Good Night, Irene

A Novel

By: Luis Alberto Urrea

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Luis Alberto Urrea

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

What if a friendship forged on the front lines of war defines a life forever? In the tradition of The Nightingale and Transcription, a searing epic based on the magnificent and true story of heroic Red Cross women.

“Urrea’s touch is sure, his exuberance carries you through . . . He is a generous writer, not just in his approach to his craft but in the broader sense of what he feels necessary to capture about life itself.” —Financial Times

In 1943, Irene Woodward abandons an abusive fiancé in New York to enlist with the Red Cross and head to Europe. She makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford, a towering Midwesterner with a ferocious wit. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who command military vehicles called Clubmobiles at the front line, providing camaraderie and a taste of home that may be the only solace before troops head into battle.

After D-Day, these two intrepid friends join the Allied soldiers streaming into France. Their time in Europe will see them embroiled in danger, from the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of Buchenwald. Through her friendship with Dorothy, and a love affair with a courageous American fighter pilot named Hans, Irene learns to trust again. Her most fervent hope, which becomes more precarious by the day, is for all three of them to survive the war intact.

Taking as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II. With its affecting and uplifting portrait of friendship and valor in harrowing circumstances, Good Night, Irene powerfully demonstrates yet again that Urrea’s “gifts as a storyteller are prodigious” (NPR).

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Luis Alberto Urrea (P)2023 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“Good Night, Irene is a beautiful, heartfelt novel that celebrates the intense power and durability of female friendship while shining a light on one of the fascinating lost women’s stories of World War II. Inspired by his own family history—and his mother’s heroism as a Red Cross volunteer during the war—Luis Urrea has created an indelible portrait of women’s courage under extreme adversity. Powerful, uplifting, and deeply personal, Good Night, Irene is a story of survival, camaraderie, and courage on the front line.”—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds"

,"“Every once in a while the universe opens its heart and pulls out a book like this novel, gifting it to the cosmos. In Good Night, Irene, a new element has been created, and the literary world is reborn in the image of Luis Alberto Urrea. His voice comes alive on every page of this magnificent novel.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Swee

A heart-wrenching wartime drama, a rich portrait of friendship, and an exploration of the trials and triumphs of the human spirit, Good Night, Irene is historical fiction at its finest. Using the little-known true story of women who worked behind the front lines for the Red Cross during World War II, Luis Alberto Urrea weaves a novel about the enduring bonds, devastating losses, and heroism of ordinary people who put their lives on the line for freedom. This is a story that needed to be told and remembered.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles

Fantastic!

I enjoyed this immensely and was taken in from the start. Beautiful piece of work I won’t soon forget. Thank you!

Well written and researched

An historical novel about the women who served in the Red Cross during WWII. Highly recommended.

WWll history

This is an beautiful tribute to the author’s mother, as well as the women who worked on the trucks carrying cheer and refreshments to the American troops in WWll. I had never heard of these unsung heroines of the war. A lovely, informative, heartbreaking and heartwarming novel based on the facts of this ARC program. I couldn’t stop listening!

Amazing story!

This is the best book I've listened to in ages! The characters, the story, the fact that is is based on his mom's real experiences, everything about this book is just fantastic! I wish I could find more like this.

Worthy listen of Red Cross WW2

Fascinating and exciting look at a division of women in WW2. Great story telling. Based on historical events and his mothers experiences. I especially enjoyed the authors note at the end.

Sad yet happy…couldn’t put this one down until finished

I enjoy reading historical fiction especially WWII. The focus on Red Cross workers who were not nurses was a new focus. Also it appealed to me as my husband’s cousin was a “Donut Dolly” during the Vietnam War. Just a personal note…She loved referring to herself as a “Donut Dolly”.

A riveting story!

I loved the characters in this story, and I could not stop listening. Thank you for all the war research done, and the accurate rendition.

Beautiful and moving story of two very brave women during WWII.

The characters in this book were so rich that by the end they seemed like friends.
I want to say something about the ending, which brought me to tears. But I don’t want to spoil it if you have not read or listened to it yet,
The audible book was captivating. The performance perfect!

Loved hearing this little known story of women serving during WWII

Loved that this novel was based on such an amazing backstory. The author blended the true story and the fictional so well.

Based on a true story.

Realistic, devastating, That they served soldiers coffee and donuts in war torn areas. So much pain and suffering.