Good Night, Irene

Written by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2023, Good Night, Irene is a historical fiction novel that follows the experiences of Red Cross volunteers Irene Woodward and Dorothy Dunford, who operate a Clubmobile to provide coffee, doughnuts, and companionship to American troops on the front lines during World War II. Urrea researched the subject of the Clubmobile Service because his mother was one of the women who served in these trucks. The novel addresses issues of trauma and mental health in wartime and explores the female friendships of the so-called “Donut Dollies” who risked their lives to operate the Clubmobiles and boost soldiers’ morale.

This guide refers to the 2023 Little, Brown and Company print edition.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain graphic descriptions of violence, sexual harassment, war-related trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The source material uses the outdated term “shellshock” to refer to PTSD and also contains offensive and racist language.

Plot Summary

Irene Woodward leaves her abusive fiancé behind in New York to join a department of the Red Cross called the Clubmobile Service, which consists of women who drive trucks to the front lines to serve doughnuts and coffee in an effort to boost soldiers’ morale.