Having just read the resistance girl, I jumped at the chance of this book. Set during World War 2 deep in the Dutch resistance. Hannie, a law student, is moved by love for her Jewish friend, Sonja’s situation into action.
As the story unfolds the reader experiences the highs and the lows; the sadness and the joy, the tension, fear and the sacrifice of the time. If you want to experience bravery and courage look no further, read this book. It is a tale you will not forget. I lived every minute of it.

Thank you Imogen for writing the book, thanks to Bookouture for publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book which I have freely reviewed. Can’t wait to read the next book

The Girl With The Red Hair is the latest historical fiction novel from author Imogen Matthews and the second instalment of her ‘The Dutch Girls’ series.

The story flowed well overall and was well paced. I read the entire book in one sitting, particularly flying through the action-packed second half. There’s also more tension in this book compared to the first book in the series, which is well written and at times had me on the edge of my seat.

I did find that, like Imogen Matthews’ other books, The Girl With The Red Hair does read as more of a YA historical fiction novel, both through the plot and the linguistic choices. For this reason I think this would best suit teenage readers of the genre or older readers who want something less hard-hitting.

Hannie was a courageous and strong female protagonist who really grew into herself as the story progressed. Within this book we also get to revisit Trudi and other familiar members of the resistance from the first book in the series ‘The Girl From The Resistance’ which was a nice addition. I did unfortunately struggled to warm to the character of Sonja, Hannie’s best friend, at all. She was naïve and repeatedly put herself and others in danger, ignoring the warnings of others. This did do a good job of highlighting Hannie’s loyalty as she sticks by her friend and continues to support her throughout this. I would say though that I don’t quite understand why the marketing of this book focuses so heavily on Sonja when the majority of the plot focuses more on Hannie protecting Sonja’s sister Maya.

Unfortunately, the ending of The Girl With The Red Hair really let the rest of the book down. The narrative ends very abruptly, bypassing the fact that the real Hannie Schaft was arrested and executed in the last months of the war. This is discussed in the author’s afterword but not in the story itself. Although this choice may have been made to retain the book’s overall vibe of being a less hard-hitting historical read, this really didn’t sit right with me. I strongly believe that in choosing to write about real heroic individuals from the Second World War – or from any other time period in history – authors have a responsibility to honour their memory and tell their full story. Not including the fact that she was ultimately murdered by the Nazis does not honour Hannie’s memory so this was really disappointing and reduced the book from a 4* to a 3* read for me.

Overall, The Girl With The Red Hair is a well written and easy to read historical fiction novel and a good continuation of the ‘The Dutch Girls’ series. I’d especially recommend it to younger readers who want to learn more about the work of the Dutch resistance during the Nazi occupation.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in no way influenced by the gifting opportunity. Thank you to NetGalley, Imogen Matthews and Bookouture.

An exciting book about a Resistance fighter in a Nazi occupied Territory. I think this book was exciting from beginning to end and also forced you to care for the characters as they care for each other.
I highly enjoyed the telling of the story from a single narrative, something that is rare to find today. I think the character building was clear and well executed. I felt that the book was will planned out and took gaps in time where need but didn't drag on needlessly.
Throughout the book I felt something was missing, I still can't put my finger on it. Perhaps it lacked a bit of authenticity or that something was hidden from the reader.
I would recommend a read and I would say the author did very well with this publication.

In this high-stakes historical fiction novel, readers travel to World War II Netherlands under the Nazi occupation and join the Dutch underground resistance with Hannie, Matthews’s protagonist. Hannie, a college student with vibrant red hair, cannot stand the injustices of the Nazi occupation and hates that her college has shut down and that her Jewish friends Maya and Sonja have gone into hiding. As things grow more difficult, the resistance grows bolder and takes on new duties, and Hannie becomes infamous for her red hair and daring assassinations of Nazi officers -- but this results in some dangerous consequences for Hannie, her friends, and the resistance. Matthews brought the uncertainty and danger of occupied Netherlands to life in this novel, and she has also done an incredible job bringing the many actions of the Dutch resistance to life in this fantastic historical fiction novel. The characters are the star of the show, and Matthews brings several supporting characters and antagonists into the novel, and their interactions with Hannie further the larger narrative and her personal character development over the course of the novel. This is a fantastic addition to the World War II historical fiction genre, and readers are sure to enjoy the characters and stakes in Matthews’ latest novel.

This is another great read by this author. Set in Holland during WW2, Hannie undertakes dangerous missions to help the Resistance against the Nazis. . Gripping read with emotional events

The Girl with the Red Hair by Imogen Matthews

Second in the series of the Dutch girls , and a great read it was.
This time we have Hannie who helped the Dutch resistance.
A brilliant story of a part of ww2 I knew very little about as usually it is the French resistance we read about.
Even better was that Hannie was a real person

Heartbreaking but gripping read, telling the importance of the resistance during the war. Couldn’t put this book down. Would recommend

This Is a historical fiction set during World War II. It follows a set of friends, Sonja & Hannie, while they are college aged. Sonja, hiding from the Germans, and Hannie doing anything to help her. Over time, Hannie joins the resistance and you really get to see her story evolve, watch her mature and grow up, and change over time.

A story like this is so likeable because the characters are relatable and real. I found the character development to be very good and left me wanting to continue to know them by the end of the book. It was heartbreaking at times but also empowering and courageous.

Overall, I rated it a 4 out of 5. I felt some parts were slow and felt the ending was a bit rushed but overall really enjoyed this read and thought Hannie's character development was well written.

Thank you to Bookouture, Imogen Matthews, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. This is the second in a series about female Dutch resistance fighters. This story focuses on Hannie Schaft, who inspires this historical fiction story. Hannie and Sonia are best friends at the University at the start of World War II. When the University closes, Sonja and her sister Maya, who are Jewish go into hiding, but Sonja doesn't cope well with it, taking more risks, and Hannie gets involved with the resistance. She soon becomes sought after by the Nazis due to her red hair.


It was an interesting read and I've learned a lot about the Dutch resistance during World War II through these two books. I was inspired by the passion that Hanne had for helping others as well as her friendship with others, including Jan another female resistance fighter, Trudi. For those who read the first book, it was nice to see Trudi and her sister Freddy up here in this book as well. I'm always amazed at the bravery of these people who put everything on the line for their country and the freedom of their fellow citizens. It was a great, fast-paced read and I look forward to the next book in the series.


Thanks to @bookouture @netgalley and the author for this ARC

The shelves of bookshops seem to be awash with novels set during World War Two lately. Perhaps we are turning to the horrors of this period to take our minds away from our current war torn and much troubled world? But if you choose to read the works of just one author in this genre make it Imogen Matthews.
Imogen's family connections to the Netherlands have obviously fuelled her imagination, and now she writes about the strong, brave women who stood up to the Nazi brutes who had overrun and occupied the country, with tender sincerity and sometimes chilling and heartbreaking realism.
Hannie Schaft was beautiful, brave and bold, and acted as though fearless in her work with the Dutch Resistance. Her story is compelling, and reading this novel based on real people and real events was an emotional rollercoaster.

The Girl with the Red Hair is the second in The Dutch Girls Trilogy by Imogen Matthews and I have to say it is the best book that I have read by this author so far. Previous books I have found at times to be slow going with not much occurring. Instead here, I found the writing much tighter and to the point and this book was very well plotted and executed. The female protagonist Hannie is a strong, courageous and stalwart character who is an incredible symbol of the Dutch Resistance at the time of World War Two. I was surprised to discover that she was in fact a real person and as the author said in her end notes she is not that widely known outside of the Netherlands but here Imogen Matthews has certainly given her a voice. She is a character that will live long in your mind once you have finished reading for her accomplishments and daring deeds at a time when her country was experiencing great suffering under the hands of the Nazi’s and especially the Jewish population which she has a strong connection to through her best friend Sonja.

The book opens with a brief prologue which sets the tone for the remainder of the novel and has your mind racing with many questions. I presumed the events of said prologue would feature again towards the end of the book but instead it resurfaces around the halfway point which in turn sets Hannie on a different and exciting trajectory. Hannie is studying law with Sonja in Amsterdam in 1940 but there is a fear that the Germans will invade and this soon comes to fruition. Life is suddenly changed for everyone and persecution, especially of Jews, runs rampant with Sonja being a target because of her faith. But Sonja believes in living life to the full and continues with her studies despite Jews being pushed out of their jobs and homes and being rounded up for no reason other than the Germans want rid of them.

Hannie lives in a constant state of peril that something will happen to Sonja and she does her best to prevent this. She is the most loyal friend that one could have. Anxiety, menace and strain are the predominant feelings throughout the book and they increase with every turn of the page. Everyone is in danger and in my mind Sonja put herself in danger and directly in the firing line time and time again and unnecessarily. Hannie did her best to protect her, finding her places to hide where she must stay indoors, and Sonja’s sister Maya has to do the same. In my opinion, Sonja was such a frustrating character in that she never heeded advice even though it was for her own good and safety. She is selfish in that she never listens to people who are doing the best to protect her from the worst fate that could befall her and she is putting her helpers in danger too. I questioned at times how Hannie could stand by someone who goes against the grain in a bad way and does everything that she shouldn’t but I suppose it did highlight the deep friendship and bond that they had.

At the halfway point, there are certainly very dramatic events which turns the story on its head and once the reader comes up for a brief gulp of air they plunge once again into the story and off it goes into a new and exciting direction. I was a bit perturbed by this initially as I thought ah no that cant happen and I am only halfway through the book but several chapters into the second half I realised the plot needed this and it allowed for a connection back to the first book, The Girl from the Resistance. I loved when old familiar characters were introduced as to often with books in a series there can just be the merest connections between the books and they can’t really be classed as series at all but here it was different. I loved getting to know Trudi, Freddie and Frans again and I thought the later half of the story was even better than the first.

Every small act of kindness is worthwhile and Hannie certainly takes these words to heart. She moves in with a group who are carrying out resistance work in Amsterdam whilst continuing her studies and there she meets Jan. There is a connection between the pair which does grow but there are challenging times ahead for them and so many others. Hannie finds that despite the attention her red hair attracts that she is good at resistance work and it becomes like a drug to her in that she needs to get involved more and more. She is the epitome of a resistance woman, a fighter who is determined, brave, courageous and ferociously anti fascist. She is a go getter and extremely pro-active, never resting and getting deeply involved in the most dangerous of tasks alongside Trudi when she moves away from Amsterdam to Haarlem. As she felt so stifled by her over protective parents I think she did rebel a bit in getting so involved with the resistance movement but even if this had not been the case everything she saw and witnessed and the humiliation and suffering endured by the Jews I think would have spurred her on to do as much as she could with the Resistance anyway.

As I raced towards the finale, the chapters just seemed to fly by as they were so many action packed and nail biting dramatic and heart-breaking events occurring. Someone is in danger and needs the help of Hannie and Jan but through taking an active stand against the Germans Hannie has become caught up in dangers and situations she never thought possible. My heart was in my mouth as the pair raced to try and prevent more angst and horror occurring. I questioned whether they would be successful at all? The Girl With The Red Hair was a terrific read and I feel Imogen Matthews is really coming into her own and finding a strong voice with her books. Hannie’s bravery and her actions are outstanding making her a character who is unforgettable. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see what other incredible Dutch women we will be introduced to.

Hannie is a Dutch woman who struggles to help her Jewish best friends Sonja and her little sister Maya find safety during the war. Along the way Hannie is drawn into resistance work, where she meets many kindred spirits and the mysterious Jan. This story explores Hannie’s transition from university student to top resistance worker, the heartbreaking realities she faces in her relationships with others and her determination to work against the Germans and to save lives.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book, based on a true story. I felt many parts of it were well written and other parts needed more detail or strategic editing. Overall, however, the book really captured my interest, was compelling and certainly drew in your emotions. I did find the ending to be a bit abrupt and I did not realize it was the end until the next paragraph was promoting another book! While the main storylines in the book were completed, I would have loved more information on what Hannie did next.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Hannie and Sonja are inseparable best friends and they are living in Nazi occupied Amsterdam. The year is 1942 and the streets and canals that they loved are now constantly patrolled by Nazi soldiers. Hannie’s life completely changes when she decides to join the underground resistance. She must hide her bright red hair to avoid being seen by the Nazis. Her mission is to deliver fake IDs. She vows to keep her best friend Sonja and her younger sister Maya, safe by hiding them from the Nazis. Sonja and Maya are Jewish and Hannie will stop and nothing to keep them safe. Then the unimaginable happens, Sonja receives word that members of her family are taken prisoner. Hannie goes undercover as a nurse to find them, but when she discovers that they were taken to a concentration camp, she must risk her life to save them. Then Hannie’s worst fear happens when Sonja is taken and Hannie is her only hope.

The Girl With The Red Hair written by author Imogen Matthews is a heartbreaking and emotional story. This book had me flying through the pages as my heart pounded, I couldn’t put it down. At the flip of each page I was completely enthralled with the story. I had to get to the end as fast as possible to see how this great story would end. Hannie was a wonderful and loveable character as was Sonja, and their friendship was amazing. I was heartbroken when Sonja was taken and I was inspired when Hannie would stop at nothing and risk everything to save her friend. This story pulled at my heartstrings and I cried many times throughout the book. What a wonderful addition to The Dutch Girls Series. All though it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone novel. I loved this story and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author Imogen Matthews for this ARC to read and review!

The Girl With The Red Hair is book two in the Dutch Girls series … a set of hist fics that take place in the Netherlands during WW2. Stories of incredible women with such displays of bravery & strength ... not only survive, but to do what they can to fight for justice & freedom! It’s one of those books that will have your heart pounding with suspense, breaking with sadness and soaring with hope! Any lover of historical fiction will enjoy this one!

A story of a brave young woman who lived in Amsterdam during WWII. She has red hair, that has to be hidden if she is to help her friends and fellow Dutch people. Well written and well researched. An interesting aspect of WWII, taking place in the country of my ancestors, so therefore my interest is understandable!

I read a lot of historical fiction. I’ve lost count of the books I’ve read set during WWII. I really enjoyed The Girl with the RedHair. The plot is a bit different from the books I tend to read about WWII which tend to focus on the front and the lives of soldiers or other people involved in the War such as nurses. I liked the fact the author chose something a little bit different with this book. I didn’t like Hannie at first, she seemed to vain and silly and it took a long time for me to get on board with her. This is a well-written and engaging read. I really enjoyed it. I’d recommend this book.

The Girl With The Red Hair is the 2nd book in The Dutch Girls series. Inspired by true events of bravery and courage as women help fight for justice and freedom. I found it a little slow to start with, however fell in love with the characters, the friendships, hope and love. An enjoyable historical WW2 read. 3 1/2 stars

I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheGirlwiththeRedHair #NetGalley.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this book are solely my own.

The Girl with the Red Hair is the second of a series, but I didn't notice. It could very much stand-alone, which I love in a series.

It was a good book focusing on the survival of a Jewish woman and the brav3 people in the Netherlands/Amsterdam resistance. It's nice to get a break from the French resistance stories as there have been plenty of those of late. Good book, but nothing super exciting. However, I do want to read books 1 and 3.

Such a striking cover, and the story held my attention throughout. Hannie becomes an active member of the Resistance and finds love in the most unlikely of places. But with the war raging and those she loves most in danger, will she be able to explore this romance and save her Jewish friends from a dark fate? You'll need to read the book to find out.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reading copy.

WWII in the Netherlands was a trying period. The Dutch displayed so much courage in both covert and overt ways against the invaders.
Hanni does her part and more. I read the chapters with a pounding heart because I didn’t know if she would make it through another heist.
I thought Sonja was foolish but I understand her claustrophobic sentiments.
I’m glad Matthews ended the story as she did but gave the afterward to fill me in.
Matthews’ personal connection to these stories gives them even more authencity.