“The Underground Library” by Jennifer Ryan is based on the true story of the bombing of the Bethnal Green Library during WWII. The story is brought to life by the spirit of the community who supported it, and the staff’s decision to relocate the library underground which made it thrive during the Blitz. The book is well researched and the story is told through the lives of various women with some very difficult challenges specific to the times. I think there are many people who will enjoy reading this book especially those who are interested in books about WWII, libraries and the plight of Jews in Europe. For me, I felt as though these themes were the same as many books that I have read before this one and thus it was not an easy read for me. I realize I am in the minority on this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley and Random House Publishing Corporation for this ARC. Juliet moves to London to become the deputy librarian of a local library. Sophie is a Jew and escaping Berlin on a work visa to London and Kate is an assistant at the library but is in a bit of trouble. When their beloved library is bombed, they figure out a way to help each other as well as save the library by moving it down to the Underground where everyone can enjoy during the air raids. Sweet story especially during war time. #TheUndergroundLibrary #JenniferRyan #RandomHousePublishing #March2024

4.5 stars
HIGHLY recommend

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Jennifer Ryan, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Yes, I keep saying that I am done, done, done with WWII books. But the premise of this novel was so intriguing - The Blitz and books!! I was hooked immediately upon starting this book.

Great character development, storyline, and writing. Very well-done!!

In Jennifer Ryan's The Underground Library three women face different wartime experiences. Two lose sweethearts and one is a young German Jew. All three bond over a love of books. Juliet and Katie are librarians. When the library is bombed, they move their reading club and books underground - literally. They set up in the underground tube station, where a whole community exists. Sofie joins them until an unfortunate circumstance forces her away from London.



Each of the women search for something missing in their lives: Juliet longs for a career to support her love of books, Katie the education her gender denied her and Sofie for the sister and father she left behind in Germany. Ryan's novel is populated with colorful characters, from literature living spinster sisters to a mother who sent her children to the safety of the country. While London is blitzed, books unite the women and offer an escape from a grim reality awaiting them above ground. I love Jennifer Ryan's books because her stories come from real life. We are so far removed from World War II we have no idea what it was like to carry a gas mask with us everywhere, or to have to drop everything and find shelter as bombs rained from the sky. The Underground Library puts readers into those fearful moments, as well as the moments of small joy the characters find in everyday life. Ryan's work highlights the way women bond in these moments, giving readers a realistic portrait of wartime life.

I really enjoyed The Underground Library. Often WWII books are a little too stressful and I've (honestly) been avoiding them. But I couldn't resist the opportunity to request an advance read copy when I recognized that it was by Jennifer Ryan (who wrote The Chilbury Ladies' Choir and The Kitchen Front, both WW!! historical fiction novels that I really enjoyed.)

In The Underground Library we alternate points of view between Sophie (Jew working in London, hoping to find her sister), Juliet who is a recent add to the Bethnal Green Library as a deputy librarian and Katie who also works at the library. Jennifer Ryan creates a wonderful cast of characters; I especially liked woman who runs the boarding house Mrs. Ottley.

I love how this community comes together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Underground Library in exchange for an honest review.

I've yet to read a book by Jennifer Ryan that I haven't enjoyed. So when I was offered the opportunity to read an advance copy of her new novel I was very pleased and downloaded it immediately.

Based on true events, the story is told in three voices and is extremely atmospheric of life during WWII.

It hooked me from the first chapter and kept me turning the pages way past my preferred bedtime. Like her other titles, I plan to add this to my audiobook library.

The Underground Library was an excellent read, and a definite recommendation from me.



Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Jennifer Ryan writes books that draw you in and keep you reading. Her latest, set in about to be bombed London during WWII is in a neighborhood library. Bethnal Green Library has a man who is the head librarian (of course) but although it is well used, the arrival of Juliet Lansdown as deputy librarian, breathes new life into it. Mr. Pruitt is not one to encourage new things and is also hoping that the library will be closed down so he can move out to the countryside. Juliet is dismayed but not deterred. As the summer of 1940 moves on Juliet is able to reach out to a number of people and (quietly) begin a book club and get to know the library regulars.
These include Katie Upwood who is there as an assistant for the summer before she starts college and Sofie Baumann, a Jewish refugee who managed to get a visa to England as long as she worked as a domestic servant. Both Katie and Sofie face difficulties and then the actual Blitz begins, and everyone is facing problems as each night involves finding shelter from the bombs. The government at first did not want people going into the Underground (subway) to find safety but since the Underground was built so deep people went anyway and before long it was an approved shelter.
When The Bethnal Green Library is bombed, Juliet is ordered to pack up most of the books to be sent to storage until the end of the war, but she manages to get some volunteers to move some bookcases and a number of books to the Underground -- with Mr. Pruitt complaining all the way. The characters in the book all have a number of dilemmas to work through but as you make your way through the book you are drawn into their lives and what happens next.

Three women from vastly different backgrounds are drawn together by their love of the written word. When the bombing of London began in World War II, these strong women banded together to save the library from complete destruction. They worked together to provide a safe haven for cherished books and fellow readers. Sofie is a German Jew escaping persecution in her own country to work as a domestic in England. Her journey is frightening and the job awaiting her is demanding. When she finds the local library, she feels a sense of peace. Juliet is the new deputy director of the library. She has achieved a position only held by men because they are all fighting the war. She is determined to show that hiring her was an excellent decision made by the board. She comes to London to escape overbearing parents and a fiance who has mysteriously disappeared during a battle. Katie is a local girl from a wealthy family. Her parents are overly concerned about their images and society. Katie is happy working with books and she anticipates starting college soon. Her boyfriend is fighting in the war and work keeps her mind busy. As these three women find their mission, their efforts encourage the community to join them.

While this book could have taken many paths, it is about resilience, sisterhood, and community spirit. These women, along with others, bond over their love of books and hold their community together. Each woman will face personal hardship and gain strength from her friends. These characters are warm, charming, and endearing. I want to know these women! The author doesn't shy away from the horrors of war but uses a deft touch to keep from being mired in the atrocities of this time. When the library is threatened with closure, it is wonderful to see the entire community band together to show the board that closure is a horrible mistake. In spite of all the horrors they endure, they care for each other. This story is a heartwarming demonstration of women coming together during adversity and improving their community with compassion.

The Underground Library
by Jennifer Ryan
Pub Date: March 12, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exvchange for my honest opinion.
I read Ryan's The Chilbury Ladies' Choir so I was eager to read this one.
I’m always amazed when I read about the WW2 London blitz…the strength, determination and spirit of the citizens was amazing. What a nightmare that must have been, and yet they carried on.
Once again Jennifer Ryan introduces us to a group of characters who are brought together by circumstance. They bond through the Bethnal Green Library book club, and grow stronger through each trial with the support of their new friends. It’s definitely a feel-good story.
I was surprised to read in the author’s notes at the end that the Bethnal Green Library was indeed bombed and moved to the underground train tunnel. Excellent historical fiction that was a joy to read and recommend.
5 stars

This is my first book by Jennifer Ryan and what a wonderful introduction! I always enjoy books about libraries and the Librarians who run them but this one was so much more. Based on true events that happened during The Blitz during WW2, this book tells the story from three perspectives. The Librarian - Juliet, the aspiring college student - Katie and the Jewish refugee - Sophie. This book also includes what happens to many different women and the different events, situations, and more that occur during this time in 1940 London.

As a US citizen, I've read about WW2 (what they teach in school), I've read books and seen movies, and it's almost always the perspective of either Americans or Jewish people, sometimes Germans but I've never read about The Blitz, or at least not enough to know all of this by memory. I always have a hard time saying I enjoyed a book when it reflects the tragic events that happened to real people but this book was informative. Adding enough facts in to the story so that you could enjoy it but still learn. I'm always appreciative of stories like that.

I would absolutely read another of Jennifer Ryan's books if it was like this. I looked her up and see she writes romance as well, I will have to look into those. She definitely has a way with words and knows how to keep readers interested until the very end!

A wonderful book about WWII and women who made a difference in the lives of the people enduring loss and uncertainty.

this story paints a picture of England during the blitz. the story is sad and inspiring. Makes me think we are very lucky to live in USA. Also it makes me think the movement to ban books about subjects that is decisive is something we need to stop now

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review. This will appear immediately on Goodreads.
Set during the Blitz in London and in the Bethnal Green Library and underground station, we meet three women in volved with the library and how they deal with the day to day life during wwii. Juliet is facing misogyny in her role in the library, Katie is facing societal norms against her unexpected pregnancy with her missing GI, and Sophia is facing the unimaginable horror of being Jewish and worrying about her family left behind, at a time when being German in any form was suspect.
If you like historical events, especially how common people live during extraordinarily stressful time, you’ll enjoy this book. As a librarian, I feel like every book about wwii is trying to throw in a library, a librarian, books, book clubs, saving books, etc to get us to read them, like dangling a tennis bracelet in front of our eyes. You win, I’ll read them every time. But I’ll be blunt about it.
I spotted mention of a book that hadn’t been published yet. Please fix that.
I thought the characters were flat and unlikable. Maybe Katie I liked. The author admits in the notes that there is an event that was massaged to fit in with another event. Unfortunately for me, I knew of the event and how it unfolded, so I read and reread and looked it up to check my sources, and was bothered that it wasn’t accurately portrayed. Ouch. If you read enough of these wwii historical fictions about books, you’re going to spot these things.
Now for the average library patron, I think if they picked it up, they would really enjoy the book. But if I was asked for a wwii historical fiction about books, I won’t reach for it. I just did The Librarian of Burned Books in my book club and found that more compelling and had more to discuss.
3*

A story set in WWII England, and the story of the women who kept the country ticking. Filling in wherever needed, and going beyond all that the powers that be expected.
The book focuses on Juliet, Katie, and Sofie, each contributing, but we get a in-depth look into their lives, and how they help others.
The author does a great job with some very tough subjects, things are a lot different now, but the stigma of some of the happening was great back in the 1940's.
I loved how having books at their disposal while they are taking refuge for their lives in the underground.
Looking forward to more reads by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Believing in Never by Katherine Turner is an emotionally moving and gripping story of abuse within intolerable situations. It's about the characters facing the horror that is going on in their lives and searching for healing, faith, peace, love, hope, friendship, joy and so much more! About ways to find a way out and create safe and beautiful lives they are yearning to live. This book truly captivated me! I couldn't with this book from start to finish! The characters are well rounded, the story is amazing! This book grabbed my heart and still hasn't let me go even after finishing it!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Katherine Turner, Johsa Publishing LLC and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful novel based on true events in WWII London.

Juliet, Katie and Sofie are unlikely friends but when the Germans nightly bombings force the people of London underground the library becomes their safe haven and they forge a community amongst the horrors going on up on the streets. Based on true events, this was a really refreshing story and I was uplifted by the determination and strength of the women who were barely grown up themselves, forging on despite impossible odds. Thank you Random House Publishing- Ballantine for sharing this book with me early. I highly recommend this read 📚 to my fellow reading friends.

I read, The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan. I enjoyed this book. When facing dire circumstances working together can be the best solution. Jennifer Ryan used the horrors of WWII and the unwillingness of some to set the stage for this interesting book. She has well developed characters, settings & events that seem to come straight from the headlines.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Even though there is a proliferation of historical fiction / historical romances centred around WWII, I still find myself enjoying the ones I do pick up. Or at least, most of the time, I enjoy them. This was no exception. The story took a bit for me to get into, because there were three main characters with alternating POVs to move the plot forward, but once I figured out each character and their voice, it moved quickly. Sure, things were a little predictable and most of the story avoided anything too emotionally charged, but that's ok. Because not all WWII stories have to be about the horrible things that happened. It wasn't that they were hidden from the story, but for the most part, they were not the focus and more something the characters were living through without being the only thing of interest in their stories.

I don't know which of the three women leads was the one who I enjoyed most, but I guess it was probably Julie if you made me pick. Because she was the character who brought the other two girls into the story and kept them together through her work with the library.

I will say that I expected the story to unfold in a different direction based on the dust jacket description. I think I expected the situation with Sophie to be very different than it was.

A good historical fiction romance.

One of the best books I’ve read this year! Brava to Jennifer Ryan on her thoughtful and absorbing writing. I have read many WWII novels, but did not know a lot about the London Blitz and the underground shelters in the tube. These underground shelters, not only created a safe haven from the nightly bombs falling on London, but also fostered a community for over the half million people who sought refuge in these underground.shelters. And I had never heard of the Underground Library. A brilliant and innovative idea that helped so many get through the nights underground. Many of these underground havens also had medical care and makeshift theatre. The research done for this book is incredible and so very interesting. Anyone who is a book lover, must read this book! And if you're not a book lover, you will morph into one after you read it. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book. All opinions are my own. #TheUndergroundLibrary, #JenniferRyan, #BallentineBooks.