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

I found this book through a “blind date with a book” and quickly was surprised and happy by the letter format and the characters of the book. I’ve always been a reader, so by learning this fictional story of a literary society during German occupation and the effect of the occupation on Guernsey Island. I loved all of the characters, but I especially love the references to classic literature and the comparison between the ending couple and Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

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sarabeswick's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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tinkeringcheck's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

Over 8 hours I feel like the Society and people of Guernsey became my friends as much as they became Juliet's. The narrators' performances were just incredible and brought the characters' voices to life in such a special way. This book was made for audio!

I particularly loved

Spoiler

Sidney and Isola's budding friendship and Juliet and Kit's relationship

- neither of which quite got their due in the film version. This little found family wormed its way into my heart and I don't regret a thing.

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jja_b's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A charming read. I thought this was a very melancholic but sweet tale, and the characters’ experiences during the occupation were moving.

I did struggle with the writing style a bit at first (an epistolary novel I believe it’s called??) but I ended up really liking it. I think the film adaption is great, but I think I might prefer the book a lil more.

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naomi_k's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

It took me a long time to pick up this book because I thought it would be a sappy historic romance. (This opinion was largely based on the movie tie in cover). But having recently read The Jane Austen Society, 84 Charing Cross Road, and Bloomsbury Girls, it was recommended as a similar title. The recommendation was apt.

This is a charming epistolary novel following Juliet, an author, who finds herself drawn into the story of a group of channel islanders who survived German occupation. She begins to exchange letters with the members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, an eclectic group who bonded over literature and helped one another through the misery of the occupation. Juliet becomes so enthralled with their stories that she decides to travel to Guernsey in order to write about this fascinating and diverse group of people.

Shaffer and Barrows created a beautiful tale of sorrow and humor, resilience and love. There is a romance but don’t let that dissuade you, this is a gem of a book about found family.

I’m not a big fan of epistolary novels as I feel like it takes a lot of brain power to keep everyone straight and remember who is writing to who with each letter. Still, this was a delightful read and I think I will check out the movie next. How can I resist a movie with so many stars from Downton Abbey?

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eloiseisreading's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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rieviolet's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

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!

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