Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Juliet Ashton, a London writer who visits Guernsey to learn about the islanders' book club formed during the German occupation, learns that their founder, Elizabeth McKenna, died in Ravensbrück concentration camp. Juliet falls in love with the farmer Dawsey Adams, proposes to him herself, and becomes guardian to Elizabeth's daughter Kit.
Quick facts
– Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
– First published: 2008
– Type: An epistolary novel
– Tone of the ending: Warm and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
In 1946, Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey, who found her name in a book. She learns about the society, created to fool German soldiers. She goes to Guernsey and meets the members.
What Happens at the End of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
On Guernsey, Juliet grows close to the society's members: the shy farmer Dawsey, the eccentric Isola, the kind Eben and his grandson Eli, and little Kit, Elizabeth's daughter, who is being raised by the group. A letter from Remy, a French survivor, tells the islanders that Elizabeth was sent to Ravensbrück for helping a forced labourer and was shot after defending another prisoner. The community grieves. Juliet's wealthy American suitor, Mark Reynolds, pressures her to marry him, and she refuses. Isola, playing amateur detective, works out that Dawsey loves Juliet. Realizing she loves him too, Juliet proposes to Dawsey herself, and they plan to marry and raise Kit, whom Juliet will adopt.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Elizabeth's fate is revealed.
- Juliet stays on Guernsey.
- Juliet proposes to Dawsey.
- Juliet adopts Kit.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Juliet Ashton | Marries Dawsey |
| Dawsey Adams | Marries Juliet |
| Elizabeth McKenna | Died in a camp |
| Kit | Adopted by Juliet |
What the Ending Means
The ending celebrates books, community and love.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the letters format and the island characters. Mary Ann Shaffer fell ill before finishing, and her niece Annie Barrows completed the book.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Books. Books bring people together.
Community. The islanders' bonds.
Love. Juliet and Dawsey.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society as warm and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are warm and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2018 Netflix film follows the main ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about books, and do you agree with Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as warm and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces books and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Amazon
Books to Read After The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
- 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
- The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Related: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?
Juliet Ashton, a London writer who visits Guernsey to learn about the islanders' book club formed during the German occupation, learns that their founder, Elizabeth McKenna, died in Ravensbrück concentration camp. Juliet falls in love with the farmer Dawsey Adams, proposes to him herself, and becomes guardian to Elizabeth's daughter Kit.
Is the ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society happy or sad?
Most readers call it warm and hopeful.
What does the ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society mean?
The ending celebrates books, community and love.
Is the ending of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society the same in the adaptation?
The 2018 Netflix film follows the main ending.
Who wrote The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and when was it published?
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and first published in 2008.
Is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy epistolary novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.