London Blitz, we watch these strangers forge friendships, despite the destruction around them. Juliet, leaving behind her old life and the fact that her boyfriend has deserted, starts a job in a local library in London. Sophie, a Jewish refugee, is separated from her family to work as an unappreciated domestic for a horrible man. Katie, heading for university, finds she is pregnant while mourning the baby’s father who is missing in action. When the library is destroyed by bombs, the friends move it below ground to the subway station where people seek shelter during the nightly attacks. Love for reading blooms among the crowd; friendships deepen; loneliness is quelled. Despite the incessant destruction, the underground library becomes a place to shelter, read and learn as many deal with fear and loss. How horrid this ordeal faced during the war, yet the characters forge ahead, warring against the enemy in their own form of combat. I love this work.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Underground Library.

WOW! I absolutely LOVED this book, from start to finish. I am already looking forward to reading another Jennifer Ryan book, as this was my first of hers. This true story is set in London leading up to and during the Blitz of World War II when the Bethnal Green Library moved underground after the library was damaged during a bombing. The characters are lovable and endearing and this book shows the strength, determination and spirit of the citizens in those times. MUST READ!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read another amazing book by Jennifer Ryan. The Underground Library is an about the Bethnal Green Library being moved to the local underground station during WW2. Like all of her other books, her characters are so captivating and likable that you feel like you're living in the moment with them. Everyone's storyline is unique and keeps you wanting to know more. With each new book, I have a harder time choosing which one is my favorite. I can't wait for the next one!

The war is on and come to London, impacting lives in various ways, but one community’s spirit is bolstered through books in Jennifer Ryan’s The Underground Library.
The Bethnal Green Library has just gotten a new deputy librarian in Juliet, who’s been provided the role while men are fighting in the war and she’s keen to bring her ideas to life in this cultural hub, with or without the approval of the stodgy head librarian. Katie, an assistant at the library, helps Juliet with her ideas as she looks forward to her upcoming time at university until a few other of life’s surprises change her course. Having come to London from Berlin on a work visa to escape the growing horrors of the Nazis, Sofie’s work as a domestic servant has been rough and she’s found refuge in the library and the people within it while she’s separated from her family. These young women each have hardships and heartbreaks they’re facing but they manage to find comfort with one another and from the sharing of books and the stories they contain. When the library is destroyed by a bomb, the surviving books are relocated to the Underground station, where the women are all determined to keep the library open in this new capacity to help distract people from fear as they shelter each night. As more and more unfortunate events occur to the city, and these women, the community built around this novel library and the surprising source of support it provides in a trying time is tested.
In following the narratives of three women’s lives during World War II and the Blitz in London, a vivid picture is presented of the societal pressures and political forces they each faced throughout the novel and the sense of community they found in and with one another as circumstance, and literature, brought them together. As each woman is navigating the challenges in her path around and through societal expectations, they manage to courageously find strength to carry on despite the difficulties and circumstances they face and pursue the path in life that they want instead of bowing to convention. While there were emotional trials that each of the characters endured that brought realistic gravity to the story in reflecting wartime perils, the more optimistic ending presented, though heartwarming, feels a bit too good to be true given the level of troubles presented for them all to overcome.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this BOOK! It's filled with history, romance, friendship, female empowerment and so much more! Did I say I LOVED this BOOK?! Make sure to read the Author's Notes at the end because the information about the real Underground Library is fascinating.

The Bethnal Green Library in London moved underground after the library was damaged during a WW2 bombing. It brought people together with a community spirit and connection that gave the people hope and comfort.

Libraries and books are special. As Juliet in the novel says, "Libraries aren't only about books; they're about people. They're about human life and how books can mend hearts, comfort wounds, and inspire us. But most of all, books can bring people together. Their ideas and thoughts make us realize that we are not alone, that we are all connected."

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books, and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this book. It was on my top 5 anticipated reads for 2024, and I was ecstatic to receive an ARC so I didn't have to wait all the way until March.

I don't know if I built up the hype inside my own head too much or what, but this book kind of fell flat for me. It was difficult to get into and it seemed to drag along in places. It wasn't a bad book, but it also wasn't my favorite. It definitely didn't live up to the hype inside my head.

It was an okay read.

I love books about books and books about libraries and this story has it all. The Underground Library is about a group of women who meet through the local library at Bethnal Green in London during the Blitz of WWII. The library brings the community together but it is the people that really make the community and the library special.
We read the stories of Juliet the newly appointed Deputy Librarian of the Bethnal Library; Katie, who works at the library until she is heading off to University and Sophie, a Jewish refugee who is working as a domestic for a horrible man. When the Library is bombed during the blitz Juliet takes it underground and friends and community come together to ensure their library is saved but the truth is the library saves them and so many others who shelter in the underground during the Blitz. This is a wonderful read which will bring a tear to your eye as you bond with each and every character in the book.

Fascinating historical fiction that I could not put down. The story of the London Blitz and a real library is enhanced by the growth and perseverance of the three young women. Good character development and and important part of history that the younger generations may not be aware of.

The Underground Library is historical fiction based on actual events in London during WWII. The novel alternates among the POVs of three young women who are involved in saving the Bethnal Green Library after it was damaged by a bomb. They do this by moving the books they were able to salvage to the nearby Bethnal Green underground station. There they set up a mini-library that not only lends books but has a book club for adults and provides classes for children who shelter there during bombing raids by the Germans. Each of these three women has a love interest who is affected by the war or by the rescue operations in London. This is a story about friendship and about the sense of community that was very integral to keeping up spirits during the Blitz. A bit predictable at times but an enjoyable, fast read nonetheless.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this historical fiction of living in London during the Blitz and keeping the local library operational after it was bombed. I loved the characters and how they developed throughout the story, too. This book has history entwined with the fictional stories of the main characters, all strong, independent women... which I love even more. There's love, friendship, found family/loves, WWII goings-on a dash of romance and a strong sense of a community pulling together to keep calm and carry on. Definitely recommend this story.

This novel brings the history of the Underground in England during WWII to life. Highlighting the lives of three women we experience their problems and difficulties as they struggle to survive. This important story shows the unique world created in the tubes and how people banded together to escape the horrors of daily life. Women’s roles and jobs as well as their strength are showcased as they take on new roles that were always given to men. I enjoyed all the research as the library and school are brought to life. The author’s descriptions put you right in the middle of it. I especially like that the library is so much more than books which is the truth today as well. Romance and society’s norms are also an important aspect of this novel. Tears and cheers thought out this novel. #TheUndergroundLibrary #JenniferRyan #NetGalley

This is the first book I've read that was written by Jennifer Ryan. It won't be my last. I enjoyed The Underground Library. It's the story of 3 women living during the Blitz in London. Sofie is a young Jewish woman who narrowly escapes Berlin by getting a work visa in London. She's treated terribly by her employer and fears for the safety of her family. Katie is a young lady who is headed for college. Her boyfriend is killed in the war, sending her life into a spiral. Juliet arrives in London after her fiance is labeled a deserter in the army. All three of these ladies find the light in their life in the local library. Juliet and Katie work there and Sofie escapes her difficult employer in the library. When the library building is hit by a bomb the ladies have to figure out how to save the library they love so much. Each of their stories was interesting and the way Jennifer Ryan interwove them together was masterful. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a great read! This historical fiction story is set in England during World War 2. Juliet is named deputy librarian at bethnal green library but after the library is struck by bombs. Juliet has the idea to move some of the books to inside the shelter in the nearby tube station. Her idea is an instant hit with everyone except her boss, who doesn’t think the people are the “right” class. A group of ladies form a bookclub and they help each other to be less lonely. I don’t want to spoil the rest of the book. I do recommend you pick this one up if you enjoy historical fiction! Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for the honest review.

Loved this book! The characters were real; you cared about them.

The setting, London during WWII, was so well depicted, I felt like I was there.

I don't think I've read another historical novel based on WWII that made me feel that I knew what people on the home front in London had gone through.

I'd recommend this book to any historical fiction lover or book group. I gave it 5 stars!

New deputy librarian Juliet finds that Bethnal Green Library can use her help. Katie loves working at the library until she plans to go to university in the fall. Sofia, a Jewish refugee, works as a domestic for a very unpleasant man. When bombs destroy the library they take whatever books they can find and make an underground library. This is a wonderful, special book about women and their resourcefulness.

ARC Review-The Underground Library-by Jennifer Ryan
Publication date: March 12, 2024

Historic fiction novels are my favorite to read and this one did not disappoint. I love that Jennifer Ryan found a nugget of history—the underground library in the tube in London during WWII. From that nugget, she created a story of compassion, community, love, and survival during the harshest of times.

I love the character development for the three leading ladies: Juliet Lansdown-the new deputy librarian from a small village; Sophie Baumann-a Jewish immigrant, who was forced to take a housekeeper position to escape Germany; and Katie Upwood-the assistant librarian and teacher who is hiding a secret-she is pregnant. To me, they quickly became treasured friends you joined every day to find out what would happen next to each and find out they could save the library after so many overwhelming challenges.

Each woman evolves through their personal struggles as they fight to save the underground library that has come to mean so much to the group of people sheltering in the tube to escape the London bombings. In the end, the ladies are all are saved by the underground library community of Bethnal Green. The Community of loving, supportive women and men help everyone around them survive the war and together they save the library.

This book is a charming, thoughtful and will bring a tear and a smile.

Four Stars!
This book is available 3/12/24

I was lucky to read this advanced copy from the publisher in exchanged for a fair and honest review.

Advanced Reader Copy Review:

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan perfectly combines a bookworm's dream with a historical fiction novel. Set during the blitz in London during World War II, told from three women's POVs, The Underground Library tells the story of Bethnal Green Library and when it's bombed during the blitz, the librarians bring it underground into the tube station because they know that the power of the mind and spirit is more vital than any enemy. This book tells the fantastic homefront story and illustrates how books can transform the mind and spirit weaved through the fourth main character in the book. Not only does Ryan reference many books and authors, but he also displays how books can transport us when we feel lost and alone and can lift the mind and spirit. This was just so amazing. I loved every minute. Any historical fiction lover who loves to read will love every minute of the perfect combination of historical fiction and a book lover's dream. I will recommend this book to every lover of historical fiction.

This book gave me so many emotions as I was reading it. The story being about women who love reading and books gave me a direct connection to the characters in the book. I have read a lot of historical fiction books but none that grabbed my heart as much as this one did.
Juliet, Katie, and Sofie and their love of books made the book have a true meaning of life and what can be if you set your heart and mind to it.
To see how the love of books is a connection for many no matter where they are or what is happening to the world around them.
Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Ryan and Random House Publishing Group for the copy of The Underground Library. This is my personal review.

The Underground Library is the tale of a group of women who come together by chance in Bethnal Green during the Blitz. I adored these characters, finding something unique and relatable about each, and as a lover of libraries, I appreciated the storyline of how a library can bring a community together in times of trial. If I have one mental shrug with the book, it's that everyone's stories came together a little too neatly at the end - a few too many happily ever afters for the reality of WWII London. But still, a lovely and cozy read.