I need that 1/2 star! This book would certainly be 3.5 stars if I only had a half star! This was a well written and engaging book that follows the story of a young woman of means from Philadelphia during the time of World War I. Despite her parents’ protest, she is determined to contribute to the war effort and signs up to be a telephone operator with the Army. The book paints a fascinating picture of what the women telephone operators went through during World War I and their incredible contributions. And while I did find the book a bit long, I thoroughly enjoyed the time the book spent addressing the main characters post-war lives. The book had a good dose of romance which I personally don’t gravitate to. I did not find the book lacking in any way, but just simply not my personal preference. It certainly is a book I would easily recommend! I was honored to receive a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I love historical fiction. I wasn't familiar with women who joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I. It gave you a glimpse into life during this time and what was endured. I really enjoyed Ruby's character. Raised in upper society with an arranged marriage, Ruby had dreams of her own. She was independent, smart and full of ambition. How disappointing that it took so many years for women to be provided the same benefits that men received through our armed services and many of those who served never got the opportunity to see the results.

I really, really enjoyed this book! I thought the author did an amazing job with the characters - especially the main character, Ruby. I immediately liked Ruby - her mother is grooming her to be a woman of high society. Though she lives a privileged life, Ruby wants to work and she (without her parents' knowledge) signs up to take the operator's exam to see if she's qualified to be an operator overseas during World War I. The story follows her as she follows her heart - she demonstrates courage, leadership, friendship, and dedication to both her country and her team. If you enjoy historical fiction with some romance thrown in you will like this book. This is the first book I have read by Aimie Runyan - I will definitely be seeking out additional books by her after my experience with this one.

I love historical novels and this one didn’t disappoint. Aimee K. Runyon is a wonderful storyteller, and this account of the Woman’s Signal Corp was a page turner.
Ruby is a Society debutant from Philadelphia society, that is recruited to served with a group of women, as switchboard operators in France, during the Great War. Not far from the battle lines, they are in danger, while trying to keep communication open between those fighting on the lines and the war office.
A wonderful story oh courage, determination, bravery as well as romance and friendships. You will love this book, from cover to cover! Thank you to Lake Union Publishers for this ARC. I hope my review did justice to this interesting novel.

Once again Aimie K Ruyan has brought us a story that I would think many do not know. I never knew that the Americans brought over phone operators to help in communications during WW1. Runyan does an excellent job in telling us about events that have received little attention in history.

I found this story to start a bit slow but then it picked up pace and I wanted to know what happened. I found thatI didn't want to put the book down.

4.5 stars

Engaged and working as a telephone operator in Philadelphia, Ruby Wagner reluctantly prepares for her upcoming wedding. When her brother is killed in combat, to her parents' disappointment, Ruby accepts an opportunity to work as an operator in the Army Signal Corps in France.

I had no idea that women served as telephone operators during World War 1. It makes so much sense while reading the story though. There had to be some way for those soldiers at the front to contact each other and for the brass to send and receive crucial messages and orders.

Aimie Runyan excels at writing about the relationships between women. These women were amazing. Strong and resilient and they put up with so much grief. Poor treatment by the servicemen, difficult living conditions and then after serving their country, not being recognized for that service in order to receive benefits and pensions. Added to that, it took another year after the war before American women received the right to vote.

Ruby was remarkable. Tenacious and strong-willed, the conflict between following her heart and pleasing her society parents was on point. Ruby and her fellow operators show us the strength of friendship. Margot was fantastic. Evangeline's story was heartbreaking, but inspiring. I adored Andrew and I shook my head at Nathaniel.

I am never disappointed with an Aimie Runyan book. I so appreciate that Aimie finds untold stories about incredible women in history and then brings them to life on the pages of her books. Women supporting, encouraging and advocating for each other can literally rule the world together. And these women are not afraid to stand up for themselves or work hard.

Good historical fiction informs as well as entertains. Girls on the Line does a great job of both as it takes us into the lives of young women who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I.

While books about World War II abound, not a lot of present-day fiction is set during the Great War. As the author notes, modern-day Europeans are much more aware of the first world war than Americans are. But 100 years ago, Americans — both men and women — were deployed to Europe to fight “the Hun.” Among those individuals were female switchboard operators who volunteered to serve on the front lines connecting the troops with their commanding officers via telephone.

Runyan has done a lot of research, including reading the diaries of women who served in the signal corps. Her story is rich with details as well as nicely developed characters whose fates we become invested in. We see independent young women struggle with the misogyny and paternalism of the era, including the arranged marriages common among high-society families, and we witness the deplorable lack of recognition for the heroism of the “Hello Girls” as the operators were called, when the war ends.

Aimie Runyan has done a marvelous job! Strong characters and rich storytelling, this is a must read! You will fall in love with Ruby and all the Operators and care deeply for each character as they are on the field and as they find their way back home after the war. Such strong women who made the way for the women of today!

I love finding out about things that happened in history, but that we never read about or learned about, in our dry history books in school. Girls on the Line is about female telephone operators who went to the front during WWI with the Army Signal Corps. They were needed to make sure that the extremely, important communications lines were kept open and important calls got through to those in charge of making life or death decisions when it came to our men at the front. I had no idea! I knew that women went as nurses, but telephone operators? Phenomenal. These girls were in the thick of it. The story focuses on Ruby Wagner from a prominent, Philadelphia family who seems destined to marry a man from a similar background in Philly society. But, Ruby has a lot of spunk and tenacity and answers the call to action after her own brother is killed in the early days of WWI. Ruby and her "Hello Girl" operator friends and colleagues were funny, brave, and endearing. There's intrigue and even a bit of romance. You'll find yourself cheering Ruby on. This story is needed now more than ever to show just how strong and tenacious women have always been and will continue to be. Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

GIRLS ON THE LINE by Aimie K. Runyan is a well-written and captivating work of historical fiction set mostly in France during World War I. It tells the story of the courageous and dedicated women who were enlisted in the U. S. Army Signal Corp as telephone operators, helping to relay crucial messages to and from the battlefields at the front. The main character, Ruby Wagner, is the daughter of a prominent Main Line family in Philadelphia. After her brother is killed in action early in the war, Ruby wants to move outside the strict expectations her parents have for her future and contribute to the war effort in a more tangible way than staying at home knitting for the troops. The author brings to light the tremendous bravery, determination and resilience of the women who worked the telephone lines and how vital their efforts were to bringing the war to an end. Beyond just a war story, GIRLS ON THE LINE is an engaging story of friendship, love and family. I really enjoyed learning about a part of history that I had never encountered before. The story of these strong and brave women will not soon be forgotten. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

GIRLS ON THE LINE by Aimie Runyan is a beautifully written novel about a group of groundbreaking women who volunteered to join the Army Signal Corps as telephone operators and then risked their lives to travel overseas to the war zone. These women – known as “Hello Girls” – played an important role in the Allied Forces victory at the conclusion of The Great War. The novel is due out on November 6th 2018 by Brilliance Audio.

Twenty-four year old Ruby Wagner is the only daughter of a prominent Philadelphian family. Almost every aspect of her life has been dictated by her parents – including her engagement to the son of another Main Line family. Ruby’s sole act of rebellion against her parents is her work as a switchboard operator for the local telephone company. When her brother is killed in action during The Great War, Ruby defies her parents and her fiancé to join the Army Signal Corps as a telephone operator. After being trained, Ruby, along with a group of other women, is sent over to war-torn France to help the Allied Forces during the last few months of the war. Ruby and the other women face the dangers of war and the unfair discrimination from the men in the Army. Ruby also meets an Army medic whom she falls in love with. As the war reaches its conclusion, Ruby must decide if she will return to the life that her parents have chosen for her or if she will continue to take control of her own life and her future.

GIRLS ON THE LINE is a wonderful, emotional novel. The story is told through Ruby Wagner’s first person point of view. This allows the reader to see everything through her eyes as gains her independence, grows as a person, and takes control of her life. Ruby is a very strong, enjoyable character. This novel takes place during the years before women were given the right to vote, and Runyan shows the struggle that these women faced to earn respect and be taken seriously. The friendships and animosities between the women add an extra layer to the story, as does Ruby’s blossoming romance with the Army medic. What I particularly enjoyed is that the novel didn’t end when The Great War did. Runyan continued Ruby’s story in the months and years after the war – showing Ruby’s small contributions to the rebuilding of the war-torn Europe, as well as the “Hello Girls” fight to be recognized as members of the Army and the American women’s eventual victory when they were finally given the right to vote.

The novel is well-written and the attention to detail is outstanding. Runyan did her research, and she brings to life the era and the war. Runyan’s focus on the details of the war, society, fashion, slang, and everything else is amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this FANTASTIC book! I think the reason I love historical fiction so much is that I learn something about history that I'd never had learned in school.
As the only daughter of a prominent Philadelphia family in 1917, Ruby's life, and future are decided for her.
Ruby would like to make her own decisions about her daily life and her future, and the opportunity comes in the form of putting her life on the line during WWI as a telephone operator in France.
The author does a fantastic job of weaving history in with characters we care about. I loved learning more about these brave women during WWI and their part in helping to win the war.
The most disturbing part was the information in the author's notes about these real women and how it took until 1979 for them to get their just recognition... by that time, only 28 were still alive.
This is a wonderful story about strong women during WWI that I highly recommend!

Always amazed at the amount I can learn from Historical fiction books. It's one of the reasons I continue to love reading this genre! Very exciting reading about a little know important role women played in WWI and it's importance in the Womans Suffrage Movement...and shocking how they were treated at the end of the war!
This was a great book and I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end! Very informative, very well written. The plot was good, characters well developed and captivating.
A 5 star rating!

History and fiction collide in a well-written story that transports the reality to long ago and the back again. A wonderful book that would make a compelling film.

Facing an impending future in Philadelphia society married to a kind but dull fiance, Ruby Wagner joins the U.S. Army Signal Corp in World War I after losing her brother in battle. As she gains independence and becomes a leader among the groups of all-female phone operators, she meets an American medic who gradually begins to change how she feels about the life waiting for her at home.

I will definitely look into Runyan's other historical fiction after reading this. I had no idea about women's role in WWI before picking this up and I'm now intrigued to learn more. The book's historical afternote about the real-life line girls being denied veteran status for so long was upsetting yet not totally surprising. Given how many books there are about women during World War II, Girls on the Line stands out for its strong, very fact-based portrayal of a fairly little-known branch of the American forces. These women made the decision to join the Signal Corps when society had even rigider expectations for them than during WWII, and learning about their experience was so rewarding and inspirational.

The first half of the book was a little slow, but the story definitely picked once Ruby and her fellow servicewomen were stationed in Europe. Initially, the American medic character felt very flat and one-sided to me, which was disappointing given what he's supposed to represent, but I warmed up to him by the end of the book. Overall, if one is looking for historical fiction that focuses on a unique perspective in a less-publicized time period, Girls on the Line fits the bill.

*A link to a more condensed blog review will be added shortly.

It never ceases to amaze me how little we know of history, particularly when it comes to the role women played in significant events. World War I is being fought overseas, but life continues on in Philadelphia for wealthy Ruby Wagner, who is busy planning her society wedding. That all changes when she learns that her brother has been killed in the fighting. Abandoning her safe and comfortable life in the U.S., Ruby becomes a Hello Girl in France, one of the many women who worked as a telephone operator in dangerous places to help important phone calls get through. This is such a fascinating story, how is it I have never heard of the Hello Girls? My mother was a Bell Telephone operator in San Francisco during World War II and I enjoyed telling her this story, which she had never heard either. Kudos to Runyan for enlightening and entertaining us

"The key to success doesn't lie in hard work alone, but more often in believing we are capable."
Ruby Wagner has decided to join the Army Signal's Corps' and serve as an operator during World War I.
She has resistance from family, but plunges forward to become a chief operator which eventually takes her to the front line of the war. Ruby's determination and resilience to find herself and be the woman she know she wants to be is evident.
Written with amazing details, I felt as if I was actually there. I could heard the gunfire, felt the anxiety of the girls as they remained in the dark cabin during the nights, and and the distinct fear that came from outbreaks of disease in the camps.
Although, a historical fiction,war story, it is so much more.
It is a novel about true friendship, spirit, determination, romance and the strength of women fighting for their cause.
This book will not be forgotten soon!

The best historical fiction opens a window into the past, allowing us to see it anew and reordering our preconceptions. Girls on the Line does just that with the role of women in the Army Signal Corps in WWI. The heroine, Ruby Wagner, seeks to honor the memory of her brother, a fallen solider, by entering Corps against the wishes of just about everyone. Ruby is brave, sharp-tongued, and complicated--my favorite sort of character--and she's surrounded by a lively cast. Runyan's sure pacing and deft hand with nuances of plot kept me turning the pages as Ruby's story unfolded.
Runyan, a careful historian, weaves in period details that cement the book's undeniable realism.

Captivating, compassionate and assured, Girls on the Line is fresh take on how war changes the course of lives--one woman at a time.

This book is amazing! Author, Aimie K. Runyan's, words flow off of the page beautifully. Runyan brings history to life in a story of the unsung heroines of World War I-the women who worked the Army Signal Corps' lines. Her characters are strong, independent and unforgettable. Fans of historical fiction will love this book!

I have just finished Aimie K. Runyan’s new novel, “Girls on the Line: A Novel” and what a story it is! I loved it and couldn’t put it down. This was the story of Ruby Wagner, an upper-class young woman who wants to make a difference. The setting is World War I. After Ruby’s brother is tragically killed in the beginning of the conflict, she answers the call for telephone switchboard operators against her parents’ wishes. This novel showcases her life overseas as she comes to terms with what is expected for her life and what she wants.

Ruby’s story is told in the first person which brings the story an added dimension. This allows you to be privy to her inner thoughts and the reasons why she responds the way she does. It also allows the author to emphasize the struggle between the classes as the country was growing and changing.

This is an amazing book that kept me reading until late at night. Although it is historical fiction, it combined many events recorded in diaries from women who worked as line girls. The novel is well written and the story flows at a good pace to keep you interested but not bogged down. It can be read and enjoyed by young teen to adults. I will definitely be picking up Ms. Runyan’s previous books.