The Call of the Wrens explores the WRNS (Women’s Royal Navy Service) and their role in both the First and Second World Wars. This dual-timeline aspect was very well done and I found both Marion and Evelyn's stories compelling. Both women endured hardships and danger as they worked to help Britain during wartime, as well as facing challenges prior to joining the service. Many people's stories vary as to why they join to serve. Marion has lived in orphanages for as long as she can remember. She was given a birth date because no one knows when she was born; she was given the last name because no one knows what her last name really is. She hasn’t spoken in fourteen years, and she has no friends so she has no need to talk, that is until she lands in St. Anne’s Orphanage. Marion is there for almost four years and just when she thinks this may be her forever home, she is told she has to leave because she turns eighteen. This is where her best friend, Eddie, comes in. Marion met Eddie while she was at St Anne’s and they became inseparable. Even though he is supposedly a year younger than her, when she has to leave, he leaves also. Marion goes to sign up for the Women’s Royal Naval Service – WRENS – so that she can have shelter and food. Eddie signs up for service also so that they can stay together. The plot has plenty of surprises, and the history of these heroic women is fascinating. A this is a tale filled with hope and determination.
There are multiple twists and turns in this story of survival, love, and finding your own way in a dangerous world. It was a good read. My thanks to Harper Muse, the author and NetGalley

A vivid story of love, grief, bravery, determination, family secrets, sisterhood, purpose, duty and loyalty. Told in alternating timelines during the two World Wars and featuring two very strong female characters, Marion and Evelyn, who display dedication to their work and their calling as Wrens. These women are woven together through their military service - this is a powerful twist in the story and not without its complications.

The audio narration is excellent and hooked me in from the very beginning. I could really sense the tensions and emotions felt by the characters. The Call of the Wrens is a genuinely interesting, enjoyable and well-researched novel.

The Women’s Royal Naval Service, commonly known as the Wrens, is perhaps a forgotten part of history. The women’s branch of the UK Royal Navy was formed in 1917; disbanded in 1919; revived at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 and remained active until it was integrated into the Royal Navy in 1993. A number of years ago, I worked alongside a former Wren - she had served in Malta and her stories were truly fascinating. The Wrens and their service deserve to be acknowledged and remembered - thank you to Jenni L. Walsh for doing exactly that through this novel.

I received an audio copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Call of the Wrens was such a powerful listen. I loved learning about the women of the Women’s Royal Naval Service—this story brought their bravery and sacrifice to life in such a moving way.

The dual timelines were woven together beautifully, and Fiona Hardingham’s narration was absolutely top-notch. She added so much emotion and personality to the characters—I didn’t want to stop listening!

Highly recommend this one if you enjoy historical fiction, strong female leads, and a great audiobook

The Call of the Wrens in a work of Historical Fiction that tell the story of two women during the two World Wars. They both join a group of British servicewomen called the Wrens. This is a powerful story about war and survival of two interesting characters. I also think this book is full of a fantastic assortment of side characters. I am picky when it comes to World War II novels, but for me this one was the perfect fit. It had the perfect balance of light and dark and of character moments and plot. I just think this was a fantastic story and I would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the title, cover, setting, characters, voice, and narrator. I was emotionally invested, listening to it at bedtime a couple of nights, and staying awake because I wanted to find out what happened. I got me a bit weepy in spots. Walsh did a fantastic job weaving the stories and timelines together. I’ll be looking for more book from Walsh and Hardingham (the narrator). Thank you, Harper Muse, for this audio book.

Wow! This was so good. As a lover of historical fiction, this one stood out. I did not know about the Wrens. This author crafted a heartfelt story around them that kept my interest from start to finish. 5 stars!

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperMuse Audiobooks for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC for review. All opinions are entirely my own.

Interesting story about the female WRENS in WWI and II which I knew nothing about. Jenni Walsh did some in depth research about the motorcycle dispatch riders that transported carrier pigeons to the front lines of the wars.

Narrators Fiona Hardingham and Amanda Sanfilippo do a great job. A solid 4.5 stars rounded up and recommended for those who like a different take on the war.

The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh is an extraordinary novel that beautifully weaves together themes of family, secrets, resilience, and redemption. From the very first page, I was drawn into a richly layered story that kept me captivated until the final word. The story centers around three women—Elizabeth, her daughter Lily, and her granddaughter Violet—whose lives are intricately connected across different time periods. Elizabeth’s narrative is set during the tumultuous years of World War II, where she navigates love, loss, and the sacrifices made in the face of war. Her story reveals hidden family secrets and the courage it took to survive and protect loved ones. Lily’s story unfolds during the 1970s, as she uncovers her mother’s past and struggles with her own identity and relationships. Meanwhile, Violet, in present day, seeks to understand her family’s history and finds strength in the stories passed down through generations. What truly moved me was Walsh’s masterful storytelling—the way she paints each era with vivid detail and emotional depth. The symbolism of the wrens—a symbol of hope, resilience, and freedom—permeates the novel, echoing the characters’ journeys toward healing and self-discovery. The characters are incredibly authentic, each wrestling with their own fears, secrets, and desires. Elizabeth’s resilience during wartime, Lily’s quest for understanding, and Violet’s courage to confront her family’s past all resonated deeply with me. The author skillfully explores themes of generational trauma, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family, reminding us that even in the darkest times, hope can take flight like the call of the wrens. The plot twists and revelations kept me eagerly turning pages, but it was the emotional honesty and lyrical prose that truly touched my soul. The ending offers both closure and a sense of ongoing hope—a beautiful reminder that our roots shape us, but we also have the power to forge our own paths. The Call of the Wrens is a heartfelt, inspiring read that celebrates the resilience of women and the enduring power of love across generations. I wholeheartedly give it five stars and recommend it to anyone who loves historical family sagas infused with emotional depth and hope.

I love Women's Historical Fiction, especially those involving WWI and WWII, so I started this one immediately upon receiving it from Harper Muse. It definitely did not disappoint! The alternating narratives through time were well done by Jenni Walsh, and I was throughly invested in all characters (especially Pigeon #486. To me, everything was believable and I was really appreciative of the real life women mentioned as Walsh's inspiration at the end of the book.

I like that the book starts in the "present" (during WWII) with foreshadowing regarding the past, and then goes back to the origins of our characters and we grow with them to WWI. Learning about the WRNS with the women was really empowering, especially since they received little recognition in history books (at least from what I remember from my schooling). These women volunteered to enlist and did so many jobs to further the war efforts and hasten the end - including being motorcycle dispatch riders who trained and delivered carrier pigeons on the front lines.

"She imagined each advancement of the typewriter as a tiny progression toward the war's end." Goosebumps.

The audiobook narrator, Fiona Hardingham, was amazing. I had that written twice in my notes, clearly once was not quite enough. Since I was listening to the audiobook mostly while driving to/from work, I couldn't pay a lot of attention to the dates mentioned at the beginning of the chapters. I think it made the "journey" more fun though. Hardingham's inflections throughout made the story even more intense than had I been reading it on my own. Certain pieces of the text gained more emphasis, and the raw emotion in her voice when she said "I'll take care of him" absolutely broke me (along with several other parts).

I'm a fan of both Walsh and Hardingham now, and will be seeking out more of their work in future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this audio ARC.

Marion and Eddie are best friends who grew up in the same orphanage. On the Eve of WWI, they promised to stay together no matter what. So, Marion joins the Wrens as a typist, and Eddie becomes a dispatch rider. It isn't long before their friendship blossoms into something more. But WWI is tragic and sorrowful, and life doesn't always go as planned. Flash forward to WWII, and Marion has been dragged into a life she never wanted again. Evelyn is young and eager to prove herself, until she ran away to join the Wrens, she lived a sheltered life, protected and made to believe that because of a birth defect long ago corrected. Soon, Marion and Evelyn are butting heads and discovering their lives are more intertwined than they could imagine.
This novel is thrilling and beautiful, portraying life during WWI and WWII and the brave women who served their country. This novel is perfect for anyone looking for a great historical fiction novel with romance, adventure, and more than just a little heartache.

3.5 rounded up - a solid read, though not particularly memorable. The characters were well-drawn and likable, and the dual timelines moved along smoothly, making it an accessible and engaging story. It’s a quick, enjoyable read—even if it doesn’t linger long after the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harpermuse for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I like-not-loved this one so much; there is plenty to love here: beautiful prose, plucky but flawed female leads, historical settings brimming with detail. The components are so strong, in fact, that the story's "twist", the plot point that connects both our main characters together, feels weak in comparison.

The novel follows two women who serve as part of the WRENs (Womens' Royal Navy Service) in World War I and II, respectively. Marion, a foundling with no family history and an unbreakable bound with her childhood friend, joins the war effort to fight for a chance at a future. Twenty years later, pampered high society girl Evelyn (and motorcycle enthusiast) joins to break free of her family's expectations. Mistakes are made. First loves kindled. And through it all, tragedies loom.

Setting the narratives in their respective world wars gives the book a clever parallel structure, and both women's backgrounds, personalities, and reasons for joining the war effort are distinct enough to avoid redundancy. The twist the stories are building to becomes apparent gradually, but admit I was thrown by the way it came about. It's impossible to discuss in detail without going into spoilers, so suffice it to say certain decisions Marion makes didn't seem realistic for a real woman in her circumstance. This, for me, greatly diminished the emotional payoff of the novel, though Walsh includes enough action and heroism in the last act to make for a satisfying conclusion.

I listened to this novel on audiobook, so wanted to take a moment to shout out the narrators, Fiona Hardingham and Amanda Sanfilippo, whose delivery keeps the story moving. Hardingham and Sanfilippo bring both charm and urgency to the dual POVs. The only character voice that didn't quite work for me was Percy, who I never quite warmed to as a love interest.

Overall, I'd rate the individual parts each a 5, and its sum a 3, landing the final rating at 4.

**I would like to thank NetGalley, Harper Muse, and Jenni L. Walsh for an ARC of this book! This is available as of 11/15/22**

I absolutely loved this book. I tend to be a little picky with my historical fiction and this one was great. I fell in love with the two characters, Marion and Evelyn. There are multiple timelines split between the two POVs but I didn't find it hard to follow at all. Jenni L. Walsh did an incredible job weaving the storyline together in a way that made this book 'unputdownable.' I read this entire book in 24 hours.

There was so much history unraveled. WWI, during Marion's young adult life and first service, and WWII, where Marion returns and Evelyn first enlists. I loved learning about the Wrens and I want to know more. War is never an easy topic, nor should it be, but this book was written in such an informative way without being inherently sad.

This book is not one to be missed.
This would be a great book to read about women stepping up, taking action during the Great Wars, and being totally bada** in a male dominated area.

TW:
-war
-orphanage
-adoption
-death
-grief
-loss of a child

A enjoyable and well written historical novel exploring an uncommon service of WWI and WWII. The characters make you fall in love along side them. Can’t wait to read more by Jenni Walsh!

1917 England

An orphan coming of age without a penny to her name, Marion joins the Women’s Royal Navy Service (the “Wrens”) as a motorcycle despatch rider on the Western Front, assigned to train and deliver carrier pigeons to the front line. Despite the hardships and constant threat of danger, Marion feels as if she finally belongs and that she has a purpose. Meanwhile, she and her childhood best friend, Eddie, dream of a future after the war—until tragedy strikes.

1936 England

A society girl, Evelyn has overcome a childhood disability and has found her true passion in automobile racing. When England enters WWII, Evelyn sees an opportunity to use her skills as a despatch rider, but her parents threaten to cut her off if she doesn’t start acting like a lady and marry the man they have chosen for her.

Meanwhile, a fellow Wren shows up at Marion’s door with an unwelcome call to return to her service

A woman who rescued everything during World War I, two, keep the world free of tyranny, is faced with a moral dilemma in the face of the second world war, where the future of humanity itself, is on the line