This is a story about living in Guernsey during the war
The characters are well developed
True events are written into the story
I felt like the premise could have gone deeper

Another great WW2 story! This one had me so invested in the characters. If you love historical you'll love this one.

This is a great historical romance set during WW2. A beautiful woman trying to hide the fact that she is Jewish is in love with a police officer and both set out to try and survive as well as stay together. It is a very descriptive novel with characters that you honestly can relate to flawed and all. This is not my normal genre of books but I fell in love with the characters very quickly.


5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. If you love WWII stories you will like this book.

A young couple struggle to stay alive and to stay together on Guernsey Island during World War II. He's an upstanding police officer and she's a Jewess who flees her country. When the Germans take over, they try covering their ancestry, but it's only a matter of time before their secrets are exposed. I took a break from this genre for awhile, but this reminded me why I enjoy these books. I received a free copy for an honest review.

Great WW2 story set on the island of Guernsey which I really enjoyed as it made a nice change to have Channel Islands setting. Jack a policeman is the main character and it is an interesting read as he has to choose between putting his family at risk and his Jewish girlfriend. Good book for WW2 history fans

I love reading historical fiction books which occur during WWII. Based on the island of Guernsey, this story is really about relationships. Living on the island during the war, the inhabitants endure the typical difficulties that were pervasive … shortages, acts of rebellion, etc. This is an emotional read as you experience the decisions that Jack has to make to help protect his loved ones and keep them safe.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I love participating in blog tours with the team at @hqstories - the titles are always great. This one is no exception. I don’t feel there is enough literature about the turmoil the residents of Guernsey went through and the lack of choices they were faced with. The toil of Jack is at the heart of this story, the love he has for his girlfriend Johanna, his family, his island and his job. All of which are threatened with the arrival of the Nazis... this is another great historical fiction title.

Even though I pretty much burnt out on WWII fiction at the moment. I gave this one a try because of the Guernsey setting, a setting you don't find to often in fiction books let alone WWII fiction books. Heck I think history books have forgotten the role the island played during WWII because I didn't learn about it in school. The German Nurse gave a fresh take on WWII fiction with the characters and the setting. Which might help ease me back into reading WWII fiction.

An absolutely beautiful story. The power of love amid such a dark time. It was heartbreaking, but the perfect novel for someone like me who loves WWII novels. I always look for the different sides of WWII stories and this one was a different one from what I have seen. Definitely recommend for WWII historical fiction lovers!!

The German Nurse takes place during WWII in Guernsey from 1940 to 1945. Military personnel are evacuated from the island to fight on the mainland, leaving the police force to protect the citizens against the invading Nazis. Jack Godwin is a young police officer who feels it is his duty to protect not only the citizens from any danger, but his family and his girlfriend Johanna, a Jewish immigrant, who fled Germany in the hopes of finding safety.

The German Nurse is inappropriately titled. The novel is about Jack, who rushes from one place to another and one situation to another in order to ease the tensions between the islanders and the German officers or to put out fires. He is the all-round good guy or everyday hero that everyone respects and listens to—even if it means giving yourself up to the enemy. Johanna is a minor character along with a number of others, including Henrik, a sympathetic German officer who is given a point of view for two short chapters, which left me confused. Unfortunately, the fires that Jack runs to make up the plot and the tension. Jack is the only thing connecting them.

The novel is well researched and everyday life in Guernsey during the WWII occupation well-detailed, but it’s too wordy. Jack is likeable and his conflicts real, but the other characters are flat and one-dimensional, lacking any internal struggles. Comparisons to bestselling, contemporary WWII fiction are not accurate.
Reviewed for the Historical Novel Society

Yes there's a love story here between Jack and Johanna but read this for the interesting and different take on the WWII novel. The situation in Guernsey has not been as well explored as other aspects of the Homefront (and yes, Guernsey should be considered part of the Homefront). Hollows has clearly done the research. It's largely, btw, about Jack and his ethical dilemmas (as well as other things) but that doesn't diminish it's impact. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a WWII HF set on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. You follow a man named Jack, a police officer, as the English army leaves and the Germans occupy their island. There were parts that reminded me of another book and a tv series. I love how it all tied about together. Though, I never was fully invested in the characters or story.

Always been a fan of historical fiction. Loved reading this book. A true journey into World War II fiction indeed. If you are up for a heartbreak, go for it.

This book was set in the beginning of WWII on Guernsey Island. Main character is Jack who is a policeman. Jack has a Jew girlfriend that is a nurse but the main story revolves around Jack and his encounters with the islanders and the Germans. I did enjoy the read and how it showed a different side of the war on the island.

This is titled The German Nurse, but it should be The Guernsey Policeman. Johanna is a German Jewish nurse who fled to Guernsey to escape Nazism, but it follows her. Jack Godwin loves her and wants to protect her, but he’s in a tough spot. He’s a policeman and he was born in England, so he’s not one of the Islanders. Can they trust him or is he a lackey of the occupiers?
Most of the story takes place in 1940 through 1942 as the occupation grows more oppressive. In 1943, Johanna is deported and Jack falls apart. The rest of the story skips through the rest of the war. These are very dark days for Jack.
This provides an interesting look at life on Guernsey. Abandoned by England. The Germans expect them to be grateful for coming to take charge. Who can they trust?
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed this book set in Guernsey during world war two. This island is invaded by Germans and life takes on a totally different outlook.
Told from the stance of a Policeman, how he turns from strong keeper of law to a man whose life turns to a life of fear.. It is a powerful and emotional tale of people trapped on a island that had been their home to sit and watch its decline.

The author has written the most heart wrenching and historical piece that I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. This book keeps you hooked for all the right reasons and keeps you reading on and on. It is nice to see that a historical book of this time is set in a different place such as Guernsey. The time of the story is set when Guernsey was occupied by the Nazis. The book is full of defiance, rebellion, and bravery of those on the island, we get so much perspective on what the time was really like for those who were unfortunate to witness it.

The author has written a wonderful but heart-wrenching story that brings real-life, sorrowful events into a fictional tale. I recommend, the cover is eyecatching and would make me pick the book up if in a book store.

This is one of my favorite time period's, WWII. This is the story of grief, cruelty, determination and love. Sometimes, however, this book was just too wordy and I found myself skimming more than actually reading.

Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this advanced readers copy. This book released in November 2020.

"The German Nurse" by M.J. Hollows
Release Date: 11.18.2020

The island of Guernsey is in a panic, as the British army decides to evacuate. Women and children are trying to leave on ships returning to the mainland.

Jack Godwin is a local policeman who lives with his mum and grandparents. The Germans invade on June 30, 1940, and they easily take over the island.

This story focuses on the living conditions under German rule in Guernsey during World War II. Life becomes difficult under Nazi occupation. The locals attempt small rebellions. Jack feels an internal struggle, as his role as a policeman and role as a son, grandson, and boyfriend.

The author did an amazing job showing the feelings of the characters. I really felt Jack's pain when his family died. I felt the frustrations of the island population, feeling abandoned by England. This book shows a different side of the war, one that is not really discussed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

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