Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

The Women of the Post follows the women who join the Six Triple Eight Battalion, a group of WACs who process wartime mail. A fictionalized version of a very real support effort.

3.5 rounded up.

A historical fiction story based on WWII era, but set in multiple locations and has three different POVs. The women all have different backgrounds but all have one thing in common besides their courage: they are black. This book follows their story of being sent to Birmingham to sort the backlog of mail because the military did not know where to place them. The way these women faced and handled racism With dignity and perseverance.....it's a good story told.

One thing for sure is the women in this book are stronger and have more restraint than I do. I would've spat in that woman's face for stealing my money after I slaved away cleaning the nastiness of her home. Granted I know it was a different time, but the me of the 21st century is disgusted by the people of then.
Technology also makes me grateful because not hearing from your loved one for weeks and then nothing for months, my mental health would not survive.
Hearing the different perspectives was probably my favorite aspect of the book. How people in similar circumstances can feel different things or similar. I was shocked by the Mary Alyce twist that I had to reread some parts cause I couldn't believe.
The ending chapters made me cry and leap with joy at the same time if it makes sense. At least some got a happy ending after hurt.

✨Book Review✨

Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders @joshunda
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✨Rating & Review✨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This tour came at the perfect time, as I just watched my brother graduate from basic training this week. As the daughter of two vets, the granddaughter of a vet, the best friend to someone who is active duty and the sister of a newly enlisted soldier, I have a strong respect for those who serve. To serve during a time where Black people were actively persecuted with Jim Crow laws, takes bravery and determination. This book shines a light on the brave Black women who volunteered to serve in any way they could. Including sorting the mail that helped keep morale up for the men who were fighting during World War 2. And even during the hardest time in their lives, a few of these ladies found their soulmates. Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams and Captain Abigail Campbell commanded the 6888th Central Post Battalion with all the pride and dignity that wasn’t expected of them. Here’s to the laddies of the Six Triple Eight and all those who serve, thank you. 🫡
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Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders fictionalizes the story of the 6888 (6 triple 8) central post battalion. It is a story of incredibly strong, independent women who made a significant contribution to the war. The book introduces romances, which are historically inaccurate, and, to me, irrelevant to that story. The story of the war, the racial inequity, and the sisterhood is enough, and that history is what I will take from this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/women-of-post.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders
This is for my historical fiction lovers! If you love learning about unsung heros in history please make sure to pick up this book! It is based on the 6888 central postal battalion which was a was a predominantly black battalion of the Women's Army Corps during WWII.
Sanders beautifully captures the resilience and strength of Judy, Charity and Mary Alyce, showcasing their struggles, triumphs, friendships and relationships. Their stories remind us of the power of unity and the importance of intersectionality.
This book explores themes of empowerment, resilience, and identity. Sanders blends historical events with personal narratives, providing an educational and heartfelt reading experience.
Women of the Post challenges the traditional narratives of this time period, giving voice to those often overlooked in history. I highly recommend adding this book to your tbr!!
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for the ARC!

I enjoyed this historical fiction. Promoted me to go look up the facts on these women. Beautifully written

I've read a lot of historical fiction about women serving in World War II. But all of those novels were about white women. Joshunda Sanders' Women of the Post is about the Black women serving in the WAC, specifically the women serving in the 6888th Battalion.

From a woman looking for more opportunities and a better life for her family to a woman learning she's half-white and half-Black, joining the Women's Army Corp held an appeal to all of the fictional women in Sanders' novel. But they're all based on the 855 Black women who served their country at home and abroad. They were the first and only all-Black female unit to be deployed overseas during WWII. And their task was to clear out a backlog of mail, ensuring that male American soldiers received their letters from home.

I appreciated how Sanders captured the diverse reasons why these women joined the WAC and how she expanded on real events. Sometimes the dialogue felt forced, but overall, I enjoyed reading the novel. It sheds light on a little-known part of history, but also reminds us of the part of history we know too well - racism. Not only were these women experiencing racism at home (and a little bit abroad from their fellow Americans), but they were also treated as less-than because of their gender. These women showed their mettle and got to experience something they never dreamed - traveling overseas, getting paid a decent wage for doing work they could be proud of, and having more freedom in a foreign country than in their own.

I think this book would be a wonderful book club read, and there is even a reader's guide in the back of the book with discussion questions!

Women of the Post is published by Park Row and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC.

An amazing story of the women of WWII. Interesting and full of life, you'll fall in love with these characters!

I’ve realized in the last few (several?) years that my particular love of historical fiction set during and around each World War means the overwhelming majority of what I’ve read is written and told from a White perspective. I acknowledge that I may not be working hard enough to seek out titles written by BIPOC authors but I also think part of it is the stories just aren’t being published. (I’m more than happy to be told I’m an idiot who has to do more research, by the way.) So, when I came across Women of the Post, Joshunda Sanders’ debut novel, I was immediately intrigued. It was a solid novel that kept my interest and shone a spotlight on a part of history many people may not know much about.

Here’s the book’s description:
1944, New York City. Judy Washington is tired of working from dawn til dusk in the Bronx Slave Market, cleaning white women’s houses and barely making a dime. Her husband is fighting overseas, so it's up to Judy and her mother to make enough money for rent and food. When the chance arises for Judy to join the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and the ability to bring home a steady paycheck, she jumps at the opportunity.
Immediately upon arrival, Judy undergoes grueling military drills and inspections led by Second Officer Charity Adams, one of the only Black officers in the WAC. Judy becomes fast friends with the other women in her unit—Stacy, Bernadette and Mary Alyce—who only discovered she was Black after joining the army. Under Charity Adams’s direction, they are transferred to Birmingham, England, as part of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion—the only unit of Black women to serve overseas in WWII. Here, they must sort a backlog of over one million pieces of mail.
The women work tirelessly, knowing that they're reuniting soldiers to their loved ones through the letters they write. However, their work becomes personal when Mary Alyce discovers a backlogged letter addressed to Judy that will upend her personal life. Told through the alternating perspectives of Judy, Charity and Mary Alyce, Women of the Post is an unforgettable story of perseverance, female friendship, romance and self-discovery.
This was not, surprisingly enough, the first novel I’ve read about the women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion. Kaia Anderson’s Sisters in Arms from 2021 (review here) dealt with the same group of women. I much preferred Sanders’ novel but I still found it ever so slightly lacking. I think the issue is I found it too slow. There had to be a lot of set up, just because of the story Sanders chose to tell. I am very happy Sanders took the time to really lay out what it was like for Black women in the US during the war and she gave a lot of detail without the dreaded info dump. I found the story dragged when the women were all in training but I don’t know what Sanders could have done about that. Maybe it’s just me and I was far too impatient for them to get over to England and do actual work instead of being stuck in barracks, not being allowed to because they’re Black. (White women at this time were being sent to Europe to "do their bit" but Black women were being barred from doing the same.)

The story is told from the perspective of three women: Judy, Mary Alyce, and Charity. Judy and Mary Alyce are fictional characters but Charity Adams was a real person. I know authors take liberties with history for the sake of the narrative - and almost all of them will explain why and how they made those changes in a note at the end of the story. I understand how fiction works. What I don’t understand is why Sanders chose to give Charity a female love interest in the book when there’s no evidence that she was queer. She absolutely could have been, of course, and (do I really need to say this?) obviously the presence of a queer character isn’t the issue. The issue is changing a core part of a real person’s being for the sake of the story. Charity was a wicked amazing woman though and I’m glad to have learned more about her and will research more about the real woman behind the novel in the future. Mary Alyce, as I said, was fictional but Sanders noted that she’s kind of based on a real person she had read about. As the book's description notes, Mary Alyce had no idea she was Black until she arrived at training because her mother had hidden her father's race from her and she was light enough to pass. There actually was a woman that happened to, as Sanders mentions in her note. I couldn't even imagine having your world shaken up like that when you're already on edge, heading to training to help with the war efforts.



Somewhat related, even though I found the training portion of the book to drag, I was loved reading as the women all became friends and bonded with their fellow WACs. They knew they didn’t all have to like each other but they worked hard at making sure there was some respect so they could operate well as a unit. It would have been such a different and eye-opening experience for these women and I was glad they had each other to lean on as they dealt with falling bombs and racism while working in England.

Another reader on Goodreads mentioned that this book would make a better film or TV show and I think I’d have to agree. The information and history is so important but a novel might not be the best format to tell the story of these women. THEN another reader mentioned that Tyler Perry is working on a movie about the women of the Six Triple Eight which is extremely exciting and I’ll for sure be watching.

I liked Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders and am glad to have read it. The history she shared was fascinating and I learned a lot. I’ll keep an eye out for her next novel!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HTP Books, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I wanted this to be amazing, and while the context and concept was incredible, the writing was not. While the flow improved in the second half of the book, I never felt a true depth in any of the 3 heroines. Any distinguishing character traits were very circumstantial rather than fully developed.
This book did, however, peak my interest in learning more about black women who served in the world wars. Again, I loved the concept and the history. I wish I had loved the prose.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing!

What a compelling WWII novel based on true events - my favorite genre, and I'll definitely add this to a "top" list! This book highlighted the contribution of African American women in the WWII effort and was impeccably researched, educational, and inspiring.

We start the novel in 1944 in the Bronx with Judy Washington, who, along with her mother, is forced to work in the Bronx Slave Market for pennies to pay rent and get by. Judy's husband Herbert is fighting overseas, she hasn't heard from him in months or received any money, and she's hit a point where she's had enough and knows there's something better out there for her to provide for her and her family.

Then comes Second Officer Charity Adams, tasked with recruiting women to join the Woman’s Army Corps (WAC). After the D-Day Invasion, Allied soldiers, including those handling the postal service, were called to the front, leading to massive lag times in mail deliveries. That's where women, including Black women, were needed to join the war effort and cut down the backlog. Judy sees this as the chance she needs to achieve a fulfilling career and get closer to her husband, Herbert, whom she still hasn't received mail from.

She. along with Stacy, Mary Alyce, and Bernadette, became a part of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion (Six Triple Eight Battalion), led by Captain Charity Adams. The group starts sorting and redirecting mail to continue correspondence between soldiers and their loved ones, a task seen to improve morale. The group begins domestically and then gets the opportunity to travel overseas for another postal service station. Throughout the story (told from multiple points of view), we see these inspirational women break all kinds of barriers, form a close sisterhood and lifelong friendships, and find ways to show support and solidarity as they face racism, loss, doubt, and moments of self-discovery.

What an inspirational group of women - I adored every character, their friendships, and how their strengths and weaknesses perfectly meshed together to accomplish something vital to the war effort. An enchanting novel that I'd call a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the slave block in the 1940s was where Black women would stand looking for white women to hire them for domestic work.

Our main character, Judy Washington, is over doing work for white women just to get by.

After doing a hard day of disgusting work for a white lady who stole Judy's money. Judy enlisted in the colored women's army.

Her husband was also a soldier. As the war progressed, his letters stopped. Her battalion was assigned to the mailroom overseas. She's hoping working with the mail will lead her to letters that will help her discover what happened to her husband.

This book shows the life of Black women during the war. It depicts the racialized journeys of Black women in the army and how, although they were fighting for equality, their uniform did not equate freedom. This one was a captivating story that grapped my attention immediately.

“Sanders has offered back to the culture a missing part of its soul.” These are the words of Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize Winning author of The Color Purple. That right there is enough to make me want to read this novel.

Summary: Joshuna Sanders’ debut-novel recounts the important history of Black women who trained and served during World War II, including real life Army Lt. Colonel Charity Adams and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

What’s to Love? This story runs deep and spreads wide, presenting a variety of lived experiences including a woman from inner city poverty, a woman from the south for whom cross-burning is a reality, a woman with same-sex attraction, and a woman who passes as white, with a theme winding through the book of these women feeling they must hide parts of themselves or lessen themselves in certain ways in order to withstand the onslaught of discrimination.

What’s to Leave? In the advanced digital copy I read, there were multiple mistakes in the use of military ranks. Having a family history of service in the US Army, it distracted me multiple times; though it may not bother some readers at all.

What’s to Learn? So much! I knew that the military desegregated prior to much of society in the US, but I didn’t realize how difficult that fight was, especially for Black women who were, unfortunately, the last to be accepted. The book also illustrates that although they still encountered discrimination in Europe, it was different and, in many ways, less than what they encountered back home. Last but not least, Sanders depicts the Bronx Slave Market which has received little to no attention in historical fiction novels up to this point.

Conclusion: I’m hoping that the military rank mixups will have been corrected prior to release. However, even if they aren’t, I still highly recommend this book. Yes, it's another World War II novel, but this well-written book offers a refreshing perspective on vital, but lesser known history.

3 stars, Inspiring WW2 Veterans

WOMEN OF THE POST
by JOSHUNDA SANDERS

A lot of readers may not be aware of the role of African American women in WW2. Their stories are inspiring. They wanted "fair work, for a fair wage," which is all anyone wants.

I especially liked the core four characters, Judy, Mary Alyce, Stacy, and Bernadette. Their job was sorting mail for the many service personnel stationed overseas was overwhelming and amazing.

Some areas of the story were a touch unbelievable, but the story flowed together well.

I received this complimentary copy of #WomenOfThePost from #HarlequinTradePublishers #NetGalley I was not obligated to post a review. #multicultural #WWII #WW2 #DiverseReads #DiverseAuthor #DiverseFiction

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel was well populated with interesting characters, and full of unique insights about the experience of African American women serving the in the US military during WWII. Although I enjoyed it, I found the plot obvious, and some of the character storylines overwrought and unlikely. Nonetheless, it was a fun novel and full of interesting stories about interesting women in history.

Very very good historical fictions. Characters are engaging and in depth. Moving and wonderfully written. Highly Recommend to all historical fiction lovers.

Book: Women of the Post
Author: Joshunda Sanders
Pgs: 368
Genre: Historical Fiction World War II historical fiction usually gets a pass for me. Alas, I saw this book and the author, I pursued the description, and it looked good! An all-black women's battalion during World War I. Sign me up. I am glad to read this story because I learned a lot. The Northern US at the time seemed like the "Promised Land" compared to the hellish Southern States for African-Americans. So many traveled with the hope that things would be better, life would be more accessible, and we (including myself because I am African-American) will be finally created equal. After a few days there, black people saw that the Promised Land was a fallacy. Racism was not as blatant but it was there in New York. I was seething in anger with Judy Washington because she did all that filthy, demoralizing work only to be stolen from in the end. And these black women had to do it repeatedly at the Bronx Slave Market to earn an inhumane living. I cheered for her as she stood up for herself and joined the Army to better herself and help defend the country.
When she signed up, yes, she had other motives as well, but in taking a chance and elevating her situation, she only did not change her fiscal situation. She changed her life by being part of a sisterhood that became a positive community that supported her and helped her grow. To me, the shining plot vehicle was the centering of these relationships in a historical context. You see the good, the bad, the nuance, tears, and support. Everything. The writing is cinematic but also personal at the same time. It was very vivid. I felt everything that Joshunda Sanders was writing. Black Sisterhood and Historical Fiction are a great mix in this book! I highly recommend it. Also, I liked seeing the problematic black mom here too. I related A LOT to that. Now this playlist I had to research deeply, so I hope that everyone enjoys it. Thank you, @hearourvoicestours, for letting me participate in the tour. #WomenofThePost #hearourvoicestours

Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders was a very moving historical fiction debut novel. Joshunda Sanders wrote about aspects of World War II that I had no knowledge of before I read Women of the Post. It took place in New York, Vermont, Iowa, Birmingham, England and France during the later years of World War II. Women of the Post was told from the POV of three very brave and determined young women, Judy Washington, Charity Adams and Mary Alyce Dixon. Their stories and experiences were so inspirational and compelling. Each young woman came from a different background but they had one thing in common. They each played an important part in the success of the Six Triple Eight Postal Battalion. Their contributions and stand up attitudes were reflected in all the work they were able to accomplish. Their successful work ethics earned them proper recognition and acknowledgment from their superiors when all was said and done. Women of the Post was written as a tribute to the hundreds of Black women that served in the military during WWII.

Judy Washington grew up in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. In 1944, Judy found herself with her mother at “The Bronx Slave Market “. Her father had died and Judy hadn’t heard from her husband who was fighting overseas in months. Judy’s husband had been sending her letters as often as he could. He usually enclosed some of his pay from the army in his letters. The money that he sent helped her mother and herself pay the rent and made their lives a little easier. There had been no letters or money, though, in months. At “The Bronx Slave Market”, suburban white women drove by and looked for black women to clean their homes in exchange for very little compensation. Judy was fed up with working this way. The work was humiliating and the pay was so unfair. It was at “The Slave Market “ one day that Judy noticed a group of women that had gathered nearby. Charity Adams, a member of the Women’s Army Corps, had come to New York, to recruit other Black woman to join the WAC. Judy was impressed with the way Charity spoke about her experiences in the WAC so far and was drawn to the opportunity of joining the WAC. She took the papers from Charity. There was something about Judy that impressed Charity as well. Charity encouraged Judy to sign up and mention that she had recommended Judy. The next thing Judy knew, a letter of acceptance arrived at her home and she was on her way to Iowa.

Judy traveled by train to Fort Des Moines in Iowa. She reported for the six weeks of basic training in the WAC. The women were told that if they did not pass basic training they would be sent home. Judy could not handle not succeeding. She just had to pass. There was no alternative. Fort Des Moines was completely segregated. The white women trained, ate and slept with the other white women at the Fort. Black women did the same with their own kind. At basic training, Judy was grouped with women who would become her best friends throughout the war. Stacey was from a farm in Missouri and Bernadette was from Chicago. Bernadette’s family owned a hair salon in Chicago. Their superior was no other than Charity Adams who was now a Second Officer. The drills and training in basic training were difficult and strenuous but all three women passed. Now they anxiously awaited their orders for what they would do next.

Some of the white women had already received orders that they were being sent to Northern Africa. Mary Alyce Dixon was one of those women. She had come to training camp with her two best friends from her small hometown in Vermont. One afternoon, Mary Alyce was told to report to the Colored regiment immediately. Why was she being told to go to the Colored camp? Whites and Coloreds did not mix. There had to be a misunderstanding. Mary Alyce was soon to learn that her biological father had been Colored. He died before she was born. Mary Alyce never knew him and her mother never spoke about him to her. On her birth certificate, though, as clear as day, her father was identified as Colored. That made Mary Alyce Colored. She had always lived in the world of white people but here she was living and working with Company B, the Colored regiment. Mary Alyce would have to learn how to adapt to her new circumstances or go home. Her friends from home wanted nothing to do with her. Could Mary Alyce find friendship with Judy, Stacy and Bernadette?

A few weeks later, Charity learned that she had been promoted to Major and asked to lead the women in her company to Europe. Major Adams and her troops were going to Birmingham, England to sort through more than a million pieces of mail and packages. She had six weeks to complete this mission. That was when the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Battalion was formed. It was the singular “self-contained unit of Negro women serving in the war.” Major Adams explained to the women in her Company, “Our task is to reunite soldiers at war with their families through this small but significant gesture.” The mantra of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Battalion became, “No mail, No Morale.” The trip to Birmingham, England was not without incident but they finally arrived. The women of 6888 Central Postal Battalion would live and work at King Edwards School. Abby Campbell accepted Charity’s request to become her second in command. She organized the women and made a schedule for them that allowed them to work in shifts. There were three shifts each day and they worked six days a week. Somehow, some way, they would sort the mail and get it delivered. They were determined to succeed. Would Major Charity Adams be able to lead her battalion to accomplish this monumental task? Would these brave, resilient, resourceful and determined Colored women of the 6888 set the path for future Colored women?

I learned so much from reading Joshunda Sanders’s Women of the Post. Before reading this book, I had never heard of the Bronx Slave Market. The name alone made me feel embarrassed that this even existed. It was just so sad how these desperate Black women had to humble themselves to these greedy and uncaring white women in order to make a little for a grueling day of hard and exhausting work. I was so glad to learn that the Bronx Slave Market soon was prohibited by the law. New laws made it easier for black women to secure all types of jobs with decent and fair wages. They no longer were forced to only clean houses for practically nothing in return. I had never heard of any of the endeavors or accomplishments of the 6888 Central Postal Battalion either. Even when faced with skepticism, downright hostility, racism and even sexism, this strong group of women persevered and embraced their challenges head on. These women deserve to be recognized and should be applauded for all their hard work, dedication and accomplishments. Women of the Post was about friendship, supporting each other, the sisterhood that the women formed, prevailing through racism and sexism, romance and acceptance. It was so well written and researched. Joshunda Sanders’s author’s note at the conclusion of the book was very informative. Since Women of the Post was based on true events and included some real people, she clarified what was real and what was fiction in her author’s notes. I really enjoyed reading Women of the Post and highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction. I look forward to seeing what Joshunda Sanders writes next.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.