3.5 Stars, rounded up. This is a good piece of historical fiction, set during WWII, at an Armory in Springfield, Mass. The author tells of the life of several of the women who live and work there, in various capacities. She also highlights issues of sibling rivalry, as the two central characters, sisters who have long-held conflicts, try to overcome their past misunderstandings and jealousies. The characters and the story are well developed.

This was definitely an interesting read. Amazing to see how two girls in the same house can grow up feeling and being treated so differently and how it impacts their lives as they grow..
I enjoyed the characters and the relationships throughout the story.

With thoughtful and contemplative storytelling and a nod to women’s rights, author Lynda Cohen Loigman weaves a tale of sisterhood, resentment and World War II in THE WARTIME SISTERS.

Beginning in 1919 Brooklyn, Cohen introduces Jewish siblings Ruth and Millie, who could not be more different. Quiet and intelligent, Ruth feels that she is no match for her younger sister’s beauty and charm, and her feelings of resentment start to grow from the moment the curly-headed baby is brought home. As the years pass, Ruth continues to feel pushed aside, with their own mother expressing a clear favoritism for Millie with her bouncy charm and fortuitously good looks. It is clear that the girls have very little in common from the beginning, but what truly sets them apart is their mother’s insistence that Millie will marry well --- a Rockefeller, ideally --- and the unprovoked attention Millie receives from all the men around them, including, on several occasions, Ruth’s own dates.

Alternating between two timelines, Cohen then takes us to the year 1942. Millie and her young son have just arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts, to join her sister at the armory where she, her husband and their twin daughters live. Millie’s own husband disappeared in the war, and she is in dire need of a fresh start. But with decades of resentment and feelings of inadequacy simmering between her and Ruth, it will take more than an address change to bring them together.

Weaving together both timelines and various vignettes into the girls’ complicated relationship, Cohen demonstrates a keen understanding of the bonds of sisterhood --- and all of its ins and outs. In Brooklyn, we watch as Ruth is spurned again and again by her suitors in favor of Millie. Understandably, these painful events begin to color Ruth’s own impression of her sister, and when she finally finds a man who is perfect for her, she can dream of nothing more than getting away from her glamorous sister, their overbearing mother and the neighborhood’s clear preference for Millie.

At the same time, Millie, too, struggles with feelings of inadequacy. Known as the gorgeous but not so bright sister, Millie often feels judged and criticized by Ruth. When she finally does choose a man to settle down with, she chooses poorly. Her husband, Lenny, ends up being much more of a talker than a provider, and it is clear that their marriage was rocky, even before he left for the war.

At the Springfield Armory, life starts flourishing for both sisters. Ruth is a respected member of her community, and her bookkeeping work keeps her mind sharp and her hands busy. Millie, meanwhile, has become a bit more refined over the years, and although she is nervous, she, too, begins to work at the armory. Still reeling from her complicated marriage, she starts taking pride in her work and role in the community and feeling complete in a way her beauty never made her feel. Unfortunately, there is still a ton of lingering resentment between the sisters --- and it only grows as Millie begins to make more friends with the other officers’ wives, namely Lillian, the number one hostess of the small group of women.

Interestingly, Cohen also gives us a look into Lillian’s mind, and it is a refreshing twist to see the sisters --- particularly Millie --- through the eyes of someone else. Lillian knows nothing of the sisters’ past, and thus she can give readers a more thorough look at each. In Ruth, she sees someone who needs to come out of her shell, but who is also kind, loyal and dependable. In Millie, she sees someone who is suffering and needs the support of her fellow women. Luckily, Millie soon finds this support in Arietta, an Italian-American chef/singer who proves to be one of the highlights of the novel, providing the perfect lightness for a book so heavy with pain and trauma.

With tension that is palpable on every page, THE WARTIME SISTERS is a compelling and heartfelt look at sisterhood and the pains of comparisons between two wildly different women. The sisters’ relationship comes to a head when painful secrets are revealed from both of their pasts, and a figure long since presumed gone makes a shocking and alarming return in their lives. As their secrets come to light and they make peace with their choices --- some good, some bad --- the women must decide if their familial bonds can stand the test of time.

While the armory is an important and necessary presence in both women’s lives, THE WARTIME SISTERS is not your typical World War II novel. The war is felt on every page, but this is not a book full of battles and collateral damage. That said, I loved reading about how the women, mainly officers’ wives, lived in the armory, and the ways that they formed their own community amidst building weaponry and watching their husbands leave for the battleground.

Loigman brilliantly captures the dynamics that take hold of sisters, especially when they are very different. Her portrayals of resentment and jealousy are poignant and captivating, and I love that she shows readers how every small hurt and indiscretion can add up in a complex but believable way. Neither Ruth nor Millie is perfect or without blame, yet both are likable, relatable characters in this lovely novel. Although the book does take place between 1919 and 1943, I would say that it is World War II fiction that is perfect for readers looking for a bit less war and a bit more humanity.

After reading Lynda’s first novel I was excited to read her second; however, the plot was unimpressive and somehow predictable. It was more of a chic lit than a history novel. Rivalry between two sisters and its consequences. The armory description was accurate and based on facts, but that would be it from the historical facts of the II WW.
The character that got my attention was Lillian’s. Her role in the book made it worth if for me.
Overall 2.5 starts
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think the author captured accurately how deep a divide can develop between siblings (especially sisters) when a parent either knowingly or unknowingly has higher expectations for one child over the other. Ruth, the older child, is pragmatic, smart and responsible, and reliable although not particularly beautiful-while Millie is very pretty, flirtatious and extremely sociable but very capable of making wrong decisions. However, their mother thinks Millie will find a well-to-do, well heeled husband who will give her the world. Ruth marries and moves with her husband to Springfield, Ma. Where her husband joins the war effort and she can leave the family dynamics behind. Millie marries as far from her mother’s hopes as possible and has a son-soon after her husband leaves for the service with no knowledge of if or when he will return. Unable to manage herself she goes to her responsible sister in Springfield and joins the war effort by helping assemble rifle parts. I found this book very inciteful about sibling rivalries and the role parents sometimes playin creating this environment, As adults how it sometimes engenders the need to keep secrets or at the very least not the complete truth but the fact that reconciliation is possible when the whole truth is revealed. I look forward to Loigman’s next book.

What a delightful and wonderful story!!! For anyone who has a sibling, you will appreciate this story. The story starts off showing how Millie shines and Ruth is the underdog, so to speak. It had me hooked. Anyone who has siblings knows the feeling of one being treated differently than another. Their mother really takes this to a new level. With how these sisters stories were written, I found myself rooting for Ruth in the beginning and then rooting for Millie in the end. I really like how the story evolved to Millie being the one to shine in the end. But more so, their relationship as sisters really shined. The author does an exceptional job weaving their stories through the years. I really could not put this book down.

The characters are rich in their descriptions and in their roles in the story. They are solid, strong, completely developed and essential to the overall story. I loved every character in this book. This book is a story about relationships - mother/daughter, sister, husband/wife, supportive and non-supportive friends.

This was such an enjoyable, beautiful, warm read that needs to be on your list for 2019.

My thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Wartime Sisters. Additionally, I won a print copy of the novel through a Goodreads Giveaway. I was under no obligation to review The Wartime Sisters and my opinion is freely given.

Estranged sisters, Ruth and Millie, grew up in Brooklyn surrounded by their family. While Millie was the golden child who could do no wrong, Ruth was always criticized for her cold exterior and calm demeanor. When her husband is granted an opportunity to use his talents at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII, Ruth is excited at the prospect of being able to start over. After time and circumstances bring the two sisters back together, will the two finally be able to put the past behind them? Will the secrets of days gone by cause irreparable harm and splinter their relationship for good?

The history behind the Springfield Armory, and the men and women who toiled diligently through the war, is quite fascinating. The author's note at the end of the book was actually my favorite part of The Wartime Sisters, as it contains history that may be unknown to those who live outside of New England. The relationship between the sisters was well developed and gave a clear picture as to their sibling conflict. The main plot was compelling on its own, especially as the sisters come back together in adulthood. There were two areas that ruined the novel for me, that being the side plots including Millie and two other characters. The historical significance of women working in the Armory, helping to produce weapons to keep the men safe, is cheapened by the nature of those tangents. The Wartime Sisters was compelling enough with the relationship between the two siblings that the rest was simply not needed. I wish the author had spent more time developing the historical aspects and less on the extraneous relationships. Readers who are fan of historical fiction, especially of World War II in United States, may like The Wartime Sisters.

Sisters Ruth and Millie have been growing apart ever since their early teens and have been estranged for years, but when Millie's husband leaves her in the middle of World War II, she moves to the Springfield Armory to live with Ruth and her family. As Millie begins working in the rifle assembly line, she makes friends with Lillian (the commander's wife), and Arrietta (the cook and well loved singer). These four women interact with each other on a daily basis and each woman reveals their own perspective and circumstances throughout the book. When someone from the sisters' past reenters their lives and threatens them, the sisters and their friends will have to decide what is more important - old grudges and misperceptions, or their lives.
This book portrays a few of the various ways that women were able to help out with the war effort during World War II, as well as the hard work they faced as they stepped into jobs that had previously been done by men. This book also explores various types of relationships and issues that can occur (such as favoritism, jealousy, spousal abuse, suicide, etc.). Warning: Various instances of spousal abuse do occur and are described in this book, and a suicide is described as well, which can be very upsetting. The way a couple of the women were treated was despicable, and one particular female character was insufferable and malicious. There were times I wanted to give this character a piece of my mind and a backhand to the face (I can't stand "mean girls" in stories or in real life), but I was satisfied with the way everything turned out in the end. I learned a bit about the Springfield Armory and the home front during the war, and I enjoyed reading the realistic descriptions of life in the 1940's. Arrietta was one of my favorite characters, and the sweet romance she got warmed my heart. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and women's fiction that deals with family and relationships.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman begins its tale in Brooklyn, New York in 1919. Ruth Kaplan was three years old when her younger sister, Millie was born. Ruth is a plain little girl with brown hair while Millie has red hair with bright blue eyes which everyone admired. The girls are complete opposites with Millie being vibrant and popular while Ruth is quiet and studious. Ruth is expected to tow the line, but Millie is catered to with excuses being made if she stepped out of line. After their parents pass away, Millie marries Lenny Fein and continues to live in Brooklyn. Ruth married Arthur Blum whose scientific mind is needed to aid the war and they move away to Springfield, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1942, Millie writes that her husband has passed away leaving her with two year old, Michael to care for on her own. Ruth offers Millie a place to live and assures her that she can get a job at the Springfield Armory. The two estranged sisters are struggling to get along making for a house filled with tension. Lillian Walsh, the commanding officer’s wife, takes a shine to Millie and helps her settle into her new life. Millie also makes friends with Arietta Benevetto, the Armory cook with a beautiful singing voice. One officer’s wife is unhappy with Millie’s lovely presence. Ruth is unhappy that the life she built for herself has been upended and she is afraid a secret will come to light. Millie has a skeleton in the closet that she desperately wants to keep concealed. Unfortunately, like all secrets, they always find a way of coming out.

The Wartime Sisters is a traditional story about two sisters who fail to get along (sounds like me and my sister). It is more a women’s fiction novel than a historical book. The focus of the book is the two sisters and their rivalry. The author accurately captured the dynamics between the sisters along with the feelings (resentment, bitterness, jealousy, the feeling of inadequacy). Ruth was jealous of Millie from the moment she was born. The more people admired Millie, the more Ruth’s resentment grew. Matters are not helped by the mother doting on Millie and her insistence that Millie will marry well one day. When Ruth starts dating and the men are more captivated by Millie, it causes the rift between the sisters to grow to the size of the grand canyon. Each sister has a secret and you know they will eventually find a way to come out. I liked the setting of the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts, but we are not told enough about it. I wanted more about the facility, the war, and the less about the animosity between the sisters. Rivalry also exists between women in such a close atmosphere as the armory. The ending felt rushed. I thought it lacked emotion and realism. It seemed that this story could have been set in any place or any time period and it would still play out the same way. I found The Wartime Sisters to be lacking (at least for me). I thought it was a predictable story. My rating for The Wartime Sisters is 3 out of 5 stars. While The Wartime Sisters was not my cup of tea, those who enjoy feel-good stories (like those on Lifetime or Hallmark Channel) will enjoy the happy ending.

I throughly enjoyed reading this book a second time. The author has set it up, so you follow the story by each character, through time and chapter. And between two cities, Brooklyn, New York and Springfield, IL. Even though the beginning starts with two sisters, there is another women added to the mix, making the title not just about the siblings, but sisters in wartime. The history of Springfield, Il. at that time is an extra bonus.

The Wartime Sisters is a very engaging story about two sisters Ruth and Millie and their tenuous relationship that at times nearly destroys them both. While the story begins in Brooklyn, the heart of the plot develops at the Springfield Armory during World War II. Ruth has always been known for her brains and responsible behavior, sometimes to the point of being termed a 'cold fish.' Millie, on the other hand, was known for her beauty and was always indulged by her mother. These two differing views pitted the sisters against each other at an early age. As in any instance, there are always two sides to a coin and people also grow and change. The Wartime Sisters takes a look at their strained relationship with a well crafted story that also highlights two other strong and memorable female characters Lillian, the commanding officer's wife and Arietta, the cook/singer.

I loved this story of complex women and their relationships with each other and their families. Each character was so well written and deeply developed. I would find myself empathizing with Ruth and then the next chapter completely understanding where Millie was coming from. I also thought the stories of Arietta and Lillian added so much to the novel. I think this book would make a marvelous book club selection as there is so much to discuss. This was most surely a five star read for me. It made me search out the author's previous novel to add to my reading pile.

I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Even though the synopsis didn't give us a lot to go on, I was immediately intrigued: two estranged sisters that are brought back together at the Springfield Armory - each with their own secrets and hardship - and the drama that unfolds across the camp (compounded with the arrival of a mysterious person from their past!).

As much as this book is Historical Fiction, it is also a beautifully written book about family. The dynamics of the sisters' lives leading up to their estrangement and one sister's arrival at the armory where the other sister's husband is stationed was done so well. It was so hard to root for Ruth, the older of the two sisters, because as difficult as things were for her (her parents definitely had a favorite kid, and it wasn't her, if you catch my drift), I really felt she was disproportionately awful to her younger sister, Millie. Millie wore her heart on her sleeve and was often taken advantage of by those around her, and my heart broke for her over and over again. I loved the way Lynda Cohen Loigman wrote about the two of them, and I thought she really showed how the grass is truly hardly greener on the other side. I was happy with how their issues were ... "resolved?" at the end of the book, and I think it was done quite well given the events leading up to it.

Going into the novel, I expected to just have Ruth & Millie's perspectives (Oh, hi, I love multiple POVs almost as much as I love dual timelines). I was pleasantly surprised with the addition of two other women from the Springfield Armory and definitely think the addition of their voices enhanced the story and gave you insights you would not have been able to get with Ruth & Millie alone. Being a woman myself, I particularly like stories that feel real, rich, and nuanced regarding women's roles in WWII and this is definitely one I will be adding to my "recommendations" list whenever people ask me for suggestions!

Lastly, I was so impressed with the setting of the Springfield Armory! As much historical fiction as I've read, this was a new setting and the attention to detail was really interesting to me. Without being overdone at all, the story was made much richer with Loigman's descriptions of the base, the workers, and the officers and it gave the whole novel an extra level to be appreciated.

(Also, I hated the guy. You'll know which guy I'm talking about. Hated him so much.) (Actually, that other guy wasn't too great either.) (But some of the guys were really and truly great.) (Just not those two guys. They were the worst.)

The Wartime Sisters is an appropriate title for a book set during WWII that features two Jewish sisters at odds with each other because of past hurts that occurred when they were both growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Millie's circumstances have changed and she is forced to reunite and live with her older sister Ruth's family in Springfield, Massachusetts. Although the two sisters have been physically reunited, they definitely have not emotionally healed. The secrets that tore them apart come to a head and unless they are confronted threaten to tear the sisters apart even more. The story is set during two different time periods (the war years) and back during the time when the two girls were teenagers. I loved how the story was told from alternating points of views (Millie's, Ruth's, and two other women who befriend the sisters). All four of these women's pasts are slowly peeled away like the skins of an onion. And yes there are a few tears to be shed among them. The author includes several historical notes about the Springfield Armory and the men and women who lived and worked there in the author's notes at the conclusion of the novel. I felt like there was a great deal of research that was put into this story to make it feel believable. There were several times when felt like I had reached the climax of the story but then the action would die off for awhile and then the book would reach another climatic moment. So there was definitely a lot of action near the end to keep my attention and make me want to keep reading. I am thankful for NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinions of the book.

Over time, a carefully choreographed routine evolved between the two sisters. The dance was wordless and intricate, full of side steps and skirting, avoidance and circumvention.

A prose of sibling rivalry stemmed from a mother's raising one above the other and comparison. Ruth and Millie were different from night and day. In looks and personality. Ruth the more studios type and Millie more fun loving. Their mother had high hopes for Millie to marry well. It is this that slow burned their relationship as sisters. Never trusting the other, never making any connections that sisters need to thrive.

When their parents were tragically killed, Millie married the one man that turned their parents dream into a nightmare. Now five years has passed and a war is making way. Millie finds herself without a husband and calls on her sister for help. It is during this time, that secrets are revealed and their relationship is put to the test.

The setting is taken from an actual place that put this story together. The Springfield Armory has a history starting with President George Washington. This setting brings the sisters together to face their own insecurities and demons. A great historical fiction.

A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

This book went by really quickly, I kept being unable to put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen. At times I felt like there were too many narrators and alternating perspectives but at other times I was happy for them. The ending felt a little predictable and rushed but otherwise I enjoyed it.

This book had a really good premise, but it doesn't feel finished. I loved how the story went back and forth in time to show the sister's story together, but I felt like the end wrapped up very fast.

It was very interesting to learn about the armory life during WWII. We don't hear about that much. The whole social dynamic of the army and the munitions workers was fascinating to me.

Millie's storyline with her husband was I think the most interesting. I would have loved to learn a little more about that, and seen the plot play out a little bit more.

Although this book is set during WWII, I believe the "Wartime" in the title refers more to the war between the two sisters during their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of two sisters, Ruth and Millie, who grew up in Brooklyn and later moved to Springfield, MA. Ruth, the older sister, was always bitterly jealous of her younger sister Millie. Even though Ruth was more intelligent, Millie attracted all the attention because she was attractive and kind. Ruth's jealousy proceeded to turn her into a very hard and bitter person. She showed very little love at all to Millie because of this. Millie, meanwhile is a very sympathetic character. Life throws her some curveballs and even without her sister's support, she is able to handle them.

I also liked the supporting characters of Lillian and Arietta and their stories also. As always, I am a big fan of WWII fiction and while this book wasn't a heavy historical read, I did enjoy that it was set during this time period. Will definitely be reading more books from this author.

Five stars for The Wartime Sisters. Lynda Cohen Loigman is one of my favorite authors. I also gave five stars to The Two Family House. Both were about two sisters from Brooklyn during WW2 and the crises they face in their lives.

The Wartime Sisters is about a family from Brooklyn, with two sisters who are rivals and find it hard to like each other and get along. Ruth is the older one, bookish and more into studies than her looks. Millie is the younger one, pretty and popular.

Both sisters get married and find themselves living in an armory in Springfiedl, MA. Ruth's husband deserted her and her young son, penniless and homeless. With nowhere else to go, she moved in with Millie, who had no choice but to let her move in with her and her husband.

I loved reading about the sisters' relationship. With no love lost between them, Ruth's little son manages to open Millie's heart. I loved the relationship between the two sisters as they try to live their lives the best they can, in confined quarters, both with jobs and responsibilities.

I recommend this book, and thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful book and give my honest opinion.

While the story is a bit predictable, I found myself falling in love with the characters and I am a sucker for historical fiction of just about any kind - especially when it features strong women like Ruth and Millie! This was my first book by this author but I am excited to read her other book and will keep an eye out for her work going forward!

What a lovely look at a complex relationship between sisters who are the total polar opposites. So many novels about sisters fall into showing one as good and the other as bad, which is fine for the particulars of the book in question, but one of the reasons why I enjoyed this one so much is because I related to both of the sisters and understood the perspectives that each of them had. The book doesn't focus on good sister vs bad sister but rather on the complicated emotions that can tear apart and mend together a relationship that should be one of the closest you have in your life.

Lynda Cohen Loigman's writing flows well and effectively takes on the voice of each character. Not only does the reader get to see this story through Ruth and Millie's eyes, but we get to view it from the points of view of Arietta and Lillian, two women who provide some objective perspectives of the two girls and their problems. Even though the entire novel is in third person, each person's chapter feels like it belongs to a different person, which I think shows some of Loigman's skill as a writer. It's incredibly difficult to capture a whole other person when writing outside of first person or even when the narration switches between first person and third person depending on which character is "speaking."

One thing that disappointed me was how Ruth's story ends up. I like the changes that are made in how she treats Millie and feels about her because they were certainly long overdue, but I wish that we had seen Millie acknowledge her selfishness throughout the years and apologize to Ruth. We got the apology we wanted from Ruth, but I think a lot of Ruth's resentment could have been healthily processed if Millie had recognized (and let Ruth know that she recognized it) that Ruth's feelings are also valid. So much of the novel went toward validating Millie and slowly thawing Ruth, which were necessary points, but so little of it went toward Ruth's healing in the end. I also wish that we'd seen Ruth have a support system the way that Millie did, though I can see how it can be argued that Ruth purposely pushes people away from her, which is why she doesn't have a support system or many friends at all. I guess part of the point was that by the end of the novel, Ruth doesn't need Millie's validation or even the approval of friends as bad as she did in the beginning, and that's just a part of her multi-faceted journey she goes through. Still...the petty side of me wanted her to receive some kind of acknowledgement of her own hardships from Millie!

Overall, this book is a wonderful read. The history is well-researched, the writing is nice, and the characters are fascinating and heartbreaking in their painfully real struggles with each other. Whether you read this book for the historical bits about women manning the American home front or for the complicated relationship between two sisters, I don't think you'll be disappointed!