Juliet Ashton (Lily James) is a young writer slowly recovering from the emotional trauma of World War II with the help of her career, her best friend/publisher Sydney (Matthew Goode), and her handsome officer boyfriend Mark (Glen Powell).

Farmer Dawsey (Michiel Huisman) runs a book club called Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society (aff. link) with his neighbors, which they had to start to get out of trouble during the German occupation of the island.

When Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey asking where he can find a copy of one of her books, the two start corresponding and bond over their mutual love of reading. Juliet is excited about the book club, and she decides to write an article about them.

Much to Sydney’s objections (due to her publicity tour), Juliet hops on a boat to meet the bunch. While she is at first greeted with enthusiasm, one of the members turns hostile when she expresses intent for writing the article.

The more she gets to know the members, the more she bonds with them. And after she learns about the fate of one of the members, she sets out to find out what exactly happened to her and where she is with some help from Mark. Her growing feelings for Dawsey will further complicate and enrich her situation…

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Thoughts on the film

Based on the novel (aff. link) by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is the ultimate delightful historical romantic drama. Filled with rich, relatable, and likable characters; realistic and humane conflicts; and a sweet love story with a gorgeous geographical background, it is a film to be enjoyed again and again.

It is also not without comedy. The casting is also perfect, and one of my favorite characters is Isola (Katherine Parkinson – The IT Crowd, Humans–aff.link)- the friendly, warm and romantic bestie Juliet makes in Guernsey. She is the friend we all wish we had.

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Writing Lessons and Inspiration from the film Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society

• When writing a story that is close to your heart, you need it to finish it, even if it is just for yourself. You need the closure and the therapy.
• When you get the bug for a story, follow that bug.
• Sometimes the story you set out to write won’t be the one you end up writing, and that is okay. Sometimes you will need to follow the story wherever it leads you.
• You either need to live an exciting life or know interesting people with different life stories and varying personalities. Preferably both.
• Your first book might not sell very much and that is okay.
• It is important to have people in your corner who believe in you, your writing and who will stand by you during all stages of your career. But it does help if one of those people is your best friend and/or your publisher.
• It is okay to listen to your heart when it comes to what story you are writing, but it definitely helps you have resources when you are writing that story.
• Writing a story when everything is fresh in your memory helps you write faster and with more raw emotion. (You can always edit later.)
• Book clubs rock.
• Traveling inspires all writers, so is following your heart and going off your plans.
• Love, romantic or otherwise, inspires us immensely.

 

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What are your takeaways from this lovely film?