From the Bookshelf of 2025 Reading Challenge…

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Mary Ann Shaffer,

Annie Barrows

Start date: March 1, 2025

Finish date: March 31, 2025

Discussion: September 2025 Buddy Reads

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What Members Thought

May 11, 2017 Robin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017

Juliet Ashton is a writer who spent WWII writing a light-hearted column for a London newspaper which has now been collected, after the war, into a book by her publisher and friend, Sidney Stark. While on a book signing tour, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. Dawsey has found a book which used to belong to Juliet, and he requests the name of a bookseller in London so that he can purchase new books, there being no supply of new books on the island. Gu Juliet Ashton is a writer who spent WWII writing a light-hearted column for a London newspaper which has now been collected, after the war, into a book by her publisher and friend, Sidney Stark. While on a book signing tour, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. Dawsey has found a book which used to belong to Juliet, and he requests the name of a bookseller in London so that he can purchase new books, there being no supply of new books on the island. Guernsey was occupied by the Nazis for most of the war and was cut-off from Britain and news of the outside world. During the war, Dawsey and his friends, including Elizabeth McKenna, started the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, initially as an excuse to hide the eating of an illegal pig from the Nazis. It soon bloomed into much more and became one of the reasons for their survival. Juliet starts to correspond with Dawsey and his friends, initially for journalistic purposes, but she finally visits Guernsey and finds more than she expected.

This book is written as a series of letters between Juliet, her friend and publisher, Sidney and his sister, Juliet's best friend, and the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society. Through the letters, we learn what the Society and reading books meant to its members, and how it helped them survive the war. The style is very reminiscent of 84, Charing Cross Road. The letters allow us to get to know not only the members of the Society but also Juliet as well, as we watch her grow and change as the members affect her life and vice versa. Although it is set a year or so after the end of WWII, there are quite a few direct reminiscences about the war. A subplot of the story is that of the life of Elizabeth McKenna, who was sent by the Nazis to Ravensbrueck shortly before the end of the war.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I knew in passing that the Channel Islands had been taken over by the Nazis during the war, but I had not really thought about what that entailed. The Islands, although a part of the UK, are self-ruled, but they depend on the UK for many of the necessities of life. I found it interesting that even though the Nazis occupied Guernsey, they too were starving toward the end of the war. It may deliver a history lesson, but it is also a sometimes joyous, often poignant peek into the lives of Juliet and the Society members.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who enjoy historical fiction. ...more

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Jan 11, 2018 Veronica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: faves-of-2018

This book is so endearing. I loved that the story was told through letters between the characters. All the characters really came to life and made you fall in love. I’m only sad that it took me so long to read it.

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Nov 06, 2016 Lorri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent! If you like novels written in letters, WWII, and peculiar people, this book is for you!

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Mar 27, 2012 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It seems strange to me to describe a book that talks of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands during World War 2 as a feel good book, but I have no other words for this novel. The book describes how a love of books saved a group of people from impending trouble one night and furthermore led a wayward author to her own personal destiny. This book is good for any romantic book lover. However, if you are looking for more depth about the German Occupation you might want to look elsewhere. The ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Ali rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Disclaimer: I listened to this on audiobook. (And would highly recommend)
Loved. It. !!! This book just made my heart happy. It made me smile, cry, and laugh out loud. There wasn’t a character I didn’t feel like I could reach out and touch. I also felt like the structure of the book using letters was a refreshing change.

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Nov 12, 2014 Dana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Charming characters and witty dialogue with a bit of history tossed in. This book is now one of my favorites. It touched my heart and made me laugh out loud.

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