The Women of Jersey Island: A WW2 Historical Fiction Novel

by Rachael Dymski

When the Nazis invade their home, they will need each other to survive.

Jersey, 1940. In the quiet of the English Channel, war is brewing. When the Nazis first set foot on her island home, 16-year-old Marcy comes to realize that nothing will ever be the same. Fueled by the devastating disappearance of the man she loves and in defiance of her distant mother, Violet, she joins forces with fellow islander Louisa to aid Jersey’s secret resistance.

But what she does not know is that Violet and Louisa have a long, sordid a decades-old story of friendship, enmity, and a web of devastating secrets with the power to destroy lives.

As the war drags on and the resistance operations become increasingly more perilous, the three women’s loyalties will be put to the test. Can they put their past behind them to fight together for a future? Or will the secrets they harbor ultimately lead them to commit the greatest betrayal?

This stunning debut novel by Rachael Dymski about the bonds of family and the power of friendship will capture your heart and imagination. Perfect for readers who love Kristin Hannah and Jina Bacarr.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Book Club, Historical

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2024

About the author

Rachael Dymski has an M.F.A. in creative writing from Chatham University. She has taken classes in Christian counseling from the Reformed Theological Seminary and is a contributing writer for the Gospel Coalition. Dymski also runs a floral business and lives with her husband and daughters in Central Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tremendous and sobering book yet again with an insight into the lives of the British citizens on the Jersey and Guernsey islands during the German occupation....the struggles they endured with restrictions galore, near starvation pretty much with rations and the soldiers helping themselves. As always, I loved reading about the courageous resisters who helped thwart the Germans while looked out to others with food. The "jerrybags" were familiar for those females who dated soldiers and other collaberators. Such distressing and desperate times as her story made one feel so immersed there; wanting to help the pitiful prisoners of war who were cruelly treated.

It is a different format with various timelines being switched back and forth but it made sense and helped with the understanding of the backgrounds.

A new to me author but I will gladly consider reading another by her as it kept me quite captivated; especially as it had been based upon a real life brave soul Louisa Gould.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book differs greatly from other World War II novels I've read. Although it's set on the island of Jersey under the Nazi occupation, that's only a part of the story. What we readers forget is that these women had lives before the Germans came that will continue to affect their daily lives under the Occupation. No matter what is happening around us, our complicated lives as women in our many roles continue...our self-doubts about motherhood and who we are when children grow up. Our need to trust and rely on one another, especially during trying times, is front and center in this story. The chapters move back and forth in time with the voices of three women, which you might think would be confusing. However, the writing was so smooth that shifts between characters were seamless. Lastly, I smugly thought I knew how the story would end but was completely blown away.

Rachel Dymski's use of language is exquisite, even when describing something so familiar to all of us.
"Something deep within her tells her this information is true, the way she knows fall is coming, before a single leaf has turned just by the way the air changed."

"I will come back to you. And then, like the end of a breath, he is gone."

"You hope to be so much for your kids, but there inevitably comes a time when they discover you as human, in all your flaws."

I highly recommend this debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Liz Genders]

I’m regretting reading this book too quickly - I’m really going to miss getting lost in the world of Violet, Louisa, and Marcy. From the moment I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Each of the main characters is complex and flawed yet the varied points of view and the way their thoughts and humanity are relayed makes them relatable and allows the reader to empathize with them. I was most struck by the author’s ability to capture the nuances of female relationships, especially difficult or strained ones. She is intuitive and perceptive in writing about each character’s motives and desires in a way I feel is rare in fiction. I also really loved her usage of color to describe personalities - it was very creative and made already vibrant storytelling all the more vivid.

[Sahra · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the storyline of this book, I found the editing to be off. There were many times I had to re-read sections, as the author would use the wrong name (and not in the spots where it was purposely the wrong name).

The ending felt very rushed. The Germans arrest Violet and as she’s being led to the ship, Louisa is able to speak to her and tell her nothing is her fault. After years of trauma, this one quick moment was enough for Violet to let go of everything. It was extremely hard to believe.

[Jillian Stockbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

I loved everything about this story. Characters that you feel close to, friendships you will find yourself deeply invested in, themes woven in and out with direction and intention, and suspense with each chapter. I couldn't stop reading it as I was dying to know how it would all come together in the end. Definitely recommending to every book lover I know!

[Jenny Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story and I liked the style of writing. Not sure the Kindle version had been proof read as there were a few spelling errors and the dates at the start of some of the chapters didn't make sense with what was going on.

[Jori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried. The author has such a beautiful way of giving words to deep, almost unspeakable tensions in friendship and motherhood. Very redemptive ending. Fantastic book!

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! Tense, dramatic and heartbreaking. Honestly left me feeling wrung out. Stories like this really happened on Jersey in WWII so you get a real feeling of how these families lived and tried to survive. A really good read I highly recommend it.

[Nancy Garbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

More challenging than many of the WWII books I have read, “The Women of Jersey Island” tells the story of several women who lived on the island from 1911 to 1945. The general story was interesting and well written. The chapters switch forward and backward and between three main characters, which was challenging for me to follow.

[Vicki Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas marred, unfortunately, by sloppy editing. I found a continuity error, a homophone error, and repeated/unclear lines. These mistakes were enough to break the suspension of disbelief that was needed to imagine the story. I think I’ll give the author another try with a different book. 🤞🏽

[Miriam Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, uplifting

I liked learning about occupied Jersey. The characters and settings are so thoughtfully described. I hope there is another volume in the works!

[Kim Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written by a college friend and was a fascinating look into WWII from the viewpoint of three women on German-occupied Jersey Island. Loved it!!

[Pat Haber · Rating 2 out of 5]

sigh. i really wanted to like this book, and it had promise. the author kept my interest, but some of the flaws got in the way. it was basically like a soap opera, a chick's lit read that i normally try to avoid. because i like historical fiction, i can't always, but if the story is good, if the historical fiction part of it is, then i appreciate that. in this book, the main characters have information that they withhold, or never express, or certainly, never deal with. these tidbits are held back and never dealt with until the end, and revealed in ridiculous ways---one is the mother of the friend revealing all, and another is with a character shouting to the other one, as the other one is lead away on a boat to Germany, about that information! ridiculous!

so if this book had more of the historical part in it, i would have enjoyed it more. unfortunately, it didn't, it played a small part as did much mention of what Jersey is like, or what it was like during the war.
the ending could only have been worse by having someone day, but it was not very good as it was!

[Edmund Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stayed with me in a quiet way. Rather than focusing on the occupation itself, it lingered on how ordinary life continues under strain friendships stretched thin, old memories resurfacing, loyalties tested in small, almost private moments. I found myself thinking less about the war and more about the women: how they endured, adapted, and carried histories long before the first soldier arrived.
What I appreciated most was the restraint. The story doesn’t rush to judge its characters or turn them into symbols of heroism. Instead, it allows them to be complicated, sometimes hesitant, sometimes brave in ways that don’t announce themselves. That felt honest to me.
Reading it made me reflect on how much of resilience is quiet showing up, holding on to routines, and continuing to care when fear would make withdrawal easier. It’s a novel that doesn’t demand attention, but earns it slowly, and I found myself thinking about it long after I’d finished.

[Whitni Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable

I'll never forget reading Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. It was her opening line about discovering who we really are during war that completely absorbed me into the story. The Women of Jersey Island has a similar theme. This story features several women who discover who they really are during the war: strong, beautiful, loyal, and free. My only complaint was the ending could have been longer. Was a remarkable read!

[Carey Mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love WWII fiction that takes place on Jersey Island and this one was fascinating - told both well before the war and during it, it tells the intertwined stories of Louisa and Violet, from childhood to them becoming mothers themselves. Secrets are kept and it causes rifts in their relationship. It all comes together during the war as they decide in their own ways to fight the Nazi regime, and long-held secrets are revealed.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading books about WWII. A few years ago I read another book about the German invasion of Jersey. This one is just as good. Lots of flashbacks to the 1920's to set the backdrop of the 3 leading characters. The women were based on actual women in Jersey. A good read.

[C.E. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a basically good story, however plodded through continually British stiff-upper-lip-ness, lack of continuity in some scenarios, and REALLY could have ended more completely and smoothly with an epilogue.

[Theresa Hardman]

I didn’t rate the book because I have mixed reviews. The story itself was a good one. I enjoyed the plot line. However, there were so many grammatical errors and odd discrepancies throughout the book that I got caught up in them, and it interfered with enjoying the book.

[Sheila Killingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

invigorating

Each character captures an intricate detailed side of life and survival. Well written. Maybe the moments we are endangered, are the true defining important moments of our lives.

[Elizabeth Yarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of complicated relationships and redemption! Couldn’t put it down!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

mind games

The thread of the Story, while intriguing, is written jumping around with nothing except the year date to follow….if that!

[Margaret Wray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A frustrating read. I struggled with this one and I could not get into at all. Predictable

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful WWII story

This WEWII story is different than so many others. It’s
multi/layered themes make it a good book for book club discussion.

[Lindsay Adamski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me on my toes! So well written!

[gretchen hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Had a hard time putting this book down. Very will written, never
boring or sappy. I would recommend this novel as well worth reading

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the German occupation on the island of Jersey off the coast of France and England. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Listened on audiobook. 4.25 stars

[Deloris Brinks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The woman do amazingly strong things during war.

I liked it this story tells how strong people lived and acted to save people in their island during the dangerous time.

[Donna Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must read

What a life of hurt and sadness for everyone
I loved how you never knew what was going to happen. Every page was a surprise.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The editing for this book was awful. There were several mistakes. The book also ends pretty abruptly.