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Spitfire Girl
It is 1940 and Britain is at war with Germany. In London, eighteen-year-old Susan Banks longs to do her duty. Her secret ambition is to learn to fly - to serve her country and realise her dream. But she knows it is out of the question for a girl like her; a foundling, unwanted and unloved and dependent on strangers for her welfare. Just as she fears she will be trapped forever in a life of servitude and loneliness, she meets Tony Richards, a flying instructor based in Hampshire. And when she is forced to flee London, she heads out into the country. She is taken in by the kindly landlord of the local inn and his daughter. As Susan works hard to earn her keep, and her friendship with Tony - now recalled to duty - blossoms into love, she dares to hope that things are at last looking up for her. But then she receives devastating news - Tony is missing in action. And Susan wonders if she'll ever see the man she loves again and realise her dream of becoming a Spitfire girl...
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 2, 2019
Brilliant read,starts with Susan iwas in an orphanage and when she was old enough works for a dreadful woman with two horrid daughters,she buys a dog in secret who becomes her friend.she loves to fly a spitfires so someday does her dream come true.and makes new friends great story.
January 16, 2015
Take a look at this cover!!! World War 2!! Spitfires! A woman in uniform! Right?
*Snort*
Here's the real lowdown and why I'm giving this one a low rating:
Quibble 1: The heroine is so nice, it made me sick. And of course, until page 180, she's the ONLY nice woman in the book. ALL the other women around her are beeyotches. All four of them..
Quibble 2: As if that isn't bad enough, all the fellows either want to rape her or marry her.
Quibble 3: Heroine again. She falls in love immediately. She meets Tony on the street, one time, and she's in LUV. Colin takes her dancing and you guessed it: she's in LUV.
Quibble 4: Until around page 300, the heroine never steps foot in a plane. This is a 443 page book so imagine my disappointment.. especially after I spent big bucks on this one thinking it would make a great addition to my women in aviation collection... I feel cheated. It's 300 pages of soap opera and only 143 pages of anything really aviation related. For most of the book, the heroine is a servant to someone in some way or another.
Confession: After page 180, I couldn't bear it anymore and had to skim. I had a bad feeling I wasn't getting the aviation story I had been expecting..
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
*Snort*
Here's the real lowdown and why I'm giving this one a low rating:
Quibble 1: The heroine is so nice, it made me sick. And of course, until page 180, she's the ONLY nice woman in the book. ALL the other women around her are beeyotches. All four of them..
Quibble 2: As if that isn't bad enough, all the fellows either want to rape her or marry her.
Quibble 3: Heroine again. She falls in love immediately. She meets Tony on the street, one time, and she's in LUV. Colin takes her dancing and you guessed it: she's in LUV.
Quibble 4: Until around page 300, the heroine never steps foot in a plane. This is a 443 page book so imagine my disappointment.. especially after I spent big bucks on this one thinking it would make a great addition to my women in aviation collection... I feel cheated. It's 300 pages of soap opera and only 143 pages of anything really aviation related. For most of the book, the heroine is a servant to someone in some way or another.
Confession: After page 180, I couldn't bear it anymore and had to skim. I had a bad feeling I wasn't getting the aviation story I had been expecting..
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
May 18, 2022
Slow beginning then book was really good.
January 8, 2021
A fun book that follows eighteen-year-old Susan as she (eventually) fulfils her dream of becoming a pilot during the second world war. I emphasise the word eventually because this only happens in the last ten percent of the novel, and even then she is breaking all the rules by doing any flying.
I did enjoy this book as it was a carefree age-turner. Whether your WWII novel should be carefree and have next to no stakes, you can decide that for yourself. All I will add to the subject is that Susan is pretty much unphased by anything that happens to her and basically does not grow one bit over the course of the book. She is nearly raped but this never gets mentioned again, she is thrown out of one house after another and seems to completely forget about each instance. There is no real character development for Susan, or in fact for the colourful cast of secondary characters who all remain one-dimensional.
Three stars because I love WWII stories.
I did enjoy this book as it was a carefree age-turner. Whether your WWII novel should be carefree and have next to no stakes, you can decide that for yourself. All I will add to the subject is that Susan is pretty much unphased by anything that happens to her and basically does not grow one bit over the course of the book. She is nearly raped but this never gets mentioned again, she is thrown out of one house after another and seems to completely forget about each instance. There is no real character development for Susan, or in fact for the colourful cast of secondary characters who all remain one-dimensional.
Three stars because I love WWII stories.
February 2, 2016
What I liked most about this novel is the characterisation. Each character, whether they be good or horrid, was entertaining and inspiring in their own way. I thorough enjoyed reading the story from Susan's perceptive and reading through her struggles and her triumphs. I liked the characters of Tony and Roz in particular. Tony has that tender loving air about him that readers like me enjoy and I was very happy to learn he survived. I had my doubts throughout; thinking it would end sadly. Roz was an interesting character. She is the polar opposite to Susan. She is passionate and opinionated, and she always knows what and who she wants. Qualities like that should always be admired.
I was let down slightly by the lack of flying or any mention of flying until page 300+. And despite her desperate desire to fly, Susan seemed quite adamant to stay on the ground and play servant with everyone she meets. I expected her to put up more of a fight, if I'm honest. Much of the actions happens near the end of the novel. While it was good to read, it felt a bit rushed and there wasn't much detailed description about any of the aircraft Susan flew, which I really would have liked to seen and read.
Another thing I disliked about this story was the fact that, despite Susan's good intentions, she always always got punished for it. She safely lands a plane, saving both her life and Elspeth's. She's deemed a security risk and is sacked. She rescues Charlie from being put to sleep. She tries to expose Dudley for the creep that he is. Mrs Kemp kicks her out. She's forced out of Daves home, because some cranky old woman doesn't approve of her or her dog. She loses her jobs and her homes over stupid, little things. That just doesn't happen nowadays. You get warnings. You learn from your mistakes. Employers move on. I understand it is under very different and difficult circumstances, being during WWII, but still. Slightly dramatised I think.
Overall, a good read but would have benefited by more mention of spitfires!
I was let down slightly by the lack of flying or any mention of flying until page 300+. And despite her desperate desire to fly, Susan seemed quite adamant to stay on the ground and play servant with everyone she meets. I expected her to put up more of a fight, if I'm honest. Much of the actions happens near the end of the novel. While it was good to read, it felt a bit rushed and there wasn't much detailed description about any of the aircraft Susan flew, which I really would have liked to seen and read.
Another thing I disliked about this story was the fact that, despite Susan's good intentions, she always always got punished for it. She safely lands a plane, saving both her life and Elspeth's. She's deemed a security risk and is sacked. She rescues Charlie from being put to sleep. She tries to expose Dudley for the creep that he is. Mrs Kemp kicks her out. She's forced out of Daves home, because some cranky old woman doesn't approve of her or her dog. She loses her jobs and her homes over stupid, little things. That just doesn't happen nowadays. You get warnings. You learn from your mistakes. Employers move on. I understand it is under very different and difficult circumstances, being during WWII, but still. Slightly dramatised I think.
Overall, a good read but would have benefited by more mention of spitfires!
September 13, 2019
The story begins in wartime London during the 1940’s. Susan Banks is 18 years old and cooks dinner and washes up for a living for a rather disagreeable family. After meeting handsome flying instructor, Tony Richards, her circumstances change and she moves. Shortly after she moves yet again but this time to the country where she earns her keep with the landlord of the local pub. She befriends his daughter and in time begins to discover her place in the quaint and intimate village.
You’ll notice in the above summary of the book that I don’t once mention Susan’s beloved dream of flying; of soaring through the clouds on the wings of a beautiful Spitfire. This is because I’m not convinced the book has much to do with aviation and flying, despite the title screaming otherwise!
I was hoping to read a wartime piece of fiction about a young woman’s aspiration and goal to pilot a plane. But instead, these 400 pages or so were filled with affairs, pregnancies, marriage proposals, arguments, slaps around faces. It was honestly almost as though I was curled up on a weekday afternoon watching an episode of Neighbours!
I struggled to relate to or even feel anything particularly positive towards Susan. The blurb portrays her as quite the headstrong and ambitious young woman and yet I felt she fell short of this throughout the story - such as fleeing London because of Tony’s Aunt having a liking problem with her; this didn’t match with her promised character, in my opinion! Essentially, what was promised on the back of the book wasn’t fulfilled throughout.
All in all I was slightly disappointed by this, hence only three stars. That all being said, there were a couple moments of humorous dialogue that did bring out the odd chuckle!
You’ll notice in the above summary of the book that I don’t once mention Susan’s beloved dream of flying; of soaring through the clouds on the wings of a beautiful Spitfire. This is because I’m not convinced the book has much to do with aviation and flying, despite the title screaming otherwise!
I was hoping to read a wartime piece of fiction about a young woman’s aspiration and goal to pilot a plane. But instead, these 400 pages or so were filled with affairs, pregnancies, marriage proposals, arguments, slaps around faces. It was honestly almost as though I was curled up on a weekday afternoon watching an episode of Neighbours!
I struggled to relate to or even feel anything particularly positive towards Susan. The blurb portrays her as quite the headstrong and ambitious young woman and yet I felt she fell short of this throughout the story - such as fleeing London because of Tony’s Aunt having a liking problem with her; this didn’t match with her promised character, in my opinion! Essentially, what was promised on the back of the book wasn’t fulfilled throughout.
All in all I was slightly disappointed by this, hence only three stars. That all being said, there were a couple moments of humorous dialogue that did bring out the odd chuckle!
September 9, 2011
This was a war time book - and I will definately look out for more by this author.
October 20, 2012
Excellent rea, very quick to read. If you like Dilly Court books. This is the same authors and this series of books is just as good.
October 26, 2014
Very readable novel - an easy way to spend an afternoon (or two). A bit different from the average war novel as there was such a focus on flying and planes. I enjoyed this.
September 10, 2017
“Spitfire Girl” is an historical romance that begins in 1940’s London where eighteen-year-old Susan Banks slaves for the snobby Kemp family who despise her even though she’s meticulous in every task she performs. An orphan abandoned on the doorstep of a church as a baby she feels lonely and unloved and secretly dreams of serving her country, at war with Germany as a pilot.
After being accosted by Virginia Kemp’s boyfriend, and having adopted a puppy which is against the rules of the household, Susan’s life suddenly changes when she escapes her servitude to the address of a local inn in Hampshire given to her by Tony Richards a young flying instructor. Taken in by the kindly landlord, Susan quickly gets swept up in the romantic entanglement of his daughter Roz, her lover Patrick Petersen and his demanding wife Elspeth. But as she stumbles through the romantic minefield around her, she not only renews her friendship with Tony which blossoms into love, but gets devastating news just as her dream becomes a reality.
Fast-paced and intoxicating as Susan gets swept up in the romantic muddle of her friend Roz while working for the difficult and proud Elspeth who shares her love of flying, the intensity and suspense of the plot escalates when Tony Richards and Roz’s lover are assigned to active duty overseas, and Elspeth joins the Air Transport Auxiliary. Emotionally-riveting and all too realistic as Susan and her friends deal with the fear and uncertainty of a war with its ration books and lack of foodstuffs; the destruction of German bombing raids; and airmen like Colin who look to soften the unpredictability of their lives through meaningless sex.
Yet Lily Baxter has a talent for softening the rougher aspects of the war with romance and dashes of humor like finding Colin in Elspeth’s negligee drinking his morning coffee. Although I felt the romantic sparks ignite between Roz and Patrick and in Elspeth’s infatuation with Colin, there was little of that chemistry between Tony and Susan until she flies to London to bring him home, her rescue frustrated by the interference of the American military and by the horde of soldiers getting off the ship.
The characters in this story have a complexity and realism that makes them memorable, like Susan Banks who’s haunted by her past and dreams of flying. She tends to be naïve, innocent and hardworking facing challenges that change her into a persistent, resourceful and plucky young woman. Tony Richards the flying instructor is full of fun, warm-hearted and gentlemanly like his father Dave who’s kind and generous, missing his wife and browbeaten by his obnoxious, domineering sister Maida. While pretty Roz Fuller is lively and impulsive, her nemesis the beautiful and rich Elspeth Petersen is temperamental, spoiled, selfish and controlling. Elspeth grows on you throughout the story showing generosity and kindness to Susan who begins to like her. All these characters breath life into a wartime story that is a page-turner from beginning to end.
Well-written and fascinating with a look at a war that gave women the freedom to take somewhat of an active role in a world when manpower dwindled. I liked “Spitfire Girl” and will look for other books by Lily Baxter in future.
After being accosted by Virginia Kemp’s boyfriend, and having adopted a puppy which is against the rules of the household, Susan’s life suddenly changes when she escapes her servitude to the address of a local inn in Hampshire given to her by Tony Richards a young flying instructor. Taken in by the kindly landlord, Susan quickly gets swept up in the romantic entanglement of his daughter Roz, her lover Patrick Petersen and his demanding wife Elspeth. But as she stumbles through the romantic minefield around her, she not only renews her friendship with Tony which blossoms into love, but gets devastating news just as her dream becomes a reality.
Fast-paced and intoxicating as Susan gets swept up in the romantic muddle of her friend Roz while working for the difficult and proud Elspeth who shares her love of flying, the intensity and suspense of the plot escalates when Tony Richards and Roz’s lover are assigned to active duty overseas, and Elspeth joins the Air Transport Auxiliary. Emotionally-riveting and all too realistic as Susan and her friends deal with the fear and uncertainty of a war with its ration books and lack of foodstuffs; the destruction of German bombing raids; and airmen like Colin who look to soften the unpredictability of their lives through meaningless sex.
Yet Lily Baxter has a talent for softening the rougher aspects of the war with romance and dashes of humor like finding Colin in Elspeth’s negligee drinking his morning coffee. Although I felt the romantic sparks ignite between Roz and Patrick and in Elspeth’s infatuation with Colin, there was little of that chemistry between Tony and Susan until she flies to London to bring him home, her rescue frustrated by the interference of the American military and by the horde of soldiers getting off the ship.
The characters in this story have a complexity and realism that makes them memorable, like Susan Banks who’s haunted by her past and dreams of flying. She tends to be naïve, innocent and hardworking facing challenges that change her into a persistent, resourceful and plucky young woman. Tony Richards the flying instructor is full of fun, warm-hearted and gentlemanly like his father Dave who’s kind and generous, missing his wife and browbeaten by his obnoxious, domineering sister Maida. While pretty Roz Fuller is lively and impulsive, her nemesis the beautiful and rich Elspeth Petersen is temperamental, spoiled, selfish and controlling. Elspeth grows on you throughout the story showing generosity and kindness to Susan who begins to like her. All these characters breath life into a wartime story that is a page-turner from beginning to end.
Well-written and fascinating with a look at a war that gave women the freedom to take somewhat of an active role in a world when manpower dwindled. I liked “Spitfire Girl” and will look for other books by Lily Baxter in future.
October 28, 2016
I loved this book! I think Susan was so relatable and such a real character, and I love the journey she went on. I really liked Elspeth, I thought her character went on a real journey and by the end of the book she was a very likeable character. I think the romance was good, it was a little slow for me, I took a long time for them to realise their feelings but by the end, I really loved them as a couple. The only thing I didn't like about this book was Tony's father, it was actually pretty creepy to read about his and Susan's relationship. I don't think it was right to be in this book, and it really didn't work for me. But overall this book was fantastic and I would definitely recommend it!
March 11, 2021
This is the fourth Lily Baxter book I have read, and I would have to say this could be my favourite of them all.
I just love the character of the protagonist, as well as some of the key side characters, like Tony, Dave, Bob, Roz, and even Elspeth.
I feel that this book really captures the tragedies and devastation of the Second World War, but I love how the author also explores the happiness that still occurred despite the awful challenges of the time.
This book is highly recommended to all historical fiction fans and I am very excited to read more from Lily Baxter!
I just love the character of the protagonist, as well as some of the key side characters, like Tony, Dave, Bob, Roz, and even Elspeth.
I feel that this book really captures the tragedies and devastation of the Second World War, but I love how the author also explores the happiness that still occurred despite the awful challenges of the time.
This book is highly recommended to all historical fiction fans and I am very excited to read more from Lily Baxter!
April 18, 2023
Struggles and successes of a young girl very keen to fly her own planes when it just wasn't common to be a female pilot. Set in 1940, Susan leaves London and ends up following a friend, a pilot, to the countryside. She becomes popular in the pub where she works then the local landowner's wife takes a shine to her and offers her a job albeit with a secret she is forced to keep against her principles.
A feel good story, a little romance, a little bit of what it might just have been like for young girls hoping to serve their country during times of strife.
A feel good story, a little romance, a little bit of what it might just have been like for young girls hoping to serve their country during times of strife.
February 20, 2025
I had high hope of this book, as I enjoy reading historical fiction about the Second World War, however, the title of the story suggests that the focus will be on Susan actually flying, but it takes forever for her to actually do so.
I’ve read other books about women flying in the ATA that were much more detailed. I found the storyline lacked momentum and the characters were not well drawn. For a large portion of the book I was waiting for something to happen.
Overall, a somewhat disappointing read.
I’ve read other books about women flying in the ATA that were much more detailed. I found the storyline lacked momentum and the characters were not well drawn. For a large portion of the book I was waiting for something to happen.
Overall, a somewhat disappointing read.
November 2, 2022
Picked up by chance and the chance had it I couldn’t stop reading it. Learned about the existence of the incredible ATA spitfire women like Pauline Gower or Amy Johnson - the true sheroes of World War 2 and aviation who are not taught about at school. It made me want to fly a mosquito or a tiger moth myself. If you had a granddad who fought with the allied forces, like me, it’s a light-ish way to remember them.
July 22, 2021
Spitfire girls
This book was true to life like poppy's war was a lovley romantic story and hardship of one girl who found happiness this happened to lots of prphans with no identity but everyone belongs to somebody families did take in siblings but never let them know who they really were because of sheer embarrassment but not all the girl in this book had a happy ending unlike some it was a excellent read as was poppy's war if you try you NEARLEY always get there in the end never give up!
This book was true to life like poppy's war was a lovley romantic story and hardship of one girl who found happiness this happened to lots of prphans with no identity but everyone belongs to somebody families did take in siblings but never let them know who they really were because of sheer embarrassment but not all the girl in this book had a happy ending unlike some it was a excellent read as was poppy's war if you try you NEARLEY always get there in the end never give up!
May 4, 2018
Lilly Baxter's done it again. Another beautifully written book. I really enjoyed reading it, though felt so sorry for the hardship that Susan went through, though, in a way, she was one of the lucky ones. Her dream, of becoming a pilot, came true and she got Tony back.
March 21, 2023
I absolutely adore Lily Baxter and her wartime novels, they have just the right amount of romance, adventure and tragedy. Easy to read, having first picked this book up as a teenager, and it's a story that I will cherish for many years to come.
March 7, 2025
Oh my word why has it taken me so long to find his book. I just couldn’t put it down. Loved it. I’m a massive Dilly Court fan so thoroughly enjoyed this one. Got to read the other books. Excellent read.
April 12, 2018
Nice read but a lot impossible to believe for me......
April 22, 2018
The title is misleading. The book really is about one girl‘s continuing endevours on being airborne and doing her bit for the war effort one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2020
Love all her books
May 15, 2020
Enjoyable war time saga even if the spitfires of the title took a long time to arrive!
November 6, 2020
A delightful book! And not enough credit has ever been given to the women who flew aircraft from station to station during World War 2! It also had a happy ending for Susan!
August 29, 2022
Another awesome book in this series. I couldn’t put it down. It had awesome characters again and it was a strong storyline. I’m loving this author.
June 25, 2023
A cute enough read but more of a romance book than I anticipated.
August 30, 2023
Overall a brilliant book, easy read and very enjoyable
February 15, 2024
What a wonderful story of rags to riches for one determined young lady. Set in WW2 with a lovely twist at the end
February 22, 2018
Really good read
REALLY GOOD READ I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR CURL UP WITH A COSY BLANKET A BAR OF CHOCOLATE AND Spitfire girl A perfect way to have a great day
REALLY GOOD READ I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR CURL UP WITH A COSY BLANKET A BAR OF CHOCOLATE AND Spitfire girl A perfect way to have a great day
December 20, 2021
I was pretty excited for this book because it’s about a girl getting to fly, right? Well, the last third of it is. It was a long build up to the actual piloting of planes.
This book was so-so. I wanted to like Susan, the main character, but it was a bit hard. Every man who met her got the hots for her and every woman in the book was completely catty (I can’t even count the amount of times they called each other bitches and sluts. Now, I’m not a prude, I’ve got the mouth of a sailor myself, but come on, why can’t there be one healthy female relationship in this book?).
I also had to constantly remind myself that Susan was only 18 so she had a different view of the world and situations and maybe she thought she really could fall in love with someone after talking to them once. (I’m sure you all know by now that I’m very cynical of love at first sight - it doesn’t exist). But she did grow as a character as the book progressed.
I did like Tony and, of course, Charlie the dog. As far as WWII fiction goes, this was pretty lighthearted which was a nice change.
This book was so-so. I wanted to like Susan, the main character, but it was a bit hard. Every man who met her got the hots for her and every woman in the book was completely catty (I can’t even count the amount of times they called each other bitches and sluts. Now, I’m not a prude, I’ve got the mouth of a sailor myself, but come on, why can’t there be one healthy female relationship in this book?).
I also had to constantly remind myself that Susan was only 18 so she had a different view of the world and situations and maybe she thought she really could fall in love with someone after talking to them once. (I’m sure you all know by now that I’m very cynical of love at first sight - it doesn’t exist). But she did grow as a character as the book progressed.
I did like Tony and, of course, Charlie the dog. As far as WWII fiction goes, this was pretty lighthearted which was a nice change.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews