This book captures the mood on the British Channel Island of Guernsey at a moment in time. It was the summer of 1940. The Nazis had overrun Holland, Belgium and France. England was surely next. The Channel Islands stood in full view of Occupied France. To some Islanders, it seemed inevitable that the Germans would invade. Others hoped the demilitarized Islands would be left in peace.
Tony Brassell tells the story of his grandparents--maybe some of the conversations are fictionalized but the account is true. It was told to Brassells by his "Grumps and Nan."
Although history has told us the outcome of WWII and we know that the Germans did, indeed, occupy the Channel Islands from 1940 until 1945. Still, Brassell tells the story in such a way that we live day by day, knowing only what the residents know. What their hear on the wireless, read in the paper or in back-fence conversations.
Woven throughout is the story of a "good" German--a flying ace with a conscience who is demoted when he suggests that the trucks that German reconnaissance has identified as military targets are farm vehicles.
It is a well-told story--much in the wistful, nostalgic of the 1971 film Summer of '42.

I was fortunate enough to read this novel through Net Galley for my honest opinion. This book covers a short period of time during WWII on a small British island and written by a family descendant. The story hooks you immediately and won't let go until long after you finish reading! You will need a few tissues but remember this is written by a family member! I strongly recommend this novel!!

I was very pleased to be able to read a copy of this book via #NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own unbiased ones.

I am a big fan of historical novels set during the time of the second world war and this one particularly caught my eye because it was set in Guernsey. I read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society some years ago when it first came out. I had also discovered in my Dad's collection of books about the war several that focused on the events which took place in Guernsey and Jersey under the Nazi occupation. All of this inspired my husband and I to plan a trip to Guernsey about three years ago. Both islands show ample evidence of the presence of the Germans and it is easy to use the local buses to tour the island and visit the many places of interest all while enjoying the natural beauty of the islands.

Two experiences on our trip really stand out in our memories. The first was during a visit to a church which was hosting a floral festival which focused on the evacuations which took place just before the Germans arrived. We had the privilege to talk to one woman who had been evacuated from her family at the age of 5. She shared her memories with us including the long term effects it had on her relationship with her father who was interned by the Germans. The second experience that really stood out for us came during our visit to Castle Cornet when our Guide told us how he had stayed behind with his family and would have starved to death had it not been for the Red Cross parcels delivered to them.

All this leads me to tell you just how much I enjoyed this novelized version of the story of Laurence, Lily and their family in the days leading up to the arrival of the Germans. The author did an excellent job of bringing them all to life for me and once started I didn't want to put the book down.

Aside from focusing on the story of his family, the author also included the story of a young German pilot stationed not far from the Channel Islands. I don't know how much of his story was based on truth and how much on fiction, but it drew me in as well and showcased his humanity rather than just the fact that he was one of the "enemy".

The stories told in this book matched closely with everything we learned when we were in Guernsey. The book is written in such a way that it is suitable for young adults as well as the older reader.

The only small flaw that I noticed while reading was in the format. There were quite a number of spots where words would run together or be split in the middle. It was just a small thing and didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story. Did Laurence and his wife make the right choices? I believe that history shows that they did.

Based on the memoirs of the author's grandfather, this love story will grab your heart and not let go until you can breathe a sigh of relief at the last page.

Thoroughly captivating and enjoyable.

I read this EARC courtesy of Net Galley and Books Go Social.. pub date 07/10/18

Again a story set amidst the Great War and one in an idyllic setting. Actually all the stories I've read have been idyllic settings.

This one amongst the peaceful Guernsey group of islands. A family living a quiet life, most of the inhabitants never having left the islands and then we have forced evacuation. First their eldest girl taken from them along with many other school children and sent by ship to England. For the family and the child it was devastating. The child recovers swiftly as she is placed in an aristocratic home in Scotland with many comforts - a stark contrast to the simple life in the island. For her parents it was an uneasy time, subsequently having to take decisions to move out themselves when the islands became occupied.

It also descriptively and in detail sets out the life of a bomber on the other side. His daily forays, his ideas, his total commitment to the German cause and the orders he undertakes without question as to the damage and suffering he causes. His diaries reveal in great detail the life he undertook when he joined the German airforce.

This was a poignant, emotional read but not a soppy one. It was pragmatic and down to earth at the same time. Both sides knew that this had to be gone through - at whatever price.

I am in tears . I have read a lot of historical fiction books but this is one of rare books that has a happy ending . I'd love to visit Guernsey one day . These types of books are the reason i love historical fiction .

Laurence and Lily lives on Guernsey island in English channel with their three kids Rachel , Michael and Laura . Lily's mother also lives on the island . Bad time comes when the island is threatened by Nazi invasion . Almost of of the population flew to England before the Nazi invaded the island . The family go through bad times and flew the island . The story is based on historical facts and the names are changed for their privacy . 5 stars from me for this lovely book ❤

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a novel based on the true story of the author’s grandparents. There is literary license taken but for the most part, it tells the facts faced by so many people in the UK in 1940. Mainland Europe had been conquered by the Nazis and the British stood alone. Families were wrenched apart as bombs fell and parents tried to figure out what was safest and best for their family. Stay or go was the decision and to go often meant the uncertainty of ever being reunited. It is impossible to imagine the agony of those decisions.
On the Channel Islands, they were cut off from the rest of the country, undefended, and right in the path of any Nazi blitz. While they were unscathed, the window of opportunity for escape was closing. Laurence and Lily sent their oldest child off with her school. Rachel ended up in Scotland in a Mansion but not all evacuees had such good luck. There are countless stories of how the urban children were received by the rural folk and the two cultures clashed almost as badly as the countries at war.
The book is done well with points of view of the Guernsey residents and a Luftwaffe pilot. He is a decent chap who much regrets bombing innocents so he too is a sympathetic character. Much of the first part of the book is slow paced but it builds as the danger to both the island and to the pilots increase.
It is a fascinating read if you are, like me, a fan of historical fiction and a student of WWII. It will be impossible not to care about the outcome of these ten days on all involved. There was never any doubt that the Germans would occupy the island until the end of the war but the suspense was real on the human level.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.

This book is based upon the memoirs of Tony Brassell's grandparents. It covers their family's story on the 10 days prior to Germany's invasion of their island of Guernsey. The story varies between his grandparents and their kids, a German bomber pilot with a conscience, and the story of their oldest daughter, sent with her school to a safe location in Scotland.

This is a book written with love, about a loving family and their gentle lives during that time, and the difficult decisions they had to make in a time of war. It wasn't fast moving, but I read it in one day because it was so compelling. It was so interesting I went to the internet to find out more about Guernsey and The Channel Islands. I felt I had been there by the time the book ended. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in WWII, or the history of Guernsey.

This book was a very quick and interesting read based on the memoirs of the author’s grandparents. The story is told from two perspectives, the family living on Guernsey trying to decide whether to evacuate the island during WWII, and also from that of a young German pilot who is trying to do the right thing. I like the personal touch of the author.

I felt it was a privilege to read this story of a wonderful family during WWII. It is incredible to think of the struggles these families had, the difficult decisions that had to be made. To read how the people of Guernsey had to keep it together, was emotional. I actually felt as if I was living there with them as I picked up the book and read it from cover-to-cover in the space of one afternoon.

The author wrote three interwoven stories. One story line involves a Nazi pilot, Bernard, as he follows orders on bombing runs to France, England, and eventually the Channel Islands. Another involves two anguished parents living in Guernsey making the difficult decision to send their school-aged daughter to safety in England, and the third follows that daughter, Rachel, as she adapts to life as one of the refugee children. The book only covered the 10 days in Guernsey before the Nazi occupation.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really well written story based on one families life just before the German occupation of Guernsey. It also tells briefly of life before and tells us their fate at the end of the war. This is beautifully written and gripped me from the start. I learnt more about a part of history I know very little about. I will remember this book for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Ten Days One Guernsey Summer by Tony Brassel is a heart warming book about the love of family. This book is based upon the memoirs of Tony Brassel's grandparents. The book tells of his family’s story on the 10 days prior to Germany's invasion during WWII of the island of Guernsey, which is one of the Channel Islands. The story follows Laurence, Lily and their children alternating between the story of a German bomber pilot. One of the interesting parts was that Laurence and Lily had to decide whether to send their oldest daughter to safe location in Scotland. Most of the book takes place during only ten days. It was interesting and heartwarming. The story is a homage to the author’s grandparents and parents. The story also alludes to the fact that all Nazi soldiers were horrible because the one in this story has a conscience.

The only disappointing part for me was the end of the book. I was left with questions. I think the author could have told us more about the family’s life away from Guernsey. It never explained why they didn’t take Lily’s Ma. Otherwise I enjoyed the information about Guernsey and some of the Channel Islands.

This was a captivating story about a family living on the island of Guernsey during WWII after the Germans had taken France. The characters and their everyday lives are so well written that you can feel the fear simmering under the surface of everything they do. They make the best of a frightening situation and continue to live their lives. The story alternates between viewpoints of the the husband and wife, their oldest daughter and a German fighter pilot. I found it to be fascinating and horrifying at the same time. I strongly recommend this book.

What a lovely read. Guernsey in 1940 from the perspective of both local inhabitants and a German bomber pilot. Families parted, uncertainty but life goes on. A thoroughly captivating story based on true events.

An enjoyable and interesting book on a short but worrisome period of life and testing decisions made by parents of three children immediately before the German occupation of Guernsey during World War 2, as well as following the orders given to a compassionate German pilot at the same time. I enjoyed the author’s descriptive narrative, forming a picture of life in Guernsey at that time, and found it easy to switch between the chapters about Laurence’s family and the pilot, Bernard. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you loved the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you'll enjoy this one. I am a hig fan of historical fiction especially when set in WWII era. The author really helped bring these characters to life.