The Ops Room Girls (Women's Auxiliary Air Force #1) by Vicki Beeby
Genre: Wartime fiction, WW2, Sagas, Historical fiction
Read: 16th August 2021
Published: 16th July 2020
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
DESCRIPTION:
When Evie’s dreams come crashing down, she’s determined to still make something of herself in these trying times…
It is 1939 and working class Evie Bishop has received a scholarship to study mathematics at Oxford when tragedy turns her life upside down. Evie must seek a new future for herself and, inspired to contribute to the war effort, joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as an Ops Room plotter.
Posted to a fighter station on the Sussex Coast, Evie befriends two other WAAFs – shy, awkward May and flirty, glamorous Jess. Faced with earning the approval of strict officers and finding their way in a male dominated world, the three girls band together to overcome challenges, navigate new romances and keep their pilots safe in the skies.
But the German bombers seem to know more than they should about the base’s operations, and soon Evie, May and Jess are caught up in a world more dangerous than they ever imagined…
This heartwarming, dramatic World War II saga is perfect for fans of Daisy Styles, Kate Thompson and Rosie Clarke.
MY REVIEW:
As I'm a real sucker for wartime sagas, and there is a slew of them to devour, so I wasted no time in jumping on THE OPS ROOM GIRLS by Vicki Beeby. The author is a new one on me having not come across her before and this can always be risk when you aren't familiar with any of their work. But I needn't have worried as this was a wonderful story focusing on three women who become friends when posted at the Amberton airfield in on the Sussex coast. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that it is primarily Evie's story with the the other two women's stories to follow in "Christmas with the Ops Room Girls" and "Victory for the Ops Room Girls" thus completing the trilogy.
But first we go back to the beginning to where it all began...
Beginning in Oxford in December 1939, a working class girl who is academically gifted, Evie Bishop works in a grocery shop awaiting news of the scholarship she has applied for to read mathematics at Oxford University. Her hard work and dedication have earned the scholarship but when her beloved father falls ill, having never recovered from the mustard gas attacks in the Great War over two decades before, he urges Evie not to give up on her dreams before he passes away. But her mother has other plans believing that after spending money on Evie's private schooling, it was now high time that she paid her way.
Still intent on pursuing her degree at Oxford she is shocked to discover the circumstances that now prevent her from following the path she had carved for herself in those dreams she had promised her father she wouldn't give up on. After exchanging heated words with her mother, Evie slams out of the house and finds herself in front of the recruitment office where she impulsively signs up for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) to try and salvage something of her independence. Her mathematical ability sees her posted as a Clerk, Special Duties, as a plotter in the Ops Room at RAF Amberton on the Sussex coast.
On the journey south, Evie befriends shy and reserved May who is also on the way to her first posting at Amberton. Upon arrival, the two women meet the glamourous effervescent Jess who gives them a tour of the base and their new digs in an old stately home overlooking the airfield. Together, the women become fast friends as they find camaraderie whilst navigating the male dominated world of the RAF.
Evie and Jess work together in the Ops Room, otherwise known as "The Hole", overseered by the formidable Flight Officer Ellerby, nicknamed Hellerby for her fierce and imposing presence. But after a nervous and fumbling start, Evie soon earns the respect of her commanding officer as one of the base's best plotters. Although she is not on the battlefields, her skills and knowledge are essential in relaying information from the observers to the pilots in the air as they work at plotting the course of both British and enemy aircraft. It is a learning curve for Evie but it is one in which she excels whilst serving her country as well as finding a sense of purpose.
One of the officers also overseeing operations in the Ops Room is Squadron Leader Alex Kincaith who, despite his discontent at being grounded, soon finds himself noticing new girl Evie...and she him. Of course, Jess had already given her the lowdown on Kincaith who was apparently known for his grouchiness as well as his good looks. But behind the facade lays the burden of a deep guilt and anxiety that eats away at him constantly. He longs to regain his squadron and redeem himself but over half of them were lost on their last mission. When he receives word that his squadron is being reformed his excitement is short-lived when he also learns that he is acquiring ten Czech pilots to replace those that were lost in France. The Czech airmen have escaped their occupied country to England in the hope of flying for the British in their fight against the Germans. The only problem is, their English is limited to non-existent. And while Alex can speak Czech, thanks to his paternal grandmother, the pilots must be fluent enough in English for radio transmission before they take to the skies. Evie and Jess are tasked with teaching the Czech airmen English in preparation for battle.
Whilst Evie is serious about her work as a WAAF, she soon finds herself falling in love with the scowling Scot but it takes a week of sick leave as well as trip to Oxford for the pair before they admit their true feelings for each other. Upon returning to the airbase, Evie finds herself worried for Alex whenever he takes to the skies to battle the Germans. She knows it's his job but in his field there are no guarantees and Evie fears losing him. She finds herself losing concentration when plotting courses which can prove dangerous and even cost the lives of their men.
Then when it appears there is a saboteur in their midst attempting to cripple their planes, Alex intends to uncover the traitor before any more lives are claimed. Desperate to help, Evie and her friends put the ears to the ground in the hope of picking up tidbits of information that could help lead them to the fifth column adversary. But will Evie's involvement come between her and Alex's budding relationship?
I loved the characters of Evie, May and Jess and their supporting love interests in Alex, Peter and Milan. Throughout the course of the book the reader can see Evie really come into herself, finding the confidence to stand up for herself as well as her fierce loyalty for her newfound friends. Growing up, Evie never had friends and was also an only child. Her time at Oxford High School may have given her the qualifications for the scholarship she gained but it also left her the target for the upper class rich girls who made her time at school a misery. Joining the WAAF allowed her to gain more experience and qualifications as well as friends, something which she had never had. And as a result, Evie treasured them dearly. The friendship between the three girls is a delight for each of them for different reasons.
THE OPS ROOM GIRLS is an enjoyable and easy read and a perfect segue for expanding on the other girls in the next two books. We love and laugh with them and we also cry with them as they each navigate life in a male-dominated field. The inclusion of a little mystery afield gave this delightful wartime saga a real twist which I personally enjoyed.
I wasn't sure what to expect when starting out with this book, fearful that the wartime saga had been overdone in the slew of them already on the market, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. THE OPS ROOM GIRLS is a satisfying read that will have you turning the pages eager to discover what happens next. I admit that there were the usual cliches where Evie self flagellates and second guesses herself in her relationship with Alex and vice versa which I think wears a little thing when so many heroes and heroines appear to do the same every time. It is predictable to say the least and I would rather this not happen with every book. Still, it didn't dissipate my enjoyment of the story that unfolded...particularly that nice touch at the end.
A compelling read, THE OPS ROOM GIRLS sets the theme for the rest of trilogy with stepping into May's and Jess' shoes respectively with the forthcoming books that will undoubtedly follow their stories. I look forward to reading more about Evie, May and Jess.
The perfect easy read for fans of wartime sagas and fans of Pam Howes, Nadine Dorries, Rosie Clark and Fenella Miller.
I would like to thank #VickiBeeby, #Netgalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #TheOpsRoomGirls in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write.
In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.
Her debut 'The Ops Room Girls' was published in July 2020 closely followed by 'Christmas with the Ops Room Girls' in September 2020. Rounding off the trilogy with 'Victory for the Ops Room Girls' in July 2021.
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