#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX FILM • A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.
“Treat yourself to this book, please—I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
“A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be found in good books and good friends.”—People
“A book-lover’s delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean to all things literary.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb.”—The Sunday Times (London)
“Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet emotionally satisfying to the finish.”—The Times (London)
British author Juliet is ready to write her next novel about a book club held in Guernsey during the German occupation.
What an utterly charming as well as completely fascinating novel. Set after WWII, it’s told in a series of letters and correspondences between Juliet, a British writer, her publisher, her best friend, and a book club she meets on Guernsey. Juliet not only finds herself drawn to the islander’s struggle during the German occupation, but she finds a family (including romance) on the island. The format is made for listening, and luckily the audio book is done to perfection. Don’t read this novel, listen to it if you can.
I found myself falling in love with Juliet. She’s vibrant, compassionate, and driven. All of the secondary characters are as richly drawn as Juliet, but she is definitely the heart and soul of the book. The relationships she builds with the islanders felt as natural as breathing. I completely believed they loved her, and she loved them, by the end of the novel. The romance is not the driving force of the novel, but it’s still given time and attention to develop. The exploration of German occupation on Guernsey is fascinating, mixing the character driven moments with more serious historical relevance. I can’t rave enough about this book.
I read this book because I wanted to watch the movie adaptation on Netflix. Sadly, I think the movie adaptation totally missed the mark.
tl;dr A character driven book with historical details makes this an utterly charming and fascinating read.
