Plucky heroines, heart-stopping battle scenes and a love story that kept readers turning pages were just a few of the things GH+ book reviewers loved about our second GH+ Reads pick, Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea. Set mostly in the battlefields of World War II, this story doesn’t follow Holocaust survivors, enlisted soldiers or Red Cross nurses like many of the wartime historical fiction books we know and love. Instead, the author introduces us to a group of courageous women who have otherwise been overshadowed by history until now: The Donut Dollies.
As part of our new GH+ Reads program, book-lovers who belong to Good Housekeeping's GH+ membership program were eligible to opt in and receive a free digital copy of Good Night, Irene. They also received a short survey to fill out with their feedback — and get the chance to see their review in print. Of those who responded, more than 90% had never read one of Luis Alberto Urrea’s books before, but over 80% finished this one, calling it a historically accurate page-turner with “characters and situations I wanted to see through to the end.”
Want to join GH+ Reads? Join our membership program right now, then watch your inbox for our exclusive GH+ member newsletter. Four times a year, we'll announce a new book and the first 1,000 members to opt in will get a free digital copy to read before anyone else — and a chance to tell us what you think.
Plot Summary
Inspired by the author's late mother, this gripping historical fiction introduces us to the Donut Dollies, Red Cross volunteers who served coffee and donuts on the front lines of WWII. Plucky farm girl Dorothy and former society doyenne Irene form an unlikely friendship as they try to keep the boys’ spirits up in impossibly grim circumstances. They get involved in lots of scrapes and hijinks, of course, and even find love along the way.
Fans of period dramas, WWII history buffs and anyone who loves a good story full of breathtaking adventures and female friendship (not to mention one heck of a twist at the end) shouldn't miss this one.
GH+ Readers Weigh In
Reviewers loved that Urrea drew from his personal history for this book, which led some to feel even closer to the characters than they might otherwise. No spoilers, but while some were disappointed by the way some of the plot points resolved (I understood why it had to happen but it still made me sad, as one put it), many just couldn’t put it down.
“I am an avid reader (and an English teacher) and I say without a doubt that Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea was one of the most amazing books that I have ever read,” gushed one bookworm from Woodbury, MN. “I couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning to read and couldn't wait to go to bed. That is how involved I became with the characters and the plot.”
Many praised Urrea for introducing them to the Donut Dollies and focusing on female friendship in addition to the grim and often tragic circumstances that come with working on the frontlines, calling it a refreshing look at a certain moment in history. Readers largely loved the realism in Good Night, Irene, even if some of the battle scenes were a little too realistic for some palates.
Here are more of our readers’ thoughts on the book…
I loved the friendship between the main characters. It felt realistic and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed the time period because I love reading historical fiction. The author described the war years in detail and didn't avoid the very grim, dirty and sad details. I relished the period travel, clothing and culture. There were some funny scenes, too, which I didn't expect. — Book Lover, Schnecksville, PA
By the last section of the book and after I had burst into tears a couple different times, I thought I knew the ending and almost skipped to the end but I didn't want to miss a word. It was worth reading every word! — Page Turner in Pompano Beach, FL
It's a different side of WWII that I had never heard of, and I've read a lot of WWII books. It's interesting to see it from the women's point of view that aren’t nurses. — Avid Reader in Delavan, WI
I loved the story of friendship and forgiveness, to oneself and others. I appreciated that Irene and Dorothy found a way to escape their lives and to fulfill it with purpose. The surprise ending had me reading quicker and quicker to see the darkness turn into joy. — Storyline Whisperer in Woodbury, MN
I love that this was about an aspect of WWII that I didn't know about. — Library Lover in Butler, PA
For me, this book was especially powerful. I am the daughter of a veteran of WWII who served in the armored tank division under Patton. My father did not like to reminisce much about the war, but from the bits I heard, I knew he had been in the battles mentioned in the book and liberated a concentration camp. I wish I could go to him and ask him questions about the experiences of the book’ s protagonist. This book gave me some insight into the answers I would have received from my lost opportunities of asking questions. I now know the name of the camp he liberated. Good Night, Irene filled in holes for me of the narrative of my father’s war experience. I have all of the letters he wrote home from the war and I now plan to read them all and transcribe them for my family. The novel moved me to accomplish this task. I have already told every reader I know to get the book. I also advised them to clear their schedules because they will be unable to put it down. Luis Alberto Urrea has given us a powerful gift with his narrative. — Historical Fiction Fan in Minnesota
