An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.
A novel of love, courage, and danger unfolds as World War II’s brightest heroines—the best of friends—take on the front lines.
1944: Fiona Denning has her entire future planned out. She’ll work in city hall, marry her fiancé when he returns from the war, and settle down in the Boston suburbs. But when her fiancé is reported missing after being … fiancé is reported missing after being shot down in Germany, Fiona’s long-held plans are shattered.
Determined to learn her fiancé’s fate, Fiona leaves Boston to volunteer overseas as a Red Cross Clubmobile girl, recruiting her two best friends to come along. There’s the outspoken Viviana, who is more than happy to quit her secretarial job for a taste of adventure. Then there’s Dottie, a shy music teacher whose melodious talents are sure to bring heart and hope to the boys on the front lines.
Chosen for their inner strength and outer charm, the trio isn’t prepared for the daunting challenges of war. But through it all come new friendships and romances, unforeseen dangers, and unexpected dreams. As the three friends begin to understand the real reasons they all came to the front, their courage and camaraderie will see them through some of the best and worst times of their lives.
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This book took a bit to find its groove, but then it was good reading to the end. I’m glad of authors who are dedicated to telling the stories of the women who supported the war effort, from those knitting socks to those flying military aircraft and driving clubmobiles.
This was a remarkable story. I loved every minute of it. It renews my faith in people being good in spite of the circumstances. War is definately a game changer for almost everyone. These girls make me proud to be a woman and an American. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.
This delightful novel is set in WWII and gives us a fascinating look at the life of the Red Cross Clubmobile women who volunteered for the vital, but generally unsung, job of providing a morale-boosting taste of home to the GI troops abroad. I especially loved the historic details. The characters were well-drawn and believable and I found myself completely absorbed throughout. Most enjoyable, and some good history!
I loved this book! I got sucked in at the first chapter. The three main female characters were strong women. I really liked the friendship they shared.
My own father was a young serviceman in World II stationed in Europe during the time this story took place. The author did such a wonderful job of bringing that time and area to life. I could imagine my father there as one of the young men the girls served coffee and donuts to.
Hats off to Jane Healey and THE BEANTOWN GIRLS! I had never heard of the Red Cross’ Clubmobile Girls in World War II and was pleasantly surprised that such an organization existed to bring a touch of home, comfort, and hope to our troops in the UK and ETO. As humble as its beginnings sounded, Ms. Healey’s prose brought out the astonishing and heartfelt differences these ladies made as they traveled among the troops in their ten-ton trucks, outfitted with doughnut machines and coffee, handing out Lifesavers, candy, gum, and cigarettes, while playing phonograph records of the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller, and other hits of the time. They also carried first aid kits, as these ladies were trained in First Aid prior to being sent to the field. Each ClubMobile was driven and staffed by three women, and they were responsible for any vehicle repairs at any time.
I was just totally amazed at the training and responsibilities these ladies had in our actual history and the fact that their story seems to have disappeared until now! Maybe the ClubMobile girls are a lighter female version than those who served temporarily in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force, but they, too, were often near the front lines, standing side by side with our troops and doing everything within their power to keep up our troops’ morale. Knowing that Ms. Healey took many of the historic facts from diaries, letters, and other archived material and that many of her stories were true, but woven into her novel with a few changes, impressed me, especially the stories of the Allied POW’s that were forced to march hundreds of miles from the Stalag Luft IV POW camp being based on “heart-wrenching historical accounts.”
There are many lighthearted moments throughout the novel, and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at some of the circumstances that befall Dottie, Viv, and Fiona, and you’ll welcome the warmth, hope and camaraderie among these three best friends and the other ClubMobile women. Moreover, you’ll love and cherish the tenderness and growth each individual attains as she realizes the true importance of her mission abroad.
I definitely recommend this novel very highly to anyone who hasn’t heard of the Red Cross ClubMobile Girls or anyone who thinks they “aren’t interested” in World War II history!
I fell in love with the characters in this book and didn’t want it to end! It’s a heartwarming, vividly written tale about three brave Red Cross women who drive food trucks to the front lines during WWII. I highly recommend!
This book reminds me of Jane Austen somehow, even though it’s set in England and Europe during WWII. It’s action-packed, but it’s still primarily relational, creating a microcosm world all its own that could not have existed under any other circumstances. It’s a bit like college, but with much higher stakes: everybody is single and beautiful and flirting with each other, and “real” life takes a pause, because they’re all swept up into something much bigger than themselves.
The story follows three Red Cross Clubmobile girls from WWII, but primarily Fiona Denning, 25 years old and engaged to Danny, who went missing in Germany. She joins the Red Cross with her friends in order to find out whatever she can about his fate. But along the way, she has a myriad of adventures of her own, starting out in England and eventually earning enough respect from the “top brass” to get sent to the front lines. It’s endearing how deeply she loves her friends Dottie and Viv; how they soften toward the young soldiers and come to view most of them as little brothers and cousins, and how each of the three girls finds her own unlikely chance at love amid the devastation and uncertainty of war.
It reads like a novel, not like history, and there are a few dead giveaways that render it predictable: the “meet cute” for each of the three girls’ love interests is SO obvious, and the story could really only end one way for a “happily ever after”. There are moments of sadness, but it still gets wrapped up with a nice bow on top by the end — a little too perfect for reality. But fun nevertheless!
This wonderful novel centers on a sisterhood of women on the front lines of World War II. When Fiona learns that her soldier fiancé is missing in action, she feels she has to do something to help the war effort. She learns of the Red Cross club mobile girls, women trained to improve the morale on the battlefield by providing coffee, doughnuts and camaraderie. She convinces her two best friends, Viv and Dottie, to come along with her, and the three friends ship off to Europe for an experience that will forever change the course of their lives.
I‘ve read numerous novels set during the second world war, and yet I’d never heard of the club mobile girls. I love that Healey discovered this forgotten sisterhood and used her imagination to bring their stories to life. The book is meticulously researched and I loved the author’s notes at the end about which scenes were based on fact and which were embellished for dramatic effect. I fell in love with all three main characters, each one interesting and quirky. Though the three women are assigned to travel together on the same van, each her own story complete with challenges, heartaches and love stories. Even the secondary characters are expertly differentiated from one another, a difficult and commendable feat. The book is not without its sad moments—it does take place in war zone after all. However, Healey does a beautiful job closing the story with a sense of hope that despite the horrors and atrocities of war, the world can still be repaired and rebuilt.
Heartwarming story of the Red Cross Clubmobile girls. Three friends brought together by fate and circumstance–and the courage that guides them through. I enjoyed learning about this slice of history. Healey does a magnificent job of bringing you to the front line, feeling these characters as though they are your friends. Beautiful story by a beautiful writer.
This wonderful novel centers on a sisterhood of women on the front lines of World War II. When Fiona learns that her soldier fiancé is missing in action, she feels she has to do something to help the war effort. She learns of the Red Cross club mobile girls, women trained to improve the morale on the battlefield by providing coffee, doughnuts and camaraderie. She convinces her two best friends, Viv and Dottie, to come along with her, and the three friends ship off to Europe for an experience that will forever change the course of their lives.
I‘ve read numerous novels set during the second world war, and yet I’d never heard of the club mobile girls. I love that Healey discovered this forgotten sisterhood and used her imagination to bring their stories to life. The book is meticulously researched and I loved the author’s notes at the end about which scenes were based on fact and which were embellished for dramatic effect. I fell in love with all three main characters, each one interesting and quirky. Though the three women are assigned to travel together on the same van, each her own story complete with challenges, heartaches and love stories. Even the secondary characters are expertly differentiated from one another, a difficult and commendable feat. The book is not without its sad moments—it does take place in war zone after all. However, Healey does a beautiful job closing the story with a sense of hope that despite the horrors and atrocities of war, the world can still be repaired and rebuilt.
I don’t even know where to start! This is a fantastic novel that hooked me from the very beginning. If you enjoy reading about women during WWII, then you will love this story of bravery, dedication and friendship. I enjoyed the entire book, but the last third was just so addictive – loved it! And let’s not forget how incredible these girls were who volunteered to head to the front to serve coffee and doughnuts to the troops!
Leaving Boston and their jobs to become Red Cross Clubmobile Girls is where we meet Viv, Dottie, and Fiona.
They all had different reasons for joining the Red Cross, but besides being a volunteer, Fiona’s other reason was to find her missing fiance, Danny.
When they arrive in London, a buzz bomb greets them and scares them to death.
WE FOLLOW THE three friends through their seven-day training in all areas and share their fears and their fun during the training and in their jobs as Red Cross Clubmobile Girls as they moved from one place to the other.
The women seemed like a lot of fun and made the best of their time even though they were in dangerous war zones and some of the men weren’t too happy to have women to worry about along with everyone else. But….the men were also happy to have some pretty women to remind them of home and their mothers, sisters, daughters, or girlfriends.
Ms. Healey brought you into the story with her light-hearted writing and wonderful research.
Her descriptions of the dresses the characters wore was swoon worthy, and the landscape descriptions were equally as good.
I enjoyed learning about these women and this program and how these women helped during the war.
You will laugh and cry along with them and laugh and cry at their bravery and sweet demeanor.
Despite the main story line about war, THE BEANTOWN GIRLS was an enjoyable read filled with friendship, caring, love, and of course tears and sadness.
Historical fiction fans and women’s fiction fans will love this book.
You will definitely need tissues, and we all should be thankful for the men and women who suffered and died so we could have our freedom.
A beautiful tribute and history lesson…thanks for sharing and for your marvelous research, Ms. Healey. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.
The Beantown Girls was like a history lesson to me that I knew nothing about. It was beautifully written and I found myself rooting for the three main characters, best friends from Boston who volunteered to go overseas as Red Cross Clubmobile girls during WW II. I enjoyed the book very much and didn’t want to put it down, wondering what might happen next. From friendship, danger, action and being downright scary at times it really held my interest! I strongly recommend this book.
/ 5 rounded up
I don’t read a whole lot of historical fiction, but man, The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey is a MUST read if you are a historical fiction fan and are interested in reading about World War II.
What it’s about: Based on the Red Cross Clubmobile girls, The Beantown Girls focuses on 3 friends that decide to join – Fiona, Viviana, and Dottie. Fiona’s reason for wanting to join is different from her friends, her fiancé Danny has gone missing in the war and Fiona is determined to find out what happened to him any way she can. These 3 friends will see a lot and go through a lot, but the happiness they bring to the men on the front lines, and the friendships and relationships they will foster may just help them make it through the war.
I have so much love for this book. The story was amazing, and I bawled my eyes out more than once. I really don’t know enough about history, and reading historical fiction like this just truly opens my eyes to the past. I had no idea the Clubmobile girls even existed and I loved reading about what they did for the war. They were right in the middle of everything, and I can’t imagine how brave all of those girls must have been.
The story is told only from Fiona’s POV, but it worked very well for this novel. Her search for what happened to her fiancé was heart-wrenching, but I loved how her friendships helped to get her through.
Final Thought: The Beantown Girls is sad for sure, but it also has wonderful moments that made me laugh out loud and overall was very inspiring and positive. I would highly recommend to any historical fiction fan! Healey has become an instant auto-buy author for me, and that is really saying something when HF isn’t what I read the most of.
This book was totally amazing!
I knew about the donut dollies (red cross girls giving out donuts to the soldiers) but I never heard about the Red Cross Club mobiles…I’m not quite sure WHY the Red Cross allowed these women so close to the front lines…I was totally baffled when I read this..
Yes it is a historical fiction, but it was based on stories that Jane Healey found in journals from the Red Cross girls…wouldn’t I love to read those journals…the stories must be amazing.
Fiona, having planned her whole life out after becoming engaged, volunteers to become a Red Cross girl so that she may find out what happened to her finace after he was shot down in Germany.
Fiona with the help of her two friends Viviana and Dottie they pass all the required tests, go through training, and off to the U.K. they go…
They soon discover that the war is very harsh and heartbreaking….I cried throughout the book and I really hope Jane Healey is going to write a sequel…because I would love to find out what happens to everyone after…
Highly recommend
“…because he was my soldier.” For me this quote sums up this wonderfully emotional journey of The Beaton’s Girls by Jane Healey. The story of these women who served our soldiers and nation in World War II is emotional, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time. To read their journey has only propelled my new found enjoyment of historical fiction and Jane Healey’s vivid writing pulls you right into the war torn 1940’s ! I had no idea the ClubMobile Girls of the Red Cross even existed, now I just want to read more about them!
This is a great story of the brave Red Cross Mobile girls. They were in the heat of war more times than they wanted to be, yet they pulled it together and served. They were brave, strong and maybe a little crazy. Each girl had her own reasons for being there and as their stories unfolded, you saw just how amazing they were. This story really shared the horrors of war as well as the humanity of war. I cried for the losses and even cried for the good times. An amazing journey through WWII, through the lives of the Red Cross Mobile girls
This book was simply marvelous. Like most, I had never heard of the Red Cross Clubmobile Girls in World War II, but I guarantee, after this novel, I will never forget them. These women volunteered to go to the frontlines and give the troops a piece of home. These women were inspiring, and Jane Healy created wonderful characters that pay tribute to their real-life inspiration. The three main characters are best friends, and when Fiona volunteers hoping to find news of her fiancé who is missing in action, her two best friends are with her all the way. Their journey not only deepens their friendship, but uncovers strengths and friendships they may never have found if they had stayed in Boston.
This is my first encounter with Jane Healy’s writing and I thoroughly enjoyed both her style and her character development. This was a well-researched novel that will draw you in and keep you immersed until the very end. There will be laughter and tears, and Fiona, Viv, Dottie, and the rest of the Clubmobile Girls will stay with you long after you read the last word.
#TheBeantownGirls #JaneHealy #LakeUnion
Favorite Quotes:
Ready or not, we’re on our way to England. We just went through six weeks of training for these jobs. I had to learn to play badminton, for the love of God. There’s no turning back now.
I realized I was in a much better mood than when I arrived. I was supposed to be the one boosting their spirits, but instead that’s exactly what these men had done for me. Sometimes morale was a two-way street.
…my heart was aching in ways that felt very familiar and yet so different. It turns out you can care for two men at the same time, but you never care for them in the exact same way.
“We’re off the coast of a place where thousands of American men died. And we’re dancing,” she said, squinting and tilting her head, looking out across the water. “It feels a little off, don’t you think?” “I’ve thought about that,” I said, nodding, leaning over the railing. “But honestly? I think any of the men killed here would say, Damn Hitler! Play that American music and dance. It gives these men some hope and cheers them up. Helps them fight another day.”
The beach was a haunted obstacle course of foxholes, concrete pillboxes, and debris… “The captain was right… You can feel the ghosts.” I got goose pimples on my arms again when she said it, because it was true. There was a heaviness to the air that had nothing to do with the dust.
Dick kept talking as we drove, in a trance, giving us the play-by-play of all that had happened to him, like a confessional. We couldn’t have stopped him if we had tried. And from the way he was going on, I knew that he would be haunted by the images of that day until he was an old man.
The ‘front’ is all around us; it’s not one straight line marked by barbed wire and a big sign.
My Review:
In addition to top-notch entertainment, this book was eye opening and surprisingly educational. I had no idea that Red Cross volunteers performed these functions. It sounded rather frivolous at first – driving around in trucks to cook and serve doughnuts and coffee to soldiers in battlefield and training encampments – however, they did so much more than that. Heinously nicknamed Doughnut Dollies, they assisted the soldiers with writing letters; entertained them with music; provided a welcome break from the horrors of war with snacks, candy, and hygiene supplies; provided a kind personal touch while talking and listened to them about their experiences and news from their families at home; provided comfort and gentle reassurance to those coming off the battlefields and POW camps; helped them exchange information to their friends between compounds; although they weren’t nurses they willingly helped in a pinch with the wounded; and anything else they could possibly do to lift morale.
I was thoroughly engaged with this adventurous, poignant, profoundly moving and thoughtfully written story and was not surprised at all to learn that the author had performed a massive amount of research and had based her manuscript on actual events and archived writings of the brave and intrepid women who dared such hazardous feats. The storylines were beautifully crafted and expertly paced. I adored these spunky characters and greatly admired their grit and sacrifice. Ms. Healy’s writing was frequently emotive and tapped all the feels multiple times with considerable agility, yet was easy to follow and totally transportive. I instantly fell into a 1944 time machine and was completely immersed in their story – living and working right beside the three brave Bostonians Fiona, Viv, and Dottie. I could feel the rumble of the bomb blasts as well as their bone-weary fatigue, hear the jazz music playing, and smell the pungent and permeating scents of their cigarettes as well as the endless batches of doughnuts they tirelessly created. The author’s magical word skills were deft yet oceans deep; I also felt their excitement, fear, and profound heartache. My eyes stung and my throat constricted more than once at the horrific losses and moving encounters they exchanged with their new friends and frightened soldiers. Any writer who can move my cold heart to such extremes deserves a ten-star rating.
“THE RED CROSS CLUBMOBILE GIRLS: BRINGING A BIT OF HOME TO THE TROOPS AT THE FRONT.”
I am such a big fan of historical fiction because of the many new things I learn from reading it. Beantown Girls is a fantastic novel that fits right in with this scenario. I have never heard of the Red Cross Clubmobile or the Donut Dollies before I picked up this book. What a fascinating read!
Jane Healey has a great way of taking the facts surrounding the history of the Clubmobile and weaving a story around actual events that happened when the Donut Dollies were serving in Europe. She took me right to the middle of the conflict and I experienced “living” with the characters who selflessly put themselves where they “were more than just spectators observing the tragedies of war.”
The women voluntarily accepted the challenge of going to the war zones because of their desire to bring a little bit of “good” to the grueling hardships that are part of conflict. These women by no means had it easy. They didn’t have the luxuries of a warm, comfortable place to bunk. They were cold and wet quite often. There were challenges beyond belief, tragedy that broke hearts, but there were times that made it more than worth the sacrifices they gave to bring a little comfort from “home” to the fighting men.
The journey with the main characters of Fiona, Dottie, and Viv was one I’m so glad I took. The characters are so real. Going through the process of becoming a Red Cross Clubmobile girl was challenging but also so rewarding. There were acts of courage that came because of dangerous situations, there were times of giving more than they knew they had, there were times of loss that tore my heart out but also there were times of making new friendships, of finding romance and a future.
I love this novel. It’s the first one I’ve read by Jane Healey and I’m hooked! I know I look forward to reading more of her astounding work. I want to thank her and Lake Union for the honor of reading and reviewing this five star book!