First off, I'd like to thank HarperCollins Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy.

This book is so descriptive, that I really thought I was actually there during the scenes that took place. I love how descriptive Ms. Hooper was in not only what the area looked like, but battle wounds that soldiers had as well. Since this book does talk about a war, it can be a pretty heavy read, but I think anyone who likes HiFi would appreciate the details Ms. Hooper put in to writing this book. I would highly recommend this book.

This was a well-written, worthwhile read. It was an aspect of the war I hadn't read much about, and I was pleased with the way it featured two very different characters: an American nurse and a Filipina member of the resistance.

There were some very heavy moments/events captured in this book. I appreciated the balanced way the author covered them. She didn't shy away from them, but she didn't keep the camera focused there either, so to speak.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially about World War II.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Bookclub Girls for the early read.

Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper is an inspiring story of the women who worked as nurses in the Philippines during World War II. These courageous women were far from home and cut off from the American forces for most of the war. Although historical fiction, Angels of the Pacific is very believable and the characters are so real.

I loved the alternating viewpoints—Tess, an American nurse taken prisoner in Manila, and Flor, a young Filipino woman who joins the local resistance movement to fight back against the Japanese and help her people survive the war. Throughout the story, you really get to see so many brave characters that showed how well everyone worked together in order to survive such harsh conditions and help each other.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I would recommend Angels of the Pacific!

Thank you so much to the publishers and to NetGalley for my opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First and foremost, the characters in this book completely stole my heart. The bond they shared was just beautiful! I can honestly say I do not know much at all about the pacific part of this war. Most of what I read is bases in England during the war. I really enjoyed reading about these ladies!

This novel, based on the true story of 77 American Army nurses held prisoner during WWII in the Philippines, blends simultaneously with a Filipina student and her family living in Manila to detail how they survive the Japanese occupation for four years. As the story evolves, the two main characters, Tess, a young American Army nurse, and Flor, a Filapina university student both mature, taking on roles they would never have thought possible. Once I got into the story, I could not put it down. This time period has always fascinated me but I had not known about this particular bit of WWII history. To read about the hardships that Americans and Filipinos alike endured during the occupation was eye opening. The resilience of all the women involved leaves one awestruck. That they could continue to live in the hope that they would be rescued while dealing with horrific work conditions, deprivation, loss, and torture is beyond my understanding but defines bravery at its finest. The author wrote in a couple surprises as the book ended and brought Tess and Flor’s stories together in a very satisfying way. Don’t miss this book!

Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.
#AngelsofthePacific #NetGalley

Elise Hooper hit it out of the park with this story of the Japanese takeover and occupancy of the Philippine Islands during World War II. I had read quite a bit on the Bataan Death March, but had never read about what it was like to be in the Philippines during the war otherwise. Angels of the Pacific tells the story from two different perspectives: an American Army nurse stationed in the Philippines and a Filipino woman. It is a brilliant story based on the stories of the American nurses who served in the Philippines during this time - but it doesn't read like a history. Compelling, spellbinding storytelling!

#netgalley #angelsofthepacific

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early chance to read this book. What a well researched and engaging story. The stories of the women in this book are heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This fiction novel of the women of WWII who were in the Phillipines living and serving is simply great. Like another reviewer, I did kind of feel that the ending was a little rushed, but it was wonderful to see all of the lives and stories come back together in the last few pages. Such a great read.

nursing, prisoners-of-war, Pacific Theater-of-Operations, war-experiences, war-is-hellish, war-wounds, PTSD, Philippines, WW2, after-the-war, horror, romance, grief, grieving, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, bravery*****

This book was inspired by Navy veterans of WW2 and embellished with the kinds of behaviors and facts known to be true. Although this is fiction, it is not all pleasant roses and chocolates. It symbolizes the real people of the Death March, The Caves, the Prison Camps, and even the tortures.
The setting begins at the very edge of war in Manilla (which I had never thought about before). Then it follows several nurses and even members of their families throughout the war and beyond. The final chapters recount the lives and problems encountered by many other veterans of this side of this war couched in the stories of the people in this book. It was a very good read.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from William Morrow and Custom House/William Morrow Paperbacks via NetGalley.
Readers might also add Marcia Gates: Angel of Bataan to their TBR pile.

I received an ARC of Angles of the Pacific in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first novel I have ever read that was set in the Philippines during WWII. It also focused on American Army nurses who will later become known as the Angels of Bataan.

I’ve read many novels about WWII and just when you think there can’t be anything that hasn’t already been written about, along comes this amazing novel that delves into another facet of the war. Although fictionalized, the author tells an amazing story steeped in actual events.

As the reader, we get a unique insight into the world of an Army nurse and the horrific conditions they experienced daily – risking their own lives to take care of others. Yet despite all the good these women are doing, they end up being captured by the Japanese and we see the horrors that occurred in the Santo Tomas Internment camp. Simultaneously, we get a glimpse into the amazing strength and resiliency of the Filipinos and what they are willing to do to protect their land and people from the Japanese.

It is amazing the lengths these women went to in order to take care of and protect each other. They even risked their own lives to gather intel to share with the Allies to help them advance into the Philippines and defeat the Japanese.

Even if you have read lots of WWII fiction, I would strongly encourage you not to miss this one. It is a beautifully written story about bravery, resiliency and female relationships. .

Loved this look at an over looked bit of ww2 history, the women were so strong and the writing was lovely

I liked that this WWII fiction book was set in the Philippines. This brought a nice change from typical WWII book. I really got to know the characters and their struggles. The story was heart wrenching at times, but had a good balance of negative and positive.

Thanks to William Morrow for an advaced copy of Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper.

Angels of the Pacific is my favorite kind of historical fiction -- based on real events but the main characters are all fictional but based on the experiences and things that happened to real people. I love this style because you get the storyline and the historic aspect.

I love WWII Historical fiction, especially those based on WACS, WAVES, WASPS and other women who served their country and I didn't know a lot about the war in the Philippines (except the Bataan Death March), and now I'm looking for non-fiction books to read more about the actual women who served on the front line until they were captured as Prisoners of War in the Philippines.

Told from the viewpoint of Tess, an American nurse; Iris, a Filippina nurse and her sister Flor, whose life is altered dramatically with the Japanese occuption. We see how these women all find strength in challenging situations and their lives all intersect during the war. I can't imagine being held as a POW for 4 years as a nurse.


I LOVED this book! It's the perfect blend of history, strong characters, descriptive writing and wanting to know more about the real women who were the Angels of the Bataan. Plus the wonderful authors note and extensive research!

Even if you're not a WWII Historical Fiction fan you should read this book. Go pre-order it now. It comes out March 8th!

Angels of the Pacific by Elise Hooper tells the story of a group of nurses stationed in what seemed like paradise in the Philippines. But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor all that changed. Based on true events we learn about the hardships faced by the nurses, doctors and the people living in Manila at this time. I did not know a lot about this part of WWII and now I am eager to read more! You will fall in love with these characters! Highly recommend!

Unique in WWII historical fiction, Angels of the Pacific takes place in the Philippines as Tess, an American army nurse experiences the fascinating country just before the Japanese invade and the hard horrifying work of nursing during a war begins. Flor, a Filipina university student, gets involved in the resistance to the Japanese. Their two stories come together in intriguing ways but the book focuses more on the history than on these two characters. While the ending felt rushed, this story will satisfy numerous WWII historical fiction readers with its Pacific setting and focus on the Philippines.

I loved this book, the first WWII book I’ve read that’s set in the Philippines. Occupied by the Japanese, I’d heard about the Bataan Death March and Corregidor, but only vaguely. Hooper fills this book with lots of facts and puts her likable characters right in the action—the jungle of Bataan, the Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor Island, and right in the heart of Manila. The destruction is heartbreaking, but the courage seen in and relationships between the characters are golden. Some twists and turns. Loved it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4476290829

This was an ARC from NetGalley-what a great book!
Tess had me captivated from the first few pages. This is an area of the war I have never read about on a fiction level, and I appreciated the character building and in depth knowledge. I was worried about them escaping the Japanese, and then worried for them when they were placed in camps. Most WW2 books focus on the atrocities of the Germans -but the Japanese really were terrible captors and a force to be scared of.
I will say the ending was a little rushed, and frankly sad. I wasn’t expecting such a quick conclusion. Really wanted to see more of Tess and her husband’s story unfold.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and having read a lot of WWII books recently, I wasn’t sure I was ready for another. But the story taking place in the Pacific was such a refreshing and eye-opening change!

I learned a great deal about what happened to The Philippines during in the war, as the United States focuses first on Europe before concentrating on the Pacific. The story and characters were engaging.

We follow the alternating stories of Tess, an American nurse serving in the Philippines just as the United States enters WWII, and Flor, a young Filipino woman whose life is altered dramatically by the Japanese occupation of her country. As war progresses, both women face hardships and challenges to survive.

While the author has a well-researched story, her writing style focuses more on events than on character development, so I missed that emotional connection that I prefer, and that would have had me rate the book higher. .

That said, I recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction like myself, who might also be interested in a new setting over the typical European front.

Thank you to Book Club Girls and NetGalley for the electronic ARC copy of the novel for review.

In “Angels of the Pacific”, Elise Hooper, has crafted a novel that lures you in with it’s South Pacific setting .... and then grabs you with the vivid descriptions of the struggles of the men and women - soldiers, doctors and nurses, and the people of Manila - as the war in the Philippines descends upon them. World War II fiction often focuses on the war in Europe, and I was completely absorbed in these descriptions of the battles fought in Manila, Corregidor, and Bataan. The story is told through the voices of primary characters Tess, an American nurse, and Iris and Flor, Filipina sisters - one a nurse, and one headed to college in the US as war breaks out. Their hopes and dreams, love and loss, the work they do, the horrors they endure, and how they fight their war, with the people alongside them, makes for a remarkable book. I think it is a mark of high praise when you cannot stop thinking about a book, and want to go on and read more about the historical setting, and “Angels of the Pacific” certainly earns that high praise - 5 stars! Thank you to Net Galley for this early copy! #AngelsofthePacific #NetGalley

How fresh to read about the heroism of women during WWII in the Pacific theater. This tale is about the battle for and occupation of the Philippines. We follow a group of nurses from before war breaks out through the battle of Bataan and into an internment camp. Philippine nurses served along side the American nurses but were released by the Japanese into the "open city" of Manila. One of these nurses is Iris, we hear her story and that of her sister Flor who is working with the Philippine resistance. This is a part of WWII history of which I was unaware. It was very interesting to learn about form this well researched book.

Well researched and introduced a little to known me aspect to WW2. I have read many WW2 novels but this one was the first that specifically depicted the experience in the Philippines.
The Angels of the Pacific, US nurses who were imprisoned and then pressed into service was also an aspect of WW2 I didn't know about.
This novel follows several nurses in their time during WW2 in the Philippines and their story of surviving prison camp and the Japanese occupation. Local Filipina women's tales are also woven in the novel.

TW- violence and discussion of sexual violence