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wengergal's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I have read a significant amount of WW2 fiction. I really enjoyed the look at women's fight to help in the war. In our day and time it is hard to really comprehend that it was a common belief at that time that women were inferior and would not be able to fly planes, bombers, fighters to help in the war effort. The fact that they were then allowed to do fly with less equipment, less support, and less pay is abhorred.
This is a story of three women fighting their own fight to help in the war efforts. Two English women and an American woman fighting the same fight for different reasons.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
I have read a significant amount of WW2 fiction. I really enjoyed the look at women's fight to help in the war. In our day and time it is hard to really comprehend that it was a common belief at that time that women were inferior and would not be able to fly planes, bombers, fighters to help in the war effort. The fact that they were then allowed to do fly with less equipment, less support, and less pay is abhorred.
This is a story of three women fighting their own fight to help in the war efforts. Two English women and an American woman fighting the same fight for different reasons.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
efirer's review against another edition
3.0
Historical fiction describing the women who ferried planes to help the war effort in England and the US during WWII, the writing was a bit lighter than I anticipated. Although some serious issues were attempted, the three women, May, Ruby and Lizzie, were not described with as much depth as would have been required of a group of women taking on the prejudices against women flying. A light take on the subject, easy to read, but left me wanting a little more.
julied1's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written story based on the true story of the brave women pilots of WW2.
We follow May, Ruby and Lizzie as they fight prejudice on both sides of the Atlantic. Along the way they face loss and find love and these women are true pioneers of women's rights.
Aust for anyone who loves books about strong women and is interested in the work of women I. The war
We follow May, Ruby and Lizzie as they fight prejudice on both sides of the Atlantic. Along the way they face loss and find love and these women are true pioneers of women's rights.
Aust for anyone who loves books about strong women and is interested in the work of women I. The war
storyteller86's review against another edition
5.0
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.
nicolamichelle's review against another edition
5.0
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!
itsybitsybookhoarder's review against another edition
5.0
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.
veganbookie's review against another edition
4.0
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.
braella's review against another edition
2.0
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.
jlong021's review against another edition
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
3.75
andrew65's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.5