I’ve been reading a lot of fiction and non-fiction around WW2 recently, planning for a novel of my own. This stands out as one of the best I’ve read and I’ve gone to the trouble of ordering a special edition copy to keep so I can read it again. I also want to write a longer review because I’ve loved it. This is based on the real American Library in Paris, established in 1920 and issuing books to learners and bookworms since then.

Our narrator Odile works in the library and is one of those who worked during WW2. There is also a beautiful friendship that lights up her later years with a little girl called Lily, who picks up the story where Odile stops.
The staff, with their understanding that for some people, reading is as vital as breathing, made sure that people could still access books. When Jewish people were banned from using the library, some put their lives on the line to hand deliver books to their homes. Odile is 20 years old in our early timeline, life is good for her and her family. Her father is a police chief, and she also has a police officer beau. Then the Nazis March on Paris and everything changes. Her brother goes away to fight. Her father is tasked with following through on their bidding. Then the library she loves comes under attack, books are censored and Jewish subscribers banned from using their services. They have a list of enemy aliens or people they suspect are spies, ordering them to be taken to detention camps, if they’re not killed. Odile and her fellow workers try desperately to keep their services open.

In our second timeline we’re in Montana in the 1980s and Odile is an elderly lady living next door to teenager Lily. Lily starts a friendship with Odile, who she sees as a lonely widow without a social life except church. Lily isn’t finding life easy, because she’s having to face the loss of her mother. Lily asks Odile to teach her French and as they enjoy each other’s company, Lily asks about her life in France. This is where we hear Odile’s story, but there’s so much she’s holding back on. Why didn’t she marry her policeman? How did she end up in Montana, and where are her friends? Odile slowly unfurls as she tries to help Lily through her loss and starts to relate her own losses, friends who were courageous in keeping the library opening and making sure everybody had a chance to read. It’s a literary resistance story, with workers who saw the library as a special, sacred space that should be available to everybody. It may seems like a side story to the Holocaust, but it’s simply a different way of impoverishing people - taking away their culture and part of who they are. I really enjoyed these sections in the past, but I think the second timeline is equally successful because the friendship is believable and enjoyable. I truly loved this novel, and it’s ending was perfect.

This was such a beautiful homage to the librarians who worked at the American Library in Paris during WWII. I love our main characters, Lily and Odile, and how they came together to fight during the occupation. Such a beautifully written book!

This was a wonderful touching read.
Following Odile during World War 2 and again in her old age in America. Cantering around her time in war torn France trying to keep the library alive and then her life as an older somewhat lonley living in America.
But both timelines focus on her beautifully emotional relationships. In both places Odile finds her place and with that finds family and a place where she belongs.
I am usually not a big reader of historical fiction but this book has shown me how wonderful the genre can be and exactly what I am missing out on.
Somehow the author perfectly describes a devastated Parisian city and both American suburbia wonderfully and believably.
This book was a brilliant touching treat and I will definitely be picking up more from this author.

Set over a dual timeline, we follow the life of Odile Souchet, a bright ambitious young woman who lands a job at the famous American Library in Paris in 1939. With a handsome boyfriend at her side, she has the world at her feet. But then war breaks out, putting peoples lives and her beloved books at risk from the Nazis. Joining the resistance, she risks everything to deliver books to those forbidden to come to the library.
40 years later, Odile is widowed and living in Montana. She befriends a young girl called Lily and as she shares her story with her, their friendship blossoms as she tries to guide her on the right path.
Beautifully written, this book will not disappoint historical fiction lovers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction is fast becoming one of my favourite genres.

The book is set in a dual timeframe of 1939 Paris and 1983 Montana. Paris 1939, we’re introduced to Odile who works in the American Library. Life for Odile takes a dramatic turn when the Nazis invade Paris and she finds herself part of the Resistance along with her fellow librarians determined not to let the events around them impact the joy and comfort they find in books.

The second half of the book, set almost fifty years later in Montana, introduces us to teenager Lily who befriends her elderly neighbour, Odile. As their friendship develops, we learn more about Odile’s life and how her life brought her to Montana.

This was a beautifully written book with a wonderful storyline. I highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Many thanks to John Murray Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

This is definitely my favourite read of March 2021, there’s just something about books that are Fiction but based on Non-Fiction (creating a fiction non-fiction hybrid) that just calls to me.

The Paris Library was my first read of March and I adored every single page. The writing style really pulled me in, not only are there two authors Odile and Lily but we also cover two different time periods. Some might find the jumping back and forth in time and between different narrators a bit confusing at first but I genuinely love this style of writing. For me, it gives a more rounded view of the plot, we also get to find out more about each narrator from the other narrators POV.

What I fell in love with most in this novel are the characters, the majority are based on real people from during the war that the author has done their research on. Basing their experiences in the book on their experience’s in real life. The characters are bought to life in such a soul touching and genuine way. As a book lover, it is impossible not to connect with these Librarians and what they’re doing to ensure books get to all their subscribers and working around the Nazi rules. You finish this book wondering about their lives and what happened to them after the war, thankfully the author gives you a little bit of that right at the end. I can, honestly hand on heart, say that I wish these people were my friends and I admire their courage massively.

The story of Odile and Lily’s friendship throughout the book is especially heart touching and easy to connect with. The care and affection Odile grows to have for Lily, trying hard to teach Lily the lessons she wished she’d learned before making mistakes. And although their friendship isn’t completely the main plot but the driver behind learning about The Paris Library during the war it really does add to the overall experience of the read.

As I read this I was transported to Paris, I lived Odile’s life and experienced her friendships and trials. I would highly recommend this to any reader.

The Paris Library by @jskesliencharles

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a really poignant story, told so beautifully. Following the story of Odile, a Parisian librarian at The American Library, we are transported back to 1939 and the years that follow. Odile’s family, friendships and romance is punctuated with hope, despair and resilience in Occupied Paris. This book is incredibly emotive and the author evidences how easily one small action can alter a life forever and cause such deep regret.

This story is intertwined with Lily and her neighbour, Odile, who recounts some of her memories to Lily, her young neighbour as she teaches her French and the two become firm and fast friends. Lily’s story offers insight regarding Odile’s life and their friendship at a time when both need it, is perfectly done and rounds out the book beautifully.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to those who love historical fiction or generally to those who love books, give the wonderful background that is The American Library.

Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing a copy of this gorgeous e-book for me to read and review.

World War II Paris is the scene set for this story, and at the heart of it all the America Library.
In 1939 Odile Souchet aspires to work in the America Library after finishing library school. A place she visited as a child and hold special memories of times spent with her aunt. She lands her dream job assisting subscribers to the library, both foreigners and Parisians, and meets several extraordinary characters. She falls in love with a Policeman, who is bought home by her father, one of many after his pursuit to find her a husband. As war begins and the Nazi’s take over Paris, Odile struggles with fear for her twin brother who has been captured by the Germans, and with keeping the Jewish patrons of the library safe, delivering books to them at a huge personal risk. As war continues, she begins to question those around her. Odile’s story is intertwined with that of Lily in Montana in 1980’s so the story goes back and forth, as Lily learns French from her neighbour (Odile) and the reasons she no longer lives in Paris.
I loved this story and would quite happily have just read Odile’s story during the war. What made this more breath-taking was that it is based on a true story. Some of the people and letters throughout the story are real. It has given me such an admiration of those who fought to keep library as a safe haven in the adversity of war.

I feel like this book was written for me and every book lover out there.
I absolutely adored the fact the book is based on a real library and the main character Odile has a love of books, and pursues her passion of working in the American Library, despite her parents disapproval.
Odile is such a strong character. She is so naive and yet we see her realise this and learn from her mistakes.

I also enjoyed seeing flaws from all the other characters and how it came across and seeing a different perspective on things. It made them a well rounded character and believable.

Janet’s words are so beautiful and flow so easily. I wanted to take my time reading this book as I found myself flying through it. Now I want to go to Paris and see the sights for myself and of course visit the library.

The Paris Library was a beautiful read. It highlighted the tremendous and courageous efforts the people of Paris and those who worked and visited the ALP took to ensure people were safe. Soldiers received books while at war and subscribers who were banned, also received books from brave and determined colleagues who took the law into their own hands.

5/5⭐️’s

Beautifully written with wonderful characters. This genre is quickly becoming my favorite.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for this wonderful read. Can’t wait to pick up more by this author.

Pub date: 2/21- highly recommend!!

This is fiction focusing on the experience of the established American Library in Paris amidst the background of the Nazi occupation during WW2. It follows the experiences of the young, ambitious librarian, Odile, with the library supporting its subscribers, including Jews, and soldiers. The Library is not left untouched by the occupation, a target for the Nazis. The story covers Odile's wartime experiences, such as those with her family, she is close to her brother, Remy, who has joined the war efforts, her worries for him, hoping that he will return safe and sound. There are the many wide ranging and disparate subscribers, the staff and volunteers, the joys of seeing the right book find the right reader at the right time.

This is a dual timeline book, set between Paris during WW2 and Montana in 1983.
Odile has a romantic relationship with Paul, a policeman, as she finds herself willing to do whatever it takes to save the library, joining the Resistance in its myriad forms. Never was the power of books and reading so desperately needed, in the bleakest, dangerous, hardest and darkest of times, and all the horrors that it entailed. We follow what happens with Odile, her colleagues and friends, trying to save lives and the library, the below the radar deliveries to Jews, going expressly against Nazi orders. There are challenges, obstacles, deception and the shock of betrayal.
In 1983 in Montana, teenage high school student, Lily, has recently suffered the loss of her mother, whilst her father has remarried. Grief stricken, lonely and struggling to fit in, Lily becomes close to her elderly French neighbour, Odile, and interviews for a school project. Odile sees that she has much in common with Lily, their relationship culminating in the surprising revelation of a past secret that connects them.

This is a fascinating and illuminating glimpse of WW2 history and the terrifying nightmare devastation of the war, viewed through the unusual perspective and role of the American Library in Paris. It was wonderful to read of the courageous librarians, fighting the good fight through books, knowingly resisting the Nazis, aware they faced death and prison if discovered. This is a brilliant read, of loss, betrayal, hope and the power of friendship.
5 stars from me.
Many thanks to John Murray Press and Netgalley for an eARC.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Two Roads Press. This is an absolutely lovely book set in Paris during WWII and Montana USA during the 1980s. Beautifully written and with wonderful characters, I thought this was a wonderful piece of historical fiction. Highly recommended.

The Paris Library ticks a lot of boxes for me. As a librarian, a book about the survival of books and the buildings they're housed in is bound to attract. Also the use of two timelines -one during the 2nd World War and featuring a young French girl Odile,who works in the American Library delivering books to those who are afraid to leave home, and the 2nd stiryline the latter days of Odiles life in the US. Told alternatively we pick up the story piece by piece with both locations as vivid as the other, Wartime Paris, where suspicion and sanger lurks atround every corner, and small town middle America, wholesome as apple pie but still showing signs of the prejudice from a generation ago.
A winner for me and one which I have already raved about to anyone who will listen!

I’ve had this sitting on my bookshelf for a while but held off until closer to the publication date. It sweeps you back to another time and place: I lost myself in the characters and their lives, and now have a longing to lose myself in a big library somewhere!

Our main protagonist is Odile, a young woman living in France as war breaks out. All she wants is her dream job working in the American Library. With her father pushing for marriage and her brother enlisting, Odile finds an inner strength and her own way of dealing with unfolding events.

I instantly loved Odile. She’s strong and independent, but that doesn’t mean she’s above being swept up in a romance. She’s flawed – and her temper has drastic consequences for those around her. But she knows her shortcomings, and you see her develop as a person.

The second character is Lily, a young teen living in the States years later. Lily doesn’t have it easy, but she too learns how to grow and find her true self.

Multiple secondary characters provide conflict, entertainment and friendship with their quirks and beliefs. Odile could effectively carry this novel on her own, though.


There are so many themes touched upon here: friendship; romance; coming of age; heroism; feminism.

In both parts of the narration, Odile and Lily must learn the true value of the things they cherish, and the consequences of their actions when things go astray. They both make mistakes, but you get the feeling they long to better themselves and find their place in the world.

The book is moving and poignant at times; entertaining and giddy at others. We travel through whirlwind romances to living in occupied France to being a teenager in America – there’s not a lot that isn’t covered.


The Paris Library is a slow-paced, character-centred gentle sort of book – and I loved it, if this review hasn’t given that way.

One time period dominates the other, but the two complement each other and create a charming mystery. There are points where we know the answers without being sure of the question, and the way it weaves together is satisfying.

It’s a book about friendship - how it’s found in the most unlikely of places, and shaped by a cruel or kind moment. The writing swept me back to France in 1940, and I almost didn’t want to leave.


If you’re looking for a gentle book that offers good escapism, I recommend The Paris Library. Full of warmth and love, you grow with the characters and won’t want to say goodbye when you reach the end. This is a great book to mull away a Sunday afternoon for sure.

Paris, 1939 - Odile is young, independent woman who loves to read. She takes up a job at the American Library in Paris, her dream is coming to life. Then she meets Paul - handsome police officer whom she can see herself spending the rest of her life with. Then the Nazis march into Paris and Odile stands to lose her dream. Loyalties are tested and friendships broken. At the end of the war, Odile does not taste freedom but instead the bitterness of betrayal.

Montana, 1983 - Lily is a high school student looking for adventure in her small town. As she starts to lose her own friends, a friendship blossoms in an unlikely place with Odile. But Lily soon discovers that Odile has been hiding who she truly is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. AS silly as it sounds, I was scared to read it because I wanted to savour it and enjoy the story as it unravelled. I love history and the American Library in Paris was not a place I had heard of until I came across this book. I truly felt the apprehension of the characters at the start of the war and their elation once the occupation began to cease. Odile made a fantastic narrator for the past and Lily provides a younger voice for the 1980s.

This book truly shows how strong the power of reading is and how books can bring people together and form even the most unlikely of friendships.

This was a beautifully written book, and I was hooked from the start.
I love dual timelines, however I feel there was much more focus on the Odile story in 1939 than Lily in 1983, and I would have preferred more of a balance.
Odile was a wonderful character and she tugged on my heart strings throughout, bringing me to tears with her love for her family.
It was well researched, and brought to life a part of history that I knew little about.
An interesting and poignant book,

I’ve been highly anticipating this book and it’s been on my Goodreads shelf from before it even had a cover so I’m sometimes apprehensive going into a book when I’ve hyped it so much BUT it did not disappoint, WHAT A BOOK!

Sometimes books come out that just make that period of history come to life and this one definitely did just that. The dual perspectives between Paris and USA really worked.

I can’t get the characters out of my mind, they’ve really stayed with me and I really cared about them throughout their journey.

I’d absolutely love if this book could be made into a film!! A must read for historical fiction lovers!!

This is a beautiful dual timeline story with two main characters across the periods which flows wonderfully. The historical details of how the Library fought to stay open during the Nazi occupation of Paris was a chilling reminder of how close we were to losing everything we hold dear. The relationships explored are complex and emotional and remind us of how some decisions taken maybe in haste will always have the potential to scar. I loved the quotes throughout the book and the references to the classics scattered through the lives of Odile and Lily were very poetic. I thought this was historical fiction at it’s best and will definitely be one to reread in the future.

I am in a quandary as to how to review this book.
It's a compelling read, I had to finish it to see how it ended, and 1.40am on a school night is not the best time. It flowed beautifully between the dual timelines, and I liked Odile very much.
But, I just felt that it was lacking somewhere, it did feel a little bit rushed towards the ending for me.
A fantastic amount of research and some the history behind it was second to none.
Definitely worth a read and see what you think.

The American Library in Paris and the characters within it provide a dual time novel set in the Second World War and the 1980's.
It is a fresh approach to historical fiction and one which held my attention throughout.
It really is an interesting and highly entertaining read.