Thank you to NetGaley for this e-copy of Hood Night Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea in exchange for a honest review.The author based this story on the true exploits of his mother during World War 2.This is an engaging, action filled book that centers around 2 girls who work for the Red Cross during the was as “Donut Dollies”- women who followed the troops across Europe from England to Germany serving coffee, donuts and conversation to the beleaguered troops.Irene- who is running away from an abusive ex-fiancée in New York and Dorothy -a tall Indiana girl who has lost her own family and wants to do her part for the war are the two main characters.They experience many of the horrors of war while driving their Clubmobiles all over Europe.They find love and also learn many things about themselves as their bravery shines through during the hardest times.A must read for fans of historical fiction.

Yes these women were remarkable but it just felt a little bit too much like a nonfiction book with tons or descriptions of weaponry and planes but no plot. Even his writing style was so different from his last book - I simply could not get into it.

Good Night, Irene is the first novel I have read by Luis Alberto Urrea. I wasn't sure what to expect, and for the most part, this novel works very well as historical fiction. Urrea focuses his novel on the experiences of two women, who choose to become doughnut dollies, during WWII. They hate being called doughnut dollies, and I can certainly understand their ambivalence about this label. Doughnut dollies diminishes what these women accomplished.

Good Night, Irene approaches World War II from a different perspective. This novel examines a group of women, who worked for the Red Cross during the war, but who were not nurses. Instead, Irene and Dorothy operate a Clubmobiler, making coffee and doughnuts for soldiers on the front. These two women are at their most interesting in Part I. This section spends more time inside Irene and Dorothy's heads. Their story is a fascinating narrative, since most readers will have never heard of the job they perform and that these women took their coffee and doughnuts to the front. In Part 1, their story comes alive. In Part 2, the novel loses its momentum and these brave strong women become part of the scenery, instead of the focus of the story. This was a job of little renown and performed by a small group of extraordinary women, letting them delve more deeply into their stories would have made this crucial section of the novel sing. There is almost a distance, and I cannot understand why. They are at the front during some horrific moments, but Irene and Dorothy are no longer the center of the novel. They become onlookers, as do the readers.

I want to to thank the author and Little Brown, & Co for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you also to NetGalley for making this novel available.

4.5 shiny stars! Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea was a moving yet harrowing novel that was based on the author’s own mother’s experience in the Red Cross during World War II. Whenever I thought about women in The Red Cross during World War II, I had thought that they were all nurses. How wrong I was! Just as many women were recruited by The Red Cross as Donut Dollies as nurses. I had never heard of this particular division, nor knew of its existence, that existed within the organization of the Red Cross before reading this book. During World War II, young women were employed by The Red Cross as Donut Dollies. Their main purpose was to serve the troops hot coffee and donuts. They brought a piece of home to the soldiers. These brave and courageous women provided quick wit, flirtatious banter and a ready smile to the soldiers that were about to face battles. Their main objective was to provide support, friendship and a sense of home to the troops. They drove large, cumbersome yet reliable Clubmobiles named after cities in the United States. Luis Alberto Urrea brilliantly portrayed the tragedies, atrocities and fear of war that these heroic women lived through and experienced. The sad part of all of this is that none of what the Donut Dollies did during the war has been recognized. Very few if any, if they are like me, have ever heard about the part they played in helping win the war.

In 1943, Irene Woodward, escaped an abusive marriage and a domineering mother when she secretly enlisted in the Red Cross. She was assigned to the Donut Dollies’ division. Irene would soon learn all that was expected of her. Then her and the other Dollies were to be sent to Europe to serve. In her training, Irene met Dorothy Dunford. Dorothy was a rather tall farm girl from Indiana. Irene and Dorothy were as different from each other as they could be. Yet, the two women became a team and developed a strong bond of friendship through the course of the war. Dorothy became known as Stretch and Irene as Gator. Through the early days of the war, Irene and Dorothy woke each morning and served the soldiers hot coffee and homemade donuts. They provided cheer, encouragement and smiles for each soldier they served.

After D-Day, Irene and Dorothy joined up with the Allied troops and followed the soldiers into the dangers of war. They drove The Rapid City, their trusted Clubmobile, and proceeded into Normandy, France, Belgium and even Germany. These brave women witnessed The Battles of the Bulge. They came face to face with German retaliation more than once. General Patton asked both Irene and Dorothy to accompany his men to Buchenwald when it was liberated. What Irene and Dorthy witnessed that day stayed with them for their entire lives. The images of the prisoners and the sight of the Crematorium were forever implanted upon their minds.

These brave women were so much more than met the eye. Yes, they served coffee and donuts, always had a ready smile and word of encouragement but they were often side by side with the soldiers as battles were being fought. The Donut Dollies often faced the same harsh realities of war as their fellow soldiers did. I am so grateful to Luis Alberto Urrea for sharing his own mother’s experiences as a Donut Dolly in the Red Cross during World War II and making me aware of all that these very brave, selfless and courageous women endured through the years they served. They went over and beyond what was initially expected of them. I really enjoyed all the characters that Luis Alberto Urrea created for this book and felt like I really got to know them by the time I finished reading Good Night, Irene. I still find myself thinking about Irene and Dorothy especially. It made me sad to realize that these women were never given the true recognition they deserved. I really enjoyed reading Good Night, Irene and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read Good night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I only THOUGHT I had read good WWII historical fiction before. WOW - this book knocked me down. It had everything - characters, setting, plot.....prose that evokes the beauty of friendship and the tragedy of war. I was stunned when I finished. I wanted to call every reader I know and tell them to buy this one now. It speaks to the soul of "the greatest generation" in a heretofore unseen way.

"Good Night, Irene" by Luis Alberto Urrea is a book that explores the experiences of women who served as "Donut Dollies" during World War II. These women were part of the Red Cross and provided coffee and donuts to soldiers, even in the midst of battle. The story is loosely based on the author's mother's involvement in the Clubmobile Corp, which operated a GMC truck equipped with coffee makers, donut machines, and record players, following General Patton and the Third Army.

The book introduces the two main characters, Irene and Dorothy, who are quite different from each other but are partnered together in the truck. They endure difficult fighting and hardships during their time in the war. Their role goes beyond serving coffee and donuts; they aim to bring cheer, listen to the troops, and provide some joy in the midst of the fight. They even visit Buchenwald, a concentration camp, where they witness the horrors of the war firsthand.

While the book is long, and it can be repetitive at times. The significant event that changes the women's lives occurs towards the end of the book, and the reader may feel confused before reaching the end. The author suggests that the confusion is intentional, mirroring the post-war period of uncertainty and scattered lives. Some readers may find the ending somewhat unclear or tacked on, but it eventually makes sense within the context of the story.

"Good Night, Irene" serves as an important historical document since the archives related to the Clubmobile ladies were destroyed in a fire in the 1970s. By writing this book, Urrea contributes to the preservation of history. However, it's worth noting that the author takes poetic license in the storytelling, and some aspects may feel incomplete or frustrating to readers.
In conclusion, reading this book provides valuable insights into the experiences of the Clubmobile ladies and their contributions during World War II. While the book may have its challenges, persevering until the end reveals a deeper understanding of the narrative.

In summary, Luis Alberto Urrea wrote "Good Night, Irene" to pay tribute to his mother and the women who served as Donut Dollies during World War II. He aimed to preserve their stories in the absence of historical records, shed light on their contributions, and provide a human perspective on the realities of war.

This was a vivid yet beautiful War story! I love the ture to life descriptions that make you feel like you are there. Some tears but that's what makes it feel real. You can't help but love the characters!

4.5 stars

Pro:
* Powerful
* Known as a “border writer” relative to his Mexican father’s roots, Urrea writes this book drawing on his American mother’s European service during WW2. Quite transcultural.
* A Little-known part of the war service separates this from the many (MANY) Americans-on-the-European-front-of-WW2 novels.
* Superb character development
* Good descriptive details
Con:
* A bit too wide in scope
* Pushes the envelope too far towards the end

Thank you to Luis Alberto Urrea; Little, Brown, & Co.; and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so captivating. I had never heard of Donut Dollies (odd, given the number of WWII books I’ve read) and this brought them to life. I am in awe of everything these women went through. They were literally on the front lines after volunteering to serve coffee and donuts. Although the overall themes were heavy, there was still love and humor throughout the book. This was a great read, even if you’ve read a lot about WWII!

I had the pleasure of seeing this author speak on release day at the nearby indie bookstore and he was riveting. I loved hearing how he came to write this story and all the extra insight he shared.

(Note: post going up on Insta next week)

This feels like a bit of a departure for Urrea, and I'm so glad he took this chance! I thought I was tired of WWII fiction until I encountered the way Urrea does it. This is a story for feminists everywhere, and I highly recommend picking it up!

The basis of the story - and Urrea's personal connection to it - is strong. Irene joins the American Red Cross during World War II. She is assigned to a donut truck - a truck with three women that goes around Europe to serve donuts and coffee to those fighting in the war. There are some light moments and some terribly gruesome moments. As far as the writing, it moved a bit slowly and at times did not hold my interest.

I’ve become more cautious about reading WWII stories because they were all tending to blend together. And no sooner did I start this, then I felt a sense of deja vu. Readers of The Beantown Girls will feel the same. The story revolves around two American women who sign up to be Red Cross volunteers or Donut Dollies as they were known. Dorothy is a strapping girl from Indiana. Raised on a farm, she already knows how to drive, change a truck tire, etc.. Irene, whose POV directs the story, is her polar opposite. A city girl from a wealthy family, she escapes a proposed marriage to a lout by joining up.
The first part of the book tracks their training in the US and their first assignments in England. It was too dry for my taste. Urrea is a verbose writer and gives us voluminous descriptions of the air bases and the machinery. In many instances, I felt I was being told, rather than shown, too many points. Yes, I get that they were there to be a friendly face to the soldiers, I didn’t need to be hit over the head with the idea. “Their real service was that their faces, their voices, their sendoff might be the final blessing from home for some of these young pilots. The enormity of this trivial-seeming job became clearer every day.”
Things got better after the women arrived in Europe. Urrea does a good job in placing the reader firmly on the western front, especially with the Battle of the Bulge. This section was the high point of the book. The ending of the book became a little too hokey for my taste.
I went into this based on a comparison to Transcription. It’s not a good comparison and the publisher does a disservice to use it.
I think I would have been more impressed with this book if I hadn’t read The Beantown Girls. The characters were enjoyable and felt very real. It would have benefited from more editing to tighten it up and make the pacing more consistent.
My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co. for an advance copy of this book.

Good Night Irene is a beautiful story about war, friendship, loss, and perseverance. Based on the life of the author’s mother who was a Red Cross volunteer, we follow Dorothy and Irene through the roller coaster of emotions they experience as “Donut Dolly's” during the WWII. Dorothy and Irene couldn’t be more different; Dorothy a farm girl from Indiana who lost her brother at Pearl Harbor and is looking for revenge, and Irene a society girl from an old money family from New York who is escaping an abusive fiancé. These women become each others family while working their Clubmobile throughout the Western Theater.

The girls think their lives are are going to be all fun and games with making coffee and donuts and chatting with the troops, but they soon discover the ugly side of war. These two women find friendship, comfort and support with each other while navigating the death and destruction around them.

This was a very moving story for me. Having served in Iraq I saw my experiences in the story-not the making donuts part, but just the camaraderie and strong familial ties that come with existing in a war zone with someone. It’s something that is very hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it, but these people have a bond that will never be broken. I also appreciated the author sharing his mother’s experiences. Most people assume that the only women in the war were nurses, when in fact there were thousands who served both in the military and for organizations like the Red Cross. This was a unique time in American history when the entire country pulled together to fight the Axis powers.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially WWII, or stories with a strong female lead. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea introduces the little-known World War II Red Cross Clubmobile corps and the volunteer “Donut Dollies,” women who made and served coffee and donuts to GIs in England and Europe. While working to bolster morale among the troops, these women served alongside the soldiers under the most difficult and harrowing circumstances. Good Night, Irene, an exceptional novel, focuses primarily on two volunteers: Irene, a privileged but unhappy New Yorker, and Dorothy, an Indiana farm girl who's lost both the farm and her family.

The novel begins when Irene leaves New York and an abusive fiancé for training in Washington, D. C.

“November 1943

Dear Mother,
I have so much to tell you, but so much I can't say. I am sorry that I won't be home for the holidays and it might be a while before I see you again. As soon as I am free to explain, I believe you will be proud of me. I have joined the Red Cross and am going to do my part.

I had to make a change. I will explain more when I can.
Love, Irene

After stateside training, the volunteers arrive in England and Urrea captures their lives and intertwines their character development with descriptions of the countryside and the sad beauty of a Luftwaffe attack as the women’s train rolls into London’s Euston Station. “Flickering orange flames in the distance launched dense smoke columns into the sky. The glow of fires showed through the ruins of buildings. Churches that had already been reduced to shells by the Blitz were now transformed into enormous candles.”

Irene and Dorothy begin to see the value of their role in the war as they watch men await their fellow pilots return from battle and they share in their anguish when someone is feared lost. Irene pens another letter home despite her mother not having written back.

“London, December 21, 1943

Dear Mother,
If you were wondering what I'm doing here. . .
He hit me.
Merry Christmas, Mother.
Good night, Irene”

Soon the women and their Clubmobile, a mobile unit with two large coffee urns, a record player, and a donut-making machine, cross the English Channel and serve alongside General Patton’s 3rd Army from the beaches of Normandy through France and Germany facing bombings, attacks, and eventually the horrors of Buchenwald. Dorothy, a tall, no-nonsense woman, and Irene, an artsy city girl, become close as they share living among soldiers, working beyond what seems physically possible, and suffering PTSD from all they've endured. Urrea imbues Irene, Dorothy, and many of the soldiers and others they meet with realistically endearing senses of humor that make the most difficult of their experiences bearable. He also uses engaging word pictures to portray the land they traverse so that the reader can see that these aren't just battle locales, they're actual places where people live and love.

The story of these women is important to Urrea. His mother was a Clubmobile volunteer who had nightmares every night he can remember. Urrea and his wife Cindy, a former reporter who helped research the novel, found Urrea’s mother’s Clubmobile partner living only two hours from them and the woman shared remarkable insights and letters that helped Urrea tell the story with facts, compassion, and infinite care.

Love abounds in this novel—love infused with the sadness of war alongside the joy found in the bonds of friendships made while serving together. Luis Alberto Urrea has given the world award-winning novels, poetry, and nonfiction, but Good Night, Irene may be his best with its poetic rendering of a forgotten piece of history and a powerful ending that fits perfectly.

Summing it Up: Good Night, Irene is a novel that reveals the truth about World War II in Europe and depicts it more vividly than nonfiction ever could. In Good Night, Irene, we feel what Irene and Dorothy felt, we laugh with them, we watch them grow stronger, and we ache when they suffer and are near the breaking point from living through such trauma. Good Night, Irene is the best book I’ve read this year and I’ve read more than fifty and several of them have been outstanding. If you loved Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky, you will find yourself equally immersed in Good Night, Irene.

Footnote: Read this article for a beautiful picture of Urrea and for more in-depth information about his mother: https://www.pw.org/content/bringing_the_joy_a_profile_of_luis_alberto_urrea

Chicago area readers: The book launch event will be tonight, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL. If you haven’t heard Luis speak, you’re in for a treat. Ticket information here. He’ll also be at bookstores across the country in the coming weeks.

Rating: 5 Stars

Publication Date: May 30, 2023

Category: Fiction, Five Stars, Grandma’s Pot Roast, Pigeon Pie, Super Nutrition, Book Club

Author Website: http://luisurrea.com/

Interview with the Author: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/91663-a-ballad-for-unsung-heroes-pw-talks-with-luis-alberto-urrea.html

What Others are Saying:

BookPage: https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/good-night-irene-luis-alberto-urrea-book-review/

Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/luis-alberto-urrea/good-night-irene/

NPR: https://www.npr.org/2023/05/22/1177057433/luis-alberto-urrea-good-night-irene-review

Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780316265850

“Urrea’s touch is sure, his exuberance carries you through . . . He is a generous writer, not just in his approach to his craft but in the broader sense of what he feels necessary to capture about life itself.” —Financial Times

“Good Night, Irene is a beautiful, heartfelt novel that celebrates the intense power and durability of female friendship while shining a light on one of the fascinating lost women’s stories of World War II. Inspired by his own family history—and his mother’s heroism as a Red Cross volunteer during the war—Luis Urrea has created an indelible portrait of women’s courage under extreme adversity. Powerful, uplifting, and deeply personal, Good night, Irene is a story of survival, camaraderie, and courage on the front line.”
—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds

“Every once in a while the universe opens its heart and pulls out a book like this novel, gifting it to the cosmos. In Good Night, Irene, a new element has been created, and the literary world is reborn in the image of Luis Alberto Urrea. His voice comes alive on every page of this magnificent novel.”
—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Luis Urrea is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint! Certainly a departure from his other books in terms of culture and setting but his exquisite writing promises this to be another classic. I think it is an homage to his mother this time and a blending of nonfiction and fiction.

I'm constantly amazed by the untold WWII stories. This is yet another showing the role of strong, fearless women who were right there fighting with all the brave men. When you hear there were women delivering donuts and coffee to the men serving, I don't think any of us would have envisioned the reality of what they were actually doing. This is beautifully written with characters that you would wish you could sit down with and have them tell you their stories.

Good Night, Irene
By Luis Alberto Urrea
Pub Date: May 30th, 2023


Book Review

I have read several books about WWII, and probably you have too but have you read about the ladies who volunteered for the Red Cross Clubmobile?
Those women's tasks were preparing donuts and coffee and trying to keep the troops entertained.

Well, before reading this novel, I didn’t know about them, and I learned about their challenges and how their jobs weren’t just feeding the troops but also social and heroic work.
The novel follows Irene Woodward who volunteers without knowing well how to perform that major task and the risks that she was going to face but with the will of serving the country by escaping from her unfortunate life situation. This job will lead her to experience friendship and love far away from home.

I did not connect much with several secondary characters' dialogues, but learning about these women was what I liked best about the novel and also the development of the main characters.

This work of fiction was inspired by real people, especially by someone very close to the author.
I recommend it to historical fiction fans.

Thank you, #netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e- ARC.

In the middle of World War II, Irene Woodward escapes an abusive fiancé to join a little-known organization: the American Red Cross Clubmobile Service. She and other women travel just behind the battle lines to deliver hot coffee and fresh doughnuts to soldiers and airmen. It might sound a bit frivolous but Irene’s experience (and historical evidence) shows that the women of the ARC clubmobiles genuinely improved morale wherever they went. In Good Night, Irene, Luis Alberto Urrea shares Irene’s story as she escapes New York, travels to England, then accompanies troops from the Normandy landings, the Battle of the Bulge, and the fight across Germany in the last months of the war.

We never really learn why Irene chooses the ARC Clubmobile Service, instead of one of the other American women’s auxiliary services or becomes a nurse. Perhaps it’s because the training is minimal (she just has to learn to use the doughnut machine and drive the massive clubmobiles) and she can quickly make her escape across the Atlantic. Thankfully, Irene lands on her feet. She finds unexpected reserves of pluck and endurance. She also finds friends who really see her. Sure they tease her for her silver-spoon background and bicker after long hours serving in the close quarters of the clubmobile, but they never tell her to be a proper lady and uphold the family name.

Urrea took inspiration from his mother’s experiences working in the ARC clubmobiles during World War II, which I suspect explains the highlights reel vibe of Good Night, Irene. This book gallops through the last eighteen months of World War II. No grass grows under Irene’s feet as she and her fellow ARC servicewomen are posted, first, to England, and then continental Europe after D-Day. There are even cameo appearances by General George S. Patton.

Even though the plot races, Urrea has a gift for capturing the panic and chaos that women like Irene might have felt when they found themselves on the front line instead of just behind it. Urrea also builds a strong theme of the hectic romance that can develop when any day could be one’s last. Intense attraction fights with the fear that lover might never see each other again. It’s hard not to read the goodbyes in this book without fretting for the characters. The emotional weight of battle and love anchor the fast-paced plot.

I think what I appreciate most about Good Night, Irene—apart from the excellent scene-setting—is its honesty. Irene and her cohorts make mistakes. Characters die and are mourned. Irene has to learn how to cope with what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder. But among all the harrowing and intense scenes, there is banter and light as the characters cram as much life into the time between battles as they can. There are also endless gallons of coffee and innumerable doughnuts to lift the spirits in dark places like Bastogne and England’s air bases. This book played on my emotions like a fiddle.

Good Night, Irene is the latest book from Luis Alberto Urrea. Fans of WWII fiction will want to pick this one on your TBR list.

1943. Urrea introduces the reader to our protagonist, Irene Woodward, a young women who is determined to leave her abusive fiancée. She wants to get far way from her family and join the war effort. Dorothy Dunford is also running - from loneliness. She has no family left and has lost the farm. Joining the war effort seems like a good deal to her. Dot's story is on par with Irene's, but I found Dot to be the character I bonded with the most.

What do the women end up working at? Through the Red Cross, the two are with an elite group - the women who drive the Clubmobiles, bringing a smile, donuts and coffee to servicemen.

In the beginning as they learn the ropes, Irene and Dot are light hearted and enjoying themselves, even if they're tired 24/7. As they start to travel, they find themselves closer and closer to the danger of the front lines. What seemed like it would be a lark is no longer. The war will change both of their lives forever.

Urrea brings in a number of varied supporting characters, all with their own addition to the narrative. Throughout the book, the 'can do' attitude is shown over and over again. When you read this type of story, it makes you truly think about the sacrifices made. Urrea takes his own Mother's Red Cross service as inspiration for Good Night, Irene.

Friendship, loss, love, grief, anger and the cost of war is seen with women's eyes and woven into this tale. And I'm still on the fence about the ending. Yes, it's satisfactory, but the time line doesn't sit well with me. I imagined something a bit different I know, I've being obtuse but I don't to spoil this lovely read for anyone.

Good Night, Irene has already been making a splash in the book world. Rightfully so. The book tells of Irene and Dorothy, two women who left their home lives for vastly different reasons, who are completely unlike each other. However, they form a friendship that only war can create. They are Donut Dollies, a Red Cross unit that drives custom trucks to the frontline where they make coffee and fry donuts for the troops. They bring a taste and reminder of home. However, they also risk their lives as they perform this service. The Donut Dollies’ story deserves telling.
*Good Night, Irene contains graphic descriptions of World War II.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for the chance to read this DRC in exchange for an honest review.