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The Harvey Girls
Juliette Fay—known for her “well-drawn characters and vibrant historical backdrops” (Library Journal)—transports us to 1920s America with this big-hearted tale of two very different women who must learn to trust each other as one tries to save her family and the other to save herself. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Kristina McMorris.
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.
“Juliette Fay’s gift for creating complex, exquisitely human characters” (Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling author) is on full display in this deeply moving and joyous celebration of female empowerment, loyalty, and friendship.
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.
“Juliette Fay’s gift for creating complex, exquisitely human characters” (Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling author) is on full display in this deeply moving and joyous celebration of female empowerment, loyalty, and friendship.
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
132 people are currently reading
15993 people want to read
About the author
Juliette Fay
9 books892 followersJuliette Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels, including THE HARVEY GIRLS, THE HALF OF IT, CATCH US WHEN WE FALL, CITY OF FLICKERING LIGHT and THE TUMBLING TURNER SISTERS, a USA Today bestseller and Costco Pennie’s Book Club Pick. Previous novels include THE SHORTEST WAY HOME, one of Library Journal’s Top 5 Best Books of 2012: Women’s Fiction; DEEP DOWN TRUE, short-listed for the 2011Women’s Fiction award by the American Library Association; and SHELTER ME, a 2009 Massachusetts Book Award “Must-Read Book” and an Indie Next pick.
Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Follow her on Facebook: Juliette Fay author, Instagram: Juliette_Fay, and BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julie...
Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Follow her on Facebook: Juliette Fay author, Instagram: Juliette_Fay, and BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julie...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
August 12, 2025
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 theres even some romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher and Getred PR books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
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 theres even some romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher and Getred PR books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
July 23, 2025
1926: Charlotte Crowninshield was born into one of Boston’s elite families, her parents disown her when she married a professor from college, he’s abusive and she leaves him. Billie MacTavish is the oldest of nine children born to Scottish immigrants and they live in Table Rock, Nebraska. Billie helps her mother Lorna with her washing and mending business, her dad Malcom makes bricks and she wants to earn money so her younger siblings can stay at school.
Both women start their training at Topeka, Kansas, and to become Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Charlotte and Billie have one thing in common, they both lied at their job interviews, and Billie finds her roommate very aloof and is homesick and Charlotte's over her crying into pillow every night and not sympathetic.
The days are long and a big shock for Charlotte, Billie is clumsy but she has a way with customers and she meets kitchen hand Leif Gunnarsson a Swedish orphan and she has a big crush on him and relationships between employees is banned. Both Charlotte and Billie are sent to work at the El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, where the rich and movie stars stay.
I received a copy of The Harvey Girls from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss plus in exchanged for an unbiased review. This is the first book I’ve read by Juliette Fay and it won’t be my last and it explores many interesting and thought provoking topics in the narrative.
From people’s attitudes towards marriage and spousal abuse, teenagers earning money not for themselves but to help their siblings and parents, unlikely friendships and building trust, the treatment of Native American Indian’s and how their land and culture was stolen from them, many were forced to convert to Christianity and racism towards anyone of colour.
The story had a great plot, with diverse and relatable characters, Billie and her Scottish family were so funny and made me laugh out loud, her dad was hilarious and five stars from me and I highly recommend.
Both women start their training at Topeka, Kansas, and to become Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. Charlotte and Billie have one thing in common, they both lied at their job interviews, and Billie finds her roommate very aloof and is homesick and Charlotte's over her crying into pillow every night and not sympathetic.
The days are long and a big shock for Charlotte, Billie is clumsy but she has a way with customers and she meets kitchen hand Leif Gunnarsson a Swedish orphan and she has a big crush on him and relationships between employees is banned. Both Charlotte and Billie are sent to work at the El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon, where the rich and movie stars stay.
I received a copy of The Harvey Girls from Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss plus in exchanged for an unbiased review. This is the first book I’ve read by Juliette Fay and it won’t be my last and it explores many interesting and thought provoking topics in the narrative.
From people’s attitudes towards marriage and spousal abuse, teenagers earning money not for themselves but to help their siblings and parents, unlikely friendships and building trust, the treatment of Native American Indian’s and how their land and culture was stolen from them, many were forced to convert to Christianity and racism towards anyone of colour.
The story had a great plot, with diverse and relatable characters, Billie and her Scottish family were so funny and made me laugh out loud, her dad was hilarious and five stars from me and I highly recommend.
September 13, 2025
Thank you Gallery Books for sending me a free copy!
I like when historical fiction authors choose to write about lesser known or forgotten bits of history. Fred Harvey was an entrepreneur back in the 1800s and was credited with creating the first restaurant chain in the US. His Harvey Houses were strategically located along railways and gave passengers the chance to grab a bite to eat before departing on the next train. Women were given the opportunity to work at a Harvey House after successfully completing a grueling, month long training. A big deal as typically wait staff was a men only profession back then. Working at a Harvey House allowed women the ability to earn money and see different parts of the country.
The story kicks off in 1926 and follows two women training to become waitresses, aka Harvey Girls. Charlotte has lived a life of wealth and privilege but needs to make it on her own after escaping an abusive husband. Billie, the oldest of nine kids, is expected to send the money she earns from this job back home to help support her parents and siblings. Charlotte and Billie don’t have much in common and get off to a rocky start but you never know who will come to your aid when you need them.
Such an interesting read featuring characters I felt invested in. Neither one could afford to fail and I sat there amazed at the hard work that was required for their job. This book explores a little bit of everything that is relevant in that time period and setting. Worth reading if you enjoy the historical fiction genre.
I like when historical fiction authors choose to write about lesser known or forgotten bits of history. Fred Harvey was an entrepreneur back in the 1800s and was credited with creating the first restaurant chain in the US. His Harvey Houses were strategically located along railways and gave passengers the chance to grab a bite to eat before departing on the next train. Women were given the opportunity to work at a Harvey House after successfully completing a grueling, month long training. A big deal as typically wait staff was a men only profession back then. Working at a Harvey House allowed women the ability to earn money and see different parts of the country.
The story kicks off in 1926 and follows two women training to become waitresses, aka Harvey Girls. Charlotte has lived a life of wealth and privilege but needs to make it on her own after escaping an abusive husband. Billie, the oldest of nine kids, is expected to send the money she earns from this job back home to help support her parents and siblings. Charlotte and Billie don’t have much in common and get off to a rocky start but you never know who will come to your aid when you need them.
Such an interesting read featuring characters I felt invested in. Neither one could afford to fail and I sat there amazed at the hard work that was required for their job. This book explores a little bit of everything that is relevant in that time period and setting. Worth reading if you enjoy the historical fiction genre.
September 17, 2025
I've read several of Fay's books and am a fan. IMO this is her best work to date. I'm so glad she persisted in writing this novel of the Harvey Girls (see her educational end notes) a little-known piece of women's history. Carefully crafted, this is a wonderful novel that also presents some of our rail history, Grand Canyon history, and Native history in the region of the GC, none of it stuffy, all intriguing and absorbing. Fay is also at her best creating characters and having them interact, whether a female friendship or love interest. Historical fiction fans and women's fiction fans should not miss it!
March 30, 2025
A sweet historical fiction female centered book about the Harvey Girls, who were well paid and trained waitresses at train depots across the southwest. The 1926 story follows Billie, a 15 year old posing as 18, from Nebraska. Her family is dirt poor and she goes away to work and send them money. She is very Catholic and never been kissed. Her roommate, who was hired the same day, is Charlotte, who was raised in a well-to-do family and studied 2 years in college before getting into an abusive marriage. Charlotte has become a Harvey Girl in order to escape her abuser.
The reader will feel nostalgic for another era of hospitality and grandeur in travel. The descriptions of the train and the job are internal quaint. Billie and Charlotte, while likable, lack any kind of character flaws, so it is hard to get into their stories. In a word; this book is “sweet,” it’s written at about an 8th grade level and doesn’t go into much depth into the tragic things about this time period. Charlotte approaches the world with a much later time frame, maybe because she has been in a more progressive world of academia. Billie comes across as naive, but Charlotte is offended by racism that would seemingly come from someone born in a much later time.
They had a special friendship, and they had romantic interests that were a bit one dimensional. There is a dramatic moment at the end that helps tie the epilogue up pretty neatly. My favorite part of the book was the setting, which made me want to go on a fancy train ride.
Thanks to Gallery Books for the ARC. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for a post and review. @gallerybooks #partner #gifted
The reader will feel nostalgic for another era of hospitality and grandeur in travel. The descriptions of the train and the job are internal quaint. Billie and Charlotte, while likable, lack any kind of character flaws, so it is hard to get into their stories. In a word; this book is “sweet,” it’s written at about an 8th grade level and doesn’t go into much depth into the tragic things about this time period. Charlotte approaches the world with a much later time frame, maybe because she has been in a more progressive world of academia. Billie comes across as naive, but Charlotte is offended by racism that would seemingly come from someone born in a much later time.
They had a special friendship, and they had romantic interests that were a bit one dimensional. There is a dramatic moment at the end that helps tie the epilogue up pretty neatly. My favorite part of the book was the setting, which made me want to go on a fancy train ride.
Thanks to Gallery Books for the ARC. I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for a post and review. @gallerybooks #partner #gifted
December 15, 2025
In 1926, two women apply for jobs as waitresses for the prestigious Fred Harvey company, one of the premier travel restaurant and hospitality outfits in the American Midwest. Charlotte comes from one of Boston’s wealthiest families. Billie comes from a large working-class Scottish American family in Nebraska. But each has a little secret: Charlotte is on the run from an abusive husband and can’t go back to the family that shunned her. Billie is just sixteen, too young to be a Harvey Girl, but as the eldest daughter, she can’t let her age be discovered as she needs to send money home. The odd couple works through training and are eventually assigned to a posh resort in the Grand Canyon.
This is what historical fiction is all about: learning about hidden stories through storytelling. I knew nothing about the Harvey empire, so mine was a fresh look. Fay spares no detail, from polishing silverware to filling the coffee urns. I never had such a job, but this is a reminder to tip your servers, because they work hard.
Of course, this gets the historical context treatment, which means sexism rules. For starters, Charlotte has to be careful because Harvey’s rules prohibit married women, even estranged ones. And they need to watch out for those handsy customers. There’s also a subplot centering on the disrespect and displacement of the Native American tribes that lived there. Makes you want to time travel just so you can smack some 1920s moron.
You read this expecting tough, gritty female MCs, and Fay delivers. Charlotte and Billie, who hate each other at first, team up to succeed in the business and fight off multiple challenges, many of them male and icky. Their flaws are believable, and their strengths emerge as the story progresses. I wasn’t in love with the romances (see what I did there?), but I can see how they add some pizzaz.
Though the history and the character development take center stage, the plot is a good one. There’s an edge to both MC’s quests. There are enough challenges to add some tension. How things get resolved is conventional but heartwarming, tender, and appropriate for these likeable women.
But the Grand Canyon is a main character here, too. Charlotte and Billie are swept into its majesty by park rangers and Native American artists. There are wonderful descriptions of not just the landscape, but how people of the day viewed it. I’ve never been there, but now I want to hike there.
Fay has written a strong story about some forgotten history. I’m a fan of her work!
This is what historical fiction is all about: learning about hidden stories through storytelling. I knew nothing about the Harvey empire, so mine was a fresh look. Fay spares no detail, from polishing silverware to filling the coffee urns. I never had such a job, but this is a reminder to tip your servers, because they work hard.
Of course, this gets the historical context treatment, which means sexism rules. For starters, Charlotte has to be careful because Harvey’s rules prohibit married women, even estranged ones. And they need to watch out for those handsy customers. There’s also a subplot centering on the disrespect and displacement of the Native American tribes that lived there. Makes you want to time travel just so you can smack some 1920s moron.
You read this expecting tough, gritty female MCs, and Fay delivers. Charlotte and Billie, who hate each other at first, team up to succeed in the business and fight off multiple challenges, many of them male and icky. Their flaws are believable, and their strengths emerge as the story progresses. I wasn’t in love with the romances (see what I did there?), but I can see how they add some pizzaz.
Though the history and the character development take center stage, the plot is a good one. There’s an edge to both MC’s quests. There are enough challenges to add some tension. How things get resolved is conventional but heartwarming, tender, and appropriate for these likeable women.
But the Grand Canyon is a main character here, too. Charlotte and Billie are swept into its majesty by park rangers and Native American artists. There are wonderful descriptions of not just the landscape, but how people of the day viewed it. I’ve never been there, but now I want to hike there.
Fay has written a strong story about some forgotten history. I’m a fan of her work!
September 29, 2025
What a delightful read as well as a history lesson.
I had never heard of the Harvey Girls or the restaurants that were at the train stations.
We meet Charlotte who is running away from an abusive husband and who came from wealth, and we meet Billie who is only 15 pretending to be older and from a very poor family. Billie is trying to put bread on the table for her family.
They room together and at first do not like each other, but once Charlotte had to leave because her husband tried to take her back, they truly missed each other.
Billie got transferred to where Charlotte was...the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon.
They run into some unpleasant situations and also have some love interests.
Do you need for the most part an uplifting read about wonderful friendships and a read that has marvelous, unforgettable characters you will love? If so give THE HARVEY GIRLS a try for a lovely treat.
Loved the heartfelt storyline and Charlotte and Billie.
It was like getting a big hug and had needed tissues at times. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I had never heard of the Harvey Girls or the restaurants that were at the train stations.
We meet Charlotte who is running away from an abusive husband and who came from wealth, and we meet Billie who is only 15 pretending to be older and from a very poor family. Billie is trying to put bread on the table for her family.
They room together and at first do not like each other, but once Charlotte had to leave because her husband tried to take her back, they truly missed each other.
Billie got transferred to where Charlotte was...the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon.
They run into some unpleasant situations and also have some love interests.
Do you need for the most part an uplifting read about wonderful friendships and a read that has marvelous, unforgettable characters you will love? If so give THE HARVEY GIRLS a try for a lovely treat.
Loved the heartfelt storyline and Charlotte and Billie.
It was like getting a big hug and had needed tissues at times. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I had heard of the Harvey Girls because of the Judy Garland film but didn't know anything about them. Fred Harvey created one of the first restaurant chains, providing meals to train travelers. The Harvey Girls provided smiling faces combined with professionalism at the these welcome rest stops.
The main characters, Charlotte and Billie, are complete opposites but they become Harvey Girls because it was one of the few opportunities for young women to be independent. As the novel progresses, both characters learn a lot about themselves and about the new world they find themselves in.
It was a quick read with likeable characters that you cheer for.
The main characters, Charlotte and Billie, are complete opposites but they become Harvey Girls because it was one of the few opportunities for young women to be independent. As the novel progresses, both characters learn a lot about themselves and about the new world they find themselves in.
It was a quick read with likeable characters that you cheer for.
August 6, 2025
The Harvey Girls takes a fascinating look into what Fred Harvey started as the first hospitality empire in 1876. It ran for eighty years, and during that time, approximately 100,000 women became Harvey Girls: Waitresses who served in America’s first hospitality chain along the Santa Fe railroad. Ms. Fay tells the historical fiction story of two young women who became Harvey Girls for very different reasons.
When I read where the girls were trained (Topeka, Kansas) and also of their required uniforms, I had no idea how they managed it in that heat. And for 12 hours a day!! They were thrilled to be earning $30.00 per month, though, which was more than some men were earning at that time.
I loved the two newbie Harvey Girls, Billie and Charlotte - especially Billie. They shared three things: A room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each had a secret that would certainly get them fired! Yet they end up forming lasting bonds and friendships as they navigate the challenges of their work and personal lives.
The Harvey Girls is a beautiful tale of friendship, strength, and resilience. I highly recommend it! (Be sure to read the Author's Notes at the end of the book, too.)
Huge thanks to #GalleryBooks for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Harvey Girls is expected to be published on August 12, 2025.
# JulietteFay #HistoricalFiction #Friendship #ABitOfRomance #HarveyGirlsTraining #SantaFe#Railroad
When I read where the girls were trained (Topeka, Kansas) and also of their required uniforms, I had no idea how they managed it in that heat. And for 12 hours a day!! They were thrilled to be earning $30.00 per month, though, which was more than some men were earning at that time.
I loved the two newbie Harvey Girls, Billie and Charlotte - especially Billie. They shared three things: A room, a heartfelt dislike of each other…and each had a secret that would certainly get them fired! Yet they end up forming lasting bonds and friendships as they navigate the challenges of their work and personal lives.
The Harvey Girls is a beautiful tale of friendship, strength, and resilience. I highly recommend it! (Be sure to read the Author's Notes at the end of the book, too.)
Huge thanks to #GalleryBooks for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Harvey Girls is expected to be published on August 12, 2025.
# JulietteFay #HistoricalFiction #Friendship #ABitOfRomance #HarveyGirlsTraining #SantaFe#Railroad
August 12, 2025
Thank you, Juliette Faye for introducing me to a small part of American history that I had absolutely no clue about! In her latest, THE HARVEY GIRLS two young women, Charlotte and Billie join the ranks of the Harvey Girls, waitresses who serve in America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad. What a fascinating piece of history to learn about! As someone who worked in the restaurant industry all through my teens and into my early twenties, I couldn’t get enough of this story! I found it easy to relate to a lot of the experiences the women had in the dining rooms involving the customers and their co-workers.
Charlotte and Billie start working on the same day which results in them being lumped together. They train, learn the ropes, and even share a room. The two women truly could not be more different and therefore, personalities begin to clash. Even though their start was a rocky one, a series of events quickly bonds them and a strong friendship is formed. Witnessing the relationship evolve and strengthen was a true joy.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- 1920s timeline
- Southwest setting
- Historical fiction
- Women’s history
- Female friendship
- Dual POVs
- Food and restaurant industry
- Character-driven novels
- Touch of romance
- Travel and adventure
If you love reading about women’s lives, their experiences, and connections formed along the way, then this is definitely a great book choice for you. I was entertained, educated, and enlightened by this exceptional story. THE HARVEY GIRLS is out today! Be sure to grab yourself a copy! 4/5 stars!
Charlotte and Billie start working on the same day which results in them being lumped together. They train, learn the ropes, and even share a room. The two women truly could not be more different and therefore, personalities begin to clash. Even though their start was a rocky one, a series of events quickly bonds them and a strong friendship is formed. Witnessing the relationship evolve and strengthen was a true joy.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- 1920s timeline
- Southwest setting
- Historical fiction
- Women’s history
- Female friendship
- Dual POVs
- Food and restaurant industry
- Character-driven novels
- Touch of romance
- Travel and adventure
If you love reading about women’s lives, their experiences, and connections formed along the way, then this is definitely a great book choice for you. I was entertained, educated, and enlightened by this exceptional story. THE HARVEY GIRLS is out today! Be sure to grab yourself a copy! 4/5 stars!
August 20, 2025
I didn’t know about the Harvey Girls before reading this book and I found all the history mixed into the story very fascinating. This is one of those books that make you want to research further about people and places in history and I love when a book becomes more interactive like that. I really enjoyed the characters and the sense of adventure.
July 21, 2025
Book Review: The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay.
Thank you to Gallery Books for my gifted book.
This novel is as cozy as a well-worn apron and nearly as stubborn as the two women at the center of it. Set in 1926, The Harvey Girls drops us into the starched uniforms, tightly wound hair buns, and impossible expectations of America’s first hospitality chain—Fred Harvey’s legendary string of restaurants and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad line. It’s a world built on precision, decorum, and twelve-hour shifts fueled by burnt coffee and barely concealed rage. Into this prim, rule-obsessed universe stumble Charlotte Crowninshield and Billie MacTavish—two women who are just about as compatible as a lobster fork and a soup pot.
Charlotte is a disgraced Boston socialite on the run from a charming sadist of a husband, and she’s clinging to her last shreds of autonomy with white-knuckled desperation. Billie is fifteen, a practical bruiser of a farm girl from Nebraska, lying about her age to keep her family from starving. Naturally, they hate each other on sight, which is exactly what you want from two strangers forced to share a room, a job, and a daily battle against pantyhose in the Arizona heat. Watching them fumble toward reluctant respect and genuine affection is the best kind of character development—earned, messy, and awkward enough to feel real.
Juliette Fay doesn’t sugarcoat the setting or the stakes. The Harvey House isn’t some cutesy historical playground. It’s a lifeline for women who have nowhere else to go and nothing left to lose. It’s a place where being seen talking to a man in the wrong way could cost you your job, where being married is a fireable offense, and where being the wrong skin color might get you worse than fired. The girls face homesickness, exhaustion, overt racism, and the very real threat of violence—from society at large and from the past they’ve dragged with them. And yet, the book never drowns in gloom. It’s sharp, tender, and often sneakily funny. The tone walks a fine line between reverent historical detail and an eye-roll at the absurdity of the rules these women had to live by.
The training scenes in Topeka are wonderfully claustrophobic—like boot camp, but with more corsets and fewer rights. You can practically hear the clatter of dishes and the drill-sergeant bark of the head waitress. Once Charlotte and Billie move to the El Tovar Hotel at the edge of the Grand Canyon, the scenery opens up, but the stakes get higher. Charlotte is terrified her abusive husband will find her. Billie is terrified someone will figure out she’s still technically a child. There’s a run-in with the KKK that’s handled with restraint and dread, and a slow unfolding of the ways Native people were erased, exploited, or commodified for tourist consumption. The Grand Canyon may be beautiful, but Fay makes clear that it was—and in many ways, still is—someone else’s stolen land.
Still, at its core, The Harvey Girls is about two women who teach each other how to survive in a world that wasn’t built for them. The romantic interests are charming and a little secondary, as they should be. This is a love story, but it’s between Charlotte and Billie—two unlikely allies who become chosen family through sheer grit, shared secrets, and a mutual refusal to quit. Charlotte’s moment of clarity, when she says, “Turns out there’s more than one way to be brave,” lands because by then, you know exactly what it cost her to say it. She’s not talking about bravery in the abstract—she’s talking about the real thing: getting up when your life’s on fire, and daring to hope for more.
The prose is clean and quietly confident—never overly ornate, but full of sharp emotional beats and little historical gems. Fay knows how to build character without monologues and how to let the setting breathe without choking on adjectives. She writes historical fiction like someone who’s done the research but doesn’t feel the need to wave it in your face. And thank God for that.
If you’re looking for historical fiction that respects its readers’ intelligence, doesn’t skimp on grit, and serves up a satisfying dose of female rage turned resilience, The Harvey Girls delivers. It’s for the readers who enjoy stories about friendship that isn’t instantly warm and fuzzy, but rather forged in fire and dishwater. It’s for anyone who wants to see women rescue themselves—and each other—with nothing but sheer will and a side of mashed potatoes.
It’s also a quiet call to remember the women history tried to flatten into the margins. And in Juliette Fay’s capable hands, they stand up straight and take center stage—apron, secrets, sass and all.
Thank you to Gallery Books for my gifted book.
This novel is as cozy as a well-worn apron and nearly as stubborn as the two women at the center of it. Set in 1926, The Harvey Girls drops us into the starched uniforms, tightly wound hair buns, and impossible expectations of America’s first hospitality chain—Fred Harvey’s legendary string of restaurants and hotels along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad line. It’s a world built on precision, decorum, and twelve-hour shifts fueled by burnt coffee and barely concealed rage. Into this prim, rule-obsessed universe stumble Charlotte Crowninshield and Billie MacTavish—two women who are just about as compatible as a lobster fork and a soup pot.
Charlotte is a disgraced Boston socialite on the run from a charming sadist of a husband, and she’s clinging to her last shreds of autonomy with white-knuckled desperation. Billie is fifteen, a practical bruiser of a farm girl from Nebraska, lying about her age to keep her family from starving. Naturally, they hate each other on sight, which is exactly what you want from two strangers forced to share a room, a job, and a daily battle against pantyhose in the Arizona heat. Watching them fumble toward reluctant respect and genuine affection is the best kind of character development—earned, messy, and awkward enough to feel real.
Juliette Fay doesn’t sugarcoat the setting or the stakes. The Harvey House isn’t some cutesy historical playground. It’s a lifeline for women who have nowhere else to go and nothing left to lose. It’s a place where being seen talking to a man in the wrong way could cost you your job, where being married is a fireable offense, and where being the wrong skin color might get you worse than fired. The girls face homesickness, exhaustion, overt racism, and the very real threat of violence—from society at large and from the past they’ve dragged with them. And yet, the book never drowns in gloom. It’s sharp, tender, and often sneakily funny. The tone walks a fine line between reverent historical detail and an eye-roll at the absurdity of the rules these women had to live by.
The training scenes in Topeka are wonderfully claustrophobic—like boot camp, but with more corsets and fewer rights. You can practically hear the clatter of dishes and the drill-sergeant bark of the head waitress. Once Charlotte and Billie move to the El Tovar Hotel at the edge of the Grand Canyon, the scenery opens up, but the stakes get higher. Charlotte is terrified her abusive husband will find her. Billie is terrified someone will figure out she’s still technically a child. There’s a run-in with the KKK that’s handled with restraint and dread, and a slow unfolding of the ways Native people were erased, exploited, or commodified for tourist consumption. The Grand Canyon may be beautiful, but Fay makes clear that it was—and in many ways, still is—someone else’s stolen land.
Still, at its core, The Harvey Girls is about two women who teach each other how to survive in a world that wasn’t built for them. The romantic interests are charming and a little secondary, as they should be. This is a love story, but it’s between Charlotte and Billie—two unlikely allies who become chosen family through sheer grit, shared secrets, and a mutual refusal to quit. Charlotte’s moment of clarity, when she says, “Turns out there’s more than one way to be brave,” lands because by then, you know exactly what it cost her to say it. She’s not talking about bravery in the abstract—she’s talking about the real thing: getting up when your life’s on fire, and daring to hope for more.
The prose is clean and quietly confident—never overly ornate, but full of sharp emotional beats and little historical gems. Fay knows how to build character without monologues and how to let the setting breathe without choking on adjectives. She writes historical fiction like someone who’s done the research but doesn’t feel the need to wave it in your face. And thank God for that.
If you’re looking for historical fiction that respects its readers’ intelligence, doesn’t skimp on grit, and serves up a satisfying dose of female rage turned resilience, The Harvey Girls delivers. It’s for the readers who enjoy stories about friendship that isn’t instantly warm and fuzzy, but rather forged in fire and dishwater. It’s for anyone who wants to see women rescue themselves—and each other—with nothing but sheer will and a side of mashed potatoes.
It’s also a quiet call to remember the women history tried to flatten into the margins. And in Juliette Fay’s capable hands, they stand up straight and take center stage—apron, secrets, sass and all.
September 15, 2025
A little bit of history with too much predictable romance. Now I need to read about the actual history behind the Harvey Girls.
July 4, 2025
Thanks to Gallery Books for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.
This book was really a breath of fresh air in a world of very heavy historical fiction. It’s a slice of relatively unknown Americana, which really underlines the dream of America, where women from poorer families could make really great money and get ahead. I really loved every second of it. It was one of those books that I didn’t wanna put down and yet equally I wanted to stretch it out to savor it.
It follows two women from vastly different backgrounds who are looking for some independence and financial stability in a time where that wasn’t easy for an undereducated woman. Charlotte is trying to escape her past and Billie is trying to build a future. They both apply to be Harvey Girls, specially trained waitresses that work within the network of restaurants that have been built at train depots across the country. The story follows their training, the cattiness between them and others in the women’s dorms, their love lives and all that they learn about America as they are transferred across the country to different areas. I really loved both of these women and every aspect of their stories, there are some heavier themes as well, including domestic violence and racism, but it gives you a real feel of the times and some hope that these are the type of people out there that change things with their own small actions.
If you love historical fiction, especially focused on the lives of women, don’t miss this one!
This book was really a breath of fresh air in a world of very heavy historical fiction. It’s a slice of relatively unknown Americana, which really underlines the dream of America, where women from poorer families could make really great money and get ahead. I really loved every second of it. It was one of those books that I didn’t wanna put down and yet equally I wanted to stretch it out to savor it.
It follows two women from vastly different backgrounds who are looking for some independence and financial stability in a time where that wasn’t easy for an undereducated woman. Charlotte is trying to escape her past and Billie is trying to build a future. They both apply to be Harvey Girls, specially trained waitresses that work within the network of restaurants that have been built at train depots across the country. The story follows their training, the cattiness between them and others in the women’s dorms, their love lives and all that they learn about America as they are transferred across the country to different areas. I really loved both of these women and every aspect of their stories, there are some heavier themes as well, including domestic violence and racism, but it gives you a real feel of the times and some hope that these are the type of people out there that change things with their own small actions.
If you love historical fiction, especially focused on the lives of women, don’t miss this one!
August 6, 2025
I wanted to like this book. I'm interested in the Harvey Girls, and I had read, and mostly enjoyed, one of Fay's previous books. But I found I couldn't get past a reference to a Dodo feather on a hat in the 1920s. I admit to being somewhat picky about historical accuracy, although I am very capable of ignoring the odd minor anachronism in an otherwise well researched book. But Dodo birds, as is well known, were only found on Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, and were hunted to extinction in the late 1700s only 100 years after they were discovered. A few examples of the bird made it to Europe, but they were never plentiful enough for their feathers to be used in fashion, even before they went extinct. The poor old Dodo is one of the better known cautionary tales about the impact humans can have on nature. So finding one of its feathers on a hat in the 1920s, well over 200 years after the last Dodo died, yanked me out of the story with a vengeance and I was never able to find my way back in.
August 11, 2025
In 1926, Charlotte Crowninshield (alias Charlotte Turner) is on the run from Boston and her scary, abusive husband. Billie MacTavish is the oldest child of a poor farm family. Both women need a chance and a change, so they apply to be Harvey Girls. Charlotte lies about her marital status and Billie lies about her age (she is only 15). They do well at training but something unexpected leads them both to transfer to the El Tovar hotel at the Grand Canyon. There they both deal with complicated love lives, work, and planning for the future ... until things change again.
I wanted to read this book because I have been interested in the Harvey Girls since I was a young girl and saw the old Judy Garland musical on TV. That started a lifelong interest in the Harvey Girls. The Harvey Houses paid employees fairly and women had the rare opportunity to rise through the ranks and be promoted in the company. They had room and board and a strict code of conduct.
This was such an engrossing read - so much so that I finished reading at 1:30 a.m.! It is one of those books that I just couldn't put down. Billie and Charlotte are both strong characters. Billie is young and naive and Charlotte is skeptical and sometimes prickly; they also have an age difference. Despite that, they build an unlikely friendship which is at the heart of this book.
I loved the other characters too, especially teenage Leif, who works in the kitchen, and Will, who is a chauffeur with a mysterious past.
The details about the Harvey House training in Topeka and the glamorous El Tovar hotel (with its occasional rich and famous clientele) was fascinating. The author has a rare gift with both characterization and description, making this a vividly realized book that reads like a movie.
Charlotte develops an interest in Native American culture at the Grand Canyon, and the details and history about indigenous people in that area are interesting and sometimes heartbreaking.
I am giving The Harvey Girls five stars because that is the limit at both Goodreads and Netgalley. It is sure to be high on my top 10 list this year and I cannot recommend it highly enough for other readers!
I wanted to read this book because I have been interested in the Harvey Girls since I was a young girl and saw the old Judy Garland musical on TV. That started a lifelong interest in the Harvey Girls. The Harvey Houses paid employees fairly and women had the rare opportunity to rise through the ranks and be promoted in the company. They had room and board and a strict code of conduct.
This was such an engrossing read - so much so that I finished reading at 1:30 a.m.! It is one of those books that I just couldn't put down. Billie and Charlotte are both strong characters. Billie is young and naive and Charlotte is skeptical and sometimes prickly; they also have an age difference. Despite that, they build an unlikely friendship which is at the heart of this book.
I loved the other characters too, especially teenage Leif, who works in the kitchen, and Will, who is a chauffeur with a mysterious past.
The details about the Harvey House training in Topeka and the glamorous El Tovar hotel (with its occasional rich and famous clientele) was fascinating. The author has a rare gift with both characterization and description, making this a vividly realized book that reads like a movie.
Charlotte develops an interest in Native American culture at the Grand Canyon, and the details and history about indigenous people in that area are interesting and sometimes heartbreaking.
I am giving The Harvey Girls five stars because that is the limit at both Goodreads and Netgalley. It is sure to be high on my top 10 list this year and I cannot recommend it highly enough for other readers!
August 13, 2025
The Harvey Girls is page-turning historical fiction set in the 1920s, featuring an unlikely friendship and railroad travel in the United States.
Set in the 1920s, The Harvey Girls is the story of two women working as waitresses for America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe Railroad. Billie and Charlotte come from different backgrounds, have different reasons for becoming Harvey Girls, and are hiding secrets. Will they support or betray each other?
I appreciate authors who bring little-known history to light. Maybe you know of the Harvey Girls, but they were all new to me. Women had so few options in the 1920s, and becoming a Harvey Girl and enjoying decent wages and opportunities for advancement and travel was enticing to many young women. One of the many popular restaurants in the chain was the Grand Canyon location. I appreciate the author’s vivid historical details, which help develop a strong sense of place.
Many Harvey Girls pursue the job because of travel opportunities and the hope of meeting a rich man. Others like Billy and Charlotte are desperate. Billy needs to earn money to support her family, and Charlotte must escape a toxic marriage. Billy hides the fact that she’s underage (15 going on 16) while Charlotte covers up bruises and avoids recognition out of fear her abusive husband will find her. These young women strive to complete the rigorous training and excel in their work to earn the distinction of becoming a Harvey Girl. Although the work is demanding, it gives them a decent salary, free meals and housing, and independence. As secrets are revealed, the young women must trust each other.
Women supporting women is a strong theme in The Harvey Girls. Other themes include independence, family loyalty, domestic abuse, prejudice/racism, unlikely friendships, and new beginnings. Small sides of suspense and sweet romance round out the story.
Content Consideration: domestic abuse, toxic relationship, racism (hate crime)
Fans of compelling and page-turning histfic with strong, independent female characters will want to add this to their TBRs!
Thanks #NetGalley @GalleryBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheHarveyGirls upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
Set in the 1920s, The Harvey Girls is the story of two women working as waitresses for America’s first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe Railroad. Billie and Charlotte come from different backgrounds, have different reasons for becoming Harvey Girls, and are hiding secrets. Will they support or betray each other?
I appreciate authors who bring little-known history to light. Maybe you know of the Harvey Girls, but they were all new to me. Women had so few options in the 1920s, and becoming a Harvey Girl and enjoying decent wages and opportunities for advancement and travel was enticing to many young women. One of the many popular restaurants in the chain was the Grand Canyon location. I appreciate the author’s vivid historical details, which help develop a strong sense of place.
Many Harvey Girls pursue the job because of travel opportunities and the hope of meeting a rich man. Others like Billy and Charlotte are desperate. Billy needs to earn money to support her family, and Charlotte must escape a toxic marriage. Billy hides the fact that she’s underage (15 going on 16) while Charlotte covers up bruises and avoids recognition out of fear her abusive husband will find her. These young women strive to complete the rigorous training and excel in their work to earn the distinction of becoming a Harvey Girl. Although the work is demanding, it gives them a decent salary, free meals and housing, and independence. As secrets are revealed, the young women must trust each other.
Women supporting women is a strong theme in The Harvey Girls. Other themes include independence, family loyalty, domestic abuse, prejudice/racism, unlikely friendships, and new beginnings. Small sides of suspense and sweet romance round out the story.
Content Consideration: domestic abuse, toxic relationship, racism (hate crime)
Fans of compelling and page-turning histfic with strong, independent female characters will want to add this to their TBRs!
Thanks #NetGalley @GalleryBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheHarveyGirls upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
August 12, 2025
Charlotte and Billie both 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.
Charlotte is my favorite Harvey girl. She is from a privileged background and she has made quite a few bad decisions in her past. But she is one of the first ones to help someone out. She has a heart of gold!
I also enjoyed the camaraderie between all these characters, including some of the “not so nice ones”. As this story unfolds and each of their backgrounds start to come to the surface, their differences come to light. But this does not deter them from growing up and becoming friends.
I enjoyed learning about The Harvey Girls. I had no idea about their history. So, of course I had to go and research. I love a novel that sends me on a quest.
Need a unique historical fiction novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Charlotte is my favorite Harvey girl. She is from a privileged background and she has made quite a few bad decisions in her past. But she is one of the first ones to help someone out. She has a heart of gold!
I also enjoyed the camaraderie between all these characters, including some of the “not so nice ones”. As this story unfolds and each of their backgrounds start to come to the surface, their differences come to light. But this does not deter them from growing up and becoming friends.
I enjoyed learning about The Harvey Girls. I had no idea about their history. So, of course I had to go and research. I love a novel that sends me on a quest.
Need a unique historical fiction novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
July 23, 2025
Set in the 1920’s Charlotte, a Boston Socialite is on the run from her abusive husband and 15 year old Billie born in poverty quits school to work to help provide a better life for her mother and 9 siblings. Both women set out to work as Harvey Girls waitresses. The first hospitality chain on the Santa Fe railroad.
Charlotte keeps her marriage a secret & Billie has to keep her age a secret or they risk being fired. They start out not liking each other but become dear friends.
I really enjoyed learning about the Harvey girls.
Thank you NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Charlotte keeps her marriage a secret & Billie has to keep her age a secret or they risk being fired. They start out not liking each other but become dear friends.
I really enjoyed learning about the Harvey girls.
Thank you NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
4.25 stars
Fay's novel uncovers a part of American history that I knew nothing about--the Harvey Girls & the hospitality industry in the 1920's. It's a good story about female friendship that's set (mostly) at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. (Read the Author's Note first--there are no spoilers & it really sets the scene.)
Fay's novel uncovers a part of American history that I knew nothing about--the Harvey Girls & the hospitality industry in the 1920's. It's a good story about female friendship that's set (mostly) at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. (Read the Author's Note first--there are no spoilers & it really sets the scene.)
November 1, 2025
This book was so interesting. My great-grandmother was a Harvey Girl but I never knew exactly what that was. This is a historical fiction depiction of what life was like for Billie and Charlotte as Harvey Girls. Billie is a 15 yo who pretends to be older to get the job and send money home to her family. Charlotte is living a lie trying to escape an abusive husband. Both girls bond over their work, their secrets and become the best of friends as they embrace the adventure and new experiences bring a Harvey Girl brings. This book kept me hooked from the beginning. I didn’t know this part of American history and now I am glad I do.
November 10, 2025
Great book - couldn't put it down and finished it on a lazy Sunday. Lost a star for the last chapter, though, totally confusing and took me out of the story.
December 4, 2025
I remember watching the 1940s musical film "The Harvey Girls" when I was a kid, and there was just something about it that always stuck with me. This new novel, set in the 1920s, did a wonderful job of telling the story of the journey so many young women made to become waitresses for the Fred Harvey Company. It's a fascinating bit of history, and I really wasn't aware of the lasting legacy of Harvey's mark on the hospitality industry in America.
October 21, 2025
This was an enjoyable read and the author had me turning those pages. I learned alot about the Grand Canyon. Those readers who are passionate about our National Parks will enjoy this book.
For me, the ending didn't stand up to the rest of the book, therefore I settled on 3 stars versus 4.
I do like this author's writing style so I will definitely seek out more of her work.
For me, the ending didn't stand up to the rest of the book, therefore I settled on 3 stars versus 4.
I do like this author's writing style so I will definitely seek out more of her work.
October 31, 2025
I had never heard about Fred Harvey, a man with a vision to provide food and hotel rooms as the Southwest was expanded by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway System at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. (Remember Judy Garland’s snappy song?) His entrepreneurial spirit was continued by his sons after he died, providing jobs and housing for so many. Perhaps more importantly, he provided women with opportunities for good-paying jobs, advancement, a safe work and living culture, and spreading their wings a bit. The center for training new waitresses was Topeka, Kansas, and in 1926, that is where the novel begins.
The main characters are Billie, a fifteen-year-old young woman desperately trying to keep her large family afloat with wages sent home and Charlotte, a twenty-two-year-old woman, originally from Boston, desperately trying to escape an abusive husband. They couldn’t be more different, and their fictional story of connection, relationships, personal decisions that baffle them, and life lessons they never imagined is one of generosity and kindness.
An unexpected thread within this novel is Charlotte’s interest in Native American history and culture, first reading out of boredom, then, curiosity and finally, in preparation to become a tour guide in and around the Grand Canyon. She is outraged and saddened by much of what she learns: systemic pushing people off their land, complete disregard and disrespect, involuntary boarding schools for children, and she is committed to sharing accurate information to tourists regardless of their discomfort. This thread is beautifully woven through the story.
The last pages, set in 1996, bring Billie’s and Charlotte’s stories, two Harvey Girls, to their most satisfying end. No surprise that I wept.
The main characters are Billie, a fifteen-year-old young woman desperately trying to keep her large family afloat with wages sent home and Charlotte, a twenty-two-year-old woman, originally from Boston, desperately trying to escape an abusive husband. They couldn’t be more different, and their fictional story of connection, relationships, personal decisions that baffle them, and life lessons they never imagined is one of generosity and kindness.
An unexpected thread within this novel is Charlotte’s interest in Native American history and culture, first reading out of boredom, then, curiosity and finally, in preparation to become a tour guide in and around the Grand Canyon. She is outraged and saddened by much of what she learns: systemic pushing people off their land, complete disregard and disrespect, involuntary boarding schools for children, and she is committed to sharing accurate information to tourists regardless of their discomfort. This thread is beautifully woven through the story.
The last pages, set in 1996, bring Billie’s and Charlotte’s stories, two Harvey Girls, to their most satisfying end. No surprise that I wept.
June 9, 2025
The Harvey Girls
By: Juliette Fay
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Tour: Get Red PR
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.
By: Juliette Fay
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
Tour: Get Red PR
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.
August 15, 2025
A beautifully crafted book set in 1920s scenery. Two women who couldn’t be more different face difficulties as they come together to overcome.
One on the run and one trying to make money for her family. Harvey house pays well so it’s worth it to put up with the rigid rules and the strict atmosphere. Danger lurks for the Harvey girls, more than they anticipated, but with wit and found family they continue to come out on top.
I absolutely loved getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. I felt fully immersed in the story and as if I was one of them. I don’t read many historic books but this one really helped change my mind about the genre. It felt like life… not all grit, not all humor, not all tragedy, not all love! But a mix of what truly happens when someone lives it.
One on the run and one trying to make money for her family. Harvey house pays well so it’s worth it to put up with the rigid rules and the strict atmosphere. Danger lurks for the Harvey girls, more than they anticipated, but with wit and found family they continue to come out on top.
I absolutely loved getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. I felt fully immersed in the story and as if I was one of them. I don’t read many historic books but this one really helped change my mind about the genre. It felt like life… not all grit, not all humor, not all tragedy, not all love! But a mix of what truly happens when someone lives it.
July 9, 2025
The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay
Thank you to @getredprbooks for this gifted copy.
1926: Charlotte is on the run from an abusive husband, Billie is the oldest of 9 and her family desperately needs money. Both women are hired in the same day to be Harvey Girls, waitresses that serve in the first hospitality train on the Santa Fe railroad.
I thought the history behind The Harvey Girls was really interesting and I liked how they paid women a living wage, even 100 years ago. I enjoyed the setting of a restaurant on a train car and I enjoy reading about this time period.
Thank you to @getredprbooks for this gifted copy.
1926: Charlotte is on the run from an abusive husband, Billie is the oldest of 9 and her family desperately needs money. Both women are hired in the same day to be Harvey Girls, waitresses that serve in the first hospitality train on the Santa Fe railroad.
I thought the history behind The Harvey Girls was really interesting and I liked how they paid women a living wage, even 100 years ago. I enjoyed the setting of a restaurant on a train car and I enjoy reading about this time period.
August 21, 2025
Terrific "feel good" historical fiction novel about two very different young women who go to work as Harvey Girls in the Southwest in 1926. I totally needed this book as I've been on a bender reading dark murder mysteries. Not to say this book wasn't serious, it certainly was. Loved how well the story flowed, as well as the trajectory of Charlotte and Billie's friendship. Loved reading the afterwords by the author whi h detailed all her lengthy research and creative process. Terrific book, would recommend it 👌
December 12, 2025
I had never heard of the Harvey Girls (or, if I did, it went right by me), women who were highly trained to be waitresses at Fred Harvey restaurants and hotels along the Santa Fe Railway from the 1880s to the 1950s, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this novel about two young women who worked as waitresses. This “historical lite” novel set in the 1920s features the beautiful Grand Canyon setting and a multitude of appealing characters, especially Charlotte and Billie. And the weep-worthy ending was perfect. This has a place in my top books of 2025 list.
This is perfect for readers who want to learn something they didn't know much about, and it inspired me to read more about the Harvey Girls, such as Leslie Poling-Kempes's "The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West" and Dana Stabenow's forthcoming mystery, "The Harvey Girl."
This is a good book for fans of authors who enjoy novels about women in history, including Paula McLain, Ariel Lawhon, Gill Paul, and Marie Benedict.
This is perfect for readers who want to learn something they didn't know much about, and it inspired me to read more about the Harvey Girls, such as Leslie Poling-Kempes's "The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West" and Dana Stabenow's forthcoming mystery, "The Harvey Girl."
This is a good book for fans of authors who enjoy novels about women in history, including Paula McLain, Ariel Lawhon, Gill Paul, and Marie Benedict.
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