The Songbirds of Florence

by Olivia Spooner

A sweeping, captivating, inspiring WWII story from the No.1 bestselling author of The Girl from London.

In 1942, a group of young women arrive in Cairo, Egypt. The Tuis, named after the beautiful New Zealand songbird, are the first women from their country to serve overseas. They are to provide respite and a touch of home to weary soldiers returning from the front line.

Addy joined the Tuis for the adventure. Vivacious and outgoing, she is the life of the party, with an unforgettable voice. Margot is quiet and withdrawn, grieving the young husband she lost to the war. Despite their differences, the girls become fast friends.

When the Tuis are relocated to Italy to set up clubs in grand venues in Florence, Bari and Rome, Addy and Margot are enchanted by the culture - from the stunning sights to the whirlwind of concerts and parties. But despite the exhilarating and romantic nature of being abroad in the company of soldiers, dark shadows loom.

And as their illusion of peace is shattered with news of a devastating attack, Margot and Addy will find their endurance pushed to the limit, as they discover the true meaning of courage, sacrifice and sisterhood amidst the brutal reality of WWII.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2025

Reviews

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me and loved this book maybe because my Dad was stationed at Cairo and my Father in law was in Florence I'd never heard of the Tuis and wished my Dad was still alive so I could quiz him I will be looking out for her other books

[Jenny Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about the role Kiwi women played in WW2 serving time in Egypt and Italy in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Known as the Tuis they were there to help support the men fighting. As I had 2 uncles that fought over there it was interesting to read about the battles they were involved in. It is no wonder so many came back from the war shattered both physically and mentally and unwilling to share the horrors they had suffered.

[Karen Kozuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read about the Tuis during WW2. Am going to look for the Peter McIntyre painting.

[Madeleine Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved this book. Did not even realise it was written from a New Zealand perspective of WW2 before reading. Loved the story line and how it was based off true events.

[Pashy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Songbird of Florence takes a trip down memory lane and reminisces about WWII which is an era not so far away yet so different to the world we live in today. The story follows Margot and Addy who are enlisted as Tui's. This was a team of women I had no idea about until I read this book and I was so intrigued that I did some research of my own after I started reading this. Olivia is such an amazing writer as her writing is so whimsical and easy to follow. This is an incredible edition to the historical fiction genre and a must read!

[readingwithmissbec · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the Happiest man on earth… Then you’ll like The Songbirds of Florence.

I had the pleasure of reading this historical fiction book, The Songbirds of Florence as a buddy readalong with @tandemcollectiveglobal.

Thank you to @hachetteaus for the review copy for Renee and I to read each! This was an Inspring and eye opening read, that gave our hearts a bunch of different emotions and thoughts! It was an honour getting read what these brave and strong women did to help in the war!!

#tandemglobalcollective #hachette #thesongbirdsofflorence #historicalfiction

We rated this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Annenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the read!

[Aleysha Kerrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. So much deep history and knowledge of the powerful roles woman held during WWII. I love these books. Every one of read of hers have been 5/5.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

read a little bit like fanfiction for the NZ Army and idk if i’m about that life.

[Wendy Bence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Simon Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite this book taking a very different tack to her previous one it has been a delight to read. Spooner right with a gentle, engaging, tone that draws you into a story and the characters that inhabited. I really can’t wait for her next outing.

[Judy Murray]

A very enjoyable read, based on the women's auxiliary army Corp during WWII and the Tuis who were sent overseas.

[Lisbeth Zabihi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Efter en lidt langsom start, blev jeg grebet af denne fortælling.

Vi følger 2 unge kvinder fra New Zealand, der har meldt sig under fanerne. De bliver i 1942 udsendt som Tuis til først Cairo og senere Italien. Deres arbejde består i at være værtinder for de udsendte soldater. De servere kaffe og sandwiches, udlåner bøger, hjælper med køb af gaver til konen, kærsten, moderen eller børn. Og mest af alt: de er der, de holder hånd, de taler med soldaterne, de danser med dem. Alt i alt, hjælper med at gøre tilværelsen lidt mere almindelig, når soldaterne har små pauser i kampene.

Margot er ung enke. Hendes mand var blandt de første der blev dræbt i krigen. Vi følger hendes udvikling igennem krigsårene, fra at være en sørgende enke, til at finde sig selv. Vejen til selverkendelse og selvforståelse, går gennem krigens rædsler. Hun finder kærligheden, men mister den (måske) igen. Men først og fremmest, finder hun sig selv.

Addy er den festglade unge kvinde, der bare er ude på sjov og ballade. Hun elsker at være blevet frigjort fra sine forældre. Hun følte at de holdt hende i for kort snor. Og hun danser sig nærmest igennem de første par år af krigen. Men også hun, opdager at ikke alt er sjov og ballade. De unge mænd hun har danset med, sunget med, hygget med, dør på slagmarken. Og pludselig er krigen blevet så meget mere alvorlig. Addy finder trøst i det italienske køkken. Her falder der ro over hende, og krigens rædsler skubbes i baggrunden. Også hun finder kærligheden, men den er ikke gengældt.

Jeg har ikke tidligere hørt om The Tuis. Så jeg har lært noget nyt i denne roman. Og jeg må sige, at når man forsøger at google The Tuis, så er det godt nok sparsomt med oplysninger. Men de unge kvinder fulgte deres mænd igennem krigen.

Virkelig interessant og læseværdig roman.

[Renee Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an enchanting dive into WWII historical fiction that feels fresh and heartwarming. The author’s attention to detail brings to life the Italian settings and the journey of the Tuis—the spirited New Zealand Women's Auxiliary Army Corps members. Their unique role in bringing comfort to soldiers on the frontlines gives readers a fresh perspective on the contributions of women during the war, far from the conventional battlefield heroism.

Despite not typically leaning toward historical fiction, the blend of camaraderie, adventure, and vivid scenery in The Songbirds of Florence is utterly absorbing. Spooner’s characters, like Addy and her close-knit friends, are relatable and genuinely endearing, making it easy to get invested in their lives and friendships. The book’s warmth makes it feel like an escape, drawing readers into the characters' close bonds and their brave, compassionate service. With subtle romantic elements, humor, and deeply human connections, this book offers a refreshing angle on wartime experiences, making it easy to see why you'd want to "hang out with Addy and Goat!"

[kels · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank you to Tandem Collective for letting us buddy read The Songbirds of Florence which was a beautifully written historical fiction. The story follows Addy and Margot who enlist themselves to the women’s auxiliary army corps as Tuis. Often forgotten, the story serves as a reminder of the women who sacrificed so much despite being on the other side of the battle in WWII.

Addy and Margot’s friendship was so beautiful to watch and it was great seeing Margot come out of her shell and open up as their friendship blossomed. Through trials and tribulations, the story is beautifully written to portray the courage of the Tui women.

We also enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia and being taken back to that era. Though we weren’t born until a few decades later (being 90’s kids) the way Olivia wrote and described each character and setting made it feel like we were right there in the barracks. The Songbirds of Florence is a story that’s both easy to read and will have you hooked until the very end! Definitely a must read for any historical fiction and romance lover.

[Aunty Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story based around female service volunteers working overseas supporting the 2nd New Zealand battalion in World War II. Their job is to provide a comforting space for soldiers on leave from the front at various “New Zealand Clubs” located reasonably close to where the action is occurring. They spend their days making sandwiches, serving orange juice, discussing books and distracting the soldiers from the toll of the war. Starting in Egypt and moving to various locations around Italy, what started as somewhat of an adventure, becomes serious and, at times, horrifying. This novel communicated a great deal of well-researched information about these women (known as the “Tuis”) and the important work they did. The characters were likeable and the story moved along at a good pace. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An enjoyable read, overall.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awful crass attempt at the NZ accent in the audio book. We do not sound like this, except in an Australian send up comedy. It is extremely off putting. I won’t be listening again to any of this narrators set in NZ or with NZ characters. The book itself was well written & very interesting as it is rare to read about NZers during the wars. I had never heard of the Tui’s before & was so intrigued I have researched their involvement in WW2 myself. From a personal perspective my uncles were in the NZ forces but would never speak of their experiences so it was interesting to read what life was like for them. Yes I will be reading more of this authors books, but only the written word as the poor narration was a distraction.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really well told story about a lesser known aspect of New Zealand’s involvement in WW2. A group of NZ women enlisted and under the tutelage of Lady Freyberg became The Tūīs, whose job it was to make life easier for the troops. They worked exceptionally hard and they were at times abused and used but their camaraderie shone through. The story follows 2 of them, recently war widowed Margot from Masterton and Addy who is escaping her tightly run family in Auckland. They start at the NZ Services Club in Cairo, then when the war in the desert ends they are transferred to Bari, then to Rome then to Florence. It is the story of spirited women who did something but have since been largely forgotten. Thank you, Olivia Spooner for filling in a lot of gaps for me!

[Anna Matthews]

As someone who doesn't read much historical fiction, this was a very accessible book to delve into the world of world war two. the two woman's perspectives were interesting and the book was full of turns and action. One of the love affairs was predictable, but the other kept me wondering. A lot of the language was simple but not in a bad way, it told the tale that needed to be told and created great imagery. I am pleased I've read this book now after going along to the We Read Auckland night where Olivia spoke about the book. There were even some people in the audience who had mothers that had been Tuis! Thank you for opening my eyes to this piece of NZ history that should be more widely known about.

[Charlotte Lobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterful writing of a beautiful and heartfelt story about the Tui's (a group of women from New Zealand) who served overseas in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. The story was the perfect blend of love, trauma and friendship, and I loved the Kiwi aspect of the story. I never knew about the Tui's before reading this book - so I always love learning something new. But for me, this novel had a particularly big impact on me as it contained glimpses of our NZ soldiers and gave me an insight into what life would have been like for my Grandad who was fighting in the same areas as the soldiers mentioned in the book.

[Amarlee Jagoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, I had never heard of the Tui's who were stationed in Cairo and Florence and other Italian cities to provide a corner of home for the Kiwi's fighting in WW2.The Tui's were part of the NZ women's auxiliary corps and many did not know what their role would be when the arrived in unknown lands.
While the story was mostly about the relationship between Margot and Addy and did at times seem like they were living in a protective bubble, the author did manage to share some incite on what it might have felt like during this dark time in history.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a powerful and emotional story set during World War II with Florence as a stunning yet haunting backdrop. The characters are well-developed, and the story gives you a real sense of the struggles and bravery people faced. While the pacing is a bit slow at times, it’s a gripping read with plenty of heart. A solid 4-star book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction centred around war.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not 100% sure I knew this was a NZ author when I started to read it. I had read about it on a website and decided that because it was based on kiwi women going to assist with the war effort that I would read it. I am glad that I did! It was nice seeing familiar towns and cities that the different characters came from. I did enjoy the story and felt for all the characters as they went through their lives so far from home.

[Faye Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading anything which gives me more information about New Zealand's participation in World War I and World War Two. I found this a particularly interesting book because it featured the camp and surroundings where my uncle served part of his World War Two experience. we also don't hear a lot about our women participation so I found all that particularly interesting and I recommend it for anyone else

[Harlee Triffett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful read.
I was lucky enough to be a part of a book train and received a copy of this stunning book. This is a historical fiction about world war 2 and the role the new Zealand tuis played.
Add a dash of romance in there and this book will captivate you and pull at your heart strings. Highly recommend!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 8. Based on a true story of a group of women in WWII called the Tuis. They enlisted in the army and worked in the NZ clubs to support the troops and help take their minds off the war. They started off in Egypt then off to Italy. Not something I’d heard about. A good story, a bit gushy for me. Worth a read. 🤓📚 #tsreadinglist2025 #tsrecommendations

[Aimee Findon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reeled in and didn't want to let go! A beautifully written piece of historical fiction set during WWII. The links to New Zealand are informative and relatable as a kiwi myself. The characters are developed so well as a reader I connected so well to their stories.
If you like historical fiction, I'd recommend this one for you.

[Joanna Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! I am a New Zealander and both my grandparents were in WW2. My gran was in the WAAF and my granddad was a bomber pilot for the RAF, so I really love books about this era. I would have loved to have been a Tui, if I had been alive in those days. I hope Olivia will write more books about WW2.

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book making the reader aware of an interesting peace of NZ war history relating to the role of women . But beyond this, the book is rather light weight in plot and character development. The writing style is neither gifted nor particularly entertaining so this turns out to be a very “vanilla” read. Of mild interest, not bad, but no more than that

[Tina Towers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wow. Had all the feels. The 2 main characters Addy and Margie what very likeable young ladies. The sacrifice the love the success the heartache the love the inspiration. And the reunion 🥰