The French House

A brilliantly moving historical novel * 2020 Caledonian Novel Award *A raw and honest love story, filled with a wealth of historical detail. The French House is a powerful depiction of the brutal intricacies of island relationships and loyalties in a time of war – FIONA VALPY, bestselling author of THE DRESSMAKER’S SECRETDeeply involving … A fantastic debut by a gifted storyteller – JILL MANSELL, Sunday Times bestselling authorA story of fraught secrets and tested loyalties … I found this beautifully told tale hard to put down – ANITA FRANK, author of The ReturnHeart-wrenching … A truly special novel – LOUISE FEIN, author of People Like UsA vividly written, refreshingly different World War Two love story, with a central character I adored. Just brilliant! – GILL PAUL, author of The Collector’s DaughterA wonderful story, powerfully written with beautiful characters – JAMES KENT, director of Testament of YouthIn the way that the astonishing All the Light we Cannot See takes you into the world of a young blind girl during the occupation of France, so we are transported into the experiences of profoundly deaf Emile, during the occupation of Guernsey. The writing is lyrical, melancholy and breathtaking. Life under the Nazi jackboot is subtly explored, but the blistering love story between Emile and Isabelle leaves a longer lasting impression. Beautiful, utterly absorbing and memorable. – Kate Thompson, author of THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARYI was gripped from the start by the characters and the setting. A wonderful read – Ruth Druart, author of WHILE PARIS SLEPT

Jacquie Bloese is a writer of historical book group fiction, originally from the Channel Island of Guernsey. She draws her inspiration from atmospheric locations with intriguing histories, and people - both real and imaginary - whose stories are calling out to be told.

Her first novel The French House, set during the German Occupation of Guernsey in the second World War, was a Richard and Judy Winter 2022 book club pick, and a finalist in the Mslexia Novel Award. Her second novel The Golden Hour is inspired by the seaside town of Brighton, where Jacquie currently lives, and tells the stories of three women from different classes who become caught up in the underground world of erotic photography in 1890s Victorian England.

Jacquie began her professional life teaching English, in Turkey and Spain, before returning to the UK to work in ELT publishing for a number of publishers, including Scholastic, Oxford University Press and Penguin Random House. She now works freelance as an educational consultant, writer and editor.

In her spare time, Jacquie loves reading, walking, socialising, travel, theatre, cinema and daydreaming!