This book is a journey about relationships and how they impact families and friends. Two sisters, one beautiful and the other smart. Two situations; a sister with a loving secure life and the other with a relationship of fear, distrust and anxiety. The final situation is secrets and lies and how those things impact the sisters and people who care about them.

I loved how the book allowed you to understand these characters and become part of their loves. The friends who surrounded them gave it an extra dimensions. For me it was an emotional story.

The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an honest interview. Thank you for this novel.

The Wartime Sisters follows two sisters, who like many sisters don't get along. There is the beautiful Millie, who is treated like a princess and the plain Ruth, who is the scholar. They are both hiding secrets and after the death of their parents go on to live separate lives. But WWII brings them together once again. Their relationship is strained, secrets are still being kept, but would revealing those secrets bring them closer together?

A slow start to this book had me wondering if I would finish it, but I am so happy that I perservered! A thoughtful, intelligent novel about families and relationships...and the damage that they can do.

Another World War II novel, this one set in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the Springfield Armory. The author grew up in the area and has done a thorough job of researching the armory's history and physical setting. She has read all of the old armory newsletters, knows how the officers and their families lived, and understands how work in the munitions factories went. Still, I have a hard time thinking of this as historical fiction, for the story that is told could be set anywhere, any time. The armory and World War II simply provide an interesting (and currently popular) environment.

Two sisters have been estranged for most of their lives. Ruth, the serious one, has always resented her younger sister's beauty and active social life. Everyone notices Millie; Ruth is invisible. They go their separate ways as adults, but then circumstances throw them back together when Millie shows up at Ruth's door with a two-year-old and a husband who is MIA.

Ruth is happily married. Her husband is an officer stationed at the armory, and she has young twin daughters. Still, she is reserved and unsure of herself in social settings, and when Millie comes back into her life, old resentments flare. She relives every petty conflict and every perceived slight from their youth. Millie, meanwhile, is struggling to make ends meet and to take care of her child. She takes an armory job making triggers. But instead of endearing her to Ruth, their reversed social status only seems to make things worse. Ruth finds Millie a burden she must endure. Millie longs to get away from her bossy older sister.

The blurb for the novel refers to "deep secrets" that each sister carries, but they weren't that deep nor were they a big surprise. There is some tension, a fleeting moment or two of danger, but any dangerous situations are quickly resolved. In short, there's not a lot of new stuff here. As for the era, other than some name-dropping and a rare reference to a restaurant or club where Jews are not allowed, we're not overly aware of the times. The war doesn't really influence our protagonists' daily lives beyond the fact that the armory makes arms and there's a shortage of sensible shoes. The working class goes to work, and the haughty officers' wives could be high society matrons anywhere.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint. I really enjoyed it! This is the story of two sisters raised in Brooklyn, but reunited to work at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. The older sister has always resented the younger sister because she was prettier and seemed to have an easier life. When tragedy strikes the younger sister, they are forced to life and work together. They are both hiding a big secret. When a mysterious stranger from the past enters the story, they are both forced to reveal their secret. Even though both secrets are life changing, it seems to bring a new understanding to both sisters and bring them closer to each other. I recommend this book to all readers who like Historical Fiction.

I consider this book Historical Fiction at its finest. Ruth, a plain, studious, stubborn girl has a younger sister Millie who is beautiful and the source of constant attention and sibling rivalry. The story starts out as they are growing up in Brooklyn, NY, 1919-1932. The girls both marry, Ruth to an Army scientist and Millie to a handsome guy with no ambition. Then the story then goes to the WWII Armory in Springfield, MA where Ruth and her husband Arthur live. Circumstances force Millie and her son to move to Springfield to live with Ruth and her family in 1942 after WWII has begun. The story goes back and forth between the two time periods but not in a confusing way. There are a number of very solid likable characters in this book who add a lot to this complex story line. The girls both have secrets and there are twists and turns in this fascinating book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Historical Fiction. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A tale of two sisters, Ruth the studious sister and Millie the younger prettier sister. Everyone eyes concentrate on Millie when she enters the room, Millie seems to get all the attention especially from her mother who is determined that Millie will marry a prince and they will ride off into the sunset together. Ruth is always in Millie's shadow and although she doesn't show it, it is wearing her down.
Ruth's husband accepts a job in Springfield MA at the Armory and Ruth is excited to start a new life without her sister. We learn more of what life was like for women working during the war and Armory life outside of working hours. Ruth leaves behind her life in Millie's shadow and starts a new journey at the Armory but when secrets are kept they will eventually come out. Tragic events bring Millie and Ruth together again but will their relationship ever change?

This was an easy read but I felt that things didn't really get interesting until the end.



Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy!

This is the story of two sisters, Millie and Ruth, as different in looks as in personality. Ruth is the smart and serious sister, jealous of younger sister Millie, the beautiful and popular one. Brought up in Brooklyn, Ruth marries and moves to the Springfield Armory in the midst of World War II. A different take on life during the war, with a compelling description of the sisters’ relationship. I recommend for lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

It is one of those novels I highly recommend. I found it hard to put aside because of the story that takes you back into the 30s and 40s. Two sisters who couldn't be more different in characters and their lives. The book is very emotional and gripping and I kind of regretted when it finally ended. One would love to continue reading. I will definitely recommend it to all my customers, family and friends.

“ The Wartime Sisters” by Linda Cohen Loigman was a novel that met my expectations. I was unprepared for the depth of feelings shown by the two sisters. They never seem to reconcile their differences in a logical way. The authors handling of their relationship was very well thought out. In the end the resolution of their differences leaves the reader satisfied. A novel I would highly recommend for young adult readers as well as mature book clubs. There is plenty to discuss.

This lovely historical novel explores the troubled relationship between two sisters who grew up in Brooklyn and then both work at the Springfield (MA) Armory during World War II. Loigman writes sympathetically about these two women who have felt at odds with one another most of their lives, and she captures the energy of wartime New England beautifully. I live and work near Springfield, and this novel has inspired me to begin planning my first trip to the Armory.

I love historical fiction, especially WWII era fiction, and this book was especially interesting because it was set in the US instead of in Europe. It tells the story of two sisters, both who end up working at an armory in Springfield, MA. I was fascinated by the world this book showed me and I highly recommend reading it.

The story of the sisters and the other women in the armory around them kept me reading well into the night. It's hard to imagine how hard these women worked during the war only to have to give up their jobs when the war was over. I'm not going to recap the plot, only say again that this book was excellent.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be an easy read. It flowed smoothly between the chapters, the past and the present. It wasn't the best story in this genre that I've read, but it did cover the subject of the armory and the US role in weapons manufacturing (although more on a surface level rather than a deeper understanding) that is not usually the backdrop of any books in this historical fiction genre.

The main plot was not the war, nor its effects on their lives, but rather the dynamic relationship between two sisters who were raised very differently because of their personalities and appearances, by a mother who unknowingly drove a wedge between the sisters that would have a profound effect on the choices the sisters will make throughout their lives.

I would rate this as 3.5 out of 5 if possible.

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartins press for the eARC.

Two Jewish sisters from Brooklyn, New York could not possibly be any more different in stature or personality. Ruth the oldest by three years, has always sought but never truly obtained her mother’s love or approval. Ruth is the steady one who can be counted on and though she is no beauty, she eventually lands Arthur for a husband. Ruth’s little sister, Millie is the outgoing and vivacious beauty of the family. Their mother has high hopes that her beloved daughter will marry well above her station. Unfortunately, her mother was wrong.

The discrepancy between the sisters’ treatment shaped Ruth’s adulthood and how she perceives her sister. The two haven’t been close, well ever. But when major life events happen, the sisters are forced to confront their past, their perspectives and endeavor to move forward in the midst of the war and family drama.

This was an unputdownable book. I could not stop until I got to the last page and when It was over, I wanted to know what else happened to the main characters. This novel is so different than anything I have read in a very long time. I highly recommend it.

I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley and all of the opinions are my own.

Genre: Historical Fiction.
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: Jan. 22, 2019

I didn’t become a history buff until I became a book reviewer. Actually, although I am a baby boomer, I did not know much about WWII, other than the basics that one learns in school and from the movies. Now I am hooked on the genre. However, I was not the target audience for this one. This is probably, because “The Wartime Sisters” is really a women’s fiction tale that is marketed as a historical fiction. I find that often women’s fiction can be a bit sappy, usually sad, and often with unrealistic happy endings. I am not always critical of the genre. If it is well blended with other genres, I can enjoy good women’s fiction read. For example, I very much enjoyed “The Light Between Oceans,” which is historical women’s fiction. However, I do not feel that this book accomplishes such a blending. There is no history in this historical fiction— the location simply takes place at the famous Springfield, Massachusetts, Armory.

What you will read about is the lives of the four main female protagonists. Two estranged Jewish sisters, one busy on the assembly line that produces guns and the other with office duties. The armory’s Italian Catholic cook is really a singer, and the Captain’s privileged wife (guessing her character is White Anglo-Saxon Protestant), who is unofficially in charge of the female workers. All women are hurting from their own secrets. Then there is another character, a villainous officer’s wife who despises all four and tries to bring them down. In the end, the four band-up together to unselfishly save each other (told you, women’s fiction.) Expect one-sided characters. There is no wondering who is the good guy or gal in this case. To be fair, the reader will get a decent representation of the women who chipped in to help the war efforts. Still, one picture of Rosie the Riveter does it better. I do not think the book is marketed correctly for its own best interest in regard to sales there may be a larger audience for women’s fiction than historical. Though this book is not for me, I can think of many friends that would gobble it right up.

A very well researched book on a really cool historical place (Springfield Armory National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/spar). It was one of the first armorys of the United States, used during WWI and WWII for war production and is now a National Park site.

The book was interesting thanks to the multiple perspectives included. Luckily, everything was tied up at the end! I enjoyed this book and read it quickly.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I received a copy of The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are mine alone. I must begin by saying that I am a big fan of Lynda Cohen Loigman. This is the second book I have read that she has written. I enjoyed that a strong family presence was created in both her previous book and this one.

The Wartime Sisters was about two sisters, Ruth and Millie, who grew up in Brooklyn with their mother and father in a religious Jewish neighborhood. Ruth was the older sister and she was always quite bright, responsible and practical. Millie was Ruth's younger sister. From the day she was born, Ruth and everyone else recognized Millie's apparent beauty. It was extremely obvious that their mother favored Millie over Ruth. As the girls got older a rift began to develop between them. Ruth became aware that she was ignored when Millie was with her. Everyone's attention went to Millie. Even when boys came to court Ruth, as soon as they saw Millie, Ruth had no chance. Finally, Ruth met Arthur and he seemed to have eyes for just her. They were soon married and shortly after had twin girls. At about that time Millie met Lenny. Lenny was a few years older than Millie. He had dropped out of school and was working several jobs but none that seemed permanent or promising. Millie was taken in by his good looks and outgoing personality. Millie's family was not fond of him. In fact, Millie's mom started to call him The Bum. Then, one night Ruth and Millie's parents were killed in a tragic car accident. The two sisters were forced to confront their loss together. All arrangements were left to Ruth. Millie was not capable to share in the responsibility of making arrangements for their parent's funeral. She totally fell apart. Following their parent's funeral, Ruth and Arthur moved to Springfield, Massachusetts to the Armory where Arthur was offered a position as a scientist. Ruth was pleased to put space between her and Millie. She was tired of living in Millie's shadow. Ruth wanted the chance to start over somewhere where no one knew her or Millie. The sisters hardly talked or saw each other. Eventually, Millie married Lenny and they had a baby boy named Michael. Millie's life with Lenny was not anything that resembled a safe or comfortable life. Lenny was unable to hold down a job. He was drinking a lot and sometimes he did not even come home for periods of time. Lenny began working for his brother around this time. Things got even worse for Millie. She reached out to Ruth, when she thought Lenny had either died or disappeared for good, to see if she could come and live with her and Arthur and the twins at the Armory. The two estranged sisters, each with long suppressed secrets were reunited again at the Springfield Armory at the beginning of World War II.

Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Wartime Sisters used her book to portray the lives of strong women during World War II, as they formed strong bonds with each other, endured, and helped each other survive under the circumstances. I didn't know a lot about the Springfield Armory before reading The Wartime Sisters but look forward to reading more about it. It felt good to read about how women helped in the war effort. Their efforts were not always recognized or praised. I applaud Lynda Cohen Loigman for another powerful novel. I highly recommend The Wartime Sisters.

This is an excellent novel for women, about women (2 sisters) who grew up in Brooklyn NY who end up working at the Armory in Springfield, making ammunition for the war efforts. One is a well-to-do Army Officer's wife and the other is an impoverished single mother. There are certain jealousies and secrets that are between them, and these secrets drive them further apart as the novel progresses.

The characters are believable and well thought-out, and I very much enjoyed the author's emotional descriptions as well as her descriptions of setting and place. There was enough suspense and a well-timed gradual unveiling of the secrets, so that it kept me wanting to keep reading.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love historical fiction and this book was wonderful. With a WWII setting, there were elements of familial relationships and secrets. This story was very well written and captured me from the first page. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Wartime Sisters
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Ruth and her younger sister Millie had a history of sibling rivalry since the day Millie was born. Ruth was the studious one, good with numbers. Millie was the pretty one, who was favored by her mother. Ruth always resented Millie, both for her mother’s attention and also when her own boyfriends seem to navigate to Millie once they met her. The story really picks up after the parents’ death in a car crash. Ruth is married to Arthur, an army officer and has moved with him and her twin daughters to the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. It’s 1942, after America entered WWII. Although the sisters have not seen each other for 5 years since their parents’ death, correspondence between them reveals that Millie’s “bum” husband Lenny has enlisted in the army, went missing and is presumed dead. Ruth invites Millie and her two year old son, Michael to live with her.
Do the sisters finally find peace? It turns out that both have secrets to hide. Not until these secrets are revealed, that Ruth and Millie can go on with their lives. There is also a cast of supporting characters, Lillian and Arietta who are involved in the sister’s lives.
According to the author’s note, The Springfield Armory was an important piece in America’s war effort and some of the characters are loosely based on real people.
For me, this story was just OK, not great, no more than three stars.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

A wonderful story of two sisters during the 1940's wartime. This book transports you back to stories your grandparents lived and perhaps told you about, if you're lucky! I wish I'd asked my grandparents and my great grandmother more about their lives back then. I remember my great grandmother talking about those days often, especially during her last few years on earth. It was a rough and hard scrabble life for most people. This book does the war effort and sisterhood (not only blood sisters, also sisters of the heart), not to mention sisters of hard work, so much justice. The brave young women who worked during wartime paved the way for women in the workplace now. We owe them much respect. You get pulled right into the character's lives immediately. There's not a boring part of this book! I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. ☺☺ Thank you, Netgalley for the wonderful opportunity to read and review this book!
To the author, I won't forget this book, ever! I loved it!