Very strong heroines during war time. Heart wrenching story of sisters separated by war and how it was for them. Bring your Kleenex with this one but definitely read!

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

I am always fascinated by how much I can learn from historical fiction because it's usually based on true happenings. A keep you entertained kind of read that I just couldn't put down. I felt as though the characters had come to life as I read.


I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

There is just something different reading a story written by someone who knows a place. It was very cool that the author knew the island. I liked the journal entries throughout. A farm on an island isn't a very common setting. I liked the characters (except the Nazi's of course). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Really good book. The plot was well-written and engrossing. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I read this lovely book August of 2021 and I enjoyed it. Set on the Channel Island. Estelle is left on the island with her grandmother after her father dies and her sister is sent to England to stay safe. We follow the day to day life that Estelle has to endure with the Nazi soldier's on the island. I loved learning about the island and the facts about how close the Island is to England and France. This was a great read..

Have been unable to review due to illness. Review coming soon! This novel looks fantastic and I highly recommend this author to everyone! Can't wait to read this one!

Estelle has sent her younger sister Rosie away from their home just in time, for days later the Germans occupy the Channel Islands. Now both sisters must survive their respective environments as best as they can.

I picked up this book despite the tiring similarity of many WW2 historicals because it had an unusual setting – the Channel Islands, which were occupied by Germans for much of the war. I had hoped that this unique experience would lend itself to a more memorable tale. Unfortunately, it ended up being more run-of-the-mill.

I did like the setting and the way Jersey was depicted, as a pastoral and close-knit community. The author is herself from here and you can tell that she really knows and cares about the island in her writing.

Unfortunately, the characters and situations felt very much like stock WW2 historical characters – the centric girl, some family members, good German, bad German. Issues like the Jewish people being rounded up and the presence of slaves from Russia are touched upon, but nothing really makes an impact. The characters too felt rather lightly sketched, the story plods along without much united plot, and ultimately I just did not find the story engaging.

Overall, I would not recommend this read unless you are a WW2 historical completionist, or conversely have read very few of them.

This book was a new perspective on a heart wrenching topic. It is a wonderful and captivating read. The book dealt with very serious topics but did not make the story to dark.

A basic hstorical fiction novel told through the points of view of 2 sisters. One is send to England for her safety and one stays back on the Channel Islands (Jersey) during the 5 year period of WW II. Nazi occupation of the island. Very well written and descriptive.

I have only read one other Historical Fiction book about the occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII, so An Island at War by Deborah Carr intrigued me. This story spans the 5 years of the occupation on Jersey told through the main character, Estelle's point of view with a few journal entries from her sister Rosie's point of view. I loved the way that the author portrayed the characters in her novel, and based some of them loosely on her own family members that lived through the Occupation and the Blitz. She showed some of the evil atrocities committed during this time ( not discriptively ), but also showed the human side of some of the German soldiers. My only complaint is that it seemed to end a bit abruptly. I would have loved to have read an epilogue to see where the characters ended up, but at the same time know that war stories don't always wrap up in a neat little bow. This is the first book of Deborah Carr's that I have read, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the second book I’ve read set on the Channel Islands during WWII. This one had a slow start and an abrupt ending. However, the novel and the characters grew on me as the author explored what happens when the enemy takes residence with you in your home. The characters were well-developed. Learning that the book was based on Deborah Car’s own family made me wish even more that the book was a bit longer. I will be recommending this to other WWII historical fiction readers. The back matter was excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Deborah Carr's novel, An Island at War, is a story of the German invasion and occupation of the Channel Islands from 1940 through 1945. Books like this one help us to understand how complicated life was in these situations: how do you discern the truly evil from those who actually have good hearts despite their affiliations. An Island at War deals directly with this complexity. Deborah Carr does a good job in telling the story of Estelle (Essie) whose life was turned upside down when her father was killed during the German bombing of the Islands, her boyfriend was sent off to a prisoner of war labor camp, and her home was the billet for a German officer - all in a matter of a few weeks. And it is also the story of her sister, Rosie, who the family sends off the island to safety in London just before the German invasion.

#netgalley #AnIslandAtWar

This was a sweet book about the relationship between a young British woman and the German officer who is billeted on her farm during the German occupation of World War II. I liked learning about how the islanders survived during this extremely difficult time and I admired the fortitude displayed by the main character Estelle and her grandmother. The author was really able to make me empathize with the emotions they felt. The German character was portrayed as multifaceted and complex. I enjoyed seeing the story from his point of view as well. The great characterization, combined with the vivid descriptions of the setting and historical research (pulled from the own author's family) made this a worthwhile, enjoyable read.

I loved reading An Island at War by Deborah Carr. This novel tells about the Nazi invasion of the Channel Islands that Britain abandoned during the Second World War, as they didn’t have enough men, war machinery, or supplies to be able to defend them. The island of Jersey wan one of these islands.

The Le Maistre family, father, Estelle, and Rosie are residents of this island and are apprehensively awaiting their fate. Rosie is the youngest and along with other children of the island is being sent to relatives in England for her safety.

In anticipation of the invasion, the Luftwaffe bombed and strafed the docks where Estelle’s father was working. He was killed. Wit Rosie in England and her father dead, Estelle and her grandmother had to take control of the farm and its chores. To add insult to injury, a Nazi Captain was billeted in their home, drawing comments from their neighbors as to their collaboration with the enemy.

In reading diaries that Rosie kept while with her aunt in England, we can piece together the peoples’ life in Jersey under occupation and those in England during the Blitz. Having the Captain billeted in Estelle’s home had some compensations, although their lives were under threat constantly.

I found this novel very interesting and full of the story upon story during the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands brought to life. I would like to read more books by Ms. Carr because I think she writes so very well and incorporates true happenings with the fiction that she writes.

I loved the book. I give it 5 stars. It was well researched and interesting to read. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading historical fiction books about this time period.

Inspired by true events, Deborah Carr paints a beautiful yet heart-breaking tale of life on the island of Jersey during the Nazi occupation, 1940-1945. Britain all but gave up on the Channel Islands during World War II and the Germans laid claim and helped themselves to everything on the island. The main character, Estelle puts her younger sister Rosie on a ship to England to keep her safe. Poor Rosie, sent to live with an aunt in London, is soon in the thick of it as the Blitz begins.

Meanwhile on Jersey, Estelle and her grandmother work their small farm and are trying to survive on what few rations they have. And, they are also commanded to house a young German soldier, Hans. Even though he's a Nazi, Hans does all he can to help out the two women. Can they all survive this long war?

If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you will love this book. I highly recommend - historical fiction at its best!

I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Island of Jersey is quick becoming my favorite sitting for WWII fiction, because so much had happened on that island during the war that I don’t think a writer would ever run out of different stories to tell.

A great read. Trapped on the Channel Islands during the war families struggle to survive. They were cutoff from England for 5 long years. This story tells you how people can survive even when it seems impossible.
A look at how terrible life was under the German army. Hard to put this book down. A must read.

A very well written novel restarting the struggles of a family during the occupation of their country during WW2. The story and characters are well done. The story is interesting and well paced and will hold your interest. A great book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.