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The Secret Resistance #3
The Polish Daughter
Poland, 1944: Armed men line the streets herding us forward, ignoring screams as they pull people from the crowd. My heart pounds as I hear a familiar cry. They have hold of my darling friend. I desperately push through to her, to save her. But we are too densely packed in. I can’t hold back my sobs as she crumples. I am too late…
When war broke out, Julia’s father, a high-ranking Polish Officer, took her from Warsaw to keep her safe. Now, with her father missing-in-action, Julia has returned to find him and fight for the resistance—but the city is more dangerous than she ever thought it could be.
When she is trapped in the ghetto, Nazis dragging people into the streets all around her, Julia can only watch in horror as her dearest friend is pulled from the crowd. Heart shattering as her friend falls to the cobbled streets, Julia’s desperate screams attract the soldiers’ attention, and it seems she is about to suffer the same awful fate.
Until her childhood sweetheart, Nikolaj, appears in enemy uniform and stops the guards with one word. The boy Julia remembers would never side with the Germans: and in the safety of his private room, he explains he is a resistance spy within the ranks of Nazi officers. But the longer he keeps her in the barracks, surrounded by his soldiers, the more Julia grows uneasy about the man she once knew…
Half-Jewish and with her father a wanted man, how safe can she be behind enemy lines? Has her childhood friend become one of the monsters she has been fighting against? And if he has, will she ever be able to escape him?
Fans of Orphan Train, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will adore this utterly heart-breaking page turner. You will not forget this unputdownable story of love, loss and the courage it takes to hold on to hope in darkest times.
When war broke out, Julia’s father, a high-ranking Polish Officer, took her from Warsaw to keep her safe. Now, with her father missing-in-action, Julia has returned to find him and fight for the resistance—but the city is more dangerous than she ever thought it could be.
When she is trapped in the ghetto, Nazis dragging people into the streets all around her, Julia can only watch in horror as her dearest friend is pulled from the crowd. Heart shattering as her friend falls to the cobbled streets, Julia’s desperate screams attract the soldiers’ attention, and it seems she is about to suffer the same awful fate.
Until her childhood sweetheart, Nikolaj, appears in enemy uniform and stops the guards with one word. The boy Julia remembers would never side with the Germans: and in the safety of his private room, he explains he is a resistance spy within the ranks of Nazi officers. But the longer he keeps her in the barracks, surrounded by his soldiers, the more Julia grows uneasy about the man she once knew…
Half-Jewish and with her father a wanted man, how safe can she be behind enemy lines? Has her childhood friend become one of the monsters she has been fighting against? And if he has, will she ever be able to escape him?
Fans of Orphan Train, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will adore this utterly heart-breaking page turner. You will not forget this unputdownable story of love, loss and the courage it takes to hold on to hope in darkest times.
288 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2023
760 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Gosia Nealon
6 books119 followersWhile Gosia Nealon is a proud New Yorker, she was born and raised in Poland. Her journey to the Big Apple revealed a wealth of cultural differences, but also the values that connect us all. Like the fierce desire to protect family, find love, and ultimately, discover who we are and why we’re here.
Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, "The Last Sketch."
Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into Wanda and Finn, two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time.
When Gosia isn’t tapping away at her laptop, she’s often walking the streets of New York. With her husband and three young sons in tow, they search for the most succulent pierogi, transporting them back to the cobbled streets of her childhood.
Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, "The Last Sketch."
Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into Wanda and Finn, two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time.
When Gosia isn’t tapping away at her laptop, she’s often walking the streets of New York. With her husband and three young sons in tow, they search for the most succulent pierogi, transporting them back to the cobbled streets of her childhood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 17, 2023
Julia had returned to Warsaw and was once again fighting in the Resistance. She had many school friends in the resistance group and Natalia, her best friend was one of them. But when Natalia was taken by the Germans, Julia defied her team leader, Alek, and headed to where those arrested were taken, desperate to save her friend. Could she do it? Or was it likely that she would also die? When a man who she thought a lot of - Nikolaj - appeared, Julia was shocked to see him dressed in the German's uniform. His words to her, that he was undercover and working for the Resistance, reassured Julia. But with Natalia gone and seemingly imprisoned by Nikolaj, Julia knew she needed to get back to her group.
Escape through the underground tunnels for Alek, Julia and the rest of their group gave them some reprieve, but things were looking bleak. It wouldn't be long before the Germans had taken over their area of Poland - would they follow the rules of the Geneva Convention?
The Polish Daughter is the 3rd in The Secret Resistance series by Gosia Nealon and I enjoyed it although the brutality and evil nature of the Nazis still has me wondering, does anyone ever learn from the past? Obviously not, when we see what's happening in the Ukraine. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Escape through the underground tunnels for Alek, Julia and the rest of their group gave them some reprieve, but things were looking bleak. It wouldn't be long before the Germans had taken over their area of Poland - would they follow the rules of the Geneva Convention?
The Polish Daughter is the 3rd in The Secret Resistance series by Gosia Nealon and I enjoyed it although the brutality and evil nature of the Nazis still has me wondering, does anyone ever learn from the past? Obviously not, when we see what's happening in the Ukraine. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2023
It is the 3 in the series. And even though it is the 3 book , the treatment of other people, the abuse that is happening still baffles me. It was a good ending to a series. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
June 5, 2023
4.5
Spunk, “undercover,” uprising…
Book 3 - The Paris Daughter
Book 3 features Julia, the Huntress of the North, her childhood friend Nikolaj, Alek, a high school acquaintance, and Natalia, who is Julia's best friend.
"War is like a clinical trial lining us up and checking our responses. It flashes out our true characters and differences; it defines us as human beings."
This is a trio of books about wartime Poland and the actions of the Resistance.
*Many recurring characters in the three books. I chose to read the three books back-to-back.
*Painted a vivid picture of the hardships and ordeals of wartime life.
*Beautifully written. I would read future books by this author.
*Book 3 covers the Warsaw Uprising. More info is available online.
*Also a story about love, fearlessness, betrayal, and endurance.
* I liked the quote “Always take the chance to live even if you have to pay a high price. It’s worth it in the end.”
Spunk, “undercover,” uprising…
Book 3 - The Paris Daughter
Book 3 features Julia, the Huntress of the North, her childhood friend Nikolaj, Alek, a high school acquaintance, and Natalia, who is Julia's best friend.
"War is like a clinical trial lining us up and checking our responses. It flashes out our true characters and differences; it defines us as human beings."
This is a trio of books about wartime Poland and the actions of the Resistance.
*Many recurring characters in the three books. I chose to read the three books back-to-back.
*Painted a vivid picture of the hardships and ordeals of wartime life.
*Beautifully written. I would read future books by this author.
*Book 3 covers the Warsaw Uprising. More info is available online.
*Also a story about love, fearlessness, betrayal, and endurance.
* I liked the quote “Always take the chance to live even if you have to pay a high price. It’s worth it in the end.”
April 23, 2023
Although the Polish Daughter is the third book in The Secret Resistance Series, it can be read as a standalone story. The story begins during the Polish uprising in and near Warsaw with the partisans severely outnumbered, but with their heart and desire to free their homeland, they hold off the Germans and regain some of the city. Alek is leading his own group and is surprised when the "Huntress of the North" comes to join them. What he didn't expect was that he knew her, a schoolmate who he had a love/hate relationship with. Julia was just as shocked to see Alek, but was happy to work with his second in command, her old friend, Romek. Julia works as a courier and when she enters another area to try and warn her dearest friend, Natalia that they are rounding everyone up. She is late and Natalia is arrested and after being brutalized, she is killed. Julia is distraught and leaves the area with her old friend NIlolaj, who is working as a spy for the resistance, or is he? Will Julia, Alek and Romek survive the war?
This was a heartbreaking story set during events that I didn't know a lot about. I had heard about the Polish Uprising, but knew almost nothing about it. I had also read some things about the treatment of the Polish people by their so called saviors, The Russians. Those were parts of the story that I read with interest. One main part of the story was a romance storyline between Julia and Alek. Although it is nice to see real people living and surviving during tragic times, it wasn't what I was expecting from this story. As I read this story I saw that the brutality of war is devastating for everyone and some of the horrors (the rape of young girls and women) boggles the mind. As is said several times in this book that it is unbelievable what man can do to fellow man. I would hope that we could learn from the past, but when I see families, schools and hospitals being bombed in the Ukraine, I guess people wanting power will never learn. If you are interested in learning more about the plight of the Polish people during WWII and shortly after, I recommend you pick this one up.
This was a heartbreaking story set during events that I didn't know a lot about. I had heard about the Polish Uprising, but knew almost nothing about it. I had also read some things about the treatment of the Polish people by their so called saviors, The Russians. Those were parts of the story that I read with interest. One main part of the story was a romance storyline between Julia and Alek. Although it is nice to see real people living and surviving during tragic times, it wasn't what I was expecting from this story. As I read this story I saw that the brutality of war is devastating for everyone and some of the horrors (the rape of young girls and women) boggles the mind. As is said several times in this book that it is unbelievable what man can do to fellow man. I would hope that we could learn from the past, but when I see families, schools and hospitals being bombed in the Ukraine, I guess people wanting power will never learn. If you are interested in learning more about the plight of the Polish people during WWII and shortly after, I recommend you pick this one up.
November 22, 2023
After reading the resistance wife, I’m reading the last trilogy book is called “The Polish Daughter” by Gosia Nealon. She writes three books which is a phenomenal, making each story, each character, each situation, so compelling, that these books were impossible to put down and as a result, I didn’t want this book to end. It is so important that she brought this final story to the light where the history, the polish, people went through hell and suffering during the war at the hands of the Germans, and at the hands of the Russians, for a long time. The book is told in three perspectives, Julia, Alexs, and Nicolaj. The story unfolds in Warsaw, Poland, during the first uprising, 1944, that’s when Julia father wrote her last letter when he left for Warsaw to fight for their homeland. Her father was a Polish Officer and was the leader of the resistance movement. Julia is half Jewish. She was raised by her father and grandmother at the time. When they were in high school, Alexs, Nicolaj had both a crush on her before the war started. Julia was on a mission to help the resistance fighters to find her father and her fate brought her to them. As a result, who did she end up with one of them? Did they all survive? You can decide.
April 21, 2023
This book will have you wanting to reach into the pages and strangle some people! There are secrets, and someone people aren't who they say. Lying and betrayal by people out for their own agenda, those who present themselvesas trustworthy. And all this admid a brutal war. With these friends, who needs enemies?
Like with the other books I've read by Gosia Nealon, THE POLISH DAUGHTER just sucked me right in. Once I started, I found it near impossible to set the book down! She's an incredible storyteller and her approach to Word War 2 fiction really humanizes that time in history. Those alive then were just like us today with dreams and hopes, just sadly so many of them were squashed. As I think every time I read this genre, it's heartbreaking to how sadistic man can be too another.
"How can one human do this to another? It’s the question we have been asking for the last five years." - Excerpt from The Polish Daughter
For those, like me, who have the previous books in this series, this one has cameo appearances from characters in an earlier installment. If this was done in the other books before this one, I missed it. But it was neat seeing the paths cross between the characters.
Nealon also doesn't shy away from giving a graphic image of the atrocities committed during that time. I think this, too, is what makes her stories so intense.
Like with the other books I've read by Gosia Nealon, THE POLISH DAUGHTER just sucked me right in. Once I started, I found it near impossible to set the book down! She's an incredible storyteller and her approach to Word War 2 fiction really humanizes that time in history. Those alive then were just like us today with dreams and hopes, just sadly so many of them were squashed. As I think every time I read this genre, it's heartbreaking to how sadistic man can be too another.
"How can one human do this to another? It’s the question we have been asking for the last five years." - Excerpt from The Polish Daughter
For those, like me, who have the previous books in this series, this one has cameo appearances from characters in an earlier installment. If this was done in the other books before this one, I missed it. But it was neat seeing the paths cross between the characters.
Nealon also doesn't shy away from giving a graphic image of the atrocities committed during that time. I think this, too, is what makes her stories so intense.
May 6, 2023
I was drawn to this book as the child of parents born and raised in Poland during WW2. I’ve read so many books about that time in history, but none that have touched on all that Poles went through both during and after the war, when they went from being ruled by one authoritarian government to the next (and it’s a story that really deserves more attention). While a book of fiction, I thought “The Polish Daughter” was a heartbreaking yet beautiful tale of how much the Polish people love their country and how much was sacrificed to try and gain freedom.
The story in this book revolves around Julia, a woman who lost her father early to the war and is not working with the Resistance to try and saw Warsaw. There she reports to Alek, who she knows from high school and who she does not have the best history with. When she sees her friend Natalia being taken away by guards, she tries to get to her, instead running into an old love, Nikolaj. Nikolaj presents himself as a double agent fighting for Poland, and Julia desperately wants to believe him. As time goes on, Julia learns who Nikolaj and Alek really are, as one captures her heart and one disappoints her more than she could ever expect.
There are many aspects of this book that make it a page-turner: action, suspense, deception, and heartbreak. There are a lot of twists through the story, but none distract the reader from the main plot. I also really appreciated the small touches of Poland that are throughout: sticking with Polish names for the characters, describing Polish foods and customs…as someone familiar with them, it made the story feel more real for me.
While this is the third book of the Resistance Series, it is my first read by Gosia Nealon and I look forward to catching up with the first two books. Any fan of historical fiction or WW2 fiction should give this book a try!
**Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Gosia Nealon for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
The story in this book revolves around Julia, a woman who lost her father early to the war and is not working with the Resistance to try and saw Warsaw. There she reports to Alek, who she knows from high school and who she does not have the best history with. When she sees her friend Natalia being taken away by guards, she tries to get to her, instead running into an old love, Nikolaj. Nikolaj presents himself as a double agent fighting for Poland, and Julia desperately wants to believe him. As time goes on, Julia learns who Nikolaj and Alek really are, as one captures her heart and one disappoints her more than she could ever expect.
There are many aspects of this book that make it a page-turner: action, suspense, deception, and heartbreak. There are a lot of twists through the story, but none distract the reader from the main plot. I also really appreciated the small touches of Poland that are throughout: sticking with Polish names for the characters, describing Polish foods and customs…as someone familiar with them, it made the story feel more real for me.
While this is the third book of the Resistance Series, it is my first read by Gosia Nealon and I look forward to catching up with the first two books. Any fan of historical fiction or WW2 fiction should give this book a try!
**Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Gosia Nealon for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
April 22, 2023
Oh, my heart. Gosia Nealon definitely saved the best for last in this phenomenal series. I enjoyed learning Wanda's story of the Polish resistance in the first book and I loved reading the backstory of so many characters in the second book. Anna's story of strength & resilience was amazing in The Polish Wife but this last one was brilliant. Julia & Alek's journey together in the final months of the Warsaw Uprising was gutwrenching. The author doesn't spare the reader any of the atrocities committed by the Nazis or the Soviets for which I'm grateful because we must remember all of it. We must because fascism has once more reared its ugly head.
For me, this series got even better with each book. By the end of The Polish Daughter, we know what has happened to the resistance fighters from all three. There are few fairy tale endings for them because there couldn't be. These were the most brutal of times and this book is set during the final months of WWII. The horrors of Stalin's regime consumed the country once the war ended. I learned so much about the Polish people, their culture, and their history, and I am inspired to learn more after reading this series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read the ARC of this incredibly well-written book, which allowed me to finish this fantastic series.
For me, this series got even better with each book. By the end of The Polish Daughter, we know what has happened to the resistance fighters from all three. There are few fairy tale endings for them because there couldn't be. These were the most brutal of times and this book is set during the final months of WWII. The horrors of Stalin's regime consumed the country once the war ended. I learned so much about the Polish people, their culture, and their history, and I am inspired to learn more after reading this series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read the ARC of this incredibly well-written book, which allowed me to finish this fantastic series.
October 15, 2023
TRIGGER WARNING: war crimes and anti-Semitism
Julia's father has gone to fight the Nazis and now she wants to help save her country. She is reunited with two boys from her childhood, now grown men, but on opposing sides of the fight...
The Polish Daughter is the third book in the WW2 Polish resistance series and I have previously reviewed the first two books, The Polish Girl and The Polish Wife.
Julia's Jewish mother died giving birth to her and now her father has left to join the fight. Julia begins to work for the resistance and meets Alek who she has a negative history with. She also sees her former sweetheart Nikolaj and their relationship seems ready to start up again. But Julia is shocked by the secrets she uncovers and her heart reels from the sad truth.
Most of the book is written from the viewpoints of Julia and Alek but there are also some chilling diary entries from Nikolaj. The author includes characters and events from the previous books but it is not necessary to have read the books in order. We don't find out about the incident of antagonism between Julia and Alek until halfway through the book and I was starting to wonder why she was so keen to think badly of him.
The brutality of the soldiers and Nikolaj's twisted opinions were difficult to read at times. Julia is almost emotionally broken by her experiences but she decides to stay strong to honour those who have died. The softening of the relationship between Julia and Alek gives the book a lighter and more hopeful angle. There is a powerful message about the strength of human spirit even in the darkest days.
The Polish Daughter is an emotional historical novel.
Julia's father has gone to fight the Nazis and now she wants to help save her country. She is reunited with two boys from her childhood, now grown men, but on opposing sides of the fight...
The Polish Daughter is the third book in the WW2 Polish resistance series and I have previously reviewed the first two books, The Polish Girl and The Polish Wife.
Julia's Jewish mother died giving birth to her and now her father has left to join the fight. Julia begins to work for the resistance and meets Alek who she has a negative history with. She also sees her former sweetheart Nikolaj and their relationship seems ready to start up again. But Julia is shocked by the secrets she uncovers and her heart reels from the sad truth.
Most of the book is written from the viewpoints of Julia and Alek but there are also some chilling diary entries from Nikolaj. The author includes characters and events from the previous books but it is not necessary to have read the books in order. We don't find out about the incident of antagonism between Julia and Alek until halfway through the book and I was starting to wonder why she was so keen to think badly of him.
The brutality of the soldiers and Nikolaj's twisted opinions were difficult to read at times. Julia is almost emotionally broken by her experiences but she decides to stay strong to honour those who have died. The softening of the relationship between Julia and Alek gives the book a lighter and more hopeful angle. There is a powerful message about the strength of human spirit even in the darkest days.
The Polish Daughter is an emotional historical novel.
April 23, 2023
Poland, 1944: As the war rages on across Europe, so many lives have been changed forever. This brutal time has torn apart families never to be put back together again. Julia’s father is a high-ranking Polish Officer who moved his family out of Warsaw to keep them safe. But when he is missing in action, Julia returns to Warsaw to not just fight for the resistance but to also search for her father. Soon Julia returns to her home and she is trapped in the streets by the Nazis. They are grabbing people and whisking them away. Julia recognizes her childhood sweetheart Nikolaj dressed in his Nazi uniform, but how could that be? How could Nikolaj be with the Germans during this horrible war? But when she has an opportunity to talk with him alone, he explains to her that he is a resistance spy posing as a German officer. She wonders if it’s the truth and can she trust him.
Gosia Nealon is an exceptional author that writes well beyond her years.
This Polish Daughter is the third installment in The Secret Resistance Series. I loved this book, I think it was my most favorite of the series. The courage and sacrifice of people during this horrible time, always amazes me. I was enthralled with this story from the beginning to the very last page. It was impossible to put the book down and as I turned each page I found myself on the edge of my seat. As my heart rate quickened I was so emotional, and couldn’t hold back the tears. I was inspired by this heartbreaking story and I highly recommend it.
Gosia Nealon is an exceptional author that writes well beyond her years.
This Polish Daughter is the third installment in The Secret Resistance Series. I loved this book, I think it was my most favorite of the series. The courage and sacrifice of people during this horrible time, always amazes me. I was enthralled with this story from the beginning to the very last page. It was impossible to put the book down and as I turned each page I found myself on the edge of my seat. As my heart rate quickened I was so emotional, and couldn’t hold back the tears. I was inspired by this heartbreaking story and I highly recommend it.
April 25, 2023
I have read many books touching on different topics of WWII, none have touched me the way this series has. Though this is a series each book may be read as a standalone though you'll get more benefit of reading the entire series. I have learned so much by reading this series.
Have the tissues with you while reading. My heart broke for the mistreatment of the Polish people.
Beginning with the uprising of the Polish people in and near Warsaw. In Poland 1944, Julia's father is a high-ranking officer and moves them out of Warsaw to keep them safe but goes mia. She must return to Poland to search for him, and she is also part of the resistance. When she sees a long-time childhood friend, she has always felt safe with she doesn't understand why she sees him in a Nazi uniform. Talking to her he explains he is really spying as a German soldier. Wanting to feel safe with him she overlooks his bizarre and changed personality, but should she examine it further?
This is an exceptional author who writes a true to life story that is not afraid to include the nitty gritty because after all this is true to life. Her stories always have the glimmer of light shining through in the absolute courageous actions of characters, unparallel bravery and putting other needs before their own. I will read every book this author writes!
Pub Date: 21 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Have the tissues with you while reading. My heart broke for the mistreatment of the Polish people.
Beginning with the uprising of the Polish people in and near Warsaw. In Poland 1944, Julia's father is a high-ranking officer and moves them out of Warsaw to keep them safe but goes mia. She must return to Poland to search for him, and she is also part of the resistance. When she sees a long-time childhood friend, she has always felt safe with she doesn't understand why she sees him in a Nazi uniform. Talking to her he explains he is really spying as a German soldier. Wanting to feel safe with him she overlooks his bizarre and changed personality, but should she examine it further?
This is an exceptional author who writes a true to life story that is not afraid to include the nitty gritty because after all this is true to life. Her stories always have the glimmer of light shining through in the absolute courageous actions of characters, unparallel bravery and putting other needs before their own. I will read every book this author writes!
Pub Date: 21 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
April 4, 2023
The Polish Daughter is Book #3 in the The Secret Resistance Series and this one was definitely a page turner from start to finish!
Julia is apart of the Polish Resistance and this story begins during the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising. She is very active in trying to help the resistance avenge her homeland, and she is apart of a group made up of people that she has known since she was a teenager. As she works with Alex, a young man she grew up hating, the hatred slowly turns to something much nicer, but there's a dark shadow lurking in the midst. Nickolaj, a childhood friend of Julia's, will stop at nothing to ensure that Julia is his, and no one else. But Nickolaj is not who Julia thinks he is.
Aside from the drama and love story, there is so much historical accuracy intertwined in this book. It is so important that people understand the hell the Polish people went through during the war at the expense of the Germans, but also what they went through after thanks to the Russians for a very long time. Gosia Nealon does an extraordinary job at bringing the story of Julia and Alec to light, as well as bringing to light the true history and suffering of the Polish people.
This was an incredible novel from start to finish, and my favorite in the series!
Julia is apart of the Polish Resistance and this story begins during the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising. She is very active in trying to help the resistance avenge her homeland, and she is apart of a group made up of people that she has known since she was a teenager. As she works with Alex, a young man she grew up hating, the hatred slowly turns to something much nicer, but there's a dark shadow lurking in the midst. Nickolaj, a childhood friend of Julia's, will stop at nothing to ensure that Julia is his, and no one else. But Nickolaj is not who Julia thinks he is.
Aside from the drama and love story, there is so much historical accuracy intertwined in this book. It is so important that people understand the hell the Polish people went through during the war at the expense of the Germans, but also what they went through after thanks to the Russians for a very long time. Gosia Nealon does an extraordinary job at bringing the story of Julia and Alec to light, as well as bringing to light the true history and suffering of the Polish people.
This was an incredible novel from start to finish, and my favorite in the series!
August 30, 2023
Interesting and different war story
Daughter of the Resistance centers around Poland and primarily Warsaw during World War II. It describes the partisan resistance to the Nazis as they take over Warsaw and other areas of Poland, and a romance that develops between two resistance fighters, Julia and Alek. There is nothing easy about a romance during wartime, and they find that the future can be no further predicted than the day they are in at the moment. There are tragedies along the way, and a former friend of Julia's becomes a determined, violent person allied with the Nazis.
It is an interesting story with many horrifying situations arising as friends are lost, and the fears and hurts develop. It was hard to visualize some of the locales and a map would have been nice to have to be able to picture where everything was happening. The fight for Warsaw was a fight for the homeland and against enslavement and death, a valiant fight, but unfortunately, one that was lost to the Nazis, and then to the Soviets. It is a good read, and one to take to heart to better understand what it was like to live and fight during the war, fighting for the homeland itself, as opposed to fighting in a nation far away, not unlike the situation we find in Ukraine today.
Daughter of the Resistance centers around Poland and primarily Warsaw during World War II. It describes the partisan resistance to the Nazis as they take over Warsaw and other areas of Poland, and a romance that develops between two resistance fighters, Julia and Alek. There is nothing easy about a romance during wartime, and they find that the future can be no further predicted than the day they are in at the moment. There are tragedies along the way, and a former friend of Julia's becomes a determined, violent person allied with the Nazis.
It is an interesting story with many horrifying situations arising as friends are lost, and the fears and hurts develop. It was hard to visualize some of the locales and a map would have been nice to have to be able to picture where everything was happening. The fight for Warsaw was a fight for the homeland and against enslavement and death, a valiant fight, but unfortunately, one that was lost to the Nazis, and then to the Soviets. It is a good read, and one to take to heart to better understand what it was like to live and fight during the war, fighting for the homeland itself, as opposed to fighting in a nation far away, not unlike the situation we find in Ukraine today.
April 20, 2023
I love when I discover a new author and an immediately immersed into their work. When Netgalley offered The Polish Girl, I adored the novel, so I was thrilled when she told me she was doing a series of three books. After the Polish Girl, was the Polish Wife and the final one is this one The Polish Daughter.
Poland, 1944
Julia is taking to Warsaw by her father who is a high-ranking Polish Officer. As the war breaks out and her father is missing she becomes part of the resistance. Her childhood crush Nicolaj is also fighting in the war, but she finds out he has ulterior motives and not whom she remembers.
This story is told in three perspectives. We hear from Julia, Nicolaj and Alex. Alex is also from her childhood, but they were not on good terms during her younger years.
This novel tugs at every emotion. I was rooting for the Polish people, the resistance, and mostly for Julia. When the war broke out you would find your friends and neighbors on different sides. The Nazis were cruel. The power of love, courage and strength is needed even in the worst of times.
I am sad to see this series end, but I look forward to what Gosia writes next.
April 27, 2025
Daughter of the Resistance by Gosia Nealon
This is my second Nealon book this year and i enjoyed it as much as the first. I don’t like romance and this story is a lot more than that.
The direct prose and dialogue works well for a story in the first-person, especially the sort where these kinds events are being recounted.
I knew a bit about the Polish uprising during WW2, but there was some fascinating detail about how they lived and moved around Warsaw. And also some quite unsavoury details about what happened to those captured by the Nazis.
Julia, the main character, is really put through it. As is Alek. Nealon doesn’t spare her characters in her books, am not sure what else she will have thrown at those in her other books, which I will certainly be reading at some point.
The area of Poland where a lot of this story is based (near Bialystok) isn’t far from my wife’s family home and we have adopted several of the Christmas traditions, described in the book, into our home in England.
A charming read, perfect for fans of historical romance who like a bit of extra juice from their squeeze. 🙂🙂
This is my second Nealon book this year and i enjoyed it as much as the first. I don’t like romance and this story is a lot more than that.
The direct prose and dialogue works well for a story in the first-person, especially the sort where these kinds events are being recounted.
I knew a bit about the Polish uprising during WW2, but there was some fascinating detail about how they lived and moved around Warsaw. And also some quite unsavoury details about what happened to those captured by the Nazis.
Julia, the main character, is really put through it. As is Alek. Nealon doesn’t spare her characters in her books, am not sure what else she will have thrown at those in her other books, which I will certainly be reading at some point.
The area of Poland where a lot of this story is based (near Bialystok) isn’t far from my wife’s family home and we have adopted several of the Christmas traditions, described in the book, into our home in England.
A charming read, perfect for fans of historical romance who like a bit of extra juice from their squeeze. 🙂🙂
April 26, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book definitely kept me up past my bedtime!!!
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! “The Polish Daughter” had me riveted to my couch. This is the third book in “The Secret Resistance” series. I highly recommend reading the first two books before this one.
This story is told from three different perspectives.
Julia- is half Jewish and she was raised by her father. She is trying to
survive the war working with the Resistance.
Alek - is a Resistance Fighter and high school enemy of Julia. They are
forced to work together to survive.
Nikolaj - is a soldier in the German Army and a childhood love of Julia. He
isn’t what he seems.
What follows is a gripping adventure that will keep you guessing. This book was sad, happy, and very well written. Gosia Nealon definitely made me “ugly cry”. She did not shy away from the realities of war.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This book definitely kept me up past my bedtime!!!
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! “The Polish Daughter” had me riveted to my couch. This is the third book in “The Secret Resistance” series. I highly recommend reading the first two books before this one.
This story is told from three different perspectives.
Julia- is half Jewish and she was raised by her father. She is trying to
survive the war working with the Resistance.
Alek - is a Resistance Fighter and high school enemy of Julia. They are
forced to work together to survive.
Nikolaj - is a soldier in the German Army and a childhood love of Julia. He
isn’t what he seems.
What follows is a gripping adventure that will keep you guessing. This book was sad, happy, and very well written. Gosia Nealon definitely made me “ugly cry”. She did not shy away from the realities of war.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
November 7, 2024
For someone who isn’t big on history, the historical fiction of this series is so good. I would recommend reading the series straight so you can recall who the characters are. It took me a little bit to recall characters we learned about in the previous books.
Overall, a great easy and fast read. There were a few startling moments that you could imagine bc of the Nazi regime and what we know about how Jews / Polish were treated. But the elevation of Natalia’s end, I didn’t expect. The chef being so nice, I didn’t expect. Especially bc he wasn’t a Jew / Pole. Just wrong person wrong place.
This books gives you the ups and downs. You feel the love but you also feel the sorrow and despair. As a reader, I felt what the characters were feeling.
Overall, a great easy and fast read. There were a few startling moments that you could imagine bc of the Nazi regime and what we know about how Jews / Polish were treated. But the elevation of Natalia’s end, I didn’t expect. The chef being so nice, I didn’t expect. Especially bc he wasn’t a Jew / Pole. Just wrong person wrong place.
This books gives you the ups and downs. You feel the love but you also feel the sorrow and despair. As a reader, I felt what the characters were feeling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
5/5 Enthralling Stars!
Heartbreaking Yet Beautiful!
Gosia Nealon has such a REMARKABLE way of writing, she’s able to CAPTURE your HEART and your ATTENTION. With her words alone, she was able to bring out so much EMOTION in me. This was a truly HEARTFELT read.
The Polish Daughter is COMPELLING and completely CAPTIVATING. I was completely hooked right from the VERY beginning. I devoured these pages, as I could not get enough of the story and these characters. These characters had so much SOUL. They felt so VERY real. My heart was FULLY invested in this story.
This is a PHENOMENAL series you won’t want to miss!!! Easily in my top 5 of the year!!
Heartbreaking Yet Beautiful!
Gosia Nealon has such a REMARKABLE way of writing, she’s able to CAPTURE your HEART and your ATTENTION. With her words alone, she was able to bring out so much EMOTION in me. This was a truly HEARTFELT read.
The Polish Daughter is COMPELLING and completely CAPTIVATING. I was completely hooked right from the VERY beginning. I devoured these pages, as I could not get enough of the story and these characters. These characters had so much SOUL. They felt so VERY real. My heart was FULLY invested in this story.
This is a PHENOMENAL series you won’t want to miss!!! Easily in my top 5 of the year!!
July 9, 2023
Finding Life and Hope in Despair
Well written book with believable characters who risked their lives in sacrifice to fight the evil regime. The horrors of days spent in sewers, hiding from drunken soldiers who ravished and killed the innocent, and the Resistance learning to survive through sheer exhaustion, little if anyp food or weapons, yet if their efforts made any difference for their beloved country - they were willing to die.
Evil had forever changed former friends into deceitful monsters. Nicolaj would do everything in his power to get his former girlfriend back. Though she no longer trusted or loved him. A story with twists and turns you can't predict.
Well written book with believable characters who risked their lives in sacrifice to fight the evil regime. The horrors of days spent in sewers, hiding from drunken soldiers who ravished and killed the innocent, and the Resistance learning to survive through sheer exhaustion, little if anyp food or weapons, yet if their efforts made any difference for their beloved country - they were willing to die.
Evil had forever changed former friends into deceitful monsters. Nicolaj would do everything in his power to get his former girlfriend back. Though she no longer trusted or loved him. A story with twists and turns you can't predict.
September 28, 2025
This book completely broke me in the best possible way. From the very first scene, I felt the terror and the weight of war pressing in, and could hardly breathe as Julia's story unfolded. Her bravery, desperate hope, and determination to light back against the darkness were so raw and powerful. I wept for her friend, for the innocence stolen, for the impossible choices no one should ever have to
таке.
What struck me most was how human this story feels, how the lines between trust and betrayal blur in a world where survival depends on secrecy.
Nikolaj's reappearance shattered me. The tension of never fully knowing if he was an ally or a threat kept me turning pages long into the night, and the love he and Julia once shared brought a bittersweet tenderness to an otherwise devastating backdrop.
This is more than just a war story. It's about courage when fear consumes you, about holding onto love when everything around you is falling apart, and about the unshakable bonds of family and friendship. It's haunting, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. A book that will stay etched into my heart for a very long time.
таке.
What struck me most was how human this story feels, how the lines between trust and betrayal blur in a world where survival depends on secrecy.
Nikolaj's reappearance shattered me. The tension of never fully knowing if he was an ally or a threat kept me turning pages long into the night, and the love he and Julia once shared brought a bittersweet tenderness to an otherwise devastating backdrop.
This is more than just a war story. It's about courage when fear consumes you, about holding onto love when everything around you is falling apart, and about the unshakable bonds of family and friendship. It's haunting, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. A book that will stay etched into my heart for a very long time.
March 31, 2023
Finished this the other night, another incredible story in this series about the cost of the War on the people of Poland, Jews and Gentiles alike. So many need to KNOW that the war didnt stop in Poland in 1945 and the extraordinarily high price those brave individuals who fought on the side of the Allies paid. People like Witold Pilecki. Excellent job Gosia Szmitko Nealon, I hope you continue to write these stories and people read more about how the Allies "friend" Stalin and his crew continued the destruction of your homeland. ps gorgeous cover.
April 12, 2023
This is a remarkable story with many twists and turns that hold your attention until the very end. The characters are amazing, and the author puts you right there with them. This is a very compelling story about courage and the love for people and their country in times of war and oppression. It vividly illustrates how far people will go in order to survive. All of the books in The Secret Resistance series really affected me emotionally! Get started with this series today. You will be glad that you did!
Thank you, NetGalley and author Gosia Nealon for the advanced copy.
Thank you, NetGalley and author Gosia Nealon for the advanced copy.
April 30, 2023
Gosia Nealon continues her Secret Resistance series with
The Polish Daughter.
As this powerful story begins, Julia is a strong fighter when it comes to the Resistance. Heartbroken that her friend Natalia was one of countless taken by the Germans, Julia will go to any lengths to find her, even if it means taking defiant measures.
Despite her fears, Julia soldiers on. When she soon sees someone from her past, Nikolaj, she feels she has reason for hope. However, it doesn’t take long for Julia to realize that Nikolaj is not the man she thought he was, and now she must find a way to ensure her safety and get back to working with the Resistance.
Escape for Julia and others in her group, including Alek, is perilous, as the danger is constantly nipping at their heels. This story becomes one of hope as Julia and Alek fight hard to survive what was most certainly one of the darkest times in history. While WWII was coming to a close in this final book of an amazing trilogy, it was more than clear that the atrocities that Polish people faced was brutal and devastating. Gosia Nealon writes these books with flair, making each story, each character, each situation, so compelling, that these books were impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Despite her fears, Julia soldiers on. When she soon sees someone from her past, Nikolaj, she feels she has reason for hope. However, it doesn’t take long for Julia to realize that Nikolaj is not the man she thought he was, and now she must find a way to ensure her safety and get back to working with the Resistance.
Escape for Julia and others in her group, including Alek, is perilous, as the danger is constantly nipping at their heels. This story becomes one of hope as Julia and Alek fight hard to survive what was most certainly one of the darkest times in history. While WWII was coming to a close in this final book of an amazing trilogy, it was more than clear that the atrocities that Polish people faced was brutal and devastating. Gosia Nealon writes these books with flair, making each story, each character, each situation, so compelling, that these books were impossible to put down.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 19, 2023
Wonderful series/book
This book tells of the good people of Poland. I have read about the bad ones in other books. Poland has a bad history by those bad people and the German's and Russians. It was just terrible that the Germans put their death camps there. Thank you Gosia for bring the good people of Poland to life in this series. Ww 2 was tragic everywhere esp in Europe and Asia. So many lost lives. So happy the Poles have a free homeland now hope it is everlasting. I highly recemmend this series it is wonderful.
This book tells of the good people of Poland. I have read about the bad ones in other books. Poland has a bad history by those bad people and the German's and Russians. It was just terrible that the Germans put their death camps there. Thank you Gosia for bring the good people of Poland to life in this series. Ww 2 was tragic everywhere esp in Europe and Asia. So many lost lives. So happy the Poles have a free homeland now hope it is everlasting. I highly recemmend this series it is wonderful.
June 5, 2023
Although this book is a work of fiction it feels so real.
While reading this book the reality of what could have easily have been any of us is terrifying. Turning histories painful memories into such a beautiful story of a fearless heroine Is truly an art. Her character s are so real that I can feel their pain.
Explaining through a story the true historic significance for Poles who gave so much to the resistance in the belief they would get their country back has been painful to read. But the end game was worth it. vswritingthoughts@yahoo.com
While reading this book the reality of what could have easily have been any of us is terrifying. Turning histories painful memories into such a beautiful story of a fearless heroine Is truly an art. Her character s are so real that I can feel their pain.
Explaining through a story the true historic significance for Poles who gave so much to the resistance in the belief they would get their country back has been painful to read. But the end game was worth it. vswritingthoughts@yahoo.com
April 14, 2023
This story is told from a three person perspective: Julia, Alex, and Nicolaj.
One character is as cold as ice, slimy as a snake, and completely heartless.
It’s very suspenseful due to situations that arise after the war and the villain’s sinister designs on Julia.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but I hoped for a good outcome.
The only regret is the that the character I loathed didn’t get what was coming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy.
One character is as cold as ice, slimy as a snake, and completely heartless.
It’s very suspenseful due to situations that arise after the war and the villain’s sinister designs on Julia.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but I hoped for a good outcome.
The only regret is the that the character I loathed didn’t get what was coming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy.
April 15, 2023
The story is told by three people and told from their own personal feelings and perspectives.
A compelling story of love, strength and most of all courage.
A intriguing story with so much drama, mystery and some romance.
Must read series for historical fiction lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A compelling story of love, strength and most of all courage.
A intriguing story with so much drama, mystery and some romance.
Must read series for historical fiction lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 29, 2024
I liked it. The story moves along very quickly and I like that the author does not use fillers or unnecessary details. Because the story moves so quickly, it was a little hard to make an emotional connection with the characters. I love the authors excellent research of this time period. This is book 3 of the series and there are mentions of characters from book 2, so I recommend reading the books in order.
April 19, 2023
This is a great WWII read. Set in Poland, the resistance fights for their homeland.
You never truly know who to trust. The main character must overcome shock, despair, and betrayal.
This book speaks much of the last year of the war.
It is beyond tragic that those who escape Nazism were hunted down by the communists and killed after all the sacrifices they made for their beloved homeland.
You never truly know who to trust. The main character must overcome shock, despair, and betrayal.
This book speaks much of the last year of the war.
It is beyond tragic that those who escape Nazism were hunted down by the communists and killed after all the sacrifices they made for their beloved homeland.
September 28, 2023
love endures
I’m not good at writing a review, but this book was excellent. The characters are so real. You can visualize them and the pain that they endured during ww2… I don’t know if I’d be that strong and be able to go on. I have a hard time putting it down and yet I didn’t want it to end. You won’t be disappointed.
I’m not good at writing a review, but this book was excellent. The characters are so real. You can visualize them and the pain that they endured during ww2… I don’t know if I’d be that strong and be able to go on. I have a hard time putting it down and yet I didn’t want it to end. You won’t be disappointed.
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