#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 … 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)
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This book was completely different from anything I have read before . New history facts about how WWII affected the little island of Guernsey, the novel repercussions of the war on it, and the clever way the islanders dealt with all.
So readable. Well worth a second or third read.
Unique story of a scary time in history. Well done characters.
The sacrifices the WWII generation made were tremendous, from adults to children. Not on!y the military, civilians too. I’m not sure today’s generations would be willing to do the same. I admire and revere them and their willingness to make those sacrifices. This is a sweet story about them. I am so tjem.
So cute! I’ve found I really enjoy WWII period pieces, and I also love stories that use the love of literature as part of the setting or motivation for characters to meet and bond with one another. This one has both, and a sweet Anne of Green Gables-style romance thrown in to boot.
The story follows Juliet, a 33-year old journalist and author who …
A great WW2 Historical Romantic Fiction a must read for readers who love this time period.
This is a book that you will want to read over and over again. The characters are so alive, you feel as if you could have a conversation with them.
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, …
One of my favorites… I’m a sucker for letters exchanged over a distance, the story told in the comfortable intimacy of the written word…
I’m so glad I finally got to read this one! There’s so much to say, so I’ll try to break it all down and help you determine if it’s the right book for you.
If you’ve seen the movie, this book may already be on your radar. It’s often said that the book is better than the movie, and this one is most definitely richer and more in-depth than the …
The individual stories of hardship, loss, and how the German occupation affected each person is balanced by the determination and resilience of a community determined to survive and come out stronger in the end.
Brave unforgettable characters who made the best of the horrors of the German occupation during WWII, written in letters to each other.
Wonderful! I listened on audio and it took a tiny bit of time to get used to the accents & voices. It’s pretty cool that the book is read by multiple narrators. It didn’t take long to be fully immersed in the story and couldn’t wait for each time I got to listen. The story depicts the awful realities of the Nazi occupation, including many aspects …
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A keynote message of the book is that everyone, regardless of their station in life, can and will have their world expanded and enriched by learning to appreciate the gift of reading. I was pleased that, for the most part, foul language and immoral situations were refreshingly absent from this book. With such a …
One of top 10 favorite books.Wonderful characters, unpredictable, mostly charming people dealing with incredible adversity.
I don’t usually enjoy books written in letter form however this book is an exception. The author is able to tell the story clearly, with only letters back and forth between the main character and all others. The story was interesting and remained historically accurate.
This book is like a warm hug gently enveloping the reader in its embrace as the story unfolds. Written in the form of a series of letters between author Juliet Ashton and a book group on the isle of Guernsey. Connected through a coincidence, Juliet becomes intrigued with the members of the group & their stoic insistence upon keeping their literary …
This delightful book ranks very near the top of my all-time favorite reads! I had heard about this book from so many different book groups I decided I had to finally read it and I am so happy that I did. This book takes place in 1946 after the German occupancy of the channel islands during WWII. Juliet Ashton is an author living in London who …
I loved it! Great characters, great story!
A wonderful and entertaining story which I highly recommend.
This book was a difficult one for me to get into. The entire book is letters instead of direct verbal interaction with the characters. You still got to know the characters—just a different style of writing.