Best book I've read in quite a while, detailing the deprivation and atrocities in Japanese prison camps during WWII, as well as the courage and endurance of the human spirit. I strongly recommend When We Had Wings to any reader interested in historical novels.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was originally interested in reading this title as it was a historical fiction story that focused on a different aspect of WWII, mainly the true story of nurses taken as prisoners of war in the Philippines.

The book is very well written, albeit a little slow in pacing throughout the story. As I read, I kept expecting something to happen and yet the story would just keep moving forward for a bit longer than necessary before the next event transpired.. There really was no slow build but more of a slow pace as it ambled along. I think shortening the story could have improved this..

However, the author does a great job developing the characters, mainly the 3 nurses, that meet when they are first stationed in the Philippines right before the US joins the war. Overall, the themes of female friendship, duty to country, and the resiliency of women in hardship definitely resound. Overall, a good read!

Three bestselling authors come together to pen a novel based on the true story of nurses taken as prisoners of war in WW2 in the Philippines. There’s great character development and I liked that the book was respectfully serious without being too depressing; it never seemed manipulative. I feel like it could have had a tiny bit more “oomph” to keep me totally gripped but it’s still a great story of friendship and resilience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this complimentary advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set during World War 2, three friends who are nurses deal with war, separation from each other, and heartbreak. I’ve never read a WW2 book set in the Phillippeans, so this was nice to see perspectives other than the typical European one.

An inspiring, compelling read of courage, perseverance and hope set in the midst of war. The story follows three young women who are nurses in Manilla before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Their mettle is seriously tested throughout the war years, as they continue to serve during the enemy occupation of the Philippines.

This well written story pulled me in from the first page with descriptions of the situations, emotions, ethical dilemmas, romantic tension, and threats of violence surrounding them. They were so brave! Their fortitude amazed me as they continued to work hard, helping others, showing mercy, despite the awful conditions. I could feel their despair as they were severely tested. It had me holding my breath at times and wanting to pray for them even, it felt so real. I wept at the end--a rarity for me--it so moved me. It had a lovely, sighworthy wrap up, leaving a feeling of hope at the end.

Highly recommend for WW2 fans, especially those who are interested in the Pacific and prisoner of war stories. It is a wonderful tribute to the real "Angels of Bataan". 5 stars!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a fantastic emotional read about the nurses who became Japanese POW in the Philippines during WWII. I loved the different perspectives if Lita, Elenor,and Penny. The historical details were very well researched. I wish this book has included an addendum with what was fact versus what was fiction. I also would have loved a map!!! 5stars!!!!

I was very excited to receive an advanced copy of this book, as all three authors are established in history and historical fiction storytelling. Based on actual events, the novel explores the lives of two of the 77 Army and Navy nurses and one Filipina nurse who became POWs after the Japanese occupied the Philippines in May 1942, until their liberation in February 1945.

The authors incorporate first-hand accounts from survivors to craft the characters of Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, Army nurse Penny Franklin and civilian Filipina nurse Lita Capel. Other characters are real people, such as Chief Army Nurse Maud Davison. And while this book is heavy on history, it reads like the first rate novel that it is with finely crafted character development and gut-wrenching story lines.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII history.

I had been asking authors for WWII books with more focus on the Pacific theater being the focus. These 3 women deliver. It is gritty, horrifying, and a page turner. I had to know what happened even when I did not want to know. We always talk about the horrors of war and this book brings it to the fore front of your reading.

It is is a difficult read for that reason, but it is a well written novel. One that made me want to keep reading even when events got overwhelming.

A must read for those that have enjoyed WWII novels in the past but are looking for a different setting.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
The beginning of the book was emotionally hard to read because there is a lot of warfare and it made me think a lot about current events in Ukraine and how scary it must be to live under this every day. The three women: Penny, Eleanore, and Lita all joined up as nurses for different reasons, but they find themselves in similar circumstances. It was good to see their friendship strengthen and endure during the years of war in the Philippines. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but this is the first book I've read centered on the Philippines so it was very eye-opening to read.

I thought this was a well written book. It was also sad and depressing but then war was never a happy thing.
We follow three nurses who end up being POW’s during WW2 in Manila. I’ve read a lot of WW2 historical fiction and this is the first one dealing with this time in history.
It’s an intense book that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy, all opinions are my own.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story tells of the friendship between three young nurses stationed in Manila during WW 2. They met as new recruits and became fast friends during the ideally days of early 1941. None of them knew that a war was coming, and their lives were upended as the island was attacked and eventually surrendered to the Japanese.
The grisly detail of war and its impact on both the military personnel , the medical staff, and the locals was well told. I liked the characters, and I would have wanted to be friends with each of them. My only complaint was that to me, the personalities of Eleanor and Penny, the two Americans were virtually interchangeable and I had a hard time remembering who was who. Lita the Philippine nurse was a stronger character as she was drawn to caring for children and her interactions with her academic rival.
I have read a number if stories about WW2, quite a few of which had female heroines. However this is first story I have read about the Japanese occupation of the Manilla and the Philippines, and I was shocked by the cruelty that the Japanese imparted on their POW and internees. I thank the authors for telling the story of the brave women and men who stood up to tyranny and never gave up hope. After reading this story, it makes me appreciate just a bit more how easy our lives are today and how grateful we should be for their sacrifice.

Three diverse women join different branches of the Alliied forces nursing corps during WWII and are caught up in the Japanese takeover of Bataan in the Philippine Islands. The inclusion of a Filipino nurse, as well as a grieving, recent widow and a more typical dewey-eyed young nurse make this a well-rounded trio with different viewpoints and reactions to the trials of being prisoners of war.

This is a great read as the reader wants to learn how these truly trying circumstances are survived.

Deeply moving and evocative! As a nurse, I truly appreciated the perspective of wartime nursing that Eleanor, Penny, and Lita experienced. I cannot even begin to imagine the horrors that they witnessed and loved through. I loved the depth of their connection and bonds of friendship. I also appreciated the loyalty to their service and country above all. How easy it could have been for them to back out and do something different, but they stood their ground, and they made a huge difference. These characters have stayed with me long after finishing their story. I truly felt like I was getting a front seat narration of their time and experiences and my eyes were opened. I have spent so much of time learning about WWII from the perspective of America vs Germany. When We Had Wings was a genuinely enlightening look at the war between America and Japan. The Angels of Bataan have spurred me on to learn more about their experiences and have encouraged me in my own career. Thank you for bringing their story to the light and sharing about these remarkable women.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

When We Had Wings
Ariel Lawhon; Kristina McMorris; Susan Meissner
Publisher: Harper Muse
Series: None
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale of a trio of World War II nurses in the Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.
The Philippines, 1941. When US Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, US Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war.
Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the US military and the Japanese Imperial Army for control of the Philippine islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy’s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, they strive to keep their hope—and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.
In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed “the Angels of Bataan,” three women shift in and out of each other’s lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation.”
Impressions: I’ve read many WW2 stories, but this fresh perspective, set in the Philippines, was new for me making this story more memorable. The three heroines were gritty but soft. I enjoyed the hope they found in each other, and their bravery was admirable. I did not feel like I was able to pick up this book however and start reading without having to place who was speaking and remember who was who. I think the beginning could have used more length in getting to know the women before jumping around. All in all, this was a great read, and I did find myself crying towards the end. Although this was not a Christian book the romance was clean. I think the perspective alone was worth reading for any historical fiction fan.

Quotes: “…Penicillin. Now that was a shock. While they’d been wasting away in the Philippines, the world had invented a brand new medicine that- had it been available in the camps- would have saved many of the lives they’d lost.” – I tried to imagine loosing track of 2-4 years of my life. I know we would all be quick to say COVID, but really be out of communication with the world. What a strange feeling that alone would have been.
“Vanity was a double-edged sword: it brought either pride or self-loathing.”
I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

In 1941 in the Philippines, two American military nurses and one Filipina nurse have what appears to be a dream assignment. They all have their reasons for being there, but the friendship that strikes up between them is real. But when the Japanese attack Manila, they end up separated, putting their bravery and nursing skills to use, particularly when they end up as prisoners of war.

This was such an engrossing, well written book. I was honestly invested in these characters and read this book in one sitting. For some heavy material, there was a lot of hope in this book, because these women were awesome. Kudos to these authors for writing this amazing book with strong women and an amazing tale of friendship. I also liked that the ending wasn’t what you would expect, even though each of their stories were wrapped up happily. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a gripping story of four courageous women during WWII. The resilience of surviving POW camps will make you understand the fabric of The Greatest Generation. We always hear about the soldiers side of the war, but this enlisted female side will round out the story. Just a great book authored by the best storytellers is a must read.

All my favorite authors together? Writing a book set during WWII? I am so grateful to Netgalley and the Publisher for granting my request, as this book was phenomenal. Even though there were 3 different authors writing, this book read fluidly and I loved every part and second of it. I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy, and this book will stay with me for a long time. Very touching, and the characters were so well-written that I wish I could befriend them and spend time with them myself. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy of When We Had Wings. Opinions expressed are my own and no spoilers will be given.

Manila 1941: Eleanor, Penny, and Lisa are all nurses serving with the military in Manila on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack. Each found themselves in Mailia for different reasons, but they develop a friendship to get them through what had seemed like a luxury assignment. After Manila is attacked by the Japanese, they each find themselves in a different area of the Phillippines, trying to serve their country by helping the heal and comfort the injured. As the Japanese take over more and more of the island, their situation goes from passable to dire.

Each nurse’s storyline is their own, but their paths cross periodically throughout the book. It is seamless and doesn’t come across as “oh it’s time for two of them to be in the same place at the same time.” The three authors do an excellent job of telling the women’s stories as they struggle through their time as POWs of the Japanese and give an account of what life was like in the Philippines during WWII. Often, readers seek stories with a strong female protagonist. When We Had Wings presents readers with three strong protagonists. You will cheer their victories. Feel their defeats. Root for survival and freedom. An amazing supporting cast of characters help the effortless flow of the novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #arc #whenwehadwings #susanmeissner #kristinamcmorris #ariellawhon #harpermuse

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this copy in advance. This was a good book. I liked the history and the story of the girls and what all they went through.

In a literary world that has devoted so much time to WWII set in Europe, it was refreshing to read one set in the Pacific.
Following 3 nurses: Elenor’s, Penny and Lita, whose lives could not have been different, as war does, makes them sisters. These brave women survived the day to day by putting their medical training to the test not only on the battlefield but in a POW camp as well time and time again, stretching their physical and mental limits just to make it is a testament to one’s will to survive. Kudos to the authors for making the characters come to life, to make us, the reader care.