The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society (original 2008; edition 2009)

1. 490
   84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (khuggard, DetailMuse, Cecilturtle, helgagrace, Sodapop, BasilBlue, kraaivrouw)

   khuggard: Another tale about book lovers who come together through letters, with the same post-war England setting.

   Sodapop: A Non-fiction story about book lovers told via their letters.

   BasilBlue: A book about books and booklovers for booklovers that incidentally has a real flavor of the late 40s and early 50s.

   kraaivrouw: Another book about people who connect via their love of books and reading.

2. 361
   The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (writemeg)

   writemeg: Another deeply affecting, beautiful and heartbreaking story of books, love, small kindness and resilience during World War II.

3. 150
   Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: A Novel by Fannie Flagg (Caramellunacy)

   Caramellunacy: Both stories are bittersweet - tales of hardship, prejudice and hope although they are set in very different places and very different times. Fried Green Tomatoes jumps around but describes life, race relations and murder in a small Southern town during the Great Depression. Shaffer's novel deals with the occupation (and its aftermath) of the small Channel Island of Guernsey during WWII.… (more)

4. 141
   The Postmistress by Sarah Blake (Anonymous user, mysterymax)

   Anonymous user: Both novels reflect on World War II from small, seaside towns, one an island in Europe, the other a small town in Cape Cod. The female leads are unique and interesting and are surrounded by great small town people.

5. 164
   Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (cransell)
6. 102
   The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher (MyriadBooks)
7. 80
   The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (BookshelfMonstrosity)

   BookshelfMonstrosity: Going in to the bookmobile to apologize for the disturbance created by one of her corgis, Queen Elizabeth II feels it would only be polite to check out a book. When she returns it, she checks out another . . . and then another. One of her pages becomes her abettor in the matter of securing books and reading them. Thus begins an amusing but also thought-provoking saga of how reading can change a person's habits and even outlook.… (more)

8. 81
   Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (vulgarboatman)

   vulgarboatman: Similar themes of a journalist discovering the layers of secrets around a mystery from WWII, along with an exploration of the effect of these events on the survivors, their families, and ultimately on the journalist herself.

9. 103
   The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Voracious_Reader)

   Voracious_Reader: The writing styles and the authors' love for the written word connect both period pieces in my mind even though their plots are extremely different.

10. 60
    The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G. B. Edwards (jill123, BasilBlue)

    jill123: Though they are different in style and tone, both books are set in the Channel Islands during the Nazi Occupation. I enjoyed the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but I found Ebenezer Le Page to be an absolutely wonderful book. More complex and interesting than the Potato Peel Society.… (more)

    BasilBlue: Although written in a more elegantly sparse style, this book covers much the same territory, geographically and emotionally.

11. 50
    The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (bell7, BookshelfMonstrosity)

    bell7: Though one is set in contemporary times on a fictional island of the coast of Massachusetts and the other in post World War II England, both books show the importance of story and have an optimistic tone while dealing with some of life's challenges.

    BookshelfMonstrosity: A love of literature helps protagonists form unlikely but rewarding new relationships in these tender stories of personal redemption. The vibrant characterization, gently humorous tone, and whimsical, heartwarming narratives shine in compelling novels that illustrate the power of reading.… (more)

12. 40
    Miss Buncle by D. E. Stevenson (wandering_star)
13. 51
    Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole (rosylibrarian)
14. 73
    The Color Purple by Alice Walker (Limelite)

    Limelite: Also an epistolary novel. Also about how community can triumph over debilitating circumstance.

15. 40
    Excellent Women by Barbara Pym (nancyewhite)
16. 40
    The Dig by John Preston (catherinestead)
17. 31
    A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper (betsytacy)

    betsytacy: This YA novel, set in 1936, features 16-year-old Sophie, a royal orphan growing up with her siblings and cousin in a shabby castle on island kingdom of Montmaray, somewhere off the coast of England. The island's strategic location draws the interest of the Nazis.… (more)

18. 42
    A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George (KayCliff)

    KayCliff: Both books deal with the occupation of Guernsey by the Nazis.

19. 10
    The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock (Nickelini)

    Nickelini: Very different books, but both are set on Guernsey and have a strong sense of place. Both books also cover the WWII occupation of the island. And finally, both books are compelling, quick reads.

20. 10
    Plenty by David Hare (kraaivrouw)

    kraaivrouw: Both capture the desperation of post-war England in their own unique ways.

(see all 40 recommendations)