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The Parisian Chapter
Table of Contents
Listen to an Excerpt
About The Book
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.
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.
About The Author
Krystal Kenney
Janet Skeslien Charles is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Paris Library. Her work has been translated into thirty-seven languages. She has spent a decade researching Jessie Carson (Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade) at The Morgan Library, the NYPL, and archives across France. Her shorter work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Sydney Morning Herald, LitHub, and the anthology Montana Noir. To connect, visit her website JSkeslienCharles.com, @JSkeslienCharles on Instagram, or @SkeslienCharles on Twitter.
About The Readers
Gabra Zackman knows romance. Her clever and “thrilling romantic caper” (Library Journal) Bod Squad series was inspired by the more than one hundred romance and women’s fiction titles she has narrated for audio. She divides her time between her native New York City and Denver, Colorado.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Originals (May 27, 2025)
- Runtime: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- ISBN13: 9781668121047
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Raves and Reviews
"A delightful love letter to the glorious American Library in Paris, The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles enchants. Those who loved The Paris Library and Miss Morgan's Book Brigade, also by Charles, will be pleased to find continuations of their favorite characters' stories in this audiobook delight, while those who are new to Charles's work will be just as swept away by a colorful cast of characters--voiced by a talented full cast--who work, study, and volunteer in the famed library, which sits in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Listeners will love Charles's spot-on descriptions of the City of Light--from Louis Vuitton handbags to Gitanes cigarettes to the cheap Burgundy and brie on which many young expats survive. If you love Paris, don't hesitate to say "Oui oui!" to this sparkling, heartfelt ode to libraries--and to the people who make them magical."
– Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
“I loved The Parisian Chapter, the completely immersive story of a young woman working in the American Library in Paris. Actress Pauline Chalamet is an incredible narrator, and I loved falling under the spell of this cinematic story.”
– Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
“The Parisian Chapter is feel-good escapism at its most fun. Brought to life by a strong ensemble cast and rich in French detail, this audiobook follows the ups and downs of a young American writer coming into her own in mid-90s Paris. Magnifique!”
– Rebecca Hardiman, author of Good Eggs
“The Parisian Chapter is a smart and charming story of a young American writer in France, as well as the many fascinating people she encounters as an employee at the American Library in Paris. The talented cast brings to life deep friendships, the joy of new romance, and a true appreciation for books, writers, and librarians; I could not stop listening until I reached the audiobook's perfect ending.”
– Amy Poeppel, author of Small Admissions
"Pauline Chalamet masterfully leads an extraordinary cast through this charming, beautifully written, perfectly performed, multi-generational story of friendship, love, and a very special library. Listening to The Parisian Chapter is an absolute joy."
– Allison Larkin, author of The People We Keep and Home of the American Circus
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Parisian Chapter Unabridged Audio Download 9781668121047
- Author Photo (jpg): Janet Skeslien Charles Krystal Kenney(0.1 MB)
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The Parisian Chapter
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