I have read other books by Elise and was really looking forward to this story. I do have a passion reading historical fiction. I did not find this story as engaging - it dragged a bit for me. I would definitely read another book by Elise.

I liked this book a lot! I didn’t know anything about the Philippines. It was interesting to read about a different aspect of WWII and I really liked both of the duel storylines.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4384264247

This was a really good, engaging book. I don't think I have YET to read a WW2 historical fiction novel that I haven't liked, but this one was entertaining, educational, and interesting. I have to admit: I didn't know anything about the happenings during the war in Asia, besides the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the dropping of the 2 bombs...

So, to learn about what was happening in the Philippines and to have such a good story about Tess and her fellow nurses was a treat.

I had downloaded this to my Kindle app via NetGalley earlier this year as a gift received from the Book Club Girl Early Read program. I have the best stash of books on my Kindle app, for cases like this where I finished a physical book and didn't have a hard copy book with me on my travels.

I will absolutely look for more books by Hooper - she's a great historical fiction writer!

A great story of a time in WWII that I was unfamiliar with - the Philippians, and the involvement of nurses on the island and what they endured after being captured by Japan.

Thank you to William Morrow for gifting me an eARC of this book to review via NetGalley. There are many, many WWII novels out there, but fewer are about the Pacific Theater and this is the first WWII novel I've encountered that takes place in the Philippines. While the new content was interesting, it could have used a little more character and plot development to help me feel fully invested in the story.

Angels of the Pacific contains a dual lead (not timeline) story, featuring Tess, an American nurse assigned to the Philippines during World War 2, and Flor, a Filipino national young woman, working as a part of the resistance. The American nurses have been stationed on the frontlines until the Japanese invade the islands, then are taken prisoner at the notorious Santo Tomas Camp. Flor, working as part of the resistance connects with the group as both struggle to survive the Japanese occupation as they hold out hope for an American victory.

This is definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year. Both Tess's and Flor's stories are well told, and the treatment by the Imperial Army of the Filipino population and American servicemen and women is not glossed over yet spares many of the more gory details to the reader. Even knowing how the war will end, the book keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, waiting for the Americans to finally arrive.

Tess thinks she’s going on an adventure of a lifetime with the American Army nurses and university student Flor is about to travel abroad to study when the Japanese Imperial Army invades after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Both are thrust into a fight for their lives as well as their loved ones and must find reserves of courage, tenacity, and both strength they didn’t know they had.

I love a good historical fiction novel that transports its readers to a previously unknown time and place and Angels of the Pacific was certainly one of those! Elise Hooper does a tremendous job of bringing the stories of both the brave WWll nurses, known as the Angels of Bataan, and the little known Filipina resistance fighters to life in a way that absolutely comes off the pages. Vividly told, this novel will teach while telling a brilliant story that you won’t soon forget!

I’ve been a little burned out on women's WWII historical fiction, but this book is very different! I wasn’t aware of any of the history regarding the Philippines and WWII, Hooper did an amazing job of weaving the history into a beautiful story of sisterhood, survival and female friendship.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

A gripping tale of WWII on the Pacific front tells the harrowing tale of a group of young Army nurses struggling to live and survive in the Philippines. Some of the story isn’t pretty - but war does that. It is a conglomeration of war, sacrifice, friendship, and love. It’s a fictional glimpse into our past of the heroic deeds these women accomplished while struggling just to stay alive. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Elise Hooper has done extensive research and written an amazing book based on actual people and events. While I’ve read plenty of WWII historical fiction, I knew nothing about what went on in the Philippines at that time. Fascinating account of the terrible things that went on there during the war. Love the characters, especially Tess, who was based on an actual nurse.

This book was well written and captivating. Elise Hooper paints a clear picture of events that happened in the Philippines and the heartbreak and strength of people who were part of it. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of Angels of the Pacific by author Elise Hooper. This book was also released this week too so this is hardly an advance review anymore.

I have read books by Hooper in the past and the cover is gorgeous so I was eagerly anticipating this one. However I really struggled to remain invested in this book. There were key historical moments I had no prior knowledge of and also compelling incidents happened to the characters that were at times heart wrenching. But, overall I found the story moved too slow for me to keep as interested as I was with other books by Hooper. Because of the pacing of the book I had trouble remaining connected to the main characters and their storylines. I plan to read more novels by Hooper in the future, but this one didn't stand out as much for me.

I would rate this book 2.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for fans of historical fiction.

Angels of the Pacific
by Elise Hooper
Pub Date: March 8, 2022
William Morrow and Company
Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II's American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately--victory.
Thanks to Elise Hooper, William Morrow and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I loved it.
This is my favorite genre to read and I will be recommending this book. One of the most heartbreaking, soul-rending, uplifting pieces of historical fiction I have read in a long time. An immediate foray into the nonfiction books on this subject is needed. A very well-written novel and dedication to these women.
5 stars

I haven't read any WW2 books about what happened in the west pacific during the war so found it very interesting.
I also really like the characters and storyline.
For some reason this book seemed to drag a little and I found myself thinking it seemed much longer than it actually was.
Overall good book that I will recommend.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Dual POV from an American Nurse and a Filipino resistance-supporting young woman during WWII Japanese-occupied Phillipines.

I found this fascinating and realized that I knew very little about this part of WWII history.

I have read many book on WW2 but none about the Philippines. This book is fascinating. I had heard about the battles described in this book but not details. This book has the added subject of the Army nurses who served and suffered there. I also loved that this book took you forward 20 years after they were liberated to see what life had become for them.

What better day to celebrate this International Women’s Day than with the story of these incredibly strong and inspiring women?

The book is set in The Philippines, 1941.

Tess Abbott was born and raised in the State of Washington. She moved in with her sister after their parents’ death. She went to nursing school and she’d always wanted to see the world so, when she was offered the opportunity to join the Army and move to the Philippines, she gladly took it.

Flor and Iris Dalisay are two Filipino sisters. Flor is a nurse and Iris is about to move to the US to study one year abroad on December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and hours later attacked Manila.

Their lives intersect after these attacks, when both Tess and Flor are transferred to Bataan, a rural area known for its wild animals and malarial swamps. The story continues as the Japanese invade the Philippines and they have to work under the harshest conditions and struggle to survive on the front lines of the war in the Pacific.

Angels of the Pacific is a fascinating story about friendship, love, sacrifice and heroism. These women are real patriots and their story is one worth reading and sharing.

Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and I’ve always loved to read books about WWII, but I knew nothing about these girls, the things they endured and everything that happened in the Philippines during this time period. I love when a historical fiction book leaves me wanting to learn more about the events mentioned in the story and this one surely did!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital review copy of Angels of the Pacific. I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction, women’s fiction and inspiring stories. This is my second book by Elise Hooper and I’ll absolutely be waiting for her next one!

Angels of the Pacific is a compelling novel about the heroic actions of U. S. Army nurses and the courageous Filipino residents of Manila during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during WWII. While it is historical fiction, it is inspired by stories of nurses known as the Angels of Bataan nurses. It is very well-researched, and is dedicated to the author’s late grandfather, who served in the war in the South Pacific with the U. S. Navy.

Told in first person POV by young Army nurse Tess, the story recounts the initial glamour of being stationed in this tropical paradise—golfing, tennis, and parties at the Officers’ Club. Tess and her nurse buddies have an enjoyable camaraderie and female friendships. Then the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the subsequent attack on their base outside Manila changes their lives in an instant. Their travails and heroism in the Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor and the Bataan prison camp are described in detail and with compassion.
Paralleling their story is that of a Filipino family whose daughters courageously use their wits to participate in the resistance network that passed intelligence information to thwart the occupying army, and also saved the lives of countless prisoners by smuggling food and money into the POW camps. Flor, Iris, and Luchie are well-portrayed as smart, strong, and selfless.
The plot is well-constructed and moves smoothly from December, 1941 to their evacuation from the Philippines in February, 1945. A plus for this reader is in the final chapters, which cover the next 20 years and reveal the “rest of the story” of the lives of the main characters.

This is a terrific novel that provides insight into a location and a not frequently explored aspect of WWII and a resilient group of brave women. The pub date of March 8 being International Women’s Day, and March being Women’s History Month, I especially recommend this book to readers interested in well-told stories of strong women and female friendships.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

What a wonderful heartfelt story. I learned a couple of things from this book: Women are the rocks of the world and I am sure glad I wasn't here for WWII. The beautiful, strong, resilient nurses in this novel are unbelievable. The horror they went through but still stayed strong and helped others. The resistance worker, Flor, who risked herself time and time again to get food and money to prisoners of the Japanese. Living with mosquitos and disease and brutality from the Japanese in the Philippines only made these strong women stronger. This book stole my heart and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to #williammorrow, #netgalley and @elisehooper for an ARC of the book