The Girls from the Beach

The Girls from the Beach is my first novel by Andie Newton but it will not be my last! This is the story of four battlefield nurses who landed in France during the invasion of Normandy to care for the wounded and are sent on a mission into enemy territory. It’s told in a dual timeline sequence, from Kit’s POV. The four swore to never talk about those 5 days ever again, but after 40 years the trauma of keeping it bottled up has gotten to be too much for Kit. This was a book I didn’t want to put down.

I’m not going to spoil the story, but I do want to thank the author for giving women a voice and a story of war and PTSD that we can relate to. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read all of Andie’s books prior or shortly after their pub date and every time, I fall in love with a book again. The Girls from the Beach is no exception. Four wartime nurses are overseas in a field hospital and are approached about a mission over enemy lines to provide care to some injured soldiers. Little do they know, that’s not the true mission. Whether or not they will survive and be successful is one giant question mark!
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The amount of grit and determination the women demonstrate is admirable. Each woman has a different personality and it helps balance the group out. You never know which way the story is going to turn; it’s one heck of a rollercoaster! There’s also an alternating timeline of life many years after the war. What really happened on the beach wasn’t revealed and is it finally time?
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I devoured this book in 24 hours which very rarely happens anymore. If that’s not recommendation enough, I’m giving this five big bright stars!
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If you’re looking for a fast-paced WWII histfic read complete with strong women and a secret mission, look no further! Check out the summary in the comments below and let me know if you’re adding this to your TBR!
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Many thanks to @atriabooks and @andienewtonauthor for the opportunity to read this book! This review expresses my own personal opinions.

This story didn't engage me right away. I had no idea that women landed on the beaches of Norrmandy. This is the story of three nurses, Kit, Roxy and Red and eventually Gail joins their ranks. At first I was confusing the characters Roxy and Red but that changed as the characters were developed more. Kit speaks German and she is sent on a secret assignment to question a German prisoner. A few days later the four of them are sent behind enemy lines to retrieve "the giant." The story is told from two time lines, Kit during the war and then after the war when she is called Evelyn. At times Evelyn would tell of flashbacks and then Kit would also flashback to her earlier life. It could have been distracting but it was done so well the story still flowed. This was a page turner. The rain was relentless and if something could go wrong it did. I could feel the rain and the cold and the smells and was rooting for them the whole way. This would make a wonderful movie.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria and Aries for providing me a copy of this intense story.

Kit, Red, Roxy, and Gail are nurses from different lived experiences stationed in France during WWII in the 45th Field Hospital. There are risks to being a nurse in war time, more risk than in peace time, and for these ladies those risks might be even more dangerous than most nurses faced. What happens when you are given a direct order by your Commanding Officer to follow an unknown soldier and no questions are allowed?! The Girls From The Beach is that vehicle to tell the nurses story.

There are few stories in the world that haven’t been told. The Girls From the Beach is one of those stories that I’ve never read before and they need to be told more often. We read about nurses, we read about WWII, and we read about the heroic actions of the soldiers, which is fantastic, but we never read of nurses who not only did their job in the field, but also risked the highest dangers behind enemy lines and are as heroic as the soldiers. I was pleased to find a place for those women to be celebrated here in Andie Newton’s The Girls From The Beach. This book would make an excellent television mini series or movie!

Kit, (Evelyn, as we find out her name in future pages,) is the type of woman who gets into trouble a lot because of her gumption and creative ways of looking at keeping life a little interesting while dealing with the sadness and stress of working on soldiers who have lost limbs, hope and more times than she wants to count — life. Red is the strong one, the instant best friend of Kit, she, in a lot of ways is the mother of the group. She is kind, caring and unselfish. Roxy, the tough one, the darling of the soldiers, the ones that can lift their spirits and help them leave the world feeling as if they are the most cared for person in the world. Gail, is the new nurse, freshly arrived from General in her starched Whites looking like a beauty queen. These are the women of The Girls From The Beach. Andie Newton’s woman are brave, strong, quirky, and one of them has a secret that she doesn’t want the others to find out. Could this secret cause more danger, is she the danger herself, or will the secret help during the war? A deeply emotional story ensues even in the early pages of her new novel. I suggest you keep the tissues close by. I know I did.

The supporting cast of characters are richly woven into the story adding to the drama, the realities that the nurses experience, and the darkness that they encounter are ones that I’ve always wanted to know how was dealt with during war times. I can’t go any further without spoiling the plot, so I won’t. I just know that if you love Historical Fiction, if you want to read a story not told of the women in war times and want a feeling of inspiration, introspection, and a little intense connection between people told through an intricately intriguing story telling, this is your book.

The Girls From The Beach is a deeply researched story one that you can tell the author poured her soul into and in-between the lines is empathy for the roller coaster emotions that war can leave behind when its all over and life gets intertwined into those haunting experiences.

Order this book from your local independent book store, or borrow it from your local library. I tell you, you won’t want to miss meeting these women!

4.5 Stars
for a unique angle to a story and the ability to reach into a readers soul and pull out every emotion imaginable!

Confronted with questions about her past, Evelyn Jones struggles with the PTSD she has hidden and relives the events she has kept secret for forty years in The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton.

As she relives her time as a frontline battle nurse known as Kit, her experiences in World War II begin to unfold along with the camaraderie she shares with fellow nurses Red and Roxy. Just as a fourth nurse takes up residence in their tent, they are pulled into a mission that takes them behind enemy lines and deeper into danger than they have experienced before.

A well researched, well written, and absolutely fantastic work of historical fiction that feels so plausible, down to the reaction Evelyn’s confession of her ongoing battle sickness (PTSD) receives from a doctor not long after the war. The slow revelations and changes between first and third person points of view in this perfectly paced novel make for a compelling read that put me through a bit of an emotional wringer, with a repeated ratcheting up of tension and vivid depictions of the horrors experienced and witnessed by Kit, Red, Roxy, and Gail.

Highly recommended, this is one of the best works of World War II fiction I have read.

This review refers to a temporary digital galley I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Girls From The Beach by Angie Newman
Genre - Historical Fiction
Rating - 5 out of 5 stars

This book had a very slow start but once I got into it a bit I was wowed. This was a great book about the nurses of WW2 and how strong they were, especially when working on the frontlines, and behind enemy lines in this case.

This book is about four nurses that go on a secret mission behind enemy lines. They do not know what they were doing when they first start out. They are just told that there is a solider behind enemy lines that needed their aid. It turns out that they were to help a solider but also go on a mission to find the German Reich’s secret weapon known only as the Giant.

They decide to accept this mission and the insanity of WW2 starts. This gives us a peak (although fictional) look behind enemy lines and what would have happened had they been caught. I must warn people that this book is not for the faint hearted. There are some bad things that happen along the way. There is talk of bombings and graphic descriptions of wounds sustained during the course of the war.

There are a lot of twists and having to cover for themselves throughout the book. Things get a bit dicey behind enemy lines. One of them even gets separated from the group. Will they survive or will they be killed at the hands of the Reich or one of it’s sympathizers or will they live to go on and lead happy lives. You will have to read it and see. I must warn you though that you may need a box of tissues at the ready for the ending. You might cry happy and sad tears though out the book.

Reviewers note - During WW2 their was talk of a weapon that has been named many things. Mostly referred to as the Giant. It was supposedly to have been a war chest of jewels that would fund the Reich for a second war. Although nothing like this was ever found it is talked about in some non fiction documentaries and books.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton. I voluntarily agreed to read and review by release day. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

The Girls from the Beach is a riveting historical fiction novel set during WWII and follows four American nurses who are given a top-secret mission. Ms. Newton’s vivid descriptive writing had me glued to my Kindle, breathlessly waiting to see if they would survive. There’s no doubt that Ms. Newton is a true historian because she manages to make the history in this novel exciting!

Kit and Red are a team, and both show immense courage and determination. They literally put their lives on the line on numerous occasions as they make their way into enemy territory. It’s easy to understand the close bound they share.

Roxie and Gail are the other duo, and they too show amazing courage and will do what they must to not only survive but complete their mission. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that develops between them. What a horrifying ordeal they go through! I adored the amazing ending.

If you enjoy tale with strong female protagonist and a nail-biting plot, then you will love The Girls from the Beach as much as I did. While this is the first book, I’ve read by Ms. Newton, it will not be the last. Happy reading!

I LOVED this book! I was so intrigued by the opportunity to learn a bit about the nurses during WWII and this blew away any expectations and hopes! Friendship, the power of hope, true guts and grit and loyalty to the job...ugh, I am in a legit book hangover right now!

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction and non-fiction, and this is the first story I read about battle nurses. Andie Newton did a beautiful job of bringing Kit, Red, Roxy, and Gail to life. The vivid imagery throughout the book, made me feel like I was on the beach of D-Day, in the clinic area, and all other parts these ladies travel to.. While the story itself is a work of fiction, the struggles these nurses dealt with during the war and PTSD after are very real.

Four American nurses from a field hospital on the German, French border in 1944 are thrown into a situation they don't want to be in. The story is set around a WW2 mystery which has never been solved. The author gives us one scenario of what might have happened.

As happens in war situations these nurses become closer than sisters and would even die for each other. They decide never to mention the five days they went missing from camp and what happened during those days.

Years later when they are much older one of the nurses,Kit is still experiencing stress and nightmares from her time in France. It has stayed with her throughout her life.
A newspaper reported has found out who she is and turned up on her doorstep wanting an interview.
There is a reunion of all nurses who served during the war in a few weeks and kit is persuaded to tell her story them. A story that will shock everyone.

This book is such a good read. I must admit that I found it a bit slow to start with so if this happens to you just keep going, it will be worth it.
I didn't want to put it down but I was also scared of reading what happens next. I was so afraid for the safety of the four nurses. I couldn't believe how brave they were with what was expected of them.
Even their day to day life was horrendous . The sights they witnessed when trying to save the lives of soldiers.
The descriptions made me feel their fear as though I was walking along beside them.
. The mud around the camp, the smell of the not so tasty food, the dirty fatigues they had to wear,it all seemed so real. There was also humour in the book with the nurse's banter with each other.
I really enjoyed this book although I think my heart beat a bit faster while reading it. As I usually say when I've read a good book, it would make a great film and this one definitely would.
Review will be on my blog on publication day.

The book is about four American battlefield nurses - Red, Kit, Roxy and Gail serving at the Lorraine near the French-German border during 1944. When they are tricked into a top-secret mission that takes them into enemy territory, they face the challenge head-on without batting an eyelid. They put their lives at risk to steal something that would make the difference between winning and losing the war. In the other timeline, a wartime nurse suffers from PTSD, still trying to come to terms with all the brutality she encountered during the war.
It is an incredible tale of exemplary fortitude, tenacity and endurance. Being a battlefield nurse was not a job for the faint-hearted. But Kit, Gail, Red and Roxy not only excel at that but go a step further. The bond between Kit, Red, Roxy and Gail is the epitome of friendship. The camaraderie between them was a treat to read. It made me cry and laughed with them. It is an action-packed fast-paced story that does not slacken its pace at any point. Though it is another dual timeline book, the author has handled the timelines so well that nowhere the flow of the story breaks. If you love historical fiction then it is a book you must not miss.

This is an unusual entry in the WWII genre because it hits on a seldom explored aspect of the war effort- the nurses who landed with the troops. The four young women whose stories are told here are heroes for so many reasons, Their mission behind enemy lines however was unexpected and no spoilers as to where they went and for what reasons. I liked the dual time line aspect because Newton used it to illustrate the lingering effects of the war. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

The Girls from the Beach
Andie Newton
Oh, I absolutely adored this one. I’m a sucker for anything WW2 and Newton certainly led me along a path to a situation of which I had no previous knowledge. Of course, I’ve always been aware of the allied landings, but I suppose never really taken into consideration the nurses who were taken and left on the beach to first of all survive and then to do their utmost to help the wounded soldiers fighting the battles. From the very start I was hooked, following not only the everyday hard work that the nurses endured, but also the intrigue surrounding Kit, Kit, Roxy, Red and Gail and their involvement in a secret – and obviously dangerous – mission. Beautifully and very cleverly written, with what must have been careful and intense research, we are taken into a past that probably none of us had thought much about before, as well as reading of the heart-stopping adventure on which the four nurses embark. And onto Kit’s present life where she wants to keeps her secrets just that.
This is certainly one to read for 2021. 5 stars – couldn’t give it any less!

Really, really liked this one. It is based on a mystery from WWII that was never solved...why did those women disappear for 4 days and what were they doing? This book tries to answer that question, and does it beautifully. Obviously we will never know the truth, but I think I prefer this version. This is a great novel of courage, sacrifice, and sisterhood and I highly recommend it.

We follow 4 American nurses in 1944, the bound they have, their individual reasons for joining, their courage, … and the 5 days they disappear and never told or could tell anyone until now. We follow “Kit” her story, her friends, all the way to a reunion many many years later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the letting me read this early in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a unique story line for a WWII Historical Fiction book! Four nurses who landed on the beach and are now working the front lines to save the lives of the wounded soldiers. Kit, Roxy and Red work long hours patching up soldiers to be evacuated when newcomer, Gail Barry, shows up to join them. The four nurses are sent on a mission to patch up some wounded soldiers that landed behind enemy lines.

The story is told in a now, 06/1989, and then, 09/1944, format when one of the nurses, Kit, answers a knock on her door to find a reporter who wants to do a story about her being a field nurse during the war for a reunion scheduled with other Army nurses. Kit wants nothing to do with him or the reunion as she has obviously suffered from severe PTSD all of these years. This is a fantastic read that will keep you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and surprises.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria Publishers for the ARC of this very interesting book that I could not put down in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a poignant, heartwarming read that would make a great movie. Its my first Andie Newton book but certainly won't be my last.
Kit, Red, Roxy and Gail are 4 American nurses working on the front line in battle hospitals during WW2. They are sent, with their Doctor, behind enemy lines to carry out a secret mission. Interspersed within the chapters are a few chapters in present time dedicated to Evelyn who is suffering from PTSD from what she witnessed and experienced. When a book makes me smile and cry I know I've read something that will stay with me
Many thanks to Andie for writing this masterpiece, Netgalley and publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Fans of historical fiction, you can’t miss this action-packed page turner!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Andie Newton’s first two books, The Girl I Left Behind and The Girl From Vichy and was really excited to get an early copy of The Girls From The Beach. I can tell you it lived up to my expectations and more and I’ve devoured in a weekend the emotional and dramatic story of Gail, Roxy, Red and Kit, four WWII American nurses. The characters leap off the page, the writing is immersive, and the action is nonstop in this gripping story of friendship, resilience, and determination. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Oh this book! From the moment I picked it up and read the first page I was hooked and it had my full attention until the very last word. I wanted to read it quickly but I also forced myself to put it down so I could really savour each step just a little bit longer.

We follow 4 loveable characters, Red, Kit, Roxy and Gloria, as they do their bit for the war effort as field nurses on the front lines. The story was a real eye opener to the sights, sounds, smells and every day life for these women. Seeing many unimaginable things that most of us will never endure in our lifetime and then having to move along to the next patient and carry on like nothing has happened.
This story was another amazing read from Andi Newton. Jammed packed with action, adventure and of course a real look at the repercussions (PTSD) the war had on these women. Something very real that they had to face every day for the rest of their lives.

An absolute 5 star read that I can’t recommend enough.
Thank you to Net Galley and Aria for the advanced copy.

A very good novel. The characters are well developed and the story is interesting. Good action scenes and guaranteed to keep your attention. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

‘We’d heard stories about the nurses in tent seven. A secret mission, stolen money, and spies…’

“In 1944, four American nurses disappeared for five days. No one knew what happened to them. Until now.”

Such a wonderfully unique read; mystery, adventure and romance against a WW2 backdrop. I read a lot of this genre, so it’s nice to have a refreshing look at this time in history. I read don’t recall ever reading a book about the Army Nurse Corp during the Normandy landings arriving on Utah Beach and working in a field hospital. Sound boring? It’s any thing but boring when Andie Newton pens the tale! One day 4 American nurses are asked to go on a secret mission to patch up a few men behind enemy lines. The experience has such a profound effect on them that they never forget it.

You’ll love the non-stop action; hotwiring a car while Nazis are nipping at their heels, taking cover with bodies to foil the enemy, walking into a Nazi military parade whilst in possession of stolen Nazi property, and tiptoeing through a minefield! These are just some of the adventures the girls face. Newton has stuffed the story with adrenaline rushing action. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails. The girls looked evil in the eye, felt its wrath and managed to dodge it so many times. I was completely immersed in the story from the first page. What a ride!

You’ll also love the masterful characterization. Kit, Red, Roxy and Gail will instantly make their way into your heart and you will genuinely care about what happens to them. Out of necessity the girls have formed a tight friendship and are fiercely loyal to each other and you’ll feel it as you read. I laughed with them. I cried with them. I didn’t want the book to end. The antagonists are fabulous, too. I loved to hate The Butcher and Crazy Gilda. Andie Newton has made sure we won’t forget her book any time soon!

I don’t think I’ll ever listen to Clair de Lune again without thinking of this spectacular read. This is a wonderful homage to the real nurses who served and reminds readers of their bravery and heroism. Newton sheds light on those who returned and suffered PTSD and the lack of support given to those who gave so much.

Congratulations to Andie Newton for your impressive research, amazing plotting and spectacular writing style; this one’s a winner!

This book will be right up there with my favourite reads of 2021!

Publishes July 8, 2021.

I was gifted this superb advance copy by Andie Newton, Aria & Aries, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I love historical fiction and this is a good one! I am also a retired nurse so this drew me in quickly. Four young nurses in WWII undergo a dangerous journey into Germany to retrieve a package that could affect the outcome of the war. Braverly, friendship and what it means to do your duty when called on are all covered in this book. Bravo to the author!

Wow! This is the first book I've read by this author but it definitely is not my last. What an amazing read. I would like to thank Net Galley, the author and publisher for the Arc of this incredible story.
Post WWII novel which is a beautiful tribute to the nurses and the large part they played in the nation's history. The characters are genuine and likable with a depth to their friendship drawn in part from necessity. The writing is
vivid, action packed and believable. The research impeccable. I really appreciate the passion that went into the telling of this story.

5*

Some books propel me into the thick of things immediately. I sure felt it here! It grabbed my heart and didn't let go the entire time. Dual timelines are fabulous if done well and are done superbly here. The first is 1944 France in the middle of WWII when four American nurses with completely different personalities are working with all they have on the front line and must often improvise and make tough decisions on the spot. Rules are broken often under war circumstances. But in war it is all about survival.

We catch more than just glimpses into the war zone as Kit, Red, Roxy and Gail swallow back mental and physical bile and perform amazing feats on their patients. The girls are fiercely loyal to each other and really show their mettle under duress, time and time again. The characters are believably flawed and the story itself seemed very realistic to me. What they went through!

The second timeline is forty years later as unbearable memories are brought to the surface by a journalist. For some talking about it understandably brings incredible fear. PTSD is depicted extremely well here. It is impossible to imagine the anguish and horror people suffered. But learning about it very important.

I always pay close attention to the author's inspiration for stories if applicable and was happy to read Andie Newton's take on inspirations including the Nazi war chest aspect. Unique storylines like this are breathtaking and well worth reading. I like that the horrors of war aren't glossed over and it is obvious the author's soul is in this book. So, I recommend it to ALL General Fiction, Historical Fiction and Women's Fiction readers.

My sincere thank you to Aries & Area and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful, wonderful book! I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I love when I read a historical fiction book and as soon as I sit it down, I have to research what I just read to learn more. That is exactly what happened when I read Andie Newton's The Girls From the Beach. I hesitated a little to read the book. It was such a sad time in our history and so many were lost on the beaches. Once I started I truly could not put it down, I was up all hours of the night finishing the story. I had shared so much with my husband, he asked the next morning if I had finished it and what I thought. I enjoy but sometimes get lost with a dual timeline. That did not happen with The Girls. This novel for me had everything. It has intrigue, suspense, history and such strong women with a forever friendship. There is a love story there as well, but not what you may be expecting. I think this is my favorite book so far this year.
I thank Aria & Aries through NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow! This book is incredible. It is gripping, heart-wrenching, and so much more. Whenever I picked up "The Girls from the Beach", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

This is the second book I have read by Andie Newton, and, she is truly one of my favorite authors. Her storytelling is riveting, and she brilliantly blends history and historical fiction. As the reader, I am immediately drawn into the story she is telling, and her characters all feel like such incredibly real people. Her character's fears, needs, wants, and desires are so clear that I feel like they are jumping off of the page right before my eyes. Furthermore, I can only begin to imagine the amount of research Ms. Newton must have done, as each and every aspect of this book felt so authentic, in both the past and contemporary time periods. She seamlessly blends her dual-timelines.

This book tells the story of four nurses during WWII. They save lives every single day, and endure, and see, so much horror. When they are sent on a secret mission to steal a chest from enemy territory, Kit, Red, Roxy, and Gail must face more unimaginable horrors, where they continue to find the strength in themselves, as well as in each other to continue forward. What happens affects them not only in the past (as it is happening to them), but in the future as well. I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, please read this book. There are parts of this book that are extremely difficult to read due to the atrocity of so much history that is displayed in it's pages. It also tells an incredible story of strength, determination, and friendship.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend this book. It had me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and many moments had me holding my breath. I can't wait to read what Ms. Newton writes next.

Thank you so much to to the author, Andie Newton, Aria, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Please Note: The author does deal with some heavy topics in this book, including many horrors of war and PTSD. I believe she handles them with great care, and it is so important that these stories be told.

The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A big thanks to @netgalley and @ariafiction for the ARC!

I love a book that pulls me in and makes me feel all the emotions. Told in two timelines (past and present), this book tells a story of female friendship, heroism, and the horrors of war. I was just as invested in the present as I was the past, and both timelines aided the story. I commend the author on bringing an awareness to PTSD. So often these books only show the horrors during the war but gloss over coming home.

I took it down half a star because while I know this is historical fiction, I felt like it might have been too fictionalized. The author’s note at the end explained her inspirations, but it didn’t seem like much of the plot was rooted in history. That was a bummer but still a great read.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced historical fiction filled with mystery that might make you ugly cry at the end, check this one out in July.

An absolutely stunning read. The multiple narratives were woven together seamlessly, and the characters so well drawn, I felt like I was watching a film in my mind as I read. Action packed storytelling, with an acute eye for details and obviously well researched - I was able to completely immerse myself in this story. An absolute page-turner - highly recommended.

I accidentally started posting a review on the wrong book! Will update with my review shortly!!!.....................

Title: The Girls from the Beach
Author: Andie Newton
Publisher: Aria

Review to be posted to retail sites such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble upon publication date on July 8, 2021 and Goodreads on April 19, 2021.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls from the Beach is a gritty novel from Andie Newton featuring four nurses in WWII. Red, Roxy, and Kit have seen some of the worst while nursing the wounded on the front lines of the war in France. Shortly after newcomer Gail joins their group, they are sent on a secret mission to help save some of their injured men who are hidden behind enemy lines. However, their job becomes far more complicated when they need to complete the original mission the men had- steal the Nazi war chest to prevent more men from being killed in the future. These four courageous girls are going to have to rely on each other to complete the task and keep faith that they will make it out alive.

I found this book riveting from the start. It was such an intense, fast paced novel with compelling characters and an intriguing mystery. All four girls have their own secrets and reasons for being in the war and none of them are even close to being perfect. They have all been hardened by seeing their soldiers injured, dying, or dead. They lie, steal, drink, smoke, and curse but they are all good women that save men every day and try to give them hope. These nurses are as strong, if not stronger, than the men they stitch up.

While the mission the girls are sent on is entirely fictional, it was so captivating I found I didn’t mind how Newton took such creative liberties with history. The horrors of war these women go through are atrocious and leaves the reader breathless, waiting to see how they will survive. While they don’t always get along and their personalities clash at times, the friendships the women build in this book are beautiful and essential to the story.

My only complaint with the book is the dual storyline that showed Kit, the nurse the story follows, in the future. I did enjoy that storyline and appreciated how Newton portrayed PTSD in nurses who served in WWII, however I was so invested in the past storyline that I felt jolted whenever it switched, almost like a commercial break. Also, the novel focuses on spies and secret missions so it is hard to trust some of the characters in the book. Newton does this intentionally but once a character is questionable it takes a lot for me to trust them again and while she redeems some of them successfully, there were some characters I still didn’t trust fully even though that wasn’t her intent.

The Girls from the Beach has become one of my favorite WWII historical fiction novels and I suggest it to anyone who enjoys this genre and is looking for an intense story of four brave women with a lot of heart.

Andie Newton has done it again! I really enjoyed her previous books, The Girl I Left Behind and The Girl From Vichy, so I was looking forward to this one and it does not disappoint. If anything, I think this is Andie Newton's best work so far.

The story is fast paced and exciting, and the characters are brilliantly drawn; I fell in love with all of them. The dual timeline was cleverly done, with just enough revealed along the way to stop it being confusing, but enough kept back for the finale, which made me cry (in a good way!).

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and WWII stories.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
First time reading this author, was slightly confused in the beginning but as the story went on it all became very clear extremely brave woman trying to save young lives during war time and now into days time they were suffering in more ways than they cared to say a poignant story full of action and excellent characters who played there parts so well I can highly recommend this beautiful book.

The Girls From the Beach
Andie Newton has written another winner. A wild ride of a book, laced with beautifully flawed characters, impeccable research, and a story that will make you cry with tears of joy and sorrow. A resounding five-star read!

I. Loved. This. Book.

Kit, Red, Roxy, & Gail were my friends immediately. I wanted these women to succeed. I laughed with them (a literal laugh out loud a few times); I cried with them; I was scared with them, and the ending left me SO freaking happy. Like, this isn't a romance, but it definitely has an HEA fit for the story.

Kit is so relatable right from the first page. A feisty, driven young woman in a traumatic and stressful environment, doing the absolute best she can and continuing to feel like she's hit her breaking point but knowing she cannot give up because if she does, her entire world (and potentially many others) will literally end. She and her friends/co-workers are the definition of heroines.

The story is so quick moving from page one that I was immersed in this story immediately and flew through the book in 2 nights. I didn't want it to end yet was so pleased with the way it did.

This author has proved with each book released that she is one to watch in the historical fiction genre. I for one will one click anything she writes from here on out.

P.S. - Dear Netflix: Throw your money at this author. I want to see The Girls from the Beach on the big screen.

The Girls from the beach by Andie Newton is a great WWII-era historical fiction that has it all: mystery, history, intrigue, suspense, and strong female characters.

I really enjoyed Ms. Newton’s previous book, The Girl from Vichy, so I really wanted to read her newest book. It is definitely a great read.

There is a snippet of a dual-timeline introduced to help aid in telling the gripping story of a wonderful cast of characters in the latter years of WWII. I really enjoyed how Ms. Newton slowly drew out the fascinating stories of Roxy, Gail, Kit, and Red and their harrowing journeys and tasks that they went through, I learned a bit more about the Nursing Corps during WWII that were working in the line of fire, and I really enjoyed that addition. The reader thinks they know what this book will be about in the beginning, but it sure does present some welcoming surprises. I loved most of all the suspense, the action, and the amazing twists and turns that truly impressed me. There were stressful moments, heartbreaking moments, but also heartwarming as well. I really, really loved the ending.

This book was so enjoyable, truly unique, and I most definitely recommend this to anyone that loves a great historical fiction novel and wants to be entertained. It definitely sets itself apart from the rest.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Aria & Aries for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/8/21.