I have read a few different WW2 era books from the Channel Islands. This one was good but not as memorable to me as some of the others I have read. The writing is good and I am glad I got to read this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this novel, but I also am a fan of WW2 historical fiction. The setting was particularly interesting as I really didn't know anything about the Channel Islands, their proximity to both the UK and France, or their early occupation by Germany.

The story centers around two sisters (Rosie and Estelle) who have been separated by war. Rosie is sent to London with her Aunt and Estelle stays home to help her family run a farm. Most of the story is from Estelle's perspective and Rosie's experience is provided through diary entries from her time in London. This way we see what life was like for Rosie during the blitz and for Estelle during occupation. Both lived in fear, but in different ways.

There are some great strong female characters, which I really loved. Rosie and Estelle's grandmother is much loved figure whose strength and intelligence keeps them safe throughout the occupation and her Aunt Murial who does the same for Rosie in London. Then there is Hans the German officer who spends most of the occupation billeted in their farmhouse. There are also a number of mentions of Canada, once through a red cross ship with supplies and also through Allied soldiers who were in the region.

I very much enjoyed this story, it ticked the boxes of love, family, strength, and character and I would recommend it for others looking for an engaging historical fiction read. I couldn't put it down and I am now curious about the Channel Islands, as I think it would be a great place to visit when the world opens up again someday.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK , One More Chapter for the opportunity to review this book.

A great book about living on Jersey during the war and german occupation.I love a story that hooks you and draws you in.Excellent 5*

"June 1940
While her little sister Rosie is sent to the UK to keep her safe from the invading German army, Estelle Le Maistre is left behind on Jersey to help her grandmother run the family farm. When the Germans occupy the island, everything changes and Estelle and the islanders must face the reality of life under Nazi rule."

A very enjoyable story with strong historical events that were fictionalized quite well. It was not a demanding read which was also a reason I enjoyed it ( the author wrote it during the Covid Lockdown, so not too many ups and downs).I forgot that it was fictional and was waiting for a romance to flourish between Estelle and Hans, which didn't happen. Hmmm. Maybe a sequel, a few years later?

The author is a native of this island of Jersey (a Channel Island) and had , if not first hand knowledge of what went on, at least second hand knowledge from her grandfather and other relatives.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for this excellent read!

This story is based on the author’s own family history and provides an insight into the Channel Islands occupation during WWII. As the Germans occupy Jersey Estelle Le Maistre who is around 18 years lives with her grandmother running their potato farm. Her younger sister Rosie has been sent to London following a tragic death in the family. The years of German occupation take their toll on the islanders. This is a story of their survival and their resilience to that occupation.
I really enjoyed the history of this rarely known part of the war.
Highly recommend this book .

Set on Jersey, An Island at War tells the story of Estelle, who’s father is killed by a German bombers attacking the docks, just days after her younger sister, Rosie, is sent away to live in London with their aunt. Left alone with just her aged grandmother for company, life quickly gets worse for Estelle, when the Nazis land and take over control of the Channel Islands. Her boyfriend and the other men are soon rounded up and imprisoned, and then a German officer is billeted in their farmhouse.

I really enjoyed reading An Island at War. It’s quite a gentle paced story, with little action to speak of, but this actually made the book more enjoyable, for me anyway. It is simply a story of how Jersey residents lived through the upheaval, trauma and fear of Nazi occupation. There were times when I feared it was going to descend into a romance, with the interesting relationship between Estelle and Hans Bauer, but thankfully it stayed away from this route, focussing instead on the conditions they lived under.

A very enjoyable read.

This book is well written and I probably will recommend to family and friends. I don’t quite know how to describe how I feel about it. I felt like someone was telling me about their ancestors living on this small island during the German occupation. I don’t feel like I know Estelle, her Grandmother or her sister Rosie. It was a good story but, to me not a great story. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review. (See, how my review feels like it is missing something…?)

Set in 1940 Channel Islands just occupied by the Germans this is the story of islanders' survival and resilience to that occupation. Largely seen through the eyes of two sisters - one, Estelle, remaining on the family farm and the other, Rosie, sent to London for 'safety'. Their father was killed by the Germans in a strafing raid but then Estelle and her grandmother have Hans, a German office, billeted with them. The story runs through 4 harrowing years of occupation, the increasing restrictions put in place, the decreasing availability of food, poor weather, the shear drudgery of survival. The ending is very abrupt and I was left with a felling of let down however, pity. The author was brought up in the Channel Islands and there is obviously a love of them in the novel, there is plenty of real history too and the rightful feeling of abandonment by Britain. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One more Chapter for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting story about the Channel Islands occupation during WWII, based on the author's own family. I especially liked the perspective of Rosie in London during the Blitz, and of course the resilience and courage of Estelle and her grandmother. These people were truly heroes, and kudos to the author for highlighting this rarely known part of the war.

Wonderfully written WWII novel of German occupied Jersey and mainland England. So much of the author's family history in this novel. So real and so interesting. Reading about life from the sister's perspectives and also from some German soldiers viewpoints.

Quite an emotional read I really enjoyed it. It's a slow burn read but I always enjoy a slowed down read. I found it really fascinating what happened during the war on the Channel Islands.

An Island at War, written by Deborah Carr, takes the reader to the island of Jersey in the English Channel during World War II, and tells the story of Estelle Le Maistre, Estelle is around 18 years old when the Germans arrive to occupy her beloved island. Her younger sister Rosie has been sent to hopefully safe London, and a tragic family death starts the events of the book in motion. Estelle remains on Jersey with her grandmother, running their potato farm while attempting to handle the German occupation and life as civilian during the war.

This was a solid book for me, rated a 3.5/5 stars. Most of the information and descriptions of the "homefront" during WWII was not revelatory if you are well-versed in history or have read this genre extensively. The setting of Jersey, and the particular struggles of the Channel Islanders was unique. I especially enjoyed the author's note at the conclusion that highlighted all of her personal history on the island, and family experiences during the war. It's great to learn what inspiration the author took and personal details she incorporated.

The characters are believable and compelling. I appreciated that it was almost a "PG" novel in terms of what Carr actually describes about the hardships of the war at home. There's no graphic scenes, no explicit language, and I would feel comfortable recommending this to middle grades or YA students to read as part of a unit on WWII. That's not to say that it sugarcoats the struggles or romanticize any part of the war.

My only quibbles were with a few plot points. I felt there was too much foreshadowing of the Herr Fischer soldier character for what actually transpired in the end of his storyline. There were some characters that were left without a conclusion at the end (specifically, what happened to Gerard the fiance?). And the ending did feel a little rushed or abrupt, but I can understand that that was how actual events probably felt; four years of arduous wartime life, and then one day the Germans leave and life proceeds.

Overall, it was a good read, that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre, but especially for younger readers who may not be as familiar with the historical facts of the time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for gifting me an eARC of this book in return for an impartial review. All thoughts and comments are my own.

I feel head over heels in love with this book. The vivid descriptions, the fantastic, deeply thought-out characters, and the fact that it is set on one of the Channel Islands, Jersey, makes it worth the read. My fascination level went up a few notches when I learned that Deborah Carr has lived most of her life on Jersey. You can tell that this island means the world to her by the meaningful way she describes it. You can smell the salt air, see the deeply green fields, hear the crashing waves. Carr also based, An Island At War, on her family members, who lived during the Germany occupation.

The first few chapters you will go through every emotion, sadness, heartbreak, anger, disbelief, terror, and undeniable love. Estelle must say goodbye to her 12-year-old sister, Rosie, who is being sent to London for her safety to live with her Aunt. Her father is shot down and killed by Natis warplanes. Her love is taken as a prisoner of war and marched off before her eyes. Britain abandons the Channel Islands and leaves them to defend for themselves. The final nail is watching boat, upon boat of German soldiers spewing onto their island. Enforcing rules bit by bit, until the people of Jersey feel as though their island is a prison.

Estelle and her grandmother, Marnie, are doing the best they can to keep on top of the family farm. Bringing in the potato harvest, protecting the animals they have, and trying to think ahead. When a German solider, Hans, shows up at their front door saying he has been sent to stay at their home. Two women alone, with one Germany soldier. Estelle is completely taken aback, and has to wrap her mind around it. Hans ends up being a good man, a man who watches out for the both of them, making scarifies that may endanger his own life.

An Island At War is a fascinating, emotional read. You are not only cheering for Estelle and her family, but also for Hans. It brings to light strong female characters, who have bravery and courage to stand up for themselves and for what is right. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for giving me the chance to review this book. It is a fantastic read, that I highly recommend.

Inspired by the author’s own family stories, this is a fiction-based-on-fact story of how the Channel Islanders coped during the German occupation in WWII.
It is 1940 & the UK government have determined that they are no longer able to defend the Channel Islands – twelve year old Rosie is sent to live in London with her aunt but 19 yr old Estelle must remain on Jersey to help run the family farm. When the Germans arrive, everything changes – a strict curfew is imposed, the locals can no longer swim in the sea and even small things like having the clocks moved forward one hour to be on “Europe time” remind them that their island is no longer theirs.
With father killed by a German bomb, Estelle and her Gran initially assume they will be able to carry on as usual on their farm, isolated some distance from the town, but then Captain Hans Bauer moves in & life changes again …
The book mostly follows Estelle & her grandmother as they live through the reality of German occupation, but we also hear Rosie’s experience through her diary entries. I am pleased that I read the book, and the author’s notes at the back add a new dimension to the story, but I can’t help feel that I have heard this story before. There are huge similarities to another story I have read set on the neighbouring island of Guernsey – so similar that I had to double check that this wasn’t the same book! It may be that both authors used the same source material, but it made the book less enjoyable as I felt I knew what was going to happen next. I did feel that the ending was weaker than I expected/hoped for … unless it has been left open for a sequel?


Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.

Estelle and her grandmother live under German Occupation on Jersey Island during World War II. Estelle's sister, Rosie, is sent to live with an aunt in London to avoid the occupation, though Rosie has to endure the Blitz. The story focuses upon Estelle with occasional updates with how Rosie is doing.

While the story gives a good glimpse of life on Jersey Island during the war, the ending of the book seemed abrupt and did not tie a couple of loose ends. One more chapter or an epilogue would have been a good fit. I appreciate that the author wrote this book based upon stories that are passed down from those who experienced the Occupation and she brought to life the hardships they had to endure.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

The Occupation

It all begins with German aircraft bombing the harbor and causing the death of Estelle's father. War had been looming and her younger sister Rosie was sent to London to live with her aunt. Estelle stayed on to help on the farm. With the death of her father that left Estelle and her grandmother to survive the five year occupation of the Channel Island of Jersey.

This is the story of how they survived, the German soldier billeted with them on the farm, the rationing , the horrible acts caused by the German's and their fear of them. How they managed to help their friends and a secret that Estelle's grandmother kept from her that could have meant disaster had it been discovered.

The story was much more meaningful knowing it was written by someone that was from the island of Jersey and that some of the story was derived from those she knew of on the island that had lived during the time of the occupation.

War is a terrible thing and to survive under these circumstances is heroic indeed. I can only hope that something like this never happens again.

I enjoyed reading about the beautiful island and the community that stuck together to help each other. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Deborah Carr, Harper Collins U.K., One More Chapter, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for my honest review.

Two sisters separated when the war comes too close to the Channel Islands of Jersey where they live. Their father insists the younger sister should go to England where she can be safe. The older daughter is needed to help on the farm.
Though fictional, An Island at War is actually based on true facts that the author shares within the story.
Though I found this a heartwarming and emotional read, I felt the story needed more depth. It seemed to be mostly about farm work, German officers staying at the farmhouse and so much about going to the store.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

This beguiling story is set in Jersey the largest of the Channel Islands, during World War Two. It is June 1940 and the family at the centre of the action are farmers harvesting their Jersey Royal potatoes as German planes are bombing St Malo. Father of the family Philippe Le Maistre has made the decision to send his youngest daughter Rosie to London to live with her Aunt Muriel, where he believes she will be safe when the Germans arrive in Jersey. His older daughter Estelle is staying behind to help her father and grandmother with farm work. Rosie cannot remember her Aunt Muriel and does not want to leave her family. Nevertheless Estelle is charged with seeing her little sister off. She takes her to the port to board the Shepperton Ferry and when she arrives her aunt will be waiting for her. Estelle is heartbroken that she has to send Rosie away, but is trying her best to keep her emotions to herself. A friend offers to look after Rosie on the ferry crossing and wait for her Aunt to collect her. This comforts Estelle so much.
Only days after Rosie has left her family, the harvest is read for export. Philippe takes his potatoes to Albert Quay ready to load them as cargo in their boxes. He hears more planes low overhead and notices that they are German. They have arrived in Jersey and are dropping bombs all over, including the port. Unfortunately Philippe does not get under cover quickly enough and sadly he is amongst those who died that fateful first day Jersey was taken over by the enemy in what became known as the German Occupation. The family mourns his loss, but bravely get on with what needs doing.
Estelle and her grandmother are told that they must take in a high ranking officer. He is billeted with them and they have to share their home with him. He sleeps in Philippe’s bedroom, eats their food and gives them his laundry to do. They are forced to obey orders, even though they do not like it one little bit. Everything is rationed, they are under strict rule and if they break the rules they could be shot or sent to a war camp. What a horrible position to be in for five whole years, kept hungry, forced to obey nightly curfews and in some cases forced to do menial work and sometimes even dangerous work as well.
There are two narrators of this story: Rosie and Estelle. Rosie writes a journal, sends telegrams and writes letters to her family. She tells about the situation in England and more specifically London in the Blitz. Estelle leads the story onward. Their relationship despite their age difference is so lovely and caring.
Deborah Carr, a Jersey girl, was inspired to write this work of historical fiction by members of her family who passed on their personal knowledge of the Occupation. She includes their memories and anecdotes, giving her story authority and authenticity, thereby adding immensely to her novel. These are detailed pearls of factual information, interesting and highly personal.
The novel is absorbing and full of emotion, compassion and wisdom. The storytelling is beautifully realistic, painting a picture as good as any film or drama. The characterisations are wonderfully and creatively envisaged and developed. The storyboard is full of interest and some really awful shocks. I loved reading about the courage and wisdom of the Jersians, and learning that they used Jerriais, once the mother tongue of Jersey, to pass on information that the Germans could not understand. The island is full of reminders of these times. The Jersey War Tunnels are a spectacular place to visit, though the experience is harrowing and thought provoking. There are bunkers in plain view in many areas too.
I received this title through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher One More Chapter , all in return for an honest review. This is my 4.5* review. If you are compassionate and like meaty true to life stories that will touch your heart look no further. This is the story for you. It is a good rewarding read.

Very interesting WW2 fiction

I was thoroughly fascinated by An Island at War by Deborah Carr. I had not really realized the implications of the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Nazis during the war and how close to starving the residents (and occupiers) came during the last part of the way. This novel also does a good job of presenting the mixed feeling of some of the 'nice' Germans for the residents and vice versa. Bottom line -- War is hell and we humans had better figure out how to get along.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via netgalley with no obligations. This review is my own opinion.

June, 1940: While her little sister Rosie is sent to the UK to keep her safe from the invading German Army, Estelle Le Maistre is left behind on Jersey to help her grandmother to run the family farm. When the Germans occupy the island, everything changes and Estelle and the islanders must face the reality of the Nazi rule.

This is an emotional story of how life changed for the residents of Jersey during German occupation in WWII. The chapters alternate between Estelle and her grandmother on Jersey and Estelle's little sister Rosie in London. Rosie's story is told in the form of diary entries. Deborah Carr has written a sensitive story that shows just hoe the horrors of was devastated family lives. The book is based on true events of Deborah Carr's family. The first couple of chapters will pull at your heartstrings. This is a beautifully written story.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #DeborahCarr for my ARC of #AnIslandAtWar in exchange for an honest review.