In Boston’s North End, four immigrant women leave childhood behind—but never one another.
For four young immigrant women living in Boston’s North End in the early 1900s, escaping tradition doesn’t come easy. But at least they have one another and the Saturday Evening Girls Club, a social pottery-making group offering respite from their hectic home lives—and hope for a better future.
Ambitious … future.
Ambitious Caprice dreams of opening her own hat shop, which clashes with the expectations of her Sicilian-born parents. Brilliant Ada secretly takes college classes despite the disapproval of her Russian Jewish father. Stunning Maria could marry anyone yet guards her heart to avoid the fate of her Italian Catholic mother, broken down by an alcoholic husband. And shy Thea is torn between asserting herself and embracing an antiquated Jewish tradition.
The friends face family clashes and romantic entanglements, career struggles and cultural prejudice. But through their unfailing bond, forged through their weekly gathering, they’ll draw strength—and the courage to transform their immigrant stories into the American lives of their dreams.
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A wonderful book about young women struggling to make it in turn-of-the century Boston. A little romance, a little history, bad guys, good guys, and a lovely setting. I want more from this author!
Caprice, Maria, Ada, and Thea share a wonderful friendship as they grow up in the Jewish and Italian immigrant neighborhoods of north Boston. The setting is the turn of the 20th century when life is going through tremendous change. Living within families where their parents still adhere to the traditional ways of the “old country”, these four young women struggle with choices they must make for their dreams to become reality. Healy’s extensive research brings this era to life as the reader experiences the historical and cultural details of the time, including learning the delightful history of The Saturday Evening Girls Club.
The Saturday Evening Girls Club carries special meaning as we reflect on the struggles that women have overcome. This story of four women trying to find independence in work and in love against cultures that don’t encourage such individualism is both engaging and educational. Prepare to have your heart tugged as you champion their friendships and their journey. A winner from author Healey – I look forward to reading more from her!
I knew this novel was,based on an actual club started for girls in need of learning, pottery/crafts, books and friendship. I fell for the four young women Caprice, Thea, Ada and Maria. Taking place in the 1900s the Catholic and Jewish girls form a life long friendship as they battle arranged marriages, jobs, home life and the joy in each other.
Caprice was my favorite of the girls as she desires to own a hat shop and not end up in an arranged marriage. Living in a tenement with family, you see these girls handle the ups and downs. Maria has the hardest life with a drunk father, an exhausted mother and two siblings to protect.
It’s a great summer read with pathos and joy and one heck of a hilarious scene about getting married and the wedding night.
You can visualize the community and neighborhood as they look after each other…all immigrants trying to make a new life while observing the old ways.
The ending is a bit abrupt and you are left to form your own conclusions…maybe not a bad idea as some will prefer a romantic ending and others perhaps a bit of harsh reality. But I read this book in one sitting as it is an easy read and the girls, women, pull you into their dreams, their homes and their families.
one of the better historical novels I’ve read lately
While the plot was simple and at times a bit predictable, I enjoyed the characters and their relationships. The historical details and references were well-researched. I would recommend this book.
A fictional story based on a real group of girls that I’d heard of. Great history of the times using fictional young girls coming of age.
I thought this book was very good. The characters each have their own personalities, and were well developed. The narrator was very good at make each character their own.
This is a good book for middle schoolgirls. Has some good lessons to think about
Sweet story & easy to read
I loved the realistic way that the treatment of women during this time period was handled. The characters were well described and the plot was satisfying.
I enjoyed the book and read some of the pre story and interesting enough to find out that there is pottery from the pottery place mentioned and it’s very valuable as an antique— can be found w SEG engraved on it I love old things w a story so will be looking for some on my next antique show weekend.
Set in Boston in 1908 The Saturday Evening Girls Club is about 4 immigrant girls from different religions and cultures in the North end of Boston. They have built their friendship over years in this club and watch how each other is faced with adult decisions that may not be of the old ways.
I absolutely loved this book! I loved the Jewish and Italian proverbs at each chapter. I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book! Strong female characters, a bit flawed along the way. Good interaction and support among the girls as they matured and found their destiny in challenging circumstances.
I recently read Jane Healey’s Beantown Girls and loved it so much, so went looking for something else and found The Saturday Evening Girls Club. I liked it as well. Well liked and well developed characters.
A well written story of girls of Italian and Jewish immigrants in the early 1900’s, trying to find their way in Boston, straddling the old ways of their parents and their desire to find their own. It beautifully weaves the stories of their cultures and religious beliefs, and they are helped along by Boston society women, that formed the girl’s club, to help navigate them in their quest.
I loved both of these books and will look forward to her next release, as well as past efforts.
This book actually remindered me of the stories my mother in law told me about when she was a young girl living in the North End of Boston. I know my mother in law learned to sew as a young girl and after I read this book I wondered if she belonged to the club, The names of families and the streets were real it gave me perspective of my own hertiage as well hers.
With a powerful writing style, Jane Healey brings life to a little known group of incredible women in Boston’s North End. A turn-of-the-century must read!
Although a book of fiction, the book is based on real people and real events. Tells the story of young women who bond in their teens and support each other through their struggles growing up in north Boston in 1920
The usual historical fiction formula. There was the catholic girl, the Jewish girl, the blond, redhead and brunette. One marries early, one chooses a marriage to get her family out of debt, one falls in love with the boy she initially doesn’t like.
All so predictable.
Loved it
very good book ! Sorry to see it end