Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Have you ever read a book that just gives you a sigh of satisfaction at the very end, as if this whole time you've been wrapped up in a cozy blanket? This is one of those books. Slow and comforting, and yet, also filled with suspense.

Source: barnesandnoble.com via Lauren on Pinterest

The story follows Juliet Ashton, a young writer and book lover living in London after the end of WWII. She published a book during the war, and is attempting to find another book to write. In the interim, The London Times asks her to write an article about reading and the importance of books during the war.  Enter the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a group on the once German-occupied island of Guernsey, who survived the occupation by gathering to talk about books.

We learn of their struggle, Juliet's love life, and writing struggles via her correspondence. Letters from Juliet to society members, from her publisher, friends, and love interest all give us a unique and breath-taking view of Juliet's life, and create a wonderful story.

Juliet is a character after my own heart. At one point, she details an earlier engagement where her future husband packs up her books and replaces them with his sports trophies. She decides, then and there, that they shouldn't be married because who could marry someone who doesn't love books as she does? Be still my heart! My sentiments exactly.

This is an easy, but engrossing read that will have you turning the page and ignoring everything else around you. I highly recommend it.