THE HARVEY GIRLS

Golden Voice Cassandra Campbell gives a splendid performance of this historical fiction audiobook with a touch of romance. In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Harvey Houses, with their all-female waitstaffs, offered excellent employment opportunities for women in their restaurants at train stations in the southwestern U.S. This novel revolves around two new waitresses: aristocratic Charlotte, who is escaping an abusive marriage, and 16-year-old Billie, the oldest of nine children in a working-class family. Campbell brings forth Charlotte's transition from waitress to tour guide of Native American territories, as well as Billie's gift for putting people at ease. Campbell's evocation of this vibrant period, along with her distinct voices for the large cast of characters, makes this a listening treat. M.J. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2025]