WWII Historical fiction is a general favourite of mine. I found the writing style to be enjoyable. The characters were relatively well-developed and fairly engaging. I felt like everything shifted as the book's conclusion drew near. The events felt incredibly hurried and left a lot unanswered. Lots of promise but not quite fulfilled.

Fabulous story with a narrator who made listening a pleasure.
I enjoyed hearing about characters’ bravery during World War 2 in Holland, an episode on history which has long captured my attention. As expected, the suspense of this period in history was portrayed well.
My thanks to NetGalley, Bookoutre and author for kindly granting me a digital audio copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored Matthews’ book The Girl Behind the Wire Fence and, needless to say, I expected to love this one. However, I didn’t love it as much as I anticipated I would have.

The plot pulled me into the story and hearing about wartime Holland in such a unique perspective really intrigued me. The plot kept me interested in the book throughout as I always wanted to know what happens next. For me, this is something Matthews does very well in her book; the Hidden Village is no exception to this.

However, I found myself losing interest a few times. The wide range of characters was very difficult to keep track of and at many intervals I found myself confused with who was who. It tore me away from the reading experience. By the time the tense moments came, there didn’t seem to be much tension in the characters, but perhaps it was due to the audio version I received. If there had been more tension, I definitely would have given the book more stars. I loved the ending though, but I would have liked to see the aftermath with Sophie a bit more than the author gave us.

I did this one on audiobook. Loved the narration! The story didn't always keep my attention while listening as it has a lot of characters, and felt a bit long, so I would recommend reading the novel, It was a fascinating story, historical fiction but based on true Dutch accounts of resistance during WWII. Truly heart-breaking, it still leaves you with a sense of hope.
Thank you for my audiobook!

It is a cozy little historical fiction set in a small village. It has the feel of a close knit unit trying to do its best when the Nazis come to town. It starts of wel but towards the end there seems to be a rush to end it quickly. But I must say, I enjoyed listening to it, world war fiction being my favourite genre.

I listened to The Hidden Village, by Imogen Matthews as an Audiobook which was narrated by Antonia Whillans.

Set in Holland in 1943, The Hidden Village is a secret village that the Dutch people built to hide Jewish people and anyone else who needed protection from the Germans. We follow the variety of characters who are involved in the village, whether building it, living there or maintaining it, and slowly we become immersed in their lives.

Although rather slow, it kept me hooked, as I was desperate to find out how things ended for Sofie and her friends. Based on true events, I was curious how an entire village could remain hidden from the Germans for so long, and it was interesting to research this further once I’d finished the book.

I have read many books set in World War II, and it’s eye-opening to read about it from another point of view, this time primarily from Dutch citizens. Everyone should know what happened in the war, and fiction books which are based on fact are an entertaining and insightful way to gain the knowledge.

Listening as an Audiobook, the narrator, Antonia Whillans, brought the characters to life and probably made the story more tense and foreboding than just reading alone might have done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to and review an ARC of The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews.

I did enjoy this story. It is more slow paced at times. Definitely makes you stop and think and sometimes cry. WW2 and Nazi Germany can be a hard topic to read about but definitely important to learn from. I read and listened to this so I kinda got the best of both worlds. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to listen.

The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews and Narrated by Antonia Whillans is the first book in the new Wartime Holland series. This new book by Imogen was beautifully written from start to the end and is based on a true story and the work, of the Dutch resistance, of a secret village hidden deep in the forest near Vierhouten, This was near a house called 'Pas Op' meaning Beware and it was to provide secret shelter for over 80 Jewish refugees to hid people from the German army and they lived there for more than a year in 1943 to 1944.

What a superb book but you will need tissues.

I highly recommend this book and looking forward to the next book in this series.

The Narrator Antonia Whillans was excellent.

Big thank you to Imogen Matthews, the author, NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of The Hidden Village in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews. I love reading historical fiction about WW2. But I found that this story was lacking. I did not enjoy it as I should have.

The Hidden Village is based on a true story of a secret village hidden deep in the forest near Vierhouten, near the house named 'Pas Op' (Beware). It was built to provide shelter for more than 80 refugees who lived there for more than a year in 1943/1944. This story features fifteen year old Sophie and her friends and neighbours. She is the only one from her family given refuge, getting the last spot. There are constantly Nazi Patrols searching for the village they have heard of, making it a game of cat and mouse as the villagers take supplies and care for the refugees.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but towards the end, it seemed to run out of steam. "The Hidden Village" is a book based on events that took place during WWII, but the characters and the events associated with those, were purely fictional. The story is told from the point of view of the youth and children of the town and secret village which is a bit different. Imogen Matthews was inspired to write this story after hearing stories from her Dutch family about their experiences. I became invested in many of the character's lives and experiences, but the story seemed flat at the end. This is a YA story and I like that it wasn't too graphic, yet honestly portrayed a difficult time in history and that there were heroic people to stand up and help them, risking their own lives to do so. I definitely recommend you read the author's notes at the end of the book. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Antonia Whillans. She did an excellent job portraying the different voices and emotion with her expression, tone and inflection. I do recommend this book to those 12 and up, to learn about this time, these events and the heroic efforts of young persons.

Fascinating, tragic and beautiful, this was a deeply moving and important book. The audiobook was really well narrated, and I thought it was very clever to tell the perspective of war through younger narrators.

I enjoy reading historical fiction books that occur during WWII. And when I find one that explores a different focus on that time period, I am excited for the opportunity to read it. There is a good portion of the book that is obviously fiction…the characters and events. The author definitely conducted a lot of research for the book. The characters are well developed and the sheer amount of courage demonstrated by them was awe inspiring. The ending seemed rushed, but overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it for those who appreciate books of this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amsterdam Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The Hidden Village by Imogen Matthews takes place in the Netherlands during World War II. The story follows a cast of characters that have some connection to a town trying to figure out how to hide people from the Nazis. Some neighbors directly take people in. Others help create a hidden village in the woods. Others yet have to be hidden themselves. Their various story lines are woven together leaving the reader/listener wondering who will be safe in the end.

Overall the story kept me engaged as a listener. I felt like it had some abrupt transitions to different story lines and left some plots feeling unresolved or underdeveloped. I would still recommend it to those who enjoy WWII fiction, especially those with particular interest in the Netherlands. However, I wouldn't classify it as a story that knocked my socks off.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oddly, while reading, I tried to imagine the author's scenario, and found afterwards this book was based on a true story. I do not repeat the synopsis or spoil.

Right away I was engaged. The story flowed seamlessly. I had only the audiobook, and did not feel the need to rewind or re-listen. I had just a little trouble keeping the kids storylines straight. Much like multiple siblings, eventually your name is called. It was like that. I found myself keeping up and not wanting to push the story faster until around 65%. After reading and thinking, I still believe the cousin portion of the story was drawn out and I cannot see why, albeit absolutely a beautiful part of the story. Around the 75% mark or so, the story in my head went fast. I did re-listen from about 75% to around maybe 90% a couple of times. There was a lot going on, and rightly so. The author had multiple action scenes happening simultaneously. Of course, there needs to be an ending. I couldn't have written any of this, and so no I couldn't do better; however, it didn't feel right and two days later it still isn't sitting well.

The narrator, Antonia Whillans, was good.

The book was worth every minute of my time. It is stories like this that keep me reading respectfully historical fiction. I had never heard of a hidden village, and thank Imogen Matthews for enlightening me. I will pursue the nonfiction tellings.

Thank you NetGalley, Imogen Matthews, and Bookouture Audio for accepting my request to read and review The Hidden Village.

#NetGalley
#BookoutureAudio
#ImogenMatthews
#NarratorAntoniaWhillans
#TheHiddenVillage
#Historical Fiction Audiobook

Sadly I didn’t finish this one. I managed to get through to about 60.% and part of me wanted to just push on with it and get it done, but I just couldn’t, I’m not sure what it was. As a history teacher I usually really enjoy (not the right word but strapped for a different one) books about the Holocaust but this one just seemed to drag for me which I’ve never experienced before.
I didn’t care enough about any of the characters and I don’t know if it’s because there were so many of them that it was difficult to keep track of them all, or whether it was that their stories didn’t grab me. It could have been the narrator, I usually love audiobooks but I kept zoning out with this as the pauses are overly long and the narration was quite monotonous. Even when sped up, the long pauses were still jarring.
I will still recommend my students look at a copy if they have time as the subject matter of the hidden Dutch villages rarely comes up elsewhere, but apart from that I won’t be listening to the audio version again.

Great story! I knew nothing about the village in the woods built by Dutch people to shelter Jews during WW2. It really happened which is what makes this book extra special. Yes the narrative is fiction but really well researched and gripping. Told in the main from the perspective of the youth of the town, it is an enjoyable and fascinating story. Thanks.

This is a great historical fiction book, which is based on events which actually took place in Holland, during World War 2. It is a heartbreaking and eye opening story, which is very emotional, but it also shows strength, courage and optimism. The characters really brought the story to life, and their bravery and kindness astounded me. Even when they didn't have much, they still shared what they had. Sofie intrigued me and I enjoyed reading about her journey, as well as the journeys of everyone who was around her. Whenever anyone was in trouble, there was always someone by their side trying to help them.

The narrator of the audiobook version of the book was superb, and she did a good job portraying the different voices.

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Hidden Village" is a fiction-based-on-fact story, set in WW2 in the Netherlands and based on the Pas-op camp that existed near Vierhouten.
This is the story of ordinary people during WW2, living in occupied Holland, with the Nazi regime, food shortages and an overwhelming tension. Those opposed to the Nazi regime went out of their way, risking everything, to protect vulnerable people from the Nazis. Not only their neighbours, but others who were passed through contacts to them for safety.
The start of the book was a bit of a struggle as there were a lot of characters and it was hard initially to keep track of them. However once I got to “know” the characters, I became more invested in the story and wanted to know what happened to them. We have a range of people, male, female, young, older, Dutch, Jewish & the odd Allied airman. Initially hidden in attics and outbuildings, it soon becomes apparent that the Germans are becoming suspicious and also that more people need help than can be accommodated safely in these temporary setups. A small committee is setup and sets about build a series of huts, ultimately becoming a small village, deep in the woods where the Germans were not patrolling.

The pace of the story was initially good but there was a distinct lull in the middle of the book and whilst the pace & tension did pick up again very well towards the end, I found the ending very abrupt – I presume that this is because it is the first in the series & more books are to follow, but it jarred and left me frustrated.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator suited the story well, getting the Dutch pronunciations correct, though without an attempt at an “accent”.
I was slightly disappointed that there was no “authors note” or link to the facts that the book is based on, but some internet searching helped me to fill in some gaps in my knowledge. Overall this is an interesting story about a lesser-known aspect of WW2.

The Hidden Village is an average read. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed since the storyline holds such potential.
WWII is at it’s height. Holland is occupied and the Germans have begun “The Final Solution”. Jews are being rounded up and taken to concentration camps. Rumors are flying as to what actually happens there. Whatever it is the Dutch know it’s not good. One town decides enough is enough. They will hide their Jews and any other whose community is targeted by the Germans: Poles,Russians, Allied pilots all will be helped. It soon becomes apparent that hidden rooms will not be enough. The town decides to build a “village “, deep in the woods, partially underground and hidden from German eyes. Berkenhout “The Hidden Village“is born. They hope to hide 80 people there. This story is based on an actual town that did just that. For some unknown reason the author has changed the name of the town, village and people involved. An authors note would have been very helpful here but none was present with the audiobook version I read. It would have helped answer this question and many others I had.
This story is a complex one that is simply written. Using simple prose and dialogue works well. One is able to keep straight the numerous characters and setttings in the book. No dictionary is needed here. The pace is even for the first half of the book advancing the story well, building up the characters to a point that we care and slowly building up the tension. Then it feels like another author takes over. The pace slows to the point that any tension is lost. By the time the book reaches its dramatic peak the tension is so low I have difficulty caring about what happens. But I still do and that leads me to my second problem. The ending, it felt very rushed and major side stories are just dropped with no resolution. There is an epilogue but it is far from complete and still gives no answer as to what happened with some prominent secondary characters. I now know there is a sequel focused on two characters who went missing but there were others who I would have liked to know about. The epilogue could have been used to hint at a second book and I would have known my answers might be found there but it didn’t.
The audiobook. Here is we’re I feel this book could have been helped but wasn’t. I’m not sure if the writing is the problem or the narrator or both. The narrator handled the American voices very well and no attempt is made at Dutch or German voices leading to a couple of confused moments. The build up of tension could have been helped greatly by the inflection of the actresses voice but was not. Though not quite flat the actress did not emote different feelings like joy, terror or anger (to name a few) particularly well. This is a very rare case where I may have enjoyed the print version more.
I was tempted to give 2 stars because of so many missed chances to make this a strong novel, but I did like the first half and there is much here to like So I give it 3 stars. Remember though, your mileage may vary! If you are intrigued by the story by all means try it there are plenty of reviewers that enjoyed this book!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

I enjoyed listening to this audio. I found it an easy to listen to.
It was interesting listening to a book based in Holland as opposed to the usual places in WW2.
The narrator was good.