Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb...
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever."
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a historical fiction novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
It took me two tries to finish this book. When I originally picked it up I just wasn't getting into the story. After I put it down, I decided to watch the Netflix movie instead. I ended up watching it I think 3 times in 2 days...so needless to say I loved the movie. Due to that, I decided to give the book a second shot.
Since I watched the movie first, I couldn't help comparing the two. I found that there were things I liked more about the movie than the book and vice versa.
From this point on there will be minor spoilers for both the movie and the book. So proceed with caution.
Spoilers Ahead
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What I liked in the book vs. the movie:
I still think I liked the movie a bit better mostly because of Juliet and Dawsey. I loved their romance and chemistry in the movie. In the book, there is more focus on Juliet and Mark which I severely disliked. Thank god Mark is barely in the movie because he was real pushy in the book.
There are some things I liked better in the book though. For one, Juliet in the book is way less nosey. Movie Juliet just goes to the island without warning and expects that she would be accepted there. Due to this, her relationship with Amelia has a rough start. She also keeps getting in everyone's business instead of it being a back and forth interaction. There are also a lot more characters in the book, one being Sophie, Juliet's best friend.
I still prefer the movie, but the book was still good nonetheless.
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