“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Love this book
Comment: You know you love a book when you hold it to your heart when you are finished and you are sorry it's over. This has to be the best book I have read in a long time...and I read a LOT..
This book is a treat and I encourage everyone to read it
I dearly loved it
Joan Omstead

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Fascinating history in letter form
Comment: The quirky characters come to life via letters in this wonderful read that also educates about life during and post WWII. I found myself drawn in immediately and didn't want this book to end.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Exactly what you need on a cold and rainy winter night
Comment: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was an absolute joy. Wonderful story. Hate to be cliche but made me laugh and cry. Smiling at the end. Sometimes thats all you need.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Appreciating Literature Through Letters
Comment: This book is composed entirely of letters. It follows the protagonist, Juliet, who's a struggling author. She is trying to find an idea to write a new book. An opportunity comes up when she receives a letter from a man called Dawsey from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is basically just a literary appreciation society.

As they exchange letters, Juliet becomes more and more intrigued with their society. She is eventually led to the town of Guernsey where she meets a lot of the members from the society whom she has been exchanging letters with.

I loved this book. I think Mary Ann Shaffer painted a lovely picture of all characters through these exchange of letters. We are able to appreciate each characters' attributes and flaws through these letters and can understand them through Juliet's eyes.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Delightful narrative voice makes for easy reading of emotional tale
Comment: I heard an interview with one of the authors on NPR, which made the book sound so interesting that I bought it at my next opportunity. The book lived up to all my expectations. Told through the use of correspondence between characters, the story is fast-paced and gripping. The heroine comes to feel like a good friend.

Set in time shortly after World War II, the book offers a view of post-War London that feels so real that I can almost smell the smoke. Buildings are still in rubble, and the people have lost any sense of safety. Safety has fled the island of Guernsey, as well. Or rather, it was chased away by the Nazis who occupied the island for years during the war. Juliet, an author, receives an intriguing letter from a resident of Guernsey and bit by bit, she (and the readers) come to know the seldom told tale of the occupation.

The book is filled with lots of humor to keep things from being too heavy, but with an emotional realism that grips the heart. I highly recommend it.

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