It's 1926, and former Boston socialite Charlotte is on the run from her abusive husband. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Billie is leaving home to earn some money to support her parents and eight younger siblings. While they don't have much in common on paper, both women end up being accepted as Harvey Girls, the picture-perfect waitresses who staff the first hospitality chain, along the railroad between Kansas and California. Neither Charlotte nor Billie fits the rules of eligibility for Harvey Girls — who must be at least 18 and unmarried — and their secrets bind the women together as they undergo training in Topeka and get their first post at the Grand Canyon.
This is a part of 20th Century American history that I haven't often seen in historical fiction, and this book made me want to learn more about the Harvey Girls, the first all-female workforces in the West. The main characters and their growth felt realistic, and I particularly enjoyed Charlotte's journey to self-discovery regarding the Indigenous cultures surrounding the hotel at the Grand Canyon. Highly recommended!
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