The Beantown Girls by Jane Healy – 344 pages
ARC from Lake Union and GetRed PR in exchange for an honest review.
Book Blurb:
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 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.
My Review: 4 stars
The Beantown Girls is an intriguing book about the American Red Cross Clubmobile girls that headed to the frontlines during WW2. I had absolutely no idea that a morale building program during this daunting time of our world history. Essentially, the program selectively interviewed and then trained young American women to send overseas. These women were to make and serve the soldiers fresh coffee and hot donuts, all from the back of a truck. This program was brilliant for the time, but today, there’d be considerable flack regarding sexism and gender roles. Personally, I love coffee and donuts so I’d be thrilled to have them at any time, given to me by any person!
Healey skillfully created a story around three main characters that made me laugh and cry. Her extensive research allowed her to draw characters that were loosely based on the actual women that once served as Clubmobile Girls. Most of the antics, incidents, and daily life came from the these women’s journals, letters and other non-fiction books. Check out the author’s Pinterest page if you want to see photos and information. I’ve attached two of my favorites below.
The scenes that depicted the men on the frontlines were well captured. Their sense of gloom, loss of their comrades, their fragile bravery, homesickness and risking their lives every day undoubtedly took its toll. I could feel their joy at the sight of these girls and the companionship they offered. It proved how a small kindness of a homemade treat and some music could completely change someone’s demeanor. I went to Youtube to look up and listen to Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree by The Andrew Sisters after learning how popular it was during the 1940s.
The writing was quite simplistic and I worried it wouldn’t work in a book about war and relationships. Fortunately, it didn’t matter at all and the plot didn’t suffer. It almost added a charm that brought to life the naivety of these young girls as they adapted to the war. There were some predictable parts as well as a few twists that I didn’t see coming.
This book touches on friendship, romance, war, sacrifice, POWs, courage, guilt, independence, the Red Cross, WW2, love and hope. Most people that don’t like historical fiction tell me its because they’ve never read it or because they assume it’ll be too much history and read like non-fiction. If that’s you, or you know someone like that, I suggest this book. It’s a fast, easy to read story that will hold your interest until the end.
Quotes I liked:
I think being here brings out the strengths in people they never knew they had.”
-“How best to honor those we’ve lost? By not being afraid to live life and take risks, by daring to open your heart to possibility.”
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