I realized I hadn’t read much historical fiction lately, so I couldn’t wait to read The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. It reminded me how much I love the genre!
The Paris Library follows a young French woman named Odile, who works at The American Library in Paris alongside a lively cast of characters. When World War II breaks out and northern France is occupied by Nazis, Odile’s life – and the lives of her friends and family – change forever.
*I received this book for free from the publisher (Atria Books) in exchange for an honest review.
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The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles: My Thoughts
This was an immersive historical fiction novel with interesting characters and fascinating settings. There’s romance, intrigue, action, and everything in between. We see Paris before and during the war, the juxtaposition of opulence and beauty versus fear and extremely limited resources.
The story was packed with emotion and human connection, and I really enjoyed the back-and-forth narration where the puzzle pieces slowly clicked into place. The story follows dual timelines: one in Paris in the 1940s, and one in Montana, decades later. I loved how the two connected and built on each other to enhance the ‘mystery’ aspects of the plot.
I always love learning about history, and while I’ve read books on WWII before, this one still felt unique. Highly recommended, especially for historical fiction fans!
Rating: 4.5 (out of 5) stars
Release date: February 9th, 2021
Looking for more great book recommendations? Check out my list of exciting New Book Releases in February 2021!
