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The English Girl
He is German. She is English. Their countries are enemies. Can love bring them together? Inspired by an incredible true story, this is a sweeping tale about the power of hope in the face of war and the legacy of an impossible choice.
1946, Norfolk, England: She gazes out across the beach, its beauty marred by the sharp barbed wire, hiding deadly mines beneath the sand. Back in the village, everyone is nervously awaiting the arrival of the German prisoners, who will change everything…
Grief and anger spill over in Fran’s small village when German prisoners of war are sent to the nearby camp. After the death of her beloved brother on the front lines in Europe, it is hard for Fran to see these young men as anything but his killers. But prisoner Thomas, with his gentle nature and piercing blue eyes that see into Fran’s very soul, will force her to question everything she thought she knew.
Thrown together on the day one of the mines on the beach explodes, they begin to meet in secret. Fran even dares to dream about a future when their countries are no longer enemies and their blossoming love is not something they must hide from the world. But when Thomas receives shocking news from home, Fran must decide how much she is willing to risk for love…
1989, Berlin: Tiffany arrives in Berlin just as the wall that divided a nation finally falls. As citizens celebrate in the streets, she joins the tide of people crossing the newly opened border between West and East. In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed to her grandmother, yellowed with age, that has led her in search of a wartime secret with the power to change her future…
Inspired by an incredible true love story, this is a beautiful, sweeping tale about the power of hope in the face of war and the legacy of a terrible choice. Fans of Fiona Valpy, The Forgotten Village and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be absolutely gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.
1946, Norfolk, England: She gazes out across the beach, its beauty marred by the sharp barbed wire, hiding deadly mines beneath the sand. Back in the village, everyone is nervously awaiting the arrival of the German prisoners, who will change everything…
Grief and anger spill over in Fran’s small village when German prisoners of war are sent to the nearby camp. After the death of her beloved brother on the front lines in Europe, it is hard for Fran to see these young men as anything but his killers. But prisoner Thomas, with his gentle nature and piercing blue eyes that see into Fran’s very soul, will force her to question everything she thought she knew.
Thrown together on the day one of the mines on the beach explodes, they begin to meet in secret. Fran even dares to dream about a future when their countries are no longer enemies and their blossoming love is not something they must hide from the world. But when Thomas receives shocking news from home, Fran must decide how much she is willing to risk for love…
1989, Berlin: Tiffany arrives in Berlin just as the wall that divided a nation finally falls. As citizens celebrate in the streets, she joins the tide of people crossing the newly opened border between West and East. In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed to her grandmother, yellowed with age, that has led her in search of a wartime secret with the power to change her future…
Inspired by an incredible true love story, this is a beautiful, sweeping tale about the power of hope in the face of war and the legacy of a terrible choice. Fans of Fiona Valpy, The Forgotten Village and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be absolutely gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.
316 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 11, 2021
When is love impossible? Can you really love someone when times demand that you don't?
This book starts with the destruction of the Berlin Wall, and a young woman bearing a letter sent to her grandmother many years ago. We are led back to a time right after the war where German prisoners were housed in Norfolk England and tasked with the removal of bombs planted during the war. It's 1946, and sentiments run high as there are few who have not lost a beloved someone to the war. The main character Fran has lost a brother, but then encounters a German prisoner, who touches her heart in so many ways with his kind and loving nature. Fran falls for him and he for her, but with tensions running high Fran and Thomas find their love seems to be doomed.
Also, present is a young man, Martin, who through no fault of his own is deemed unable to serve. He becomes the brunt also of the mentality some had of those who could not serve. However, Martin's mother holds a secret which Martin will learn that will change his life. He too, is smitten with Fran and vies for her attention, but her heart is won by Thomas.
Fran has a sister, who hates all that has to do with the Germans and constantly reminds Fran of the loss of their brother, a wound Fran feels most deeply along with her mother. However, the war is over and tensions need to be cooled as the people come to realize that many of these prisoners were not Nazis, just young men compelled to serve.
We are also witness to the loneliness war brings to the women who are left behind as the head of the camp's wife became involved with an American soldier who promised her the world but delivered only emptiness and heartache. We see the results and the devastation that was brought to many a soldier before we ever knew about PTSD and the effects it had on minds.
This was a fine story that made us look at the aftereffects of war and how one can't control the ones they love and care for. The brutality often survived after the last battle was fought.
Thanks you to Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture, and Netgalley for a copy of this story due out June 18, 2021.
This book starts with the destruction of the Berlin Wall, and a young woman bearing a letter sent to her grandmother many years ago. We are led back to a time right after the war where German prisoners were housed in Norfolk England and tasked with the removal of bombs planted during the war. It's 1946, and sentiments run high as there are few who have not lost a beloved someone to the war. The main character Fran has lost a brother, but then encounters a German prisoner, who touches her heart in so many ways with his kind and loving nature. Fran falls for him and he for her, but with tensions running high Fran and Thomas find their love seems to be doomed.
Also, present is a young man, Martin, who through no fault of his own is deemed unable to serve. He becomes the brunt also of the mentality some had of those who could not serve. However, Martin's mother holds a secret which Martin will learn that will change his life. He too, is smitten with Fran and vies for her attention, but her heart is won by Thomas.
Fran has a sister, who hates all that has to do with the Germans and constantly reminds Fran of the loss of their brother, a wound Fran feels most deeply along with her mother. However, the war is over and tensions need to be cooled as the people come to realize that many of these prisoners were not Nazis, just young men compelled to serve.
We are also witness to the loneliness war brings to the women who are left behind as the head of the camp's wife became involved with an American soldier who promised her the world but delivered only emptiness and heartache. We see the results and the devastation that was brought to many a soldier before we ever knew about PTSD and the effects it had on minds.
This was a fine story that made us look at the aftereffects of war and how one can't control the ones they love and care for. The brutality often survived after the last battle was fought.
Thanks you to Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture, and Netgalley for a copy of this story due out June 18, 2021.
June 26, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
At the time everyone had said the agony of not knowing, the uncertainty, must be the worst thing of all, but it hadn’t been. Uncertainty had meant hope, seconds, sometimes even whole minutes of time when they had convinced themselves he was still alive. The worst thing had been when the letter finally came, hearing the wild sobs of her mother behind her bedroom door, a racking, animal-like keening that sounded unlike anything Fran had ever heard before.
Her husband has become a stranger. A silent stranger. Some days she hardly speaks to anyone apart from Alice. It’s like being less and less present in her own life, as if she’s been reduced to a chalk drawing on a blackboard to which someone has taken a duster, and finger by finger, toe by toe, is slowly obliterating.
It’s like… it’s like I’m staring at the sun. I can’t see anything but him.
My Review:
My first exposure to Sarah Mitchell’s agile storytelling and she took me right into their homes, offices, and lives. I was sucked right into their vortex and beside the various characters in an alley while breaking up a fight, in their kitchens during family meals, in their car when it slid off the road into a snowbank. I felt the bitter chill of their winter as well as their poignant heartbreaks, hopes, and soaring spirits. The woman has mad skills and I look forward to another time slip by delving into her words again and again. More, please!
At the time everyone had said the agony of not knowing, the uncertainty, must be the worst thing of all, but it hadn’t been. Uncertainty had meant hope, seconds, sometimes even whole minutes of time when they had convinced themselves he was still alive. The worst thing had been when the letter finally came, hearing the wild sobs of her mother behind her bedroom door, a racking, animal-like keening that sounded unlike anything Fran had ever heard before.
Her husband has become a stranger. A silent stranger. Some days she hardly speaks to anyone apart from Alice. It’s like being less and less present in her own life, as if she’s been reduced to a chalk drawing on a blackboard to which someone has taken a duster, and finger by finger, toe by toe, is slowly obliterating.
It’s like… it’s like I’m staring at the sun. I can’t see anything but him.
My Review:
My first exposure to Sarah Mitchell’s agile storytelling and she took me right into their homes, offices, and lives. I was sucked right into their vortex and beside the various characters in an alley while breaking up a fight, in their kitchens during family meals, in their car when it slid off the road into a snowbank. I felt the bitter chill of their winter as well as their poignant heartbreaks, hopes, and soaring spirits. The woman has mad skills and I look forward to another time slip by delving into her words again and again. More, please!
June 4, 2021
1946, Norfolk, England: She gazes out across the beach, It's beauty marred by sharp barbed wire, hiding deadly mines beneath the sand. Everyone in the village is nervously awaiting the arrival of the German prisoners, Grief and anger spill over in Fran's village when the prisoners arrive. Her brother had been killed on the front line and Fran can only see these young men as his killers. But prisoner Thomas will force Fran to to question everything she thought she knew.
1989, Berlin: Tiffany arrives in Berlin just as the wall that divided a nation finally falls. She joins the tide of people crossing the newly opened border between West and East. In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed from her grandmother, yellowed with age, that has led her in search of a wartime secret with the power to change her future.
This book was inspired by a true love story. It tells of the trauma soldiers coming back from war had to deal with and how it affected the people around them. Fran worked in the German prisoner of war camp where she meets the handsome Thomas and makes friends with Martin. Martin was Fran's co-workers brother who couldn't fight due to a weakness of the heart.
Some of the plot was a little far fetched but the pace was steady throughout, It's informative and interesting. The characters were well developed and believable. This story held my attention throughout. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SarahMitchell for my ARC of #TheEnglishGirl in exchange for an honest review.
1989, Berlin: Tiffany arrives in Berlin just as the wall that divided a nation finally falls. She joins the tide of people crossing the newly opened border between West and East. In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed from her grandmother, yellowed with age, that has led her in search of a wartime secret with the power to change her future.
This book was inspired by a true love story. It tells of the trauma soldiers coming back from war had to deal with and how it affected the people around them. Fran worked in the German prisoner of war camp where she meets the handsome Thomas and makes friends with Martin. Martin was Fran's co-workers brother who couldn't fight due to a weakness of the heart.
Some of the plot was a little far fetched but the pace was steady throughout, It's informative and interesting. The characters were well developed and believable. This story held my attention throughout. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SarahMitchell for my ARC of #TheEnglishGirl in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2021
Maybe it's my fault that I've read this book after the Rose Code... Maybe if I've read it before I would have liked it more...
But, I felt this like a cross-breed of a Harlequine reomance and WWII...
Fran is a typical WWII girl. A little naive and starry-eyes, who thinks that everybody is good.
Her grandaughter Tiffany is just an afterthought..
Daisy, is just blinded and wants to find a wife for her brother...
Viv is a as naive as Fran and also a spoiled little girl instead of a mature wife and mother...
It's not all bad. It rises a question of forgiveness and understanding that in a war even the enemies are not all monsters...
But it was not delivered in a good way...
As I said, maybe it's just me and bad timing, but I felt that everybody was behaving stupidly...
But, I felt this like a cross-breed of a Harlequine reomance and WWII...
Fran is a typical WWII girl. A little naive and starry-eyes, who thinks that everybody is good.
Her grandaughter Tiffany is just an afterthought..
Daisy, is just blinded and wants to find a wife for her brother...
Viv is a as naive as Fran and also a spoiled little girl instead of a mature wife and mother...
It's not all bad. It rises a question of forgiveness and understanding that in a war even the enemies are not all monsters...
But it was not delivered in a good way...
As I said, maybe it's just me and bad timing, but I felt that everybody was behaving stupidly...
June 6, 2021
The Letter
This story is engaging from start to finish. I did get lost for a minute when the time was switched from the 1980’s to the 1940’s. I soon caught up and later I figured it out. Sometimes the dual timelines throw me a bit. I loved the descriptions of the town and the sea on the beach, sounded like a beautiful place. The characters were great, especially Fran.
It starts out with a young lady named Tiffany arriving in Berlin in 1989 just as the Berlin wall was tumbling down. She has come from London to find someone in East Berlin. She meets Ralf and they search for an address she found in a letter at her grandmother's house.
An unforgettable love story of two young people Fran and Thomas, in a most inconvenient time and place. Fran is an English girl working in the office of the commander of a British camp for German POW’s. Thomas is a German prisoner at the camp. They meet and fall in love, but it must be kept a secret because fraternizing with the enemy is illegal.
June is the sister that hates all Germans and thinks they are all Nazi’s. Daisy is her co worker in the office and the sister of Martin who is smitten with Fran. There comes a time when Thomas doesn’t show at their meeting place. The choices made by Thomas . Martin and Fran will change all their lives.
I loved the ending, it was a good way to end the book. I enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy of the book.
This story is engaging from start to finish. I did get lost for a minute when the time was switched from the 1980’s to the 1940’s. I soon caught up and later I figured it out. Sometimes the dual timelines throw me a bit. I loved the descriptions of the town and the sea on the beach, sounded like a beautiful place. The characters were great, especially Fran.
It starts out with a young lady named Tiffany arriving in Berlin in 1989 just as the Berlin wall was tumbling down. She has come from London to find someone in East Berlin. She meets Ralf and they search for an address she found in a letter at her grandmother's house.
An unforgettable love story of two young people Fran and Thomas, in a most inconvenient time and place. Fran is an English girl working in the office of the commander of a British camp for German POW’s. Thomas is a German prisoner at the camp. They meet and fall in love, but it must be kept a secret because fraternizing with the enemy is illegal.
June is the sister that hates all Germans and thinks they are all Nazi’s. Daisy is her co worker in the office and the sister of Martin who is smitten with Fran. There comes a time when Thomas doesn’t show at their meeting place. The choices made by Thomas . Martin and Fran will change all their lives.
I loved the ending, it was a good way to end the book. I enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy of the book.
January 3, 2022
I give it 3 stars because in spite of everything that irritated me, there were a few chapters that I really liked as well as the general theme. The writing was also pretty good, at times descriptive (though I would have liked more) and often with a cinematic quality. The structure of the book felt well suited for the screen actually.
My issues with the novel are that it fails to centre its focus on the 2 main protagonists, Thomas a German prisoner of war and Fran, a young English girl whose brother was killed during D Day. The secondary characters are given many chapters, from their respective points of view, and where we go in much detail about their personal lives, emotions fears and failings. It is well done, but I could not find them endearing or touching. Their selfishness, their resentment, or at times naivete, grated me, in other words, I did not find them likeable and yet, they took such a huge chunk from the book.
My interests lied with Thomas and Fran, but it took way too long for their relationship to become meaningful and believable. (love at first sight is not convincing to me) Fran's constant hesitation is understandable but also exhausting to read. As for Thomas we get to know so little about him, he never gets a dedicated chapter and the story is never told from his point of view.
Without spoiling the end, I can say that I find it bitter sweet and that the lies of certain characters are so huge and selfish, that they sort of ruined even more their character and the mild happiness of the last page.
Finally I was disappointed that so much energy had been spent on describing events that I did not find compelling whereas the ending felt rushed, and that we are meant to read between the lines to understand what happened to Fran, how she felt, or who Tiffany might really be (?). The general feeling of the story is of sadness, longing, fear and even hate. It was all too gloomy for me with very little hope.
My issues with the novel are that it fails to centre its focus on the 2 main protagonists, Thomas a German prisoner of war and Fran, a young English girl whose brother was killed during D Day. The secondary characters are given many chapters, from their respective points of view, and where we go in much detail about their personal lives, emotions fears and failings. It is well done, but I could not find them endearing or touching. Their selfishness, their resentment, or at times naivete, grated me, in other words, I did not find them likeable and yet, they took such a huge chunk from the book.
My interests lied with Thomas and Fran, but it took way too long for their relationship to become meaningful and believable. (love at first sight is not convincing to me) Fran's constant hesitation is understandable but also exhausting to read. As for Thomas we get to know so little about him, he never gets a dedicated chapter and the story is never told from his point of view.
Without spoiling the end, I can say that I find it bitter sweet and that the lies of certain characters are so huge and selfish, that they sort of ruined even more their character and the mild happiness of the last page.
Finally I was disappointed that so much energy had been spent on describing events that I did not find compelling whereas the ending felt rushed, and that we are meant to read between the lines to understand what happened to Fran, how she felt, or who Tiffany might really be (?). The general feeling of the story is of sadness, longing, fear and even hate. It was all too gloomy for me with very little hope.
May 14, 2021
A fresh perspective on WW2 historical fiction! WooOoo HooOoo!
You’ll read about German POWs in a work camp in Norfolk, England. One of the office girls falls in love with one of the POWs and risks everything. I was shocked to learn that they used the POWs to clear mines from the local beaches and that the POWs seemed to be out and about in the community.
Mitchell highlights the effects of war not only on the soldiers, but also on those in command. I’ve never read about this before in a historical fiction novel. PTSD not only affected the men, but their wives and children. The war was difficult on the whole family unit.
She also sheds light on what it was like for those with health concerns who were denied a chance to fight. We read about how others treated them and how they themselves viewed their worthiness. Again, a unique perspective.
Another true event added to Mitchell’s plot was that local people invited German POWs to enjoy Christmas with them in their homes and with their families. This shocked me the most and had me Googling to verify.
I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to share it with others!
Mitchell doesn’t spoon feed readers, they’ve got to work for connections and comprehension and this made me happy. I felt like I was waiting for the chairlift on a ski hill and if I wanted to enjoy the ride, I had to be willing to hop on when the empty seat came my way and go where it took me before I could enjoy skiing. This will be a contender for my second favourite historical fiction read of 2021.
Publishes June 18, 2021
I was gifted this advance copy by Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture and NetGally and was under no obligation to provide a review.
You’ll read about German POWs in a work camp in Norfolk, England. One of the office girls falls in love with one of the POWs and risks everything. I was shocked to learn that they used the POWs to clear mines from the local beaches and that the POWs seemed to be out and about in the community.
Mitchell highlights the effects of war not only on the soldiers, but also on those in command. I’ve never read about this before in a historical fiction novel. PTSD not only affected the men, but their wives and children. The war was difficult on the whole family unit.
She also sheds light on what it was like for those with health concerns who were denied a chance to fight. We read about how others treated them and how they themselves viewed their worthiness. Again, a unique perspective.
Another true event added to Mitchell’s plot was that local people invited German POWs to enjoy Christmas with them in their homes and with their families. This shocked me the most and had me Googling to verify.
I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to share it with others!
Mitchell doesn’t spoon feed readers, they’ve got to work for connections and comprehension and this made me happy. I felt like I was waiting for the chairlift on a ski hill and if I wanted to enjoy the ride, I had to be willing to hop on when the empty seat came my way and go where it took me before I could enjoy skiing. This will be a contender for my second favourite historical fiction read of 2021.
Publishes June 18, 2021
I was gifted this advance copy by Sarah Mitchell, Bookouture and NetGally and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 12, 2021
A tale of forbidden love set against the backdrop of a post WWII village in England makes for a great weekend read for a fan of historical fiction.
Fran is a young English girl who is hired to work in the office of a German POW camp that has set up shop in her village on the English coast. She befriends and falls in love with a prisoner, Thomas, who was just a young German man who had a gun shoved in his hand regardless of his true feelings about nazism and the war. In that time and place, very few people could tell the difference between a German and a Nazi, making their feelings for each other forbidden. When the two of them decide to forgo everyone else’s feelings on the matter, Thomas suddenly disappears...returning to Germany without a word to Fran.
What I loved about this book, which is inspired by a true story, is that there were people post WWII that could tell the difference between a German and a Nazi. They were few and far between but they recognized the fact that not all Germans fought in the war because they wanted to. Many were forced into the German army and despite their true feelings, were treated as equally guilty as those who willingly followed the ideals of the German political party trying to overtake the world. Fran could see that Thomas was a good man but she could not convince the other villagers of that. Their village was devastated by the war, having lost many of their own young men so they were grieving and angry which was understandable.
The characters were easy to engage with and at times the story kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next. It flows extremely well which makes it an excellent weekend or rainy day read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sarah Mitchell for early access to this story!
Fran is a young English girl who is hired to work in the office of a German POW camp that has set up shop in her village on the English coast. She befriends and falls in love with a prisoner, Thomas, who was just a young German man who had a gun shoved in his hand regardless of his true feelings about nazism and the war. In that time and place, very few people could tell the difference between a German and a Nazi, making their feelings for each other forbidden. When the two of them decide to forgo everyone else’s feelings on the matter, Thomas suddenly disappears...returning to Germany without a word to Fran.
What I loved about this book, which is inspired by a true story, is that there were people post WWII that could tell the difference between a German and a Nazi. They were few and far between but they recognized the fact that not all Germans fought in the war because they wanted to. Many were forced into the German army and despite their true feelings, were treated as equally guilty as those who willingly followed the ideals of the German political party trying to overtake the world. Fran could see that Thomas was a good man but she could not convince the other villagers of that. Their village was devastated by the war, having lost many of their own young men so they were grieving and angry which was understandable.
The characters were easy to engage with and at times the story kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next. It flows extremely well which makes it an excellent weekend or rainy day read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sarah Mitchell for early access to this story!
June 28, 2021
After the excitement of the Berlin Wall coming down, the story goes back to the harsh winter of 1946/47, to a small village on the coast of Norfolk where the locals have gathered to watch German prisoners of war march to the nearby camp. Their presence rouses anger and hatred, and the grief still felt over the loss of loved ones.
Fran Taylor works in the office at the camp. Her interaction with the prisoners, especially with Thomas who speaks English, changes her views of the Germans. Instead of blaming them for her brother's death, she sees them as young men like her brother, forced into the war but not liking it. Christmas becomes a time of attempted reconciliation between the villagers and the Germans, but Fran and Thomas must still keep their relationship secret. The new year brings promise of change, but also news that forces Thomas to make a heartbreaking decision.
Apart from the main plot involving Fran and Thomas's relationship and anti-German sentiment, there are a number of subplots that enrich the story and highlight other consequences of the war. Shell shock, a war-time love affair and the unforeseen ramifications of a mother's selfish act infuse drama and heartache into an already emotionally charged tale.
World War II fiction is one of my favourite war novel genres, especially novels that showcase life on the home front at that time. In The English Girl, Sarah Mitchell skillfully weaves a moving love story into a world struggling with the after effects of the war. It engaged me from the intriguing start to the heart-warming conclusion. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a participant in a blog tour.
*https://adarngoodread.blogspot.com
Fran Taylor works in the office at the camp. Her interaction with the prisoners, especially with Thomas who speaks English, changes her views of the Germans. Instead of blaming them for her brother's death, she sees them as young men like her brother, forced into the war but not liking it. Christmas becomes a time of attempted reconciliation between the villagers and the Germans, but Fran and Thomas must still keep their relationship secret. The new year brings promise of change, but also news that forces Thomas to make a heartbreaking decision.
Apart from the main plot involving Fran and Thomas's relationship and anti-German sentiment, there are a number of subplots that enrich the story and highlight other consequences of the war. Shell shock, a war-time love affair and the unforeseen ramifications of a mother's selfish act infuse drama and heartache into an already emotionally charged tale.
World War II fiction is one of my favourite war novel genres, especially novels that showcase life on the home front at that time. In The English Girl, Sarah Mitchell skillfully weaves a moving love story into a world struggling with the after effects of the war. It engaged me from the intriguing start to the heart-warming conclusion. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a participant in a blog tour.
*https://adarngoodread.blogspot.com
June 18, 2022
Truly heartbreaking.
The book begins in Eastern Germany, right after the fall of the Berlin Wall and decades after the end of WWII. The author then takes us back in time to Britain, right after the end of WWII, where an English girl named Fran watches as former German soldiers are brought in to rebuild her town as prisoners. On that faithful day, Fran meets Thomas, one of the German soldiers, who picks up the handkerchief that she dropped. And in that moment, both knew that their lives had changed forever, for neither could live without the other.
While it was clear that Fran and Thomas were going to be a couple, their relationship was not instantaneous. The anti-German sentiment created a star-crossed lovers scenario between them. At the same time, another love prospect, Martin, was the obvious safe option that Fran's friends and family wanted for her. Society can be cruel, for those inclined.
The author also did a fantastic job of giving each of the main characters their own side story, each of which deals with an issue that people at the time would have suffered from. Some examples would include Toby, who experienced PTSD after returning from the front, while Martin is eaten by the guilt of not serving, due to a "heart condition". These side stories added to the overall atmosphere of post-war Britain.
Overall, a terribly sad but enjoyable read.
The book begins in Eastern Germany, right after the fall of the Berlin Wall and decades after the end of WWII. The author then takes us back in time to Britain, right after the end of WWII, where an English girl named Fran watches as former German soldiers are brought in to rebuild her town as prisoners. On that faithful day, Fran meets Thomas, one of the German soldiers, who picks up the handkerchief that she dropped. And in that moment, both knew that their lives had changed forever, for neither could live without the other.
While it was clear that Fran and Thomas were going to be a couple, their relationship was not instantaneous. The anti-German sentiment created a star-crossed lovers scenario between them. At the same time, another love prospect, Martin, was the obvious safe option that Fran's friends and family wanted for her. Society can be cruel, for those inclined.
The author also did a fantastic job of giving each of the main characters their own side story, each of which deals with an issue that people at the time would have suffered from. Some examples would include Toby, who experienced PTSD after returning from the front, while Martin is eaten by the guilt of not serving, due to a "heart condition". These side stories added to the overall atmosphere of post-war Britain.
Overall, a terribly sad but enjoyable read.
February 19, 2026
This book is about hope, family secrets, and the long-lasting scars of war, made me emotional too. If you like historical fiction with a romance plot I think you’ll like this one.
August 23, 2021
I absolutely loved this book--the plot, characters, setting--everything about it. I couldn't stop reading it, from 2 in the morning until wake-up time. It had me totally immersed, wondering what was going to happen. I won't rehearse the plot because others have done it so well, but if you want a terrific book to read, don't pass this one up.
April 5, 2023
A multi-generational look at the soldiers who are forced to fight and the realization that they are real people with morals and feelings, no matter the side that they are representing.
April 25, 2023
So very moving.
An incredibly powerful and emotional story set in post WW2 Norfolk.
Fran was working in the office of a German prisoner of war camp in Norfolk, when she met and fell in love with Thomas, one of the prisoners. Fraternising with the Germans was prohibited, so they had to keep their feelings secret.
A thoroughly enjoyable read based on a true story; I cannot recommend it highly enough.
An incredibly powerful and emotional story set in post WW2 Norfolk.
Fran was working in the office of a German prisoner of war camp in Norfolk, when she met and fell in love with Thomas, one of the prisoners. Fraternising with the Germans was prohibited, so they had to keep their feelings secret.
A thoroughly enjoyable read based on a true story; I cannot recommend it highly enough.
June 18, 2021
I read a lot of historical fiction based on World War II so it always surprises me when an author gives us a different perspective. This novel is based after the war in England and looks at how life in a small town has been affected. This is a well-written dual time line novel that is based on true facts.
1946 - Norfolk England. In this quiet part of England, the government decided to create a camp for German prisoners of war to help remove the barbed wire and mines from the beach. The people of the village were angered by this - many of them lost their loved ones during the war and didn't want Germans in their town as a reminder. Fran lived with her sister June and her parents and had lost a brother during the war. Her sister hates the Germans and wants nothing to do with them, while Fran is more forgiving and goes to work at the camp as a secretary. When Fran first sees Thomas, one of the prisoners, she is aware of his blue eyes that seemed to see into her soul. She and Thomas fall in love but know that they have to keep it hidden because there was a law about fraternizing with the enemy. Thomas makes plans to stay in England after the war but they aren't sure how to accomplish this goal. He gets repatriated back to Germany and has to decide if he will look for his family at home or stay in England with his love. There is also a dual story line in this time period of the camp commander who is suffering from what we would now call PTSD and how his wife deals with it.
1989 - Berlin. Tiffany arrives in Berlin as the wall is coming done opening up the ability to travel to east Germany. She is Fran's granddaughter and is on a mission to find someone from the past. The 1989 part of the novel brackets the 1946 section and provides closure to the story of Fran and Thomas.
This is an interesting look at the trauma that many soldiers face when they go home after war. There is also a look at the way a person is treated by the people in town for not being able to fight due to health issues. This sweeping story looks at the power of hope and love after a war. Several parts of the book had me checking Google to see if they really happened. One of the most interesting was that the people of the area were encouraged by their church to invite a German prisoner to Christmas dinner and that many of the English families did open their homes. It showed the goal of many people to create peace after the long war.
Overall, this was a well written look at love and hope, family, and the effects of war on both the soldiers and their families. I am going to read some of the earlier books by this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review.
1946 - Norfolk England. In this quiet part of England, the government decided to create a camp for German prisoners of war to help remove the barbed wire and mines from the beach. The people of the village were angered by this - many of them lost their loved ones during the war and didn't want Germans in their town as a reminder. Fran lived with her sister June and her parents and had lost a brother during the war. Her sister hates the Germans and wants nothing to do with them, while Fran is more forgiving and goes to work at the camp as a secretary. When Fran first sees Thomas, one of the prisoners, she is aware of his blue eyes that seemed to see into her soul. She and Thomas fall in love but know that they have to keep it hidden because there was a law about fraternizing with the enemy. Thomas makes plans to stay in England after the war but they aren't sure how to accomplish this goal. He gets repatriated back to Germany and has to decide if he will look for his family at home or stay in England with his love. There is also a dual story line in this time period of the camp commander who is suffering from what we would now call PTSD and how his wife deals with it.
1989 - Berlin. Tiffany arrives in Berlin as the wall is coming done opening up the ability to travel to east Germany. She is Fran's granddaughter and is on a mission to find someone from the past. The 1989 part of the novel brackets the 1946 section and provides closure to the story of Fran and Thomas.
This is an interesting look at the trauma that many soldiers face when they go home after war. There is also a look at the way a person is treated by the people in town for not being able to fight due to health issues. This sweeping story looks at the power of hope and love after a war. Several parts of the book had me checking Google to see if they really happened. One of the most interesting was that the people of the area were encouraged by their church to invite a German prisoner to Christmas dinner and that many of the English families did open their homes. It showed the goal of many people to create peace after the long war.
Overall, this was a well written look at love and hope, family, and the effects of war on both the soldiers and their families. I am going to read some of the earlier books by this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review.
June 21, 2021
It’s 1989 in Berlin and the Wall is coming down, Tiffany can now freely cross from East Berlin into West Berlin. She has a letter in her hand is trying to find the address written on the envelope. She wants to deliver this letter to the rightful owner, a letter from the past. That will provide some much needed closure.
It’s 1946 in Norfolk, England, World War II has just ended but the remnants of the war is still very much alive in everyone’s heart and mind. Fran’s brother is killed during the war while on the front lines. The government creates a camp for the German prisoners of war, they have the prisoners remove the barbed wire and mines from the beach. Fran lived at home with her sister June and her parents. June doesn’t like the the Germans and wants nothing to do with them. Fran, however, is more forgiving and goes to work at the camp in the office as a secretary. She meets one of the prisoners name Thomas. But it is completely against the rules to fraternize with the prisoners, and so Fran and Thomas keep their love a secret. Will their forbidden love stand the test of time? This time slip novel was so amazing to read. I loved how the author told the story from just after the war had ended, and brought to light things that happened to the survivors and the families of the ones that didn’t survive. The effects of the war are still so much apparent even today. This true story is a must read. What a phenomenal story, it will truly resonate with me for many, many years.
Thank you Sarah Mitchell for such a fabulous, unputdownable historical fiction. This story had all the feels of love, family, friendship and the endurance to make it through the hardest times of life. I highly recommend this book.
It’s 1946 in Norfolk, England, World War II has just ended but the remnants of the war is still very much alive in everyone’s heart and mind. Fran’s brother is killed during the war while on the front lines. The government creates a camp for the German prisoners of war, they have the prisoners remove the barbed wire and mines from the beach. Fran lived at home with her sister June and her parents. June doesn’t like the the Germans and wants nothing to do with them. Fran, however, is more forgiving and goes to work at the camp in the office as a secretary. She meets one of the prisoners name Thomas. But it is completely against the rules to fraternize with the prisoners, and so Fran and Thomas keep their love a secret. Will their forbidden love stand the test of time? This time slip novel was so amazing to read. I loved how the author told the story from just after the war had ended, and brought to light things that happened to the survivors and the families of the ones that didn’t survive. The effects of the war are still so much apparent even today. This true story is a must read. What a phenomenal story, it will truly resonate with me for many, many years.
Thank you Sarah Mitchell for such a fabulous, unputdownable historical fiction. This story had all the feels of love, family, friendship and the endurance to make it through the hardest times of life. I highly recommend this book.
May 10, 2021
Brandenburg Gate 1989: In Berlin to see the Berlin Wall come down, Tiffany came with a purpose to find someone special to her family. As she experiences history firsthand and celebrates with a united Germany, she meets Ralp who offers to help her reach her destination and resolve a mystery from the past.
England 1946: In a small English town, Fran and her sister, June watch German prisoners of war troop into town to work to remove mines from the beach and barbed wire. As they pass by, her eyes meet the electric blue eyes of one of the POWs. Soon, Fran finds herself working as an office clerk at the camp and finds out her blue eyes man has a name, Thomas. Despite the challenges of their country of origin and the tragedy that Fran’s brother was killed on the beaches of Normandy, they fall in love.
Interwoven with the stories of Martin, Fran’s co-worker’s brother who was not sent to war after being diagnosed with “a weak heart” and Vivian, the wife of the major in charge of the camp who had an affair with an American GI stationed in England while her husband was off fighting the war, this quick paced story with ensnarl you and not let go until the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #theenglishgirl
England 1946: In a small English town, Fran and her sister, June watch German prisoners of war troop into town to work to remove mines from the beach and barbed wire. As they pass by, her eyes meet the electric blue eyes of one of the POWs. Soon, Fran finds herself working as an office clerk at the camp and finds out her blue eyes man has a name, Thomas. Despite the challenges of their country of origin and the tragedy that Fran’s brother was killed on the beaches of Normandy, they fall in love.
Interwoven with the stories of Martin, Fran’s co-worker’s brother who was not sent to war after being diagnosed with “a weak heart” and Vivian, the wife of the major in charge of the camp who had an affair with an American GI stationed in England while her husband was off fighting the war, this quick paced story with ensnarl you and not let go until the end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #theenglishgirl
May 11, 2022
Never heard of this author before but the title & book cover appealed to me and when I saw that it was historical fiction set in WW2 times which happens to be one of my fave genres, so it became an easy choice to give this book a read.
Overall I enjoyed the story, it was shocking, emotional, heart breaking and insightful in equal measures. The story really pulled me in and grabbed me tight. It was tense hard reading in places when you imagine that this is what it really could have been like in 1946 the aftermath World war 2.
As a teenager I was never one for history in school, found it dull and never held my attention, but having read book like this, of which a fair amount of the story is devoted to past history, a specific part which evolves around the aftermath of the WW2, I have learnt a lot and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been quite an eye opener, this tale has been.
The story was well written and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in 1946 of which there was many.
Overall I enjoyed the story, it was shocking, emotional, heart breaking and insightful in equal measures. The story really pulled me in and grabbed me tight. It was tense hard reading in places when you imagine that this is what it really could have been like in 1946 the aftermath World war 2.
As a teenager I was never one for history in school, found it dull and never held my attention, but having read book like this, of which a fair amount of the story is devoted to past history, a specific part which evolves around the aftermath of the WW2, I have learnt a lot and have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been quite an eye opener, this tale has been.
The story was well written and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in 1946 of which there was many.
May 15, 2021
November 1989, Tiffany has travelled to East Berlin just as the barrier between East and West is torn down. She has a purpose in mind and only a name and address with no idea what she may find.
1946/47 in a coastal area of North Norfolk Fran and her sister June go to meet the German POW's who have been posted to a nearby army camp to defuse beach mines. The POW's are not well received as many men from the village died during the war. However Fran sets eyes on Thomas and cannot get him out of her mind.
I've read many books of this like that cover PTSD and trauma that the soldiers suffered but Sarah covers it from an Officers point of view. Also the impact that an "unfit for duty" certificate can have.
This a lovely historical fiction novel loosely based on a true story
I received this ARC from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review, my opinions are my own
1946/47 in a coastal area of North Norfolk Fran and her sister June go to meet the German POW's who have been posted to a nearby army camp to defuse beach mines. The POW's are not well received as many men from the village died during the war. However Fran sets eyes on Thomas and cannot get him out of her mind.
I've read many books of this like that cover PTSD and trauma that the soldiers suffered but Sarah covers it from an Officers point of view. Also the impact that an "unfit for duty" certificate can have.
This a lovely historical fiction novel loosely based on a true story
I received this ARC from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review, my opinions are my own
May 13, 2021
The English Girl by Sarah Mitchell is a wonderful story. Anyone who has an old love they still think about will appreciate the depth in Ms. Mitchell's book. Feelings that don't fade and the circumstances that get in the way. I highly recommend it.
June 18, 2021
Just beautiful. Poignant. Heart breaking. Beautifully written. A novel that speaks to you. One that burrows into your heart. Loved this one.
Merged review:
Just beautiful. Poignant. Heart breaking. Beautifully written. A novel that speaks to you. One that burrows into your heart. Loved this one.
Merged review:
Just beautiful. Poignant. Heart breaking. Beautifully written. A novel that speaks to you. One that burrows into your heart. Loved this one.
June 15, 2021
It’s been three years since Sarah’s Mitchell’s last historical fiction book The Lost Letters and now she has returned with The English Girl. Looking back on my thoughts on that first book, I said that it was a promising start from the author but I sensed there was much more to come from her in the future. Well she has certainly delivered with this new story. It’s very well written with such descriptive phrases detailing the Norfolk landscape and the great snow of 1947 which only add to the heightened atmosphere of tension, unease and danger. Honestly, it’s a much better book than what I had read previously from this author. Yes, perhaps the pace slowed somewhat in the middle, but I didn’t think there was any rambling on therefore not moving the plot on overall. I found myself totally caught up in Fran’s story and she turned out to be a remarkable character. There is a good solid plot throughout with well developed characters you come to care for and you really want that perfect ending but reading of all the developments you are fearful that it cannot be at all possible.
The book opens as Tiffany arrives in West Berlin just as the wall is coming down. She is in search of something in East Berlin. Recent news has come to light that has sent her on a quest that she is desperate to fulfil. The people’s tide is turning Germany on its head. There will be no more boarders, only one Berlin with freedom at its centre. Tiffany crosses the boarder in search of answers. Initially, I thought oh no I had in the last few weeks read a book about the wall coming down and delving back into the past and did I really want to read more or less the same story. But thankfully, Tiffany, although her role is an important one, just features at the beginning and the end.
Really she could have been left out completely and the story would have worked just perfectly. I get that she was the one who linked things together but perhaps it could have been done in a different way. Saying that, once we began to delve into Fran’s story I completely forgot that Tiffany had even been mentioned. I became completely caught up in all the various storylines for there were several that fed into the main overall plot and this story showing the power of hope in the face of war amidst the legacy of a terrible choice was riveting.
It’s October 1946 and war has been over for a year but its affects are still being felt. Rationing is worse than ever and mines and barbed wire still litter the nearby beaches. Fran and her sister June and her parents are mourning the loss of their brother Robbie. But anger abounds amongst the villagers as a group of German prisoners of war are being brought to a newly established camp in the village. They will work clearing the mines. Given so many young men from the village were lost and overall what Germany as a country did to so many rightly so the villagers are filled with anger and hatred. It’s a natural reaction and they wish that their village had never been selected to house said prisoners.
From the off, the big question for the reader to ponder is can we be friends/form relationships with those that caused so much death, hurt and devastation? Are we not to forgive all people? Forgiving and forgetting is not all that easy, and events linger on long in the minds of those deeply affected. You try as a reader to try and put yourself in that position and think could I really welcome prisoners with open arms? But then as with Fran who showed a remarkable positive stance you think as did she that the prisoners didn’t start the war, that most were just ordinary men following rules in fear of the repercussions if they did not.
Fran was a very open minded person compared to her sister June who was eaten up by hatred due to the loss of her brother. I could see where June was coming from just as much as I could see Fran was willing to be more open to understanding and trying to forge forward. Really the characters were caught between a rock and a hard place given the differing opinions they had, and you couldn’t blame them for feeling this way. Fran gets a job in the offices of the camp working alongside Daisy. Major Toby Markham runs the camp but he is hardly ever there and Fran finds him strange. When she sees a man being set upon in an alleyway and enlists the help of a passing truck carrying prisoners this is where she meets Thomas face to face. Fran feels an instant connection to him and anyone who saw this would tell her that it was wrong especially June. The way their relationship develops was not full of passionate love and full on devotion to each other yet it was there lurking and would have fully bloomed in the wide open if allowed to do so. It couldn’t have happened this way given Fran was putting herself in a dangerous and precarious situation given Thomas’ status as a prisoner.
Instead it’s more subtle and moments are snatched together when they think no one will discover them. There’s is an unspeakable, private connection that cannot be exposed to the wider world. Yes, she is puting herself in the firing line. If discovered the consequences would be disastrous for everyone but Fran sees something in Thomas that she has searched for all her life. Her heart and mind are working as one and she sees the kindness and empathy in his eyes. Forbidden love is not easy to navigate and even more so in the circumstances in which this has come to pass. What can Fran do when love is seemingly impossible in a relationship that will have such far reaching consequences? Not to mention the other strands of the story she becomes entangled in through no fault of her own.
Viv is married to Toby. It’s a marriage that she views as being sterile and desperate. Her actions during the war still are being felt and she is on her own path desperate to break free but guilt does eat away at her. For the ultimate decision she makes could possibly have the most disastrous of consequences. I found Viv to be cold and selfish and far too caught up in her own little world to see what was happening around her. She was on a road with only one destination in mind and couldn’t see that in fact the end pale was possibly not going to turn out the way she wished it. She was being played but her emotions were fogging her decision making process. If she had had more of a clear mind she would have seen how much pain Toby was enduring and that emotions and tensions were running high. The effects of war were having the most detrimental, adverse and disturbing effects on her husband and she was too caught up in her own little circle of emotion to see that. I thought this strand of the story was so well written and you could just imagine placing yourself in their situation and asking yourself how you would deal with it?.
The last character that has a subplot is Martin, brother of Daisy. I did think why was he getting such prominence? But over the course of the story I came to realise the author was dealing with many issues that arose at the time following the conclusion of the war. That yes, he needed to be there. Martin never went away to war having not received a clean bill of health. Heart trouble kept him at a desk job during the war years and he is eaten up by guilt that he couldn’t fight for his country. He is full of shame and anxiety that never seems to fade. Who will love him giving he was one who never left to do their bit on the battlefields for their country? Martin was a complex character given the emotions he was grappling with but I came to appreciate his inclusion as he was essential to the overall story.
I am so glad I read The English Girl. I admit to feeling slightly hesitant given how I had felt about the previous book I had read by this author. But it just goes to show you should always give an author another try as this was an engrossing, informative read that was full of love, hope, acceptance and it is well worth a read.
The book opens as Tiffany arrives in West Berlin just as the wall is coming down. She is in search of something in East Berlin. Recent news has come to light that has sent her on a quest that she is desperate to fulfil. The people’s tide is turning Germany on its head. There will be no more boarders, only one Berlin with freedom at its centre. Tiffany crosses the boarder in search of answers. Initially, I thought oh no I had in the last few weeks read a book about the wall coming down and delving back into the past and did I really want to read more or less the same story. But thankfully, Tiffany, although her role is an important one, just features at the beginning and the end.
Really she could have been left out completely and the story would have worked just perfectly. I get that she was the one who linked things together but perhaps it could have been done in a different way. Saying that, once we began to delve into Fran’s story I completely forgot that Tiffany had even been mentioned. I became completely caught up in all the various storylines for there were several that fed into the main overall plot and this story showing the power of hope in the face of war amidst the legacy of a terrible choice was riveting.
It’s October 1946 and war has been over for a year but its affects are still being felt. Rationing is worse than ever and mines and barbed wire still litter the nearby beaches. Fran and her sister June and her parents are mourning the loss of their brother Robbie. But anger abounds amongst the villagers as a group of German prisoners of war are being brought to a newly established camp in the village. They will work clearing the mines. Given so many young men from the village were lost and overall what Germany as a country did to so many rightly so the villagers are filled with anger and hatred. It’s a natural reaction and they wish that their village had never been selected to house said prisoners.
From the off, the big question for the reader to ponder is can we be friends/form relationships with those that caused so much death, hurt and devastation? Are we not to forgive all people? Forgiving and forgetting is not all that easy, and events linger on long in the minds of those deeply affected. You try as a reader to try and put yourself in that position and think could I really welcome prisoners with open arms? But then as with Fran who showed a remarkable positive stance you think as did she that the prisoners didn’t start the war, that most were just ordinary men following rules in fear of the repercussions if they did not.
Fran was a very open minded person compared to her sister June who was eaten up by hatred due to the loss of her brother. I could see where June was coming from just as much as I could see Fran was willing to be more open to understanding and trying to forge forward. Really the characters were caught between a rock and a hard place given the differing opinions they had, and you couldn’t blame them for feeling this way. Fran gets a job in the offices of the camp working alongside Daisy. Major Toby Markham runs the camp but he is hardly ever there and Fran finds him strange. When she sees a man being set upon in an alleyway and enlists the help of a passing truck carrying prisoners this is where she meets Thomas face to face. Fran feels an instant connection to him and anyone who saw this would tell her that it was wrong especially June. The way their relationship develops was not full of passionate love and full on devotion to each other yet it was there lurking and would have fully bloomed in the wide open if allowed to do so. It couldn’t have happened this way given Fran was putting herself in a dangerous and precarious situation given Thomas’ status as a prisoner.
Instead it’s more subtle and moments are snatched together when they think no one will discover them. There’s is an unspeakable, private connection that cannot be exposed to the wider world. Yes, she is puting herself in the firing line. If discovered the consequences would be disastrous for everyone but Fran sees something in Thomas that she has searched for all her life. Her heart and mind are working as one and she sees the kindness and empathy in his eyes. Forbidden love is not easy to navigate and even more so in the circumstances in which this has come to pass. What can Fran do when love is seemingly impossible in a relationship that will have such far reaching consequences? Not to mention the other strands of the story she becomes entangled in through no fault of her own.
Viv is married to Toby. It’s a marriage that she views as being sterile and desperate. Her actions during the war still are being felt and she is on her own path desperate to break free but guilt does eat away at her. For the ultimate decision she makes could possibly have the most disastrous of consequences. I found Viv to be cold and selfish and far too caught up in her own little world to see what was happening around her. She was on a road with only one destination in mind and couldn’t see that in fact the end pale was possibly not going to turn out the way she wished it. She was being played but her emotions were fogging her decision making process. If she had had more of a clear mind she would have seen how much pain Toby was enduring and that emotions and tensions were running high. The effects of war were having the most detrimental, adverse and disturbing effects on her husband and she was too caught up in her own little circle of emotion to see that. I thought this strand of the story was so well written and you could just imagine placing yourself in their situation and asking yourself how you would deal with it?.
The last character that has a subplot is Martin, brother of Daisy. I did think why was he getting such prominence? But over the course of the story I came to realise the author was dealing with many issues that arose at the time following the conclusion of the war. That yes, he needed to be there. Martin never went away to war having not received a clean bill of health. Heart trouble kept him at a desk job during the war years and he is eaten up by guilt that he couldn’t fight for his country. He is full of shame and anxiety that never seems to fade. Who will love him giving he was one who never left to do their bit on the battlefields for their country? Martin was a complex character given the emotions he was grappling with but I came to appreciate his inclusion as he was essential to the overall story.
I am so glad I read The English Girl. I admit to feeling slightly hesitant given how I had felt about the previous book I had read by this author. But it just goes to show you should always give an author another try as this was an engrossing, informative read that was full of love, hope, acceptance and it is well worth a read.
March 14, 2023
Sarah Mitchell has written a beautiful story about the plight of the Germans in England after WWII is over. The book is entitled The English Girl and is the story of a young girl and a prisoner of war.
The prisoners of war have been sent to a POW camp and are required to de-mine the beaches and correct many of the physical precautions that Britain instituted during the war. Some are angry that the Germans are still in England and some think that they should make amends by helping put England back together again.
Fran works in the office at the POW camp and has met a nice German prisoner, Thomas, who speaks English and is every inch a gentleman. She and he fall in love, but the law is specific that there be no fraternization between the prisoners and the local people, under threat of prison. They try to keep their relationship secret, and Fran is determined to be with Thomas no matter what.
When orders come that the prisoners are to be repatriated back to Germany, Fran is desperate to go with Thomas. Both know that being together in either country will be almost impossible to deal with. Because this novel is based on a true story, it is heartbreaking to read and know that this happened.
The main characters are very well portrayed as are the other characters that are so central to the story. I was very impressed with Ms. Mitchell’s handling of the tale and the story stayed with me long after the book was finished.
You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-GY.
The prisoners of war have been sent to a POW camp and are required to de-mine the beaches and correct many of the physical precautions that Britain instituted during the war. Some are angry that the Germans are still in England and some think that they should make amends by helping put England back together again.
Fran works in the office at the POW camp and has met a nice German prisoner, Thomas, who speaks English and is every inch a gentleman. She and he fall in love, but the law is specific that there be no fraternization between the prisoners and the local people, under threat of prison. They try to keep their relationship secret, and Fran is determined to be with Thomas no matter what.
When orders come that the prisoners are to be repatriated back to Germany, Fran is desperate to go with Thomas. Both know that being together in either country will be almost impossible to deal with. Because this novel is based on a true story, it is heartbreaking to read and know that this happened.
The main characters are very well portrayed as are the other characters that are so central to the story. I was very impressed with Ms. Mitchell’s handling of the tale and the story stayed with me long after the book was finished.
You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-GY.
January 10, 2024
1946 Norfolk. German prisoners of war arrive at a local camp to the disgust of the locals. Fran gets a job in the office and her eye is caught by Thomas, but her family cannot forgive the Germans who killed her brother in the war. 1989. Tiffany travels to Berlin to see the Wall being destroyed. She ventures through the barrier to search for someone...
The English Girl is a fascinating dual timeline historical novel about love and the after effects of war. It begins with Tiffany's experience in Berlin before settling into the main part of the book beginning in 1946.
There are a number of threads in the 1940s timeline. Foremost we have Fran who is struggling to find her place in a world that has dramatically changed due to the war. We also have Martin who was unable to fight in the war on medical grounds and feels survivors' guilt. Finally we have Major Markham, who is traumatised by his wartime experience, and his unfaithful wife Viv, in love with an American officer.
I thought that the emotional sides of the characters were all well developed and I could identify with them. Fran's conflicting feelings about the Germans due to the war and the death of her brother whilst also seeing the prisoners of war as men like her brother fighting for their country. Martin's guilt and the Markhams' emotional turmoil was also very believable and the characters seemed very human.
The English Girl was an enjoyable historical novel about the aftermath of war and the enduring nature of love and hope.
The English Girl is a fascinating dual timeline historical novel about love and the after effects of war. It begins with Tiffany's experience in Berlin before settling into the main part of the book beginning in 1946.
There are a number of threads in the 1940s timeline. Foremost we have Fran who is struggling to find her place in a world that has dramatically changed due to the war. We also have Martin who was unable to fight in the war on medical grounds and feels survivors' guilt. Finally we have Major Markham, who is traumatised by his wartime experience, and his unfaithful wife Viv, in love with an American officer.
I thought that the emotional sides of the characters were all well developed and I could identify with them. Fran's conflicting feelings about the Germans due to the war and the death of her brother whilst also seeing the prisoners of war as men like her brother fighting for their country. Martin's guilt and the Markhams' emotional turmoil was also very believable and the characters seemed very human.
The English Girl was an enjoyable historical novel about the aftermath of war and the enduring nature of love and hope.
July 8, 2022
This review originally appeared in the Historical Novel Review:
The English Girl is a tale of star-crossed lovers set in the aftermath of World War II. However, the book is much more than just a story of ill-fated love. The year is 1946, and Fran, who lives in Norfolk, England with her sister, her mother, and her ailing father, takes a job in the office of a nearby prisoner-of-war camp. Even though the war is over, the good folk of her village are still suffering, and they resent the intrusion of these former enemy combatants. But life doesn’t automatically revert to normal after the war. There are mines to sweep, economies to rebuild, and supply shortages, and the prisoners provide expendable labor.
When Fran has a chance encounter with one of the Germans, a man named Thomas, his blue eyes blaze their way right into her heart. The feelings are mutual, but no one in the village likes the idea of an English girl making time with a German prisoner, least of all Fran’s unforgiving sister, who deeply mourns the brother they lost in the war.
The story is engrossing, the history fascinating, and the writing lovely. Here’s one example of the many trenchant observations: “she focuses on the unexpected gift of sky. On the pink-footed geese, who are beginning to cruise the mudflats, drowning out the zip of her tyres with their early morning cries.”
The English Girl is a tale of star-crossed lovers set in the aftermath of World War II. However, the book is much more than just a story of ill-fated love. The year is 1946, and Fran, who lives in Norfolk, England with her sister, her mother, and her ailing father, takes a job in the office of a nearby prisoner-of-war camp. Even though the war is over, the good folk of her village are still suffering, and they resent the intrusion of these former enemy combatants. But life doesn’t automatically revert to normal after the war. There are mines to sweep, economies to rebuild, and supply shortages, and the prisoners provide expendable labor.
When Fran has a chance encounter with one of the Germans, a man named Thomas, his blue eyes blaze their way right into her heart. The feelings are mutual, but no one in the village likes the idea of an English girl making time with a German prisoner, least of all Fran’s unforgiving sister, who deeply mourns the brother they lost in the war.
The story is engrossing, the history fascinating, and the writing lovely. Here’s one example of the many trenchant observations: “she focuses on the unexpected gift of sky. On the pink-footed geese, who are beginning to cruise the mudflats, drowning out the zip of her tyres with their early morning cries.”
November 1, 2023
Nearly four stars
This is a real 'what if' story. In a way it is also a 'win win' story..
The author explores the minefield of relationships post war in this case WW2.. Relationships between married couples where PTSD plays a role. Relationships between prisoners of war and the general public. Relationships between overseas personnel and war 'widows'.
She also reveals the strength of feeling towards the vanquished German soldiers post war which was interesting, often ambivalent even within the same family.
Even the fall of the Berlin Wall features in the story.. However I felt that a lot of the post war story could have been developed more. There were too many loose threads. What happened to the Markhams for example? Why are they still in Norfolk? There were many instances of untold stories left hanging which would have made the book more interesting for me. I think there was plenty of scope to cut back some of the narrative to allow for this.
Regardless it is a good story, well told. The deployment of German soldiers after the war was new to me. I'm guessing there will be more stories written about WW2 revealing information we were unaware of. Who would have thought.
This is a real 'what if' story. In a way it is also a 'win win' story..
The author explores the minefield of relationships post war in this case WW2.. Relationships between married couples where PTSD plays a role. Relationships between prisoners of war and the general public. Relationships between overseas personnel and war 'widows'.
She also reveals the strength of feeling towards the vanquished German soldiers post war which was interesting, often ambivalent even within the same family.
Even the fall of the Berlin Wall features in the story.. However I felt that a lot of the post war story could have been developed more. There were too many loose threads. What happened to the Markhams for example? Why are they still in Norfolk? There were many instances of untold stories left hanging which would have made the book more interesting for me. I think there was plenty of scope to cut back some of the narrative to allow for this.
Regardless it is a good story, well told. The deployment of German soldiers after the war was new to me. I'm guessing there will be more stories written about WW2 revealing information we were unaware of. Who would have thought.
October 4, 2021
This book had easily one of the most thrilling openings I have ever read. I think maybe because it is one of the first times that at least part of the historical events in the book took place in a time that I actually remember. After the opening, the reader is catapulted back to England in October 1946. And it takes a very long time to get around to what the two time periods have in common. That’s no complaint, because the storyline set in 1946 was absolutely fascinating. I don’t want to give away details, but it was an extremely compelling read. There was a lot of depth here, as the author puts forth some thought-provoking questions via the characters’ actions, but it was never preachy or overdone. Excellent book! For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book.
June 16, 2023
Have you ever read one of those books that you just couldn’t put down?
This is it.
From the beginning to the end this historical fiction is about forbidden love, the stress of loyalty and family.
Fran, a young English woman works as a secretary in a newly opened post WWII POW camp and falls in love with a young German soldier, Thomas.
Thomas rescues a frail English lawyer, Martian from being beaten by local thugs. Martin was deemed medically unfit to serve.
Martin falls in love with Fran but realizes she loves Thomas however fraternizing with the enemy is forbidden.
This love triangle reads much like a Nicholas Sparks novel.
This book deals with post war prejudices, post traumatic stress syndrome , war romances between married people, broken promises and family loyalties.
I really enjoyed this read.
This is it.
From the beginning to the end this historical fiction is about forbidden love, the stress of loyalty and family.
Fran, a young English woman works as a secretary in a newly opened post WWII POW camp and falls in love with a young German soldier, Thomas.
Thomas rescues a frail English lawyer, Martian from being beaten by local thugs. Martin was deemed medically unfit to serve.
Martin falls in love with Fran but realizes she loves Thomas however fraternizing with the enemy is forbidden.
This love triangle reads much like a Nicholas Sparks novel.
This book deals with post war prejudices, post traumatic stress syndrome , war romances between married people, broken promises and family loyalties.
I really enjoyed this read.
July 14, 2021
Fran goes to work in the prison camp office of a Major who is suffering from PTSD; his wife is having an affair with an American soldier; and Fran’s office mate’s brother, Martin, is maligned by the town because he has a bad heart and wasn’t permitted to join up and Martin’s mother who harbors secrets of her own. To say that there’s a lot going on would be an understatement!
The English Girl does an excellent job of showing the ramifications of war on the human mind and how easily people would dismiss it as someone being barmy. As well, the way in which men who couldn’t go to war because of health reasons were mistreated, sometimes brutally, and how difficult forgiveness can be.
The English Girl does an excellent job of showing the ramifications of war on the human mind and how easily people would dismiss it as someone being barmy. As well, the way in which men who couldn’t go to war because of health reasons were mistreated, sometimes brutally, and how difficult forgiveness can be.
July 24, 2021
Great book!
From start to finish, this story captured my imagination! The setting is just after the end of WWII in a small village in Norfolk, England. The author does a wonderful job with the characters. The story moves well to it’s conclusion…no dry parts. In fact, there are several suspenseful sections when the reader cannot put the book down! It is a tribute to those hearty English people who endured such hardships and such personal loss during this very difficult period of history. I highly recommend this book!
From start to finish, this story captured my imagination! The setting is just after the end of WWII in a small village in Norfolk, England. The author does a wonderful job with the characters. The story moves well to it’s conclusion…no dry parts. In fact, there are several suspenseful sections when the reader cannot put the book down! It is a tribute to those hearty English people who endured such hardships and such personal loss during this very difficult period of history. I highly recommend this book!
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