The Collector of Burned Books has got to be one of the most interesting and thought provoking works of fiction I have read. Yes, it’s a fictional story set in Nazi occupied Paris during World War II, but my goodness did it tackle the power of words, literature, and freedom. Christian is sent from Germany to take over the Library of Burned Books, while French resident Corinne works to keep the secrets she has collected. The fiery conversations the two have had me on the edge of my seat! The tension of Corinne discovering that her enemy was really no enemy at all, was a trip! This story also gave me a glimpse into Catholicism, as both main characters are Catholic. Lovers of historical fiction will be enamoured with The Collector of Burned Books!

DNF - thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to get an eARC of this novel but I unfortunately could not continue especially with the slow pacing. I tried so hard but by the time things started to pick up, I didn’t really care to continue (that was 50% of the way through)

I always put books I DNF at a baseline of 3 stars to not affect the author in any way but I just could not force myself to finish this

I received an advance copy of this book for a review
When Germany invades Paris, Corinne is on a mission to collect the final few books she needs to help with her resistance effort. As a Professor at the Sorbonne, she has students all over the country, and using code written in books banned by Hitler, they relay information on the German troop movement. She chooses using banned books because she can't deny the thrill of using something the Nazi's disapprove of to potentially outsmart them. While collecting the final books she needs from the Library of Banned Books right next door to her flat, she runs into Christian Bauer, the Minister of Propaganda, who is there to take control of the Library. When Christian discovers Corinne's mother has several books checked out of the library, he goes to collect, only to discover that her mother is out of the country. At first determined just to get the books back, he makes surprise visits to Corinne to find them. Soon though, he finds he's there for intelligent conversation, and eventually he comes for more than just conversation. Can a French woman and German man overcome societal norms and keep each other's secrets, or will Paris 1940 dictate who they are?
I fully expected to not like this book reading the first page. The first page starts really wordy and seemed like it was going to be a bit slow paced. After the first page though I was proven very wrong. The plot kept going and you couldn't help but root for the characters, and even hope for some of the non-main characters to have redemption. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone

Fiction history readers will enjoy the setting of this WWII story. I found the story slow moving for the first half but then picked up a bit. It was hard to believe that Corrine could be so mouthy to the Nazis without severe repercussions. She was a smart professor but acted without thinking through some matters. Loved the idea of the secret messages in the banned books. Christian was my favorite character.

THIS BOOK. A powerful story of hope amidst chaos, of faith that keeps, and a love that defies, all against the backdrop of a world at war. Thought provoking in so many ways, this book proves the power of the written word and how it shapes our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

This was the author’s first foray into World War II fiction, and honestly, did anyone doubt it would be less than perfection? The characters leapt off the page, and many were shining examples of the complexity of humanity.

I completely ADORED Corinne and Christian! Their tentative friendship that slowly but inevitably turned to something more was equally tender and bittersweet. When they first met they were both dealing with the heartache of separation, and I love that they became a place of solace for one another. Every stolen moment, every lingering glance, every enlivened conversation they had, all made up their heartbreakingly beautiful romance. They were too precious😭

A few things I loved♥️
-She was his new best friend😭
-Their first kiss🫠
-Strong faith themes
-How he tells her he loves her🥲
-Their circle of friends🥹

This was a truly a though provoking story. A Library of Burned Books, a collection of books that the Nazi party deemed unacceptable for their citizens. When a scholar, an actual friend of many of these authors, i sent to Paris to decide what to do with all these books, when in his heart, he desires to leave them be.

Unbeknownst to him, another scholar, a friend of these exiled authors, has been taking care of this library, and has been using the books to send messages to help in the resistance. As their lives intersect, things get sticky, and difficult. Throw in a power hungry Nazi officer, with womanizing on his mind, and anger in his soul, and things get even harder.

I enjoyed the suspence, the intrigue, and the characters. I feel it kept close as true to the time as it could, none of us lived through it. I appreciated the view that not all German soldiers were Nazis, and I truly believe it. So many had no choice, and I love the author made some of these characters willing to put humanity before ideology.

I loved the historical aspect of this story. I did feel like it lagged a bit in the beginning but it picked up about 50% in and I was excited to finish it. The love story was sweet, even if it was a bit predictable. I do wish it would have delved more into the information sharing that was going on. I didn't really get a feel for what Corinne was doing to help the cause. All in all, a good read and I am glad I read it.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been diving more into historical fiction lately, and this book was everything I wanted and more!

In The Collector of Burned Books, Corinne Bastien and Christian Bauer form an unlikely friendship during Nazi-occupied Paris, fighting to preserve forbidden books that could change the course of history. With danger lurking at every turn, their friendship (and the sparks flying between them -> chef's kiss) becomes a quiet act of rebellion and totally has you rooting for them! The suspense in this book had me hooked from start to finish, each page turning faster than the last as I found myself holding my breath. Praying they stay safe, praying their secrets aren't uncovered, wanting all to work out, lives to be spared, books to be spared.

This book made me appreciate my ability to read freely today even more, especially knowing how hard so many people fought, and continue to fight, for that right!

These quotes really hit home:

“𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒚. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕?

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”

And here's another one...

“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔—𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒚.”

If you love suspense, history, and characters you’ll root for, this one is for you!

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

I think this book is perfect for someone who prefers happier, feel good books (i.e. romance novels) but wants to get into historical fiction, or someone who wants to read more WWII books but isn’t ready for some of the darker, more realistic books out there.

I thought this book was good—it was faced paced and engaging, but it did not feel realistic. It’s was entirely too easy going for a WWII occupied France setting. It felt like many of the characters choices did not have the proper repercussions given the circumstances.

The historical nature of the book definitely took a back seat—which, as an avid WWII novel reader, was bit annoying at times—but once I accepted that fact I was able to enjoy it more.

I think this is a great read for those new to the genre and/or WWII fiction, and can also be enjoyable for those who love the genre once they let go of some expectations.

This book is set in the literary landscape of Paris’s libraries and universities under German occupation during World War II. There’s some interesting history explored here. Its main characters are two professors with similar ideals and goals, but facing very different circumstances, who form an unexpected friendship based on a common love for literature.

The characters’ sympathetic backstories and charming personalities drew me in, and their philosophical discussions around books, reading, freedom, and ideas kept me fascinated. Particularly interesting to me were the discussions about the power and importance of words, including those words we may disagree with. As a librarian, this topic is near and dear to my heart.

The Catholic faith of the main characters was a little unexpected, coming from a mainstream Christian fiction publisher. Despite not being Catholic myself, I found it refreshing to see this story daring to venture a little outside the norm for its genre.

I found this book to be quite the page turner, with tensions ramping up as the ending approached, and little certainty about what that ending might bring, until it did finally reach its conclusion. Highly recommended for fans of Christian historical fiction.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley.

I was sure I was going to love this book cause it had everything I usually love in historical fiction. But sadly, it didn’t fully work for me the way I’d hoped.

The writing is thoughtful and clearly well-researched, and I really appreciated the historical detail, especially around the banned books and underground libraries. It’s a fascinating part of history that deserves attention. That said, I really struggled to stay interested in the beginning. The pacing felt very slow, and it took a while for the story to find its rhythm and emotional core.

I’m glad I kept reading, because there are some lovely and moving moments, especially when the characters finally open up and the stakes start to feel real. But overall, it just didn’t grip me the way I wanted it to. Definitely a solid historical novel, but for me, more of a quiet burn than a standout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a read I wasn't expecting. I went into this book thinking it would be similar to other stories on this time period and the things that happened during that time. While that was true in one sense, it was most definitely a captivating and out of the box read, as well. Really powerful story that was a delight to read.

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White is a powerful WWII historical novel that places readers in Paris, France during the Nazi invasion of WWII.

Christian Bauer is a German professor forced to wear the Nazi uniform when Goebbels selects him to oversee the “relocation” of France’s libraries. He is to sort through and books and ban them if they do not exemplify the ideals of the Nazi party. He is also charged with hunting down German writers who were exiled from Germany for their opinions or their heritage. However, he doesn’t hold the same values as the Nazis and wants to save as many books and people (most of them friends he knows) as he can.

Christian meets Corinne Bastien, whose library he has taken over. She scrambles to save her beloved books. Books that have secret messages in them she was passing on to the Allies.

Their relationship is interesting because they are enemies, yet they have the same goals and ideals. And when they let their guard down, they discover they have much more in common than just books.

I loved absolutely everything about this novel. I loved the faith element and the emphasis on how important books are in broadening one’s understanding of the world and how words can change a mind. It was powerful, emotional, riveting and incredibly relevant to the times we are living in. I could not miss the parallels of Nazi Germany with the current situation in the States.

If you enjoy WWII fiction, then you will love The Collector of Burned Books.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Another stunning novel by Roseanna M. White! Taking place in occupied Paris during the early days of WWII, this story follows Christian Bauer, a German literature professor who is tasked by the Nazis of removing the banned books from Paris; and Corinne Bastien, a Parisian literature professor whose home is near the "library of burned books". Corinne is a feisty heroine who is ready to do battle over the books that the German "professor" has come to remove. Though not thrilled to be wearing the Nazi uniform, Christian is thrilled to be surrounded by books and able to engage in literary discussions with Corinne. The story within these pages is about the power of the written word and the importance of learning other viewpoints. A poignant story for our divided times where many seek out writings, news media and advertising that agrees with their viewpoints, this story reminds us that narrowing our focus can only lead to trouble.

In addition to a poignant message, this book had an intriguing story line. I'm always fascinated that no matter how many books I read about WWII, I've never read the same story twice. I also marvel at how many people rebelled against the Germans behind the scenes. Several characters in this story did just that - doing what they could for the Allied cause. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this story. Christian and Corinne were both likable, relatable characters, and there were a whole host of side characters who added depth to the story as well. Though I had heard some about the books that were banned in Germany, this story went into much greater depth. And in the same vein as the need to see other viewpoints, most of the Nazis that we get to see in this book are more morally gray characters, which is likely an accurate depiction. There is one who is particularly despicable, who represents what we think of the Nazi party in modern days, but I enjoyed that bit of perspective shift as well. The faith thread in this one was solid, but definitely had a strong Catholic leaning in it. Though I'm aware that the author is Catholic, her prior novels have been more "generically" Christian. In this story, the main characters all share the Catholic faith and follow the sacraments of it. Since Paris is (or at least was in 1940) a predominantly Catholic city, it lends itself well to the story itself, but it had a different feel than other books in the Christian fiction genre to me. This story had several twists and turns as well, and still came to a satisfactory end. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and one that is particularly poignant for our current times. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

4.25/5 stars!

The Collector of Burned Books was White's first WWII novel--and I certainly hope it won't be her last! While I love her WWI novels, her WWII storyline is just as wonderful. Her research and knowledge of the history of that time period is impeccable.

While it did take me a little bit to get invested in the story (I am a mood reader, haha), I did absolutely get invested. The plot was gripping, and the characters and their arcs were wonderfully crafted, and I especially loved the representation of physical deformities in the book. This isn't something I find too often, especially in characters who are children, but I think it's so important to not only represent disabilities (both physical/mental), but deformities too. That aspect alone made this a stand-out novel to me!

I would highly recommend this book to those who love WWII stories, books and libraries, a heartwarming and believable romance, and timely themes, both then and applicable in today's world.


Thank you so much to the Netgalley and the author for a complimentary copy. A positive review was not required, only my honest thoughts.

Roseanna M. White has written a historical book that will draw in readers, make them want to stand up for others, and even draw a few tears. The Collector of Burned Books takes readers to Paris on the invasion of Hitler’s army, and draws attention to the many things that the Nazis tried to obliterate from our histories and cultures: art, God, books, and free thinking. The battle of the minds was truly where the Nazis focused their initial efforts, to control the thinking and the narratives so that everyone was forced to think like a Nazi. Corinne, an educated literary professor at the Sorbonne, worked to tirelessly promote true, independent thinking, while also preserving the thoughts and writings of so many who had gone before her. Protecting the books meant protecting freedom and people from the atrocities that Nazi philosophy inherently brought. Christian, a German professor, who is not a Nazi at all, has been assigned to rid the libraries of Paris of their forbidden texts and to interview the dissidents, many of whom were from Germany originally, to be sure they stopped their writings. We see the mental conflicts and spiritual turmoil some may have felt during WWII as we follow Christian, Corinne, their friends, and their family through this story. The author has done a marvelous job developing these characters with deep, rich stories and personalities. They seem like real people we could meet at a library nearby, or in a cafe. Supporting characters in the story are also so well developed that the story would be empty without them. The plot holds just enough intrigue and just enough history to make it the perfect balance between fiction, story conflict, and truth; thereby, making this a delightful, educational, and inspiring read. I highly recommend this book.

During WWII, Christian is a German professor who was given a new position in the Nazi regime, one he doesn't particularly want. He is sent to Paris to be in charge of the library of banned books. There he meets Corinne, who has been using some of these forbidden books as a way to smuggle information about the resistance. He enters Corinne's apartment in search of some of the forbidden books that he assumes her mother had checked out. There, he finds someone who shares his passion for reading and learning. The conflict comes when he begins to have feelings for her but must protect her and their relationship from his superior.

I wanted to love this book, but the first half was so slow without any sort of plot. The conflict wasn't presented until fifty percent through. At that point the story picked up and became more engaging. I did enjoy it after that point. I really liked Christian's character--the way he tried to hold on to his ideals in spite of being forced into the Nazi regime. I liked Corinne's feistiness and how she never held back her beliefs on censorship. The topic of censorship hit home for me as our local library has been under attack the last several years. It was interesting to learn how the Nazis burned books and how there were libraries dedicated to collecting these books that were censored. Overall, I did like the book and would recommend it to those who like WWII fiction.

Loved it! Such a captivating story that I just could not put down. "These students had it all wrong-backward. Books didn't burn. Books ignited. They lit burning in others. Not with paper and match. With ideas." "But it wasn't only the books. It was the generation so quick to denounce them. I can't, Ilse. I can't abandon them."

There is something powerful between freedom of ideas and the books that espouse these ideas. In this unique and compelling story set in WWII Paris, Christian Bauer, a professor who never wanted to be a Nazi, is sent to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries.

I learned something new. I did not realize that many German authors, artists, and intellectuals, "including those of Jewish ancestry and those with anti-Nazi views, fled Germany during the Nazi regime and sought refuge in various places, including Paris." The Collector of Burned Books is set in Paris, and Professor Bauer has the unpleasant task to sort through all these books that are banned in Germany, and interview any of these authors who are still in Paris with these views.

"Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home." Corrinne's feistiness has helped her get where she is. It doesn't bode well with her dealings with Christian.

Secrets, espionage, friendships, book banning, life under Nazi rule, longing for freedom, a sweet boy, faith, and love are found within the pages of "The Collector of Burned Books". I enjoyed the gentle faith arc of the story as the characters grapple with life under such difficult circumstances. I highly recommend this story to lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

“This is the day that you kiss me and tell me you love me.” “I can’t. I can’t love you when you can’t love me back, Corinne—and you can’t love me back, not yet. Not now. Not as I am. Not in this uniform.”

This one pulled at my heartstrings! It’s full of bravery in the face of danger, courage to do what you know is right, intense faith, and an amazing love that grows against the odds. Set in the early days of Paris’ occupation by the Nazis it is well researched and beautifully written. I loved seeing the lengths that people went through to save the “verboten” books.

Corinne is intelligent, strong, and brave. I loved how she stood strong and spoke truth. I enjoyed the classroom discussions she lead and the discussion she had with Christian. I loved her sweet relationship with Felix and her Oncle Georges (if you’ve read other books by Roseanna you may recognize him!!) Christian is courageous, determined, and protective. I loved the steps he took to preserve the books and to help his acquaintances as much as he could and the gentle, truthful way he spoke to Kraus. I adored his relationship with Felix. Corinne and Christian had the best romance. I loved how they pushed each other, learned to trust, and shared their secrets!

A few more quotes:
“Don’t look so woebegone. I didn’t say I was your best friend. You’re free to keep hating me if you like, but I feel no such obligation.”

“Trouble and I are old friends. When she doesn’t come to call often enough, I go out and seek her. Such an interesting companion, after all.”

This ARC was provided by the author and publisher (also received an e-copy from NetGalley). I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

A powerful, beautifully written tribute to the resilience of words and the courage of those who preserve them.

The Collector of Burnt Books is a gripping World War II historical novel that explores the quiet acts of defiance that can shape history. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris, it follows two unlikely allies—Corinne, a devoted Parisian reader with a deep connection to a banned book library, and Christian, a reluctant German officer and professor, forced into service yet determined to preserve the truth the regime wants to erase.