5 stars! Jennifer Ryan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She weaves incredible stories along the backdrop of WWII, and I often continue to think about her novels long after I’ve read them. The Underground Library is equally heartwarming and heart wrenching, and I was astonished to learn that parts of it are based on a true story. I highly recommend this novel!

I think I have read all of this author’s books as ARC’s. I know when I request them I do so without even seeing what it is about. They are an automatic go-to thing. So when I got this one I was so excited to read it. However, life got in the way and I started reading this book later than I wanted to. I tried to read it multiple times but between tiredness and the lack of interest in the book. I really wanted to like it but I was confused by all the character lines and it just wasn’t pulling me in like they normally do. I decided to use my monthly audible credit and get this book and listen to it thinking maybe it would change the way I absorb the book. I was glad I did. I listened to this book at every chance that I got.

Sophie is a German Jew who is fleeing Berlin on a work visa as a housemaid. Katie is a young woman who finds herself in the family way after her long-term boyfriend is declared MIA, she works at the library as a clerk. Juliet is a young woman escaping her hometown after her fiance of 3 years deserts the English Army. She takes a job at the Bethnal Green Library as Deputy Librarian. These women’s lives intertwine in ways that you grow to love. Juliet has to get through the “red tape” so to speak of being a woman in a man’s world. She is the one who starts the underground library in the tube station after the library is bombed in one of the Blitz bombings. Katie tries to hide her pregnancy till her mother finds out and she loses it and states she will hide her pregnancy and the mother will fake hers. Sophie is a housemaid for a not-so-nice man. Julie and Katie know each other through working at the library and Sophie comes in to get books. The story is sweeping, wonderful, and heartbreaking at the same time. I adored every minute of this book. Its about books and that is a winner in my book.

I also like the ambulance worker portion of the books as I myself am an EMT. It hit me on another level seeing people at their worst but doing your part for the community at large. I thought that the characters’ stories melded well together. I was annoyed at first with the switching of the storylines but eventually about a quarter of the way through the book the stories come to the point where they are intertwined with each other and it wasn’t an issue. I loved all of the secondary characters that were in the book. They were the comic relief in some parts and deep and meaningful in others. I wanted each and every one of them to succeed. The author’s note at the end states that while the events in the book really happened she just changed some of the locations so that it flowed well with her book. I had no clue that the underground subway actually housed clinics and libraries. I knew that people used them as air raid shelters in the war but didn’t know the extent of everything else. I think the author knocked another one out of the park and have recommended it to some people all ready. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

This was a wonderful story. It's based on the true story of the Underground Library at Bethnal Green Tube station during WWII. It's told from 3 perspectives Juliet who came to London to run the Bethnal Green Library, Sophie, a Jewish immigrant from Germany who escaped at the start of WWII and Katie whose boyfriend is missing in action and is dealing with family drama. I love stories told about London during WWII during the Blitz.

My thoughts: I had family friends who lived there during the Blitz and I also lived in London in the 80s and heard lots of stories about the underground and the time during WWII and the bombings that occurred frequently. It was a wonderful story about how reading and the library helped heal and bring others together during the frequent bombings and the time they had to spend down in the underground. I loved the characters, the family dramas, and the weaving together of people's stories with the library at the center of it. It also spotlighted how some people treated immigrants who were escaping Germany and other countries and Jews during this time as well as the internment camps that Britain had. I definitely would love to read more by this author.

Thanks to @randomhousepublishing-ballantine @netgalley and the author for this ARC.

Interesting and informative historical fiction based on the Bethnal Green Library during World War II. The book follows 3 women and their personal lives during the war, connected by the library. When the library building is damaged by bombs it moves to the nearby Underground station, where it becomes the heart of the community.

Well-developed characters, each with their own story line, and how they experience the war. Interesting learning about the internment camp on the Isle of Man.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I wanted to love this book and loved the idea of it but really struggled in connecting with the characters. I felt like they all stayed very surface level and the story lines and multiple POV just did not grab me the way I wanted. 3 stars

I loved the concept of the women of London (and those who found their way there as refugees) during World War II trying to keep the library alive. The Author's Note provides more details on how it is based on a true story and that thought just solidifies the community spirit that was present in this book. I did have a tough time connecting with some of the main characters, but I found that those who started as ancillary characters and became more important really helped make this story come to life. There are parts of this book that still stick with me, especially how strong the women were to keep something going that felt nearly impossible. The comraderie and friendships that were formed were truly special.

I read this one back in March of this year. It was an ARC from NetGalley and I thank them for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book.

The story was set during the Blitz in London and follows the lives of three young ladies. One, Julie, is a new under-librarian at Bethnel Green Library. She has moved to London from her small village and has big dreams about her work at the library. She is met with resistance from the head of the library, a man. She is also boarding with a woman whose husband is serving in the war. The other tenant of the house is the man her mother wanted her to marry, but she thought he was too much of a ladies man and flirt to be taken seriously as a husband.

The second girl, Katie, is working at the library until she leaves for university. Her family is very conscious of reputation even though her father is a bit of a cad. Her fiance is at the front and she gets devastating news about him. And she is hiding a big secret from everyone.

The third girl, Sofie, a Jewish refugee, came to London to escape the Nazis. She is on a domestic service visa with a horrible man as her sponsor/employer. She misses her family and is worried about their safety. She visits the library down the street in order to find some relief from the hard work and the worry about her kin.

A Nazi bomb hits the library, damaging some books, but many survive. Katie moves some of the salvaged books to the underground station and starts reading to people who are sheltered there. Eventually, she convinces the board of the library to allow the lending to continue from that location.

Many events occur with the lives of these three women, including issues with family, a theft, a trip to the Isle of Man, and some heartbreaking scenes with Katie.

A great book, written in a simple style that would be easy for teens to read. Some of the subject matter is sensitive, but there is nothing here that would take this book to the level that it isn't appropriate for anyone over the age of fifteen. As well, it is also suitable for older readers. I enjoyed it immensely. Lots of conflict for all three protagonists and the journey of each is well done and believable.

I loved following the stories of Juliet, Katie, and Sofie on their separate but together adventures. WW2 Women's Fiction is one of my favorite go-to adventure books and this did not disappoint!

Books have an ability to allow an escape at a time of stress or bring people together to debate their meaning or appreciate the beauty of the written word. Jennifer Ryan’s The Underground Library centers on the stories of three women whose lives were all changed by books and the bombing of the Bethnal Green Library during WWII. Sophie. Bauman was a German Jew who escaped from Berlin with a work visa that allowed her to work as a servant in London. Her employer is mean spirited and her only respite is the time she finds to run to the library between chores. Katie works the reception desk at the library. Shortly after receiving news of her boyfriend’s death, she discovers that she is pregnant. She has few options and even her parents turn against her. It is her family of friends that she found at the library who offer their support. Juliet has been hired as the deputy librarian because there was no man available for the position. Her ideas are all rejected until Katie suggests that they work behind the librarian’s back. During the bombings they bring books to the underground to hold readings and sign books out to anyone who would like to borrow one. Their audience grows each night. When the library is bombed, they find the support of the people to transport the books and re-open the library in the underground.

This is a time of war and each of the women is touched by tragedy. There is also hope. As the community comes together, there is a new life and the women find love. Sophie faces scorn and distrust as a German immigrant, but ultimately finds a way to aid the war effort. Juliet volunteers as an ambulance driver and finds support from Sebastian, her landlady’s nephew, as she sees the death and destruction around her. These are beautifully written characters who will stay with you long after the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book.

Books and the love of books change the lives of three young women caught in the London Blitz. Juliet Lansdown is enthusiastic about her new position at Bethnal Green Library only to find her ambitions curved by her new supervisor. In spite of this, she successfully manages to establish an underground library to meet the needs of those seeking shelter in the railway station. Katie Upwood is working at the library while planning to attend university when she finds out her boyfriend is missing in action. Sofie Baumann is a young Jewish refuge who accepts a housekeeping position to escape persecution in her homeland. The lives of these three women intertwine as they mature and discover their own self-identity and self-worth during this harrowing time.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially World War II and with strong women characters.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a heartfelt and wonderful story! The fact that this is based on a true story makes this story even more intriguing. The characters are so well done. Highly recommend

As soon as I picked up this one I knew I was going to be an emotional mess by end. I was right.

This book was so beautifully written. It was fast paced, but each POV brought me so close to each character. I felt their pain and their happiness. The devastation and war. Ugh. Amazing.

The characters were so well developed and I was able to feel through them and empathize. The story felt so painfully real and it flowed so nicely! I loved the writing and how easy it was to follow the story without any mix ups!

This was a story of hope and it truly warmed my heart! The ending for me was not as realistic as I hoped taking into account the war times and the conditions in which the characters were living under. Yet, it didn’t make me enjoy it any less!

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in historical fiction and women’s fiction!

The Underground Library follows three women in London during World War II. Juliet leaves her small home town to be the deputy librarian of Bethnal Green Library. Katie works at the library and is heading to university in the fall as enrollment is open to more women with so many men are at war. Sophie reluctantly leaves her father and sister in Berlin because she has a work visa to be a maid. The story is told from three POV and I was hooked from the beginning. Once the three cross paths at the library and then work together to keep the library accessible in the Underground Station serving as a bomb shelter, it's absolute magic.

I've been burned out on WWII novels for a few years. I'm so happy I read this one, the blurb was intriguing and the whole story was really well-told. There was an interesting "fun fact" in the author notes as well. ;)

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy. I am required to disclose this by law.

I really enjoyed "The Underground Library" by Jennifer Ryan! An excellent novel about young women in London, making a difference for their community during WWII, creating new careers and finding their strengths. A lovely blend of friendships and support in a time of great despair. Loved the story of saving the books and the delight and hope that it provided. Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Wow this was such a sweet story about many women and the challenges they faced during the Blitz. I loved all the characters and the plot moved along quickly. I couldn't wait to pick it up to read each day when I had a few moments!

Highly recommend for a book club pick as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book #sponsored

This is my first Jennifer Ryan read.

Synopsis: When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

My thoughts: If you enjoy a book about community, sacrifice, and the transformative power of literature, this is the book for you! “The Underground Library” revolves around three women whose lives intertwine within the confines of Bethnal Green Library’s underground shelter. The novel skillfully combines historical accuracy with a fictional narrative, portraying the resilience of the human spirit amidst the darkness of the Blitz.

As a person who works in a library, I really appreciate stories that include them as places for everyone. We all know what it's like to work with people from other walks of life - The Underground Library is told from three such people. I loved their mission to save the books when bombs destroyed their library. I can only imagine the strength and resiliency it took to salvage what they could and move the stacks to a local underground station. Books are magic and healing. I know how they have comforted me and imagine what it did for those in wartime London during the raids.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing a book that brings wartime London to life, from the thunderous roar of bombings to the quiet moments of camaraderie shared among sheltering residents. Libraries are magical places!

This is a story about London during the Blitz of WWII. It’s a pleasant and interesting read about a number of women and their actions during this time. Central to the story is love of books, and a true story of various activities, including a library, that the English undertook during the raids when they would escape to the underground stations.

Historical fiction and a book about books? Count me in! The Underground Library was a happy surprise for me. I found the whole book to be engaging and I enjoyed reading it.

While very readable, The Underground Library just seemed to be missing something to me. It took me much longer to read than it should have - not because it read slowly but because I just didn't fell compelled to pick it up. I wasn't dying to keep reading to see what happened. It was certainly interesting reading about the literal underground library put together by the characters, but in the end, I think my overall impression is that this book turned out to be perhaps one of the most lighthearted (if that's possible) WWII historical fiction novels I've read (and I've read A LOT). It's not that I'm looking for death and horrifying details, but it almost seems hard to believe that these characters had it so "easy." Everything was wrapped up so nicely, which as a reader is lovely, but it just didn't ring true to me. I would give it a solid 3.5 stars, but since that's not possible I will bump it up to 4.

Based on a true story, The Underground library follows three young women in London during the war. With the Nazi’s bombing London they help bring their library underground where most everyone goes to shelter. The three girl’s resilience, brings not only themselves together but many in their community. When it is the worst of times, they endure love, loss, friendship and every other emotion to make things easier on their community. Saving their library, in turn, saves their own lives as well.