Review: The French House by Jacquie Bloese

In Nazi-occupied Guernsey, the wrong decision can destroy a life. Émile, left profoundly deaf after an accident, is no stranger to isolation. Isabelle is trapped in a loveless marriage, haunted by the future she once hoped for. Leutnant Schreiber is more comfortable with a paintbrush than a pistol, fighting his own private battles within the occupying forces. When their paths collide at the French House, loyalties blur, dangerous secrets take hold, and on an island under occupation, courage itself becomes a matter of life and death.

We genuinely loved this one. There is something about the way Jacquie Bloese writes about Guernsey that feels completely different to other wartime novels, and it makes sense when you know she actually grew up there. The occupation is not just a backdrop here, it is woven into every relationship, every decision, every moment of tension in the book.

Two moments stayed with us long after we turned the final page. The scene where Isabelle's husband is beaten by Emile hit us hard, and the return of the escaped commandant after the war to view the French House is the kind of quietly devastating moment that great historical fiction delivers. Neither moment is overwrought, which makes them all the more powerful.

The characters feel like real people, which is not always easy to achieve in a novel of this kind. We found ourselves thinking about them after we had finished, which is always the best sign.

Jacquie Bloese grew up on Guernsey and now lives in Brighton. The French House is her debut novel.

The French House is available to buy on our website and is currently part of our four for two sale.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 / 5