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The Secret Librarian
From the bestselling author of The Secret Midwife and The Berlin Sisters comes an inspiring story of friendship, hope and courage.
New York, 1942: Avery is engaged to be married. Longing for adventure instead, she jumps at an unexpected offer to trade her library job for undercover intelligence-gathering in Portugal. But her new life in Lisbon, known as the Capital of Espionage, challenges everything she thought she knew about herself.
Local bookshop owner Camille, a French widow with access to the enemy newspapers and magazines Avery needs, befriends her. But are the rumours that swirl around Camille true—does she really have a Nazi boyfriend? And what secrets did she bring with her when she fled France? Avery must decide—fast—if she can fully trust Camille. Millions of lives depend on it.
As Avery discovers more about Camille’s world, she realises that living in a city of spies will take all her courage. With suspicions growing, they are both playing a terrifyingly dangerous game. And not everyone will live to tell their story. Can Avery and Camille stay far enough ahead of their enemies to survive?
Threaded through with daring, sacrifice and love, this is the inspirational story of two women prepared to risk everything to help others survive the horrors of World War II.
New York, 1942: Avery is engaged to be married. Longing for adventure instead, she jumps at an unexpected offer to trade her library job for undercover intelligence-gathering in Portugal. But her new life in Lisbon, known as the Capital of Espionage, challenges everything she thought she knew about herself.
Local bookshop owner Camille, a French widow with access to the enemy newspapers and magazines Avery needs, befriends her. But are the rumours that swirl around Camille true—does she really have a Nazi boyfriend? And what secrets did she bring with her when she fled France? Avery must decide—fast—if she can fully trust Camille. Millions of lives depend on it.
As Avery discovers more about Camille’s world, she realises that living in a city of spies will take all her courage. With suspicions growing, they are both playing a terrifyingly dangerous game. And not everyone will live to tell their story. Can Avery and Camille stay far enough ahead of their enemies to survive?
Threaded through with daring, sacrifice and love, this is the inspirational story of two women prepared to risk everything to help others survive the horrors of World War II.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
1543 people are currently reading
6753 people want to read
About the author
Soraya M. Lane
125 books2,125 followersSoraya M. Lane is the Amazon Charts & Kindle #1 bestselling author of THE SECRET MIDWIFE and THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
August 15, 2025
In the middle of World War II, two librarians will risk their lives trying to save as many refugees as they can.
After being offered the opportunity to collect information for her country, Avery runs away from home, breaking her engagement and catching a plane for the first time, arriving in Lisbon. But the city is full of spies and double agents, and Avery will learn fast that nobody is who they seem.
I loved the setting and the idea of this story. Avery was very easy to connect to, and the idea of two librarians saving the day was very thrilling. However, I didn’t quite believe how it was executed.
Firstly, everything happened exactly as I was dreading it was going to happen. For a second I thought I was going to be wrong and the book would end up surprising me, but a ‘plot twist’ moved the story in the exact direction I knew it would go. I was very underwhelmed by it, because I wanted to be surprised, and I expected so much more from a book full of spies and double agents.
Secondly, I wanted to believe both women could be real agents, but there was only one time I was surprised by Avery’s quick thinking. The rest of the time, I didn’t understand how they hadn’t been caught earlier. I didn’t mind that much when it came to Avery, because she was new at it, but I expected so much more from Camille. I didn’t understand how she wasn’t discovered, because she wasn’t being especially subtle and everyone seemed to know about her little secret and did nothing with the information.
Thirdly, even though not as important as the other two, the romance was so insta-love. I was quite disappointed by it, especially considering Avery’s line of work. I would have been so suspicious about every handsome gentleman coming my way!
The audiobook was what saved the story for me, I really enjoyed listening to it.
Overall, I had a good time listening to The Secret Librarian but was let down by the execution of the actual plot. Everything was too convenient and predictable, and I couldn’t believe that’s how everything would have turned out in real life. That being said, I liked the two women (until I felt cheated by their acting) and the premise.
Rating: 2 stars
Audiobook rating: 4 stars
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After being offered the opportunity to collect information for her country, Avery runs away from home, breaking her engagement and catching a plane for the first time, arriving in Lisbon. But the city is full of spies and double agents, and Avery will learn fast that nobody is who they seem.
I loved the setting and the idea of this story. Avery was very easy to connect to, and the idea of two librarians saving the day was very thrilling. However, I didn’t quite believe how it was executed.
Firstly, everything happened exactly as I was dreading it was going to happen. For a second I thought I was going to be wrong and the book would end up surprising me, but a ‘plot twist’ moved the story in the exact direction I knew it would go. I was very underwhelmed by it, because I wanted to be surprised, and I expected so much more from a book full of spies and double agents.
Secondly, I wanted to believe both women could be real agents, but there was only one time I was surprised by Avery’s quick thinking. The rest of the time, I didn’t understand how they hadn’t been caught earlier. I didn’t mind that much when it came to Avery, because she was new at it, but I expected so much more from Camille. I didn’t understand how she wasn’t discovered, because she wasn’t being especially subtle and everyone seemed to know about her little secret and did nothing with the information.
Thirdly, even though not as important as the other two, the romance was so insta-love. I was quite disappointed by it, especially considering Avery’s line of work. I would have been so suspicious about every handsome gentleman coming my way!
The audiobook was what saved the story for me, I really enjoyed listening to it.
Overall, I had a good time listening to The Secret Librarian but was let down by the execution of the actual plot. Everything was too convenient and predictable, and I couldn’t believe that’s how everything would have turned out in real life. That being said, I liked the two women (until I felt cheated by their acting) and the premise.
Rating: 2 stars
Audiobook rating: 4 stars
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 7, 2025
Historical fiction author Soraya Lane gives heroic women the recognition they deserve and brings untold stories of women’s courage to light. She transported me to a time of danger, intrigue, and bravery as I followed her characters who risked it all, navigating the dangerous world of espionage.
Avery Johnson represented the female empowerment that occurred at this time in history. Wartime demanded more of women, and they stepped up to the plate. I cheered her on as she stepped out of the carefully curated life she was expected to live and into one of surpassing courage and resourcefulness. I learned about the necessary role of the OSS, in particular, the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications, and the usefulness of microphotography during wartime.
I truly felt I’d been swept back in time and could feel the tension mounting as Avery established who she could and could not trust. It’s always nerve-wrecking when the reader knows more than the character! Lane is a trusted author and I love that I know what to expect when I read one of her 5-star novels.
If you enjoy compelling characters and a gripping historical backdrop, don’t miss this one.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Avery Johnson represented the female empowerment that occurred at this time in history. Wartime demanded more of women, and they stepped up to the plate. I cheered her on as she stepped out of the carefully curated life she was expected to live and into one of surpassing courage and resourcefulness. I learned about the necessary role of the OSS, in particular, the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications, and the usefulness of microphotography during wartime.
I truly felt I’d been swept back in time and could feel the tension mounting as Avery established who she could and could not trust. It’s always nerve-wrecking when the reader knows more than the character! Lane is a trusted author and I love that I know what to expect when I read one of her 5-star novels.
If you enjoy compelling characters and a gripping historical backdrop, don’t miss this one.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 7, 2025
A quiet rebellion, a fierce friendship, and the war fought in shadows—The Secret Librarian is a quietly gripping and emotionally resonant exploration of resistance, moral complexity, and the power of women’s unnoticed contributions during war.
Set in WWII Lisbon — a city rarely centred in historical fiction — Soraya M. Lane shines a light on a country that positioned itself as neutral while its policies often quietly served fascist interests. Through the lens of two women, Avery and Camille, Lane offers a deeply human portrait of courage in forms that are often overlooked: information-gathering, document-forging, and acts of quiet defiance that saved lives.
Avery is an American librarian who, chafing against the societal pressure to marry and conform, accepts a position with the OSS to microfilm Nazi newspapers and smuggle intelligence back to the Allies. What seems at first a mundane clerical role quickly reveals itself as crucial — a reminder that the preservation and transmission of truth can be a powerful act of war.
Camille, a French Resistance member forced into exile, now runs a bookshop under an assumed identity. Her relationship with a Nazi officer is a calculated survival strategy — one that shields her underground efforts forging identity papers and visas for Jewish refugees. Her story is a profound meditation on the moral ambiguity that wartime demands — where personal survival and resistance must coexist in tension.
What Lane does particularly well is interrogate neutrality as performance. Lisbon, outwardly calm and cosmopolitan, is depicted as a stage where intelligence operations thrive, but beneath the surface, Jewish refugees face suspicion and risk. Through Avery’s growing disillusionment and Camille’s hard-earned clarity, the book explores how neutrality can serve as a convenient mask for complicity — and how individual compassion can rise in resistance to state indifference.
This novel also engages deeply with:
- The invisibility of women’s wartime labour
- The ethical complexity of survival
- The emotional toll of working in secret
- The friction between personal agency and national expectation
Lane’s prose is elegant, restrained, and empathetic. There are no grandiose declarations or melodrama here — just the quiet, relentless determination of two women trying to do what is right in a world that often rewards silence.
The Secret Librarian is both a moving work of historical fiction and a critical reminder of the untold stories behind official histories. For readers who seek nuance, emotional depth, and narratives that foreground the intelligence, sacrifice, and ethical clarity of women in wartime, this is essential reading. 5 stars.
Set in WWII Lisbon — a city rarely centred in historical fiction — Soraya M. Lane shines a light on a country that positioned itself as neutral while its policies often quietly served fascist interests. Through the lens of two women, Avery and Camille, Lane offers a deeply human portrait of courage in forms that are often overlooked: information-gathering, document-forging, and acts of quiet defiance that saved lives.
Avery is an American librarian who, chafing against the societal pressure to marry and conform, accepts a position with the OSS to microfilm Nazi newspapers and smuggle intelligence back to the Allies. What seems at first a mundane clerical role quickly reveals itself as crucial — a reminder that the preservation and transmission of truth can be a powerful act of war.
Camille, a French Resistance member forced into exile, now runs a bookshop under an assumed identity. Her relationship with a Nazi officer is a calculated survival strategy — one that shields her underground efforts forging identity papers and visas for Jewish refugees. Her story is a profound meditation on the moral ambiguity that wartime demands — where personal survival and resistance must coexist in tension.
What Lane does particularly well is interrogate neutrality as performance. Lisbon, outwardly calm and cosmopolitan, is depicted as a stage where intelligence operations thrive, but beneath the surface, Jewish refugees face suspicion and risk. Through Avery’s growing disillusionment and Camille’s hard-earned clarity, the book explores how neutrality can serve as a convenient mask for complicity — and how individual compassion can rise in resistance to state indifference.
This novel also engages deeply with:
- The invisibility of women’s wartime labour
- The ethical complexity of survival
- The emotional toll of working in secret
- The friction between personal agency and national expectation
Lane’s prose is elegant, restrained, and empathetic. There are no grandiose declarations or melodrama here — just the quiet, relentless determination of two women trying to do what is right in a world that often rewards silence.
The Secret Librarian is both a moving work of historical fiction and a critical reminder of the untold stories behind official histories. For readers who seek nuance, emotional depth, and narratives that foreground the intelligence, sacrifice, and ethical clarity of women in wartime, this is essential reading. 5 stars.
July 7, 2025
When I realized this author's latest book was set in Lisbon, I jumped at the opportunity to read the ARC. Knowing that Portugal was neutral during World War II makes you think it was a safe place to ride out the war, but it had its own brutal fascist regime. Having just read a book about the Carnation Revolution that overthrew that dictatorship in 1974, I knew how dangerous Lisbon was.
Avery, the secret librarian, was recruited by the OSS because she was a Columbia University graduate who had been trained to preserve printed material on microfilm. Even better, she spoke three languages, two of which she spoke fluently. Unfortunately, her parents felt that the only goal for a woman was to get married and stay at home to raise a family. I admired her determination to break free from those expectations in such a dramatic fashion. But for me, the bigger heroine of this story is Camille, who had been involved in the French Resistance since 1940 and had already lost everyone she loved. Her resilience, bravery, and endless compassion for the Jewish refugees in Lisbon inspired Avery to do even more than her job.
I expected to be absorbed by the espionage details of this book because Lisbon was famously known as a city of spies during World War II, or to be wrapped up in the drama of the multitude of Jewish refugees gathered in Rossio Square. Believe me, that's all there, but the depth of the bond between Avery and Camille was the true star of the story for me. It's a rare connection, but if you've had a friendship like that in your own life, theirs will ring true for you. Soraya Lane's writing is flawless, as is her research. It's impressive how she drops seemingly unimportant details throughout the story, but ties them all together at the end. Be prepared for your heart to race and your palms to sweat as the tension builds, and then to need a box of tissues as your heart shatters. The Secret Librarian is not to be missed. I loved it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read the ARC. The review and opinions are my own.
Avery, the secret librarian, was recruited by the OSS because she was a Columbia University graduate who had been trained to preserve printed material on microfilm. Even better, she spoke three languages, two of which she spoke fluently. Unfortunately, her parents felt that the only goal for a woman was to get married and stay at home to raise a family. I admired her determination to break free from those expectations in such a dramatic fashion. But for me, the bigger heroine of this story is Camille, who had been involved in the French Resistance since 1940 and had already lost everyone she loved. Her resilience, bravery, and endless compassion for the Jewish refugees in Lisbon inspired Avery to do even more than her job.
I expected to be absorbed by the espionage details of this book because Lisbon was famously known as a city of spies during World War II, or to be wrapped up in the drama of the multitude of Jewish refugees gathered in Rossio Square. Believe me, that's all there, but the depth of the bond between Avery and Camille was the true star of the story for me. It's a rare connection, but if you've had a friendship like that in your own life, theirs will ring true for you. Soraya Lane's writing is flawless, as is her research. It's impressive how she drops seemingly unimportant details throughout the story, but ties them all together at the end. Be prepared for your heart to race and your palms to sweat as the tension builds, and then to need a box of tissues as your heart shatters. The Secret Librarian is not to be missed. I loved it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read the ARC. The review and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2025
A wonderful quick read historical fiction around World War 2. This was a different perspective than you usually see, which was fun. YA appropriate.
July 15, 2025
Review: I'm curious why all of the main female characters are super hot with brains to match?
This was more boring than a bag of hammers . There's hardly any movement and the characters just lay flat on the pages. There are some instances of movement but they are far outweighed by the internal ruminations of our main characters.
Although the World War Two era is true to form there's nothing in the writing that compels the reader to a higher level of interest. I think this was written for an audience of middle aged retirees that live in the addled and seldom used, sexual recesses of their minds or for someone that owns more than two cats.
I received this ARC for an honest review .
DNF
This was more boring than a bag of hammers . There's hardly any movement and the characters just lay flat on the pages. There are some instances of movement but they are far outweighed by the internal ruminations of our main characters.
Although the World War Two era is true to form there's nothing in the writing that compels the reader to a higher level of interest. I think this was written for an audience of middle aged retirees that live in the addled and seldom used, sexual recesses of their minds or for someone that owns more than two cats.
I received this ARC for an honest review .
DNF
August 16, 2025
I look forward to every book Lane writes. I can always count on an emotional novel filled with amazing characters. Another one I highly recommend.
August 22, 2025
I loved everything about this book. A beautiful mixture of historical fiction, women challenging their expected roles to stand up for their countries, love and friendship—it has something for everyone. It was beautifully written and I’d read it again.
September 16, 2025
This was a story about friendship and love in a time where it was incredibly hard to have both. A great historical fiction!
“I’m meant to be a wife, but now I’m just a widow” 🥺
“I’m meant to be a wife, but now I’m just a widow” 🥺
July 6, 2025
New York WW2 a unique fictional story.
Librarian Avery Johnson is longing for adventure not ready for marriage, when she gets the chance doing microfilming as a undercover intelligent she's sent off to Lisbon in Portugal.
Bookshop owner French widow Camille befriend Avery with contacts, but can she trust her?
Living in the city of spies is not for the faint of heart.
Wonderful just Wonderful, I couldn't put this book down.
What a journey what a story what a joy to read.
A gripping tale,
harrowing in chapters,
That draw you into another time, another world.
I absolutely loved this book.
Librarian Avery Johnson is longing for adventure not ready for marriage, when she gets the chance doing microfilming as a undercover intelligent she's sent off to Lisbon in Portugal.
Bookshop owner French widow Camille befriend Avery with contacts, but can she trust her?
Living in the city of spies is not for the faint of heart.
Wonderful just Wonderful, I couldn't put this book down.
What a journey what a story what a joy to read.
A gripping tale,
harrowing in chapters,
That draw you into another time, another world.
I absolutely loved this book.
August 15, 2025
***HAPPY PUB DAY***
RECAP: In 1942, Avery’s undercover mission in Lisbon forces her to trust Camille, a French widow with rumored Nazi ties, as they risk everything in a city of spies to help others survive the war.
REVIEW: Given the WWII background, I would say that historical fiction novel was still on the lighter side - you know what’s going on, what’s at stake for our characters, but it doesn’t weigh on you as heavily as other books set during this time. I’d recommend to someone who likes slow-burn suspense, ordinary women doing extraordinary things and found family.
RECAP: In 1942, Avery’s undercover mission in Lisbon forces her to trust Camille, a French widow with rumored Nazi ties, as they risk everything in a city of spies to help others survive the war.
REVIEW: Given the WWII background, I would say that historical fiction novel was still on the lighter side - you know what’s going on, what’s at stake for our characters, but it doesn’t weigh on you as heavily as other books set during this time. I’d recommend to someone who likes slow-burn suspense, ordinary women doing extraordinary things and found family.
August 19, 2025
I loved this book!
The characters are so real. The intrigue runs throughout the storyline.
WWII in Lisbon is full of spies. While technically neutral, there was an intense amount of activity. Jews fleeing Hitler, Axis and Allies spies abounded. And many refuges fleeing the Nazis.
Camille is hiding her true identity in search for justice.
Avery is a young restless American wanting to travel the world but told she must marry because that is what young women are made for.
Read on to find out how these two women fight for what they believe in.
The characters are so real. The intrigue runs throughout the storyline.
WWII in Lisbon is full of spies. While technically neutral, there was an intense amount of activity. Jews fleeing Hitler, Axis and Allies spies abounded. And many refuges fleeing the Nazis.
Camille is hiding her true identity in search for justice.
Avery is a young restless American wanting to travel the world but told she must marry because that is what young women are made for.
Read on to find out how these two women fight for what they believe in.
August 19, 2025
Avery has her life all mapped out — she’s engaged, working as a librarian, but she wants more than the life that’s been planned for her.
When an unexpected opportunity comes to leave it all behind for an intelligence role in Lisbon, she doesn’t think twice.
But Lisbon is a city of secrets…
Where trust is rare.
And every conversation could put you in danger.
✨ My favourite character? Camille — a French widow and bookshop owner. Brave, determined, and unforgettable. I loved how Avery’s doubts about her kept me hooked, always wondering if Camille could be trusted.
Yes, it’s a spy story…
…but it’s also about courage, friendship, and making choices in a world ruled by chaos. The constant tension and suspense kept me listening late into the night.
📖 If I you love WWII fiction with strong female leads, complex characters, and trust that has to be earned, this belongs on your TBR.
When an unexpected opportunity comes to leave it all behind for an intelligence role in Lisbon, she doesn’t think twice.
But Lisbon is a city of secrets…
Where trust is rare.
And every conversation could put you in danger.
✨ My favourite character? Camille — a French widow and bookshop owner. Brave, determined, and unforgettable. I loved how Avery’s doubts about her kept me hooked, always wondering if Camille could be trusted.
Yes, it’s a spy story…
…but it’s also about courage, friendship, and making choices in a world ruled by chaos. The constant tension and suspense kept me listening late into the night.
📖 If I you love WWII fiction with strong female leads, complex characters, and trust that has to be earned, this belongs on your TBR.
August 7, 2025
If you love historical fiction with a twist of espionage, The Secret Librarian is a must-read! It is set against the backdrop of WWII. You will find secrecy, suspense, history, and romance. 📚🕵️♀️💥📖
The story pulled me in with its detailed setting and fast-paced plot, but what truly stood out were the strong, intelligent female characters who risk everything for what they believe in. Their courage and resilience kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The narrator did a fantastic job with manipulating the different accents in the book and the reading pace was perfect.
The story pulled me in with its detailed setting and fast-paced plot, but what truly stood out were the strong, intelligent female characters who risk everything for what they believe in. Their courage and resilience kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The narrator did a fantastic job with manipulating the different accents in the book and the reading pace was perfect.
August 31, 2025
This was a unique take on a WWII historical fiction novel. Set in Portugal, we follow Avery, an American librarian, and Camille, a French Resistance fighter, who become close friends in Lisbon and bond over their shared desire to help the Allied troops and Jewish families.
I really enjoyed this book, and it's the first time I read a WWIl novel set in Portugal. I had never truly considered what happened to the Jewish families that were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied countries, other than they made it to safety. Lane does a
wonderful job of highlighting the limbo, fear and harsh reality that the Jewish refugees experienced and the surreal yet neutral ground for Allied and Axis spies to mingle. The deep friendship between Avery and Camille is remarkable, and I love the way that they look out for each other. This was probably my favourite part of the book!
Special thanks to Lake Union and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copy.
I really enjoyed this book, and it's the first time I read a WWIl novel set in Portugal. I had never truly considered what happened to the Jewish families that were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied countries, other than they made it to safety. Lane does a
wonderful job of highlighting the limbo, fear and harsh reality that the Jewish refugees experienced and the surreal yet neutral ground for Allied and Axis spies to mingle. The deep friendship between Avery and Camille is remarkable, and I love the way that they look out for each other. This was probably my favourite part of the book!
Special thanks to Lake Union and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copy.
August 19, 2025
The Secret Librarian is a thrilling historical fiction novel based in Lisbon during WWII.
Avery is a Columbia University graduate who is itching for adventure. She is recruited by the OSS as an undercover operative while shortly working for her local library. Against her parents’ wishes, she breaks off her engagement and flies to Lisbon where she begins her work documenting media sources from the enemy under the guise of a librarian working for the library of congress. It’s in Lisbon where she meets Camille, a French bookshop owner who is rumored to have an attachment with a German Nazi. As Avery and Camille become fast friends, the city brimming with espionage may test the boundaries of their friendship as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their enemies.
I enjoyed this book very much. I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction novels based in Lisbon, even more so when it involves librarians. This book was riveting and was right in vein with Suzanne Nelson’s Librarians of Lisbon. It was reminiscent of Casablanca in a way being set in Lisbon, a city brimming with spies.
If you are a fan of undercover librarians, espionage, and WWII historical fiction novels, you will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.
Avery is a Columbia University graduate who is itching for adventure. She is recruited by the OSS as an undercover operative while shortly working for her local library. Against her parents’ wishes, she breaks off her engagement and flies to Lisbon where she begins her work documenting media sources from the enemy under the guise of a librarian working for the library of congress. It’s in Lisbon where she meets Camille, a French bookshop owner who is rumored to have an attachment with a German Nazi. As Avery and Camille become fast friends, the city brimming with espionage may test the boundaries of their friendship as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their enemies.
I enjoyed this book very much. I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction novels based in Lisbon, even more so when it involves librarians. This book was riveting and was right in vein with Suzanne Nelson’s Librarians of Lisbon. It was reminiscent of Casablanca in a way being set in Lisbon, a city brimming with spies.
If you are a fan of undercover librarians, espionage, and WWII historical fiction novels, you will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.
October 2, 2025
She’s done it again, and I’m not even surprised! I’ve been saying for years that Lane is my favourite historical author and every single time she blows me away. I was instantly captured in Avery and Camille’s friendship, I love that this was the focal point of the book. It was an emotional and really spirited friendship, I loved reading their interactions as they grew closer. It was also interesting to read a WWII novel set in a neutral country, and following a field I wasn’t familiar with (Avery’s research).
The most important thing for me in Lane’s books is her dedication to strong female characters, and this is no exception. I could have easily read 100 more pages about these two and their dedication to fighting the good fight. As a reader, you can also tell when the author has fun writing, and that comes across so clearly in this book. Once again, a fantastic novel from start to finish, I already can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheSecretLibrarian #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The most important thing for me in Lane’s books is her dedication to strong female characters, and this is no exception. I could have easily read 100 more pages about these two and their dedication to fighting the good fight. As a reader, you can also tell when the author has fun writing, and that comes across so clearly in this book. Once again, a fantastic novel from start to finish, I already can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheSecretLibrarian #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 5, 2025
This book set in Lisbon, WWII neutral city of spies, refugees and Nazis, reminded me much of “The Bookshop of Secrets” by Kerry Barrett, also about a bookstore in Lisbon. Both stories involve naïve main characters who end up getting involved in espionage more than their expatriate roles ever expected upon landing in Lisbon. Both Avery of “The Secret Librarian” and Lara of “The Bookshop of Secrets” encounter a strange new world where they try to make a difference in the war effort. In their journey, they become more capable, confident and courageous than they were before. While both books were light on covering the atrocities of the war and refugees, they depicted the human issues of war and how even neutral countries are affected.
I’ve read every book written by Soraya M. Lane and had high expectations for this one, but I have to say something was missing for me. The characters were beautifully written with an exciting plot and some almost expected twists. I really liked this book and look forward to more historical fiction from Soraya M. Lane.
I’ve read every book written by Soraya M. Lane and had high expectations for this one, but I have to say something was missing for me. The characters were beautifully written with an exciting plot and some almost expected twists. I really liked this book and look forward to more historical fiction from Soraya M. Lane.
September 9, 2025
Wonderful story beautifully written. Characters are interesting, scenes expertly described & the plot thoroughly absorbing.
First time I have listened to audiobook, the narration was superb & added immensely to the experience with subtle accents that truly bring each character to life.
Absolutely loved it! Not enjoyed a book so much for a long time.
First time I have listened to audiobook, the narration was superb & added immensely to the experience with subtle accents that truly bring each character to life.
Absolutely loved it! Not enjoyed a book so much for a long time.
August 15, 2025
The Secret Librarian by Soraya M. Lane highlights the importance and crucial roles women had during WWII even when many seemed invisible. In fact, they walked the fine line of seemingly innocent while helping the cause of freedom as members of the resistance, it was the invisibility that helped them to be successful. However, their contributions were overlooked for many years after the war. A wonderful historical fiction story of convictions, courage and friendship in a plot that kept me hooked, especially with the high-stakes espionage and secrets unraveling. Like me you will find Avery and Camille to be unforgettable in The Secret Librarian.
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars
August 18, 2025
Excellent!
There are so many WWII novels, but this one is very unique. It’s set in Lisbon and centers around 2 very different women who find themselves in precarious positions. Knowing whom to trust in a city full of spies, Jewish refugees, and Nazis is a matter of life and death.
There are so many WWII novels, but this one is very unique. It’s set in Lisbon and centers around 2 very different women who find themselves in precarious positions. Knowing whom to trust in a city full of spies, Jewish refugees, and Nazis is a matter of life and death.
September 5, 2025
I really enjoyed The Secret Librarian. Soraya Lane has such a talent for pulling me straight into her stories, and this one was no different. The characters felt alive and the historical setting was beautifully written—I could almost picture myself right there with them.
While it didn’t grab me quite as much as some of her other books I’ve read, it was still a wonderful, emotional story that I’m glad I picked up. Soraya Lane always leaves me caring deeply about her characters, and I appreciate how she balances history with heart.
Overall, a touching and memorable read, and one I’d definitely recommend to fellow historical fiction lovers.
While it didn’t grab me quite as much as some of her other books I’ve read, it was still a wonderful, emotional story that I’m glad I picked up. Soraya Lane always leaves me caring deeply about her characters, and I appreciate how she balances history with heart.
Overall, a touching and memorable read, and one I’d definitely recommend to fellow historical fiction lovers.
September 7, 2025
certainly draws you in and transports you to a well drawn Lisbon in WWII.
An easy read but still a good story about life in WWII in a neutral country full of spies, an aspect not covered so frequently. You soon become gripped by the lives of the main characters as they walk the tightrope between trying to help Jewish families and maintain a false neutral front without being caught.
An easy read but still a good story about life in WWII in a neutral country full of spies, an aspect not covered so frequently. You soon become gripped by the lives of the main characters as they walk the tightrope between trying to help Jewish families and maintain a false neutral front without being caught.
September 29, 2025
This story is about a woman who is engaged to a man who she doesn’t want. But when Avery is approached at her job in the library to do another important job, she jumps at the chance to leave and do something more for the war effort. But Avery is determined to achieve what she was set out to do, even putting herself at risk.
This book was well written with hints of desperation and the need to succeed from the characters to ensure the world would be safe again.
This book was well written with hints of desperation and the need to succeed from the characters to ensure the world would be safe again.
October 1, 2025
Outstanding and emotional
The entire book was outstanding, two parts were the best. The first was the opening. Without that , the entire book would be a failure. The second part of the book was when Camilla was shot and dying.
Overall the book was outstanding. I highly advocate people to read it. They will not be disapppinted.
The entire book was outstanding, two parts were the best. The first was the opening. Without that , the entire book would be a failure. The second part of the book was when Camilla was shot and dying.
Overall the book was outstanding. I highly advocate people to read it. They will not be disapppinted.
December 7, 2025
Pretty slow and uninteresting, super basic, skimmed through the end tbh - would always be tough following crescent city
July 13, 2025
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Secret Librarian on NetGalley and I was not disappointed. Soraya Lane weaves her stories so skillfully that I often feel like I am there with the main characters, in the thick of the action. The story begins in the early 1940s, during WWII, and is told in two voices - that of Avery, an American librarian who yearns for something more in life, and Camille, a French woman whose husband was murdered by the Nazis, and who has made it her life's goal to avenge her husband's death and find out who betrayed them. The two women meet in Lisbon where Avery has been sent to microfilm foreign newspapers for the Government and Camille runs a book ship, pretending to be a Portuguese widow all the while helping Jewish refugees from France. This story kept me on the edge of my seat at times and I liked that the mysteries were all wrapped up nicely at the end - with the hopeful, happy ending that I love so much too. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
THE SECRET LIBRARIAN is the latest outstanding World War II historical novel by one of my favorite authors, Soraya M. Lane. I have never read a book by this author that I didn’t love and this one is no exception. It is a gripping and heartfelt story of friendship, bravery and hope. In New York in 1942, librarian Avery Johnson is engaged to be married. Deep down, she wishes for travel and adventure instead of the sedate life laid out for her. She unexpectedly gets her wish when, because of her expertise with microphotography, she is secretly recruited by the OSS to perform undercover intelligence-gathering in Lisbon, Portugal. Her new role will challenge every aspect of her previous life. In Lisbon, local bookshop owner, Camille, is a French resistance member, forced into exile after the death of her beloved husband. Can having a Nazi boyfriend protect her from the secrets she hides and allow her to continue helping Jewish refugees? Camille befriends Avery and the pair form an unlikely bond. Can they both survive the dangerous and potentially deadly game they are playing? I was completely engrossed in this compelling story that is filled with intrigue, suspense and drama. This World War II story was unlike any other I’ve read and I loved the historical and emotional aspects of it. I thoroughly this beautifully-written and thought-provoking book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.
August 18, 2025
An easy read and although predicted the outcome a fabulous bit of escapism!
July 29, 2025
Soraya M. Lane wrote a very detailed storyline about Camille and Avery as well as those they encountered while in Lisbon during WWII. I found it very interesting and so insightful to read about how difficult it was to assist others during such a tragic time and their working as spies for the allies.
It held my attention and the twists were not something I saw coming. I was quite happy with the ending.
It held my attention and the twists were not something I saw coming. I was quite happy with the ending.
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