The Resistance Girl: A heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction novel

by Jina Bacarr

Two women. One heartbreaking secret.Paris, 1943.Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema, adored by fans and on the good side of the Nazi officers who swarm the streets of Paris. Chosen as one of Goebbels’ select few, she is torn between her duty to her country and her desire to survive.As she walks the city arm in arm with an SS Officer, her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her. But Sylvie has a secret - one she must protect with her life.Paris, 2020.Juliana Chastain doesn't know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother's possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother - especailly as she is arm in arm with a Nazi Officer...Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?But as she delves into Sylvie's past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.A heart-wrenching story of love and redemption, perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff and Suzanne Goldring.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, World War II, War, Romance, France

Audio CD

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

Jina loves dark chocolate truffles and rainy days in museums...

Reviews

[BoxerLover2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not today, Satan. Hard No.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I liked the premise of the story, I found I did not connect with Sylvie. Although she appears to suffer struggles, these are presented as the outcome of her own choices. Therefore, I could not sympathise when she found herself in difficult situations because of her selfish behaviour.

This book is about a French actress who cosies up to the Nazi soldiers in a bid to protect her Jewish friends. She becomes a spy for the Resistance, but I did not think that the writer really emphasised this enough. Instead, I found there was a lot of focus on her acting and creating films for the German production company. Whilst this was still interesting, I could not grasp her movements for the Resistance and it felt like an after-thought to the plot.

Switching between the Second World War and present day, readers discover that Sylvie’s grand-daughter is learning more about Sylvie’s actions in the war. I wanted Juliana to find peace and happiness, especially as the writer so vividly describes the dread that she feels when learning the possibility that her grandmother was a Nazi sympathiser. The quest for truth and to clear Sylvie’s name is what drives Juliana back to France in an attempt to learn the reasons behind Sylvie’s actions.

As a result of the lack of Resistance-focus in the plot, I found it difficult to believe that Sylvie is a spy. Instead, I thought she was quite self-centred and using the system for her own gains. However, reflecting on this novel, I guess the writer is drawing attention to this behaviour to show the desperation of the people of France: to get close to the enemy to protect themselves and the ones they loved.

Despite my misgivings, I did enjoy the story. I wanted to read more about the risks that Sylvie takes, rather than the richness that she experiences. Based on this, I can understand the negative reviews that comment on this element of the book. Indeed, I do not think the cover was the best of choices to reflect the true nature of the story and could have included Sylvie’s film-star background or even the Convent.

Once again, I have found another book set in the Second World War that provides a different aspect to people’s experiences. Whilst I may not have liked Sylvie and thought she was rather spoilt, it was definitely a thought-provoking story that has stayed with me many days after completion. And this, in my opinion, is a quality that makes this a good read to consider.

With thanks to NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been recommended this book by my lovely daughter I was very keen to read this one. It had me interested from page one. It was a dual time-line which I love. His was set during World War Two and the present day. It described the lives of Parisians and the way the German army took over the villages and bullied the residents. It is an era I always enjoy reading and I found I couldn’t put it down. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley

Member Review
Cover Image: The German Officer's Girl
The German Officer's Girl
by Jina Bacarr
Pub Date: 27 Oct 2020
Review by

jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 19 Sep 2020
My Recommendation
With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Firstly I've never read anything by this Author before and it's quite a breath of fresh air.
What an amazing read full of character and overflowing with information it was quite heartbreaking at times as to what actually happened a truly moving book and can highly recommend.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Resistance Girl is a fascinating piece of historical fiction about one woman’s search for truth. When Juliana discovers a mysterious photo among her mother’s possessions, she is immediately intrigued. Is the beautiful and glamourous woman on the arm of a Nazi officer her grandmother? Could this be part of the reason that Juliana doesn’t know much about her family’s secretive past? Determined to uncover the truth, Juliana decides to travel to France to learn more about her Maman’s life.

Alternating between the past and the present, Juliana and Sylvie’s stories slowly unfold. A young girl who dreams of fame, Sylvie travels to Paris and seeks fame as an actress. She leads a successful career in film before the war, and then uses her fame to get closer to the Nazi’s and learn their secrets. Condemned as a Nazi collaborator, Sylvie’s life is irrevocably changed.

After Juliana, a successful costume designer, finds the alarming pictures of Sylvie with Nazis, she determines to learn more about her grandmother. What does Juliana really know about her grandmother? Was she a Nazi sympathizer, or was there more to her complicated past? The more Juliana digs into the mystery, the more she must reevaluate all she knows about her family. The dual narratives work so well in this story and serve to highlight the growth and character development of both Sylvie and Juliana.

An intricately woven story with an interesting plot, the novel is both heart-breaking and heart-warming. I enjoyed learning more about Sylvie’s past and the complexities of war. This is a woman who grew up in a convent and became a famous film star. She lived a glamorous life in the spot-light until war hit. Sylvie is faced with many obstacles and moral decisions, and her journey is fascinating. Hated by many and seen as a traitor, Sylvie is so much more than she seems, and she is quite underestimated.

A story of love, bravery, secrets, and family, The Resistance Girl is a moving piece of WWII historical fiction with dual narratives and fascinating characters. Thanks so much to the author, Boldwood Books, and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resistance Girl by Jina Bacarr is a marvellous dual timeline novel. Present day is linked to Paris from the 1920’s to Nazi occupation during World War II in the form of a dairy and recording.
Following her mother’s death, a daughter wants to know the truth of her heritage. Her mother’s beginnings have always been a closely guarded secret, now it is time to seek the truth about a grandmother she never knew. As she delves deeper, more questions are asked. Rumour points to collaboration, wanting to discover the truth, the granddaughter travels from modern day America to France in search of anyone who may have known her grandmother.
Occupied Paris was a dangerous place to be. Trust was in short supply as people collaborated with the Nazis to improve their lot. Others bravely helped the resistance to sabotage Nazi plans and to help Jewish people escape. It was a time where suspicion lurked. Dering do often went unnoticed except by a few trusted folks. Sometimes what you witnessed with your eyes was merely an illusion, the bravery of ordinary people was cloaked for fear of being reported. Bonds were made that would be unbreakable.
Jina Bacarr has produced a powerful novel showing the horrors and dangers of living under Nazi occupation. The leading ladies are both brave, realistic and admirable. The grandmother went above and beyond as she practiced sacrificial acts, putting her life on the line.
The Resistance Girl consumed my waking hours. I could not put it down. The bravery of ordinary folk who went to extraordinary lengths was immense. May we never forget the heroism of the men and women of the resistance. May we never forget the six million innocents.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paris, 1943: Silvie Martone is the star of French cinema, adored by her fans and on the right side of the Nazi officers who swarm the streets of Paris. Chosen as one of Goebbets' select few, she is torn between her duty to her country and a desire to survive. As she walks arm in arm with an SS Officer, her fellow Parisians turn against her.

Paris, 2020: Julianna Chastain doesn't know anything about her family history. Her mother had been secretive about her past. Julianna discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from WWII amongst her mothers possessions. She's shocked to see her grandmother arm in arn with a Nazi officer. She's determined to find out the truth and traces her grandmothers journey.

The story is told from Sylvie and Julianna's perspectives. Julianna wants to prove her grandmother was not a Nazi sympathiser. The storyline is intriguing and I felt it there was something mysterious about it. It's also quite an informative read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #BoldworldBooks and the author #JinaBacarr for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

A startling journey with a touch of glamour.
Paris 1943, Sylvie Martone a beloved actress is now hated, Germany is now occupying Paris and she is involved with nazi Karl Lunzer from berlin and he is glued to her side.
Juliana Chastain in Los Angeles beloved Maman has past away and going through her belongings stumbles a secret looking for her roots and who her grandmother is the story is set to unfold.
taking us back to 1926 this is Sylvie's true story.
Juliet has to go to Paris and find out more how her maman spent her childhood. This book is incredible a truly remarkable story, Sylvie diary, notes photo's and recordings are inspiring. the real story of glamourous Sylvie Martone has to be solved and told. She will never be forgotten.
I loved it

[nitya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another appropriative author AND we are still romanticizing nazis in freaking 2020

Kill it with fire

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book in two timelines in Paris during WW2 and present time, about a French actress who becomes an soe agent and her present day granddaughter. I enjoyed it and found it very tense during WW2 story also as her granddaughter unravels the truth.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nazi romance. Shame. On. You.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Romanticizing Nazis is a shitty look in 2020.

[Knewmyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are there actually people who want to be seen reading a book WITH NAZI BANNERS FLYING MERRILY ON THE COVER. Yeah, don't answer that, this is 2020 and there are lots of white people voting for an actual white supremacist.

HONEY, NO.

[Cassie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, sweet Lord above it's finally over.

I started reading this back on August 3rd of last year. I thought it would be a relatively easy read and that I could get through it quickly.

Boy howdy was I wrong.

So, a little backstory on why I picked up this travesty to the written word to begin with. In late 2020, there was a bunch of hoopla surrounding a book called The German Officer's Girl and how it was a sin and a travesty to have a Nazi romance written in this day and age with fascism on the rise. Which, sure. No one wants to date a Nazi unless you are one.

But here was the main problem that both myself and my friends kept pointing out amongst each other: the book was not a Nazi romance.

This much was obvious based on the summary alone. It was clear based on the book's summary that the main character would be playing at Nazi collaborator in occupied France in the 1940's in the name of the French Resistance. But it seems that the issue here is that either people did not bother to read the summary and only saw the book's title and the book's cover picturing a generic woman standing beside a Nazi officer, or their reading comprehension is absolute dogshit.

Either way, there was a whole bunch of stamping of feet and outrage, and the book's title was changed to the current one: The Resistance Girl, and the cover had any flags featuring swastika removed. Some editions even have the Nazi officer removed, leaving the girl alone on the Cover with the Eiffel tower in the back. Nice and sanitized.

But once the book came out, I was determined to read it and officially prove everyone wrong. It was annoying me to no end that everyone was kicking up a fit over nothing, and I wanted to see for myself if the summary was misleading.

Well. I sure have read it. And it wasn't a Nazi romance. But everyone was so busy deciding to get on the outrage train, that no one bothered to actually read the book and see what its true sin was: that it was a fucking agonizingly bad book.

This book follows two main characters: Sylvie Martone, French actress. And her granddaughter Juliana, costume designer for Hollywood.

Juliana, after the death of her mother, comes across her old possessions that point toward a mysterious, but beautiful woman. It wasn't her mother and was dated to be the late 1940's. She was gorgeous, the looks of a movie star. Upon digging further, she discovers this strange woman was a French movie star named Sylvie Martone, and her grandmother. And suspected Nazi collaborator.

Gasp! You might say. The drama!

Well, this leads Juliana to drop everything and fly to France for weeks to try to clear her grandmother's name.

Meanwhile, our other POV character is Sylvie Martone herself, which... really takes the mystery out of all of this, considering the fact that from page one of the book it is blatantly obvious that Sylvie is not a collaborator. For example, she received flowers that are color coded into a message of imminent danger that the Nazis in her presence cannot know about.

But like sure. Whatever.

Anyway, Sylvie's POV chronicles her entire life. Yes, I mean her entire life. From her time as a young orphaned teen enthralled with silent films from the mid-1910's in the care of nuns, all the way to her death in 1950.

So when I tell you that World War II does not even come to be mentioned until 50% into the book, that is neither a joke nor an exageration.

I had to read all about how Sylvie was ~discovered~ in a small French movie theater by famed French director Emil (don't ask me for his last name), and how she became famous for her work in silent film. And then how she transitioned from silent film to the talkies (which not every film star was able to do, but whatever. Sylvie is perfect. That's all you need to know.). And how she was an alcoholic and overcame that and then how she met her true love and then when the war broke out and blah blah blah BLAH.

Oh my God it was so boring. And also just so badly written! Everything that happened in this book was told to me, rather than shown. Which, in hindsight, was probably a good thing because the dialogue I did get was fucking atrocious.

For example, this is a snippet from Sylvie's one true love when he meets up with her after his plane has been shot down:

'Yes, my beautiful Sylvie, it's me.' He tells me his plane was shot down in an open field outside the city and he's the only survivor. 'Now let me kiss you.'

????????? Why was that middle sentence not part of the dialogue???? Why am I not getting a description of what he's doing???? Is he holding her? Cradling her head in his hands? Looking at her with the desperation of a dying man seeking salvation? And why is the most important part of this exchange simply told to me in narration rather than as actual fucking dialogue!!!!!!

But this was the whole book. Entire swaths of incredibly important and far more interesting information was glossed over for... you know what, I don't even know what it was glossed over for, because nothing that actually happened was goddamn exciting.

Also, before I go further, I need to just include this other excerpt, because every time I think about it I fucking lose it:

'How about another song, Sylvie?'

Karl nuzzles his face in my hair as I sit at the piano pretending to play while a bespectacled lieutenant with new bars on his shoulders dances his fingers over the keys in a melody I can't name. A favorite of the Reich, I presume. Dressed in a red silk gown cut low to show off my bare back, I'm putting up a good front since I had no choice when Karl insisted his buddies needed a place to 'unwind'. Get drunk, more like it. I chuckle at his attempt at humor, laughing and flirting with the lieutenant. The elegant, upright piano came with the apartment, and though I can't play, I've faked it enough times on screen to make it look like I am.

Aside from the ATROCIOUS run on sentences and the abysmal prose writing here, I need to ask how the FUCK someone mimes playing a piano with someone sitting RIGHT NEXT TO THEM at the piano who is ACTUALLY PLAYING IT!!!!! WHAT IS THIS!!!!!!!!

Anyway, sorry, I just had to share that because I had to fully reread it like three times before I realized that I wasn't having an aneurysm and that actually the author has no idea what she's doing.

Where was I? Oh, yeah. This book was bad. Yeah, so aside from the fact that it took until 50% in for the war to start (you know, the thing the summary says is the plot of the book), but the formerly titular German Officer that everyone was kicking up a fit about? Yeah, aside from the first chapter which is an in media res introduction to Sylvie that has the Nazi officer with her, he does not show up until 55% into the book. And he unceremoniously exits stage right at 81% with a handwave-y line about him being sent back to the front because the Nazis are losing the fight.

And on top of that? He's barely fucking in it! We get told about a few outings she has with him and his buddies (During which she gathers information for the Resistance, because the Nazis wouldn't have put that together.), and there is the scene I quoted where she's entertaining them in her apartment while she hides her One True Love in the basement, and then there is one more scene after that when the officer barges into her apartment and tries to assault her. But don't worry, the little Jewish girl she has taken in saves her when she smashed him over the head with a vase.

We'll get back to that little girl in a moment.

But yeah, everyone made a stink for absolutely nothing. Literally nothing! He was literally in it so infrequently that I don't even remember the dude's name!!!! His first name is Karl, and I only know that because it was in the quote I included above. And it's all fucking bad, Scoob!!! This is bad writing!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the little Jewish girl. Her name is Hallette, and she is the daughter of Sylvie's good screenwriter friend Raoul. At some point during the Nazi occupation, Raoul appeals to Sylvie to help him get his daughter and his sister out of France and to America. Sylvie says no because what if she needs his skills???? He is such a brilliant writer!!! What would we do without you???

But when they need a hit movie during the occupation, she convinces her Nazi dog director/handler Emil to hire Raoul in secret to write them a script. They can pay him in cash and he can write under an alias. Then he can have money to get his family fake IDs and smuggle them out of the county.

Meanwhile, our dear Sylvie never faces any hardship. She literally somehow always has money and food, so the fact that she couldn't just give this man, who she claims is such a dear friend, money to AT LEAST get his family out of France is fucking insane.

Well, he writes the movie, it's a hit. He winds up getting caught by the Gestapo, and we find out in a way that made me laugh in the way in was presented to us.

The end of one chapter goes as such, after Sylvie has witnessed the train cars that bring prisoners to concentration camps:

I can't stop the shudders going through me, well aware I could be caged in that boxcar... or Bertrand, Raoul, or Halette.

I make a promise to myself.

I'll do anything to keep them safe.

And the very next chapter, the very next page opens with this:

'The Gestapo have Raoul.'

I couldn't help myself!!! I fucking laughed out loud!!!! At this point, I was already tired of Sylvie and her self-righteous bullshit, so my first thought was just "Wow, you shit the bed on that one, huh!"

And, of course, in case you were wondering, Raoul sacrifices himself to save Sylvie from outing herself as a member of the Resistance, and entrusts the safety of his daughter to her.

His daughter... who Sylvie allows to continue to act as a courier for the Resistance (and herself). After seeing the beating and torture the Gestapo gave to her father.

Fucking!!!! Whatever!!!!

Also, the Resistance. They allowed Sylvie to join, not knowing her true identity. She showed up with her friend Bertrand one night because she just had to do more. She tried to outright defy the Nazis, but she risked being blacklisted as an actress. And she can't not make films! She must give the French people hope with her films! So she takes on the guise of an old woman named Fantine, with her expert makeup skills and acting (she limps and wears a veil), and the Resistance accepts her into their ranks with hardly a word of protest.

Like the French Resistance wasn't going to demand hard proof of her loyalty and that she won't roll over for the Nazis.

There's one more specific thing I have to mention. So there was this Gestapo dude who was on her case and knew she was full of shit in the most classically cartoon villain way (he took out his handcuffs and sensually rubbed them on her face and breasts??? Also, this was told to me. Not shown to me. So reading that in the most passive voice imaginable as Sylvie recounted it was hysterical.) (also don't ask me to remember his name. I don't.) and at one point, he followed her when she went to meet up with her One True Love RAF pilot, Jock.

This entire scene was told to me in a passive voice. The entire thing, with the exception of a couple over-dramatic lines of dialogue such as "Don't listen to him, Jock! He wouldn't dare!" "Wouldn't I?" and, the ever classic, "You French bitch!"

Anyway, this scene should have been nerve-wracking, but I read it with dead eyes. The Gestapo finds them, gets ahold of Sylvie and holds her at gun point. Jock charges him. They tussle. He kills the Gestapo. The end. Threat gone.

And that short summary I typed up probably has more emotion and weight than the actual passage in the book.

I am trying so hard to remember what else there is to complain about, but I'd just be repeating everything ad nauseam. The invasion of France and Paris was hand wave-y, as was the liberation. The time during the Occupation was barely even addressed, because, as I said, Sylvie faced no hardship. I never got to see the cruelty of the Nazis first hand, or experience the horrors and fear the Jewish people had to live with. None of it. I instead got to hear about Sylvie's movies and her apartments and her outings with the Nazis and fucking Jock.

Who, by the way, she couldn't be with because he was royalty, and she was the illegitimate daughter of a prostitute. But not to worry! They said Fuck It after Sylvie got pregnant and married in secret. Thank God, right? Especially since Jock winds up dying before the end of the war. Rest in pepperoni.

Anyway, the only other thing I should probably address is Juliana. Forgot about her, right? Don't worry, I did, too. Many times. She didn't even really register. Neither she nor Sylvie had an actual Voice. They both sounded the same, which is to say Bland and Blank. And Juliana also was Totally Not In Love with her best friend, and film restorationist, Ridge, who I had to constantly hear about how Sexy he was all the time. She would be working on her quest to dig up more on Sylvie and call Ridge for advice, and I would have to read shit like "I bet he's at the gym, working on his sexy abs with his sexy smile on display for the world."

It was fucking awful and had me begging to be back in Sylvie's POV. As insufferable as she was, at least I didn't have to deal with THAT all the time.

Well, I guess that's all I can really say. In case you were worried, they totally cleared Sylvie's name, and they get France to hold a film festival in her honor, showing off her old films and the home movie she had secretly made of the concentration camp boxcar she came upon. And it sold out in three hours. Because of course it did.

Also, Ridge and Juliana got together. Because I know you were worried they didn't.

I'm so glad to be rid of this book. I was able to prove, once and for all, that this book was not a Nazi romance, but was, in fact, a fucking insult to the written word.

When will I stop putting myself through hell in order to show the world the truth about Bad Books?

[Evelyn Goldman · Rating 1 out of 5]

WOULD NEVER SUBJECT MY EYEBALLS TO THIS PIECE OF ANTISEMETIC, FASCIST TRASH

Why would you romanticize a fascist murderer? Even if the plot is about her going under cover, WHY IS SHE HAPPILY FLIRTING WITH A NAZI ON THE COVER???

Unless the heroine shoots the “German officer” [do you even know who the Nazis were? Hint: ALL GERMAN OFFICERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF 6 MILLION JEWS & MILLIONS MORE WHO WEREN’T ARYAN ASSHOLES, EVEN IF THEIR JOB WAS NOT LOCATED AT A CONCENTRATION CAMP] in the face, there can be no happy ending here. Shame on you and everyone associated with this book.

Your cover, covered in swastikas, is a dog-whistle for antisemetic, fascist, white-supremacists. Which tells me a lot about you and your readership.

[Autumn D’Auria | bookedbyautumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Resistance Girl by Jina Bacarr is a historical fiction set during World War II in Paris. This story is told from the perspectives of Sylvie (Paris, 1943) and Juliana (Paris, 2020). I usually am not a huge fan of dual timelines in books but Tina Bacarr executed the use of the dual timeline beautifully. This book was interesting from the first to the last page. The story of Sylvie and Juliana is remarkable. This book consumed me and I was able to finish this book in one sitting. I thought the characters were amazing and the plot was brilliant. I highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy reading historical fiction!

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnifique

An extremely moving and gripping story of hidden secrets and discovery; moving easily between the present day, then to Paris, pre-World War II, during and following the war.
Superb characters and a brilliantly devised plot make this a book that is hard to put down. I absolutely loved it!
Very highly recommended.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I apparently have a copy of the later cover & not the earlier one featuring swastikas & the girl smiling at a German officer.
I think the other cover would definitely have given the wrong impression.
A duel timeline I am of fan of.
This is not a Nazi romance, quite the opposite!
If anything this book shows how scary it was to live during the time of WW2,the atrocities, and resilience of people put in impossible situations just trying to survive.
An excellent story.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I started reading this I was heard a lot of very negative and to be perfectly honest incredibly hurtful opinion’s about it, most was mainly about the cover – I do know that Boldwood Books have changed the cover and the title – and some of it was about the story itself, but I never allow another person’s opinion to stop me from reading a book I have wanted to read (except if I genuinely respect their opinion/know them) I refuse to allow bitter words to sway my own thoughts and now I have finished, I am a little perplexed as to what all the harsh words were about.

Have people just looked at the previous cover and title and judged without reading??

Ah, well each to their own, but I was genuinely a little confused over the nastiness as this is a beautifully written timeslip, historical fiction and I would recommend it to anyone who loves WW2 fiction which is interlaced with the present. The writing is

The story moves seamlessly between the past and the present as Juliana and Sylvie’s stories are revealed as which are intricately linked. My personal favourite was the past, I have a huge love of WW2 era fiction, Jina Bacar really captured the time with her rich and vivid detail, its got a real authentic feel to it that ignites the imagination, alongside the imminent danger and what is happening you have old school glamour. I really enjoyed getting to know Sylvie and leaning her story, she had a fascinating life which was full of difficult choices that also tested her morally. From her humble beginnings with big dreams of becoming one of the most loved actresses in Paris and then to be hated and seen as a traitor and even worse condemned as a collaborator. But was Sylvie really a cold-hearted collaborator, or was there a reason why she chose the path she took?

The story is split between the present day, 1926 and then 1943, when Juliana finds a photograph of her incredibly glamourous grandmother, the shining actress of the ’40s but on the arm of none other than a Nazi officer. Juliana is shocked, what is going on in the photo? But she refuses to believe that her grandmother was a collaborator, so Juliana with photo in handsets out on a journey that will change so much and reveal family secrets, sacrifice, bravery and leaves her changed in mind and soul, she knows that Sylvie’s story is one that needs to be spoken and not hidden.

The Resistance Girl is an emotional read that will still your heart, if you love The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff (which is one of my ultimate WW2 historical fiction novel’s) then I can guarantee you will take this into your heart as well.

[Stina Lindenblatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is gripping and heartbreaking. I listened to the audiobook while walking and had to fight back tears near the end of the story. It's a great reminder that so many people risked their lives working for the various resistance networks during WWII, only to be wrongly viewed as collaborators and traitors once the war was over.

[S Grylls-Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, past and present characters.

[Bev Totten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love these stories of the bravery and sacrifices during these horrific times in Europe.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational and hopeful, this alternating dual-timeline book is a fascinating account of unraveling a family's deep secrets from the past. Though fictional, it is very believable. It is told through the eyes of Sylvie and Juliana.

Sylvie Martone, French actress extraordinaire, has many secrets hidden in her heart. She is faced with difficult choices, especially when war breaks out. Her story is filled with desperation, betrayal, heartache and love, written so convincingly I felt a range of emotions.

After her mother dies, Juliana Chastain sorts through her belongings and finds far more than she expected, something meaningful yet disconcerting, a photograph of her grandmother linking arms with a Nazi officer. Juliana's mother had remained tight-lipped about her family so this discovery ignited a spark to go on a quest to discover the truth, regardless of what she would find. Her determination takes her places she would never have thought.

This moving book captures the realities of war as well as the lives of the characters and the secrets they keep. I like that the story isn't all roses and happiness which isn't realistic. Sylvie's life has many fascinating twists and turns, ups and downs. Though about war, the story is not heavy or cumbersome.

The chapter titles are brilliant and at the end of each I wanted to get to the next as they left me on tenterhooks at times. I made a note to read more by Jina Bacarr.

Readers who enjoy thought-provoking Historical Fiction which is deeper than some should read this.

My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this enthralling book in exchange for an honest review.
Much appreciated.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this out of curiosity. OK, I did not like the title or the cover because of the images and connotations. BUT, I believe in the saying "don't judge a book by its cover."

I am, however, relieved that the cover and title were changed.

I went into the novel not really knowing what it was going to be like. I did like the depth of emotion and way the struggles and injustices were played out.

Jina Bacarr does create a very atmospheric novel which has the theme of love, but also family relationships. I loved being a witness to Sylvie's life, and Paris was interestingly portrayed.

Jina Bacarr does romance and atmosphere in historical novels very well.

I admit that the Nazis do make me uncomfortable, but I was able to appreciate the effort that went into penning this novel and the family relationships, feelings, struggles happiness and fears were what struck a chord with me and were more of a takehome for me than the fact that I got hung up about the fact that the book was about being with a Nazi officer.

Sure, I was not comfortable with that, but that is part of the plot of the story and what happened. I believe everyone has their reasons for falling in love with the people they do and that that is also something that should not be judged.

This was not my favourite novel by Nina Bacarr, because of how uncomfortable I felt about the Nazi love thing. But, it was curiosity that made me continue and the atmosphere in the book was good.

I do believe in giving every book a chance and before I had my iPad read this out to me, I was thinking about the blog post Jina Bacarr wrote on Goodreads which is the inspiration for the novel and her experiences.

And it was harrowing, bittersweet and gripping. The same as this novel. Look past the Nazis (I am not saying they are good as they are not) and see the love, determination struggles and life issues in the book and I hope you come away satisfied. I did.

I have loved some books dealing with sensitive issues, like Jodi Picoult's The Storyteller, or The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Tattooist of Auschwitz was eye-opening. I believe in giving books with "difficult" issues a chance and not slating them outright. This novel deserves this approach.

I was saddened to find many bad reviews on Goodreads that I think are completely unjustified. As someone who has drafts of books about sensitive issues, and who likes books that "dare" to deal with them, I congratulate Jina Bacarr for this novel.

Pro tip: If you do not like the synopsis, do not request the book. I value the work that goes into producing any book and I appreciate Boldwood's honesty and action in changing the title and cover.

We all have choices in the books we read. Make those choices wisely and don't judge. Or, read another title by Jina Bacarr. Then see what you think.

Thanks to Jina Bacarr, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and vountary review.

3.5 stars.

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guess what? It’s another book set in WWII. And, you know what else? I really enjoyed it. Quelle surprise! I guess I am a creature of habit.

When Juliana Chastain sorts through her late mother’s possessions, she finds an old photograph of her grandmother, arm in arm with a Nazi officer. Is this why her own mother never told her about her family’s past? Was her grandmother a Nazi collaborator? And who was her grandfather? The man in the photo? All these questions left Juliana with no other option than to find the answers, even if it meant going to France herself.

Told through the eyes of Sylvie Martone (grandmother) and Juliana (granddaughter) the story spans the generations and secrets hidden for decades finally come to the surface.

Sylvie always wanted to be an actress; it was her childhood dream. So when the chance came, so left the convent where she was raised and headed for the bright lights of silent movies. Her talents were recognised, and the “talkies” brought her even more success, making her the sweetheart of the French film industry with fans throughout the country.

When war broke out, Sylvie was noticed by the invading Nazis who loved how she was idolised by the nation. Having her on their arm, they believed, would give them a certain gravitas with the French citizens. Instead, it drove her fans away and left her labelled as a collaborator.

Yet, Sylvie was anything but. She used her position to help her fellow neighbours and colleagues, enabling them to escape the Nazi regime. Yet none of this was ever declared, for reasons Juliana has to discover for herself as she attempts to clear her grandmother’s name and restore her reputation as a much-loved filmstar.

The story plunged deep into Sylvie’s life, her necessary dalliances with the Nazi officer, as well as her one true chance for love. As Juliana learnt more about her grandmother, she became ever more determined to bring the truth to the fore. Following her grandmother’s films, notes, and recordings she was able to connect with her in so many ways, even as far as understanding who was important in her own life.

It was a captivating read, highlighting the realities of war with sensitivity and understanding. While Sylvie and Juliana got to tell their stories, and Juliana discovered the truth about her grandmother, it became ever more tragic that her own mother never took the chance to know that truth. Secrets certainly led to the three women having different takes on history.

I’d recommend this to fans of WWII historical fiction who enjoy the deep dive into believable and heart-wrenching stories.

My thanks go to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. This review is given voluntarily.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books set in Paris and I am fascinated with the impact of both world wars on civilians so this book was a must read for me.

I found The Resistance Girl a captivating WWII time-slip novel that will entrance you with the glamour, the espionage, the romance and the danger. It will also leave you with food for thought of a time in history that no-one can ever appreciate or begin to understand unless you are living in it. This is when fiction is at it’s best bringing historical moments to life and giving the reader an atmospheric understanding of what the characters are experiencing.

This story is a tale of two halves focussing on two women who find themselves reaching a junction in their lives. The routes they take could change their lives irrevocably. Back in the late 1920’s young Sylvie, who has been brought up by nuns at the local convent in Paris, is obsessed with the silver screen and dreams of being an actress. Sylvie has to make a big decision to step away from the convent and set her dreams free but is this step leading her to danger in later life? The silver screens were just coming alive with speaking parts and exciting times were ahead in the world of cinema.

Over 75 years later Juliana is sorting out her late mother’s belongings and finds a photograph of a beautiful women. This photograph she believes is of her grandmother and it inspires Juliana to learn more about her. Who is the beautiful woman, what was her story?

The story flits back and forth as we follow both girls journeys in life; Sylvie’s journey to stardom and to survival as the war in Europe intensifies and Paris becomes occupied by soldiers. Sylvie’s celebrity status becomes a hindrance and a gain during these troubled times and she struggles with her beliefs. Juliana has a tough journey tracking down the life of this young woman in the photograph who held so many secrets. Her gut instincts are to fight for the truth surrounding Sylvie’s career and personal life.

A story that will keep you mesmerised till the very end. I find stories like Sylvie’s very remarkable and they should be told to all. Even though this is a work of fiction it is based on the wondrous stories that military historians are now unearthing. At times it is dark with the realities of war and it will break your heart many times but you can sense the hope in Sylvie for better days to come. It must have been thrilling for Juliana to reveal these secrets of her grandmother. Secrets that no-one could ever envisage.

A captivating story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jina’s ever since I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of her previous book called ‘The Runaway Girl’. I read the synopsis for ‘The Resistance Girl’ and it sounded like just my kind of read. So without further ado, I grabbed a copy of the book, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for a darn good read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Resistance Girl’ but more about that in a bit.
As well as being a ginger haired book geek, I am also a ginger haired history nerd, with a particular interest in the first and second World Wars, so you can appreciate why ‘The Resistance Girl’ screamed ‘read me’ at me. The story sounded so appealing that I just had to dive straight in as it were. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I became ever more desperate to find out what was going to happen to the main characters. This was one of those books that affected me emotionally too as I felt myself going through every emotion that the different characters were going through. I managed to read ‘The Resistance Girl’ over the course of three days, which is pretty good for me.
‘The Resistance Girl’ is superbly written but then I thought that to be true of ‘The Runaway Girl’ too. ‘The Resistance Girl’ is written using two different timelines. One timeline follows Sylvie’s story during Wartime and the other timeline involves her granddaughter Julianna. I did wonder if that might prove to be confusing but I needn’t have worried because the chapters interlinked really well and the story flowed seamlessly. Jina has a way of instantly grabbing your attention and luring you into the story. Once Jina has grabbed your attention then she will not let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page. I found that she writes so movingly, beautifully and uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. I also find Jina’s books educational in a sense because she gives a real sense of what it must have been like for those people just trying to survive.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Resistance Girl’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading more of Jina’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Mary-Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin with, overall Goodreads star rating on this book is misleading because the reviews that have given this book only one star come from people who have judged the book by its cover and title, both of which were changed. Something in the title (originally the German Officer's Girl) and cover (the sight of swastikas) offended then and they want to make sure others don't read it even though they have no idea what the book is genuinely about. The offensive items have been removed and the book should be given a second chance to receive a genuine rating, not one swayed by people who didn't even read it.

I received this book through Netgalley for a genuine review and in a sea of WWII resistance novels largely set in Paris, this one gets lost. The novel is about Juliana trying to prove that her grandmother - Sylvie Martone - is not a Nazi sympathizers, despite what the photographs show. The majority of the story is from Sylvie's point of view as she tells her story, starting with how she left life at a convent when she was 16 to become a French film star. It details her ups and downs of stardom and having a forbidden love affair, all of which is turned on its head when Hitler invades Paris. Then, when the Nazi set their sights on her and her fame, Sylvie discovers that she can use her position to help the resistance, even at the expense of her own reputation.

While I found the storyline interesting, especially from the point of view of a French actress and what she risked for the war effort, something in the story was lacking. I think some of it comes in the storytelling. It felt like Sylvie was telling you the story of her life in the sense that it sometimes came off like an overview of what happened. Scenes didn't feel well developed or repetitive. The emotions felt surface level, where I didn't really feel the horror of the war or the devastation. At the same time, the Juliana side of the novel, of her uncovering the truth about her grandmother, was interesting, especially as she worked with the Sisters to discover things, but it again just felt lacking. The author tried to make it seem impossible but then a quick phone call or another search miraculously uncovered exactly what she needed. Momentous occasions didn't have the emotions or attention needed. The author also tried to throw in some romance for Juliana but it felt unnecessarily added because it came off like a teenager obsessing about her crush rather than a blossoming romance.

What it all boils down to is that something in the storytelling was lacking. The novel has a great storyline and moments of intrigue, but the writing all felt basic and on the surface rather than delving into the depth of emotions this story could reach. The field is already overwhelmed with WWII novels and this one just doesn't do enough to stand out.

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, especially that which is set during WW2. However, for me, this book just didn't work. I think part of my issue is the writing felt very American, not just in Juliana's chapters but also in Sylvie's. Indeed, there was little difference in the writing style used in each characters chapters, which did make it hard at times to distinguish between the two - they didn't have their own distinct voices, but instead blended in to each other which I was a bit disappointed by.

Juliana's chapters weren't really that interesting to me - I've read so many books where a modern day relative researches their ancestors role in the war, and there was nothing special about her chapters to make it stand out in any way. Sylvie's timeline did have the bonus of focusing on a unique and often unexplored element of life in occupied France - the film industry - but I did feel like the tone was wrong here. Rather than focusing on Sylvie's struggles, a lot of the emphasis was on what she gained during that time, which felt wrong to me morally. But then Sylvie did come across to me at least like quite a spoilt, unlikeable woman, so maybe I'm biased.

All in all, this one wasn't really for me. And no, it wasn't because of the previous title (The German Officer's Girl) or because the original cover has swastikas on (even though both of these things were issues the publisher should've picked up on). My issue is the fact that the book itself just doesn't stand out. The plot is unique, but the writing isn't anything special, there's very little emotion in any element of the plot, and it felt very much like Sylvie was just giving you an overview of what happened, rather than actually living it. Plus, there were way too many miraculous discoveries of information in Juliana's timeline. It's a shame, as the concept itself (a story about a French actress and what she has to do to survive in occupied France) was interesting. However, the storyline was poorly structured, the emotion veered between being lacklustre and non-existent, and the writing just felt incredibly basic. WW2 fiction is a love of mine, but even I will admit that there are far too many books in this genre - as such, there's no point wasting time on one that isn't exception. And this one isn't.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness, what a story! I did wonder how I hadn’t heard of Sylvie Martone before, even did a bit of a search on Google about her and her films (and her fall from grace), but this is a work of fiction – and hats off to the author for making her feel so very real.

I’m always a pushover for a dual time story, and I particularly liked the way this story was constructed. Juliana finds her grandmother’s photo among her mother’s possessions after her death, and through her cinema world connections uncovers the bare bones of Sylvie’s story – and understands why her mother was always so secretive about her, universally condemned as a Nazi collaborator and now hidden from history. She pursues the truth, convinced that the real story hasn’t been uncovered – and then sets about finding the evidence to restore her actress grandmother’s reputation.

And then there’s Sylvie’s own story, told in the first person – from her convent orphanage childhood when she discovers her dream and love of performing, her rise to film stardom as France’s sweetheart, the difficult times when her life and career goes off the rails, and her choices following the French wartime invasion when she finds that her career provides opportunities to make a real difference. There’s a rather lovely romance in there too – with an English duke, their very different lives seeming to make future happiness quite impossible.

I’ll admit that I did find the story’s pace slowed a little during Sylvie’s difficult middle years – it’s all a bit sad and seedy, and I was quite relieved when it cut away to Juliana’s continuing investigations, and the tentative romance in her own life (phoar, Ridge – he was rather gorgeous!). There were also a few rather far-fetched coincidences that led to the uncovering of some of the evidence along the way – thank goodness for the convent basement, the helpful nun and an errant roller-skate.

But I entirely forgave all that when I raced through the last third of the book, with my heart in my mouth – a compelling story of bravery and courage with a constant edge of danger and threat of discovery. I might have had just a few minor reservations, but it’s a superb story on a cinematic scale, told exceptionally well, with such well-drawn characters and a vivid backdrop both in the pre-war cinema world and through the dark days of the occupation. Nicely done – I enjoyed this one.