Mandy Robotham is one of the best historical fiction authors I’ve ever discovered. The Resistance Girl is full of amazing characters, deep emotions, & an ending that is absolutely perfect! I have nothing but positive things to say and cannot wait for all of my friends to read it!

Loved it and would give the book 4.5 stars. I have read a ton of historical fiction books about WWII, but wasn't familiar with what happened in Norway during the War. I'm not sure I even realized Norway was occupied by the Nazis. The lengths the Nazis would go to get blond hair, blue eyed babies was crazy and scary. Loved Rumi and her family, especially her neighbor Marjit. Marjit was so sweet, she was Rumi's best friend and a mother to her. Wouldn't the townspeople notice when new people start living there? Wouldn't Jens stand out as a newcomer and send red flags to the Nazis as someone suspicious. The people of Norway were brave and were constantly fighting for their country. The fishermen constantly risked their lives. Loved the ending.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the second book I've read by Mandy Robotham set during WWII, and it's better than the first, in my opinion. This one is set in Norway, around the Resistance to Nazi occupation. I've only recently become aware of this part of the conflict during WWII, ironically through another novel centred around the teacher's strike in Noway, and also featuring the Shetland Bus, and it's another very interesting insight into the times, which Mandy Robotham does extremely well. Her research is excellent, and I loved the characters and the action, most of which was very plausible. I'll be reading more books by this author, I'm sure. My thanks to the publisher, Avon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars for The Resistance Girl. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, particularly World War 2, and of Mandy Robotham, so I was quite looking forward to this book, and it didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in the story and although I've read a lot of World War 2 historical fiction, I hadn't read much about the war in Norway, so I appreciated learning about a new aspect of the war. I like the way Robotham writes strong female characters and watching Rumi's growth, in particular, was inspiring. If you like World War 2 historical fiction, I'd definitely recommend reading.

Norway 1942, and war was in full swing, with the Germans having taken over the town of Bergen, much to the horror of Norwegians. Rumi Orlstad worked with her father Peder and Rubio, her almost-brother, with Peder’s fishing trawler, which, while fishing daily, also covered a darker secret. Helping the resistance was the reason for their existence in this shocking war, and already Rumi had lost her fiancé to the North Sea and her anger was always just below the surface. Her next-door neighbour, Marjit, was the closest Rumi had to a mother, since hers had passed, and her strength and steadfastness carried them all through.

The night Rumi rescued a Norwegian tangled in the trees by his parachute, was the night their world changed – slowly but surely. Jens Parkes was SOE and there to assist the resistance, with British help, to rid Norway of the Germans. Staying in front of the Germans as they set their explosives, destroying munitions, realizing retribution would be immediate, was a constant challenge. But their determination was high. When Rumi’s best friend, Anya, needed help to escape from the Nazis, there was no hesitation. Would they escape the horrors of the war with their lives? Would they all come together once the war was over?

The Resistance Girl by Mandy Robotham is another excellent, well researched (albeit with difficulty because of covid) historical novel, set in a place not often written about (that I’m aware of) – Norway where the Germans decided they needed the blood of the Norwegians – the blond hair and blue eyes, by stealing what was never theirs. Himmler’s secret maternity homes were set up around the country. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and loved the main characters – their strength, courage and utter determination was formidable. Mandy Robotham is fast becoming a favourite author, and I have no hesitation in recommending The Resistance Girl highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Bergen, Norway 1942

Rumi Oristad and her fellow resistance fighters smuggle British agents, fugitives and supplies across the North Sea into Nazi-occupied territory. It is an unforgettable journey of young people risking it all for a movement against Hitler’s regime. The story in this WW11 fiction could possibly have happened and marvels in its descriptions. The bravery of sailors risking their lives on the Shetland bus to help those escaping the Nazis is incredible so are the heartbreaking accounts told by Norwegians.

In alternate chapters, the narration moves between Rumi and Jens, a young British man she rescued from a drop. The two tell their story in vivid details along the way we are drawn into an intriguing and informative read that includes the disturbing Lebensborn maternity program Himmler’s had created. Rumi and Jens helped two young women in their late semester escape via the Shetland bus. The panic and anxiety is palpable. It is easy to get invested in their survival.

It is evident the author loves her subject and know how to penned and exciting story. Her characters are nicely defined so much so that we want their mission to succeed whether is sending a coded message or freeing someone from a difficult situation or even having a quiet moment in the cold snowy mountains....The are many characters POV’s in his wonderful story to captivate us (Peder,Marjit, Selig, Anya,Rubi, Karl, Fru Nesse) to name a few contribute to make this novel a captivating read.

“The Resistance Girl” is an absorbing read, once started hard to put down. The everyday survival, the fear, the suspicions are well captured so is love, family and friendship. Well-said.

Set in Norway in 1942 this deals with the German occupation of the country, and the more sinister plans they had for its women. This is a really well researched and written take on the Norwegian people’s bravery and determination that every single person mattered. The characters were believable and the way the resistance was portrayed was fascinating. I particularly liked Marjit, not just portrayed as an elderly woman but one with spirit and fight. I’d had a vague idea about Lebensborn, but didn’t realise how far it had been taken. Excellent historical read with a really good story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

As a fan of the genre and the author, I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of The Resistance Girl.
One thing I enjoy is her portrayal of strong, independent women and how they play their part, or stand their ground for their beliefs.

The Resistance Girl, is told from different POVs, and is based around the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II. It celebrates the Norwegian’s courageous resistance, as well Hitler’s secret Aryan maternity program, Lebensborn, which I hadn’t read much about previously.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rumi’s story, she first appears a hardened character because of the awful losses she has endured but underneath it all, her heart is full of love and compassion. She is willing to do all it takes, especially to keep those she loves safe.
This is a well written, detailed read, the author builds tension and isn’t afraid to break readers’ hearts to present an accurate portrayal of this time.
Highly recommended for fans of this genre.

The Resistance Girl by Mandy Robotham. Pub Date: March 30, 2022 UK and May 31, 2022 US. Set in Norway during WWII, this book takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of a young female and male who risk it all for the resistance movement against the Hitler regime. The WWII historical fiction genre is large, but this story paints a new perspective in a country not usually talked about in WWII literature. In this particular novel, the concept of Aryan maternity camps is discussed, which I had no idea was even a thing during this time period. I’ve read this author before and I would read her work in a heartbeat. This is a fabulous unputdownable and powerful story. I highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #avonbooks #bookstagram #mandyrobotham #bibliophile #bookworm #igreads @netgalley @avonbooks

Wow, wow, wow. Mandy Robotham has done it again, pulling out yet another incredible story of love, courage and sacrifice during the tumultuous war years (or pre-war years) in Europe. I salute Mandy’s ability to write such stories that center women’s experiences, including but not limited to motherhood, in an otherwise fraught era.

This novel though, is so very different than Robotham’s other works. I’ve read The German Midwife (2018) and The Berlin Girl (2020) and enjoyed them both, marveling at the intersection of life, love and war, as so many authors do in their work. If you’re new to reading my blog please note that I’m a big fan of historical fiction, especially First or Second World War based historical fiction, but I’ve recently had to take a step back from bloody battlefields and have found a soft spot for contemporary romance.

That said, this month I’ve really veered back to this original comfort zone and I’m not sad about it one bit.

So what makes this book special?

First, and very importantly, it’s set in Norway. It focuses on a Norwegian woman, Rumi, who’s love for her family, friends and the sea is what keeps her going when her fiance dies and the Nazis take over her beloved country. We join Rumi in 1941 and spend just over a year with her as she grapples with the situation in her country.

As is clear from the title of the novel, Rumi is a Resistance Girl. And while she is resisting she runs, or more likely skis, into Jens. Cue the swooning, from me, not Rumi. Rumi has built such a wall around her to protect herself from the grief of losing Mathus (her fiance) and the life of fear instilled by the Nazis that poor Jens, on top of a piece of shrapnel in his knee AND his perilous SOE operations, must be patient as the two work alongside other neighbours and family to continually resist the iron grip that local STAPO hold them in.

And in addition to it all, Rumi’s friend Anya ends up among other young women at a maternity home. But something is amiss and panic and anxiety set in among the soon to be mothers and Anya wants out. Can Rumi and Jens help her? Will it be in time?

In some ways this novel will read very similarly to others written by Robotham and her contemporaries. In many ways though, this novel is unique (at least for me) in its setting (Norway), the types of operations/missions Jens is engaged in, the third perspective that we only so often see, but that fills in oh so important gaps for us as readers.

I highly recommend this read for anyone who enjoys Mandy’s other books and I’m not swayed from trying her other titles either - it’s always a pleasure to read her work.

Yet another amazing historical novel by Mandy Robothom.
Based in Norway from 1942 till the end of the war and details the courageous work of the Norwegian people as part of the Resistance against the Nazi regime and the operating of the famous Shetland Bus sea network that helped smuggle people, weapons and vital information for the war effort.
The main storyline of a family and there close friends and their work with the SOE operatives is great, the sub story based in Hop is also riveting and shows 2 other strong and courageous heroines.
Great book and would recommend highly.

What atracted me to the book was the fact that it took place in Norway during WWII and that is a subject I don't really know much about.. And I was curious to read more about the Lebensborn.

But for me the bok didn't hold up to my expectations. The first part of the book is mostly about Rumi and her issues. Not that those weren't valed, but not something I wanted to read about. There was also not a lot about the Lebensborn,. We see a few glimpses of it, but not a lot of details.

To be honest I found Rumi and Jens boring and there wasn't happening a lot.. There is a lot of telling but not showing.

The Resistance Girl is the first novel that I have read by Mandy Robotham. The setting is occupied Norway during 1942-1945. Robotham focuses on the many ways in which Norwegian resistance was directed against the gestapo occupiers. Nazis wanted the Norwegians, who were considered the aryan ideal, to serve Germany in a very personal and heartbreaking manner. The protagonists in this novel include a wireless radio operator; a young woman, who overcomes grief to help the resistance movement; her father, who operates a trawler used for transporting resistors when needed; and a local neighbor, who provides, food, comport, and safety. These characters are the kind of people readers cheer on every time they are in need of that kind of cheering. Most of the German occupiers are interchangeable, with one exception.

Robotham has obviously spent a lot of time researching the history of this period. She provides the kinds of details that will interest history buffs, even though this novel is historical fiction. It is a benefit to readers that the characters are so nicely defined that we feel we know them. The shifts in narration help readers get to know even more about these characters. The plot unfolds carefully and is never boring.

I do recommend The Resistance Girl, by Mandy Robotham. Now that I have discovered this author, I will look for more books by her. I want to thank the author and Avon books for making this ARC available to me. I am an avid reader, who judges books by how deeply I become attached to the characters in a book, and The Resistance Girl held my attention enough that I wished for more time with these characters. I am also appreciative of the many new authors I have discovered as a member of NetGalley, which now includes Mandy Robotham.

This is an unusual World War 2 novel as it takes place in Norway which is not usually chosen as a setting for these sorts of books. This fact immediately made it stand out to me.
As in other works by this author “The Resistance Girl”is incredibly well researched, a task made all the more difficult by the pandemic and the barriers to travel over the last year or so. I particularly enjoyed learning about the bravery of the sailors who risked their lives on the Shetland bus to help those escaping the Nazis.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Rumi and Jens who are literally thrown together when he parachutes into occupied Norway as part of the SOE. Half Norwegian, Jens has been sent to cause havoc with the Nazis and help the resistance. Rumi is grieving the loss of her fiancé, Magnus and when she is sent to find the agent parachuted in she is full of anger and really does not have much time for him.
In the course of this heartbreaking story which explores all the loss that the Norwegians endured at this time, Rumi and Jens manage to bring each other a modicum of comfort as Jens is also mourning the loss of a friend and blames himself.
I thought that the author conveyed brilliantly both the wonderful characters as well as the beautiful but bleak landscape of Bergen. I really liked Rumi; both her practicality as well as her bravery in the face of extreme danger made her an inspirational character.
I really felt that I got to know war time Bergen as the author’s descriptions seemed to be spot on.
I’ve enjoyed some of Mandy Robotham’s previous books which have all been excellent but she has definitely excelled herself with this one.
Having read this book whilst another war continues to rage in Europe really has made “The Resistance Girl” all the more poignant to me. The bravery of ordinary people cannot ever be underestimated.
This is definitely a five star read and highly recommended so thanks go to NetGalley and Avon books for my arc.

I feel like i cannot give this book an honest review. Because the namea and some of the words bugs me, and i cannot relax and read this book i am so sorry.

A well-written insight into live in Occupied Norway, seamlessly moving between several POVs and interweaving the story of a Lebensborn ("foundation of life" in German). Between 10,000 and 12,000 children were born to Norwegian mothers with German partners, often in these homes, during the occupation (willingly or otherwise) and Robotham captures this as brilliant thread to tie Rumi and Jen's stories, and lives, firmly together. Loved reading about the Shetland Bus. A fabulous tale of resistance, grief, love and sacrifice. Congratulations!

Another great book by author Mandy Robotham. This one based in Norway during the war in 1942 and revolves around the smuggling of people and supplies and the dangers involved. But it is more than that as when you have a friend in trouble what would you do.

This book is so well written and flows so well you just keep reading and want more, you want to go on this journey with Rumi, you want to help her out. You feel the danger around every corner, the fear in what you are doing and who you can trust to get it done.

Having not heard about what Norway endured during the war or anything about Operation Shetland Bus this was a learning curve for me. I love the tense intrigue of this book, survival and courage and eventually the ending of a war and eventual happiness.

A wonderful book and recommend this book to anyone and everyone who not only likes historical fiction but those who just love a good story of life, love, loss and friendship.

The story intrigued me, the only thing I knew about Norway and WW2 was that they had tried to be neutral. I did not know that the Germans invaded Norway in April 1940 and that the Wehrmacht continuously occupied the country.

During reading I googled some names I came across in the book. I did learn a lot extra by reading the Wikipedia pages about 'Lebensborn', there were nine facilities in Norway and there were born between 8000 and 12000 children in Norway via this program, I was shocked to read this.

However, more shocked to read that around 250.000 men volunteered to work for Nazi Germany, Norway apparently was the biggest collaborative state in Europe during the war years.

Back to the story, Rumi is send into the mountains to check on a drop, this drop being two young men from a special squadron of the Royal Air Force, one of them appears to be her neighbor’s nephew. The men, Jens and Karl work together with the Norwegian resistance movement, the movement of which Rumi had said to herself not to work with anymore. But when it comes close Rumi simply cannot close her eyes, she has to do what feels right. With the help of Jens she helps two young women.

The story alternates between Jens and Rumi and stretches for about the period of a year. Starting in the midst of a cold winter. The last chapters and the epilogue are set later and just after the war.

This is a well-written story about the strength of people during a war.

Characters = 8 | Atmosphere = 8 | Writing Style = 8 | Plot = 8 | Intrigue = 9 | Logic = 8 | Enjoyment = 9 | Score 8.29 = 4 stars

’ve read and really liked a few of Mandy Robotham’s historical fiction books. Her main characters typically are strong, independent women and the background stories factually accurate.

The Resistance Girl, told from different POVs, focuses on the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II. It tells of the Quisling collaborators and the Norwegian’s courageous resistance, as well Hitler’s secret Aryan maternity program, Lebensborn.

While I didn’t like this book quite as much as Robotham’s others, it still is a well written, worthwhile, engrossing read. It is atmospheric and suspenseful. It is also heartbreaking, given what is happening now in Ukraine. How can this be happening again?

One of the things I particularly like about Robotham’s writing is that she usually ends with a strong resolution, tying up loose ends for all her characters.

I highly recommended Many Robotham’s works.

Norway, 1942: War rages, and operation Shetland bus is in full swing. Under the cover of darkness, Rumi Orlstad and other locals smuggle British Agents, fugitives and supplies across the North Sea to the relative safety of Scotland. But when one mission goes awry, and Rumi's husband is lost to the dangerous waters, she retreats from the clandestine group, vowing never to take to the seas again. But when she learns that her childhood friend Anya has been placed in Lebensborn, one of Himmler's secret Aryan maternity camps, Rumi knows she has to help Anya escape.

Set in Norway during WWII. Rumi met Jen when he was stuck in a tree hanging from his parachute. The courage people like Rumi and Jen showed was second to none. The resistance also played their part. They were dedicated to helping others. I hadn't heard of the Shetland bus that helped smuggle people and supplies from Norway to Scotland. I was quickly drawn into this intriguing and informative read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #MandyRobotham for my ARC of #TheResistanceGirl in exchange for an honest review.