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

One of the cutest and funniest books I have ever read despite dealing with some very dark subject matter. A respectful and hopeful look at a dark period of history. Amazing!

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michaelapr's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This book is a fast read that was fun and sad at the same time. It was interesting to me to read a World War II book that was more on the direct aftermath of the war and looking back on it (but still fresh, sense the war ended). There aren't a lot of books that explore that so it was nice to see a fresh take. I also liked the story told in letters - that always makes a story go faster.

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221bpinkst's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

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aggie24's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.75

Saying this was very pleasant doesn’t capture my thoughts adequately, but this was somewhere between pleasant and delightful. I wasn’t expecting to like the format, as almost the entire story is told through letters, but it worked surprisingly well. There was a striking juxtaposition between many lighthearted, endearing characters and stark accounts of concentration camps and bombings. I purposely avoid World War II books, but reading this book was the right choice. It wasn’t a “World War II Book” the way I usually think of them, but it didn’t shy away from harsh realities either. I think I would have liked a more cohesive narrative, something a little tighter and more focussed, but that is likely more a reflection of what I usually read (very different from this) and not this book itself.
Would recommend.

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kris_tea516's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

Book 25 of 52 for 2024

I saw the movie a few years ago for this book. I had no idea until a couple of months ago that it was a book. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it after watching the movie but it had been a few years & I wasn’t sure how much I really remembered. Well, I have to say I’m so happy I reread it. It’s such a wonderful story & it is done so well. I highly recommend the audiobook because each wonderful character’s letter is read by a different actor. This book is the definition of “cozy” read but it also deals with very difficult things from history (Holocaust, WWII) & how complicated the relationships between the Germans & British had been. It also shows how reading can change your life in ways you might never expect. It left me wanting to read even more books & appreciate genres I might never think about.

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