I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I am an avid reader of WWII historical fiction and like reading books from different perspectives of the types of people that would have lived through it. This book is from the perspective of two Aryan sisters, one part of the resistance, one married to a Nazi.

I'm not sure why some call this a "Nazi love story" as the focus is on a woman who is married to a man before he becomes a Nazi, who struggles with his decisions as well as the decision to stay with him or not. Whether we like it or not, I'm sure it was a struggle that many families went through during WWII.

I always enjoy a story from this time period even though sometimes it's pretty horrifying to read. This was an emotional read but really good. Loved the characters and didn't want their stories to end.

This is a very emotional read. It took me some time to read it because of this but once I got past that, I didn’t want it to end.

I loved the strength and determination of the characters. It was a bit harrowing but the author gave her characters caring hearts which made me care about them so much.

It’s not a fast read which I also liked but the story pulled me in. I would like to read more books by this author.

My thanks to Netgalley for the copy. Opinions are my own.

Occupation comes to the Netherlands and the Dutch had a choice: “do you collaborate, keep your head down, or actively resist?” Two sisters make different choices. Johanna actively resists and forms a an underground network. Lisabeth copes by keeping her head down afraid to stand up to her husband that bets on the Nazis and supports them to receive better treatment. As time goes on, can Johanna continue to resist. Can Lisabeth continue to keep her head down when things around her continue to get worse.

I enjoyed Ellen Keith’s debut novel, The Dutch Wife, back in 2018 when I read it. I even got to meet her and hear how her first book came to be. Always inspiring to hear from debut authors! I didn’t love the book but I liked it enough that I knew I’d read the Canadian author’s next novel, whenever it came. That moment is finally now as The Dutch Orphan is out in the world today. I read it a few weeks ago though… “read” might be a bit of a stretch. I skimmed. I wanted to know the ending and how Keith wrapped up things for her characters but I didn’t really care. And that made me so sad!

Here’s the book’s description:
Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as her Jewish friends are forbidden from performing with her onstage, and the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased. Johanna helps organize the Artists' Resistance, an underground network that arranges for Jewish musicians to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna is told about a Jewish orphan who is headed for deportation, she does not think twice: she takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from everyone, including her sister, Liesbeth.
Meanwhile, Liesbeth de Wit finds herself torn between her sister and her failing marriage. She knows Johanna is an ally of the Resistance, while her husband actively supports the Dutch Fascist Party. As the sisters navigate the ongoing Nazi occupation, they find themselves growing further and further apart. And when another charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on Liesbeth, her predicament only deepens.
As the war unfolds, secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond. Eventually, both women are forced to make a choice that will alter their lives forever: the choice between family and freedom.
I think my ultimate problem with this novel was the characters. I couldn’t understand their motivations, not really. And, sure, a part of that is I literally cannot imagine what it would be like to have my city become occupied by Nazi soldiers. I recognize that. But Keith still should have been able to make me see why they were acting in certain ways. Johanna, for example, seemed like a really smart woman but she acted like an absolute idiot on a number of occasions in the novel that put herself and others in danger. Liesbeth, on the other hand, had absolutely no spine until suddenly she did? Maybe I missed the growing of the spine because I had really started skimming by that point but the plot points in the novel at that spot didn’t quite seem like enough to make her change. I also couldn’t forgive her for something she did and I don’t know how other characters would be able to either.

I knew that Keith had a connection to the resistance in the Netherlands because of the event I went to after the release of The Dutch Wife (recap here). She also wrote a good part (if not all) of The Dutch Orphan while living in Amsterdam, which is where the book is set. I appreciate that kind of connection to the story and I really feel like that came through in the heart of the story. And it was that heart that had me finish the book.



What Keith’s novel does well is really hit home what it was like to live in Amsterdam specifically, and the Netherlands generally, during World War II. For some reason, I always forget that they were occupied by the Nazis beginning in May 1940. So, I appreciate that reminder of history and the examples of how everyday Dutch residents worked to protect their Jewish neighbours and undermine the soldiers’ orders. I had the feeling that I was there right alongside Jo and Lies, which, to be honest, was really hard sometimes. The suffering was intense and I was thankful for my own life circumstances as I read it.

All in all, The Dutch Orphan was an interesting historical fiction read with a lot of heart. I didn’t love Ellen Keith’s sophomore novel but I’m still willing to give her another chance whenever she publishes a third. I think if you really like learning about World War II history, especially the parts that we don’t always learn about in Canada (even though Canadians played a role in liberating the Netherlands), you should still pick up a copy of this one from your local library.

Content warnings: miscarriage/stillbirth, pregnancy, infertility, war, prison camps, murder, infidelity, suicide

*An egalley of this novel was provided by HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

War arrives in Amsterdam. Sisters Johanna and Liesbeth, who have always been close, are on different paths. Johanna becomes part of the Resistance and secretly takes on an orphaned Jewish baby as her own. Liesbeth marries a man who becomes an NSB member and supports Nazi ideals. She is torn between her sister and the man she feels more and more removed from. How do the two women manage these relationships and make decisions that will impact their lives forever?

This book was an interesting exploration into relationships, motivations and the things people will do both in times of war and in its aftermath. It explored the changing relationship of the two sisters and the dilemmas they faced in staying true to themselves in the different situations in which they found themselves. I found myself dropping other tasks to read this book as I wanted to discover what happened next to each of them. The book was well written and a speedy read.

The Netherlands are officially occupied by Germany. This throws a family onto opposite sides. Johanna is married to a Dutch resistor but her sister, Liesbeth, is married to a pharmacist who supports Hitler.

I loved how the author portrays each side of the war and how it affects the family. As a reader, you have feelings for both sisters as they each struggle with their political issues within the family. One actually ends up in a concentration camp because of her situation and the horrors she endures will make you want to scream, cry and throw the book across the room.

I enjoyed the setting of Amsterdam during WWII. Most books set in this time period are not set in the Netherlands. This country was occupied by the Germans and this story delves into the occupation and the terror the Nazis forced onto this group of people. But the Dutch are smart! They do not take this without a fight!

Need a good WWII novel with a different setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This was one of my highly anticipated books of 2023. As someone who has read many WW2 books I was drawn to this particlar book because of the location, blurb and that cover.

The story follows two sisters who are newly married and dealing with the war in vastly different ways. One sister joins the resistance, while the other is married to a Nazi sympathizer. This story explores how the war affected those living in the Netherlands, a location that is not often explored in WW2 fiction.

The Dutch Orphan is a story of family, endurance and heartache. Since it spans throughout the whole years of the war there is also reconciliation. It is a well written story that was authentic and showed what the dutch endured and also their strength and determination, loyalty and courage.

Released just yesterday it’s a book I recommend not just for lovers of HF.

My thanks to Park Row Books (via NetGalley) for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

Reading this book was very eye opening as I hadn't really know anything about the German occupation of The Netherlands during WWII. There were many parts which were hard to read because they were so heartbreaking and horrendous. I loved how the bond between friends, family, and citizens was really emphasized. This novel impacted me deeply.

2.5 Stars
This novel is set primarily in Amsterdam during World War II. Two sisters find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Johanna is a singer who has many Jewish acquaintances among her circle of musicians and performers. She sets out to raise money to help protect the Jews whose lives and livelihoods are more and more constrained. Her sister Liesbeth is married to Maurits, a Nazi sympathizer, and though she doesn’t always agree with his beliefs and behaviour, she doesn’t challenge him because “it wasn’t her role.” The danger increases when a Jewish orphan requires protection. Not trusting Liesbeth, Johanna keeps secrets from her sister, and gradually their once-close bond starts to unravel. Will they be able to reconnect after the war ends?

I found it very difficult to connect with either sister. Liesbeth is weak and shallow; though she has misgivings about the NSB, the Dutch Fascist Party, she becomes involved with a member of the movement. She describes herself as having been selfish as a child, but her actions suggest that she still is. She feels lonely so she betrays someone she loves? She is also stupid, not seeing all the so-obvious clues about the truth behind a man’s job, house, and possessions. Johanna also lacks intelligence. She is on the lookout for an informer but even when she witnesses suspicious behaviour, she dismisses it as a coincidence. Then, when she learns the identity of a bounty hunter, she decides to confront him directly. When that doesn’t end well, she replays the events “examining every detail, trying to figure out where I’d gone wrong”?!

There is a lack of tension at the beginning. Then though there is more later, the reader knows that everything will work out in the end. When one of the sisters finds herself in a dangerous position, it’s amazing how she manages to extricate herself. She indicates she “’had a lot of luck’” and that’s an understatement. A guard takes an interest in her for some vague reason, and a German officer finds her, “an unwashed stranger with a Dutch accent,” but doesn’t question her and, instead, offers her food and accommodation?

There are elements that I found strange and/or annoying. The title is an issue because the orphan does not appear until one-third through the book, and the story is more about the sisters than the child. Every time Willem appears, it seems we are told that he pushes up his glasses “with his middle finger”! The Germans are “hooked” on Pervitin, a methamphetamine, but it’s “perfectly safe”? At one point Johanna states she is in charge of organizing the guest list for secret house concerts, but later it is mentioned that the host “composed the guest list” and “the concert hosts vetted the lists before Jakob and I saw them”? Someone can see a film of a family outing to the beach and recognize the people as Jewish? An anti-Semite would be knowledgeable about a Jewish High Holy Day and say, “’By Rosh Hashanah, the whole city will be Judenrein’”? A woman knows nothing about sewing but “By the third shirt, I’d started to get the knack of it. My hands coaxed the fabric through the machine with ease”?

Some sections are vague. Prisoners were allowed to get a change of clothes to bring with them and to stay in contact with their families? The Germans confiscate bicycles and Johanna’s is taken by an Order Policeman by a canal one evening but she later has it when going to find Dirk?

Characters are introduced and then disappear. Nelly first appears three-quarters through the book and is mentioned ten times and then never again. The fate of some fairly important characters is just mentioned in passing. Is Marijke de Graaf the same woman as appears in the author’s previous novel The Dutch Wife?

Having enjoyed The Dutch Wife, I hoped to like this novel as well. Unfortunately, it is a disappointment. The characters are not engaging and there are just too many holes and inconsistencies. I read a digital galley so perhaps some of these problems have been addressed in the final copy.

I love books about WWII and am happy to see more books coming out about the Dutch Resistance. The people of The Netherlands suffered greatly during the war, and I couldn’t put this book about two sisters in Amsterdam down.

Johanna is a young married woman with musical ambitions and the desire to start a family. Her younger sister, Liesbeth, is headstrong and enjoys life as a newlywed to an up-and-coming pharmacist. When the Nazis occupy Amsterdam, they must reckon with the choices forced upon them by the invaders and their own loved ones - resist or comply. As the Nazi web of terror grows closer, each sister finds the courage needed to survive the war and help those in need.

I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened to Johanna, Liesbeth, and their families. The horror of the Nazi atrocities keeps stunning me in every WWII book I read, and the way Johanna, in particular, finds her inner strength to resist their abuse will stay with me a long time. I can only hope that I would be as strong if needed.

Having visited Amsterdam and its famed Anne Frank house and Dutch Resistance Museum, I walked the same streets as Johanna and Liesbeth, seeing the Amsterdam Zoo and the storied canals. It’s hard to imagine the horrific scenes taking place on the very cobblestones where I walked, which is why it’s so important for books like this to continue to be published.

I highly recommend this book for fans of WWII historical fiction and those who love reading about women who rise above the most unimaginable challenges to fight for what’s right.

The Dutch Orphan by Ellen Keith is another WWII novel. I really enjoy reading books about this time period and this book did not disappoint. The setting is Amsterdam 1941 and there is a resistance movement allowing musicians like JaKob to be able to still play their music. Jews were no longer allowed to perform so houses would host these private sessions. Johanna is a good friend of Jakob and helps set these sessions up despite the fact that sister's husband is a staunch Nazi supporter. To add to the suspense of the book, Johanna (who recently lost a baby to stillbirth) is asked to take in a Jewish child and raise her as her own. Her and her husband agree despite the risks. They agree to tell no one. But will this happen?

Jewish people involved in the music resistance started to be taken in by the Germans. How are they being found? Is there a traitor in their midst? Johanna is soon taken in as a traitor. Will her baby be safe? Is anyone safe? Add to the mix a man of mysterious wealth who takes a liking to Liesbeth. Is he the traitor? Who is? ‘

Not just another WWII book, but one that will keep you wondering until the end of the book. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a chance to read this book and give an honest review.

WW2 novels are some of my favorites, and I love reading them based in different settings, such as this. Music is a huge part of my life, so that angle interested me. Based on that, I thought I would really enjoy this book. However, it fell a bit flat for me. Characters weren't as developed as I'd expected, and that made them hard to connect to. And I didn't really care for Liesbeth at all. The pace was a bit too slow, and that made it challenging to stay engaged.

**I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of The Dutch Orphan by Ellen Keith from NetGalley. Opinions in this review are completely my own.**

I love WW2 novels and just seeing the different perspectives of books set in different European countries. I haven't read really any set in Amsterdam so it was neat to get that historical context. I liked how some people worked to keep music and culture alive through the war. It was also interesting to read a book where family members were broken up because of their differing beliefs. Lisebeth's husband supports the Nazis and she is too weak to really have her own opinion on anything. Johanna supports the Resistance and helps them in some ways throughout the book.

That said, I liked the storyline and premise for the book. That said, the characters were just kind of blah to me. I was very annoyed by Liesbeth as she seemed to have no backbone or personality, and honestly I kind of wanted her to be punished like her husband in the end. I was not rooting for her at all.

As we view the Nazi Party's rise to power through the eyes of two sisters in Amsterdam in 1941, we learn how loyalty to your heart and beliefs might be stronger than family bonds. Johanna Vos is a singer and friend with many Jewish performers, artists, and musicians. Liesbeth, Johanna's sister, loves her husband who believes Hitler is the future and will do what he can to pave his path. The sister's lives are strained as they each do what they must-- one for her friends and the other for her husband. But can one save a Jewish child without her sister knowing? What would she do if she knew? All while the war is turning and it seems that no one is safe. A new take and understanding of life in Amsterdam during the war--and women who made unfathomable choices.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC.

What a powerful read, a story of love and loss, and so much pain, as the evil that has roving Europe comes across the boarder of Holland.
Two sisters and a brother, and we follow this family, mainly the sisters. Beginning when their boarder is crossed and one sister is with the resistance, while the others husband joins the the evil that is trying to wipe out a religion, so much hate.
Will these two sisters have a relationship by the end of this war? We are with each of them, and wonder at times if either will survive.
We know how this all works out, but the author gives a personal look at the horrible happenings, and how so many families, men, women and children were affected.
I will be looking for more great reads by Ellen Keith!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

Two sisters on two different sides.

Johanna was married to a resistor and Liesbeth was married to a man supporting Hitler.

They always have been close, but this war separated them.

Another thing that separated them was that Liesbeth was trying to become pregnant while Joanna was trying not to become pregnant but did.

We learn of the lives of these two women and the residents of Amsterdam as they struggle through the war to stay alive, to help others, and for the sisters to try to not become estranged even farther because of the secrets they are keeping from each other.

THE DUTCH ORPHAN takes a few chapters to get into, but as you read, as the tension rises, as relationships are strained, and as the story line marvelously moves along it is one you won't want to put down.

It will appeal to historical fiction fans and women fiction fans as the reader gets pulled into the lives of Johanna and Liesbeth in hopes the sisters will become close again and as the reader gets involved with the tense situations of the war.

ENJOY!! 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Dutch Orphan is a well written historical fiction with a bit of everything in it, from mystery, to sacrifice, to redemption, to heartbreak and love. If you like books about WWII, this one is a must read.
Following two sisters, Johanna and Liesbeth, in alternating chapters this novel explores family relationships, and the choices they make and the consequences of those choices. Liesbeth is married to a Nazi supporter, while her sister Johanna supports the Resistance which puts them on opposite sides of the war. What lengths would you go to, to save yourself and the people you love? This book explores that and so much more. I would highly recommend this book and really enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.