I want to thank everyone for this gifted copy of Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper.

I thought that this was a very interesting take on this period of time, as you don't see a lot of book written in the Philippines. But I didn't find that I was very invested in the characters as I normally am in a historical fiction setting. it felt like the book was more event driven than character driving, so there wasn't enough character development for me.

Over all I liked the different in perspective and would recommend it to those would might want something different paced.

Hooper provides insight into the Pacific Ocean Theater and the many lives sacrificed to protect those left behind. The thoughtful plot line brings the characters together, yet highlights their unique struggles.

I've read a lot of World War II fiction but this is my first one set in the Pacific. Angels of the Pacific was captivating. I enjoyed the different perspectives of both the Phillipine nurses and the American nurses. I'm definitely going to be reading more about WWII outside of Europe.

I spent a couple of late nights reading Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper. The author made me feel like I was right there with Tess Abbott, a nurse, who is posted in Manila. Life is easy as she spends time in night clubs and beautiful beaches. This changes when the Japanese invade the Philippines. She and the other nurses escape to Bataan where they live in the horrible conditions of a battlefield hospital. On April 9, 1942, the American forces on Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. The journey of trying to survive and give medical help under the worst conditions in Corregidor and spend a long time in an internment camp. Hooper painted such a vivid picture that I felt like I was there.

This is a book that will stick with me for a long time.

I was caught up in the story Angles of the Pacific based on the Angels of Bataan in the Philippines during WWII. This is fiction but had some details that happened at that time. It was hard to put the book down as I was so interested in the characters and what was happening. Some of the details are hard to imagine but something we need to read to remember that transpired during the war. I am glad I gave this book a chance and thank Elise Hooper for a great written book.

I knew little about what took place in the Philippines during World War II—most of the books I’ve read about that era were set in the European theatre—so Angels of the Pacific was enlightening.

Elise Hooper’s historical novel was inspired by the true stories of US Army nurses and the contributions of Filipinas of the resistance. Nurse Tess Abbott is posted in Manila and enjoys life in a tropical paradise near sandy beaches and exciting nightclubs and restaurants. But when the Japanese Imperial Army invades the island nation, the nurses escape to Bataan where they live in the squalor of a battlefield hospital. On April 9, 1942, the American forces on Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. They sent medical personnel to the island of Corregidor where they cared for wounded in the Malinta Tunnel and were eventually captured as prisoners of war and held in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp for four years, where they provide lifesaving care to the civilian POWs.

In 2020 I read author Elise Hooper’s novel Fast Girls about three members of the US Olympic team who take part in the 1936 summer games in Berlin, Germany. I enjoyed it very much and was excited to receive an ARC of Angels of the Pacific.

It’s well plotted, fast-paced, and packed with action. The characters are likeable and strong, and I cheered for them as I flipped through the pages. The author did a terrific job painting word pictures of working in a field hospital on the Bataan Peninsula. Jungle life was miserable. The insects, the constant heat and humidity, the filth, hunger, and agony. “The toll of living in the jungle revealed itself when we lined up with the other nurses who had arrived on Corregidor directly from Manila four months earlier. Those of us who had spent time in the jungle appeared feral. Our hair had grown wild, well beyond regulation off-the-collar length, our coveralls were in tatters, our cuts in rations had left us underweight and gaunt, and our sallow skin glowed with a dull sheen of malarial fever sweat.”

I was invested in the story and the struggles of the characters tugged at my emotions, but I found the writing to be average. Still recommended at 4 stars.

This was a beautiful story. WW2 story set in the Philippines and follows the nurses that were there to take care of troops but ended up being captured and held prisoner for several years. What a great story!!!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I have read a lot of historical fiction about World War II, but it has mostly been based on the European front. I suddenly realized that I had barely read any novels set in the Pacific even though that's where my own father served with the Navy. Angels of the Pacific turned out to be a great starting point because I knew nothing about the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The author was able to paint a vivid picture of the cruelty of war and the bravery of those who played a role in the resistance. I definitely plan to read the rest of Elise Hooper's books as they sound equally fascinating. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy to read and review.

This story is a nice change of pace for a WWII narrative with the location being more middle of the Pacific areas. I enjoyed reading the two women's storylines. Having read other novels by this author, she continues to write a strong storylines that her audience will enjoy. I also listened to the audiobook which is pleasing. Very much suggested for those with an interest in this period of time. Free ARC from NetGalley, all views my own and not influenced by this. #AngelsofthePacific #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book! I have read a lot of WWII fiction but never from the point of view of Americans and Filipinos in Manila being attacked by Japan. The characters were so well developed and I went through all of the emotions reading this book. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I never had any idea what the people of the Philippines went through during WWII. This story was told from two different perspectives: medical people and native Filipinos. At times, the brutality was intense, but I found the book well written and very interesting

This is a wonderful book. The amazing characters draw you in and make you feel like you are living in the story. The story was so interesting I couldn't put the book down. I felt every emotion possible while reading this book and I can't wait for another story by Elise Hooper.

I am thankful that the publishers gave me the opportunity to read and review this book. I really appreciated being able to read a World War 2 novel that took place in the Pacific Theater, as most of what I read takes place in Nazi occupied Europe. I loved learning about the experiences of these brave women through the lenses of the fictional characters. An added bonus was the collection of photographs in the end. Thank you for including them in the digital version. While it wasn’t always an easy topic to read about, it was a book that overall felt easy to read and the characters were likable. At times I felt the story line was rushed a bit, and the foreshadowing seemed too obvious for my liking. I found myself groaning every time a chapter ended with sentences saying how things were always about to get much worse. It felt a little too forced. Overall though, definitely enjoyable, and the ending was so nicely done. What a great tribute to these women! I would recommend to my WW2 fan friends.

This was a book with a different take on WWII. I haven't read many books about the Pacific front and the difficult conditions the American personnel faced once they were captured by the Japanese. Another well done work of Elise Hooper

I didn't want this book to end. It was well done with rich characters and plot lines. Flor, Tess and Frances were all very important to the war efforts. We got to learn about different experiences of the war with Flor being Filipino, Tess being American and Frances having lived in Japan and being Filipino. We got to know the nurses that were so important to the health of the soldiers defending the Philippines from the Japanese.

Highly recommend

This was a book with a different take on WWII. I haven't read many books about the Pacific front and the difficult conditions the American personnel faced once they were captured by the Japanese. Another well done work of Elise Hooper

I didn't want this book to end. It was well done with rich characters and plot lines. Flor, Tess and Frances were all very important to the war efforts. We got to learn about different experiences of the war with Flor being Filipino, Tess being American and Frances having lived in Japan and being Filipino. We got to know the nurses that were so important to the health of the soldiers defending the Philippines from the Japanese.

Highly recommend

A touching story of the nurses who were captured in Corregidor and Bataan. Each character felt very real, and I was rooting for Flor especially. It was sad to read details of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines; I hadn't been aware of how poorly they treated the Filipinos. I've read WWII fiction extensively, and still learned new things from this novel. An excellent read!

As we reflect on this Memorial Day, I wanted to share a review of a book that focuses on the nurses who served during WWII.

Angels of the Pacific

WWII is an extremely popular topic of historical fiction, particularly with a focus on the Nazis and the European front. What I haven’t seen written about as much is the Pacific theater and those who served in it. So I was excited when I came across Angels of the Pacific and saw that it was set in the Philippines and told from the perspective of an American nurse and and a Filipina student turned Resistance worker.

Recently I’d found myself a tired of historical fiction set during this time period. However, this book provided a fresh take on it and had characters whose stories I felt vested in. I knew little about this side of the war and began going down a bit of a rabbit hole after reading to find out more. A sign of a good book to me!

If historical fiction is of interest to you I would recommend picking up this one up. It has a touch of it all - from stories of friendship, hardships, to what we are willing to endure to not only save ourselves but those we love, to how we keep moving forward when it simply doesn’t seem possible.

Historical fiction has become one of my most favorite genres and Angles of the Pacific did not disappoint. Prior to reading, I knew little about the WWII battles being fought in the Pacific.

Set in the Philippines prior to the US entrance of the war, Angels of the Pacific tells the story of the nurses who volunteered to serve in Manilla. They had expected to find easy work and island paradise. This was not the case as the War engulfed their area.

The women served honorably, were captured and made prisoners of war. Angels of the Pacific tells their story as they evacuate their camp and live through horrible conditions prior to being saved. There are underlying love stories that have both sad and happy endings. The novel sees the characters through the war and reconnects them 20 years later.

I enjoyed thsi WW2 novel about nurses. I learned a bit I never knew and love the writing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!