The French House: The captivating and heartbreaking wartime love story and Richard & Judy Book Club pick
About this ebook
In Nazi-occupied Guernsey, the wrong decision can destroy a life...
Left profoundly deaf after an accident, Émile is no stranger to isolation - or heartbreak. Now, as Nazi planes loom over Guernsey, he senses life is about to change forever.
Trapped in a tense, fearful marriage, Isabelle doesn't know what has become of Émile and the future she hoped for. But when she glimpses him from the window of the French House, their lives collide once more.
Leutnant Schreiber is more comfortable wielding a paintbrush than a pistol. But he has little choice in the role he is forced to play in the occupying forces - or in his own forbidden desires.
As their paths entwine, loyalties are blurred and dangerous secrets forged. But on an island under occupation, courage can have deadly consequences...
Lyrical, moving and compelling, this is a novel about the price we pay for love and the courage of individuals in the face of war. Perfect for fans The Nightingale, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and All the Light We Cannot See.
Everyone is falling in love with The French House:
'I cannot put into words how good this book is... A gripping and emotive storyline and well-developed characters that all brought something different to the page and that I have taken to my heart. I loved it' Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A raw and honest love story, filled with a wealth of historical detail. The French House is a powerful depiction of the brutal intricacies of island relationships and loyalties in a time of war' Fiona Valpy
'Deeply involving . . . A fantastic debut by a gifted storyteller' Jill Mansell
'Quite simply wonderful. From the moment I started reading I knew I was unwrapping a big story. The writing is so gorgeous, so evocative and so wonderfully paced' Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'An absolutely stunning, beautifully original novel' Jenny Ashcroft
'A beautifully wrought exploration of love of all kinds. It's utterly gorgeous, convincingly written and completely captivating. Make sure you read it' My Weekly
'A very moving read... The underlying love story is moving as is the loyalty and bravery of the people. A brilliant read that I can highly recommend 5* doesn't seem enough' Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A story of fraught secrets and tested loyalties . . . I found this beautifully told tale hard to put down' Anita Frank
'Heart-wrenching . . . A truly special novel' Louise Fein
'A fabulous, emotional love story set against the backdrop of the German Occupation of Guernsey during World War Two... I absolutely loved it!' Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
About the author
Jacquie Bloese is a writer of historical book group fiction, originally from the Channel Island of Guernsey. She draws her inspiration from atmospheric locations with intriguing histories, and people - both real and imaginary - whose stories are calling out to be told.
Her first novel The French House, set during the German Occupation of Guernsey in the second World War, was a Richard and Judy Winter 2022 book club pick, and a finalist in the Mslexia Novel Award. Her second novel The Golden Hour is inspired by the seaside town of Brighton, where Jacquie currently lives, and tells the stories of three women from different classes who become caught up in the underground world of erotic photography in 1890s Victorian England.
Jacquie began her professional life teaching English, in Turkey and Spain, before returning to the UK to work in ELT publishing for a number of publishers, including Scholastic, Oxford University Press and Penguin Random House. She now works freelance as an educational consultant, writer and editor.
In her spare time, Jacquie loves reading, walking, socialising, travel, theatre, cinema and daydreaming!
