Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, 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, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

20世纪30年代末，生活在巴黎中产阶级家庭、热爱阅读的女孩奥黛尔，怀着对图书的热爱，应聘到巴黎亚米利加图书馆当图书管理员。虽然有来自生活和成长的现实烦恼，但她也收获了友情和爱情。纳粹占领巴黎后，奥黛尔和亦师亦友的同事们尽心维持图书馆的运转，只为给巴黎民众提供最后的心灵庇护所。可是，随后而来的变故，让奥黛尔的生活分崩离析，她不得不远走他乡…… 20世纪80年代，在美国蒙大拿州小镇弗罗伊德，少女莉莉面临青春期的苦恼：母亲的离世让她突然面对生死离别，父亲的再婚让她对新的家庭关系无所适从，同龄人的社交压力让校园变成修罗场…… 一个午后，深陷冗杂平庸生活的少女莉莉，意外闯进独居的奥黛尔的家中，阴差阳错地阻止了一场自杀。自此，两个不同文化背景的女性的生活轨道交织在一起，谱写出一段跨越半个世纪的心灵成长史。