The theme of the story resonates with the core of my soul... the things that save us in hardship are friendship and a good book! 

In Germany occupied France amidst sad news from the French war front, the American Library Paris became a place for community and respite. Odile is a young librarian learning to face the ever changing world of WW2. Books, friendship, a first love, and a determination to resist the oppressors take us on a lovely, albeit sorrowful, journey with her. I came to adore Odile, her bookish nature, and her willingness to learn through hardship as well as her own faults. This is a delightful read about a piece of WW2 history that I had never heard about prior. 

This is a well researched novel memorably blending fact and fiction to bring to light the American Library Paris and its courageous and dedicated librarians. The library still thrives today.

As a person who loves quality literature, I loved the way the author dabbled quotes from classic literature to highlight how books grant guidance, peace, and joy in uncertain circumstances. The intertwining of the Dewey decimal system throughout the book was a quirky, fascinating touch.

While I enjoyed the story greatly, I also longed for more detail in the relationships and day to day interactions. I found that I wanted to rush through the portions of the story about her Montana neighbor, Lilly, so that I could hurry back to Odile’s story in Paris. Had the book focused solely on Odile, we could’ve gained a greater depth in the Paris story and her character.