The Girl From Normandy was a dual time-lined book.
Set between wartime Normandy and later, in 1988, Rachel does a great job of tying the lives together.

The book starts in Paris, 1940. Marie-Claire stepped into the Gare de Lyon and had no idea it would be the last time she saw her husband and young son.

She then fled the enemy's grip in Paris; she took a journey deep into the Normandy countryside. There, she finds refuge in a chateau and gets swept into the centre of the Resistance. She then settles into life in the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, working at a little café.

Marie-Claire dreams of hope while also grieving all she has lost. Her story was truly emotional to me. The amount of grief she faced and how she still carried on was awe-inspiring.

Later, in Normandy, 1998, a girl named Esther returns to the same village she used to visit as a teenager. She's returned to the farmhouse from her teenage life, the family she spent time with then, and Joules.

Esther finds an old cookbook in the kitchen, steeped in history, which unravels secrets from the past. Reading the farmhouse family's secrets was mouth-opening and full of twists and secrets.

Marie was incredibly brave and strong. I loved how the old cookbook connected the two timelines.
If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, secrets, and all the emotions, I recommend this one.

An enjoyable read if you like dual time line stories set in WWII. I enjoyed the back story probably more than the one set in current day as felt some of that story at the beginning were not quite seamless. However, this did not detract from the overall sense of the book which did capture the emotion of the characters and setting very well. Would recommend.

This was a great book. I love the dual perspective/timeline story of it. It was not a quick read, it took me a while because it was heavy in spots.

The Girl from Normandy is a moving dual-timeline historical novel that blends quiet heroism, wartime loss, and rediscovered legacy with genuine heart. Marie-Claire’s resilience during WWII and Esther’s gentle unraveling of the past in 1998 are equally compelling, brought together through vivid detail, emotional depth, and a touch of mystery—perfect for fans of reflective, character-driven historical fiction.

In a quiet Normandy village, one woman’s courage during WWII sends ripples across generations—until a forgotten cookbook begins to unravel the secrets time tried to bury.

The Girl from Normandy is an exquisitely written, emotionally rich dual-timeline novel that effortlessly blends historical fiction with heartfelt discovery. If you love immersive WWII stories with strong, quietly powerful heroines and a touch of mystery, this one deserves a spot at the top of your reading list.

In 1940, Marie-Claire flees occupied Paris, heartbroken and alone, and finds refuge in the Normandy countryside. There, she becomes entangled in a growing resistance movement while trying to come to terms with everything she’s lost. Her work in a village café and her growing sense of purpose make her storyline both inspiring and deeply moving.

Decades later, in 1998, Esther returns to the Normandy village she once visited as a teenager. When she discovers an old annotated cookbook tucked away in the Joubert family kitchen, long-buried secrets begin to surface, setting off a chain of revelations that link the past and present in unexpected ways.

What I loved most about this novel was its unique lens on wartime France. While many wartime novels focus on the European front, The Girl from Normandy stands out with its focus on Normandy's rural villages and the daily courage of those resisting in quiet ways. The historical detail is impeccable, and the atmosphere of 1940s Normandy is captured with such care. The annotated cookbook was a particularly touching device, weaving memory and mystery together in a deeply human way.

Rachel Sweasey’s prose is warm and immersive, with enough tension to keep the pages turning. Sweasey writes with heart, clarity, and a deep respect for the resilience of women in times of unimaginable pressure. I was especially drawn to Marie-Claire’s strength and quiet determination, and I found myself just as intrigued by Esther’s search for truth decades later.

✨ If you're a fan of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah, or historical fiction that moves you, surprises you, and fully transports you—The Girl from Normandy is a must-read. Beautifully written and quietly powerful, it’s one of those rare novels that lingers in your mind and heart long after the story ends.

Very interesting story as this book is set in two different timelines which I always enjoy.

Firstly it’s WW2 in Paris, the Nazis have occupied France and Marie-Claire and her family try to flee Paris and head south to a safer area. Tragedy strikes her Jewish husband and she gets separated from her young son. Marie-Claire’s way joins the fight against the Nazis by joining the resistance.

1998 in Poole, England, Esther is connected to a family in Saint-Mere-Eglise from her school days. She desperately needs a break so goes back to visit the family. She finds an old cook book with notes and annotations and soon comes to realise that there are more secrets to this old house that anyone realises.

This was a real tear jerker, it was tragic and heartbreaking but also full of courage, strength and love. This latest book from Rachel Sweasey hits all the right notes, it a real winner. I highly recommend this book, it’s fabulous!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this advance copy in return for my honest review. Publication date is 27 June 25.

Rachel Sweasey's latest book is told in a dual timeline and begins in Paris during the Nazi occupation with a brutally shocking killing. As Marie-Claire is trying to leave Paris with her Jewish husband and her toddler, she loses both of them in a split second. I loved Marie-Claire's story and how naturally she became a member of the French Resistance in Saint-Mère-Eglise, using her cooking and writing skills to pass messages and fool the Nazis.

The second timeline is set in Poole, England, 1998, a familiar setting if you've read this author's previous books. Esther has her own connections to a family in Saint-Mère-Eglise from her school days. I enjoyed following the threads tying the characters in Normandy to Poole, from the beginning of WWII to 1998, through three generations. The Girl from Normandy highlights how important women were to the Resistance, especially leading up to D-Day. They were invaluable because the Germans had such a low opinion of women's abilities. There is a lovely romance, and the descriptions of French food will have your mouth watering. Rachel Sweasey has written another winner.