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Ystävät, rakastavaiset, viholliset
Rakkautta ja vastarintaa Guernseyn saarella
Lorna Cookin Ystävät, rakastavaiset, viholliset on sydänjuuria myöten liikuttava tarina toisiinsa kietoutuvista kohtaloista ja taistelusta vapauden puolesta.
Guernseyn saaren sydämessä kohoaa jylhä kaksitorninen talo, Deux Tourelles. Kun taloa valmistellaan myyntikuntoon, sen sopukoista löytyy vihjeitä asukkaiden vaiheista toisen maailmansodan aikana. Keitä ovat valokuvassa hymyilevät nuoret? Kuka joutui keskitysleirille?
Vuonna 1940 Guernsey on pelon vallassa. Saksalaiset ovat miehittäneet saaren, eivätkä Le Royn sisarukset päässeet pakenemaan ajoissa. Natsiupseerit ovat ilmoittaneet majoittuvansa saaren rakennuksiin, ja pian Deux Tourellesinkin oveen koputetaan. Kun tulija astuu sisään, käy ilmi, että hän on ollut talossa ennenkin...
Ystävät, rakastavaiset, viholliset on suuri lukuromaani perhesiteistä, äärimmäisistä uhrauksista ja rakkaudesta toisen maailmansodan dramaattisella näyttämöllä.
Nautinnollista luettavaa kaikille Lucinda Rileyn ja Kate Quinnin faneille!
Lorna Cookin Ystävät, rakastavaiset, viholliset on sydänjuuria myöten liikuttava tarina toisiinsa kietoutuvista kohtaloista ja taistelusta vapauden puolesta.
Guernseyn saaren sydämessä kohoaa jylhä kaksitorninen talo, Deux Tourelles. Kun taloa valmistellaan myyntikuntoon, sen sopukoista löytyy vihjeitä asukkaiden vaiheista toisen maailmansodan aikana. Keitä ovat valokuvassa hymyilevät nuoret? Kuka joutui keskitysleirille?
Vuonna 1940 Guernsey on pelon vallassa. Saksalaiset ovat miehittäneet saaren, eivätkä Le Royn sisarukset päässeet pakenemaan ajoissa. Natsiupseerit ovat ilmoittaneet majoittuvansa saaren rakennuksiin, ja pian Deux Tourellesinkin oveen koputetaan. Kun tulija astuu sisään, käy ilmi, että hän on ollut talossa ennenkin...
Ystävät, rakastavaiset, viholliset on suuri lukuromaani perhesiteistä, äärimmäisistä uhrauksista ja rakkaudesta toisen maailmansodan dramaattisella näyttämöllä.
Nautinnollista luettavaa kaikille Lucinda Rileyn ja Kate Quinnin faneille!
464 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2021
476 people are currently reading
1421 people want to read
About the author
Lorna Cook
15 books406 followersLorna Cook writes historical fiction, weaving secrets and forgotten history with mystery and romance.
She also writes contemporary fiction under the name Elle Cook.
She also writes contemporary fiction under the name Elle Cook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
April 1, 2021
Many thanks to Net Galley, Avon Books UK, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Historical fiction works best for me when there is a dual timeline story and secrets to be unraveled. I had read The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook and fell so much in love with it and here again, I am in awe of the author’s writing. Guernsey comes alive with this incredible tale of sisterhood, bravery, and love.
The Girl From The Island talks about the historical NAZI occupation of the Channel Islands, a thought that by itself is so terrifying; Hitler’s army residing so close to Britain for 5 long years. Actual historical events are woven thru the story thereby giving a vivid image of the circumstances endured by the people of Isles living with the Germans for such a long time.
Dido and Persephone in the 1940s and Lucy and Clara in 2016 show the different faces of sisterhood. Lucy and Clara are not having the best of relationships, Clara having issues with Lucy’s no-care, no-responsibility attitude towards life and it becomes evident as the resentments bubble over with a resounding slap. I loved how the author has used Dido’s and Persey’s past to smoothen the bond between Lucy and Clara. Both segments have romance and what an awesome feat by the author to differentiate the changing times. The love that develops between Lucy and Will is a reflection of how we are today, the banter between them cute and open, their approach more friendly and warm. However, Persey and Stefan have hundreds of things playing the villain in their love for each other, the major hurdle that of Stefan being a member of the invading army and Persey refusing to see her childhood friend beneath his uniform. The unacknowledged love is beautifully conveyed by the author that it tugs at a reader’s heart for the miserable time they lived in.
The setting of the story is captivating and Lorna Cook transports the readers to the turbulent times during the war brilliantly. Persey’s love for her sister and her adopted brother Jack forcing her to make some hard choices and even then Dido paying a hard price for going against the rules imposed was heartbreaking.
I am in love with the inhabitants of Deux Tourelles in both the timelines but it would be Dido who would have my heart in this saga of finding strength during adversity.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Meduim.com, and Twitter.
Historical fiction works best for me when there is a dual timeline story and secrets to be unraveled. I had read The Forbidden Promise by Lorna Cook and fell so much in love with it and here again, I am in awe of the author’s writing. Guernsey comes alive with this incredible tale of sisterhood, bravery, and love.
The Girl From The Island talks about the historical NAZI occupation of the Channel Islands, a thought that by itself is so terrifying; Hitler’s army residing so close to Britain for 5 long years. Actual historical events are woven thru the story thereby giving a vivid image of the circumstances endured by the people of Isles living with the Germans for such a long time.
Dido and Persephone in the 1940s and Lucy and Clara in 2016 show the different faces of sisterhood. Lucy and Clara are not having the best of relationships, Clara having issues with Lucy’s no-care, no-responsibility attitude towards life and it becomes evident as the resentments bubble over with a resounding slap. I loved how the author has used Dido’s and Persey’s past to smoothen the bond between Lucy and Clara. Both segments have romance and what an awesome feat by the author to differentiate the changing times. The love that develops between Lucy and Will is a reflection of how we are today, the banter between them cute and open, their approach more friendly and warm. However, Persey and Stefan have hundreds of things playing the villain in their love for each other, the major hurdle that of Stefan being a member of the invading army and Persey refusing to see her childhood friend beneath his uniform. The unacknowledged love is beautifully conveyed by the author that it tugs at a reader’s heart for the miserable time they lived in.
The setting of the story is captivating and Lorna Cook transports the readers to the turbulent times during the war brilliantly. Persey’s love for her sister and her adopted brother Jack forcing her to make some hard choices and even then Dido paying a hard price for going against the rules imposed was heartbreaking.
I am in love with the inhabitants of Deux Tourelles in both the timelines but it would be Dido who would have my heart in this saga of finding strength during adversity.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Meduim.com, and Twitter.
January 31, 2021
This beautifully written book, set in Guernsey, across two timelines, 1940 and 2016. I was drawn into this wonderful descriptive story from the start.
In 2016 Lucy is returning to Guernsey after three years, her cousin Dido has died and she is going to help her sister Clara sell Dido’s house. Lucy is intrigued about Dido’s sister Persey, apart from an old photo of the two sisters together and an old letter, there are no other possessions of Persey’s. Lucy starts to look into what happened to Persey.
We go back to 1940 during world war 2 where we meet sisters Dido and Persey. The Germans have arrived on the island and life will never be the same again.
This is such a heart wrenching story of love, loss and survival. The characters are so life like that you cannot help but fall in love with them.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
In 2016 Lucy is returning to Guernsey after three years, her cousin Dido has died and she is going to help her sister Clara sell Dido’s house. Lucy is intrigued about Dido’s sister Persey, apart from an old photo of the two sisters together and an old letter, there are no other possessions of Persey’s. Lucy starts to look into what happened to Persey.
We go back to 1940 during world war 2 where we meet sisters Dido and Persey. The Germans have arrived on the island and life will never be the same again.
This is such a heart wrenching story of love, loss and survival. The characters are so life like that you cannot help but fall in love with them.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 13, 2021
This was another wonderful book from Lorna Cook. It was so interesting and as I’ve been to the Channel Islands years ago it made it more enjoyable. I remember seeing all the items about the war years when the Germans took over the island and how the residents suffered. I’ve read all Lorna Cook’s books to date and look forward to reading more of hers. It had my favourite, dual time-line as well as being set in the Second World War so it was a win, win for me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 4, 2021
Friend or Enemy
A heartbreaking romantic story of sisters. It is a dual time line story set on the isle of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The story involves the residents of a house called Deux Tourelles.
In 2016 Lucy returns to Guernsey to help her sister sell a home left by a distant cousin Dido. She meets a good looking neighbor Will and together they decide to check out the history of the house and Dido and her sister Persephone. This story is about Lucy and Clara as sisters and about Lucy and Will as good friends. Lucy and Clara work on their relationship as sisters. Lucy and Will research Dido and the history of the residents of Deux Tourelles during the war.
The second storyline is that of Persephone, Dido, their maid's son Jack and a past friend Stefan. All four of the characters were friends in high school. Now it is during the German occupation and one friend Stefan is now a captain in the German Army billeted at Deux Tourelles with the other three. This storyline takes place in the 1940's during WWII. It has excitement, resistance, a spy character and a Jewish girl in hiding. There are many twists and turns in this story and the ending is unexpected.
The story switches between the two storylines. I much preferred the WWII storyline as I often find with the dual time storylines one is preferred over the other. They are both engaging, just one more so than the other. That aside, it was a good read and I enjoyed reading the book. I felt like I was reading two stories with a connection. There was one modern day romance story and one WWII story. When I read it this way I was able to engage equally in both stories.
I did love the historical content and the description of the beaches, the conditions on the Island and how the Islanders handled the occupation. This was most interesting to me.
I did enjoy reading the book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Lorna Cook, Avon Books, U.K., and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review.
March 30, 2021
1940: When the island of Guernsey is invaded by the Nazis, two sisters are determined ro rebel in any way they can. But when they are forced to take in a German soldier, they are shocked to find a familiar face on their doorstep - a childhood friend who has now become their enemy.
2016: Two generatons later, Lucy returns to Guernsey after the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out - resistance. Lucy's search for the author uncovers the story of a forgotten sister.
This is a story of trust, relationships and sacrifices. The story has a duel timeline: WWII and 2016. We learn the history behind the occupation of Guernsey during WWII. A stoy of two sisters in the past and two sisters in the present. The characters are well rounded, believable and likeable. At the end of the book, we get a brief history of the occupation of Guernsey and some of the people involved. This is am intriguing read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #LornaCook for my ARC of #TheGirlFromTheisland in exchange for an honest review.
2016: Two generatons later, Lucy returns to Guernsey after the death of a distant cousin. As she prepares the family house for sale, Lucy discovers a box of handwritten notes, one word standing out - resistance. Lucy's search for the author uncovers the story of a forgotten sister.
This is a story of trust, relationships and sacrifices. The story has a duel timeline: WWII and 2016. We learn the history behind the occupation of Guernsey during WWII. A stoy of two sisters in the past and two sisters in the present. The characters are well rounded, believable and likeable. At the end of the book, we get a brief history of the occupation of Guernsey and some of the people involved. This is am intriguing read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #LornaCook for my ARC of #TheGirlFromTheisland in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2021
Discover the locations in the novel The Girl from the Island
Transport yourself to Guernsey during wartime...
Lorna Cook has written some of the most interesting books in my opinion. Her story about the Forgotten village which was based on a real place was captivating. So, I was keen to read her latest one, the girl from the island
In Booktrail terms, the setting is one to really get your teeth into, The island is of course, Guernsey, and the author takes us back to the days when the Germans invaded and were billeted in houses around the island. Such a peaceful and harmonious place wrecked by the enemy. Guernsey during this time has been put well and truly on the map. The island is evoked with style, its history and heritage richly explored as well as the strength of its people.
It’s a very personal book as you can imagine how it must have felt having these invaders come into your homes and lives. The fear, anger, disbelief, confusion and all the other emotions come to the fore. Then what would happen if one of them was someone you loved from the past? It’s an emotional read this one, that’s for sure.
The dual timeline, actually is three as the past story flits between the 1930s ad the 1940. Come to the present day and Lucy is the narrator who has come to the island to take care of her sister’s house. She delves into her past and there is another historical thread which adds to this amazingly constructed novel which ties up very nicely at the end, producing a fascinating picture of history, hope and humanity.
Lorna Cook continues to go up in my estimations and I always look forward to her work. I read on kindle and then buy the book in paperback. She’s one of those authors who for me has a guaranteed place on my historical authors to treasure bookshelves.
Highly recommended and that includes her back catalogue too.
July 27, 2022
Another great read from Cook: well-written and captivating, this was a dual-timeline narrative that was equally interesting and thought-provoking. I knew next to nothing about the occupation of Guernsey during the Second World War and have finished the book feeling far more informed.
Lucy’s relationship with her sister is clearly strained and her return to Guernsey to help organise the estate after her grandmother’s death, leads to some truths being uncovered. Maintaining a distance from her sister, Lucy starts to discover secrets about her grandmother, Dido, and her life during the German occupation of the Second World War. The way that Cook structures the narrative means that present day discoveries are then enveloped into the war narrative as readers uncover the reality about what really happened.
I think this was why I enjoyed the historic narrative so much: it was revealing and provided so many answers. Whilst I have read many war novels in the past, this one was so refreshing because of the different setting. It was a strange war to experience on Guernsey because whilst shots were not necessarily fired, it was a war on civilians through fear, control and propaganda. Even more so, the island became completely isolated from the rest of the world and I found it fascinating how Guernsey clocks were showing German time, wireless radios were confiscated and that the islanders had very little knowledge of how the war was progressing. It must have felt so isolating.
Dido’s character does not dominate this narrative, even though Lucy is exploring her home in the present day. Instead, we follow Persy and how her experience of the war shaped so many futures. I could not have foreseen how Cook would develop the narrative and I found myself truly invested in her story, especially with regards to previous friendships and protecting oneself. The aggressive manner of informants is heavily emphasised in the novel and I was shocked at how much hatred fuelled local civilians; it was like the arrival of the Nazi soldiers revealed the truth about people’s personalities.
This was a clever story and I liked how the Prologue established the importance of letters, which became increasingly significant as the plot progressed. Also, the title was symbolic of Dido, Persy and Lucy, creating a cohesion across the decades. It is Lucy’s discoveries that allow the past tales to be told and I think I appreciated the celebratory tone in the closing chapters because it felt so fitting after such a tense climax.
I really enjoyed this read and Cook’s research makes this a vivid, realistic story. Set in a time of such uncertainty, I think the writer expertly captures the feelings of civilians when the world was at war.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy’s relationship with her sister is clearly strained and her return to Guernsey to help organise the estate after her grandmother’s death, leads to some truths being uncovered. Maintaining a distance from her sister, Lucy starts to discover secrets about her grandmother, Dido, and her life during the German occupation of the Second World War. The way that Cook structures the narrative means that present day discoveries are then enveloped into the war narrative as readers uncover the reality about what really happened.
I think this was why I enjoyed the historic narrative so much: it was revealing and provided so many answers. Whilst I have read many war novels in the past, this one was so refreshing because of the different setting. It was a strange war to experience on Guernsey because whilst shots were not necessarily fired, it was a war on civilians through fear, control and propaganda. Even more so, the island became completely isolated from the rest of the world and I found it fascinating how Guernsey clocks were showing German time, wireless radios were confiscated and that the islanders had very little knowledge of how the war was progressing. It must have felt so isolating.
Dido’s character does not dominate this narrative, even though Lucy is exploring her home in the present day. Instead, we follow Persy and how her experience of the war shaped so many futures. I could not have foreseen how Cook would develop the narrative and I found myself truly invested in her story, especially with regards to previous friendships and protecting oneself. The aggressive manner of informants is heavily emphasised in the novel and I was shocked at how much hatred fuelled local civilians; it was like the arrival of the Nazi soldiers revealed the truth about people’s personalities.
This was a clever story and I liked how the Prologue established the importance of letters, which became increasingly significant as the plot progressed. Also, the title was symbolic of Dido, Persy and Lucy, creating a cohesion across the decades. It is Lucy’s discoveries that allow the past tales to be told and I think I appreciated the celebratory tone in the closing chapters because it felt so fitting after such a tense climax.
I really enjoyed this read and Cook’s research makes this a vivid, realistic story. Set in a time of such uncertainty, I think the writer expertly captures the feelings of civilians when the world was at war.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2021
I dithered between 4-5 * here as Lorna Cook has again pulled off a great dual-timeline novel based on fascinating (true) wartime events in Guernsey. I did find it a bit of a slow burner & it took me a little longer to ‘get into’ than her other two books but I love her writing style & once I was in I was hooked!
Once it gathers momentum it really motors along & I became totally caught up in the emotional & dramatic scenes unfolding. I particularly enjoyed the 1940’s sections & how the two timelines are seamlessly connected. The ending is really well executed - & very moving too.
A great read & the author notes too are really illuminating. Thank you Lorna! Hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one?
Once it gathers momentum it really motors along & I became totally caught up in the emotional & dramatic scenes unfolding. I particularly enjoyed the 1940’s sections & how the two timelines are seamlessly connected. The ending is really well executed - & very moving too.
A great read & the author notes too are really illuminating. Thank you Lorna! Hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next one?
June 20, 2021
It took me a while to get into this book but that’s more of a reflection on me than the book itself. A dual timeline set in Guernsey, about love, loss and survival, both stories intertwining perfectly.
February 10, 2021
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this latest novel by Lorna Cook to be released in April. I love her dual timeline stories and this is another fabulous read set on the island Guernsey in the modern day and during the occupation of the second world war. What a location! A place I must visit. The characters shine, the writing is wonderful, highly recommend.
November 20, 2021
Fabulous book yet again...love her stories....other than the dismaying usage of God's name through swearing , her stories are so intriguing!
January 29, 2021
The Girl from the Island By Lorna Cook is an excellent dual timeline historical fiction novel that kept me interested from beginning to end.
As with all dual timelines, it is a tricky business to balance the past story with the current day. Ms Cook pulled this off quite well.
I was equally interested in the sisters’ stories as they dealt with the German occupation of their home in Guernsey. I always enjoy a novel that includes this group of islands, and so far the few that I have come across, I have thoroughly enjoyed. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery involving Persephone and Dido.
The author was able to weave their suspenseful narrative with the current day story of estranged sisters Lucy and Clara. The fascinating story of unearthing a hidden family past where the stakes are high, and lives are on the line, is gripping. The fundamental concepts of: love, loss, war, sacrifices, family, loyalty, and triumph over wrong were tastefully expressed in this wonderful novel.
I really enjoyed this story and really, really enjoyed the ending.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Avon Books for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
As with all dual timelines, it is a tricky business to balance the past story with the current day. Ms Cook pulled this off quite well.
I was equally interested in the sisters’ stories as they dealt with the German occupation of their home in Guernsey. I always enjoy a novel that includes this group of islands, and so far the few that I have come across, I have thoroughly enjoyed. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery involving Persephone and Dido.
The author was able to weave their suspenseful narrative with the current day story of estranged sisters Lucy and Clara. The fascinating story of unearthing a hidden family past where the stakes are high, and lives are on the line, is gripping. The fundamental concepts of: love, loss, war, sacrifices, family, loyalty, and triumph over wrong were tastefully expressed in this wonderful novel.
I really enjoyed this story and really, really enjoyed the ending.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Avon Books for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
April 5, 2021
The Girl from the Island is a dual timeline historical fictions, set in the Channel Islands, which I have to be honest intrigued me particularly as I’ve never read anything set in those beautiful places or heard the story surrounding the islands.
The plot goes back and forth between:
the 1940s when the Germans arrived on Guernsey until the liberation by the hands of the Allied in 1945. So we see unfold all the events and restrictions and brutality that happened during those long 5 years.
And 2016, Lucy and her sister, have been appointed by their dad to clear Dido’s estate after her death. Lucy becomes intrigued by this lady’s past and with the help of her neighbour tries to connect all the dots.
The dual timeline plot can be tricky if not well played, and I have to say that Lorna Cook has done a great job, they way the timeline intertwined left me completely and fully gripped by the story and just couldn’t stop until I finished the book! Plus as I said not coming across many book set in WWII on the Channel Islands I was super intrigued to know what happened there and get a bit of historical facts out of the book too.
The characters are impossible not to like, and I completely and utterly fell in love with Persey and Stefan bravery and the way they tried to always protect the ones they loved. But I could on for ages and talk about every single character and what I liked about them, but then you probably wouldn’t want to read my review anymore 😂 so let me just tell you that you should absolutely read it!
Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the free copy.
The plot goes back and forth between:
the 1940s when the Germans arrived on Guernsey until the liberation by the hands of the Allied in 1945. So we see unfold all the events and restrictions and brutality that happened during those long 5 years.
And 2016, Lucy and her sister, have been appointed by their dad to clear Dido’s estate after her death. Lucy becomes intrigued by this lady’s past and with the help of her neighbour tries to connect all the dots.
The dual timeline plot can be tricky if not well played, and I have to say that Lorna Cook has done a great job, they way the timeline intertwined left me completely and fully gripped by the story and just couldn’t stop until I finished the book! Plus as I said not coming across many book set in WWII on the Channel Islands I was super intrigued to know what happened there and get a bit of historical facts out of the book too.
The characters are impossible not to like, and I completely and utterly fell in love with Persey and Stefan bravery and the way they tried to always protect the ones they loved. But I could on for ages and talk about every single character and what I liked about them, but then you probably wouldn’t want to read my review anymore 😂 so let me just tell you that you should absolutely read it!
Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the free copy.
March 19, 2021
I'm particularly partial to reading books that are set in the Channel Islands. I find the wartime history particularly fascinating and having spent a most pleasant holiday there some years ago I have enough firsthand experience talking to locals and visiting points of historical interest that it helps the story come alive for me. This particular novel, one of several that I've read recently situated in the Channel Isles, makes an excellent addition to my collection and it is one that I would highly recommend to friends.
The novel is told in dual timeline - 1940, soon after the island of Guernsey has been invaded by the Germans and 2016, which is actually one year after my husband and I travelled to Guernsey. In the modern day portion of the story, Lucy, a freelance writer, returns to the Island from the UK to help her sister settle the estate of a distant cousin that she never really knew. For some reason Lucy finds it hard to return to the place of her birth and her relationship with her sister is a strained one though she doesn't really understand why. While staying at the home of her deceased cousin, a pretty imposing and large old building called Deux Tourelles, Lucy is surprised at how very little there is in the house to tell the story of her cousins life. She does however, find some photographs and papers that seem to indicate there might be a very interesting story in her background. One picture that captures her attention is of two young women and two young men. She isn't sure who they are, but suspects that one is her cousin Dido and the other is a woman named Persey - perhaps a sister. Lucy's sister Clara is the practical sort and wants Lucy to grow up and take on the responsibility of preparing the house to go on the market. When one of the papers that Lucy has found has the word "resistance" written on it she knows that she must dig deeper to learn more about the cousin that she now wishes she could remember. She soon meets a nearby neighbour who had known Dido at least a little and together they begin to research and explore the story of the residents of Deux Tourelles.
Back in 1940, the reader meets Dido and her sister Persephone. Their father has been dead for some time and as the Germans have invaded the island their mother dies quite suddenly of natural causes. Before her body has even been removed from the house, there are German soldiers at the door commandeering a room for an officer - their mother's room. Persephone is the main narrator here and she quickly recognizes that the German soldier is someone who had spent summers on the Island and been part of her teenage years. One summer they had the barest beginning of a relationship only for him to suddenly leave and never be heard from again until this fateful knock on the door.
Persephone speaks for the past and Lucy speaks for the present. In the modern day there is a mystery to be solved, a sibling relationship to be mended, a coming of age of sorts along with a new relationship still in its infancy. In the past there is a forbidden attraction between Persey and her German soldier while Dido also develops a fondness for a German soldier becoming what was locally known as a Jerrybag. Persey at times seems to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and she carries it pretty much on her own. She resists in what ways she can knowing that all their lives may well be in peril as a result. The author has done an excellent job incorporating the real history of what life was like under the Germans into her narrative.
I really felt for all the characters in the story, both past and present. I shed some tears while reading and felt at times as if my heart would break. This was a book that made me want to read and read if only real life didn't get in the way. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the wartime history of the Channel Islands or women's literature. I think Lorna Cook did an excellent job!
I received an advance reader's copy of this book from #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author. The opinions stated above are completely my own.
The novel is told in dual timeline - 1940, soon after the island of Guernsey has been invaded by the Germans and 2016, which is actually one year after my husband and I travelled to Guernsey. In the modern day portion of the story, Lucy, a freelance writer, returns to the Island from the UK to help her sister settle the estate of a distant cousin that she never really knew. For some reason Lucy finds it hard to return to the place of her birth and her relationship with her sister is a strained one though she doesn't really understand why. While staying at the home of her deceased cousin, a pretty imposing and large old building called Deux Tourelles, Lucy is surprised at how very little there is in the house to tell the story of her cousins life. She does however, find some photographs and papers that seem to indicate there might be a very interesting story in her background. One picture that captures her attention is of two young women and two young men. She isn't sure who they are, but suspects that one is her cousin Dido and the other is a woman named Persey - perhaps a sister. Lucy's sister Clara is the practical sort and wants Lucy to grow up and take on the responsibility of preparing the house to go on the market. When one of the papers that Lucy has found has the word "resistance" written on it she knows that she must dig deeper to learn more about the cousin that she now wishes she could remember. She soon meets a nearby neighbour who had known Dido at least a little and together they begin to research and explore the story of the residents of Deux Tourelles.
Back in 1940, the reader meets Dido and her sister Persephone. Their father has been dead for some time and as the Germans have invaded the island their mother dies quite suddenly of natural causes. Before her body has even been removed from the house, there are German soldiers at the door commandeering a room for an officer - their mother's room. Persephone is the main narrator here and she quickly recognizes that the German soldier is someone who had spent summers on the Island and been part of her teenage years. One summer they had the barest beginning of a relationship only for him to suddenly leave and never be heard from again until this fateful knock on the door.
Persephone speaks for the past and Lucy speaks for the present. In the modern day there is a mystery to be solved, a sibling relationship to be mended, a coming of age of sorts along with a new relationship still in its infancy. In the past there is a forbidden attraction between Persey and her German soldier while Dido also develops a fondness for a German soldier becoming what was locally known as a Jerrybag. Persey at times seems to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and she carries it pretty much on her own. She resists in what ways she can knowing that all their lives may well be in peril as a result. The author has done an excellent job incorporating the real history of what life was like under the Germans into her narrative.
I really felt for all the characters in the story, both past and present. I shed some tears while reading and felt at times as if my heart would break. This was a book that made me want to read and read if only real life didn't get in the way. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the wartime history of the Channel Islands or women's literature. I think Lorna Cook did an excellent job!
I received an advance reader's copy of this book from #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author. The opinions stated above are completely my own.
April 9, 2023
Another fab read from Lorna Cook. I love historical fiction and I really enjoy a book that has me googling events and places whilst I’m reading it and I learn something.
I knew nothing about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during WW2. This book is a dual timeline and is set on Guernsey during the 1940’s and 2016 and follows the story of sisters Persephone and Dido during the 1940’s and sisters Lucy and Clara during 2016 who are relatives of Dido and have the task of selling Dido’s home after she dies and leaves it to them in her will.
After reading the book, it appears that the Nazi’s that were stationed on Guernsey had quite an easy war. No fighting with the ‘enemy’. Sad to read that the Channel Islands were the last to be liberated.
A brilliant book that has, very clearly, been researched exceptionally well. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is a must read.
I knew nothing about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during WW2. This book is a dual timeline and is set on Guernsey during the 1940’s and 2016 and follows the story of sisters Persephone and Dido during the 1940’s and sisters Lucy and Clara during 2016 who are relatives of Dido and have the task of selling Dido’s home after she dies and leaves it to them in her will.
After reading the book, it appears that the Nazi’s that were stationed on Guernsey had quite an easy war. No fighting with the ‘enemy’. Sad to read that the Channel Islands were the last to be liberated.
A brilliant book that has, very clearly, been researched exceptionally well. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is a must read.
April 24, 2021
I love how the two times and stories are woven together. Highlighted my woeful ignorance of Guernsey’s occupation, which I aim to rectify. Can forgive the author’s inaccuracies as she was unable to revisit the island while writing due to Covid.
July 1, 2021
4.75 ⭐️ RTC
February 18, 2024
This was another great book by Lorna Cook - her books just keep getting better. I couldn’t turn the pages over quick enough. I am really looking forward to reading her next one.
February 4, 2025
"A world at war. One woman will risk everything. Another will uncover her story."
3,5/5!
In 1940, Persephone and Dido Le Roy's life is turned upside down when Germany occupies their home, the island of Guernsey. But when a German officer is assigned to live at their house, an even greater surprise awaits them: the officer is an old friend of theirs. In 2016, Lucy returns home to Guernsey to attend the funeral of her recently passed old relative, Dido. As she sorts out Dido's belongings she begins to uncover the hidden true story of her family's history.
The Girl from the Island is an engaging, well-written story of family, life during an occupation, resistance, love against all odds and survival in one of the darkest periods of history. I have read a lot of novels set during WWII, so it is hard to impress me at this point. The Girl from the Island was a good novel but not one of my favourites – it didn't have any glaring issues and I enjoyed it from start to finish, but it just didn't reach the heights of some of my favourites in this subgenre of historical fiction. I am always happy to learn new things about this time period and because I've never before read a novel set on Guernsey, I learned quite a bit. I, for example, never knew that the Nazis built concentration camps on one of the nearby islands, Alderney – they were the only camps on British soil. How did I not know that after all this time studying history and this time period? The novel also honours the real-life heroics of people who resisted the occupation in big and small ways, such as publishing GUNS, the underground newsletter. Reading the book made me want to visit the island one day and see the places Lucy goes to see with Will, the man she befriended, such as the museum dedicated to the occupation years.
The characters of the novel were all good. No one became an absolute new favorite character of all time nor did I fall in love with any of them, but I enjoyed all their stories nonetheless. I preferred the 1940s storyline and characters, but not by much. One of the dangers of dual timeline books is that one timeline feels less relevant but this was not the case. I liked how the mystery of the Le Roy sisters unfolded in both timelines at the same time. Persephone and Dido were both interesting women, and I liked how different they were. Dido was the wild, lively girl who yearns for love and music, while Persey was more sensible, calm, collected and rational. It was fun seeing how they reacted to the Occupation, because even though they both hated what was done to their Island, they didn't always agree on how they should behave. Dido kept on singing to the German soldiers because she likes music and didn't want to give that up no matter how Persey tried to convince her that doing so could make someone see her as an ally to the occupiers. Persey I liked the rebellious spirits of both women – they
Stefan and Jack, the two male leads of the 1940s, were both solid, but didn't feel quite as fully developed as the girls. I especially hoped more from Stefan, who is a very complex character. But before going into that, I liked Jack's determination to make something of himself, to fulfil his spy mission even when things go awry and to help the Le Roys, girls he grew up with, and I respected his absolute hatred towards Nazis, even if it meant that it took him But, yes, Stefan. I liked the contradiction within him: he is part of the Nazi army (he is a translator and a pencil pusher) but he does not see himself as a Nazi or as Persey's enemy. He does not believe in Hitler's ideology of hatred, but he still joined the army willingly. One of the novels central themes is that people are not, most of the time, all good or all bad, and that even soldiers who worked for the Nazi army could've been good people who were manipulated, forced into do horrible things and did not know the full extent of what they agreed to do when joining the army. But the important thing is that Cook does not portray this fact as an excuse for the horrors they committed, witnessed or stood by and watched happen. Stefan has to
Lucy, the main character of 2016, was fun and I liked following her as she begins to investigate Dido and Persey's lives with her neighbour Will, who she might just develop some feelings for. I especially enjoyed how her relationship with Guernsey develops as she returns home for the first time in years - the home she desperately wanted to escape as a teen. Where Persephone and Dido loved the island, Lucy didn't, not always. But the more time she spends there and gets to know its history, the more connected to it she begins to feel. Her chapters also really drove home how impossible it is for us to understand what life was like back then, during the war, and how difficult it is for us now to understand some of the choices people made: why did people turn each other in, why did some women begin dating soldiers, why did people turn on each other when they should've stood together? I liked that, just as I liked how Cook described, in Persey's chapters, this feeling of profound confusion and fear so many people must've felt at that time in occupied zones: all normalcy went out the window and no one knew what was to come and how bad things might get.
The book features two very different sister dynamics – the close, loving duo of Dido and Persey (yes, their relationship is tested, but they would do anything for each other), and the frayed, difficult relationship between Clara and Lucy. Seeing those two bonds develop and mirror each other was fun. It made me a bit emotional how, at the end, Lucy I liked how the lives of the people of both timelines ended up intertwining, making the story cohesive and very satisfying to finish. All characters also had good endings, even if not all of them were happy (which can be expected of a WWII novel). Lucy deciding to
One last thing I wanna talk about was how this book highlighted not just what life would've been like during an occupation, but specifically what it was like for women. There are different rules for how men and women are treated in situations like this, and, as it so often is, women have to deal with sexual harassment, catcalling and even rape. One of the first things Dido says when she learns of the occupation is that she fears the soldiers will assault her and Persey and other girls. Persey is The novel also tackled the complex question of how we should react to or think about women who chose to begin relationships with German soldiers. Should we see them as traitors to their own people, or should we approach them with empathy and try and understand them and their actions? Writing love stories between German soldiers and civilians is tricky because you don't want to romanticise any aspect of this war or try and humanise the Nazi regime too much, but the truth is that it did happen: people did fall in love for real. I think Cook approached this topic with nuance and care, not forgetting to interrogate the complexities that come with falling for the enemy, or at least someone who dons the enemy uniform.
I would recommend this for anyone interested in female-centric WWII fiction, especially stories set at home instead of the front. Obviously, if you are specifically interested in the events at Guernsey, this book is for you. It is not the best WWII novel out there and not the one I would recommend the most out of all that I have read, but it is a good, engaging story that shines a light on one people's, island's, history.
3,5/5!
In 1940, Persephone and Dido Le Roy's life is turned upside down when Germany occupies their home, the island of Guernsey. But when a German officer is assigned to live at their house, an even greater surprise awaits them: the officer is an old friend of theirs. In 2016, Lucy returns home to Guernsey to attend the funeral of her recently passed old relative, Dido. As she sorts out Dido's belongings she begins to uncover the hidden true story of her family's history.
The Girl from the Island is an engaging, well-written story of family, life during an occupation, resistance, love against all odds and survival in one of the darkest periods of history. I have read a lot of novels set during WWII, so it is hard to impress me at this point. The Girl from the Island was a good novel but not one of my favourites – it didn't have any glaring issues and I enjoyed it from start to finish, but it just didn't reach the heights of some of my favourites in this subgenre of historical fiction. I am always happy to learn new things about this time period and because I've never before read a novel set on Guernsey, I learned quite a bit. I, for example, never knew that the Nazis built concentration camps on one of the nearby islands, Alderney – they were the only camps on British soil. How did I not know that after all this time studying history and this time period? The novel also honours the real-life heroics of people who resisted the occupation in big and small ways, such as publishing GUNS, the underground newsletter. Reading the book made me want to visit the island one day and see the places Lucy goes to see with Will, the man she befriended, such as the museum dedicated to the occupation years.
The characters of the novel were all good. No one became an absolute new favorite character of all time nor did I fall in love with any of them, but I enjoyed all their stories nonetheless. I preferred the 1940s storyline and characters, but not by much. One of the dangers of dual timeline books is that one timeline feels less relevant but this was not the case. I liked how the mystery of the Le Roy sisters unfolded in both timelines at the same time. Persephone and Dido were both interesting women, and I liked how different they were. Dido was the wild, lively girl who yearns for love and music, while Persey was more sensible, calm, collected and rational. It was fun seeing how they reacted to the Occupation, because even though they both hated what was done to their Island, they didn't always agree on how they should behave. Dido kept on singing to the German soldiers because she likes music and didn't want to give that up no matter how Persey tried to convince her that doing so could make someone see her as an ally to the occupiers. Persey I liked the rebellious spirits of both women – they
Stefan and Jack, the two male leads of the 1940s, were both solid, but didn't feel quite as fully developed as the girls. I especially hoped more from Stefan, who is a very complex character. But before going into that, I liked Jack's determination to make something of himself, to fulfil his spy mission even when things go awry and to help the Le Roys, girls he grew up with, and I respected his absolute hatred towards Nazis, even if it meant that it took him But, yes, Stefan. I liked the contradiction within him: he is part of the Nazi army (he is a translator and a pencil pusher) but he does not see himself as a Nazi or as Persey's enemy. He does not believe in Hitler's ideology of hatred, but he still joined the army willingly. One of the novels central themes is that people are not, most of the time, all good or all bad, and that even soldiers who worked for the Nazi army could've been good people who were manipulated, forced into do horrible things and did not know the full extent of what they agreed to do when joining the army. But the important thing is that Cook does not portray this fact as an excuse for the horrors they committed, witnessed or stood by and watched happen. Stefan has to
Lucy, the main character of 2016, was fun and I liked following her as she begins to investigate Dido and Persey's lives with her neighbour Will, who she might just develop some feelings for. I especially enjoyed how her relationship with Guernsey develops as she returns home for the first time in years - the home she desperately wanted to escape as a teen. Where Persephone and Dido loved the island, Lucy didn't, not always. But the more time she spends there and gets to know its history, the more connected to it she begins to feel. Her chapters also really drove home how impossible it is for us to understand what life was like back then, during the war, and how difficult it is for us now to understand some of the choices people made: why did people turn each other in, why did some women begin dating soldiers, why did people turn on each other when they should've stood together? I liked that, just as I liked how Cook described, in Persey's chapters, this feeling of profound confusion and fear so many people must've felt at that time in occupied zones: all normalcy went out the window and no one knew what was to come and how bad things might get.
The book features two very different sister dynamics – the close, loving duo of Dido and Persey (yes, their relationship is tested, but they would do anything for each other), and the frayed, difficult relationship between Clara and Lucy. Seeing those two bonds develop and mirror each other was fun. It made me a bit emotional how, at the end, Lucy I liked how the lives of the people of both timelines ended up intertwining, making the story cohesive and very satisfying to finish. All characters also had good endings, even if not all of them were happy (which can be expected of a WWII novel). Lucy deciding to
One last thing I wanna talk about was how this book highlighted not just what life would've been like during an occupation, but specifically what it was like for women. There are different rules for how men and women are treated in situations like this, and, as it so often is, women have to deal with sexual harassment, catcalling and even rape. One of the first things Dido says when she learns of the occupation is that she fears the soldiers will assault her and Persey and other girls. Persey is The novel also tackled the complex question of how we should react to or think about women who chose to begin relationships with German soldiers. Should we see them as traitors to their own people, or should we approach them with empathy and try and understand them and their actions? Writing love stories between German soldiers and civilians is tricky because you don't want to romanticise any aspect of this war or try and humanise the Nazi regime too much, but the truth is that it did happen: people did fall in love for real. I think Cook approached this topic with nuance and care, not forgetting to interrogate the complexities that come with falling for the enemy, or at least someone who dons the enemy uniform.
I would recommend this for anyone interested in female-centric WWII fiction, especially stories set at home instead of the front. Obviously, if you are specifically interested in the events at Guernsey, this book is for you. It is not the best WWII novel out there and not the one I would recommend the most out of all that I have read, but it is a good, engaging story that shines a light on one people's, island's, history.
January 30, 2021
I discovered Lorna Cook through NetGalley last year and I absolutely fell in love with her writing. When I got the invite to read this book, I was beyond excited and downloaded and read the book in 2 days. I adore Lorna Cook!!
This book did not disappoint! I was gripped from the beginning and could not put it down. I lost a lot of sleep on this one and do not regret it in the slightest!! (That was a lot of exclamation points, I know.)
This is a story set in the Channel Isles, specifically Guernsey in (mostly) two different timelines- 1940 and present day. I knew nothing about this part of WWII history, so it was a pleasure to escape to this lovely island and be immersed in the story.
1930's- Persephone and Dido have lived on the island their whole lives with the housekeeper's son, Jack, who they considered like an older brother. For a few summers, Stefan would arrive from Germany to visit family and we get a sneak peak at what that childhood looked like.
1940. Two sisters are alone with their housekeeper as the Germans arrive on Guernsey. For 5 years the island is occupied by the German army. We get to sit back and watch as events unfold in a way never expected. Old friendships are rekindled, resistance is attempted, lives are changed in ways that we could never expect.
Present day. Lucy and her sister have been assigned by their father to clear out Dido's estate after her passing. Although she did not have much of a relationship with her, Lucy is intrigued to learn about Dido's past. As she and a neighbor begin digging into this unknown history, so much is exposed.
I love stories that link two time periods and Cook did a fabulous job with this one. The story unfolded so well and I was fully invested in these characters. I shed ugly tears at times, but the story was so beautiful it was okay. There is such a complicated history that is weeded out, plus a couple lovely (and clean!) romances mixed in. Loved this and will recommend to anyone and everyone. Will forward this to my teen daughter to read as well.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book did not disappoint! I was gripped from the beginning and could not put it down. I lost a lot of sleep on this one and do not regret it in the slightest!! (That was a lot of exclamation points, I know.)
This is a story set in the Channel Isles, specifically Guernsey in (mostly) two different timelines- 1940 and present day. I knew nothing about this part of WWII history, so it was a pleasure to escape to this lovely island and be immersed in the story.
1930's- Persephone and Dido have lived on the island their whole lives with the housekeeper's son, Jack, who they considered like an older brother. For a few summers, Stefan would arrive from Germany to visit family and we get a sneak peak at what that childhood looked like.
1940. Two sisters are alone with their housekeeper as the Germans arrive on Guernsey. For 5 years the island is occupied by the German army. We get to sit back and watch as events unfold in a way never expected. Old friendships are rekindled, resistance is attempted, lives are changed in ways that we could never expect.
Present day. Lucy and her sister have been assigned by their father to clear out Dido's estate after her passing. Although she did not have much of a relationship with her, Lucy is intrigued to learn about Dido's past. As she and a neighbor begin digging into this unknown history, so much is exposed.
I love stories that link two time periods and Cook did a fabulous job with this one. The story unfolded so well and I was fully invested in these characters. I shed ugly tears at times, but the story was so beautiful it was okay. There is such a complicated history that is weeded out, plus a couple lovely (and clean!) romances mixed in. Loved this and will recommend to anyone and everyone. Will forward this to my teen daughter to read as well.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 6, 2021
This was a fabulous book yet again as I was captivated and intrigued. Very enlightening as it's able to imagined, the time slip connection works quite well. As I sometimes write; I usually give an author "one chance"...if to long or tedious,not enjoyed/annoying or just plain not my speed so to speak, I'm not likely to try another one by that author. This my third Lorna Cook novel as I look forward to her books :) The only part that bothers me with some books, such as this one, is the using the name of Jesus in cursing sadly. I know there are ones who may roll their eyes at that perhaps...but, it matters to me and would others too. Hence the 4 star ,not 5 but an excellent book otherwise!
April 30, 2021
I do love a good dual timeline, and Lorna Cook has triumphed again! I'm off to check if she has another book planned as soon as I've written this.
I have started, and stopped, a number of books this year that just have not held or grabbed by interest but this one was difficult to stop reading once I had time to settle into it properly. I did enjoy both aspects of the past / present storylines but preferred the past (usually the case with me) and found myself eagerly awaiting the next instalment of the 40's whilst I was reading the present day chapters. That is not to dismiss the present side of the story as they were so cleverly interwoven they just segued into one another effortlessly.
I do find that I learn, and want to learn more, about historical events when reading Lorna's books and it is clear a wealth of research has gone into this. I won't go into the storyline, the book synopsis does that for me, but suffice to say a hint of a romance is always welcome and the 40's story in particular was very sensitively done although I found it incredibly sad.
Ahhh I actually want to go back and read her earlier 2 novels now and definitely need to look up more dual timeline stories as I don't read enough of them.
I have started, and stopped, a number of books this year that just have not held or grabbed by interest but this one was difficult to stop reading once I had time to settle into it properly. I did enjoy both aspects of the past / present storylines but preferred the past (usually the case with me) and found myself eagerly awaiting the next instalment of the 40's whilst I was reading the present day chapters. That is not to dismiss the present side of the story as they were so cleverly interwoven they just segued into one another effortlessly.
I do find that I learn, and want to learn more, about historical events when reading Lorna's books and it is clear a wealth of research has gone into this. I won't go into the storyline, the book synopsis does that for me, but suffice to say a hint of a romance is always welcome and the 40's story in particular was very sensitively done although I found it incredibly sad.
Ahhh I actually want to go back and read her earlier 2 novels now and definitely need to look up more dual timeline stories as I don't read enough of them.
May 20, 2021
The adage 'no man is an island' rings true in Lorna Cook's historical account of Guernsey during World War II. Brave islanders banded together to fight the invaders while risking their lives to save others.
Cook depicts Persey and Dido's resistance efforts in which each sister fought the invasion in her own way. Dido spied behind enemy lines where Persey transcribed notes from a hidden wireless radio in spite of a German officer stationed in her house.
Masterful storytelling weaves fact and fiction and pens a portion of history that is rarely chronicled. Fans of 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' will fall in love with this story.
'If there was a chance of happiness to be had, no matter how fleeting it may be, she had to reach out and take it.' (The Girl from the Island)
Cook depicts Persey and Dido's resistance efforts in which each sister fought the invasion in her own way. Dido spied behind enemy lines where Persey transcribed notes from a hidden wireless radio in spite of a German officer stationed in her house.
Masterful storytelling weaves fact and fiction and pens a portion of history that is rarely chronicled. Fans of 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' will fall in love with this story.
'If there was a chance of happiness to be had, no matter how fleeting it may be, she had to reach out and take it.' (The Girl from the Island)
May 4, 2021
A beautiful book, so well written, totally captivating and for me also an education.
My sister in law is Guernsey born and bred and I have recommended this wonderful book to her, I recall some stories of the occupation from my visits to the island but never knew very much, so this book was very informative for me.
I really enjoyed the interwoven story between the war and present day, and how the strands wove together, and parts made me cry (no spoilers!) the horrors of war and occupation are very stark.
A wonderful, emotional read which I thoroughly enjoyed, it is different to any other book of this genre that Ive read as it weaves past and present beautifully, a truly great read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advance copy
My sister in law is Guernsey born and bred and I have recommended this wonderful book to her, I recall some stories of the occupation from my visits to the island but never knew very much, so this book was very informative for me.
I really enjoyed the interwoven story between the war and present day, and how the strands wove together, and parts made me cry (no spoilers!) the horrors of war and occupation are very stark.
A wonderful, emotional read which I thoroughly enjoyed, it is different to any other book of this genre that Ive read as it weaves past and present beautifully, a truly great read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advance copy
June 20, 2021
Enjoyed the wonderful written historical story.
March 10, 2021
This is a beautiful, wonderful, and poignant story. Told in dual timelines, one during the Occupation of Guernsey islands during WWII and the other in present day. I couldn’t put in words on how much I loved the past story. The spectacular cast of characters in it were truly outstanding. Both the stories were woven together seamlessly but I adored the past story. This story and the Cook’s writing have a magical quality that made it a compelling read and a memorable story.
It hasn’t taken me much time to fall in love with the sisters Persephone, Dido, their friend Jack, who had grown up with them, and Stefan who was from Germany had spent summer holidays on the island in his teenage years, came back to the island and been part of enemy troops.
Persephone is a brilliant character. Respect her for her selflessness by putting other people’s lives before hers, and would be ready to put life on line to save dear ones. The portrayal of love between her and Stefan was the best I have read in a long time. Their love story and these characters would stay with me for a while as I can’t stop pondering about them after closing the book. Dido was a lively and daring girl. Fell in love with Stefan; despite being a captain in the enemy's army, he was gentle, caring, protective of his friends in every step of the way. Guess without him there, they would have met a different fate. He was the savior of these people.
A very few writers’ writing fills you with happiness, caresses your soul, makes you lose yourself in the story. Cook falls under this category. Her prose holds your finger, gently leads you to the world she adeptly created where the characters leap out of the pages, lands in front of you and mesmerizes you. Her vivid descriptions transported to a different world in Guernsey island rife with Occupation and islander’s resistance against the enemy troops. This book has added this island to my bucket list.
Besides a spellbinding story, another great aspect of this was the way true historical events were incorporated in it, which were fascinating and melancholic.
I would highly recommend this enchanting tale of survival, courage, forbidden love, heartache, torment, and sacrifices, grit, friendship, sisterhood to all historical fiction aficionados.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It hasn’t taken me much time to fall in love with the sisters Persephone, Dido, their friend Jack, who had grown up with them, and Stefan who was from Germany had spent summer holidays on the island in his teenage years, came back to the island and been part of enemy troops.
Persephone is a brilliant character. Respect her for her selflessness by putting other people’s lives before hers, and would be ready to put life on line to save dear ones. The portrayal of love between her and Stefan was the best I have read in a long time. Their love story and these characters would stay with me for a while as I can’t stop pondering about them after closing the book. Dido was a lively and daring girl. Fell in love with Stefan; despite being a captain in the enemy's army, he was gentle, caring, protective of his friends in every step of the way. Guess without him there, they would have met a different fate. He was the savior of these people.
A very few writers’ writing fills you with happiness, caresses your soul, makes you lose yourself in the story. Cook falls under this category. Her prose holds your finger, gently leads you to the world she adeptly created where the characters leap out of the pages, lands in front of you and mesmerizes you. Her vivid descriptions transported to a different world in Guernsey island rife with Occupation and islander’s resistance against the enemy troops. This book has added this island to my bucket list.
Besides a spellbinding story, another great aspect of this was the way true historical events were incorporated in it, which were fascinating and melancholic.
I would highly recommend this enchanting tale of survival, courage, forbidden love, heartache, torment, and sacrifices, grit, friendship, sisterhood to all historical fiction aficionados.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2021
This author is fast becoming a favorite! . She has great story lines and her characters are deep. This story is interesting because it is not a well known setting. Those who have read the Guernsey Literary and Potato peel pie Society will know a little of this island. This book will hold your attention, it is well written and very interesting. I became absorbed into the world and couldn’t put it down. It has just enough romance, mystery and history to get anyone’s attention. It is a clean romance too. There was only one minor (very minor) flaw where the main character twisted her ankle while being chased but it never was used or mentioned at all. I had to wonder why she even put it in the story, if it didn’t further the story. It wasn’t developed either like at least her mentioning it swelling or her hobbling the days after.
I think there would have been more tension with the main character if the time between seeing each other had only been 3 or 4 years (not a decade) and that she was older when the relationship with Stefan began had been slightly deeper than one stolen kiss.
I loved the plot and twists and turns. Great book that is highly recommended!
I think there would have been more tension with the main character if the time between seeing each other had only been 3 or 4 years (not a decade) and that she was older when the relationship with Stefan began had been slightly deeper than one stolen kiss.
I loved the plot and twists and turns. Great book that is highly recommended!
February 13, 2021
A dual-timeline ww2 novel about a lesser know part of the war.
What I loved
The island and the way they were involved in the war was very interesting.
I really liked the ww2 timeline. Persephone was a great character and her parts were the highlight of the story. She was brave and cared very much about the people around her. Her feelings toward Stephan were also very well written and the internal struggle was interesting and heartfelt.
What I didn't love
The modern-day timeline was a miss for me. The relationship between the two sisters was strange and unhealthy in my opinion. Also, the way a love interest was pushed into the story felt forced and unnecessary. There was a lot of struggle in the modern-day timeline to find out what happened in ww2, but that just seemed unnecessarily complicated to me.
Conclusion
It was nice to read about a less well-known place in ww2 and if you like dual-timeline stories with a bit of mystery this could be a book for you.
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book*
What I loved
The island and the way they were involved in the war was very interesting.
I really liked the ww2 timeline. Persephone was a great character and her parts were the highlight of the story. She was brave and cared very much about the people around her. Her feelings toward Stephan were also very well written and the internal struggle was interesting and heartfelt.
What I didn't love
The modern-day timeline was a miss for me. The relationship between the two sisters was strange and unhealthy in my opinion. Also, the way a love interest was pushed into the story felt forced and unnecessary. There was a lot of struggle in the modern-day timeline to find out what happened in ww2, but that just seemed unnecessarily complicated to me.
Conclusion
It was nice to read about a less well-known place in ww2 and if you like dual-timeline stories with a bit of mystery this could be a book for you.
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book*
February 13, 2021
This is my second book from this author and I enjoyed it as much as the first book.
The story takes places in Guernsey in two different time periods and it is only the second book I read which featured this island during WWII. It was an interesting story and it certainly didn’t end like I thought it would, it took by surprise.
It also showed not everything is black and white, even during a war. It also showed personal growth of the characters and making a choice that changes your life forever
The story takes places in Guernsey in two different time periods and it is only the second book I read which featured this island during WWII. It was an interesting story and it certainly didn’t end like I thought it would, it took by surprise.
It also showed not everything is black and white, even during a war. It also showed personal growth of the characters and making a choice that changes your life forever
April 3, 2021
The Girl from the Island is the third book from the fantastic author that is Lorna Cook. If you haven’t read anything by this talented writer before then you are really missing out. Lorna has a natural gift for storytelling that truly impresses me and I have been a fan of her books ever since her brilliant debut. Once again right from page one you are drawn into this dual timeline storyline set on the island of Guernsey and you become completely invested in the eventual outcome for the main characters. Imagination is blended to perfection with historical fact and I felt I was given a glimpse into another aspect of World War Two that I had not previously known about, that of the German occupation of the Channel Islands. A fascinating time in history is explored and I have read lots and lots of books set during this time and at some stage you begin to think you have read all you can on the subject that the impact these books are meant to have on you begins to fade but then along comes this book which is an inspirational story. One full of bravery, courage, dedication and love in the face of hardship, cruelty, angst and endless rules and regulations imposed by a mad man.
Spring 2016 and it’s been so long since Lucy visited Guernsey even though her sister Clara still lives there. But now the death of a distant relative Dido sees her returning to make funeral arrangements on behalf of her father who is now living abroad. Lucy barely remembers Dido or the house she lives in, Deux Tourelles, but when she reaches the house she finds it void of any personal mementoes or photos her interest is piqued. Dido from what she learns was an active member of the community but why is there nothing of any personal note on display on the house? When Lucy locates a box of old newspaper clippings, notes and photos so sets in motion her quest to learn more about Dido and even more so when there is a photo with names on the back - Dido, Jack, Stefan and Persephone. Who were these people and what happened to them? Lucy knows the island has a deep history since its German occupation during the war and she wonders what part, if any, did Dido and the people named in the photo have to play in it.
I did enjoy reading about Lucy in the present day and how she navigates through her relationship with her sister, which is very fragile, and then how she wants to find the answers to connect the past to the present. Clara views Lucy as being very predictable in that she always chooses the easy way out of things or else she gives up entirely. Lucy wants to prove Clara wrong and decides she will dedicate herself to getting the house ready for sale and showing that she can stick at one thing. That she doesn’t always run away from things. In doing so she uncovers a remarkable story of fortitude, daring and fearlessness in the face of opposition, hatred and destruction.
The plot twists that occurred in the present towards the end of the book were just brilliant, so cleverly woven into the overall plot and they leave you reeling in surprise and gasping in shock. But for me the strongest part of the book were the chapters set back during the war. I couldn’t wait to get back to them after reading about Lucy in the present. It’s not that Lucy’s aspect of the story wasn’t well written, it was . I just became completely fascinated by the story of the two sisters who when confronted with a face from the past who has now become the enemy find their lives changed and being lived on a knife edge of tension. I found Lucy in the modern day served to bridge the gap and connect the dots between the island of the past and the island as it was in the present and it was all brilliantly written but my interest really was piqued reading about how the islanders coped with having their tiny patch of paradise invaded and their lives as they knew it changed forever.
On the day the Germans arrived on the island of Guernsey, Dido and Persephone’s mother passed away. No sooner had this occurred than there was a knock on the door of Deux Turelles and a face from the past was waiting on the doorstep. Stefan, a German, had spent summers on the island previously and struck up a friendship with the two sisters and Jack, the son of their housekeeper who was like a brother to the pair. But Stefan left one summer and never came back and nor did he write. Now he is back on the island in a different capacity and one in which Persey never thought possible. Stefan is billeted at the house which causes endless tension amongst the residents. Persey wrestles with past events and so many emotions come to the surface. Stefan, who was once a friend but now is a foe, surely can not be viewed in the same manner as he once was but yet Persey has these feelings that connect back to an incident on a cliff that last fateful summer.
Throughout the course of the novel we see her wrestle with her conscience as she knows what her heart is trying to say and she just can’t reconcile the fact that Stefan is the one to watch, to be careful around. No misplaced word or drop of information can be uttered especially as Jack who had enlisted finds himself stuck on the island as the work he was carrying out all went wrong. It’s such a complicated situation for everyone to be in and the characters all dance warily around each other in fear of doing the wrong thing that could see disaster befall them all. The development of Persey’s story, and that of her family, was superbly executed with an assured pace, increasing tension and plenty of crafty twists. Lorna Cook is an expert at bringing the past to life and I felt I was right there with Persey as she balances so many balls in the air. If one dropped her whole world and that of the people she so dearly loved would come crashing down.
With the German’s arrival new rules and regulations were imposed and I just couldn’t comprehend how the islanders must have felt. I couldn’t imagine myself facing all these changes not knowing was this to be my life forever. Not to mention the island became so cut off from the outside world, that even to hide a wireless became an offence. They must have felt so abandoned and lived in constant fear of doing the wrong thing. Something which up until the occupation would have been deemed normal but now it could have been a criminal offence and seen you taken away. Persey despite emotionally wrestling with what she was dealing with with regards to Stefan always showed such resilience. She was constantly thinking of the bigger picture and of others less fortunate then herself and her family. The new laws affecting Jews throughout German occupied territories also came into play on the island and I found this strand of the story intriguing and gripping. Loyalties are constantly questioned and Persey and the islanders do remarkable things which form the backbone of the overall plot. I find it incredible to think that the people living on a tiny island where every move was scrutinised by those who had taken power were able to carry out such heroic deeds in the face of so many burdens to be just incredible and their story definitely deserved to be told. Persey’s story was intense, riveting, inspiring and heart wrenching but it only served to highlight the grit and determination she had deep within her.
If you haven’t previously read anything by Lorna Cook make sure you also check out her previous books, The Forgotten Village and The Forbidden Promise. They are just as good as this new book and I envy those who have yet to discover this wonderful author. The only disappointment I now have is the time I will now have to wait until the next book is published and that’s my own fault as I read The Girl from the Island far too fast. I should have taken things more slowly but really it was just too good to put down. A brilliant storyline, a superb sense of place, strong believable characters and those brilliant plot twists that I didn’t see coming all make for an excellent read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommended. Lorna Cook is definitely an author who has secured her place on my go-to authors list.
Spring 2016 and it’s been so long since Lucy visited Guernsey even though her sister Clara still lives there. But now the death of a distant relative Dido sees her returning to make funeral arrangements on behalf of her father who is now living abroad. Lucy barely remembers Dido or the house she lives in, Deux Tourelles, but when she reaches the house she finds it void of any personal mementoes or photos her interest is piqued. Dido from what she learns was an active member of the community but why is there nothing of any personal note on display on the house? When Lucy locates a box of old newspaper clippings, notes and photos so sets in motion her quest to learn more about Dido and even more so when there is a photo with names on the back - Dido, Jack, Stefan and Persephone. Who were these people and what happened to them? Lucy knows the island has a deep history since its German occupation during the war and she wonders what part, if any, did Dido and the people named in the photo have to play in it.
I did enjoy reading about Lucy in the present day and how she navigates through her relationship with her sister, which is very fragile, and then how she wants to find the answers to connect the past to the present. Clara views Lucy as being very predictable in that she always chooses the easy way out of things or else she gives up entirely. Lucy wants to prove Clara wrong and decides she will dedicate herself to getting the house ready for sale and showing that she can stick at one thing. That she doesn’t always run away from things. In doing so she uncovers a remarkable story of fortitude, daring and fearlessness in the face of opposition, hatred and destruction.
The plot twists that occurred in the present towards the end of the book were just brilliant, so cleverly woven into the overall plot and they leave you reeling in surprise and gasping in shock. But for me the strongest part of the book were the chapters set back during the war. I couldn’t wait to get back to them after reading about Lucy in the present. It’s not that Lucy’s aspect of the story wasn’t well written, it was . I just became completely fascinated by the story of the two sisters who when confronted with a face from the past who has now become the enemy find their lives changed and being lived on a knife edge of tension. I found Lucy in the modern day served to bridge the gap and connect the dots between the island of the past and the island as it was in the present and it was all brilliantly written but my interest really was piqued reading about how the islanders coped with having their tiny patch of paradise invaded and their lives as they knew it changed forever.
On the day the Germans arrived on the island of Guernsey, Dido and Persephone’s mother passed away. No sooner had this occurred than there was a knock on the door of Deux Turelles and a face from the past was waiting on the doorstep. Stefan, a German, had spent summers on the island previously and struck up a friendship with the two sisters and Jack, the son of their housekeeper who was like a brother to the pair. But Stefan left one summer and never came back and nor did he write. Now he is back on the island in a different capacity and one in which Persey never thought possible. Stefan is billeted at the house which causes endless tension amongst the residents. Persey wrestles with past events and so many emotions come to the surface. Stefan, who was once a friend but now is a foe, surely can not be viewed in the same manner as he once was but yet Persey has these feelings that connect back to an incident on a cliff that last fateful summer.
Throughout the course of the novel we see her wrestle with her conscience as she knows what her heart is trying to say and she just can’t reconcile the fact that Stefan is the one to watch, to be careful around. No misplaced word or drop of information can be uttered especially as Jack who had enlisted finds himself stuck on the island as the work he was carrying out all went wrong. It’s such a complicated situation for everyone to be in and the characters all dance warily around each other in fear of doing the wrong thing that could see disaster befall them all. The development of Persey’s story, and that of her family, was superbly executed with an assured pace, increasing tension and plenty of crafty twists. Lorna Cook is an expert at bringing the past to life and I felt I was right there with Persey as she balances so many balls in the air. If one dropped her whole world and that of the people she so dearly loved would come crashing down.
With the German’s arrival new rules and regulations were imposed and I just couldn’t comprehend how the islanders must have felt. I couldn’t imagine myself facing all these changes not knowing was this to be my life forever. Not to mention the island became so cut off from the outside world, that even to hide a wireless became an offence. They must have felt so abandoned and lived in constant fear of doing the wrong thing. Something which up until the occupation would have been deemed normal but now it could have been a criminal offence and seen you taken away. Persey despite emotionally wrestling with what she was dealing with with regards to Stefan always showed such resilience. She was constantly thinking of the bigger picture and of others less fortunate then herself and her family. The new laws affecting Jews throughout German occupied territories also came into play on the island and I found this strand of the story intriguing and gripping. Loyalties are constantly questioned and Persey and the islanders do remarkable things which form the backbone of the overall plot. I find it incredible to think that the people living on a tiny island where every move was scrutinised by those who had taken power were able to carry out such heroic deeds in the face of so many burdens to be just incredible and their story definitely deserved to be told. Persey’s story was intense, riveting, inspiring and heart wrenching but it only served to highlight the grit and determination she had deep within her.
If you haven’t previously read anything by Lorna Cook make sure you also check out her previous books, The Forgotten Village and The Forbidden Promise. They are just as good as this new book and I envy those who have yet to discover this wonderful author. The only disappointment I now have is the time I will now have to wait until the next book is published and that’s my own fault as I read The Girl from the Island far too fast. I should have taken things more slowly but really it was just too good to put down. A brilliant storyline, a superb sense of place, strong believable characters and those brilliant plot twists that I didn’t see coming all make for an excellent read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommended. Lorna Cook is definitely an author who has secured her place on my go-to authors list.
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