This was my first time reading Jenni Walsh’s work and what a beautiful story! I’m always drawn to historical fiction, especially those set during World War II, and learning about the Women’s Royal Navy Service (the “Wrens”) was such a treat. I never even knew they existed and what an incredible group of women! I really enjoyed learning about their jobs as dispatch motorcycle riders during the war, but one of my favorite parts was learning about the women who took care of the carrier pigeons that relayed important intel during wartime. I loved all of the characters, even the secondary characters, because they each contributed something special to the book. You get so much with The Call of the Wrens - romance, suspense, drama, joy, heartache, etc. And I can’t say enough great things about the narrator, Fiona Hardingham. I absolutely adore her voice and accents.

The only thing that distracted me about this audiobook was the pronunciation of Evelyn (Ev-lin) as Eve-lin. Yes, it’s a minor thing, but it kept throwing me off, especially since my mother’s name is Evelyn, and I’ve never heard it pronounced any other way than Ev-lin. Regardless, it certainly wouldn’t stop me from recommending this book because it’s such a wonderful and thought-provoking story. I can’t recommend it enough, and I look forward to reading more of Jenni Walsh’s work in the very near future.

Jenni L. Walsh really delivered a heartbreakingly beautiful story in this dual timeline, dual perspective historical novel. We hear the story from both Marion and Evelyn. Marion joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the WRENS, in World War I becoming she felt like she had no other options. She was an amazing, compassionate, strong, courageous woman and I enjoyed reading the chapters told from her perspective. Evelyn joined because she wanted to avoid being sent to finishing school and her mother’s plans for her life. I truly found both timelines and heroines to be truly inspiring. Marion and Evelyn had completely different backgrounds but still had so much in common. They were both underestimated and had lived lonely childhoods. I hadn’t been aware that there had been a group of women motorcycle messengers in World War I and II, but this book had me absolutely fascinated. I, also, thought it was interesting that there was a character who served in both wars. Walsh did such an amazing job with bringing this part of history alive. She portrayed the loneliness that the characters felt as they were separated from their families and the bonds of sisterhood that formed with the other Wrens. It was very obvious that she did an incredible amount of research.

Occasionally, I will search through Netgalley to see if an author I haven't read in a while has a new book (or perhaps missed). I remembered enjoying Ace, Marvel, Spy, and even though that came out just a few months ago, I still wanted to check to see if there was anything new.

I didn't find any new books, but I did see an older book by Walsh that was still available as an audiobook. I was in between audiobooks, which I took as a sign that I should listen to it. And I'm glad that I did.

I love WWII fiction. I actually stopped reading for a while, though, because every book I picked up felt too similar - like authors were just recycling the same story. Then, a few years ago, I dipped my toe back in and was pleasantly surprised to find books delving into events and people that I had never read before.

That's the case with The Call of the Wrens. I've read books where the Women's Royal Navy is mentioned, I can't remember reading a book focused on the WRNs, and I definitely had not read anything about motorcycle dispatchers. I found it very interesting.

This is sort of a dual timeline novel as we get alternating chapters between Marion and Evelyn. Marion served as in the WRN in the Great War (WWI) and Evelyn is serving in the WRN in WWII. The two storylines converge as Marion rejoins the WRNS during WWII.

Even though we get the character (Marion or Evelyn) and the year at the start of the chapters, I was still a little confused as I didn't realize that Marion was serving during WWI in the earlier chapters. But once I did, things made much more sense, and I didn't feel confused anymore. The narrator, Fiona Hardingham, had distinct voices for each of the characters, so I had no problems telling the characters apart.

I didn't really connect with the characters, and while there are a lot of historical elements to the story, it is a character-driven story, and it is really about the relationships of the characters. I didn't enjoy it as much as Ace, Marvel, Spy, but it is still a good book. If you are a fan of WWII fiction and missed this book, it is worth picking up.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Friday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/06/the-call-of-wrens-by-jenni-l-walsh.html

What a great story of the strong women who helped fight the war by carrying secrets through Europe.

Featuring dual timelines and dual narratives, with great pacing, and all the emotions!

*many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the gifted copy for review.

A great book by Jenni Walsh that touches on the lesser known jobs of women who joined the WRENS during WWI and WWII. Marion and Evelyn were the main characters in this story and trained as motorcycle dispatch riders. Both showed the trials that women faced serving during the war and the friendships they made while there. Really enjoyed the dual narrative and the author's note at the end.

While this one had what felt like a meandering pace, I still enjoyed learning about yet another group of amazing women who served in both World War I and World War II. I don't know why it continues to surprise me how many different ways women served during war time and yet were never mentioned in the history books I read or the classes I took. In any case, the dual timelines in this story dovetailed nicely, and the narrator of the audio version did a fair job of differentiating the characters with different accents. However, there were still numerous times when I got confused about which timeline I was in. Overall, it was a good read, well worth my time.

I absolutely loved the audio version of Call of the Wrens, by Jenni L. Walsh, and expertly narrated by Fiona Hardingham. It is a dual story line of two remarkable women, one from World War 1 and another from World War 2. The first story is told from the perspective of Marion, who was orphaned as a baby but grew up to love motorcycles and adventure and became part of the Women’s Royal Naval Service—the Wrens — during WWI.

The other story is from the perspective of Evelyn, who grew up a privileged only child who also was born with a bum leg. However, Evelyn loved to drive fast and eventually joined the Wrens during WWII without her parents knowledge. Both women face countless adversities and overcome all of them. I especially enjoyed the end of the book when they come face to face and get to know each other more personally. The writing was engaging, heartfelt, and well paced, and the narration was simply sublime!

It's been a few weeks since I finished this story and I'm still thinking about it! Do yourself a favor and pick up and listen to this incredible novel!

Told through dual timelines, The Call of the Wrens is a moving, richly woven story of love, sacrifice, and resilience spanning both World Wars. Fiona Hardingham’s narration is pitch-perfect, skillfully shifting between time periods and voices, bringing emotional depth and nuance to each character. Her performance enhances the listening experience, making this a standout audiobook.
The story begins during World War II with Evelyn Fairchild, a privileged young woman chafing under her mother’s control and determined to contribute to the war effort. Despite personal health challenges, she joins the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), defying expectations and forging her own path.
Parallel to Evelyn’s journey is that of Marion Hoxton, whose earlier story unfolds in the lead-up to World War I. Orphaned and raised in charity schools, Marion’s only solace is a worn copy of Jane Eyre and her bond with Eddie Smith, a charming younger classmate. When Marion enlists in the WRNS at eighteen, Eddie follows her—falsifying his age so they can marry in secret. Marion becomes a daring motorcycle dispatch rider and is later stationed at the front to deliver carrier pigeons. Their brief reunion has lasting consequences, including Marion’s heartbreaking decision to give up her child for adoption.
Two decades later, Marion returns as a WRNS trainer and crosses paths with Evelyn, drawing the two storylines together in a deeply satisfying and emotional conclusion.
Beyond its compelling plot, The Call of the Wrens offers fascinating historical detail—particularly the use of carrier pigeons in WWI—and sheds light on the vital but often overlooked contributions of women in wartime. While the book is grounded in history, it will also resonate strongly with fans of historical romance thanks to its tender emotional arcs and enduring love story. This is a gripping blend of history, courage, and heart, The Call of the Wrens is beautifully told and beautifully performed.

This story is about two women, decades apart, it's both their stories.

Marion was an orphan with no home. She found herself a life and found family when she joined the Wrens in WWI. She rode her motorcycle in dangerous times, trained pigeons to help the soldiers on the front line, and even briefly fell in love.

Years later, Evelyn's story begins. She was lucky to be born into a rich household and had a good upbringing, but she had to fight her own battles from a young age as she was born with a disability. She decides to prove to not only herself but others and joins the Wrens during WWII that she can do it.

As their stories pan out, their stories reveal themselves, and gradually, they meet, and the are secrets and twists you wouldn't believe.

This book is about more than war. Although this story is obviously about war, it's also about found family, belonging somewhere, love, and loss. It's also about women who are brave and strong, wanting to serve and defend.

This was such a good book. I rooted for the characters throughout and was so pleased with the ending and outcome.

Marion Horton left the orphanage to join the newly created WRENS during the First World War. She found purpose and love but also pain and sadness. Her husband was killed and she could not raise her children, who was adopted. Come the second war she returned to the service to train the young ladies to be dispatched riders. Life had new meaning again.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good,strong characters in this well paced novel. Wars are not easy for anyone and lives are hard and can be lost, but lifelong relationships can be formed too.

The audiobook for "The Call of the Wrens" was a well done dual timeline book featuring two women in the British Military service called the "WRENS". They are both women who have struggled in individual ways but were called to serve their countries during WWI and WWII. As the story unfolds I was drawn into their strengths, struggles and love they showed for those around them.

I really liked that this book was a women's fiction - it has some romance but nothing in the bedroom on the page. The book really focuses on the two main characters - Marion and Evelyn who are motorcycle dispatch riders. Their wartime experiences and strength of female bonds they form with other WRENS were amazing to read about. Everything they've dealt with in their lives and the way the book's story intertwines at the end made for a great story.

I liked the narration and this is a narrator I would listen to in future audiobooks.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks for an opportunity to listen to an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's been awhile since I found a historical fiction novel that piqued my interest like #thecallofthewrens. If you are a fan of realistic books in this genre then I definitely recommend that you lean into #JenniLWalsh. Love, loss, hope, dispair... this book captured it all which truly feels like the only appropriate option for a book set in the World War era. I found myself finishing the book satisfied which is basically a badge of honor for a story that was set in a period of death and destruction. Walsh successfully captures the accuracy of the historical elements without subsequently watering down the gravity but making it light and fluffy. I definitely recommend.

An amazing historical fiction about the women during the war and their magnificent contributions, sacrifices and courage.
A compelling read and the main characters are inspiringly selfless and courageous. I really enjoyed listening to the book and the narrator did an excellent job.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Harper Muse Audiobooks.

Not my normal read but I absolutely loved this book. The story is so good and when i started connecting the dots between the two women’s stories I loved it even more. The story line and characters were so well written. Definitely worth the read.

Solid historical fiction about about the WRNS during WWI and WWII, I definitely did some research on my own since I wanted to learn more about their fascinating history. The 2 main characters were well written and both stories held my interest. A bit uneven pacing though: some places in the book dragged a bit, while other main events were skimmed over quickly. I listened to the audiobook and I am not a fan of the narrator's male voices so it was a little hard to listen to at times.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.

This book starts out with Marion, an orphan who has never had a home or a family. She's now old enough to enroll in the Great War and becomes a part of the WRENS (Women's Royal Naval Services) where she feels as she finally belongs. She's a motorcycle dispatch rider who delivers messages to the front lines, along with carrier pigeons. Fast forward 20 years she's called back to WWII. This is where we also meet Evelyn, who has a disability but is determined to become a WREN motorcycle dispatcher. I love how this story evolves, and it's based on real life experiences. Another must read!!

"The Call of the Wrens" by Jenni L. Walsh is a historical fiction novel that follows the lives of two women—Marion and Evelyn—who serve as motorcycle dispatch riders in the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens) during World War I and World War II. The story is told in alternating narratives, weaving themes of love, war, resilience, and secrets.

The audiobook version has been praised for its emotional depth and engaging storytelling. Reviews highlight the compelling character development and the vivid depiction of wartime experiences. If you're interested in historical fiction with strong female protagonists, this might be a great listen for you!

I will admit that it wasn't until around 60ish percent of the way through the book that I realized Marion's perspective was during WWI. I only skimmed the synopsis (as per usual), so the twist in this story made me gasp. It had me sit down and reassess the entire book, and I kind of loved that.

This is a story about creating a family. I adored both the leads and thought they were very well written. I knew that women helped with the war effort in a variety of ways, but this was the first time I'd ever heard of the Wrens. I enjoyed learning more about this part of the war and what these women did to help the Allied powers win.

Thank you NetGalley for this absolutely BEAUTIFUL and Captivating read! I was looking for something to get me out of my reading slump, and this did it!!! Two times lines converge in this story, and when I was done, it left me wishing the book hadn't ended. I didn't know about the WRENS, and their place in both of the World Wars, and did some additional digging to learn more. Funny how they were even sort of featured in another well known story, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together because they were not the main focus.

The Call of the Wrens is a gut-wrenching tale about two women in the Women’s Royal Navy Service and what it means to serve and sacrifice. Initially, I was more invested in Marion’s story as she was an orphaned child who valued her role in the Wrens but I also loved Evelyn’s drive to, well, drive. Evelyn grew up with everything but derived meaning and value from her service as well.

I love the way Fiona Hardingham narrated this novel and was able to bring subtle differences to the dual timelines. Thank you to Harper Muse Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!