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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Bummer... Not What I Was Expecting!
Synopsis: In the midst of WWII, several brave, young women volunteered to ferry fighter and bomber planes between military bases. These women are known as the ATA Girls (Air Transport Auxiliary). Their participation set a new precedent for women’s equality and involvement in military operations. ‘The Spitfire Girls’ primarily follows the stories of Lizzie, May, and Ruby as they take to the sky and set new equality standards.
Review: Let me start with the fact that Soraya Lane is a terrific author and her writing style is incredibly conversational, which I gravitate toward. Her ideas are very clear which makes following along with the story a breeze. And she handled multiple protagonist perspectives well.
Now, I wanted to love this story. The initial plot was super intriguing (referring to meeting the president) and actually encouraged me to do a lot of research into the women of the ATA. But story focused less on women making a mark and more on egoism and romance.
I would say that 50% of the dialogue within the book revolved around Lizzie being petty. That kinda soured the experience for me. I don’t mind a rivalry, but to dominate the plot was a little overwhelming. I wish there was a bit more character development so that Lizzie’s incessant need to win had a backstory. I also wish that some of the predictability related to gender roles was toned down. And I think that’s why the romance was a little off-putting for me, because I anticipated this to be about women empowerment and, yet, still a man was pivotal to prop them up (specifically May and Ruby).
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a historical romance, easy read. It perfectly fits that ticket. I just went in with different expectations based on the premise. It's not for seasoned historical fiction readers, unfortunately.
Thank you, Net Gallery for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
Synopsis: In the midst of WWII, several brave, young women volunteered to ferry fighter and bomber planes between military bases. These women are known as the ATA Girls (Air Transport Auxiliary). Their participation set a new precedent for women’s equality and involvement in military operations. ‘The Spitfire Girls’ primarily follows the stories of Lizzie, May, and Ruby as they take to the sky and set new equality standards.
Review: Let me start with the fact that Soraya Lane is a terrific author and her writing style is incredibly conversational, which I gravitate toward. Her ideas are very clear which makes following along with the story a breeze. And she handled multiple protagonist perspectives well.
Now, I wanted to love this story. The initial plot was super intriguing (referring to meeting the president) and actually encouraged me to do a lot of research into the women of the ATA. But story focused less on women making a mark and more on egoism and romance.
I would say that 50% of the dialogue within the book revolved around Lizzie being petty. That kinda soured the experience for me. I don’t mind a rivalry, but to dominate the plot was a little overwhelming. I wish there was a bit more character development so that Lizzie’s incessant need to win had a backstory. I also wish that some of the predictability related to gender roles was toned down. And I think that’s why the romance was a little off-putting for me, because I anticipated this to be about women empowerment and, yet, still a man was pivotal to prop them up (specifically May and Ruby).
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a historical romance, easy read. It perfectly fits that ticket. I just went in with different expectations based on the premise. It's not for seasoned historical fiction readers, unfortunately.
Thank you, Net Gallery for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is a fantastic book that hooked me from the first pages and kept me enthralled to the very end. Based on historical events and people, this is the story of a group of women and their critical contribution to the war effort. With every male pilot needed to fly combat missions, the Air Transport Auxiliary desperately needed pilots to ferry new planes to the front and damaged ones back to be repaired. A group of very determined young women fought the odds and made a place for themselves as those pilots. This story is told from the point of view of three of those pilots.
May is the pilot who has been with the ATA the longest and is the commander of the women's unit. Flying was something that she and her brother Johnny did together. She was furious when he went off to war, leaving her behind. His death left her reeling with grief and guilt and an increased need to do something for the war effort. She is practical and clear-headed and excels at bringing out the best in the women she works with. There were some terrific scenes that demonstrated those abilities and highlighted the diversity of the personalities she had to deal with. She keeps her emotions in check and focuses on her work. I loved her care for her "girls" as she called them and her determination that they get the respect they deserve.
Ruby is a pretty and petite young woman whose love of flying is right up there with her love for her pilot fiancé. They flew together until he left to fly for the RAF. She was stuck at home, growing more frustrated by her desire to do something more important than keeping the home fires burning. The ATA was just what she needed, but she had an uphill battle to achieve that goal. Her future mother-in-law was vociferous in her disapproval, and even her fiancé was not supportive. I wanted to shake Tom because of the letters he wrote to Ruby, letters that did terrible things to her self-confidence. I loved May's confidence in Ruby and her efforts to show Ruby what she was capable of. Ruby's journey was an inspiration to read.
Lizzie was the American sent to Britain to learn about the ATA and bring that information home to America. She was a no-holds-barred woman when it came to going after what she wanted. She was raised on her father's tales of his efforts during World War One and a belief that she could do anything she put her mind to. I liked her determination at the beginning as she worked to make her dream of the American equivalent of the ATA come true. But she lost some of my admiration after she arrived in Britain and became the model for the Ugly American. Her extreme competitiveness, disregard for the rules, and general rudeness made it very difficult to like her. It took the efforts of multiple people before Lizzie was able to see that the ATA's strength was in their teamwork, not in the hands of individuals. Once she saw the light, the change in her was amazing, and there were few limits to what she could do. She had quite the challenge when she took what she learned back to America.
The book takes place between 1940 and 1946 and chronicles the joys and challenges of the work the "Spitfire Girls" accomplished. I felt their frustration at the lack of respect they received from their male counterparts, and how they had to work so much harder to prove themselves. I loved learning about the training they received, and how they excelled under incredible handicaps, such as being forced to fly without the use of instruments and radios, putting them in unthinkable danger. I loved seeing them shock the male pilots and ground crews regularly. I especially loved the scene where Ruby delivered the four-engine bomber, the men's disbelief that one tiny woman flew a plane (perfectly) that took a flight crew of four men to fly. I really liked how the women developed into a sisterhood that always had each other's backs. I ached for their losses and cheered their victories.
There was also a touch of romance in the book. Ruby had her relationship with her fiancé challenged by her work with the ATA. I loved her determination to follow her dream and ached for the pain he caused her. I cheered at the surprise waiting for her at the end of one flight. It was so much fun seeing the change in Tom's attitude when he realized the truth. Their challenges continued thanks to the war, but their faith in each other and their love pulled them through. Neither May nor Lizzie had been looking for love, but it found them anyway. May had closed herself off to the thought of love, wanting to protect herself from more loss. I loved how friendship and support from an unexpected source slowly grew into deeper feelings. Then there was Lizzie. The sparks flew between her and a certain Captain, but it took her a long time to realize there was more than antagonism there. I enjoyed seeing that relationship develop, especially with Lizzie's frequently volatile reactions to him on the job.
I loved the ending of the book. There was a wonderful surprise that Ben and Tom had cooked up for May and Ruby about a year after the war ended. I loved their teasing and how pleased they were with themselves. This was followed by a grand epilogue that took place at the sixty-fourth anniversary of V-J day. I loved seeing May, Lizzie, and Ruby together at the place that had been such a big part of their lives. I loved the part with Ruby, her grandson, and the Spitfire. I enjoyed her surprise, and loved the twist she added to it.
May is the pilot who has been with the ATA the longest and is the commander of the women's unit. Flying was something that she and her brother Johnny did together. She was furious when he went off to war, leaving her behind. His death left her reeling with grief and guilt and an increased need to do something for the war effort. She is practical and clear-headed and excels at bringing out the best in the women she works with. There were some terrific scenes that demonstrated those abilities and highlighted the diversity of the personalities she had to deal with. She keeps her emotions in check and focuses on her work. I loved her care for her "girls" as she called them and her determination that they get the respect they deserve.
Ruby is a pretty and petite young woman whose love of flying is right up there with her love for her pilot fiancé. They flew together until he left to fly for the RAF. She was stuck at home, growing more frustrated by her desire to do something more important than keeping the home fires burning. The ATA was just what she needed, but she had an uphill battle to achieve that goal. Her future mother-in-law was vociferous in her disapproval, and even her fiancé was not supportive. I wanted to shake Tom because of the letters he wrote to Ruby, letters that did terrible things to her self-confidence. I loved May's confidence in Ruby and her efforts to show Ruby what she was capable of. Ruby's journey was an inspiration to read.
Lizzie was the American sent to Britain to learn about the ATA and bring that information home to America. She was a no-holds-barred woman when it came to going after what she wanted. She was raised on her father's tales of his efforts during World War One and a belief that she could do anything she put her mind to. I liked her determination at the beginning as she worked to make her dream of the American equivalent of the ATA come true. But she lost some of my admiration after she arrived in Britain and became the model for the Ugly American. Her extreme competitiveness, disregard for the rules, and general rudeness made it very difficult to like her. It took the efforts of multiple people before Lizzie was able to see that the ATA's strength was in their teamwork, not in the hands of individuals. Once she saw the light, the change in her was amazing, and there were few limits to what she could do. She had quite the challenge when she took what she learned back to America.
The book takes place between 1940 and 1946 and chronicles the joys and challenges of the work the "Spitfire Girls" accomplished. I felt their frustration at the lack of respect they received from their male counterparts, and how they had to work so much harder to prove themselves. I loved learning about the training they received, and how they excelled under incredible handicaps, such as being forced to fly without the use of instruments and radios, putting them in unthinkable danger. I loved seeing them shock the male pilots and ground crews regularly. I especially loved the scene where Ruby delivered the four-engine bomber, the men's disbelief that one tiny woman flew a plane (perfectly) that took a flight crew of four men to fly. I really liked how the women developed into a sisterhood that always had each other's backs. I ached for their losses and cheered their victories.
There was also a touch of romance in the book. Ruby had her relationship with her fiancé challenged by her work with the ATA. I loved her determination to follow her dream and ached for the pain he caused her. I cheered at the surprise waiting for her at the end of one flight. It was so much fun seeing the change in Tom's attitude when he realized the truth. Their challenges continued thanks to the war, but their faith in each other and their love pulled them through. Neither May nor Lizzie had been looking for love, but it found them anyway. May had closed herself off to the thought of love, wanting to protect herself from more loss. I loved how friendship and support from an unexpected source slowly grew into deeper feelings. Then there was Lizzie. The sparks flew between her and a certain Captain, but it took her a long time to realize there was more than antagonism there. I enjoyed seeing that relationship develop, especially with Lizzie's frequently volatile reactions to him on the job.
I loved the ending of the book. There was a wonderful surprise that Ben and Tom had cooked up for May and Ruby about a year after the war ended. I loved their teasing and how pleased they were with themselves. This was followed by a grand epilogue that took place at the sixty-fourth anniversary of V-J day. I loved seeing May, Lizzie, and Ruby together at the place that had been such a big part of their lives. I loved the part with Ruby, her grandson, and the Spitfire. I enjoyed her surprise, and loved the twist she added to it.
I'm pretty sure I said this last time I read a Soraya M. Lane novel, but THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF HERS. Lane has such a remarkable way of developing her characters; You are instantly invested in each and every one. This book is a fascinating page turner about women pilots and their groundbreaking efforts to assist in the war. From overcoming bias to dealing with great loss, the tenacity of women to get the job done resonates in every page. Get ready for a barrel roll of a ride. I couldn't put this one down, and finished it in a day.
These are the stories I wish our history books taught us.
Spitfire Girls tells the story of the first female pilots during World War II. Lizzie is the daughter of a legendary American pilot with dreams of leading the United States’ first group of women pilots. She writes a letter to and eventually meets with the First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt. Lizzie is set to Britain to join and learn about a group a women pilots ferrying planes.
May is the commanding officer of this group, with Ruby as her first officer. Lizzie is brash and bold and often offends her British counterparts. When she and Ruby, the two best pilots, are pitted against each other in a competition to be the first woman to fly a Halifax, a bomber, tensions rise and Lizzie learns a valuable lesson about herself.
Spitfire Girls is an engaging, historical read. I felt myself rooting for Ruby and crying with May, while getting fired up right alongside Lizzie. Their stories and lives an inspiration to all women.
Mixed with the perfect amount of romance and predictability, Spitfire Girls was an engaging and educational read.
I received an advanced eBook from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Spitfire Girls tells the story of the first female pilots during World War II. Lizzie is the daughter of a legendary American pilot with dreams of leading the United States’ first group of women pilots. She writes a letter to and eventually meets with the First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt. Lizzie is set to Britain to join and learn about a group a women pilots ferrying planes.
May is the commanding officer of this group, with Ruby as her first officer. Lizzie is brash and bold and often offends her British counterparts. When she and Ruby, the two best pilots, are pitted against each other in a competition to be the first woman to fly a Halifax, a bomber, tensions rise and Lizzie learns a valuable lesson about herself.
Spitfire Girls is an engaging, historical read. I felt myself rooting for Ruby and crying with May, while getting fired up right alongside Lizzie. Their stories and lives an inspiration to all women.
Mixed with the perfect amount of romance and predictability, Spitfire Girls was an engaging and educational read.
I received an advanced eBook from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Women are strength. The characters in The Spitfire Girls demonstrate that throughout the entire book. I really love the story and lessons told in this book. The characters are all amazing and real. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I'm a big fan of the historical fiction genre. This was a fantastic book that had me hooked from the first page. Based on historical events and people, this book is about three women and their critical contribution to the war effort during WWII. These women are members of the British Air Transport Auxiliary. They ferry new and repaired planes without radios or instruments. These women are constantly fighting for fair treatment and respect for their male counterparts. The government didn't want the women's help but they really needed it. However, once the war was over the women were kicked out of there wartime positions.
I loved each individual character. They each brought something different to the table. May Jones is the strong character with a hard exterior. It's hard for her to show weakness and open up to anyone. Ruby Sanders lacks confidence. Her fiance's mother feels that she should be at home not out at war. She's a good flyer though. Lastly, there's Lizzie Dunlop. She's a talented flyer and makes sure everyone knows it. A native Texan, she is big, bold and brash. She makes no apologies for it either. She's not a team player. This book was also a romance. Each woman found the right man for them and fell in love. If you enjoy historical romance novels set during the war, then this is the book for you. It's such an enjoyable read.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I loved each individual character. They each brought something different to the table. May Jones is the strong character with a hard exterior. It's hard for her to show weakness and open up to anyone. Ruby Sanders lacks confidence. Her fiance's mother feels that she should be at home not out at war. She's a good flyer though. Lastly, there's Lizzie Dunlop. She's a talented flyer and makes sure everyone knows it. A native Texan, she is big, bold and brash. She makes no apologies for it either. She's not a team player. This book was also a romance. Each woman found the right man for them and fell in love. If you enjoy historical romance novels set during the war, then this is the book for you. It's such an enjoyable read.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I wish we learned more about women like this in history books. The Spitfire Girls were a real group of courageous women and critical to the war effort ferrying damaged planes and repaired planes to British WWII bases. These women flew fighter planes in hazardous conditions with no radio contact or navigational devices as good or better pilots than their male counterparts! This story is a shining example of why I just love historical fiction!
I really enjoyed this novel. I appreciated the strong female characters, and learning some new things about the way some women were able to assist in WW2.
1) I'm pretty sure people in the 1940s didn't casually throw the terms 'gender roles' and 'gender stereotypes' around.
2) Also pretty sure that telegrams were meant to be short, and something like this would be impractically, and more to the point expensively, long:
3) Does this review have a point? No. A brief one, then: it's a sweet enough story that is very heavy on romance and a lot lighter on depth. Lizzie is...not great...and any conflict that doesn't revolve around Lizzie being a tremendous brat comes down to romance. There's a Big Moment involving seeing a Luftwaffe plane, and...it's resolved in under a page while the romance goes on, and on, and on.
Ah well. I can always reread [b:Code Name Verity|11925514|Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity, #1)|Elizabeth E. Wein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388161911s/11925514.jpg|16885788].
2) Also pretty sure that telegrams were meant to be short, and something like this would be impractically, and more to the point expensively, long:
PLEASE INFORM RUBY SANDERS THAT HER FIANCE, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT THOMAS FRANCES, IS ALIVE. SURVIVED IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS AFTER DEPLOYING PARACHUTE. INJURIES INCLUDE BROKEN ARM, CRACKED RIBS, LEG TRAUMA AND BLEEDING FROM HEAD. FULL RECOVERY EXPECTED. (210)Do we really think the military is going to go to extra expense when the following would suffice?
ATTN RUBY SANDERS STOP FLT LT THOMAS FRANCES ALIVE STOP FULL RECOVERY EXPECTED STOPDone. More details could follow via a cheaper/slower form of communication, no? Throw a 'LETTER TO FOLLOW' line in if you like. It's still much shorter/cheaper than the behemoth of a telegram the book offers.
3) Does this review have a point? No. A brief one, then: it's a sweet enough story that is very heavy on romance and a lot lighter on depth. Lizzie is...not great...and any conflict that doesn't revolve around Lizzie being a tremendous brat comes down to romance. There's a Big Moment involving seeing a Luftwaffe plane, and...it's resolved in under a page while the romance goes on, and on, and on.
Ah well. I can always reread [b:Code Name Verity|11925514|Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity, #1)|Elizabeth E. Wein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388161911s/11925514.jpg|16885788].
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No