Book Review- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a really lovely novel written in the form of letters to and from the lovely and enchanting heroine Juliet Ashton. She is a single woman living alone in London following World War II. Juliet has had a career as an author and a columnist, but is looking for a change of pace and a new direction in her life. Through an old cast off book (she had two copies) she receives correspondence from the book's new owner, the lonely but thoughtful and handsome Dawsey Adams. Through their common interests, she comes to learn of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel. She wonders if the society might be the source of some new material for a book, and begins to correspond with other members. These folks connect through a love of literature, the common experience of the war, and the overwhelming goodness of common people. Juliet becomes romantically involved with the dashing American Mark Reynolds. In doing her research, she determines to visit the Island and get to know her new friends. Upon meeting Dawsey Adams, Juliet feels a great thrill of excitement, but the islanders all wonder about her connection to her editor Sidney. Whom will Juliet choose, and what happened that brings all of these people together around the memory of one of their own who was loved and now lost?

I really enjoyed this book. I found it uplifting and fun to read. I especially liked the breezy, funny way that the letters set the tone for the book, creating a sense of friendship and camaraderie between the characters. It made dealing with the more difficult aspects of the war somewhat filtered through the perspective of each of the characters and their personalities.


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