Deborah Carr knows how to weave a great story! This book relates the hardships of war, the spirit of the people who lived through it and gives the reader much to consider, yet also enjoy, as the story weaves along, taking the reader on a journey of hope.

I have literally just finished this wonderful book by Deborah Carr. My first novel by this author and it did not disappoint. What a wonderful style of writing. Very easy to immerse yourself as if you were on the channel islands with the community through the war. I easily Imagined myself as if I was right there. Wish I could give it 6 stars. Excellent.
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review

Told in an epistolary format, with letters and real-life experiences from family members adding to the story of Estelle, left behind after her little sister is evacuated to Britain for safely before the German Occupation of Jersey. If you’ve ever visited Guernsey or Jersey, you’ll soon see that the islanders are less British than unique, even as these two islands are dependent on the Crown. Both are uniquely and strategically poised for access to both Britain and France, being plunked down in the English Channel. So, during the war, evacuations of citizens was not uncommon, nor were those who decided to stay and fight the enemy by simply being. Now, I’ll admit that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society book (and film) were a large reason I was drawn to this story, but the two are different in feel, if not in the attitude of the locals toward the invaders, and both provide a unique view to the war years from people who are (or were) there, and how they overcame the dangers, the threats and maintained their own individualistic ideals and attitudes.

During the war, Britain decided that the islands in the channel were not strategically important enough to defend, and Estelle’s twelve-year-old sister Rose was among one of the few to leave before the island was occupied. Left to help her grandmother on the farm, while Rose is staying with an aunt in London, things have changed for everyone. Rose is given a journal to ‘write her feelings” and we see letters from her back to her sister. But Estelle and her grandmother are quietly existing until they are required to provide a room to an officer, Hans Bauer. While things are difficult, and Estelle and her grandmother don’t feel as if they can relax or that the home is their own anymore, her little sister is surviving air raids and desperate to just go home. As the war continues and conditions worsen, the regulations and restrictions on the island increase, everything becomes scarce, and we are seeing that everyone is experiencing hardships – from missing home to loved ones, to shortages in food, clothing and necessities.

Carr has interspersed the story and both Rose’s and Estelle’s inner thoughts and worries with letters, many from her own family history that detail with a sense of time and truth, the realities of the situations and the strength that ordinary people showed in extraordinary times. A wonderful read that brings yet another perspective into the allied fight – passive and active – during World War II.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review; all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aXw /” > <a> I am, Indeed</a>

Set in WWII Jersey, the arrival of German troops disrupts the lives of all islanders, especially that of Estelle and her grandmother. Having a German captain billeted in their home is only one of the indignities inflicted on them, and the effects of the Nazi regime on the Channel Islands is well described and depicted in the many colorful characters in this historical novel.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a WWIi novel set in the channel islands. This story was ok to me. It didn't have a lot of unique plot lines though and felt kind of like Guernsey Literary Society. Maybe another title by this author might do better for me.

The fact Deborah Carr was born and bred in Jersey shines through in this novel, which is impeccably researched, apparently with the aid of family records.

The story is one of the German occupation and starts just a few days before the troops arrived and ends as they leave. I loved the fact that the passage of time and the events in the characters' lives seemed so natural and it allowed Estelle’s story to unfold at just the right pace. The characters are wonderful too, and I came to really care about what happened to them, particularly enjoying the sensitive portrayal of how war can change everything, even the things we think are written in stone, about ourselves and about other people.

The one thing I was unsure about was the ending, but all the same I applaud the author for it. To say anything more would spoil the book and I wouldn’t want to do that, because it’s one you should read for yourself.

A splendid novel of living on the Channel Island under German occupation during WW II. Two sisters, Rosie and Estelle Le Maistre live on the family farm with their father and grandmother. As the German war machine conquers more of Europe, the danger to the Channel Islands escalates, culminating when Churchill announces they will not receive military protection. The LeMaistre family sends the younger Rosie to wait out the war while Estelle remains behind to help with running the farm. Interspersed with pages from Rosie’s diary, the reader lives through both the horror of the London blitz and the hardships of life under Nazi rule.

An Island at War by Deborah Carr is a new book published by Harper &Collins telling us, magistrally well the thematic of war: in this case the latest world war conflict, and the consequences that had on a family of people living in the Channel Islands. Inspired by the real facts experienced by the relatives of Deborah Carr, in this book there is a mixture of diaries entries and real life.
The story starts when Rosie is sent to the UK and Estelle Le Maistre remains in Jersey for assisting her old grand-mother: the grand mother had a farm and hands were indispensbile in a daily base for chores.
In London aunt Muriel in the while, at a depressed and "lost" Rosie donates a journal, thinking that maybe it would be helpful in a moment so stressing to her, because distant from her family.
The purpose of this notebook the one of writing down every possible thought of her Londoner's existence, for later sharing it with her sister Estelle and the rest of her family.
Devastated from a tragedy in their family, Rosie will write down her first important thoughts....
Estelle must undertands pretty soon the new important guidelines brought by the war.
It was difficult to keeping animals without registering them to the enemy, and every part of the common existence was severely altered by the war.
Two different perspectives: the one of Rosie, in London, in the capital, missing of course the countryside and the one of Estelle in a farm surrounded by nature, animals, trees. The perfect portrait of war, as we knew very well. While I was reading this book I thought in fact at the existence spent by my aunt Adriana in the center of Rome, while the rest of the family lived in our area, a countryside. I discovered a lot of similarities.

Beautiful.

I thank Harper & Collins and Netgalley for having suggested me this book by Deborah Carr.

Anna Maria Polidori

This is a WWII story about another family being separated because of the war. Estelle stays in Jersey with her grandmother while they send Estelle little sister to London to escape the horrors of war.

This is a well told story in alternating POV's. Rosie's (the little sister) entries are in the style of diary/letter entries.

Many thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for this advanced readers copy. This book released June 25, 2021.

I loved that this book was real, it told of normal daily life in occupied Jersey. Not daring acts of resistance, or prisoner of war stories but a human point of view and how one family was affected by World War Two. Twelve year old Daisy is evacuated to her aunt in London just in time, but Estelle remains behind to help her father and grandmother on their farm. How their lives change during the course of the war is to be expected but the normality was what I found so compelling. The act of shopping, trying to make ends meet with food, the relationship with the Officer billeted on their farm, while trying to hide a secret radio, and think of small ways to be defiant becomes Estelle's life. She doesn't seem to realise that her grandmother is hiding things too. Although we saw the brutality of the German occupation, we also saw some humanity and real people with real feelings. A lovely read. #netgalley #anislandatwar

One of my all-time favorite books is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society so I was excited to read this book and I loved seeing more of the island and learning about its occupation by the Germans in WWII.

This book is based on the author's family members and I'm so glad Deborah Carr decided to write it. We mostly follow Estelle, who lives on the island with her Grandmother. Estelle is left without much help to care for the farm as well as her grandmother. I liked seeing the various characters, and how they dealt with the privations and restrictions. It really brought out both the good and bad in peoples' characters.

We also see some letters from Estelle's little sister, who was sent to London during the war to live with an aunt. They experienced the Blitz, loneliness, and worry about their family.

I would have loved to see what happened after the end of the book. I have a lot of questions. But I suppose that make it even more realistic - because in live, things never really come to an end with everything wrapped up :)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher and the author for the book. I'd recommend it!

Sisters Estelle and Rosie live on Jersey with their father and gran then war breaks out. Rosie is sent to the mainland for safety. When the German soldiers move onto the island one of the officers billets with them. Estelle’s sweetheart Gerard is off the island when this happens, will Estelle be tempted. I found this book a bit drawn out but longed to find out what happened.

The author writes beautifully drew me right in.The story of the isle of Jersey the German occupation and the English people who lived their under their rule.The characters come alive share their world their lives this is an emotional moving story.Highly recommend.#netgalley #harperscollinschapterbooksuk

I don't think I ever knew about the Channel Islands until I watched "Island at War" on PBS and then read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society when it was first published. Ever since, the Channel Islands have held a romantic place in my imagination much as Prince Edward Island did after reading Anne of Green Gables. So, I was excited to read this novel set in Jersey during WWII. Unfortunately, though the story began very dramatically with the bombing of a harbor and the loss of lives, I felt the rest of the story dwindled and the ending was unsatisfactory. I wanted to know what happened to Hans, the German solider billeted with the main character Estelle and her grandmother. And what of Estelle's first love Gerard? What happened to him after the war? I felt like there were several storylines that could have been fleshed out more to make the story more interesting. I received an ARC copy of this ebook courtesy of Netgalley.

I've read a few WWII novels set in the Channel Islands and have learned so much about the occupation, and this book didn't disappoint. This is an emotional story of how life changed for the residents of Jersey during the German occupation in WWII. As a fan of historical fiction, for me, this was an enjoyable read. While I haven't read any other books by this author, I look forward to her work in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not what I normally read but saying that this was a lovely story with nice characters and glad I finished it.

A wonderful powerful story of how one family (Estelle’s) we’re forced to live and survive in exceptional circumstances, portraying bravery and heroism in Jersey during WW2. This novel has been based on the author’s real life stories from her own family (which makes it even more special).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading another of Deborah Carr’s books and I would highly recommend this book as it takes the reader on a colourful and interesting journey.
I hope that there might be another book as a sequel about Estelle in the future..

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*