The English Girl
A heartbreaking and beautiful World War 2 historical novel
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3.9 • 22 Ratings
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
‘5 stars for sure!! This book gripped me, and I just couldn’t stop reading it… beautiful… extraordinary!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1946, Norfolk, England: Fran gazes out across the beach, its beauty marred by the sharp barbed wire, hiding deadly mines beneath the sand. Everyone is nervously awaiting the arrival of the German prisoners, who will change everything....
When a prison camp is created on the outskirts of Fran’s village, the sudden presence of the captured German soldiers in their small community feels almost too painful to bear.
People are grieving the loss of fathers, husbands and sons killed overseas, and Fran struggles to see these young men as anything other than the villains who murdered her beloved brother.
But when Fran meets Thomas, a German prisoner with a gentle nature and piercing blue eyes, she is forced to question everything she thought she knew. Their connection is immediate, and Fran soon finds herself falling for someone she had thought was the enemy.
Knowing that a relationship with Thomas would be seen as a terrible betrayal by those closest to her, she must keep the secret or face losing everything she holds dear. Until a devastating event threatens to tear Fran and Thomas apart, and Fran must decide how much she is willing to risk for love...
1989, Berlin, Germany: After losing her grandfather, a heartbroken Tiffany arrives in Germany just in time to witness the Berlin Wall fall. As joy erupts throughout the streets, she joins the swell of people crossing the border from West to East.
In her pocket is a crumpled letter addressed to her grandmother Fran, proof of a wartime secret that has been buried for decades. What Tiffany finds will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. But can she find the final piece of the puzzle and give herself and Fran a second chance at happiness, or is it too late to heal the scars of the past?
An absolutely unputdownable story inspired by an incredible true love story, this is a beautiful, sweeping tale of hope, courage and heartbreaking choices. Fans of Fiona Valpy, The Forgotten Village, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will be absolutely gripped until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.
Readers love The English Girl:
‘The English Girl will capture your heart. I found myself glued to the book as I wanted to know what would happen… Historical fiction at its best.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘A wonderful story. Anyone who has an old love they still think about will appreciate the depth in Ms. Mitchell's book… I highly recommend it.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heart-breaking story of forbidden love… I loved the book… I learned a lot… A great book and highly recommended!!!’ @fictiongodess
‘A fresh perspective on WW2 historical fiction!... I loved everything about this book and can’t wait to share it with others!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Makes for a great weekend read for a fan of historical fiction… Kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what happened next… An excellent weekend or rainy day read!’ To Read Is To Breathe
‘This quick paced story will ensnare you and not let go until the end.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I love a good wartime forbidden love story! Great storytelling and weaving of real events with the fiction.’ Our Happily Ever After
‘An exciting and even inspirational read… I can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romance novels, especially those about WWII.’ Christian Novel Review
Customer Reviews
The English Girl
This was one of my favorite books of all time! The phrases were often those you wish to remember and the characters were very real. Planning to buy a hard copy for my bookshelves as this is right up there with “The Nightingale.” Great job Sarah Mitchell!
Phenomenal, must read time-slip….LOVED IT!!!!
It’s 1989 in Berlin and the Wall is coming down, Tiffany can now freely cross from East Berlin into West Berlin. She has a letter in her hand is trying to find the address written on the envelope. She wants to deliver this letter to the rightful owner, a letter from the past. That will provide some much needed closure.
It’s 1946 in Norfolk, England, World War II has just ended but the remnants of the war is still very much alive in everyone’s heart and mind. Fran’s brother is killed during the war while on the front lines. The government creates a camp for the German prisoners of war, they have the prisoners remove the barbed wire and mines from the beach. Fran lived at home with her sister June and her parents. June doesn’t like the the Germans and wants nothing to do with them. Fran, however, is more forgiving and goes to work at the camp in the office as a secretary. She meets one of the prisoners name Thomas. But it is completely against the rules to fraternize with the prisoners, and so Fran and Thomas keep their love a secret. Will their forbidden love stand the test of time? This time slip novel was so amazing to read. I loved how the author told the story from just after the war had ended, and brought to light things that happened to the survivors and the families of the ones that didn’t survive. The effects of the war are still so much apparent even today. This true story is a must read. What a phenomenal story, it will truly resonate with me for many, many years.
Thank you Sarah Mitchell for such a fabulous, unputdownable historical fiction. This story had all the feels of love, family, friendship and the endurance to make it through the hardest times of life. I highly recommend this book.