The French House

Hardback Published on: 28/04/2022
Price: £20.00
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Synopsis

'Utterly gorgeous, convincingly written and completely captivating. Make sure you read it' MY WEEKLY

'A raw and honest love story, filled with a wealth of historical detail' FIONA VALPY

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 wanting to hear and learning to listen - to the truths of our own hearts. Perfect for lovers of The Nightingale, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and All the Light We Cannot See.

Praise for The French House:
'I was gripped from the start by the characters and the setting. A wonderful read'
RUTH DRUART

'Deeply involving . . . A fantastic debut by a gifted storyteller'
JILL MANSELL

'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

'Accomplished and atmospheric . . . I really enjoyed this uncliched yet deeply moving love story'
TRACY REES

'A vividly written, refreshingly different World War Two love story, with a central character I adored. Just brilliant!'
GILL PAUL

'Such an emotionally gripping novel portraying how love can be betrayed yet still endure'
SUZANNE GOLDRING

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
  • ISBN: 9781529377316
  • Number of pages: 368
  • Dimensions: 232 x 148 x 36 mm
  • Weight: 560g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The French House
Well written historical novel!
The author has written an interesting historical book about life on occupied Guernsey during World War 2 and during the course of the story she has reveale... READ MORE
Annette Librarian
The French House
Good Book
The French House by Jacquie Bloese is a great WWII-era historical fiction that takes place on Guernsey island during the German occupation. I enjoyed it. ... READ MORE
Rachel  Fox
The French House
A beautiful, satisfying read
Jacquie Bloese's wonderful romantic novel The French House was an absolute joy to read and hard to put down. Her references to Canadiana were especially de... READ MORE
Deborah Cracknell
The French House
A heart-breaking love story set in Jersey in WWII
Set during the German occupation of Jersey, this is a multi-layered story of love, courage and disappointment. The titular French House belongs to the loca... READ MORE
Jenny Hill
The French House
Atmospheric
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. A fairly engaging atmospheric book set in Guernsey during the Second World War when it was under German occupation... READ MORE
Grey Lady
The French House
a powerful debut novel
The French House gripped me from the first page. A moving tale of wartime hardships, heartbreak and loss, struggle and acceptance. So many lives, each one ... READ MORE
Rossella Bradly
The French House
A wonderful read!
The characters, plot and setting combine to take the reader on a remarkable journey, navigated by ordinary people trying to survive. Bravo to Jacquie Bloes... READ MORE
Joan Udell
The French House
Historical Fiction
In Nazis-occupied Guernsey, the consequences of making the wrong decision can be deadly. Left profoundly deaf after an accident, Emile is no stranger to is... READ MORE
Louise Wilson
The French House
WW2 but no spies
Not your usual WW2 novel and certainly not what I had expected. This novel tells the story of one man’s struggle during the German occupation of Guernsey i... READ MORE
Romany
The French House
A must read novel - Historical Fiction at its best
This is such a wonderful and beautifully crafted book that had me captivated from start to finish. At its heart is the relationship between Emile and Isab... READ MORE
K Birdsall
The French House
Richly drawn novel set during the Occupation of Guernsey
Beautifully written, The French House is a tender love story between Emile and Isabelle,who are both unhappily married to other people. Although they were... READ MORE
Genevieve McAllister
The French House
An unusual love story set in a strange, dangerous time - beautifully recreated
The author, Jacquie Bloese, grew up on the Channel Island of Guernsey, and she uses the stories and memories of family and neighbours, whose vivid recolle... READ MORE
Jayne Watson
The French House
The faces of Love
So many kinds of love competing for validation. Very engrossing, and hard to put down. Who will win out, though all are worthy and adversity follows the ... READ MORE
Virginia Crowley
The French House
A wartime story set in Guernsey about loss, love, courage, consequences and secrets!
The French House is an unhurried and thought provoking historical fiction story set in Guernsey during the German occupation. Emile Quenneville is taking a... READ MORE
Karren's Reading Nook
The French House
A Beautiful Story.
The French House is a beautifully written book .part love story ,part historical fact ,set in Guernsey during WW2.The characters are very well written ,Emi... READ MORE
Chrissie Mortimer
The French House
More like this one please!
The only problem with this debut novel by Jacquie Bloese is that it ended. Throughout I kept slowing my pace so I could savour every nuanced detail and mak... READ MORE
Joan Melvin
The French House
Unforgettable & beautiful.
What an incredible read, utterly unique - Emile’s hearing loss (Jacquie’s great-grandfather became deaf in this same life-changing way) made my other sense... READ MORE
Amanda Geard
The French House
I really felt for her characters
What i enjoyed so much is that while this was easy to read, with instantly relatable characters, the author writes with ease and elegance, always avoiding ... READ MORE
TIM ROBINSON