I'm a big fan of World War II historical fiction, and The Secret Librarian by Soraya M. Lane absolutely delivered. The story follows a young American librarian who unexpectedly finds herself working undercover as an intelligence agent in Lisbon. There, she forms a powerful bond with a local bookstore owner who bravely helps Jewish refugees. I was deeply moved by the strength of the characters, their trust in one another, and the way their courage and determination as women truly made a difference.

This is a very unpopular opinion, but this book felt bland to me. I thought the story was enjoyable and the characters were well done. I liked the strong, intelligent female characters. I thought they were well developed and their interactions were well done. They were courageous and intelligent and I really enjoyed them. I wish that there was more historical fiction to the book, it felt a little bland but I expected more. I liked the story of the women, but I wanted there to be more going on in the book. It just felt a little flat and boring to me. Maybe I read too much historical fiction and this one just wasn't amazing, but I did not love it. I did like the espionage part of the story, but it did not keep me on my toes. I found the book moved quickly and kept me engaged, but I just wanted there to be more from the story. Would love to hear your thoughts if you read this!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

In the middle of World War II, two librarians will risk their lives trying to save as many refugees as they can.

After being offered the opportunity to collect information for her country, Avery runs away from home, breaking her engagement and catching a plane for the first time, arriving in Lisbon. But the city is full of spies and double agents, and Avery will learn fast that nobody is who they seem.

I loved the setting and the idea of this story. Avery was very easy to connect to, and the idea of two librarians saving the day was very thrilling. However, I didn’t quite believe how it was executed.

Firstly, everything happened exactly as I was dreading it was going to happen. For a second I thought I was going to be wrong and the book would end up surprising me, but a ‘plot twist’ moved the story in the exact direction I knew it would go. I was very underwhelmed by it, because I wanted to be surprised, and I expected so much more from a book full of spies and double agents.

Secondly, I wanted to believe both women could be real agents, but there was only one time I was surprised by Avery’s quick thinking. The rest of the time, I didn’t understand how they hadn’t been caught earlier. I didn’t mind that much when it came to Avery, because she was new at it, but I expected so much more from Camille. I didn’t understand how she wasn’t discovered, because she wasn’t being especially subtle and everyone seemed to know about her little secret and did nothing with the information.

Thirdly, even though not as important as the other two, the romance was so insta-love. I was quite disappointed by it, especially considering Avery’s line of work. I would have been so suspicious about every handsome gentleman coming my way!

The audiobook was what saved the story for me, I really enjoyed listening to it.

Overall, I had a good time listening to The Secret Librarian but was let down by the execution of the actual plot. Everything was too convenient and predictable, and I couldn’t believe that’s how everything would have turned out in real life. That being said, I liked the two women (until I felt cheated by their acting) and the premise.

Rating: 2 stars
Audiobook rating: 4 stars

I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

***HAPPY PUB DAY***
RECAP: In 1942, Avery’s undercover mission in Lisbon forces her to trust Camille, a French widow with rumored Nazi ties, as they risk everything in a city of spies to help others survive the war.

REVIEW: Given the WWII background, I would say that historical fiction novel was still on the lighter side - you know what’s going on, what’s at stake for our characters, but it doesn’t weigh on you as heavily as other books set during this time. I’d recommend to someone who likes slow-burn suspense, ordinary women doing extraordinary things and found family.

A wonderful quick read historical fiction around World War 2. This was a different perspective than you usually see, which was fun. YA appropriate.

📚 My Advanced listening copy Review of The Secret Librarian by Soraya M. Lane.

🇺🇸 New York, 1942.
Avery has her life all mapped out — she’s engaged, working as a librarian, but she wants more than the life that’s been planned for her.

When an unexpected opportunity comes to leave it all behind for an intelligence role in Lisbon, she doesn’t think twice.

But Lisbon is a city of secrets…
Where trust is rare.
And every conversation could put you in danger.

✨ My favourite character? Camille — a French widow and bookshop owner. Brave, determined, and unforgettable. I loved how Avery’s doubts about her kept me hooked, always wondering if Camille could be trusted.

Yes, it’s a spy story…
…but it’s also about courage, friendship, and making choices in a world ruled by chaos. The constant tension and suspense kept me listening late into the night.

📖 If you love WWII fiction with strong female leads, complex characters, and trust that has to be earned, this belongs on your TBR.

The narrator did a nice job. In places I thought she sounded a bit rough but over all I found her to be believable. She made this story very realistic.

I love this author. Her books never seem to disappoint me in any way. This one is her latest. Set in Lisbon during the second World War. About two strong females who happen to be attractive and have the brains we all know females can and do have.

A story about two females who become the best of friends is always such a pleasure to read. Though the time was harsh and what they were doing was for a very intense and sad reason, Camille and Avery found each other through a book store and became very good friends.

Camille owns the bookstore. She came to Lisbon in search of the man who betrayed her and her husband. She helps the Jews who are there to receive the papers they need to move on with their lives in America. In the USA they can start over and not have to worry about being killed.

Avery is in Lisbon as part of her job. She got a job for the US government to put important news articles on microfiche. She is very skilled with this. She also becomes friends with Camille and wants to help her in her quest to help the Jewish people.

This is a great story. It has such feeling and depth. It pulls you right in and captures your heart. From the time Avery tells her parents she doesn't want to marry but wants to go work for the government to the last page when you find out exactly what her life turns out to be. This is such a compelling story. It is part friendship and part love story. And yes it will make you shed some tears. It will keep you on edge in places. But it's mostly a story about female friendship.

Well written and thought provoking. Makes you see another side to how women did some things during the war. How they contributed to help humankind.

Thank you #AmazonPublishingUK, #BrillanceAudio, for this ARC.

What a brilliant story of found family, fierce women, strong friendships and deception. Avery and Camille did everything they could to help people through the war, even if it meant sleeping with the enemy.
I loved the narrator and dual POV
Through reading this I have discovered that Soraya has several other novels that have peaked my interest - I truly loved her writing style and women forward approach. Thank you Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this in advance of it’s release.

If you love historical fiction with a twist of espionage, The Secret Librarian is a must-read! It is set against the backdrop of WWII. You will find secrecy, suspense, history, and romance. 📚🕵️‍♀️💥📖

The story pulled me in with its detailed setting and fast-paced plot, but what truly stood out were the strong, intelligent female characters who risk everything for what they believe in. Their courage and resilience kept me hooked from beginning to end.

The narrator did a fantastic job with manipulating the different accents in the book and the reading pace was perfect.

I cannot thank Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley enough for this ALC of The Secret Librarian.

This book was incredibly beautiful and moving. It started so intense and didn't really let up the rest of the way through. My heart was racing pretty much the entire time. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to live during that time period. I don't know if I would have been brave enough to do what these ladies did.

I listened to the audiobook for this and it was perfect. The narrator did a fantastic job!