Stories about the Harvey House Restaurant's are always ones that make me excited to read. Mainly the ones I read are the ones where a woman wants to escape her old life that she decides to do something that she has never done before. I will admit that it does sound like the same tale but in reality it is not as each story is unique in their own way. This novel was a unique one because there was excitement at every corner and I am thrilled that I was given the opportunity to read this book. Kudos to the author to adding in information on the life of Fred Harvey and his business ventures.
The story is set in the 1920's and first we are introduced to Charlotte who is stuck in abusive marriage. She decides that maybe getting a job at the Harvey house will hopefully keep her hidden to prevent her husband from finding her. Along the way she meets Billie who is from a large family who got the job to help support them. They butt heads at first but learn to get along over time.
They manage to make it through training but things start to crumble when Charlotte's husband finds her. Thankfully her managers manage to handle the situation by transferring to the Harvey House at the Grand Canyon. Eventually Billie ends up joining her there and they dutifully do their jobs while discovering the hidden secrets of Arizona.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own

WOW!!

I loved this book. I loved every part of it. I was interested in the book because I grew up watching and loving The Harvey Girls movie. Last year we went to the Harvey Girls museum in the Grand Canyon, and I loved the story of how these girls completely left the lives they knew to work in a restaurant.

This book provides a glimpse into the training that the girls underwent while learning the process. As the reader, we mainly follow Billie (age 15) and Charlotte. Billie didn't really want to join, but her family needed the money, and as the oldest, this was the best way to make money to send home. Charlotte is running from adult issues. She is married (a Harvey Girl cannot be married) and is running away. We learn the rest of her story, as this one unfolds.

I am recommending this book to all my readers and my book club because it is STELLAR!!!

I loved the Harvey Girls movie with Judy Garland, so I was thrilled to take part in this tour for Fay and Get Red PR.
We follow Charlotte and Billie as they become Harvey Girls. Harvey Girls are women who serve as waitresses, parenting with the Santa Fe railroads. The restaurants are placed by the railroads and they are known for their quick services, steaks and wonderful service.
The ladies are from very different backgrounds and have their own reasons for joining The Harvey Girls. They end up roommates, but are not friends.
I love the history behind The Harvey Girls while giving women a career where they can manage on their own during the early 1900’s. I truly enjoyed this novel.
I will be looking for more of this authors work. Thank you Get Red PR for having me on tour.
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I loved this read, from beginning to end, it was a page turner for me.
I find Fred Harvey's restaurants interesting, and it did provide, at the time, rather well paying jobs for these young women. This story takes place mainly at his elite El Tovar Hotel, at the Grand Canyon, and in 1926 we rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
We are with two young women whom are desperate for jobs, and both have reasons to flee and want jobs. Two different background, one with the silver spoon, and the other helping her family that is just barely getting by. We are there for their training, and then for their next destination.
You will feel like your at the canyon, and traveling the roads there, and this is long before dramamine!
This read included some sweet romance, friendship, along with some danger.
I loved that we are gifted with a final chapter in this read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Harvey Girls is a charming and nostalgic glimpse into a pivotal moment in American history, highlighting the women who helped civilize the Wild West. The story blends romance, adventure, and cultural change with warmth and a touch of humor. While the characters sometimes feel idealized, the film’s heart and historical significance shine through. Overall, it's an enjoyable watch that offers both entertainment and a unique perspective on a forgotten chapter of the past.

I had never heard of the Havey Girls so that was an interesting bit of history to learn about. This is a cute story involving a couple of Harvey Girls and what it might have been like to take that journey, The characters were likable.

I really enjoyed this fictionalized tale of the Harvey Girls! The tale of Billie, Charlotte, Leif and Will was very compelling and interesting. The ending section was especially poignant and I was glad the author included it. Be sure to read the afterword from the author!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this ebook arc to read. All opinions are my own

I LOVE Juliette Fay's writing, and I so enjoyed this new title, The Harvey Girls. I did not know much about the Harvey Girls, beyond the Judy Garland movie which I saw as a little girl. This was so interesting to me to find out about the restaurants and the growth of tourism in the Southwest. Fay always creates unforgettable and unique characters, and this novel centered around two of them.
Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction and stories of strong women!
Thank you for my review galley!
Full review posting on my blog closer to Pub Day.

This was an enjoyable, quick read. I'm shocked that I had never heard about this little part of our history before this book. I had to watch some things about Harvey House restaurants and The Harvey Girls on YouTube after reading this book.

In 1926, Charlotte and Billie are both hired at the same time to work as Harvey Girls who were waitresses at the Harvey House restaurants along the Santa Fe railroad. Charlotte is escaping her abusive husband. Billie, who's only 15, is acting as an older girl, and working to make money for her poor family. The girls are as opposite as could be, but they grow to become friends through their job. The rules they had to follow were very strict and I found those details so interesting. They were paid well and it gave them the opportunity for travel.

I loved the setting and descriptions of the Harvey houses and the traveling during the 20's. I love reading about that time period in books, and haven't found many of them.
I liked reading about these characters and getting the stories of their lives and there's even some romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I adored this hiatoeical.movel! I learned so much through the eyes of the Harcey Girls as they worked the restaurant tables at depots and continued the legacy of Fred Harvey. This novel is one not to be missed.

A Historical Fiction about the Harvey Girls – waitresses at the Fred Harvey restaurants and hotels in the Southwest United States during the train era. The story focuses on Charlotte Crowninshield, who is escaping a violent marriage, and Billie MacTavish, a 15-year-old pretending to be 18—the required age for Harvey girls.

The novel illustrates their personal struggles, daily work challenges, and the adventure of living in the West during the mid-1920s. It is rich in historical detail, exploring Native American relations, 1920s job expectations for women, and the social landscape of the time.
Juliette Fay has crafted a fascinating story about friendship, hope, and the lives of working women in the 1920s. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in just a few days. I highly recommend this book. Five stars!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved the book. Five stars.

This novel tells the story of a little known part of our history. The Harvey girls were hospitality women found at Sante Fe Railroad rest stops as people traveled across the southwest. Fred Harvey had a vision for his business with strict rules for the wait staff. When he passed the tradition carried on. Juliette Fay tells the story of two women with different backgrounds and well guarded secrets who joined this group of women in the 1920’s. Charlotte and Billie were as different as could be and were thrown together as roommates. The story incorporates the time period with its history of the KKK and the treatment of Indians to name a few. The friendships developed between all the Harvey girls as they live and support each other through the rules and regulations of the business as well as their personal lives. Of course there’s romance to spice it up along with some domestic violence! Well drawn characters as the author brings their lives full circle. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions are truly my own.
#TheHarveyGirls #NetGalley #JulietteFay

Charlotte and Billie join the Harvey Girls on the same day. Charlotte, born into a wealthy socialite family, is running from domestic violence. Billie, the oldest of nine children, is forced to work to help support her family. The two are thrown together from the start and immediate clash.

This was an intriguing and quick read. I thought the history of the Harvey Girls was fascinating. I think if I lived during that time I might have been a Harvey Girl myself! The book touched upon issues of domestic violence, but also showed how the girls banded together to protect their own. I thought the camaraderie of the women was heartwarming. Overall, the book was well written and well paced. 5 out of 5 stars

Wow! What a book! Juliette Fay has a best seller on her hands. This is the incredible story of Billie and Charlotte, two women, actually one woman and one girl, who become Harvey Girls and friends. It is written in such a wonderfully clear way, that Ms. Fay grabbed me on the first sentence. They meet the men they fall in love with, and so much more happens and they get to travel the country on trains! The book begins in 1926 and goes up to the 1990's. It is truly a wonderful story, sort of coming of age, sort of coming to life. It culminates in the best ending....Highly recommended reading! I LOVED IT!

The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay

It's 1926 and Charlotte Crowninshield has been shunned by her well off, high society Boston family. Her parents didn't even want her to attend college and Charlotte made things worse by falling for her professor once there. Caught in his web of flattery that later turned to violence, Charlotte is now on the run from her cruel husband, with no where to turn. Billie MacTavish's family is so poor that her mother is making her lie about her age so she can get a job making more than she could anywhere else in order to send the money back to her large family of parents and eight siblings.

Both Charlotte and Billie begin their training to be Harvey Girls so they could work in the late Fred Harvey's restaurants and hotels. I wasn't aware of Harvey Girls until this story and I know these jobs were a blessing for women who wanted/needed work during a time when there were very few career choices that were not looked down upon, for the working woman. Charlotte and Billie could not be more different but they are thrown together as roommates, work mates, and thorns in each other's sides while being expected to follow extremely precise and strict rules to remain employed as Harvey Girls.

Both are breaking rules from the very beginning. Harvey Girls are expected to be single and remain single and they are supped to be between the ages of 18-30. Charlotte's hope is that she will be sent to a work site that will get her off the radar of her abusive husband who is trying to hunt her down. Billie must keep this job because her family desperately needs the money and the food it will provide. Charlotte can't help being jealous of the fact that Billie comes from a large, loving family and Billie feels insecure around Charlotte's obvious education and high society manners. But soon, both women know they can depend on the other in ways they never expected.

I like both women and enjoyed the story. Charlotte jumped from one domineering situation to another with her ill fated relationship. Billie would never leave her family if they could survive with her staying at home but she's carrying a heavy burden of being their most important source of income when she's too young for the job and terribly homesick. Once the women move on from their training site they end up at the El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon. Here, through the characters, we learn about the plight of the earliest inhabitants of this area and what had been done to take over the national park area. There is a lot of history throughout the story and it's interesting to see these women find freedom in the midst of all the Harvey Girls rules that they must follow.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Book Review: The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay

Set in 1926, The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay transports readers to the lively era of post–World War I America, a time of hope, travel, and transformation. Drawing inspiration from Fred Harvey’s iconic restaurants and hotels along the railroad lines—popularized in part by the song “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe”—Fay tells the heartwarming story of two young women, Billie and Charlotte, who become Harvey Girl waitresses.

Both women arrive with personal struggles but grow through their experiences, finding purpose and friendship along the way. The novel offers rich details of their daily work, interactions with tourists, and the challenges of life in the Southwest, including nuanced references to Native cultures and the social expectations of the time. A subtle thread of Christian faith adds depth without overpowering the story.

Fay’s engaging prose and attention to historical detail make this a charming and insightful read. The Harvey Girls is perfect for those looking for a light yet meaningful summer novel that celebrates resilience, friendship, and the spirit of a bygone era.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy. This is my honest review.

I was given this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.



(5)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1926: Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of the finest Boston society families. Now she’s on the run from a brutal husband, desperate to disappear into the wilds of the Southwest. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants in Nebraska. She quit school in the sixth grade to help with her mother’s washing and mending business, but even that isn’t enough to keep the family afloat.

Desperate, both women join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Hired on the same day, they share three things: a room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each has a secret that will certainly get them fired.

Through twelve-hour days of training in Topeka, Kansas, they learn the fine art of service, perfecting their skills despite bouts of homesickness, fear of being discovered, and a run-in with the KKK. When they’re sent to work at the luxurious El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, the challenges only grow, as Billie struggles to hide her young age from would-be suitors, and Charlotte discovers the little-known dark side of the national park’s history.
My Take



The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay is a captivating novel that transports readers to the early 20th century, exploring the lives of a group of women who worked as waitresses at the Harvey Houses along the Santa Fe Railway. These women, known as the "Harvey Girls," were part of an innovative program that offered work and independence to women in a time when such opportunities were scarce. Fay’s novel highlights their bravery, resilience, and the impact they had on shaping the American West.

The story centers around the character of Charlotte, a young woman who heads out to New Mexico to take a position at the Harvey House. As she adapts to her new life, she is forced to confront her past while finding a sense of belonging in a community of other Harvey Girls, especially Billie, Charlotte's best friend. Fay’s writing is rich and evocative, capturing the beauty and harshness of the desert landscape while delving deep into the emotional lives of the characters.

One of the novel's strongest aspects is its portrayal of the camaraderie among the Harvey Girls. These women form lasting bonds and friendships as they navigate the challenges of their work and personal lives. The historical context is seamlessly woven into the narrative, making it not only a story of personal growth and connection but also a look at the larger cultural shifts of the era.

I’d wholeheartedly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in strong female characters and the American West. It’s a wonderful mix of history, romance, and character-driven storytelling. Definitely a five-star read!



About the Author




Juliette Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels, including City of Flickering Light and the USA TODAY bestseller The Tumbling Turner Sisters. A graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, she lives in Massachusetts. Visit her at JulietteFay.com.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay is an intriguing story about family, love, friendship, loyalty and survival. Set in the 1920's it takes you through a friendship that develops over time.

Charlotte is well born. Living in Boston, she makes some pretty grave mistakes. She takes a job as a Harvey Girl. a safe place to hide from the violence that has kept her a prisoner for the last two years. Billie is the oldest of nine to a poor working class family. She lies about her age so she can earn money to send home. The friendship they develop is sweet and heartwarming. The strength and weaknesses of the characters allowed me to glimpse into their hearts and lives. An excellent summer read.

Thank you Net Galley for providing a ecopy. All opinions are my own.

THE HARVEY GIRLS by Juliette Fay is a fascinating and fun tale. I had been aware of the benefits of the Harvey House restaurants for train travelers, but I hadn’t thought of the rare and precious opportunity they presented for employees with decent pay, security, and independence. Hard work, but well compensated, a rarity, and for many an escape and/or a way to help families back home. A business model built on treating workers well — commendable and worth emulating.
I loved the building of friendships and loyalties, facing troubles and danger together, and learning of others’ ways, including often overlooked cultures. The final chapter was a lovely summing up of later years, the “wonder what happened” that a reader desires when the connection to characters is strong.
There was a special treat in the reappearance of beloved friends from previous books. It’s not necessary to have read them first, but there is time to do so before August should you wish. ;-)