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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—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 eleven different voices, offering a panoramic view of a real historic institution, and 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.
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Lily & Mary Louise leave small town Montana for a bigger life in Paris, following in the footsteps of their dear friend, Odile. Lily, an aspiring writer, finds work in the ALP (the American Library in Paris), as the program manager, just as Mary Louise is suddenly moving out of their shared apartment. Lily dives into her work, dealing with weird patrons, snooty trusties, and odd collages, trying to save the library from its looming financial demise. Lily is trying to find her written voice. She is struggling to write, all while trying to mourn the loss of her friendship, navigate a budding relationship, draw parallels from Odile’s story to hers, and grow. Oh yeah, and save the library too. We all dream of moving to Paris, to live our dreams. As Lily learns, survival and success can be hard anywhere despite the magic that Paris has to offer. Can she do it? This audiobook has been a treat to listen to while I power through the mundane details of my own life. The narrator of Lily’s voice, tells Lily’s story with vivid emotion. Listening to Lily sounds like I’m listening to an old friend talk about her day. I very much enjoyed sharing my time with Lily & her friends at the ALP.