The Red Cross Girls: An emotional and unputdownable WW2 historical saga

by Susanna Bavin

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

About the author

I am a saga writer, living in beautiful North Wales. Moving here was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream, but my writing is inspired by my Mancunian roots.

Reviews

[Helen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Red Cross Girls is the first book in a brand new series from Susanna Bavin and as always, it’s a joy getting to know Susanna’s characters. She has perfected the knack of making them feel like your very own pals.

Set in and around Lancaster, 1943, Dulcie, Rosalind and Livvy are thrust together, away from their homes, in their ‘war work’ as Red Cross workers. Throughout the entire story, I really sensed the importance and value given to war work; everyone was committed to doing their bit and making whatever sacrifices were necessary.

Dulcie and Rosalind have featured in Susanna’s previous series, The Home Front Girls, but only as background characters. Now they’re front and centre in The Red Cross Girls series with their own stories and truths to share. And it soon becomes evident that each of the girls have things back at home or in their past that they’d prefer to keep under wraps. They’re carrying heavy loads that require a great deal of emotional strength and I sincerely hope as this series develops, that those heavy loads become lighter for the girls.

The Red Cross Girls is a heartfelt tale of love, grief and friendship in the midst of war. I found the storytelling to be so incredibly informative too. There is such attention to detail in everything; the various aspects of war work, the contents of the Red Cross parcels, the evacuees and the geographical location.

I may have reached the end of The Red Cross Girls but it’s a great feeling knowing this is only the beginning of getting to know Dulcie, Rosalind and Livvy…..there’s more to come and I can’t wait!

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Cross Girls a WW2 romance

I enjoyed reading about the Red Cross girls, Dulcie, Rosalind, and Livvy. What I liked about this story, is that while it is set in Lancaster during WWII, and that fact is ever present throughout the novel, with the girls' jobs, as well as mentions of rations, black out tape, and various things that the war created, it also shows how all these people still had to carry on with their everyday lives, even if their "everyday" was a little different.

At first, the story goes back and forth between all 3 ladies perspectives, so we can get to know the characters. Then it focuses on Livvy, and Dr. Jonah Kemble, where we get to read from both of their POVs. As Jonah is doing his war time work, and getting the school children to participate, he meets Livvy, as she has unofficially become the children's Rounders coach. It was love at first site for Jonah, but Livvy not so much!

Livvy is going through a lot emotionally, with one of her new friends coming down ill, and keeping up her duties at the Vicarage. Jonah wants to be there for Livvy, even if that means just being her chauffer in the evenings. Jonah's character is immediately likeable, he is kind and caring, and what he does for Livvy is just so romantic, even if they weren't dating!

The war time work that Dulcie and Rosalind participate in is fascinating, I enjoy reading about different jobs like this that I didn't really realize existed.

Can't forget about Abigail! Livvy's adorable cat! Abigail added a fun and cute aspect to the story.

Thank you to Bookouture, the author, and netgalley for a copy!

Some fav quotes:
"‘Have I interrupted a murder?’ Jonah asked. ‘It’s more serious than that.’ She smiled at him, sending heat cascading through his chest. ‘The cat wants her tea.’ ‘That was the cat?’ he asked. ‘It sounded more like a sabre-toothed tiger.’"

"He took off his specs and rose politely, though he had to make an undignified grab to prevent his papers from scattering far and wide, which probably made him look like a cack-handed idiot just when he most wanted to appear relaxed, confident, level-headed and generally worth going out with."

"She laughed. ‘Of course not. There’s only you.’ ‘That’s what a chap likes to hear.’"

"...pearls also symbolize grace, and that makes this pearl perfect for you, because you are loveliness itself."

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 1943 a misty day in Barrow-in-Furness, which is on the north shore of Morecambe Bay in Lancashire. Dulcie is complaining to her husband about the cheese ration changing, her husband works at a Shipyard on the Manchester Ship Canal doing repairs. Before the war Dulcie had been a shopgirl in Grange-Over-Sands but now she works at the Shipyard canteen and one thing that keeps going round in her head is that she feels tied down being married to Rod and she always has the thoughts going around in her head about Sally and Rod and what happened in the past. She makes a decision to go along to the labour exchange and see what jobs are available just to get away from Rod. She is offered a job that she was told would be working for the Red Cross and the St John War Organisation, she has no idea what this job entails but as it means she can get away from her husband she took the job with no hesitation. Arriving at her new job she is immediately surprised at just grand the building is and her and the other two women (Livvy and Rosalind) are soon settling down in their new surroundings. Livvy and Rosalind are taken in by Dulcies description of her happy whirlwind wedding and marriage, how surprised they will be when they discover the truth.
They are soon enjoying their work packing boxes to be sent overseas, small luxuries such as a pack of playing cards or a sewing kit, definitely luxuries if you are a prisoner of war! They are soon introduced to other residents there and Livvy is given a different job to her friends, she has a group of evacuees who live in the vicarage to look after and her new job is now the vicarage housekeeper, she enjoys it immensely and the children enjoy all the activities she organises for them. But there are secrets that the girls feel that they must keep secret and not even tell each other anything that is happening in there private lifes.

A truly lovely story of friendships between the three girls, where sometimes even secrets don't get in the way of friendships. I have given it five stars and would have given it more if I could. I'm so pleased there is more to come, I can't wait to read more about the Red Cross Girls.

#Bookouture
#Netgalley
#TheRedCrossGirls
#SusannaBavin

[Melissa * bookedwithmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about female friendships. I think that’s one of my favorite things that get written into historical fictions about wartime. When authors write about women during the war, so many seem to make a girl gang that bond women together in a time of need. Susanna does a areat job of that in this book.

Olivia, Rosalind, Dulcie & Connie form what may seem like an unlikely bunch. Olivia, Rosalind & Dulcie sign up to do war work with the Red Cross, and Connie is the wife of their boss. Rosalind and Dulcie are given roles that they are forced to keep secret from the others, and Olivia ends up being a maid.

This book is told from multiple POVs. It took me a minute to get used to each chapter being told by a different person, but by getting each person’s POV directly from them I felt more connected to each character.

Each woman comes into their friendship with secrets. As the story unfolds they share with each other. Sometimes I find it frustrating to read about how things were back then for women. I know things are far from perfect now but I hate the idea of the things they had to go through back then.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

[Elaine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as it’s based in Lancaster 1943. Livvy is taking up a new job in Lancaster sorting parcels out for the POW’s. When she arrives she meets Rosalind and Dulcie.After a while Rosalind and Dulcie are assigned a different job and Livvy is sent to the vicarage as housekeeper. Livvy meets Dr Kemble who is working along side Rosalind and Dulcie and finds him very handsome but thinks she can no longer love another man.Livvy has a secret that nobody knows about which is stopping her getting close to him. Should she tell him and would he turn away from her if he knows? This is a great book and can’t wait for the next in the series.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Cross Girls by Susanna Bavin ⭐⭐⭐⭐

3 women show up to the Bowland House for work. Each for their own reason. Dulcie is escaping an abusive marriage. Rosalina is hiding a secret from her past. Livvy is hiding from her past.
In this emotional historical fiction , these 3 women find comfort, courage and friendship from each other. Together they can face tomorrow.
If you enjoy historical fiction this is definitely one to put on your tbr pile. You can do so, if you pre-order your copy today for a September 16th release date.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutue for the advanced copy for my honest thoughts.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant start to a new series from this author.
Emotional new WW2 Lancaster wartime saga.
Dulcie Grant, Rosalind Rushton and Livvy Hampton settled in the village of Wyre Holme, with the start of hearing all about these girls, who become best friends and can they become close enough to share their secrets.
War work to help their boys fighting overseas, the red cross girls certainly have a story to tell.
A big story of friendship and love captured in the new series that I could not fault.
Beautiful just beautiful from me.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this story to be hugely enjoyable. It introduces us to Dulcie, Rosalind, and Livvy, who end up working with the Red Cross during WWII and they form a firm friendship. It is remarkable the characters attention to detail throughout the hard work and dedication. The plot is drama packed and I was engrossed from the beginning to the end. I felt connected to the characters through their warmth and I am looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It follows the friendship of Dulcie, Rosalind, and Livvy, who work with the Red Cross during WWII, making secret packages that help soldiers escape. They are all looking for fresh starts. This is the start of a new series by the author of The Homefront Girls, who also appear in this story.

I really enjoyed the stories of all three girls, and I'm looking forward to reading about their journey. There was romance and war work, abusive behavior within marriage, as well as dealing with breaking free. I'm looking forward to the next in the series

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.