This miniseries is based on a fan-favourite war novel that stayed on The New York Times Best Seller list for over 200 weeks, and now it’s been brought to life on screen.

First published in 2014, this wartime story, written by Anthony Doerr, quickly captured the hearts of readers as they discovered two teenagers within the pages who meet in unusual circumstances during the Second World War.

All the Light We Cannot See has since been a top pick for readers as a novel which jumps between the perspectives of two different people on two different sides of the war. At the very heart of it is a sense of hope and humanity, which readers could only hope would be carried through to its adaptation.

In 2023, the book was adapted to screen and transformed into a miniseries, with the same title, for Netflix. The show stars Aria Mia Loberti, Louis Hofmann, Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie in a “beautiful” four-part story.

Upon watching it, one viewer wrote on the review site Rotten Tomatoes, claiming it was “One of the most amazing war-related TV shows out there.” They added: “I wish more people knew of it. It has a beautiful, moving storyline, wonderful actors portraying strong and thoughtful characters. The atmosphere of war, the dressing, and the music set the right mood for the viewer to enjoy.”

The series follows the stories of a French girl called Marie-Laure, who happens to be blind, and a young German soldier named Werner. Their paths cross in occupied France during the war, and after being forced to join the Nazi fight as a teenager, Werner is tasked with aiding them in radio repair to help with communications.

Meanwhile, the girl is helping her father flee Paris with a large and valuable diamond to protect it from being stolen by the Nazis. As a result, she is a target of a ruthless SS officer determined to get hold of the jewel, and Werner is left with a decision to protect her or stick to his ruthless role as the opposition.

For many fans of the book, they watched the show apprehensively, with the hope that it stays true to the story they know and love. One fan of the show found themselves pleasantly surprised, as they shared in a review their low expectations for the adaptation.

They wrote on IMDb: “The book ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ has – for me personally – been one of the best within the last years. I was expecting that Netflix would ruin it. But after watching all 4 episodes I must say that didn’t.

Another review says: “After reading the excellent book, my wife and I were captivated by the series. Quite a view into the human spirits during WWII.”

Although not everyone believes the show lives up to the book’s success, and it has received criticism for not being ‘true to the novel’. Others disagree, and many who are yet to read the book do enjoy the show otherwise.

One person said: “I’m so thankful I watched this before I saw the critics’ reviews. What a beautiful, emotional & intense miniseries. I really enjoyed it very much.”

TV fans can watch all four episodes of All the Light We Cannot See now, exclusively on Netflix.