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Small Acts of Resistance

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Small Acts of Resistance by Anita Frank

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By Anita Frank

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1 review

Sunday Times bestselling author Anita Frank returns with a breathtaking story of love and resistance
‘Tender and evocative… ultimately humane and affirming’ Sean Lusk

‘Vividly captures a time of tested loyalties, courageous defiance and the ever-present yearning for love, safety and peace’ Daily Mail * May 1915. When his aircraft crashes in Northern France, British airman Henry finds himself stranded behind enemy lines. His survival depends on the courage and compassion of a local family who risk everything by hiding him in their farmhouse. With her village already suffering under Occupation, Marie knows sheltering Henry will put her in family in grave danger, and that peril only increases when two German officers are unexpectedly billeted with them. Forced to live cheek by jowl with their occupiers, it takes all their cunning to keep their deadly secret. As the shadow of war spreads, loves blooms, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. But before long love is put to the test as everyone’s loyalty is called into question. The ramifications of the choices they must now make will be felt long after the war is over. Anita Frank’s captivating new novel is a deeply moving tale of courage and sacrifice. * ‘A heart-rending story of love, heroism and sacrifice’ Woman & Home ‘Anita Frank writes with warmth about her characters and the jeopardies they face’ The Times This gripping wartime tale … is testament to how love can blossom in the most unlikely circumstances’ The Sunday Post ‘Beautiful, evocative … a deeply moving tale’ Platinum ‘A heart-wrenching and heart-warming tale of friendship, love, loyalty, bravery, survival and, above all, of hope. Spectacular storytelling!’ Diane Jeffrey ‘Rendered in Anita Frank’s beautiful and filmic prose, this is a story of courage and impossible choices in wartime rural France. I could not put it down’ Julia Kelly * Readers give Small Acts of Resistance five stars!: ‘Compelling, gripping, brilliant … Historical fiction readers can’t fail to enjoy Small Acts of Resistance’ ‘A beautiful, powerful and emotive read that completely stole my heart’ ‘Brilliantly written, full of emotion, tension, and drama … a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction that moves both the heart and the mind’ ‘A powerful historical novel that consumed me from the start’ ‘With wonderfully conceived characters that perfectly capture the essence of the story, I was thoroughly enthralled by this captivating book’ ‘A beautiful story of love, resistance and humanity’ * Praise for Anita Frank: ‘Ingenious’ Sunday Times ‘Frank is a writer who I will continue to read, again and again, she never lets you down’ Fíona Scarlett ‘From now on, Anita will be a must-read author for me’ Jill Mansell ‘Exquisitely written’ Tom Hindle ‘Addictive and utterly compelling; I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended’ MW Craven ‘A cleverly structured story, with twist after twist… Excellent’ Ragnar Jonasson

Reviews

04 Apr 2026

CuteBadger

I won a copy of this book from The Bookload Facebook page and I was really looking forward to reading it. It took me a couple of months to reach it in my To Be Read pile, but sadly I was disappointed with it.

The blurb made it sound right up my street: an English WW1 pilot is shot down in occupied Northern France and is hidden by a French family who then have two German officers billeted on them. I was hoping for a book with the depth and emotion of Birdsong or A Long, Long Way, but found Small Acts of Resistance more at the Mills and Boon end of the spectrum.

I didn't find that the characters had much depth to them or that there was any real sense of place. The emphasis was mostly on the plot and the situations the characters found themselves in. I thought the plot was quite clichéd with no real surprises, and it left me feeling I'd read it before.

I can't say I enjoyed it much, but that's not to say no-one else will. As long as you go in with realistic expectations you may well enjoy it.

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