About the book

The instant New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestseller based on the true story of the heroic librarians at The American Library in Paris during World War II. Paris, 1939. Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at The American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Montana, 1983. Lily is a lonely teenager intrigued by the air of mystery about her elderly, solitary neighbor from Paris. As Lily uncovers hints about her past, she finds that they share a love of language and books, never suspecting that a dark secret connects the two. Based on the true story of The American Library in Paris, The Paris Library is a mesmerizing and captivating novel about the power of books and the bonds of friendship—and the ordinary heroes who can be found in the most perilous times and the quietest places.