Because there were so many characters, I had trouble following along. Given that it was a charming little book. Thank you net Galley for an advanced copy

The Parisian Chapter is an audiobook exclusive story about a young woman who moves to Paris with hopes of becoming an author while working in the American Library of Paris in the mid 1990s. First off, I will say the audiobook was really well produced. I love a full cast audiobook and this did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the story was just not for me. This is one of those stories that really lacked a solid plot, and it didn't have strong enough characters to carry the story. I found the main character's best friend, in particular, extremely unlikeable. I also felt the romantic subplot to be very underdeveloped. Overall, I just felt a disconnect to the story and the characters that lead me to feel very apathetic to the story. I will say I was never bored or found it painful to read just that I was not personally interested or engrossed by the story. It just was not the story for me.

Thank You to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. However, this book was not up to snuff. Eleven narrators was too many to keep track of. The story was not fully developed nor character development.

3.5 stars. I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by a full cast. The narration were good. The one for Lilly was the only one I didn't fully love. Sometimes the inflection seemed a bit off.

The story centers around the American Library in France and a young woman, Lily, who has been hired to manage their events. It included patrons and workers at the library. The story also includes Lily's best friend as well as an older friend of hers who lives in the United States, but is from France. There are many characters and you get a little history of each.

This was my third book by Janet Skeslien Charles and it was my least favorite of the three. I really think it may have been better for me to read the text instead of listening to it. I had problems figuring out who the many characters were and even their spoken names.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I love books that center around books and libraries, but I felt a little distanced from this one.

I’m honestly not sure what to make of this book, and I can’t decide if my lukewarm feelings stem mainly from narration or the story itself. I was familiar with Pauline Chalamet from The Sex Lives of College Girls, but hadn’t really taken note of her voice before. In this audiobook, her narration made Lily sound more like a teenager than a women in her mid-twenties, which made it hard for me to connect with the character. That said, I did enjoy the full cast of narrators and the nostalgic PBS-style music at the start of each chapter which added a nice touch.

Unfortunately, Lily as a character came off as petulant, incompetent, and a bit whiny. And beyond the narration, the story itself felt muddled. There were just too many themes introduced without any of them being fully explorers. I never quite understood the conflict between Odile and Meg, and several plot points felt rushed or underdeveloped. For instance, Lily gets upset with her boss, hides away, and just happens to pull a manuscript from a pile that ties back to Odile? Or how she suddenly comes up with a new story for her book overnight, immediately lands a publishing deal, and somehow gets an advance big enough to live in Paris? It all felt too convenient.

About 85% into the book, a new character is introduced, or maybe it was just the backstory, but I don’t recall reading about Tolstoy prior, and it included a heavy-handed critique of the Army National Guard that felt out of place and unnecessarily negative. It pulled me further out of the story rather than deepening it.

I later found out that this book is a spin-off of The Paris Library, which has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while. After reading this, I’m uncertain whether I still want to read it. I wanted to love this book, I kept reading in the hope that the details and backstory would eventually come together. The premise has so much potential, and there were glimmers of depth, especially in the little nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout. One line in particular that stood out to me: “Books have lines and if we’re lucky our faces have lines with stories to tell.” That sentiment alone almost made the journey worth it.

In the end, this was a story I wanted to be immersed in, but just never quite found my footing with.

So, as a librarian, what is not to love about this book. I listened to it and found that I had a hard time taking out my ear buds as I didn't want to stop listening. There are a lot of characters in this book, but the Lily story was the most important one and I wish there could have been more of it. But the other "voices" did fill in the background--what I loved was the idea of living in the library (instead of being homeless). The descriptions of Paris and the American Library in Paris eventually made everything seem very "homey" and the patrons and staff of the library began to feel like family. There were a lot of minor plotlines in this book and sometimes the Mary Louise story got to be a little much, but the one I kept wanting to know about was the Odile plot and it did end very well. This book, although there was constant "sturm and drang" was like listening to a comforting old friend telling a story that you just knew was going to end well.

This audio book, read by a full cast, was beautifully done! A blend of historical fiction and a coming-of-age story set in Paris, the narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. I was immediately drawn into the world of the American Library in Paris and Lily's journey to find her true path. The storyline was engaging, the characters were well developed and the pacing was perfect. If I ever get to Paris, the ALP is on my list of must-sees!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Overall a good read, with lots of characters/POV's that sometimes gets hard to follow in audio form. Still enjoyed it and would read more by this author!

I loved The Parisian Chapter! It was a delightful story featuring the American Library in Paris (ALP). The main character is Lily who begins working as a program manager at ALP after roommate and dear friend Mary Louise moves out of their apartment. Lily crosses paths with many people throughout her time at ALP those who work there, the trustees, authors and members. I found this story charming. You see how people from all walks of life help each other and grow from spending time at ALP.

The book by Janet Skeslien Charles is told from multiple POVs. There are a lot of narrators, led by Pauline Chalamet, who did an incredible job bringing this story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Audio for letting me read this ARC.

A Heartfelt Ode to Libraries, Friendship, and Finding Your Voice

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC!

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles is an absolute gem—poignant, charming, and brimming with heart. Set against the enchanting backdrop of 1995 Paris, this story captures the magic of books and the resilience of those who cherish them.

Lily Jacobsen is a compelling protagonist—earnest, vulnerable, and refreshingly real. Her journey from small-town Montana dreamer to Parisian library programs manager is one of self-discovery, love, and community. Charles masterfully weaves together Lily’s personal struggles with the larger mission of preserving the soul of the American Library in Paris, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.

The audiobook’s multicast narration adds richness and texture, giving each character their own voice—literally and figuratively. Whether it’s the eccentric library staff, demanding trustees, or Lily’s artistic circle, every interaction crackles with authenticity and warmth. And fans of The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade will be delighted by the return of familiar faces, seamlessly integrated into this new chapter.

With its cinematic prose and emotional depth, The Parisian Chapter is more than just a story—it’s a celebration of creativity, chosen family, and the quiet power of storytelling. Janet Skeslien Charles has once again delivered a love letter to literature and the places that keep its spirit alive.

A must-read (or listen!) for book lovers, dreamers, and anyone who’s ever tried to write their own story.

Lily & Mary Louise leave small town Montana for a bigger life in Paris, following in the footsteps of their dear friend, Odile.

Lily, an aspiring writer, finds work in the ALP (the American Library in Paris), as the program manager, just as Mary Louise is suddenly moving out of their shared apartment.

Lily dives into her work, dealing with weird patrons, snooty trusties, and odd collages, trying to save the library from its looming financial demise. Lily is trying to find her written voice. She is struggling to write, all while trying to mourn the loss of her friendship, navigate a budding relationship, draw parallels from Odile’s story to hers, and grow. Oh yeah, and save the library too.

We all dream of moving to Paris, to live our dreams. As Lily learns, survival and success can be hard anywhere despite the magic that Paris has to offer. Can she do it?

This audiobook has been a treat to listen to while I power through the mundane details of my own life. The narrator of Lily’s voice, tells Lily’s story with vivid emotion. Listening to Lily sounds like I’m listening to an old friend talk about her day. I very much enjoyed sharing my time with Lily & her friends at the ALP.

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles was a cute little story about two girls and their dreams to become artists in Paris. Think “Emily In Paris” without the marketing bits. The story was fantastic with just a hint of spice in one part, but not enough to scare you. I only wish the voice of Lily in the audiobook was someone who sounded a little older. Strange note to make perhaps, but I struggled to get the feel of a 20 something year old and drinking when she just sounded like she was in high school.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

“The Parisian Chapter” by Janet Skeslien Charles and narrated by various speakers tells the tale of Lily Jackobson who goes to Paris in 1995 with her best friend for their post-graduation adventure: Lily wants to become an author and Mary Louise wants to become an artist. Things don’t go their way at first and they struggle to get by. Little by little, they forge lives for themselves, but to Lily’s dismay, Mary Louise wants to go her separate way. Lily begins working at the American Library as an event coordinator and learns to deal with difficult people—but native Parisians and wealthy expatriate Americans.

I quite enjoyed this book, especially since I know what it is like to move to a foreign country after graduation from university and making an entirely new sort of life, struggling with different customs and the language. I think the author did a good job portraying the struggles that many wives of expat businessmen experience as well, particularly thirty years ago.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio, for access to the audiobook ARC.
This one gave me “Emily in Paris” vibes. There were a lot of POVs which is sometimes difficult to follow when listening. It would be easier to have a copy of the book and refer back to who is who. Because of that, it made it difficult to make some of the connections. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I’m not sure if I would buy it.

This book for me was an average easy listen. I did get an advance copy of the audio version from NetGalley and publisher . The audio was wonderful with a full cast of characters . For me personally ( and not sure why I had not) I wish I had read The Paris Library .before reading this book . You get to learn more about some of the characters from that story . You can certainly read this book independently, I did and still enjoyed it . This book takes you to the American Library in Paris during the 1990’s. You learn about the employees, volunteers and customers . Each of their personal stories and how the Library affects them .

This was a lighthearted and quick listen. Full cast audio, with each character being voiced by different narrators, was a nice change for me. I really enjoyed the way a new chapter was introduced, the music reminded me of some of the shows my grandpa and I used to watch growing up. This was not my typical historical fiction, but overall it was an enjoyable story, with lovely characters who added a nice touch.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to advance listen.

I wanted to like this, it had a lot of promise, an interesting setting, some compelling characters that were well narrated by talented voice actors… but in the end, it seemed like a lot of production for an only ok story.

In 1995 Paris, lifelong friends Lily and Mary Louise, realize they have not made much progress towards their career goals. The last five years they have lived in Paris in a small apartment, surviving on bread and cheese. Lily, an aspiring novelist, is tutoring students in English to make ends meet. Mary Louise, an artist, is working as a receptionist. One day,Mary Louise announces she is moving to an apartment on her own, and it is time she started being an independent woman. Lily is crushed emotionally and financially. She gets a job as a program director at the American library in Paris. Here she meets a host of colorful characters, and finally understands she, too, needs to become an adult. This is a story of self discovery, and learning how to realize your dreams, as they change, and as you change.

The story was interesting and I really enjoyed learning about the American Library in Paris. I thought the growth of the main character was done well and the secondary characters helped to create more connectedness. However, the audio was a bit odd with the music and transition between chapters, it was abrupt and took me out of the moments I’d fallen into with the characters. Overall I’m glad to have read it but can’t guarantee everyone would enjoy the audio version.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review this audio book.

I have read a few of the author's previous historical novels and enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this book that takes place in the same world as those books. And of course who doesn't love a book about books?

Honestly, I didn't love it. I couldn't quite get a grasp on Lily, the protagonist. It's the 1990s, and Lily has moved to Paris with her best friend from home in Montana, Mary Louise. Lily aims to write a novel and Mary Louise will paint. The friends fall out but we are never really sure why. The author tells us later but doesn't really show us. I found this to be the weakest part of the book. I also found the mystery surrounding Lily's friend Odile to be extraneous to the story.

I did enjoy reading about Lily's experiences at her paying job at the American Library in Paris. The cast of characters there was fun and interesting, if a little confusing to keep track of. I also liked Lily's romance with a library patron.

So just a meh 3 stars from me.