Summer Reads: The Parisian Chapter (+ a giveaway!)

This is part of my Summer Reads series where I’ll be sharing book recommendations –  a series of “not just cookbooks”.

Welcome (back) to Summer Reads, the 2025 edition (this series has been running every June – August since 2016!). Today’s review is about a book that combines my love for Paris/ France and libraries – what could be better? Scroll down to the bottom of the post for an international giveaway! (Edited to add: GIVEAWAY CLOSED, winner contacted).

As soon as I saw that Janet Skeslien Charles had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait – then I saw it was coming to audio only first and that gave me pause…  I have tried audiobooks many times in the past and I find that I am not able to focus on them as well as with physical books. However, when Janet offered to send me an advance copy to see how I liked it, I made an exception, as I am a huge fan of her previous work.

Skeslien Charles is the New York Times (and internationally) bestselling author of The Paris Library (which I read, loved and reviewed in 2021) and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade (or The Librarians of Rue de Picardie in some parts of the world). Her work has been translated into thirty-seven languages. She spent a decade researching Jessie Carson (for Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade) at The Morgan Library, the NYPL, and archives across France. I was excited to read another story set in/ around a library, especially the American Library in Paris which I am familiar with.

About The Parisian Chapter from the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade comes a charming and cinematic multi-cast audiobook following a young woman from Montana who lands a job in the American Library in Paris, where she discovers the power of storytelling and writes her own Parisian chapter.

Paris, 1995: It’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived from their small town of Froid, Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists—Lily, a novelist, and Mary Louise, a painter—they share a tiny sixth-floor walkup and survive on brie and baguette.

When Mary Louise abruptly moves out, Lily feels alone in the City of Light for the first time and is in need of a new way to support herself. She lands a job as the programs manager at the American Library in Paris, following in the footsteps of her French neighbor Odile, who infused her childhood with tales of heroic World War II librarians. Here in the storied halls of the ALP, Lily meets an incredible cast of characters—her favorite author, quirky coworkers, broke students, and high society trustees—each with their own stories…and agendas. Personal dramas sometimes take precedence over books and patrons.

Between her hard-nosed boss not letting up and her best friend letting go, Lily is stressed and bewildered. When it becomes clear that the Library is facing serious financial struggles and its future is uncertain, she must look beyond her own problems in order to protect the ALP and the precious memories it holds.

Ok, I will start out by saying that I am SO glad I took a chance on this one – I found myself engrossed the whole way and I was so annoyed that life was getting in the way of my listening! I started it on a 75 minute treadmill run so that I would get a chance to fully dive into the story and I think that was key in being able to focus on the rest of the story over the week or so I listened to it on my commute (the only time I will complain that my commute is too short LOL!).

The book is told from multiple POV, which I was worried about in terms of keeping track of who’s who but it’s narrated by a full cast of characters (notably, the charming Pauline Chalamet) which helped me keep track of the storylines. The other POV include patrons of the library, Lily’s friend Odile (to whom she pens letters throughout the book), and other ALP staff; their stories are interwoven beautifully. Sometimes when there are too many characters, they don’t feel like they get enough airtime but the characters and their storylines are are well-developed and written.

I was enchanted by this for so many reasons, not the least being that it is set in 1995, the year *I* moved to Paris and, just like Lily, lived in a “chambre de bonne” myself. There was so much about this that brought back memories of what was a challenging time in my life but one on which I look back with great fondness. And, I mean, the fact that this is set in a library – one of my favourite places on earth – was the icing on the cake. I have even done an event at the ALP myself when my own book came out so it was really interesting hearing the inner musings of the Programme Director!

I absolutely LOVED this book and can’t wait to read the story again in paperback when it eventually comes out!

Worldwide giveaway!

Thanks to Janet and Simon & Schuster Audio, I have one copy of The Parisian Chapter to give away to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

There are 2 ways to enter (maximum of two entries per person for the duration of the contest).

1. Leave me a comment on this post telling me EITHER: what’s your favourite “coming of age” novel (selfishly to add to my TBR list!) OR what’s your favourite picnic food (since summer is the season for picnics!)

2. Share news of the contest on any social media platform then come back to leave a separate comment letting me know you did (and where you shared).

Eligibility and contest rules:

– Contest begins on Monday June 2nd 2025 at 5.30am EST on and closes Monday June 9th 2025 at 5.30am EST.
– Prize consists of one (1) copy of The Parisian Chapter (RRP $24.99USD)
– Open to readers of the age of majority anywhere in the world
– No purchase of any product necessary for entry.
– Winners will be chosen randomly (using www.random.org) from all qualified entries on Monday June 9th 2025 after 5.30am EST..
– Winner will be notified via email Tuesday June 10th 2025 and will have 48 hours to respond to the email.

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Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this audiobook from the author.  I am not receiving any compensation for reviewing the book. Neither the author nor the publisher reviewed this post prior to publication. All opinions are my own.

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Buy The Parisian Chapter on Amazon (this affiliate link should bring you to the Amazon store in, or closest to, your country).

For free worldwide shipping, find The Parisian Chapter on Blackwell’s.

Support your local Indie bookstore and purchase The Parisian Chapter on Bookshop.org.

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Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  This post also contains affiliate links for Blackwell’s and Bookshop.org. This means that if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price (at no extra cost to you). Thank you in advance!

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Buy my books! In the French kitchen with kids and French Food for Everyone: le goûter  (after school snacks), le dîner (dinner) and le petit déjeuner (breakfast) are out now! Click here for details and how to order!

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