As I turned on the TV to watch The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After reading the short description and watching the trailer, I could not fathom what the title of the movie could possibly symbolize. I made the quick decision to grab a blanket and settle into my cozy, comfortable couch to watch the historical-romance drama.

The movie begins on the Island of Guernsey, an island off the coast of Normandy, in 1941. A group of four friends is stopped by an intimidating group of Nazi soldiers for being out past curfew. In order to avoid a horrific arrest, the crew states that they were headed to their book club called “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” Five years later, in January of 1946, writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a man from Guernsey who is interested in finding a book to read to his book club by the author Charles Lamb. They begin exchanging letters, and Juliet sends Dawsey a book by his requested author in return for information about the society he is in and why it has such an interesting name.

Juliet decides that traveling to Guernsey and meeting the members of the society would be a good way for her to receive more information for her article about the club for The Washington Post. On her way out of town, Juliet becomes engaged to her boyfriend Mark; on her finger, a diamond as beautiful as the blue ocean is wrapped around her tightly, reminding her of her fiance whenever she glances at her hand. As quickly as her engagement happens, Juliet finds herself falling in love with the little island and its inhabitants. 

After being on the gorgeous island for a few days, Juliet becomes deeply infatuated with solving the mystery of Elizabeth, the book club founder, and why nobody would tell her the truth about where she had disappeared to. As the weeks went on, Juliet was falling head over heels for Dawsey and the secluded island he is involved with. As she helps to solve the mystery, a spark evolves between the two, and it becomes apparent that the only way to get to the bottom of the mystery is with love.

Released in April of 2018, the film– directed by Mike Newell– was most certainly a refreshing movie to watch. The plot was also unique and unlike anything I have ever seen before. The creators were able to grab the emotions of the audience members and make their hearts ache for the characters on the screen. The time period made it an upsetting movie to watch at times, but the love and happiness the actors portrayed made your eyes lock onto the images on the screen.

Throughout each scene, the actors fit their roles outstandingly well. Not only were their physical appearances more than accurate, but their ability to show and convey hundreds of different emotions through the screen was amazing. Elation, anguish, and love are all such different emotions, but the actors portrayed each and every one uncommonly well.

The way the words poured from the actors’ lips made me feel like I was standing there right alongside the characters; I never felt like I wanted to pick up my phone or shut off the screen, but I felt as if I wanted every scene to last just a little bit longer. Juliet (Lily James) and Dawsey (Michiel Huisman) grew a connection between the two of them so strong that I felt as if the film began dancing around my living room, sprinkling their love around the air. The chemistry was a breath of fresh air from the movies that all too commonly contain forced loved.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society reminded me of the 2014 romance film Endless Love. The two movies shared a similar plot of a young couple sharing deep love and passion for each other, although it isn’t the most appropriate for the time. The two main characters in each movie were both willing to go to the edge of the Earth for the one who they loved. Both Endless Love and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society sparked emotion throughout my body unlike many other films that are created in today’s world.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has meaning lying underneath its surface that can have an impact on the minds of the audience members. It can teach how love is a necessity throughout the life of all humans, and it should never be taken for granted. The film is also able to portray the need for friends and trust in relationships with others because, without it, the world would be a blank slate.

The new historical-romance drama was an outstanding Netflix film that certainly did not dive below my expectations. The unique plot and intriguing passion between the characters proved to keep my emotions on the table and made me wish to never see the dark, black screen at the end of the film.