4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars

I have not read many historical fiction books, but I picked up The Family House, Linda Cohen Loigman’s debut novel, a couple of years ago basically on a lark. I was surprised by how much I loved it. Since that time I have been more open to historical fiction reads. When I heard Ms. Loigman had completed her second novel I ran to Net Galley to see if it might be there, and lo and behold it was. I grabbed it immediately.

Like her first book, this one is set in the 1930s and 1940s. Again the protagonistic family is Jewish with roots in Brooklyn. The Wartime Sisters is written from the point of view of four women: very different and estranged sisters Ruth and Millie; Lillian, the wife of a commanding officer; and Arietta, the singing armory cook. At the crux of the story is the relationship between Ruth and Millie from their childhood through young adulthood. The timeline goes back and forth, but is easy to follow. I found the main characters to be very well written; the reader really gets to know them.

The tale is almost totally character-driven. There are no battle scenes or European settings though WW II is underway. The setting for the most part, however, is military as much of the story takes place at the Armory factories in Springfield, Massachusetts. Though I loved the plotline involving the four women, I was just as impressed by Ms. Loigman’s portrayal of life on the homefront. As I read the intriguing details of the composition of the armory setting and life on the base, in my mind I was congratulating the author on the thoroughness of and the spirit she brings to the book with her research. After reading the acknowledgements it is clear how extensive her research is. I read books for the feelings they give me. If I learn something in the process, as I did with this book, the novel is even more special.

My one tiny complaint is that the story wrapped up a little too quickly for me. I wanted more time to savor the ending.

If I had to compare Ms. Loigman’s writing with someone else’s, I think of Diane Chamberlain. She’s that good. I have added this author to my growing list of those I wish to read everything they write. I also thank Ms. Loigman (along with Kristin Hannah) for kindling my desire to read more historical fiction. I strongly recommend The Wartime Sisters to all historical fiction fans and everyone else looking for a wonderfully written character-driven novel.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to read an advanced reader’s copy of this novel. Thanks too to Net Galley for supplying the ARC and to Ms. Loigman. Opinions are mine alone and are unbiased in any way.

The Wartime Sisters is an excellent story. Two sisters, Ruth and Millie, have been at odds for most of their lives. Millie was the favored and pampered child while Ruth was marginalized and ignored. Both sisters kept secrets and played deceptive roles. The story lags a little toward the middle, but finally both women find their gumption, come clean with each other and form a lasting bond. One of the best scenes in the book is Ruth is finally putting the snotty Grace in her place. I love the cover as well.

Engrossing and emotional as it seems the real war is between the sisters who have a complex dynamic with each other. A very good read! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

he Wartime Sisters was a book that allowed me to learn something new, while keeping me engrossed in the tumultuous relationship between sisters. It wasn’t a long book but it packed a lot of emotional drama.

I was totally intrigued by the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, which I never knew existed. The descriptions of the design, the gardens, the daycare and shops were so well done. I easily pictured it in my mind. The workers were so important to the war effort and hiring so many women was a key attribute. It was evident that the Armory was well-researched.

Aside from the historical setting is a story that will tug at your heartstrings. Two sisters are raised and treated quite differently from one another since a very young age. Friends, chores, boys and study hours differed for the girls based on rules their mother set in place. This caused more than just a fissure in their relationship. The author did a great job at showing this rather than telling about it.

After a long estrangement, circumstances bring them back together, each holding secrets from one another. Here we see how their inner thoughts don’t match what comes out of their mouths, because being honest is just too hard. Loved the minor characters in the book. All were developed just enough to make them interesting.

Overall, it’s an easy book to read that will keep you interested and engaged.

"Two estranged sisters, raised in Brooklyn and each burdened with her own shocking secret, are reunited at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. While one sister lives in relative ease on the bucolic Armory campus as an officer’s wife, the other arrives as a war widow and takes a position in the Armory factories as a “soldier of production.” Resentment festers between the two, and secrets are shattered when a mysterious figure from the past reemerges in their lives."

This is a beautiful story of two sisters, Ruth and Millie, set from 1937 through 1943, it starts out in Brooklyn, New York and follows through to the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. Although this is a wartime story, the real battle goes between the two sisters trying to overcome the difficulties in their relationship.

At the beginning the narrative is developed through the perspective of Millie and Ruth, then the author incorporates two perspectives more, of two women who are in The Armory: Lillian and Arietta.

I did not know about The Armory before reading this book. I found it very interesting to see how Cohen manages to mix the real facts of the daily life of the workers who lived inside with the sisters' story, resulting in a fantastic novel about family, secrets, about great women who with sacrifice and work found a way to help during the war.

It is a quick and entertaining reading, written in a beautiful way, I learned a lot, I recommend it for those people who enjoy reading about WWII.

I did not know about The Armory before reading this book. I found it very interesting to see how Cohen manages to mix the real facts of the daily life of the workers who lived inside the armory with the sisters' story, resulting in a fantastic novel about family, secrets, about great women who with sacrifice found a way to help during the war.

It is a quick and entertaining reading, written in a beautiful way, I learned a lot, I recommend it for those people who enjoy reading about WWII.

The Wartime Sisters is a fabulous sophomore novel from Lynda Cohen Loigman - (who's debut novel The Two Family House - I loved).

Sister Rivalry, Family issues, Love, Friendship, Religion, and Trust - all wrapped into one novel - this is what The Wartime Sisters will give you. The Rivalry in the book is so realistic - I could completely feel the tension between the two sisters!

LCL clearly did a lot of research in writing this novel and it shows. I walked away from the book feeling not only good about how the story wraps up, but like I learned some things about WWII which I did not previously know.

The book was easy to get into and hard to put down! I would highly recommend to all of my friends who read not only Historical Fiction but Women's Fiction as well!

Job well done, Lynda Cohen Loigman!! Can't wait to see what else you write in the near future!

This story of two estranged sisters during WWII, separated and then reconnecting at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, hooked me from the first page. Each chapter is rich with poignant details - alternating between their lives growing up in Brooklyn to their adult world as wartime women and employees at the Springfield Armory. At its core this is a story of the diverging paths of two young women who both struggle to separately establish their own identity and define their own path to womanhood. Some of those struggles are surely relevant today in the world of MeToo, and it's somewhat interesting to see how these same challenges were framed in an earlier era where 'husbands as providers' was not only considered the norm, but valued as the ideal that shaped the dreams of many mothers and daughters.

One of my favorite historical fiction novels in recent memory, i highly recommend The Wartime Sisters to those who love stories that bring a WWII backdrop to a compelling women's coming of age drama. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Two Family House so I was hoping Lynda Cohen Loigman's next book would be great and it was! Right away I was hooked on the story of sisters Ruth and Millie and their stranded relationship. The addition of the story told from the perspectives also of Lillian and Arietta was great to give a little more backstory into what people were seeing of the Kaplan sisters. The storyline goes back and forth between Brooklyn in the 1930's and Massachusetts in the 1940's, but it was done in the perfect way to move the storyline along. Loigman does mystery in the perfect way, and I could not put the book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I liked learning about what life was like for families during the war and I loved learning in the author notes that the things the characters experienced in the books like the dances, concert and their day to day lives, actually happened. This is a perfect historical fiction read, now I can't wait for Loigman's next book!

I loved the cover, and the blurb at the top of the back cover cemented that I wanted to read this: “In the vein of “The Nightingale” and “The Lilac Girls”….I was hooked.

Ruth and Millie are sisters, three years apart. As they developed, it became increasingly evident that they could not be more different than if they didn’t share both parents. Ruth was the plain, introverted one; Millie was a beauty from her first breath, a risk-taker. Longing for an affectionate bond between them, they had nothing in common. Ruth marries a safe, gentle man…a scientist. Millie falls for a bad boy, gets pregnant, and that’s the good part of her life. Even after their parents are killed in a car accident, the two sisters cannot seem to develop an affection for each other.

As America enters World War II, Ruth’s husband joins the Army, but instead of being sent to fight, her scientific knowledge gets him transferred to the Springfield (Massachusetts, I had to presume) Armory. Millie stays behind in Brooklyn, where the girls were raised.

Ruth’s life on the base is bucolic and well-order; Millie’s husband becomes increasingly violent. It doesn’t upset her when Lenny joins the Army, but soon she is a widow with a small child. When the two sisters finally reunite, Millie and her son come to live with Ruth and her family. While Ruth plays Officer’s Wife, Millie gets a job in one of the Armory’s factories. Then a truth from the past begins to haunt the sisters, forcing them to lean on each other.

This story has the dueling timelines that I like, but they seem off. Here’s one of many examples: The narrative speaks of Ruth’s twin daughters, but readers aren’t even aware that Ruth has married. In the next chapter, the reader gets the backstory. The past and present don’t seem to line up as they should. That’s the reason, “The Wartime Sisters” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Great book about sisters and their relationship! I enjoyed the story, but the end was kind of abrupt.

Wartime Sisters is a fiction novel written about two sisters who have a tumultuous relationship. It alternates between the different perspectives of the sisters growing up and then during WWII. While much of the story takes place in the Armory in Springfield, MA, the war didn't really come across as a focal point in the book. Despite that, I was still captivated by the story, and Loigman writes in a way where you can really feel for the characters and the challenges between them.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

This book grabbed my attention based on the title. I've had a contentious relationship with my sister, so this had me intrigued. The story is presented from the view of each sister. They each are able to tell their side of their life story as the story unfolds. It was really amazing to hear some of the issues I've dealt with, being described in this book.
I was drawn to the story and really enjoyed the storyline and characters. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I fell so deeply in love with Ruth and Millie. They were so well rounded and likeable, despite their clear differences. I think anyone who has a sister close in age could easily relate to their dynamic of caring but also feeling as though the other sister has the upper hand somehow. I loved how the storyline wove from the past to the present and from each sister or main character to the next. It helped you truly grasp how each character felt and why. You found yourself sympathizing with each one of them, even when they were at odds with each other and gain a better understanding of their reasonings and actions.
On top of casting the reader right into the heart and soul of each character, Loigman drew me right into life at the Armory. I could easily picture it all and it honestly felt as though I was right there with the sisters the entire time. Although the ending became more obvious as the book drew on, it never hurt the plot to know that something was about to happen.
I devoured this book and felt myself missing each of the four main women when I was finished. You know it's a great book when you have a hard time starting another because you miss this one so much. The Wartime Sisters is definitely a new favorite!

Historical fiction--which I quite like.

Two sisters raised in Brooklyn. Jewish. Ruth, the older, smart one. Millie, the younger, pretty one. Little in common. A relationship complicated by sibling rivalry. Favoritism. Secrets and lies. Jealousy, etc. You know the set up. Many stereotypes. [sisters, husbands, parents, officers' wives, even Arietta--the cook--my favorite character.]

Leap forward to the early days of WWII. One good marriage, one not. Then from Brooklyn to Springfield, Mass., the Armory. Ruth as an officer's wife [with children]. Millie, as a widow [read on, the one twist], with child. Sometimes more interesting here-with the details of life at the Armory, the housing, the women, soldiers, the war [peripherally], and so on, but to me--still predictable.

A fast, pedestrian read though I was often bored and could have walked away at any time. Flat. I didn't feel the love that many others did. So, a 2.5 but reluctantly not rounding up to a 3 though it was fast and the writing was ok.

A sparely written look at the complexities of sibling relationships, this book intersperses past and present scenes in the lives of two sisters on an American military base during WW2. While the main focus is on sisters Ruth and Millie, the sibling relationship between two brothers forms a subplot. There are, for contrast, women with no siblings whose backgrounds could not be more different, and who yet end up in the same place at the same time. An understated theme throughout is the ways in which life in military families differs from that in civilian families. The historical sense of place and time is woven into every scene. A worthy read.

This was a great novel about the complicated relationship between two sisters during WWII. Most of the novel took place at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. It was really interesting to learn more about one of the large armories in the United States during the war. I never really knew much about them or what occurred there and it was described so well throughout the book, I felt like I was there. I really enjoyed this one. I was provided an ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

I've waited two years for Loigman to write another book, having loved her debut, The Two-Family House. This one did not disappoint! I was immediately engaged in the lives and challenges of Ruth and Millie. But I came to understand that "sisters" is not only about our blood relatives, but the community of women that surround us. I learned much, was greatly invested, and I hope she comes out with another one soon.

I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I totally enjoyed this book and it’s main characters. The plot and characters were well developed and had me hooked from the first page. The story flips between the late 1930’s and 1943. I learned a lot about the Springfield, Massachusetts armory , the work they did there and the layout of the facility. The story revolves around two sisters and their love-hate relationship. This is another outstanding novel by Lynda Cohen Loigman, the author of the “Two Family House “ .

Novels set during WWII are my favorite. When I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review I was thrilled. The story takes place during the war and one sister is a war widow and the other’s husband is stationed at Massachusetts’ Springfield Armory. They haven’t seen each other in several years and Millie is now alone with her young son and in need of a home and job and they come to live with Ruth and her family. The story doesn’t focus on the war much, it does go into some detail about how much women helped the war effort by working in such places as the armory, however, in my opinion it is a story about the complex relationship between the two sisters and not an historical fiction novel at all. Ruth has always been very jealous and wary of her beautiful sister, mainly because of the different ways in which their mother treated them. It took a lot for her to open up her home. Because of their past they are now walking on egg shells around each other We eventually realize that Millie is keeping something from her sister, but, Ruth has her own secret too. There are a couple of other female characters in the book which adds to the appeal of the book. All In all, a very enjoyable read!

The was a very good book about two sisters and conflicts between them and how they get through them and learn to love each other. Set during the second World War, and I really enjoyed all the references to that time period. I like learning how other decades were, the customs, etc. The book is well written and I liked the characters, I felt the historical accuracy. One I won't forget!