The Beantown Girls

By: Jane Healey

Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post best seller

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 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.

©2019 Jane Healey (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Red Cross and Doughnuts! Sign Me UP!!

This book is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. There is so much that happens in the story that I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting. I am so glad that I found this book and I know that it will be something that stays with me for a VERY long time.
The narrator was wonderful and was able to differentiate her voice enough that I could usually tell which character was talking before she said the names.
As for the history aspect. I loved it. I never know that this existed and I am obsessed with learning everything I can about the Red Cross Doughnut Girls now. What a wonderful example of strong women in WW2 that we NEVER hear about!

Just lovely!

I love historical fiction novels. This one was different than WWII novels I’ve read in the past (The Nightingale, Wunderland, Resistance Women, etc.). I loved that it centered around the Red Cross’s role in WWII. I never even knew about the Club MobileS until i read (or rather listened to) this story. The story was both uplifting and heartbreaking. It showed the power of friendship, hope, victory, and the strength of the human spirit.

The narrator was fabulous and was able to capture so many different accents without it sounding fake or forced. I live outside of Boston so I particularly loved the Boston accent :-) .

All around a great read (or listen)!

Couldn't put it down

I stayed up way too late multiple times eagerly hearing every word. A story of love lost, love found, friendship, and the beauty of humanity amongst so much turmoil. A must read. Have tissues handy.

Great read

This was a great read for a nice quiet weekend. I did not know so many American girls went over that were not nurses in WWII.

Loved it

I have listened to books by this narrator before and I love her delivery. The story was great I actually ended up doing some research on clubmobiles because I had never heard of them. Dates and events were on point with what was going on in WW2 easy to follow

The Beantown Girls.

This story was very good 👍. I got really involved in each of the characters, and at times it felt like you were right there with them, feeling what they were feeling, seeing what they were seeing, hearing what they were hearing. When a book can do that, you will enjoy reading it.

Beantwon girls

The Beantown Girls has been added to my short list of “must read again”.
The story is so compelling and raw I found my self smiling, laughing, and crying from start to finish. I became truly immersed in the war, tragedy, and perseverance of these brave women. Can not recommend enough. Must read.

World War 2 through the lives of Red Cross girls

This is a realistic view of women Red Cross volunteers in World War 2 Europe following D-Day. Of course it is a love story but I never knew about the Red Cross Doughnut girls. Good read.

excellent story and characters

well done! A thrilling lifelike drama. We get to know the situations and people of the European theater of WWII. The author portrayed all the human emotions and tense moments of the participants. We get to see an in depth portrayal of the Red Cross dedication to purpose and aide to the brave soldiers of the time.

great story

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. Great story, historical facts, and dialogue.