Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I went into this book not expecting much, I thought it would be just a pleasant and easy read to end the year and start a new one, but oh boy it was much more! I'm not the biggest fan of WW2 fiction but this book was a very pleasant surprise.

I really liked how the authors didn't shy away from and handled the heavy topics related to war, occupation and concentration camps. But, at the same time, the book was also very hopeful and filled with such lovely humour and funny situations.
I really loved the big cast of characters, with all their idiosyncrasies, they felt really well depicted and vivid on the page.

I appreciated the narrative choice of telling the story through letters/telegrams and the theme of "reading/loving books" that was an undercurrent throughout the story.

I'm not giving full marks because some plot points and situations felt a little bit too predictable or far-fetched/bizarre, although it made for a very heartwarming and feel-good story.

All in all, a lovely way to begin a new reading year!

Content Warnings

rhosynmd's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book was so much more than I was expecting.

Content Warnings

maaathiiilde's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

claragweny's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read the book after I fell in love with the Netflix production. I was surprised that the format of the book is a collection of letters. I've never read a book with this kind of format and I have to say that I loved it more than I thought I would. I think it really enhanced the romantic feel of the story. I love all the characters so much and I love the plot even more. Found family stories really, really get me emotional and the added bonus of this being a love story makes it even better! 5/5 would recommend it to anyone who loves historical romance or books about books.

Content Warnings

bexi's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

dytiscusfriend's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Certainly one of my favorite epistolary novels. Moving story told in two time settings, one in the Second World War. Elegantly written and effervescent.

Recommended for appreciators of Atonement (I know that's about WWI), The Water Horse (movie), and BBC historical fiction programs.

I also want to mention some of my other favorite epistolary novels: The Color Purple, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and Where'd You Go Bernadette.

Content Warnings

More...