Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.. I have read Lorna Cook before and couldn’t wait to get stuck in to this book.
It was so poignant and beautiful. The German occupation of Guernsey was so Informative, the characters in the story from that time was so believable you the reader really felt for them and that is down to the authors writing. Bringing the story up to date was also great story line. I would not hesitate to recommend this book.

The Girl from the Island is the first book that I’ve read by Lorna Cook and thoroughly enjoyed it. What a wonderful story! I love dual timelines. As soon as I finish writing this review, I’m going to see what other books Lorna Cook has written and put them in my TBR list.

In 2016, sisters Lucy and Clara are asked by their parents to settle the affairs of a distant cousin, Dido after she passes away. The sisters have a strained relationship and dealing with the shared responsibilities of funeral arrangements and the possessions of Dido’s home (Deux Tourelles) seems to create an even further strain. While in Guernsey Lucy stays in Dido’s home. Being there has Lucy’s interest peaked as to who was the quiet elderly relative that she vaguely recalls and what happened to the other sister Persephone, that seems to have just vanished. With the help of the neighbour next door Will, he and Lucy begin searching into an untold story of the sisters during the second world war.

During the 1930’s Persephone, Dido, Jack (the housekeepers son) and Stefan (a friend that visits his aunt and uncle each summer) are introduced to us while having a carefree time in one another’s company.

Flashforward 10 years and we are in the 1940’s and the island is now occupied. The four friends are together once again but under very different circumstances. This part of the story had me entranced. I truly couldn’t put the book down and my heart would speed up with anxiousness for the sisters. The suspense that builds as we reach the peak of the story was quite a ride.

This is exactly the kind of story that I enjoy reading! History, romance, mystery and suspense, it’s all in there and keeps your interest all the way through.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an ARC of this great book in exchange for an honest review.

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

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*

The Girl from the Island is a wonderful book ,set in Guernsey and across two timelines .Dido and Persephone in 1940 and Lucy and Clare in 2016. In 1940 the Germans invaded Guernsey this was a terrible time for the sisters fast forward to 2016 and sisters Lucy and Clare find they have inherited their distant Aunt Dido's house in Guernsey ,they discover secrets and mysteries about this Aunt who they barely remember but also bravery and sadness as well .The story is cleverly weaved together through the two timelines ,so beautifully told and has a very satisfactory conclusion ,I absolutely loved this book .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book by Lorna Cook. I really enjoyed reading The Girl From the Island and am rating it 4 stars. All opinions expressed are my own.

The story is set in Guernsey in the Channel Islands where Persephone and Dido Le Roy live in a beautiful home. During the German Occupation of the island, a childhood friend billets with Dido and Persey and an old flame is ignited once more. Meanwhile, in present day- Clare and Lucy have inherited Dido’s beautiful home and are each finding their own path during their own personal hardships.

Reading about Dido’s secrets, Persey and Stefan’s bravery and love, and Lucy and Will’s determination to find the truth about Dido’s story was absolutely beautiful and heart-warming.

I really enjoyed reading this book!

An intriguing story set in Guernsey jumping from present-day to 1940s just as the island was being taken over by the Germans. The main present-day characters are Lucy and Will, Lucy returning for the funeral of Dido an elderly relative, Will living and working on the island. Sorting out Dido's house they discovered that she had had a sister, Persey, and had left various snippets outlining life on the island under occupation. Dido and Persey, as well as their housekeeper, her son Jack and an old friend Stephan, now a German officer tell the war-time story. A story of family and friends, Jews, Resistance, romance and endurance. Things did tidy neatly at the end but read to find the details. Well-written, heart-wrenching and a context with which few of us are familiar. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful atmospheric love story told in two duel time zones.
The first is set in Guernsey during the Second World War when Germany occupied the Channel Islands.
It surrounds the life of two sisters Dido and Persephone and the events that changed their lives for ever.
The second is in present day when two sisters who are related to Dido as distant relatives are left her beautiful house after her death. Whilst they are clearing the house of Dido’s effects they discover personal documents and photographs which lead then to discover the horrendous trials and tribulations of life during the German occupation and the actions of individuals that had consequences even to the present day.
This book on another level deals with different aspects of love and the sacrifices one would go to to protect those that they love not just romantic love but the love for what is right and just regardless of the consequences and this was never more true that what is revealed in the epilogue

Lorna Cook has become an auto-buy author for me. I am truly excited when I hear she is releasing a new book. The Girl from the Island is another fabulous read. Lorna deals so well with the dual timelines of occupation on Guernsey during the second world war and fast forward to the future and in present day and the mystery that our contemporary protagonist Lucy must solve. The location is fabulous with a beautiful old house filled with secrets, the characters are brilliant and I adored them all. I simply loved this book. Highly recommend.

In 1940 Guernsey, Persephone and Dido are dismayed to find that they have been allocated a German officer to billet in their home shortly after the island is invaded. And especially the day after their mother has died.

In 2016 Lucy has been called back home to Guernsey after a distant relative has died. She’d ‘escaped’ from the confines of the small island as soon as she could, and rarely stayed very long whenever she had to come back. This time she finds herself getting drawn into Didos past, especially when neighbour Will helps. She’s also really trying to get on with her sister Clara.

This story shows how little most of us know of what went on the the Channel Islands during WWII, particularly on Alderney, which i hadn’t known about. It focuses on the the two pairs of sisters and the fragile relationships between them. A very vivid picture is painted of wartime Guernsey with its severe rationing, living in fear of neighbours denouncing you, and trying, in their own way, to help both their country and other residents of the island who had left it too late to leave. Lucy and Claras relationship is rocky at best, each never really letting their true feeling show to each other, putting up a front whenever they meet, almost envious of each other’s lives. A nicely researched book, with love stories winding through them too. A good example of this particular genre, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Two sisters in wartime occupied Guernsey, and two sisters now. The stories run alongside each other as modern day Lucy researches the history of the house she and Clara have inherited from an elderly aunt, uncovering secrets and sadness. Slow to start with but packed with tension as the wartime part of the story reaches its conclusion. All ends nicely tied up, and a little romance thrown into the mix too. Enjoyed it.

Poignant and atmospheric, The Girl from the Island is a gripping five-star read!

This book is historical fiction at its best. The dual-timeline narrative is split between the past (1940) and the present (2016), yet both halves of the story are expertly woven together. It's a hauntingly beautiful book packed with twists and turns right to the very end.

There are striking similarities between both stories, many of which are uncovered as the plot progresses. The book is cleverly written so that key events from each timeline seem to occur almost simultaneously, despite the separating decades. This also adds suspense to the novel - this is certainly a real page-turner!

The characters are relatable and likeable - they all have their flaws, but each is interesting and well-rounded. Young Dido is youthful and energetic, whereas her mysterious sister Persephone is sensible and much more guarded. In the present-day narrative, Lucy is at a crossroads in her life and unsure where to go next. Her relationship with her sister Clara is often fractious but she finds a sympathetic ear in Will, Dido's neighbour. As the story progresses, each of these characters become increasingly interlinked as Lucy and Will join forces to uncover the secrets of the past.

Although the characters are fictitious, much of the background and wider events in the book are based on real historical occurrences during the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. This makes the book even more striking; it adds an extra personal touch in memory of the islanders who tragically lost their lives during the war.

I loved The Girl from the Island and if you read it, I hope you will too!

"The Girl from the Island" by Lorna Cook
Release Date: 4.1.2021

Persey and Dido live on the island of Guernsey their whole lives, living with their housekeeper's son, Jack. Jack is like an older brother to them. The island of Guernsey was invaded by the Nazis in 1940. Two sisters try to rebel against the Germans anyway they can. Life is difficult. Food is scarce. The girls discover their true friends during the five year occupation.

When Dido dies, her cousin Lucy, returns to Guernsey to help with the funeral arrangements. Lucy is fascinated by Dido's life, especially during the German occupation.

I was immediately hooked, wanting to learn about Persey and Dido's life. It unfolded at a decent pace and kept my in suspense.

Although I realize this is becoming more common in historical fiction novels, I really do not like stories with two time periods; however, this did not bother me too much with this book.

Thank you to @NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleybooks #worldwariifiction #2021bookreleases #historicalfiction #2021historicalfiction #thegirlfromtheisland #girlfromtheisland #lornacook #avonbooks

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!

Lorna Cook's book is a two stranded story of Guernsey inhabitants with the link across time being family and pairs of sisters. As war raged across Europe the English abandoned the Channel Islands, leaving them to the mercy of the Germans. Sisters Persey and Dido were left to fight for survival and freedom. When Dido dies her distant relative Lucy returns to Guernsey to help her sister to arrange the funeral and deal with Dido's estate. Lucy becomes fascinated by Dido's story, especially wanting to discover what happened to her sister.

This is an engrossing love story but also a hint of what the Channel Islanders endured during WW2, their courage and determination.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

I was looking forward to reading this book and I was not disappointed. The story was set in Guernsey during the second world war and the present time .The story was interesting and I learned a lot about the German invasion in Guernsey. There was a good story and all the characters were different. Some of them being Jewish and had to endure lots of problems. Then there were the people of Guernsey who had to put up with the Germans and try and live with them .The ending was a little sad but l would recommend that you read this book.

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.

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!

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.

If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you will enjoy another visit to the isle of Guernsey during WWII in Lorna Cook's The Girl From the Island.. Lucy and Clara have inherited a majestic house on Guernsey from a second cousin, Didi. As they prepare to sell the house, Lucy, with the help of a neighbor Will, uncovers fascinating secrets that Didi and her sister, Persey, have kept hidden since WWII. Their mother passes away the very day the Germans take over the island, and a friend from the past, Stephan, shows up at their door in a German uniform requisitioning a room. Jack, the housekeeper's son, is back on the island to spy, but he misses his connection to return to England. Persey's friend, Lisa, is a Jew and with the German occupation, she must be hidden.

In a world where neighbors turn on neighbors, can Didi and Persey trust anyone? How can they be a part of the resistance on such a small island? Can they deny the love growing between them and German officers, who are opposed to the Nazi regime? Can Lucy and Will discover what happened to Persey and Stephan? Can Clara and Lucy resolve some "sister issues"? All the thready finally come together is this great read. I was allowed to read this on #NetGalley.