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Guernsey Girls #1
The Guernsey Girls
January 1936. After the hard work of being a maid at Wallington Manor in the lead-up to Christmas, Annie is very excited at the prospect of going home to Bethnal Green. She has missed her family, but the money she earns keeps them all afloat.
Harriet, is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London Annie is asked to look after her. On the train journey a friendship blossoms.
And when an accident happens their friendship is made even stronger. A friendship that would see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that would see them both united in Guernsey. But this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .
Harriet, is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London Annie is asked to look after her. On the train journey a friendship blossoms.
And when an accident happens their friendship is made even stronger. A friendship that would see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that would see them both united in Guernsey. But this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2023
51 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 1, 2025
Excellent book
March 22, 2024
Enjoyable story about women’s lives, mainly Annie and Olivia, in London and Guernsey just before WW2. A bit too gushing in parts for my taste. Look forward to reading the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Will definitely be reading the next book .
December 11, 2023
Friendship can be found in the unlikeliest places.
1936 Olivia Riverstone, staying at Wallington Manor with her aunt and uncle studying languages in London, her fiance Hendrick and father come visiting from Guernsey, she misses him so much but this is her dream to open a language school for them both to work together.
Annie Freeman her maid is about to save her mistress life and they become best friends forever, with Hitler and the glooms of a war been talked about, these two best friends find themselves back in Guernsey, the Guernsey Girls carrying out special duties, they had Hitler licked already before he has even started.
This book is a fantastic start to a new series, I loved all the history that entails in the chapters both from London and Guernsey, that has remarkable details as well as love and forever friendship all rolled into one story and I am now looking forward to more to come from this truly fabulous author, as she pushes all her readers buttons.
1936 Olivia Riverstone, staying at Wallington Manor with her aunt and uncle studying languages in London, her fiance Hendrick and father come visiting from Guernsey, she misses him so much but this is her dream to open a language school for them both to work together.
Annie Freeman her maid is about to save her mistress life and they become best friends forever, with Hitler and the glooms of a war been talked about, these two best friends find themselves back in Guernsey, the Guernsey Girls carrying out special duties, they had Hitler licked already before he has even started.
This book is a fantastic start to a new series, I loved all the history that entails in the chapters both from London and Guernsey, that has remarkable details as well as love and forever friendship all rolled into one story and I am now looking forward to more to come from this truly fabulous author, as she pushes all her readers buttons.
December 27, 2023
Novel set pre-WW2 in LONDON and GUERNSEY
This novel is set in the 1930s, in the run up to WW2 and opens in Cornwall, where Olivia is staying with her Aunt Rosina in a rambling house overlooking the cliffs. She is preparing to go and study languages, intending eventually to settle in Guernsey, where she will open a language school with her husband-to-be, Hendrick. Annie is working in a domestic capacity at the house; her family lives in Bethnal Green, so she is a long way from home and cannot afford to visit.
Olivia and Annie are paired on a trip by train to London but an unfortunate accident befalls them and they both spend a period in hospital. Olivia has sustained life-changing injuries. This period of convalescence provides ample opportunity for the two women, from different sides of the social track, to spend time bonding.
Annie is bowled over by Olivia’s generosity and by her family’s support, there are so many heart-warming gestures towards her disabled mother, and her sister, who is the main carer. A wheel chair is provided to increase mobility and the family ensures an extra year’s wage for Annie is provided, as she lost everything in the accident. Annie cannot believe her glorious luck.
Whilst she is back in London, a chance encounter with an old schoolfriend, Jimmy, seals her positive take on life, until part of her new life comes tumbling down….
This story is nicely set against the historical backdrop of the period, where war is brewing in Germany and Hendrick shares details of his family’s woes, back in his homeland of Germany. He is experiencing increasing mistrust in England, given his nationality. Might he be conscripted to fight on the German side, if war breaks out?
This is an enjoyable, uplifting story, mixed with sobering personal and international events – life certainly isn’t straightforward for the characters. Sometimes, however, I felt the characters were too quick to draw conclusions, just from observations, which felt like a fairly simple device to the move to story on to the next stage – for example Hendrick spots an exchange of glances between two people and immediately draws the correct conclusion, although there is no evidence from his point of view for his deduction The Cockneys drop ‘luv’ in at every opportunity, which came to feel like an irksome over-use.
This is the first novel in a poignant new series, which I am sure will be very popular.
This novel is set in the 1930s, in the run up to WW2 and opens in Cornwall, where Olivia is staying with her Aunt Rosina in a rambling house overlooking the cliffs. She is preparing to go and study languages, intending eventually to settle in Guernsey, where she will open a language school with her husband-to-be, Hendrick. Annie is working in a domestic capacity at the house; her family lives in Bethnal Green, so she is a long way from home and cannot afford to visit.
Olivia and Annie are paired on a trip by train to London but an unfortunate accident befalls them and they both spend a period in hospital. Olivia has sustained life-changing injuries. This period of convalescence provides ample opportunity for the two women, from different sides of the social track, to spend time bonding.
Annie is bowled over by Olivia’s generosity and by her family’s support, there are so many heart-warming gestures towards her disabled mother, and her sister, who is the main carer. A wheel chair is provided to increase mobility and the family ensures an extra year’s wage for Annie is provided, as she lost everything in the accident. Annie cannot believe her glorious luck.
Whilst she is back in London, a chance encounter with an old schoolfriend, Jimmy, seals her positive take on life, until part of her new life comes tumbling down….
This story is nicely set against the historical backdrop of the period, where war is brewing in Germany and Hendrick shares details of his family’s woes, back in his homeland of Germany. He is experiencing increasing mistrust in England, given his nationality. Might he be conscripted to fight on the German side, if war breaks out?
This is an enjoyable, uplifting story, mixed with sobering personal and international events – life certainly isn’t straightforward for the characters. Sometimes, however, I felt the characters were too quick to draw conclusions, just from observations, which felt like a fairly simple device to the move to story on to the next stage – for example Hendrick spots an exchange of glances between two people and immediately draws the correct conclusion, although there is no evidence from his point of view for his deduction The Cockneys drop ‘luv’ in at every opportunity, which came to feel like an irksome over-use.
This is the first novel in a poignant new series, which I am sure will be very popular.
December 10, 2023
This is a fabulous book about family and friendship. Beginning in 1936, Annie is a maid and is due to travel from Guernsey back to her family in London. Olivia is also due to travel so plans are made for them to travel together. Annie is to be the maid and companion to Olivia during the journey. The train crashes and Annie manages to get out and take Olivia with her. Due to her heroic actions, Annie is given the chance to change her life and not just be the maid but become a friend to Olivia. They both rely on each other and have shared an experience that has brought them close. This friendship provides not only Annie but also her family a chance to improve their way of life.
This is another fabulous story from this author and I have read many of her books. This one shows the differences between two social classes and how one accident can change their relationship in the future. Olivia has a fiance and he is nervous about what is going on in Europe as he is a German by birth. Annie has an admirer who knows her from when she was younger. Relationships blossom and plans are in the making for their futures.
If you have read any of this author's books then you will know that her romances never run straight, there are always kinks and obstacles in the way that need to be overcome. This book is no exception, the train brought the girls together but they will need each other many more times in the following years during this story.
The author brings the way of life at the time to life, exploring the past and giving voices to her characters. There are several characters and you just can't help but adore some of them. You soon become concerned about what is happening to them and what they have to go through.
This is a fabulous story and one that fans of historical fiction, family drama and romance books. It is one I would happily recommend.
This is another fabulous story from this author and I have read many of her books. This one shows the differences between two social classes and how one accident can change their relationship in the future. Olivia has a fiance and he is nervous about what is going on in Europe as he is a German by birth. Annie has an admirer who knows her from when she was younger. Relationships blossom and plans are in the making for their futures.
If you have read any of this author's books then you will know that her romances never run straight, there are always kinks and obstacles in the way that need to be overcome. This book is no exception, the train brought the girls together but they will need each other many more times in the following years during this story.
The author brings the way of life at the time to life, exploring the past and giving voices to her characters. There are several characters and you just can't help but adore some of them. You soon become concerned about what is happening to them and what they have to go through.
This is a fabulous story and one that fans of historical fiction, family drama and romance books. It is one I would happily recommend.
August 24, 2024
This read is set just before WW2, Annie is a maid to Olivia, the daughter of a wealthy banker. A trip is set for both to travel to London, Annie is happy for the opportunity to see her family again. Her mother is severely affected by arthritis and is attended to by her other daughter Janey. Annie's wage supports them but they often can't pay the rent, buy coal for heating or fresh food.
The train trip has been booked and all goes according to plan until there is a terrible crash for which sees both girls trapped in the wreckage. Annie, on becoming conscious, realises the dangerous predicament they are in and struggles to get Olivia free. Both are eventually taken to the hospital, whereby it only takes a short time for Annie to recover. Olivia has been badly hurt with multiple fractures to her leg and other wounds. For Annie's bravery she becomes a companion for Olivia, no longer a maid. This gives her a much better income which reflects in her being able to support her mother and sister better.
As the story progresses, with the connection to Guernsey and Olivia's husband a German, the dangers of the inevitable war with Hitler come to the forefront and for which decisions need to be made to safeguard everyone and to return to England, Annie meets up with a childhood friend for whom she prepares to marry, however that all goes pear-shaped when Jimmy realises that it's her sister he loves. Devastated with this news Annie takes off. She is on an emotional precipice but with help from a kindly policeman she is rescued and for whom becomes her true love.
War is declared with everyone's lives about to take a huge change. Olivia returns to Guernsey and between them, clandestine spying begins. (Guernsey is eventually occupied by German forces.)
The train trip has been booked and all goes according to plan until there is a terrible crash for which sees both girls trapped in the wreckage. Annie, on becoming conscious, realises the dangerous predicament they are in and struggles to get Olivia free. Both are eventually taken to the hospital, whereby it only takes a short time for Annie to recover. Olivia has been badly hurt with multiple fractures to her leg and other wounds. For Annie's bravery she becomes a companion for Olivia, no longer a maid. This gives her a much better income which reflects in her being able to support her mother and sister better.
As the story progresses, with the connection to Guernsey and Olivia's husband a German, the dangers of the inevitable war with Hitler come to the forefront and for which decisions need to be made to safeguard everyone and to return to England, Annie meets up with a childhood friend for whom she prepares to marry, however that all goes pear-shaped when Jimmy realises that it's her sister he loves. Devastated with this news Annie takes off. She is on an emotional precipice but with help from a kindly policeman she is rescued and for whom becomes her true love.
War is declared with everyone's lives about to take a huge change. Olivia returns to Guernsey and between them, clandestine spying begins. (Guernsey is eventually occupied by German forces.)
November 22, 2023
Another historical romance, set around wartime - this time, before the start of WW2.
It starts with upstairs/downstairs themes as we meet Annie, who is a maid/companion to Olivia. A life-changing event brings the two girls together as friends rather than employer and employee and we get to follow them as they maintain their friendship over the years.
This story is packed with detail and has the makings of a proper family saga - it is clear how much research the author has done and taken the time to get even the tiniest details right.
The characters are well drawn and the cast of side characters is well developed also - we get to see some of their stories developed too alongside the main characters which is nice. The author is skilled at keeping track of who's doing what where and with whom!
I struggled a bit with the language used throughout, I found it really hard to 'get' the cockney accent apart from them saying 'luv' all the time - but I think this is a failing of me as a reader, perhaps the audiobook version would have been better so it clicked more.
I understand this is the first part of a trilogy and I think lots of people will absolutely love it. As a standalone story it works well, it just wasn't really my cup of tea.
It starts with upstairs/downstairs themes as we meet Annie, who is a maid/companion to Olivia. A life-changing event brings the two girls together as friends rather than employer and employee and we get to follow them as they maintain their friendship over the years.
This story is packed with detail and has the makings of a proper family saga - it is clear how much research the author has done and taken the time to get even the tiniest details right.
The characters are well drawn and the cast of side characters is well developed also - we get to see some of their stories developed too alongside the main characters which is nice. The author is skilled at keeping track of who's doing what where and with whom!
I struggled a bit with the language used throughout, I found it really hard to 'get' the cockney accent apart from them saying 'luv' all the time - but I think this is a failing of me as a reader, perhaps the audiobook version would have been better so it clicked more.
I understand this is the first part of a trilogy and I think lots of people will absolutely love it. As a standalone story it works well, it just wasn't really my cup of tea.
November 22, 2023
I adored The Guernsey Girls. A lovely trip back in time to meet two fantastic if seemingly unlikely friends. Olivia and Annie and all of the characters were fully formed and believable. I really enjoyed their friendship, and the lives they made for themselves along the way. I assume it’s the first in a series, at least I hope so. Very interesting that it was set just before WWII and ended on the brink, I’d love to know what happens next for The Guernsey Girls.
Beautifully written, and stunningly brought to life with the Audio narration. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.
Beautifully written, and stunningly brought to life with the Audio narration. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.
January 29, 2025
An absolutely brilliant read.I can't wait to start the next one in the trilogy.I haven't read a Mary Wood book yet that wasn't brilliant!!The storylines always keep you hooked and the characters are so real you feel like you know them and are there.Anyone who has never read one of Mary's books wants to give them a try.I would highly recommend them.
June 2, 2024
Another Amazing book from Mary Wood. You Never disappoint us with your lovely stories and the Guernsey Girls certainly kept me wanting to read more so I certainly can not wait until the next one is out on 20th June Congratulations Mary on keeping us readers happy ❤️
December 11, 2023
Another brilliant book from mary wood ,couldnt put the guernsey girls down had me totally drawn in cant wait for the next book.
January 1, 2024
The ‘coincidences’ in this book were ridiculous. I sped read it through to the end to finish it.
January 4, 2024
Great story line as always, looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 7, 2024
Brilliant read, could not put it down as with most of Mary's books
She brings the characters to life everytime and you warm to them.
Already looking forward to the next book!!
She brings the characters to life everytime and you warm to them.
Already looking forward to the next book!!
January 27, 2024
Very good. would read again.
seems my review doesnt want to be published I have2 tried several times, I think GR is having an issue.
This book is lovely the first in a series.
seems my review doesnt want to be published I have2 tried several times, I think GR is having an issue.
This book is lovely the first in a series.
February 6, 2024
Could not put this book down. I love all Mary's books and this is another brilliant story line. Can't wait for the next one now.x
May 9, 2024
brilliant
Absolutely great book, easy to read even had me crying in some parts. Can’t wait to start the 2nd one.
Absolutely great book, easy to read even had me crying in some parts. Can’t wait to start the 2nd one.
July 31, 2024
Really enjoyed this, a great start to a new series.
August 30, 2024
This book I couldn't put down its brill
May 31, 2025
A simple read. Part 1 pre-war.
June 16, 2025
a great start to a series of books love reading Mary Wood
January 20, 2026
A very sentimental book and a little predictable. Not to my taste unfortunately.
January 22, 2026
What I would call an 'easy' read. Full of emotion & lots of love! Found it hard to keep up with all the different houses & flats involved but can imagine it would have a good following.
January 8, 2024
Loved this book!
The story was full of emotions, laughter, love and so much more. Being a Guernsey Girl myself made it an even better reason to read. Great characters and story line!
The story was full of emotions, laughter, love and so much more. Being a Guernsey Girl myself made it an even better reason to read. Great characters and story line!
May 7, 2024
Beautiful and inspiring
I can thoroughly recommend this book and cannot wait for book 2 & 3. The main characters lives were a joy to follow they bought tears of joy and laughter. Keep up the good work Mary and Thankyou.
I can thoroughly recommend this book and cannot wait for book 2 & 3. The main characters lives were a joy to follow they bought tears of joy and laughter. Keep up the good work Mary and Thankyou.
March 11, 2025
Audio book Nice light read shame about the narration which was poorly executed, cringeworthy. Unfortunately the narration can make or break a good book. Let’s hope the next book will be better.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews