This was my first time reading Rachel Sweasey, and The Girl from Normandy was a captivating and emotional historical novel. The story beautifully blends courage, resilience, and the impact of war on ordinary lives.

I loved the richly drawn characters and the vivid setting, which brought the period to life with authenticity. Rachel's writing is heartfelt and immersive, making it easy to connect with the story.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

In this powerful and detailed new World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow Marie Claire in 1940 Paris and Esther in 1998, both living different lives connected by an old annotated cookbook. Marie-Claire, her husband, and her son are separated while fleeing occupied Paris, and Marie-Claire ends up in the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise near a chateau in Caen where a resistance circuit is coming to life. Nearly sixty years later, Esther returns to Sainte-Mere-Eglise, which she had visited as a teenager and fallen in love with, and she also discovers that the annotated cookbook holds more secrets than the Jouberts had realized. Packed with fascinating details about the French resistance during World War II and the many ways people could participate in it, readers will love the historical research that Sweasey has done to bring this story to life. The characters are well-written and complex, and the connecting thread between the two storylines is particularly interesting in how it ties the two timelines together. With her meticulous attention to detail, Rachel Sweasey has done a brilliant job bringing these two stories, time periods, and characters to life in this entertaining and immersive new World War II historical fiction novel.

1940 Marie-Claire faces a double tragedy after she tries to escape Paris with her husband and toddler son. 1998 Esther returns to France for a christening and is reunited with her first love...
The Girl From Normandy is a dual timeline novel set in France during WW2 and the recent past.
Marie-Claire is devastated by the cruelty of war but she joins the resistance to oppose the Nazi invaders. She begins to have feelings for another resistance member but then finds herself swept away by an injured pilot.
I was totally engaged with the 1940s plotline which was compelling and emotional. I felt that the more modern timeline with Esther and Jules was unnecessary and even detracted from the powerful historical plot which could have been expanded. The link between the past and present becomes more obvious as the book progresses (there was one point where I thought the author was going to take coincidence too far but luckily she didn't).
The style of writing is easy to read and I was very invested in Marie-Claire's story as she draws strength from her own pain in order to help others.
The Girl From Normandy has a powerfully emotional story of courage and love.

Thank you net galley and boldwood books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This is a dual timeline story, set during WWII and the late 1990's.
Germany has made their way into France specifically Paris and people are leaving for the free-zone in the south.
Marie-Claire and her husband Benjamin and son Antoine are at the train station to head for southern France.
The unthinkable happens to her family and she is left to fend for herself.
Marie-Claire gets a job at a cafe-bar and her cooking skills are noted by the clientale who go their regularly.
As WWII rages on she becomes involved with some French resistance workers.
As the years go on she finds love again and marries and has two kids.
But, her mind still goes to the dreadful day when she lost Benjamin and her son Antoine.
Could Antoine have made it safely to the south as there were no survivors that were onthe train.
These are my own opinions.
Thank you again net galley and boldwood books.

This story took me on such a journey, between love and loss. The emotional rollercoaster of each step of Mary Claires journey. To then link to the future story line. Looking forward to reading more from this Author

I loved "The Girl from Normandy" by Rachel Sweasey. It is a dual time-line story that is set in France in 1940, as well as in current time. This is a historical fiction novel of men and women, and families dealing with so much fear, loss, and uncertainty as well as hope, loves, and surviving. It is a story of kindnesses to strangers, and horrible acts of war. The dual time-lines seamlessly come together, and leaves you hoping for a sequel.
5 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Set in the 1940s and the late 1990s, this novel delves into the depths of World War II and the secrets that can change a life forever. Marie-Claire thought her life was over after the Germans invaded Paris and she lost everything. That is, until she finds a new hope in the growing resistance. Now, using her love of cooking, she spies on the Germans and helps hide RAF pilots and others, along with the local resistance workers. And slowly, she is learning that maybe she is open to the idea of love again.
In the late 1990s, Esther returned to Normandy to see her pen pal and best friend's family. Years ago, she spent an unforgettable summer on their farm and fell in love with Jules. Years of not seeing him do nothing to change the fact that she is still wildly attracted to him. As the two begin to rebuild their relationship, they begin to unravel the secrets of Jules' grandmother's past and what happened in Normandy so many years ago.

This was an amazing historical fiction book! It had so many heart felt moments and I had all of the feels reading this book.

The story begins in Paris, 1940, as the Nazis start targeting Jewish citizens. Marie-Claire, her husband, and their young son plan to escape south, but a tragic event leaves Marie-Claire on her own. She makes her way to the Normandy countryside, discovers a chateau near Caen, and joins the growing resistance movement. Soon, she’s working in a cafe in the quiet village of Sainte-Mère-Église, dealing with her losses while supporting the heroic resistance. Her courage in Normandy will go on to shape history.

This dual timeline tale also follows Esther in 1998, who revisits the Normandy village she explored as a teenager to escape her dull life. Back then, she fell in love with a rustic farmhouse, the family who lived there, and especially the charming eldest son, Jules Joubert. While there, she discovers an old annotated cookbook in the kitchen, unraveling hidden secrets about the place she’s always cherished—secrets that even surprise the Jouberts. This sparks the mystery of what truly happened during the war to come to light.

I found this historical mystery captivating, with well-developed characters and a compelling narrative. The story kept me rooting for the protagonists, and the Normandy setting was an ideal backdrop. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The troubled years of WW2 are brought to life in this dual time story which gives us Marie-Claire’s poignant time in France during the German occupation, together with Esther’s story in 1998 when she returns to the farm house in Normandy where she spent a happy time with the Joubert family as a teenager.

With both time frames fitting so smoothly together the transition between past and present is seamless and I enjoyed spending time with Marie-Claire in the 1940s witnessing her time in the Normandy village of Sainte-Mère-Église and the vital role she plays in the safety of the townsfolk. Esther’s gentle reawakening and her burgeoning relationship with her childhood sweetheart is done with a light touch which doesn’t detract from the difficult time experienced during the war years by some members of the Joubert family. It’s a poignant read particularly Marie-Claire’s story which tugs away at the heartstrings and reminds us of the danger people in this part of France experienced during this troubled time and of the stalwart bravery of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in order to help those who were in danger.

I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time reading this lovely story, being immersed in the history of the area and the added significance of the church at Sainte-Mère-Église which was blended nicely into the story. I enjoyed the modern day gentle romance and the uncovering of Joubert family secrets which had been buried for far too long. Beautifully written, The Girl from Normandy is an absorbing story which kept my attention from first page to last.

A wonderful story of love and loss during WWII. The dual timeline story is well written. I loved it! Rachel Sweasey is a great author.

This was a book that enthralled me from its opening pages – dual time writing at its very best, tying together a powerful wartime story of love, loss and exceptional bravery and a really engaging present day story with intriguing links to the past.

Leaving Paris, her family under threat from the Nazi occupation, a series of distressing events at the railway station find Marie-Claire alone, heading for Normandy rather than the safety of the South. A series of chance events – the kindness of strangers – finds her willingly caught up in the work of the Resistance, running a cafe where the occupying force are regular visitors, passing on intelligence she’s able to gather from their conversations, at night setting flares to guide the planes bringing much needed assistance. And she’s a writer – capturing her recipes and their inspiration, but also including coded messages that support the dangerous work of her friends in the Resistance.

As a teen, Esther spent a fondly remembered holiday with the Joubert family at Sainte-Mère-Église – very much in need of a holiday, she returns (in 1998) from Dorset to be godmother to her friend Giselle’s child. But there are some embarrassing memories too – the crush she had on Giselle’s brother Jules, a potential romance that petered out and came to nothing. His busy life keeps him away at first – but when he arrives, and after some initial awkwardness, they find their feelings for each other are as strong as they ever were. But there’s also an intriguing mystery – a note on the back of a recipe in an old and treasured cookery book, and a series of clues to follow about the family’s wartime past.

The wartime story is a particularly emotional one, quite beautifully told – and the author avoids any wrenches between the gripping events of the past and the lighter feel of the present day story by entangling them so seamlessly. There’s romance in both timelines – wonderfully handled, with the most perfect emotional touch, and I felt particularly deeply for Marie-Claire. And, as the two storylines gradually came together, I particularly liked the fact that the author didn’t tie the loose ends into the neat bow I was rather expecting – there were surprises throughout, and it was a book I was entirely unable to set aside until I’d read to the very end.

This really was an exceptional read – superb storytelling, impeccably researched, heart wrenching at times, really immersing the reader in the lives of its wonderfully drawn characters and the vividly drawn Normandy setting. Every single relationship – in the past and present, whether friendship, family or romance – was something I really believed in. A book I’d very much recommend to others, and an author now firmly on my favourites list – I loved every moment.

A romantic historical drama written over two timelines. I was interested in the wartime story more than the second timeline. Fans of historical fiction will like this book, an easy read.

This was a lovely dual-timeline novel, which I enjoyed very much.

The book opens in 1940 with the main character, Marie-Claire, about to board a train in Paris accompanied by her husband and two-year-old son. Then the part of the book which is set in Poole, England, and Normandy, France, in 1998 introduces us to Esther, who is the main character of this part of the story.

The setting, which is mostly Normandy, is well portrayed. The author's description of the countryside around Giselle's family farm depicted an area of beauty.

This was a highly compelling novel which I enjoyed.

A fabulous story from this very talented author. I enjoyed this dual time line story and found it very interesting. I highly recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Rachel Sweasey's 'The Girl from Normandy' is a heart-wrenching dual-timeline novel that skillfully interlaces tales of love, loss, and survival. Spanning two very different eras – Nazi-occupied France in 1940 and Normandy in 1998 – the story tracks Marie-Claire's gripping odyssey as she survives unimaginable horror and becomes a member of the French Resistance, and Esther's modern-day return to the area, where a rediscovered cookbook suggests long-forgotten family secrets.

The author is masterful in depicting war's savage realities yet also bringing out the human spirit's enduring resilience. The characters are full-bodied, especially Marie-Claire, whose vulnerability and courage one feels. The descriptive writing brings vividly to life both the loveliness of French countryside scenery and wartime horror in Paris. Whereas some dual timelines may be disjointed, the writer effectively marries the two narratives, demonstrating how the past has a great influence on the present. This is a highly emotional and engaging read for historical fiction readers, particularly those who are interested in unknown WWII stories and the long-lasting influence of family legacies.

This story faces both the past and the future with one woman’s look at life through war and family.

When Marie Claire faces an undeniable loss during the war, she is surrounded by people who comfort her and offer her a new life. Although she is still reeling from what has occurred, she forms a new life cooking which is a love she has and will forever use to bring people around her happiness.

The next generation, although aren’t facing the war Marie Claire did, are still dealing with trying to work out their future, but Marie Claire, has a way of ensuring lives are happy even when you hurt the most.

I received this book for a honest review.

This story of love, bravery, endurance and survival. Developed through a well done dual storyline. (1940s and 1990s). Rachel has the history accurate and this helps to make the story plausible. This isn't a boring history book but a rather good living history right through to the new beginnings. It begin with an escape from Paris as the Nazis' enter. and slowly reveals the secrets of Marie-Claire and her families lives. It is all very intriguing.and well written. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a wonderful historical fiction read with a dual timeline, which I loved. We travel between Normandy in the 1940’s and late 1990’s. This for me was a heart breaking read at times and I did admittedly shed a few tears . I found the life that Marie Claire led as a young woman in Normandy to be such a difficult time for her and everyone else who she was involved with. These people were so brave in spite of everything that was going on. The author has done a wonderful job of describing all the characters and I quickly become very caught up in their lives. The present day story involving Esther and her travels back to Normandy was also wonderful to read and how she went about uncovering the secrets of the past.

3.5 Stars

Told in two timelines (1940 and present day), The Girl from Normandy is the story of survival, grief, and courage.

In 1940, Marie-Claire loses her husband and young son as they attempt to escape occupied Paris. Her husband dies in front of her, and to keep her son safe, she passes him to a friend on a train that is headed to the country. Marie-Claire is rescued by a stranger who escorts her to a nearby farm where she grieves her losses, works in a cafe, and finds herself caught up in the Resistance Movement.

In the present day, Esther visits her dear friends who live in a Normandy village and discovers an old, annotated recipe book. Fascinated, she suspects that the farm and members of the family might have been involved in the resistance. Esther works to unravel the mystery.

As usual in a dual timeline story, one timeline is more compelling than the other. In this case, I loved the 1940 timeline and following the life of Marie-Claire. The old cookbook connects the two timelines. At the story’s end, the two timelines intersect in surprising ways.

WWII stories always involve themes of resilience, bravery, loss, grief, and hope. It makes me wonder what I would have done in similar circumstances. Stories from the past certainly build empathy for what individuals in war-torn countries are facing in 2025. Will war ever end?

You will be happy with the satisfying conclusion! (no spoilers)

Content Consideration: Death, grief, war

Fans of dual timeline stories set during WWII and present day will enjoy speculating about how the timelines connect in this compelling story.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheGirlFromNormandy upon my request. All opinions are my own.