It was 1942 in Amsterdam and Germany's occupation of the country was ramping up, worsening by the day, as they brutally rounded up the Jewish population, sending them to a nearby camp, Westerbork. And most of them were sent further on to Auschwitz in Poland. Hannie needed to protect her best friend Sonja and her younger sister Maya, as they were Jewish. But Sonja rebelled at having to be in hiding. As students both Hannie and Sonja found the change of life style difficult. Their university had been forcibly closed, but books were still available for study.

When Hannie joined the Resistance, she was determined to do more for the people of her country, to stop the oppressors. But it wasn't easy. More and more difficult assignments came Hannie's way - but her long red tresses meant she was memorable, and soon the Germans knew who she was and were after her. Could Hannie keep out of their way and continue with her Resistance work as well? She knew the danger was high; but time was of the essence...

The Girl with the Red Hair by Imogen Matthews is an excellent historical novel, based on the true story of a young Dutch woman who did everything in her power to fight for justice and freedom - just as Hannie did. I found the characters extremely likeable and well fleshed out; the usual story of the Nazis oppression makes me despair that it's happening again in other countries in the world. Highly recommended.

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

This is the second book in this series. Some of the characters from the first book make reappearances.
All in all, these are thrilling, unputdownable works of historical fiction about the Resistance in the Occupied Netherlands during WW2. The bravery of these people who took such great risks to save Jews from being murdered by Hitler is always awe-inspiring.
I hope the third one is released quickly!

The Girl with the Red Hair by Imogen Matthews is a poignant and gripping novel that plunges the reader into the heart of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. Through the lives of Hannie, Sonja, and their circle, Matthews paints a vivid picture of the fear, bravery, and camaraderie that defined one of history's darkest times.

Matthews' narrative of friendship, resistance, and the relentless pursuit of justice id beautifully crafted. Hannie's character, with her distinctive red hair and indomitable spirit, embodies the resilience of those who fought against the oppression of the Nazi regime from the shadows. Her journey is not just a tale of survival, but a testament to the power of human will to effect change in the face of insurmountable odds.

An interesting story of two women, one trying to hide and the other trying to fight against the Nazis in WWII Holland.

THE GIRL WITH THE RED HAIR by IMOGEN MATTHEWS is a heartbreaing WW11 novel which takes place in Holland during Germany’s occupation. It is a sad but honest story as we see how easy it was to fall prey to the enemy. We also see unconditioal love, incredible bravery and loyalty.
Hannie Schaft is a university student who has flaming red hair, which she was teased about at school. We see how her carelessness in covering her hair caused her to become a wanted person and nearly stopped her work for the resistance.
Haninie’s best friend Sonja is a Jewess and her refusal to stay in hiding caused problems for Hannie and the people who sheltered her. I like to see Hannie’s loyalty towards Sonja and her younger siste Maya, who had the same character traits as her sister. Hanny and her friends went straight from the excitement of univesity life into the horrror of life under Nazi rule. I like to see the honesty of the young people’s feelings. The author does not sugar coat the things they did to save Jwish lives. We get a broad spectrum of what the members of the resistance went through during that dreadful time in history…..
It is an exciting and inspirational read and one I can recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I love Imogene Martin. She has never let me down in a story. It’s 1942 in Amsterdam - two friends watch the Nazis hurt their loved ones. As young ladies they do all they can to help. This is based on a true story which makes it all the more gripping to me. Definitely a five star!!

I’ve been on a historical fiction kick lately and have read a lot of fabulous books. This book just didn’t do it for me the way I had hoped it would. Maybe it’s just because it had a lot to live up to from previous books I’ve read.

It was refreshing to read a wwii novel where the main characters pov comes from someone working with the resistance. So many of the wwii novels I’ve read recently have been from the pov of a Jewish prisoner, which can be very heavy on my heart. I always admire a strong female main character.

Hannie cares deeply about her friends and family, as well as the injustices of the world. She wants to make the world a better place. That is certainly admirable. However, I struggled to feel a connection to her or any of the other characters. I felt that the writing was very stilted, and every chapter ended abruptly which became frustrating for me.

Overall, this book just didn’t hold my attention and I struggled to get through it. I will more than likely try another book by this author just to see if it was this book specifically, or if I just don’t jive with the authors writing style. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book!

I had read the first book in this series, THE GIRL FROM THE RESISTANCE, and loved it. So when I saw this, the second book available on NetGalley, I couldn’t wait to request it. And I was so grateful once learning I was approved.

The novel tells a deeply moving story of the sacrifices forced upon innocent people during WWII and the bravery of the Dutch resistance against an enemy whose reign of terror knew no bounds. But individuals like our protagonist, Hannie, and her dear friend whom she grows to love, Jan, saw what horrors the Nazis were inflicting on innocent families, and decided they would stand up for those people who needed it most. What makes this story more poignant is knowing it is based on true events of a young woman who stood up to the Nazis in the most heroic of ways, putting others before herself.

Imogen Matthews’s account in her novel is heart-wrenching in its honesty of the horrors of war surrounding the Holocaust, and her writing helps us as readers truly feel a connection to the characters. The novel did seem to move a bit slowly in parts, but this did not impact my enjoyment of it. The accounts such as portrayed in THE GIRL WITH THE RED HAIR remind us that evil can take many forms, and although there are no limits to the depravity of some human beings, their are also no limits to human heroism, selflessness, and resilience.

THE GIRL WITH THE RED HAIR is a testament to the power of hope, love, and unyielding heroism against the backdrop of one of history’s darkest times. I became so invested in Hannie and Jan’s journey. The story is heartbreaking and I admit brought tears to my eyes. And I have to say that I loved the dedication of the book. It reminds us as we read historical fiction about WWII that real people suffered through the horrors that permeate off of the pages, bravely enduring unimaginable tragedies and loss.

I want to thank NetGalley, Imogen Matthews, and Bookouture for gifting me the ARC of THE GIRL WITH THE RED HAIR! It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!

Dnf'ed at page 97

Hannie (Jo as was her nickname until she went into the resistance) is so incredibly stupid it's insulting. And it's not just her but the entire resistance she is a part of. They just post an advertisment for a housemate while they are printing illegal newspaper in the kitchen? I guess they just hoped it would be someone that didn't mind that. Sonja is whiny to a fault, and Maya just going to her sisters schuiladres because she didn't want to be with her parents, darling children half your age were in hiding ALONE let alone with family members. And then in the final part of the latest chapter Nel and Hannie just talk about their opinions, the resistance work of Hannie and the resistance work of Jan in public, and only when Hannie doesn't get the reply she wanted does she realise that this might be dangerous. No shit sherlock, your talking could get lots of people arrested and killed.

I love WWII books. This one was okay. It felt like it should be for young adults. Some parts seemed a bit unrealistic. The main character was very naive. Overall, I enjoyed it. But it definitely wasn’t my favorite.

I really enjoyed seeing familiar names of Dutch areas in this book. World war II books are hard to read about due to the amount of tragedy and awfulness that happened at that time. But this author has a way of still giving hope amidst all the sorrow that happened.



I particularly enjoy the characters of Hannie and Jan their strength in joining the resistance was amazing. I found Sonja to be a little frustrating due to the choices that she made.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

The Girl with the Red Hair is a historical fiction novel and takes place during WWII with the Dutch resistance to their occupation to Germany. This book follows Hannie who was studying law at the University of Amsterdam before the war broke and how she joins the resistance movement. The book was slow for me at times but overall the author wrote this book well and I liked the characters in The Girl with the Red Hair. This is a book that I enjoyed and would recommend this book to any reader who likes historical fiction books. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for The Girl with the Red Hair in exchange of my honest review of this historical fiction book.

The title of this book seemed strange to me at first, but the main character Hannie's red hair is crucial to the storyline.

This is a typical, heartbreaking Holocaust story full of emotion; there's love, guilt, and most importantly, friendship.
It's well-written, with a nice flow and compelling characters. I enjoyed reading it, especially the second half, which was more action-packed.

However, I felt like it was lacking a certain depth that would have made it more forceful. The Jewish sisters are hiding, but they seem more interested in carousing than watching their lives. I guess I can't help but compare it to my Jewish grandmother who was hiding with her sister in Hungary during the Holocaust and was in constant fear. She was sent into hiding and did not protest, as do these girls. She had to leave sometimes to get food, but she knew she was in mortal danger and would never have left because she "felt stifled." And when they were found out, they ran for their lives into the forest. So the girls here seem at best immature, and for me at least, hard to relate to as realistic.

I didn't find the plot original, but it provides a readable account of a terrible moment in history. This might be more suitable for a YA or teen audience.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

Hannie is studying at law school in Amsterdam, her best friend, Sonja, is also at the same school on a different course. Both girls are looking forward to their future.

As war rages, the Germans occupy Amsterdam and we follow Sonja as she struggles to be able to even go out anymore - because she is a Jew.

Hannie does her best to support her friend, but even she is finding things harder with the German soldiers everywhere.

This is a sad story based on the Resistance. It is a story that we all need to hear about, the Resistance did so much to try and stop the Germans, even putting their own lives at risk.

This is a tale of love, hope, fear and death. The characters were believable and I found myself rooting for them.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

*ARC Read!! Book to be released on March 20,2024*

The Girl with the Red Hair by Imogen Matthews

PITCH: The Nightingale meets All the Light We Cannot See as told by The History Channel

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book sets you in the time and place of WW2 Amsterdam, a place not often chosen as a site of good use for a historical novel. I felt as though I were exploring a place with a charm and history of its own; I want to go visit it now! While Hannie’s story is incredible, some of the storytelling left me wanting a deeper connection. I was left with a new perspective on so many of the unsung heroines of the war.

#historicalfiction #worldwar2 #amsterdam
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Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

The story is about Hannie, in Amsterdam she’s a student at university, with her other friends. One of her friends is a Jew, and she’s not happy with what is happening to her country by the hands of the Germans.

Wanting to do something , she joins the resistance, as war is continuing and showing no signs of ending, Hannie finds herself getting more involved in the work of the resistance.

She is recognisable because she has red hair, therefore she’s more likely to be watched by the Germans.

I recommend this book.

The Girl With The Red Hair by Imogen Matthews is a powerful historical novel that is grounded in fact.
The action is set in the Netherlands during World War II. We see the lives of the Dutch move from freedom to persecution as the Nazis marched in and tightened their grip on the country.
We witness the fear as good people hide their Jewish friends and strangers. We can understand the frustration of those in hiding – but is it really worth the risk of going outdoors?
Ordinary people commit extraordinary acts of bravery. It is surprising to learn of the hidden talents of some – being able to forge documents, de-code messages etc.
We follow members of the resistance. They are asked to do things one would never usually dream of – such as handling a gun.
Friendships and love blossom even in times of war. We have to be prepared for loss and heartache.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn. Many worked together to disrupt the Nazi war machine and to save the Jewish people.
There was the question of trust. We meet unscrupulous people who are ruthless and report their neighbours to the Nazis, for personal gain.
The Girl With The Red Hair was a compulsive read that I could not put down.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

story line is set in ww11 in holland about a young university student hannie and her life with her friends coping with the german soldiers and her life with the resistance the story was quite sad in parts and very worthy of 5 stars definately a must read x

This book is due to be published on 20th March. I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Unintentionally I seem to have read a lot of WWII themed books recently. This story focuses on an aspect I have read little about, namely the Dutch resistance to their occupation by Germany. It follows Hannie, who is studying law at the University of Amsterdam when war breaks out. Propelled by the violent murder of her Jewish friend and the eventual closure of the university by the Nazis (the “Moffen”), Hannie is enraged and joins the resistance movement.

The genre is historical fiction, but I had to wonder if it is also aimed at young adults. The language is very simple and reads more like “teenage girls doing teenage stuff” in a monstrous setting. Matthews often writes in clichés “her heart thumped in her chest - she was pouring over - a sigh of frustration – overcome by a deep feeling of dread….”. Furthermore, descriptions of Nazi behavior are far tamer than most accounts; at one point the girls “plot to trick the Nazis” with fake IDs. The characters often tell each other high risk information immediately such as “I am hiding Jews” or “there is a hidden door in the wardrobe”, or “my friend is making fake IDs for Jews” which is why I wonder if it is targeted for the younger reader. At one point Hannie wanted to work for the resistance as otherwise she would be bored.

I definitely learned elements about the Dutch resistance, including the network of farmhouses that hid Jews, that the Dutch had a sympathetic Nazi party (NSB) collaborating with the Germans, and lastly, about the Westerbork camp, which operated as a holding camp for Jews to be transported to Germany and Poland.

Overall, it was a bit too light and fluffy for me, but perhaps would be interesting for the younger reader or for those who find more abrupt accounts of WWII too traumatic and confronting.

Hannie is a university student in Amsterdam when the Germans invade Holland. Her best friend, Sophie, is a Jew. Hannie hates what Germany is doing to Holland, so she gets involved in the resistance. The longer the war goes on the more heavily she is involved. Because of her unique red hair, she is easily recognized and soon is on the watchlist of the Germans.

The Girl with the Red Hair, by Imogen Matthews, takes the reader on the exploits of Hannie and her fellow resistance friends. The writing is not up to the quality of some other writers, and the story ends abruptly -- thus the 3-star rating. All in all, it is an interesting story of a young woman who becomes a fearless resistance fighter in Holland. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.