The Parisian Chapter

De: Janet Skeslien Charles

Narrado por: Pauline Chalamet, Jean Brassard, Corey Brill, Marisa Calin, Danny Campbell, James Fouhey, Matt Godfrey, Helen Lloyd, Jackie Sanders, Gary Tiedemann, Elizabeth Wiley, Gabra Zackman

This audiobook is read by a full cast, led by actress Pauline Chalamet (The Sex Live of College Girls, The King of Staten Island).

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.

This moving, propulsive story features twelve different voices, led by French-American actress Pauline Chalamet (The Sex Lives of College Girls), and offers a panoramic view of a real historic institution, revisiting characters from both of Charles’s beloved novels. Lily’s story is a love letter to the artist’s life, the importance of friendship, and leaving home only to find it again.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Janet Skeslien Charles (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Wonderful story

A bit slow girl wants to meet boy story at first, but as you discover the different characters it becomes a gem of a novel.

Disappointed

This book had all the possibilities of being an interesting historical novel. What a great setting—Paris during WWII & in 1995. The story could have been about 2 women & what they did during the occupation to fight the Nazis at the American Library in Paris. Two librarians. Not this book. It is a series of short stories about the current library staff. It’s like a Hallmark movie except not at Christmas. If that’s what you want, ENJOY. If you want something with meat on it the this is not for you

Needed an accompanying PDF overview intro to the main characters.

While I enjoyed this listen I found keeping the multiple characters clear in mind frustrating without a list to refer to. I had tried to purchase a print or Kindle version at the same time I preordered this title and again during the listen. I had reread my print copy on The Paris Library while waiting for this title’s release knowing this was listed as book 2 in the series. I continually wanted the PDF listed in my review tile above. I did discover a PDF provided to accompany my Audible purchasing of this title. but it is a useful book group reading guide and does not address my frustration of a Character Guide.