5 Stars all the way! This book was amazing; I absolutely loved the characters and the historical aspects. Penny, Lita, and Eleanor were such great characters, not only their bravery, but their perseverance and their loyalty. At first, I wasn't sure that I liked the 3 different story lines, but I ended up loving it. By using the 3 different characters, the authors were able to create different experiences to show their readers when they were held as POWs at separate locations. Historical fictions are harder for me to read because they are usually depressing, but the authors did a great job at showing me what it was like to live during that time without making me feel hopeless by sprinkling in little bits of joy throughout the story.

Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators and it's always a joy getting to listen to her tell a story

This was another new perspective on WWII from women who were nurses in the Phillipines during the Japanese invasion. Although a bit slow at times, I did enjoy it. I rounded up to 4 just because it seemed to drag a few times. Lita was my favorite just because she gives a new perspective as a a Philipina lady. The endings were realistic as well and I loved that romance was not a driving force in this book. Great job to the authors.

As for the audiobook reader, the performance was not the best and maybe that’s why it seemed to drag.

I was intrigued by this book as I enjoy both historical fiction and non-fiction, especially themed around WWII. Unfortunately though I wasn't able to finish this book

The multiple pov confused me a little - I couldn't diferentiate between the different narrators (this is a me issue though. I think reading a physical copy would have been easier)

I also couldn't connect with the characters. I found myself feeling bored while listening, which is why I decided not to continue with the story

It's a shame as I was really hoping to love this one! I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I was reading it rather than listening to the audiobook

This is an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival.
When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila in 1941, 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. 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.

They become caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, and 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, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this audiobook. And thanks to narrator Saskia Maarleveld for keeping it interesting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
When We Had Wings
by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris & Susan Meissner
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

As soon as I read the premise for When We Had Wings, I knew I needed to read it, and I was thrilled when I was approved for the audiobook. This beautifully written novel, inspired by the true story of the Angels of Bataan, follows three courageous nurses, Eleanor, Penny, and Lita, stationed in the Philippines during WWII. What starts as a dream assignment quickly turns into a harrowing fight for survival as the women face the horrors of war and eventually become prisoners of the Japanese army.

What impressed me was how seamlessly the book came together, especially considering three different authors wrote it. You’d never know it, but it reads like a single, cohesive voice throughout. The characters were well fleshed out and distinct, and I felt every emotional high and low with them. Their friendship, perseverance, and quiet strength brought a powerful depth to the story.

I’ve read a fair bit of WWII historical fiction, but most of it has focused on Europe. This novel was such a refreshing (and eye-opening) shift, giving voice to the brave women in the Pacific theatre, something I don’t often see enough of. The tension was palpable in several scenes, especially during interactions with the Japanese soldiers, and the emotional weight of their captivity was deeply felt.

The audiobook narration by Saskia Maarleveld was excellent. Their performance brought each character to life with clarity and emotion, and her voice was so easy to listen to. The pacing felt spot-on, and I had no trouble following along even with the multiple perspectives.

Overall, When We Had Wings is a heartfelt, emotional, and gripping story of strength, sisterhood, and survival. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction that shines a light on women’s wartime experiences, especially those not often told.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I would not have guessed this story had three different authors the story is seamless. Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who is absolutely superb!

This book tells the story of three nurses stationed in the Philippines during WWII.

They meet shortly before the war begins in that country and instantly connect, creating a strong and deep bond.

Each is assigned to a different post during the war, so their stories are told separately, but they always show concern for one another.

Since it's a story about a war, a lot of sad things happen.

I really enjoyed learning about what life was like for these people in that place during that time. I was so curious that while reading, I did a little more research to fill in the blanks I'd created in my mind.

Overall, an excellent book that, despite showing all the bad things that happened during the war, also shows us good things and provides moments of hope.

It was very well narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who does a great job of conveying all the emotion that the book requires.

An amazing story of courage and so well narrated. I had previously read the novel, but was pleased to listen once again to this moving story of women who survived and did not despair.

“When We Had Wings”

If you love WWII historical fiction, then you will love this book. I confess that with all of the reading I have done about the Second World War, almost none has been about the atrocities committed by the Japanese and I think that this is the first I’ve read set in the Philippines.

Despite being written by three different authors - Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner - the tale seamlessly connected and felt like one cohesive story. I enjoyed the perspectives of the three different nurses as they each struggled during combat and as prisoners of war, even as they worked to help others in the makeshift hospitals with very few medical supplies and little food.

Main characters Penny (Army), Eleanor (Navy), and Lita (Filipino nurse) each bring a different perspective to their situation and highlight varying injustices throughout the war. The enduring power of their friendship and the power of hope were important themes throughout this book. The complete disregard for the Geneva Convention, while not something new, particularly in the face of the Second World War, was really brought home as prisoners addressed their concerns on several occasions regarding the continual affronts to their rights - each time they were ignored or disregarded. The only thing I would have liked added to this book was an authors’ note sorting out fact from fiction and providing more information about the Philippines during WWII.

I read a few chapters in the ebook but primarily read #whenwehadwings via audiobook which was expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. I love Saskia’s narration style; in fact if I am debating an audiobook and see she is the narrator I immediately choose audio.

Thank you @harpermuse and @netgalley for digital copies of this fantastic book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wonderful.. Very much what you would expect from this group of authors. The story was compelling and the narration was perfect. i tmade my commute fly by.

I can not express enough how excellent this book is. The insight to what our veterans and heros have experienced in war time. The brave nurses who were the first women prisoners of war. Their tenacity and what they endured as POWs. This book is heart wrenching but focuses on Hope and I highly recommend it to everyone. If you have read The Women, you will absolutely love this book!

A story that's fascinating, the fact that these are of course inspired by real events blows my mind. It's so sad to think that the women of this time who worked as nurses in war went through some of these things and the men that had to fight the war having to be so badly wounded in conditions where medical care would be hard to get. Everytime I read a book that is inspired by a war that happened in our actual history I'm always reminded how stupid war really is considering all the horrors the people that actually have to "fight" the war have to go through, and all for some random leaders ego!

Fantastic! I love that this book is about the friendship between three strong female characters and was a collaboration of three female authors. This collab was a perfect mash-up of "The Women" and "The Nightingale" by Kristen Hannah. The audiobook is engaging, with each woman's personality coming through the narration. I appreciated that the historical events and friendships were the primary focus of the story, leaving the romantic relationship storylines as side plots. The anticipation of how the women would reunite was more intriguing to me than the romances. That being said, I did still enjoy each woman's realization of their priorities through the found relationships and their experiences during the war. I loved this book and look forward to reading more by all three authors!

This is a WWII historical fiction novel based on the real life Angels of Bataan. Written in collaboration by three authors, it tells the stories of three women (a navy nurse, an army nurse, and a Filipina nurse employed by the US army) serving in the Philippines at the outset of the US involvement in WWII. We follow the nurses before, during, and after the Battle of the Philippines, when they were taken as prisoners by the Japanese. A lot of it is set in internment camps, and there is also a focus on the Philippine people who risked their lives to aid the POWs and resist the Japanese occupation.

This book had me hooked from start to finish, and I learned quite a bit about a part of WWII that gets little attention these days. The stories were woven together seamlessly, and I’d have never guessed it was written by three authors. I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of WWII historical fiction, especially if you’re looking for something that’s not set in the European theater.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and Saskia Maarleveld did a phenomenal job, giving each character a distinctive voice. I was engaged the whole time. My only complaint is that the audiobook omits the author’s note at the end, which had fascinating details about the historical research that went into writing this book and the real life people who inspired it. (I borrowed an ebook from the library to read it.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ALC!

When We Had Wings gave me a glimpse into a part of WWII I wasn't familiar with, which is what drew me in. The way the story dives into how the Philippines were treated, the power dynamics between countries, and the historical facts layered into these three women’s stories.

Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators, and she didn't let me down in this story! Her ability to give each of the three women a distinct voice, along with the emotion she brings to their experiences, had me smiling one moment and tearing up the next. She’s one of those narrators who makes a story feel more real for me.

I felt at times that there were too many side characters. It caused the pacing to dip slightly or pulled focus away from the main three characters, or muddled the narration slightly. I also don't know how much impact some of those characters played in unveiling the overall plots or storylines for each of the main characters.

Overall, each of the authors' voices contributed to enhancing the plot and story as a whole. They provided background to characters that added depth to the roles they played in the war and how they dealt with unbearable situations.  What stuck with me most was the love story, not just romantic, but the love between friends. That bond, through brutal conditions, gave the story real heart. It’s about survival, yes, but also about how connection and hope carry people forward.

I'd definitely recommend it to historical fiction fans! Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the audiobook

This was such an emotional, sad, and touching read. Set during World War I, we follow three nurses as they navigate the challenges created by war. Being able to read all 3 of their stories, their background, losses, sufferings and wins made me so emotional and had me rooting for these 3 strong women. This book sheds light on the inhumane circumstances and treatment women and children endured during the war and how the concentration camps were run. Had my skin crawling at some point and shed tears more than once. The narration was done so well, and I felt very immersed while listening. A well deserved, touching, happy ending that makes you feel so much empathy.

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it. —Rabindranath Tagore, Collected Poems and Plays”
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When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawson, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner is a book written by two authors who have a solid track record with me. When I got the opportunity to receive an audiobook and saw the narrator was Saskia Maarleveld it was an easy choice. Saskia is a favorite narrator! I thought this book was about female pilots and that sounded great. When I started reading and realized that it was actually about nurses, in the Philippines, during WW2 I was not thrilled because I’m finding WW2 books hit too close to home these days. This book was actually really good and got 4.5 stars from me. The difficult aspects of the war in the Philippines were mentioned but they were not dwelled on and they were not the focus. Instead the story was about three brave women and some other brave people who showed courage, and hope, and perseverance.
I recommend this book to Historical Fiction lovers.
Thanks @NetGalley and @HarperMuse for the ALC that I received in exchange for an honest review.

The authors of this book came together and gave us a wonderful story. I felt the weight of what these nurses endured during this perilous time in history. These ladies were brave, bold, and risked their lives as part of their underlying duty. #WhenWeHadWings #NetGalley

The narration was excellent and kept me engaged in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

"When We Had Wings" is a beautifully written novel that follows the lives of three courageous nurses during World War II, highlighting their friendship, resilience, and sacrifice.

Due to a NetGalley glitch and having to uninstall and redownload the app even though I had a few days left on this it removed itself from my app and was unable to re-add.

However, out of respect to NetGalley and the author and narrator wanted to review what I had read of the book.

I loved the strong female characters. My Gran grew up in WWII so stories like this remind me of some of her experiences.

The story was vivid and enrapturing and hoping to grab it from the library at some point so I can complete it.

Otherwise thoroughly enjoyed it!

Trigger warning - wartime gore and voyeurism.