Thank you NetGalley, Book Club Girl, and William Morrow and Custom House for the copy of Girls of Flight City. I enjoy historical fiction although I don’t read a lot of it. I liked how strong Jessie was and how she knew and followed her own mind. I also liked hearing about the flight school and training the British pilots. Somehow, I could not really get into the story, which felt ‘romancy’ to me. If you like WW2 stories, this is a different take and would appeal to you.

A part of history I had no idea about! I love reading novels that shed a light on bits and pieces of history that are so interesting that I knew nothing about. In Girls of Flight City, I learned that America was helping to train British pilots for WWII, and that women pilots were doing some of the instruction. The women in this story were strong and resilient facing the challenges and heartbreak that came there way. A very good read!

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review

When you start to think there are no new angles on the popular genre of WWII historical fiction, you get a novel about a RAF flight training school and boundary pushing aviatrix in small town Texas. Thank you to Book Club Girl and Harper Collins for the chance to read this book early. I loved it even when it broke my heart.

I really enjoyed this book! I had no idea American women were training British forces during WW2. The entire story was fascinating to me because I learned something throughout. We hear about the war effort but always from the lens of what was happening in Europe. The most fascinating fact was the British having to renounce citizenship and travel through Canada because of the Traitor Act. I knew Americans joined British forces before America entered the war but I didn't realize how vilified they were at home.

This novel focuses on the women who are training British pilots at an airfield in Texas and what those troops' presences means to their small town. Our heroines are fighting preconceived notions that they aren't as good as men and shouldn't even be working.
Another piece of World War 2 brought to life and told by the women who lived it.

A new bit of WW2 history for me about the RAF training airfield in Texas thru the majority of the war, and I also wasn’t aware of the criminal classification Americans were given if they joined up before the US did, initially barring them from returning.

There were periods of the book that were a little slower but for the most part I enjoyed the story of Jessie and Kitty as they worked with the cadets and officers who came to the airfield. The struggles Jessie faced as a female pilot and instructor was very indicative and typical of what many women in the war faced in that type of role, and I think conveyed well. The second half of the war was a little glossed over but I get it, as the focus was supposed to be focused on the initial pre-US-participation at the airfield.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Girls of Flight City captivated mr form the first chapter. i also learned about the training of British pilots in the United States both before and during World Was Two. A great read.

A WWII novel that takes place in the unique location of Texas. The story starts before the US is even involved in the war showing the readers the US anti-war attitudes. Jessie, the main, character is fighting for her right to teach RAF airmen how to fly. Her younger sister, Kitty, is interested in the airmen as well. They both fall in love which leads them on different journeys in their lives. I loved the stories of the cultural differences between the Texans and the British. It was an engaging story that was nicely wrapped up in the end spanning years and showing the impact the British airmen had on the small Texas town.

Another unknown aspect of WWII, where Britain in cooperation with America joined forces to train RAF pilots to do air battle with Germany. As this takes place in 1940, and America has not entered the war, it all has to be done rather clandestine. The cadets need to enter the US via Canada. Two worlds which most likely would never have met, come together in Terrence,, Texas. Different accents,, and life styles, coverage on the airfield. The Girls of Flight City provide the character driven plot of love and death.

While the plot has all the required points of love, loss, pregnancy, laughter and innocent fun, the Girls of Flight City, provides enough history and plot twists to keep one tuning the page. The story does get a bit trite, with predictably regarding most of the relationships, but if the reader is unfamiliar or a regulate WWII fan this story is a light bit of history to be enjoyed.

Jessie and her sister Kitty are the main characters in this WW2 book. Jessie, passionate about flying-and teaching the British how to fly, while her sister is coming of age and interested in the actual airmen. The story unfolds years before the US even considers entering the war. Jessie forms a close bond with the commander, but he’s already been through war, and doesn’t want to take a risk of hurting anyone. Jessie, fighting for the right as a female, to teach men to fly-wants to do it all on her own. And her baby sister Kitty, probably the most surprising character in this book, willing to risk it all. I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

Absolutely Loved this story. - was completely drawn in from page 1.

had no idea women (girls) where involved in the war training pilots. These women where determined, fearless and heart felt,
These women welcomed outsiders and gave their all. For the love of country.

Have a read - don’t think ya’ll will be disappointed.

The Girls of Flight City, while set in the oft written about WWII Era, presented a new setting and perspective about the BFTS in Texas. With the assistance of the United States even during the neutrality agreement, the British RAF was allowed to establish flight schools in several locations across the states, with the focus of this novel being one in Texas.

Our two narrators are Jessie and Kitty, sisters who live in the small town in Texas just outside Dallas who find their lives entwined with the cadets and staff at the BFTS in their town.

They find love, but also loss, and heartbreak. It felt realistic to the time, as learning to fly and then going off to fight the German planes was certainly not without risks. I enjoyed this new perspective on WWII and seeing how Jessie and Kitty grew and developed as they suffer through heartbreak but eventually found joy.

The story wraps up very quickly with the end of the war but there is a nice jump in time to show how everyone lived their lives after the war.

Certainly I recommend this novel to other lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to Book Club Girl and NetGalley for the electronic ARC copy of this novel for review.