In 1946, Juliet Ashton writes to her publisher and friend Sidney Stark that she is tired of writing as Izzy Bickerstall about the sunny side of World War II and would like to write something meaningful. Little does she know that she will find the answer in the letter she receives from Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams.

Dawsey has found Juliet' name and address in a book in a used book store and has written her asking for any information about the book's subject, Charles Lamb. He mentions the literary society that the inhabitants of Guernsey had formed during the Nazi occupation of the island. Juliet asks Dawsey to invite his neighbors to write her with their stories. She finds the ensuing letters an inspiration for her next work.

The letters she receives portray incident after incident about life on the island during the occupation, its deprivations, hardships and even love. She is so captivated by the inhabitants, as revealed in their letters, that she decides to visit the island and meet them firsthand. This visit gives her inspiration and changes her life.

The story is told through a series of letters between Juliet and her publisher and from the inhabitants of the island to Juliet. They give a sense of the history of a time and place through real, inspiring stories about the hardships during World War II. There is a sweet love story with a nostalgic portrayal of the era. This is a delightful and clever story with loveable and some quirky characters, but all real.

Recipe for Potato Peel Pie:
Mashed potatoes for filling
Strained beets for sweetness
Potato peelings for crust

Highly recommended.