Publication Date: February 5, 2019
An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.
A novel of love, courage, and danger unfolds as World War II’s brightest heroines—the Clubmobile girls—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.
Bestselling Author Jane Healey tells a harrowing story of the Red Cross Clubmobile Girls during World War II. Readers are swept away on an adventure with three best friends from Boston as they experience the danger and horror of war, the importance of friendship, and the courage it takes to write their own stories.
While The Beantown Girls is a work of fiction, Healy bases much of it on the true stories of the real Red Cross Clubmobile girls who served in the European Theater of Operations in World War II. So, while our main heroines, Viv, Dottie, and Fiona from Boston, Massachusetts are not real, many of their stories and experiences are based on true stories.
I’ll be honest, when I first started reading about the Clubmobile program, which is three women in a Clubmobile delivering coffee and doughnuts to soldiers, my first thought was, “Seriously? Money and effort are being put towards this?” However, as I continued reading, I saw the effect these women had on the soldiers. They brought joy, hope, and comfort and served as a constant reminder for these men that there was a real world still waiting for them once the war was over.
What strikes me as most remarkable about all these women in the Clubmobile program is that while men had no choice about going to war, these strong, brave women volunteered to serve their country, oftentimes putting themselves in danger for the good of their country and the men fighting for it.
As for our heroines, Viv, Dottie, and Fiona, I got swept away in their adventure. This trio defines what a true sisterhood should be—kind, loving, supportive, and unafraid to call each other out when needed. Each of these characters has their own story and struggles throughout the novel. Viv had to learn to let go of her somewhat vain tendencies and learn that it was okay to be vulnerable. Dottie finally stepped out of the shadows and showed the world her talent. Lastly, Fiona permitted herself to live beyond the plan she had set for herself. While it was up to each of them to face their obstacles, they drew strength from each other to overcome them.
When a brave decision made by three friends throws them into the daunting challenges of war, our heroines rely on their sisterhood through danger, heartbreak, love, and triumph.
For lovers of historical fiction, The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey is a must-read. 
Jane Healey is a bestselling author of historical fiction. Her novels include her debut The Saturday Evening Girls Club and The Beantown Girls, a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller. Her third novel The Secret Stealers, a WWII spy thriller, was an Amazon First Reads Editor’s Pick and a Historical Novel Society’s Editors’ Choice pick. Her latest novel, Goodnight from Paris, inspired by the life of Hollywood actress Drue Leyton, released in March 2023.
Jane is also the host of Historical Happy Hour, a monthly webinar and podcast featuring premiere historical fiction authors and their latest books.
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Northeastern University, Jane shares a home north of Boston with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and one teacup golden doodle.
Podcast: www.historicalhappyhour.com
