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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Three skilled aviators determined to help win the war. Three brave women who know their place is not at home.
At the height of World War II, the British Air Transport Auxiliary need help. A group of young women volunteer for action, but the perils of their new job don’t end on the tarmac. Things are tough in the air, but on the ground their abilities as pilots are constantly questioned.
There is friction from the start between the new recruits. Spirited American Lizzie turns heads with her audacity, but few can deny her flying skills. She couldn’t be more different from shy, petite Ruby, who is far from diminutive in the sky. It falls to pragmatic pilot May to bring the women together and create a formidable team capable of bringing the aircraft home.
As these very different women fight to prove themselves up to the task at hand, they are faced with challenges and tragedies at every turn. They must fight for equal pay and respect while handling aircraft that are dangerously ill-equipped; meanwhile, lives continue to be lost in the tumult of war.
Determined to assist the war effort doing what they love, can May, Lizzie and Ruby put aside their differences to overcome adversity, and will they find love in the skies?
Historical fiction that you will fall in love with.
I have read multiple historical fiction through the years, and yet I never read anything like THE SPITFIRE GIRLS . I read it in one day because I could not force myself to put this book down. THE SPITFIRE GIRLS is one of things that I love about historical fiction, and it is inspirational book which you will find yourself thinking about, long after you reach the last page. I fell in love with May, Lizzie and Ruby’s stories and I wanted to know what would happen next. I wasn’t fond of Lizzie in beginning, mostly the way that she acted, as if she was better than everyone. I had a feeling if she kept acting like that and treating everything like it was a competition that it would get her in trouble one day. I felt as if she did not even care that there was the war going on, I know that she did, but the way she acted. I was wondering how long it would take her to realize, that it not all about and that acting that way is not okay. I was glad to see her finally put into her place. Afterwards, it was as if she was a completely different person, she still had her moments. I do believe that her change is what brought her closer to May and Ruby. In beginning, I did not know how they put up with her, I would lose my patience a long time ago. I loved that no matter what, in the end there were always there for each other.
All three of them, were strong and brave, with everything they had to face. I can’t imagine having to fly without instruments and radio. I did not even know that it could be done until I read the book. I know that it makes flying a lot more dangerous. However, that did not stop them from flying. Besides Lizzie, Ruby was one of characters that I saw a significant change in through the book, and she was one of my favorite characters in the book. You could tell in beginning that she did not have that much confidence in herself, and constantly May had remind her, to believe in herself, in her skills. As the book progressed, you could tell that she started to get more confidence in herself. I hated her mother in law, and how she convinced Tom that it wasn’t a good idea. I was hoping that he would come to his senses, see how good of flier she is and she can do it. I am glad that he finally did, and that they finally got their wedding. Ruby went through a lot, and yet she never gave up, not once. May, I loved her too and I was glad that she was finally available to reunite with her parents. I am glad that she found Ben, she needed someone like Ben. I was hoping she come to her senses and see how much Ben cared about her, he was always there when she needed him, always checking on her. Those two belonged with each other.
I had no idea that THE SPITFIRE GIRLS was based on true story until the end of the book. I loved every chapter, every page. There isn’t a single moment where it won’t keep your attention, where you won’t be on edge of your seat. It did not take me long, to fall in love with the story and the characters. THE SPITFIRE GIRLS is a story that will stay with me, forever. A story that I will one day return to. If you love historical fiction, mixed with romance, pick it up today. A book that deserves more than five stars.
Breathtaking, heart aching. A masterpiece.
At the height of World War II, the British Air Transport Auxiliary need help. A group of young women volunteer for action, but the perils of their new job don’t end on the tarmac. Things are tough in the air, but on the ground their abilities as pilots are constantly questioned.
There is friction from the start between the new recruits. Spirited American Lizzie turns heads with her audacity, but few can deny her flying skills. She couldn’t be more different from shy, petite Ruby, who is far from diminutive in the sky. It falls to pragmatic pilot May to bring the women together and create a formidable team capable of bringing the aircraft home.
As these very different women fight to prove themselves up to the task at hand, they are faced with challenges and tragedies at every turn. They must fight for equal pay and respect while handling aircraft that are dangerously ill-equipped; meanwhile, lives continue to be lost in the tumult of war.
Determined to assist the war effort doing what they love, can May, Lizzie and Ruby put aside their differences to overcome adversity, and will they find love in the skies?
Historical fiction that you will fall in love with.
I have read multiple historical fiction through the years, and yet I never read anything like THE SPITFIRE GIRLS . I read it in one day because I could not force myself to put this book down. THE SPITFIRE GIRLS is one of things that I love about historical fiction, and it is inspirational book which you will find yourself thinking about, long after you reach the last page. I fell in love with May, Lizzie and Ruby’s stories and I wanted to know what would happen next. I wasn’t fond of Lizzie in beginning, mostly the way that she acted, as if she was better than everyone. I had a feeling if she kept acting like that and treating everything like it was a competition that it would get her in trouble one day. I felt as if she did not even care that there was the war going on, I know that she did, but the way she acted. I was wondering how long it would take her to realize, that it not all about and that acting that way is not okay. I was glad to see her finally put into her place. Afterwards, it was as if she was a completely different person, she still had her moments. I do believe that her change is what brought her closer to May and Ruby. In beginning, I did not know how they put up with her, I would lose my patience a long time ago. I loved that no matter what, in the end there were always there for each other.
All three of them, were strong and brave, with everything they had to face. I can’t imagine having to fly without instruments and radio. I did not even know that it could be done until I read the book. I know that it makes flying a lot more dangerous. However, that did not stop them from flying. Besides Lizzie, Ruby was one of characters that I saw a significant change in through the book, and she was one of my favorite characters in the book. You could tell in beginning that she did not have that much confidence in herself, and constantly May had remind her, to believe in herself, in her skills. As the book progressed, you could tell that she started to get more confidence in herself. I hated her mother in law, and how she convinced Tom that it wasn’t a good idea. I was hoping that he would come to his senses, see how good of flier she is and she can do it. I am glad that he finally did, and that they finally got their wedding. Ruby went through a lot, and yet she never gave up, not once. May, I loved her too and I was glad that she was finally available to reunite with her parents. I am glad that she found Ben, she needed someone like Ben. I was hoping she come to her senses and see how much Ben cared about her, he was always there when she needed him, always checking on her. Those two belonged with each other.
I had no idea that THE SPITFIRE GIRLS was based on true story until the end of the book. I loved every chapter, every page. There isn’t a single moment where it won’t keep your attention, where you won’t be on edge of your seat. It did not take me long, to fall in love with the story and the characters. THE SPITFIRE GIRLS is a story that will stay with me, forever. A story that I will one day return to. If you love historical fiction, mixed with romance, pick it up today. A book that deserves more than five stars.
Breathtaking, heart aching. A masterpiece.
This was such a lovely feel good book. Centred around the women pilots of the war, it’s a great uplifting story and I loved it! Following Ruby, May and Lizzie as the main characters and all the drama that follows, it’s a very easy book to immerse yourself into and lose yourself in the story.
What a great bunch of women in this book and I can’t help but be in awe of all the women who paved the way for women’s rights and Independence, fighting for their right to contribute to the war effort. The ladies in this definitely did their fair share of butting heads with their male counterparts and those still adamant women couldn’t be applied to the flying of planes!
I listened to this in audiobook format and it was great. Really enjoyed getting lost into the plot and it flew by! And omg that ending. Absolutely beautiful! Really happy with how this book turned out and now I definitely want to read more books about spitfire girls!
What a great bunch of women in this book and I can’t help but be in awe of all the women who paved the way for women’s rights and Independence, fighting for their right to contribute to the war effort. The ladies in this definitely did their fair share of butting heads with their male counterparts and those still adamant women couldn’t be applied to the flying of planes!
I listened to this in audiobook format and it was great. Really enjoyed getting lost into the plot and it flew by! And omg that ending. Absolutely beautiful! Really happy with how this book turned out and now I definitely want to read more books about spitfire girls!
I loved this book. The determination and independence of the women in this novel was so inspiring. They each had such a unique story of loss and perseverance. I have not found a novel by this author that I don't love so far. I recommend this book for reading.
I enjoyed this so much. I love historical fiction, especially set during WWI and WWII. So much respect for the real women who did fly to help with the war effort.
I picked up this book with a lot of hope and a true desire to enjoy the story told within its pages. Instead, I was filled with constant frustration. I understand that this was a work of fiction, but what the author has done here just feels wrong. Soraya Lane replaced Jacqueline Cochran (founder of WASP) Pauline Gower (one of the original eight ATA pilots), Maureen Dunlop (pilot whose face graced the cover of Picture Post), Lettice Curtis (first woman to fly a Halifax), and Mary Ellis (pilot seconded to the RAF) with the characters of Elizabeth Dunlop, May Jones, and Ruby Sanders. Why were these very real, very recognizable, and very famous women and their accomplishments replaced with fictional versions? The afterword proves that the author knows who these amazing women were, but she provides zero reason for taking large portions of their well-documented lives and slapping a fictional name on their achievements. Why not invent entirely new characters who would have their own entirely new adventures (e.g., "The Flight Girls")? And why claim that ATA had a single casualty, thus erasing the brave women who gave their lives in service? This could have been a good book. But instead it simply feels like a cheap, lazy copy of actual history.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
First, I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounds incredible: the first female military pilots fighting against all odds for the chance to demonstrate the strength of the female sex and establish themselves as respected pilots. I was so excited to read this book, but I was let down very early. I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but it is very hard for me to find anything positive to say about this novel.
In the first chapter we meet the American pilot Lizzie. Her bravery is amazing at first. She is writing to the First Lady to ask for her support for female pilots to support the war effort by ferrying planes, releasing the men to be free for combat pilot roles. When she gets the chance to actually meet the First Lady and President Roosevelt, [a:Soraya M. Lane|4809447|Soraya M. Lane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550453390p2/4809447.jpg] writes, “Lizzie held herself together as first the president rose and then the man in uniform beside him.”
Stop. Stop right there.
This is where I realized that I was not going to like this book.
How exactly did the president rise? Did he miraculously overcome his paralysis from polio and stand up from his wheelchair? I realize that Ms. Lane is not an American writer, but for all the research she claims to have done on this subject, FDR’s paralysis seems a major oversight. I hope this is corrected in publishing because it will seriously damage the credibility of the author and the publishing company if this goes to print.
In addition to this factual error, there are three other major issues with this book. First, the excessive use of clichés! I could physically feel my eyes rolling each time I read one. Great writers are those who craft the phrases that turn into clichés; great writers do not regurgitate clichés.
Second, the overuse of deus ex machina. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, it refers to when an author gives the characters the easy way out, so to speak. Every time one of these girls is presented with a problem, she frets over it, but by the end of a chapter or two it is easily resolved without effort or conflict. There is only one true devastating event in this book. Everything else is resolved before it even becomes a real problem.
Third, every single character lacks depth. The worst of all of them is Lizzie. Each time she is accused of being cocky, she thinks about it and just casually decides she won’t be cocky anymore. This is not how cocky people think. This is not how anyone thinks.
A side note about Lizzie: she has far too much of a contemporary attitude to be a believable character.
This book could have been incredible if it was afforded the proper character and plot development it deserved. Of course the author was constricted as she was basing her characters on real people, but there is so much more that could have been done to make the characters believable.
Overall, this book was a very quick and easy read being that it is highly conversational. It would be a good book for the beach or for just before bed as it is not very complex.
#netgalley #thespitfiregirls
I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounds incredible: the first female military pilots fighting against all odds for the chance to demonstrate the strength of the female sex and establish themselves as respected pilots. I was so excited to read this book, but I was let down very early. I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but it is very hard for me to find anything positive to say about this novel.
In the first chapter we meet the American pilot Lizzie. Her bravery is amazing at first. She is writing to the First Lady to ask for her support for female pilots to support the war effort by ferrying planes, releasing the men to be free for combat pilot roles. When she gets the chance to actually meet the First Lady and President Roosevelt, [a:Soraya M. Lane|4809447|Soraya M. Lane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550453390p2/4809447.jpg] writes, “Lizzie held herself together as first the president rose and then the man in uniform beside him.”
Stop. Stop right there.
This is where I realized that I was not going to like this book.
How exactly did the president rise? Did he miraculously overcome his paralysis from polio and stand up from his wheelchair? I realize that Ms. Lane is not an American writer, but for all the research she claims to have done on this subject, FDR’s paralysis seems a major oversight. I hope this is corrected in publishing because it will seriously damage the credibility of the author and the publishing company if this goes to print.
In addition to this factual error, there are three other major issues with this book. First, the excessive use of clichés! I could physically feel my eyes rolling each time I read one. Great writers are those who craft the phrases that turn into clichés; great writers do not regurgitate clichés.
Second, the overuse of deus ex machina. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, it refers to when an author gives the characters the easy way out, so to speak. Every time one of these girls is presented with a problem, she frets over it, but by the end of a chapter or two it is easily resolved without effort or conflict. There is only one true devastating event in this book. Everything else is resolved before it even becomes a real problem.
Third, every single character lacks depth. The worst of all of them is Lizzie. Each time she is accused of being cocky, she thinks about it and just casually decides she won’t be cocky anymore. This is not how cocky people think. This is not how anyone thinks.
A side note about Lizzie: she has far too much of a contemporary attitude to be a believable character.
This book could have been incredible if it was afforded the proper character and plot development it deserved. Of course the author was constricted as she was basing her characters on real people, but there is so much more that could have been done to make the characters believable.
Overall, this book was a very quick and easy read being that it is highly conversational. It would be a good book for the beach or for just before bed as it is not very complex.
#netgalley #thespitfiregirls
hopeful
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated