The Parisian Chapter is a heartfelt and charming novel that captures the beauty and struggle of chasing dreams in a city steeped in history and art. Set in 1995 Paris, the story follows Lily Jacobsen, a small-town aspiring novelist navigating heartbreak, friendship, and self-discovery while working at the American Library in Paris. Janet Skeslien Charles paints a vivid portrait of both the City of Light and the inner world of a young artist trying to find her voice.

The blend of humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth makes this a moving read, and the cast of quirky, complicated characters adds life and color to Lily’s journey. The story’s use of eleven different voices offers a fresh, multifaceted view of both the library and the people it brings together. Charles’s love for literature and history shines throughout.

The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because I felt like the ending was a little rushed and didn’t feel like I got enough closure. But still, this novel is a tender, spirited tribute to friendship, artistic ambition, and the quiet power of libraries.

It was fun to revisit some of the characters from The Paris Library (I still need to read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade, but some of those are present too). After Lily Jacobsen obtains a job at the American Library in Paris, she meets new friends and struggles to help the library raise funds. The new generation of characters each have their own interesting back story.

This is very much a character-driven story that explores personal relationships and makes insightful observations on human nature and life in general. The cast reading the story do a fantastic job, really bringing the characters to life.
I loved Janet Skeslien Charles's "The Paris Library", which told the story of Odile Souchet as a librarian at the American Library in Paris (ALP) during WWII and as a widowed war bride in small town Montana in 1983. The Parisian Chapter is basically a sequel, taking place in Paris in 1995 and (mostly) telling the story of Odile's Montana neighbor Lily Jacobsen, starting 5 years after she moved to Paris with her best friend, Mary Louise, to go to school. When Mary Louise announces her intention to move out of their studio apartment, Lily has to find a better-paying job to be able to cover the rent on her own. She is delighted to learn that the ALP is looking for a new Program Director. She is even more delighted to land the position, although she is only paid for 20 of the 40 hours she works every week, frustrated that her boss finds fault with everything she does, and stressed by her interactions with the wealthy older women volunteers who are on the Board of Directors. On the bright side, she makes new friends, meets a cute guy, and undergoes significant personal growth. The "Lily chapters" are interspersed with other points of view, and there is a subplot involving a friend from Odile's past. I think one can enjoy this story without reading The Paris Library first, but it will give away some of what happens in the earlier story. I listened to this book during my commute, and I often found myself wishing I had a longer drive because I didn't want to stop listening!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Pauline Chalamet; Jean Brassard; Corey Brill; Marisa Calin; Danny Campbell; James Fouhey; Matt Godfrey; Helen Lloyd; Jackie Sanders; Gary Tiedemann; Elizabeth Wiley; and Gabra Zackman, all of whom do a fantastic job and really make the story come alive.

I did not realize at first that this is a sequel to the Paris Library and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade but there are definitely connections between the three. You can read this as a stand alone but I think the other 2 books are very enjoyable and add to the experience! Also, the narration with accents is very well done.

I loved the characters and overall story that follows Lilly and Mary Louise on their Paris adventure similar to Odile and Margaret during WWII. I listened to the entire book in a day and highly recommend!

I have to admit I'm not an audio book listener but this being a full cast one definitely helped. I was instantly taken back into the world of her previous 2 books. I think any fan of historical fiction would like this story. All of the narrators are great. It's impossible to pick a favorite one. I can't wait to recommend this to library patrons.

I truly enjoyed the audiobook of The Parisian Chapter. I loved that the different characters had their own narrator.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the music during the chapter beginnings, however, it did it's job of transitioning to a new chapter.

I had loved Janet Skeslien Charles's The Paris Library so when I saw that Lily's story was available in an audiobook on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read (listen to) The Parisian Chapter. This audiobook was read by multiple readers for the different points of view and although I found it a little annoying at the beginning, I ultimately found that the different readers' voices enhanced the story. Lily, a young woman from Montana who wants to write, moves to Paris with her best friend and gets a job as programs manager at the American Library in Paris, the same place her elderly neighbor in Montana, French war bride Odile, had talked to her about. The story takes place in 1995, five years after Lily moved to Paris. The library certainly has its share of interesting characters and the multiple points of view mean that the reader knows what is going on with each of them even though their fellow characters may not! Throughout the novel, Lily grows as a person and becomes a strong, more confident woman. I enjoyed the story and recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Lilly and Mary Louise move to Paris to go to school and live an artistic life. But Lilly ends up tutoring and trying to write, while Mary Louise has her paintings rejected and works for a dentist. They finally part ways, and Lilly ends up working at the American Library in Paris.

This is a continuation of Charles's The Paris Library and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade. However, it's a story of loving, coming of age, and friendships, and the full-cast audiobook was fantastic.

Audiobooks have come a long way since recordings were originally made for blind readers beginning in the 1930s. “The Parisian Chapter” is an audio novel with a full cast set in 1995 at the American Library of Paris (ALP). Drawing from characters introduced in “The Paris Library” (set in WWII) and “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade” (set in WWI), the author chronicles the coming-of-age of Lily Jacobsen, a young 20-something from Montana, who moves to Paris in hopes of becoming a writer. As rejection letters pile up, Lily takes a job as Program Director at the ALP to pay the bills.

Lily meets all kinds of people at the library: demanding patrons, an incompetent director, wealthy trustees, volunteers, and other aspiring writers. She’s also navigating the unexplained estrangement of her best friend, Mary Louise, who came from Montana with Lily to pursue her love of painting.

The dozen or so narrators keeps the book moving. Actress Pauline Chalamet does an especially good job of voicing ingenue Lily Jacobsen.

While many of these characters appeared in the author’s prior two books, you need not have read them to enjoy this installment. For example, I had read “The Paris Library,” but not “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.” It did not diminish my enjoyment of this audiobook. However, now I can’t wait to read “Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.” Hmm, perhaps I’ll listen to the audio version.

The Parisian Chapter Honest ARC Review:

4.5⭐️
If you have a connection to Paris or have ever wanted to visit, this audiobook is for you! I enjoyed it and would listen again. The narration was fantastic. The story was interesting and moved at a nice pace.

This story involves a young woman from Montana who begins working at the American Library in Paris. Here, she writes a Parisian chapter.

This story is not short on adventure. The library faced financial struggles and obstacles must be overcome to save the precious materials inside.

This is a fantastic and charming story. I enjoyed it.

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for this advanced copy of the The Parisian Chapter audiobook. The author, Janet Skeslien Charles, writes about an inspiring author, Lily Jacobsen as she navigates working for the American Library in Paris and all the social dynamics included. She is mourning her best friend growing distant, but meets many different people through her new role as Program Manager. Lily quickly learns that her boss is not easy to please, and she relies heavily on the help of her coworkers and volunteers to navigate the role.

I found Lily’s story really interesting and well-done. The dynamic of growing up close to an older woman, Odell, in her hometown in Montana to then move to Paris and work alongside Odell’s best friend, Meg, at the ALP was my favorite storyline. What a special bond Lily had with Odell, and to then help her discover that her best friend was still in Paris. I had chills!

The lead narration by French-American actress Pauline Chalamet is wonderful. Some of the other narrators were not my favorite but having an entire cast of 12 voices narrating is a different spin on an audiobook, which I liked! Overall, I appreciated Janet’s theme of saving the American Library in Paris but I didn’t find the story to be addictive, where I could not stop listening. I would try another of her books, though!

Returning to the world of The Paris Library feels like opening a long-lost letter from a dear friend. In The Parisian Chapter, Janet Skeslien Charles brings us back to the American Library in Paris, this time through the eyes of Lily in 1995. But unlike its predecessor, this novel isn't driven by high-stakes drama—instead, it offers a quieter, more introspective narrative centered on friendship, identity, and the ripple effect of a place steeped in stories.

This book reads more like a gentle reunion than a sweeping historical epic. While I found myself wishing for a sharper focus or more emotional tension, there’s something comforting about checking in on characters we’ve come to care about. The glimpses into Margaret’s life, in particular, stood out to me—I found myself craving more of her perspective, and hope the author might explore her story more fully in the future.

I experienced this story through the audiobook, and while I was excited to dive in, I have to admit that the narration left me a bit disappointed. Each chapter is voiced by a different narrator, which led to some confusion, especially when familiar characters reappeared with entirely new voices. The voice chosen for Lily was the most challenging—there was a distracting speech quality, and the youthful tone clashed with the character’s age, particularly during more mature scenes. The added music between chapters, while perhaps intended to set the mood, felt unnecessary and pulled me out of the experience.

If you’re considering this book, I’d strongly recommend reading it rather than listening to the audio. There’s still a lot to appreciate, especially for readers who want to spend more time within the walls of the ALP. I hope this isn't the last chapter we get—I’d love to see future stories from different eras and voices, all connected through the enduring heart of the library.

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles was an enjoyable glimpse into Parisian life through the eyes of a young American woman. Who doesn’t love a story set in Paris? The author captured the atmosphere beautifully, and I especially loved the vivid descriptions of the American Library in Paris.

That said, I was expecting more historical fiction, as that’s how the book was categorized. The story is set almost entirely in 1995, and it reads more like a coming-of-age new adult novel centered around a somewhat immature, though still likable, twenty-something protagonist. There are certainly historical threads woven in, given the setting, but ultimately, I went in expecting a different kind of story.

I can't believe this is my first full-cast audiobook! The narrators did an excellent job and they offered a varied listening experience.
It was interesting to go back 30 years, even before the internet on the inside experience of working in a library. The story did not hold my interest, however. I felt like oftentimes there was not a lot happening via the plot. DNF about half way through.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster audio for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I do think it’s very helpful to read “The Paris Library” first, you will get a lot more out of this addition. After reading both of these books I’m hoping to visit The American Library in Paris when we visit France next month!

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ALC of this book in return for an honest review.

This was an endearing and quick listen. The setting was atmospheric and beautifully depicted. I truly envisioned being in a beautiful library in Paris.

I did have a tough time getting into this. Overall, the story lacked much excitement and felt one-note throughout. It’s cute, but not what I would call enticing.

Anyone who has read books by this author will want to listen to this audio recording (and if readers have not read her earlier novels, I highly recommend them). Some characters and places from the earlier works are in The Parisian Chapter, especially Lily, Odile and the wonderful American Library in Paris.

This recording tells an involving story through many characters. It is voiced by twelve narrators representing the different people. They include , in addition to Odile and Lily, Lily’s close friend Mary Louise, a young man in whom Lily becomes interested, authors, and the many who work at the library, are on the board, or attend events there.

This audio production is of very high quality. I loved hearing the different voices as each character narrated their chapters. I recommend this audio book to anyone who enjoys stories set in Paris with believable characters who have dreams.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio Originals for this title. All opinions are my own.

Great follow up book to The Paris Library. Great audiobook and narrators. I enjoyed the characters and was hooked from the first chapter. Great read!

I struggled with this storyline not sure why although it was not as engaging to me to keep my interest. Paris, 1995: It’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived from their small town of Froid, Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists—Lily, a novelist, and Mary Louise, a painter—share a tiny sixth-floor walkup and survive on brie and baguette. It is a story that shows a woman gaining indepedence as well as meeting new people/friends in her life. If may have been the way the audio was presented but I did struggle with this but the premise of the story was solid. Thank you NetGalley, Janet Skeslien Charles and Simon & Schuster Audio for the opportunity.

This audio book was great to listen to. I enjoyed the different voices as well as the music in between each of the chapters. I enjoyed the plot of the book and the way Lily's character handled all of the problems that occurred in her life. I love the history lesson as well as the reuniting of two sets of friends. The only thing I did not like, was finding out the audio book will not be available in a book. I do believe I would enjoy reading this book too.
This was a audio masterpiece. This book showed the appreciation of books, hardship and friendship between Lily and allow the other characters. The banter between Lily and the other characters was great and I get like I was in the audio book with Lily. I could feel her pain and I could feel whaat she felt when her and her friend had problems. I could relate to the problems she was having and how she was hard on herself but yet at the same time was a very strong willed person.