Audrey Coltrane has always wanted two things: to fly planes and to buy the airfield where she learned to fly in Texas. Working as a civilian contractor for the military in Hawaii seems like a dream job, training pilots on military planes. Audrey and the other women she works and lives with are enjoying their time on the island, until December 7, 1941. Devastated and shaken by the attack on Pearl Harbor, she returns home. After a brief time lapse, Audrey joins the WASP program and trains to serve the US Army as a civilian, flying planes. The rest of the novel follows Audrey throughout her time in the WASP program and through to the end of the war in Europe, focusing on her relationships with her friends, family, and members of the military.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but want to issue a warning for historical fiction fans: if you read historical fiction for accuracy, or for the details of the time period, this may not be the book for you. A similar warning applies if you read fiction set during World War II for tales of derring-do and high-speed adventure. This isn’t that book. Instead, this is relationship fiction set against the backdrop of quasi-civilian life during World War II. There was enough action and adventure to speed the plot along and respect the real and sometimes life-threatening work that the members of WASP did, but it isn’t the point. There’s a romantic throughline, but much of it actually focuses on Audrey and her decisions about whether or not romance is something that she wants in her life. The meat of the story is Audrey’s relationships with her roommates, be it in Hawaii, the WASP training program, or her assignment after completing the program. Jaw-dropping plot twists need not apply, but the warmth and reality of the relationships Salazar writes for her characters will carry you through to the very last page of the book.

Final verdict: Recommended for historical fiction readers who can take a bit of inaccuracy in service of the story, and for readers looking for a relationship fiction novel that isn’t based on women with children or the end of a romantic relationship.

I received an ARC of this work from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I absolutely loved The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar! I instantly fell in love with the characters and could not put this book down. Salazar writes a wonderful historical fiction novel about the WASP (Women's Air-force Service Pilots). Throughout the story, Salazar painted a picture of the women and their service during World War II; whether surviving the attack of Pearl Harbor, giving flying lessons, or ferrying planes around the country, these women provided a service to their country when the men were overseas. Salazar has written a great novel and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her next book!

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin-MIRA through NetGalley.
Though there are some historical inaccuracies, the story pulls the reader in to the lives of women pilots during WWII. Told from first person perspective. Audrey Coltrane always wanted to fly. Her life goal is to purchase the airstrip in her hometown; relationships are not part of the plan.
The book starts in 1941 with her training military pilots in Hawaii. She meets a fellow pilot, James, and they establish a friendship though hints of wanting more come through clearly. Salazar tastefully takes her characters through the horror of the Pearl Harbor bombing and treats those killed with dignity.
From there, readers see Audrey move through grief and find methods of coping with life's stresses. The remainder of the book moves through her time in the Women Airforce Service Pilot program during the war. Her relationship with James develops through letters and silence. The obligatory decision about waiting for him or dating another man is handled realistically. James' plane crashes in Germany and the tension and fear come from Audrey waiting to hear about his fate. She also loses her best friend in a plane crash during this time. These losses bring the reader in to the time period as this was the norm during WWII.
Following the dissolution of the WASP program, she returns to run her airfield; feels called to go to France and search for James; comes to peace with him missing, and returns to run her airfield. James arrives after being found and healing physically.
The epilogue provides a brief summary of their life together and brings the reader to 1980 when their daughter becomes part of the first women graduating from the Air Force Academy.
A tender story with historical information woven through. The romance is secondary and does not overpower the main points.

What a stunning book from first-time author, Noelle Salazar. When I turned that final page, I couldn't help wanting more. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to such well-written characters. I will absolutely recommend this book be purchased at my library and all libraries! The Flight Girls would also be a wonderful book club pick!

A stunning book by this author. I love it when I learn about little-known history. These women were beautifully described and I hated for the book to end. What a wonderful picture of courageous women! A must read for book clubs with so much to discuss.

I didn’t want to put this one down! The characters were so real, and the situations were amazing, yet completely believable. There were no long feminist rants, but the inequality is prominent in the writing which added to the story instead of distracting like is often the case.

A pleasant book with an engaging story and likeable characters. The agony of war and its many losses are juxtaposed along side the interior struggles of the main character, Audrey. Both ring true and give you plenty to keep you turning the pages to the end.

This book was so good. I already told all of my friends about it. It was moving in the best ways! I wept and laughed and read it twice! The characters were believable and like able. I was rooting for “Dallas” the whole way through!. My only complaint is that it was too short! I loved it. Loved it. Loved it!