Set In Hawaii during the onset of WWII, Radar Girls explores the lives of women who become part of the Women’s Air Raid Defense (WARD). As this is a part of history I’m not familiar with I was curious to read about it.

What I enjoyed:
*The history that was woven into the story regarding radar and it’s use. You can tell the author did her research and it is compelling!

*The setting - so incredibly beautiful and really set a tone for the book.

*The friendship between the women. It demonstrates the power of good friends.

What didn’t work as well for me:
*At times the story felt a little drawn out and a bit melodramatic. And Daisy’s relationship with Montgomery felt particularly odd after learning the truth.

Overall this was a solid read for me and who’s historical bent I enjoyed.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for a DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sara Ackerman’s Radar Girls is the U.S. based historical fiction novel you’ve been waiting for, and it does not disappoint. With amazing character development, a nail-biting plot, and incredible details, this novel sweeps you back in time and claims your attention to the final sentence.

The characters and setting are both the beating heart of this novel, with the setting practically becoming a character unto itself. Daisy Wilder has never felt like she fits in, as she prefers wearing pants and training horses to skirts and lipstick. She spends most of her time working and diving for fish to support her widowed mother, and still feels the tide of grief over losing her father. On the morning of December 7th, 1941, Daisy is out diving for fish when Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor.

In the aftermath of the attack, Daisy is recruited into a top secret program, interpreting radar and tracking vessels for the U.S. military. As Daisy learns technical equations and codes, she also gets to know the other women in the program. From jealous squabbles to finding true friendship, Daisy is tested in ways she never knew possible.


Daisy and her fellow recruits are incredibly well developed, each individualized with unique backstories, motivations, attitudes, flaws and proficiencies. From optimistic Fluff to endeavoring Betty to persistent Lei, each character is relatable, lovable, and incredibly realistic. They’re the kinds of characters that you miss once you’ve closed the cover, the kind you want to return to again and again.

WWII era Hawaii is not a setting I’ve seen in other second world war fiction novels, and it became a character unto itself. From the vivid imagery to the unique terrain, the setting showed how Hawaii can be just as quick changing as the tides of war. Needless to say, it definitely made me want to visit Hawaii in the here and now, and yet also made me feel as though as I was really there, lizards and mosquitoes and all.

As with all war-set novels, the plot is nail-biting and intense at times. But it isn’t gratuitously violent, nor does it try to manipulate your emotions. It strikes just the right balance of realistic, showing the intense moments interspersed with the ways people found joy and happiness in between air raids.

The details are truly what set this novel apart. From technical details about radar that I never could have known to full on historical events I hadn’t heard of (and I am definitely a history buff and consider myself quite knowledgable about this era and arena; my grandfather was a WWII veteran stationed in the Pacific). There are numerous unique incidences discussed, from skirmishes to involving the FBI when lingerie was stolen from a clothesline, that were enlightening and educational. It’s these little details that really make this novel’s world and characters feel like you could reach out and touch them.

Radar Girls is a perfect choice for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls.

Radar Girls will be available July 27, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Ackerman, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advanced copy such that I could write this review. All opinions are completely honest, and my own.

Sadly, this one fell short for me. The plot sounded fantastic, but the writing was not quite up to par. In a genre that is teaming with great novels, I fear this one doesn't make the cut. The writing style felt very juvenile and had lots of short static sentences. A lot of "we did this, then this" kind of writing. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.

Having read Sara Ackerman's first book, "Sweet Pies and Soldiers," I was looking forward to reading this one too and I was not disappointed. I love reading WWII fiction with strong female characters so this one where a variety of women are trained to track incoming airplanes to the Hawaiian islands as a means of preventing another attack like Pearl Harbor was so interesting to me. There is a romance but there's a lot of great female friendship bonding along with local food and customs of the islands.

Sara Ackerman's books make a great change of pace for WWII fiction set in Europe. It's the homefront seen through another lens and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I’m a big fan of historical fiction and Radar Girls didn’t disappoint! I intentionally picked this one because I’m visiting Oahu and Pearl Harbor this summer and wanted some background on the events that occurred there during World War II. This book gave me loads of perspective and I really enjoyed reading about the women’s air raid defense and their important, yet quiet role supporting the war effort. The women in this story are witty, fun, intelligent, brave, and heartfelt. This book was a pleasure to read and undoubtedly added to my appreciation for the history of Pearl Harbor and the ultimate victory by the allies.

Inspired by the real Women’s Air Raid Defense, this charming novel will have you packing your suitcase for Hawaii. Horse lovers? This one’s for you. Wartime historical fiction? Yes, you, too.

You’ll want to read this book because the author lives in Hawaii and, although the book is set in 1941, there’s an authentic island feel. It’s been said that the author “writes books with aloha,” and this most certainly describes “Radar Girls.” It’s also about a part of history that isn’t written about often - the untold exploits of WARD and their critical and top-secret service in Hawaii. It’s refreshing to read a wartime book without a pregnant unwed girl or a resistance fighter.

The book opens as the Japanese planes fly over Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, and continues with the aftermath of the attack. You’ll read about Daisy, a 24-year-old swimmer and horse trainer, who is recruited for a top-secret program involved in tracking and plotting ships and aircraft around the Hawaiian islands. Once spotted, these coordinates were sent to the navy. Daisy and these pioneering, unsung heroines were true national treasures!

Running parallel to the wartime plot is a sweet romance and a discovery that rocks Daisy to her core.

An absolutely beautiful tale about courage, strength and sisterhood, this story needs to be on your radar come July 27, 2021.

"The most important battles are fought, and won, - together."

I was gifted this advance copy by Sara Ackerman, Harlequin/MIRA, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book was received as an ARC from HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing - MIRA in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you were a fan of Lilac Girls and Hidden Figures, then this book will be right up your alley. I love how women back in the day were able to rise up despite all of the sexist pushback from a male dominated world and accomplish what the world needed to win the war. This time is was surviving the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and guiding pilots and the pilot she is assigned to is more than just a colleague. I am so amazed how important life lessons are reflected through historical events and they are really brought to light even still today. That lesson is the best battles are won together. Work together, work as a team, leave the ego at the door, and put conflict aside. Sometimes finding courage and confidence, you have to be called for duty and that is what Daisy discovered saving lives and saving the world post Pearl Harbor. Sara Ackerman does it again with another significant piece of History.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

A fantastic piece of historical fiction that tells the tale of the Women’s Air Raid Defense (WARD). The story is based in WWII in Hawaii just about the time that PEARL Harbor was hit. It tells of the contributions that the WARD made, but we also get to know what life was like for these women as well. Mix in a little family strife and a little romance and their is an epic story waiting to be read! Big thanks to NetGalley for the early read - this should be on everyone’s To Be Read list.

I wanted to love this book. The premise sounded so promising, and Pearl Harbor is always interesting (albeit, it can be difficult for a fresh take on a book). But the storyline itself was so shallow, so hollow that I could not get past it. The story starts with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, yet our protagonist seems nonplussed by this fact. Planes are bombing overhead, and the lead character is thinking only of a horse? I just couldn't buy it.

The storyline gets more interesting, but I never could get into the book. This is my first Sara Ackerman, and it will be my last.

Radar Girls
by Sara Ackerman
HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada)
MIRA
General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 27 Jul 2021 | Archive Date Not set

Radar Girls is a historical fiction story told about what happened in Hawaii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I thought it was very well written and I enjoyed Daisy's perspective of the story. Thanks to Harlequin Mira and NetGalley for the ARC. Beautiful book!
5 star

I’m always on the lookout for historical fiction tackling subjects I’m not familiar with. While I’ve read lots about what women in England were asked to take on as the men enlisted, this is the first book I’ve read where American women were the subject. In this case, the women in Honolulu after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Daisy isn’t book smart, having quit school in tenth grade, but she definitely has a way with horses. She’s an engaging main character and I bonded with her immediately.
Ackerman paints a vivid picture of the island during wartime. She also gave enough detail to feel like I understood the job the WARDs were doing, which I really appreciated.
Yes, there’s the obligatory romance subplot. Thank heavens, she doesn’t allow it to overtake the other storylines. I enjoyed all the characters and the women’s friendship rang true. It’s a sweet story about the bonds that form under stressful circumstances. This was a book I kept reaching for every time I had a moment free and I finished it in just over a day.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an advance copy of this book.

I've really enjoyed Sara Ackerman's novels, all set in Hawaii. This novel starts on the day Pearl Harbor is attacked and focuses on women who were called to serve in the Army as radio operators during WWII. The main character is a young woman who is a tomboy and in love with a wealthy young man whose father owns a large estate in Hawaii. Daisy is poor, her father is deceased, and her mother flipped out and went to the mainland - leaving her alone in rural Hawaii.

I enjoyed the details of life in Hawaii during WWII and during the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, the plot of this novel just didn't grab me. I liked the main character, but the storyline seemed to meander too much for my tastes.

RADAR GIRLS by Sara Ackerman is a well-researched and inspiring work of historical fiction set in Hawai’I just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Told from the perspective of fictional character, Daisy Wilder, the story is inspired by the real-life Women’s Air Raid Defense (WARD), a top-secret group of women who were recruited to help track planes in the Pacific skies and also to guide pilots in onto blacked-out runways. Although always fearful of another attack by the Japanese on Hawai’i, these courageous women took the vacated places of male soldiers who were called into battle. These little-known and unsung heroines had a profound impact on the outcome of the war. The characters were wonderfully-portrayed and the descriptions of the scenery and wildlife, as well as the island life and language was so vivid I was transported there. I felt like Daisy and her fellow WARD members became my friends, too. There is even a sweet romance sprinkled in. One of the reasons I love historical fiction so much is that I always learn something new and this book was no exception. I enjoyed this well-written and heartfelt novel and look forward to whatever comes next from Sara Ackerman. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

Fans of Elizabeth Wein's Code Name Verity will love this novel. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Daisy's. life is completely changed when she is invited to join the Women's Air Raid Defense - women who were trained to track airplanes and boats approaching the Hawaiian Islands and to guide Air Force pilots to safe landings. The novel provides a glimpse into the lives of these women and a fascinating piece of World War Two history that not many are aware of. Both historical fiction and a love story Radar Girls is a book that will deprive you of sleep as you want to read "just one more chapter" before going to sleep. I would have liked a glossary of Hawaiian words and phrases but I am sure most readers will understand them in context as they read.

This is a awesome story about the women living in Hawaii that found their own purpose and some their own voices during WWII. It is yet another story of the selfless and courageous women that took care of the home front doing the normal male jobs while the men were overseas. Some were spouses of those military guys, some girlfriends, and some family but despite the unknown of their own men they came together in a sisterhood all their own.

I loved this book, the characters, the time period, and the historical fiction. It kept me up way past my bedtime until I finished it and I have been in a reading slump for a bit so hopefully this wonderful book pulled me right out.

This review will appear on my blog on July 27th.

Radar Girls was such an enjoyable book. I enjoyed the characters and it was interesting to learn more about their role during the war, it was easy to cheer them in. Definitely recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel which is set during WWII in Hawaii. The attack on Pearl Harbor initiated, among many things, the formation of the Women's Air Raid Defense: a civilian group working with the military during the war.
Our heroine, Daisy, is an independent, feisty girl who doesn't seem to need a lot of friends. She's still grieving her father's death, a tragic event which has left her mother practically unable to function without Daisy's help. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Daisy is swimming at the beach in the company of a "borrowed" horse. Spooked, the valuable horse runs away and the novel runs from there.

Daisy's female friends, the WARDS, are all sympathetically drawn and we are able to relate to each of them. They support each other, and help each other through the best and worst points in their lives. The male characters are both despicable and admirable.

Author Sara Ackerman has based her fictional novel on real events and has given us a lovely novel that will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately want to learn more about the real WARDS themselves.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a ride! I fell in love with these heroic women who assisted the Air Raid Defense in WWII. The book shows their relationships with one another as well as the bonds some of them form with men who are involved in fighting in the war. This was the first historical fiction book I’ve read that has been set in Hawaii, and I truly loved it! War, romance, friendship, a horse mystery, work conflict….this book has it all!

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman.
Radar Girls is a historical fiction account of women who helped the Air Raid Defense during World War II, inspired by true accounts. Sara Ackerman is very detailed and thorough with her descriptions of the work that the ladies are doing. The relationship between Daisy and Walker will appeal to fans of romance stories. For me personally, this book was too predictable.

Thank you Net Galley and Mira Publishing for the ARC of Radar Girls by Sara Ackerman. I love historical fiction, especially WW2 books. This was a page turner! The friendships of the women that were encouraged to help with the war effort by learning to plot and manage the air and sea traffic gathered from radar made the story. Daisy, the main character, learned to rely of her female friends when times were challenging. Daisy also learned to be herself and to go for what she wanted. Sara Ackerman vividly painted the Hawaiian scenery throughout the story. Having visited Hawaii, I could see the locations she used for the book. I love to learn more about the people behind the headlines of WW2 and this book qualifies. The women behind the radar defense system in the islands were amazing. I would highly recommend this book!