The American Boys

by Olivia Spooner

An unforgettable WWII love story inspired by the arrival of the US troops in Wellington.

Wellington, 1942. Lorna's brothers are overseas fighting for their lives, and as war rages in the Pacific, 20,000 Marines are sent to keep New Zealand safe. The Americans find their new post strange and unwelcoming, except for the Kiwi girls. When Lorna is dragged along on a double date, she befriends Stan, a Marine from Chicago.

Handsome and kind, Stan is the golden boy of his family. When he is posted to Guadalcanal, his wayward younger brother Alfie joins the Marines in Wellington. Lorna finds Alfie inexplicably infuriating - the complete opposite of Stan. But as he is sent off to fight, too, she can't stop thinking about him.

Which brother will return, how many hearts will be broken over the course of this brutal war, and will Lorna ever feel safe again?

Genres: Historical

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 17, 2026

Reviews

[Lakinloveslit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Spooner’s books are always a guaranteed great read and this was no exception. Set in Wellington in the 1940s when the US Marines were stationed at Paekākāriki, this opened my eyes to a period of WWII history I had never learnt about. I was lucky enough to be sent an early copy of this to review from my friends @bookheronz - you can pre-order it from their website now (and check out my review while you’re there hehe).
We follow kiwi girls Lorna and Karen, best friends who meet the Americans and form friendships and relationships. Lorna’s older brothers are fighting overseas, and the arrival of the Americans gives her family something else to focus on and they welcome them with open arms. Lorna first befriends golden child Stan, but when he’s shipped off to Guadalcanal his younger brother Alfie arrives in Wellington. Lorna finds Alfie infuriating - the complete opposite of Stan, but they form a sort of friendship and she never forgets him after he too is sent to fight.
I don’t want to say too much without giving away the story, but this was just wonderful. Olivia has such a talent for making her characters feel like real people and I was completely absorbed and invested in the lives of all of the characters. Reading from various POVs also added a lot of depth to the story and helped me feel connected to the characters. While a love story at its core, it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of war which I appreciated. I absolutely loved Lorna as a character - she was independent and wasn’t out to impress anyone. Her and Karen’s friendship was just lovely, and her parents were so kind when others weren’t. This is a wonderful read with a satisfying ending and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction!

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book I didn’t know I needed to read. The author has clearly done her research and I loved being immersed in 1942 Wellington. The arrival of the handsome Marines, the excitement, dances - I loved every sentence and couldn’t read fast enough.

I’ve only one gripe really, the book was fantastic until about 70%, then I started to feel it was losing its thrill and drag, whilst in other aspects time seemed to skip oddly fast. One moment Lorna’s just met a guy, the next we hear she’s getting married. And then next we hear, she really is married, to a completely different fella? Not to mention this seemed to serve no purpose other than to give Alfie some extra angst, not that the man needed it.

I can’t believe Stan really died, I was wholly expecting him to do a Rafe from Pearl Harbour to show up and create an anguish infused love triangle. I shed a few tears when I reached the end and realised that really was it. 😢

I would have loved a few things to be different, but all in all an engaging and touching read. To every Marine that served and sacrificed in the Pacific, and every Kiwi soldier that gave their lives - thank you.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The American Boys is the first Olivia Spooner novel I have read, and she has written three in total. Spooner is quickly establishing a name as a great NZ historical fiction writer. Spooner focuses on New Zealand’s involvement in different aspects of WW2. Her previous two books: The Girl from London and The Songbirds of Florence have been bestsellers, and I don’t doubt this latest book will be a success too.
I was drawn to The American Boys because this novel is mostly set in Wellington during the 1940 and features the campaign against Japan during the Pacific War. Two things I have a personal connection to.
The book follows Lorna a young Wellington women fresh out of school, two of her three brothers are serving in North Africa, the third and youngest, Alfie, is still at school. Life for Lorna and her family is steady, but tough, they brace themselves daily for bad news and live frugally to help the war effort. This all changes in June 1942 when Wellington is ‘invaded’ by 20,000 Marines from America. Overnight the city and the people within it were changed. These men brought with them an injection of money, vibrancy and rationed products like chocolate and stockings. The women of Wellington were especially taken with these charming Marines, and a new era of NZ and US relations was born.
When Lorna meets a young Marine named Stan, life begins to have some colour again. Through the eyes of Stan, we see New Zealand afresh, he feels like he has landed on another planet. One mostly inhabited by sheep with no decent coffee to be found anywhere, and pubs that close at 6pm. What unfolds will change them both forever.
Spooner is an excellent writer, and I was quickly absorbed into this novel. She weaves a story, that at its heart, is about love within a family, but also romantic love. The characters she has created are beautifully realised, and because of this, the story flows effortlessly. I was sad to let go of her cast of characters, but glad for an ending that left my heart full.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Spooner has done it again. Following on from Songbirds of Florence and The Girl From London, she tells a story of New Zealand's involvement in World War II, but this time they're at home. American Marines sail into port and quickly start to meet the locals. I found myself very invested in everyone's stories and the pages turned rapidly. It's clear she's done her research and it really helped to paint a picture of that time in our history.

[Sarah Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book from the first page till the last. I didn’t want it to end. The story was heartfelt and realistic and told a story of a time when there was so much loss but also the joy in the way we live and lived in New Zealand.

[Caron King · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 36. Set in Wellington during WWII when the Americans were camped there. About family, and a bit of romance. An enjoyable read. 🤓📚 #tsreadinglist2025 #tsrecommendations

[Kate Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good read but Alfie was too much of an asshole to feel confident about the happy ending.

[Ann Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A really interesting piece of New Zealand history with the account of American soldiers based in Wellington during WW2.