When I read a historical fiction book, this is what I want. There was another historical fiction book by a well known author that examined the military nurses from Vietnam that quickly spiraled from a moving glimpse of what the women endured and went into bad soap opera territory. If you also were frustrated and wanted a true historical fiction novel, this is it. A beautiful story of resilience, friendship and bravery. And let’s not act like there aren’t other relationships but they only add to the story, not distract.

The audiobook was ok but I think really could have benefited from unique narrators for each of the 3 nurses.

When We Had Wings takes us soaring into the tumultuous skies of the Philippines in 1941, where three remarkable women—Nurses Eleanor Lindstrom, Penny Franklin, and Lita Capel—find themselves caught between duty, danger, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. From the moment they step into the Army Navy Club in Manila, you'll feel the warm glow of camaraderie and the promise of escape from their pasts. But as the clouds gather and war clouds loom overhead, this idyllic setting quickly turns into a harrowing battleground. These brave women become the "Angels of Bataan," facing combat conditions, imprisonment, and unimaginable hardships. Yet, through squalid living, food shortages, and the brutal realities of war, their resilience shines brighter than ever, driven by hope and the strength of their friendship. Lawhon, McMorris, and Meissner craft a compelling narrative that balances heart-pounding tension with heartfelt moments of sisterhood. It's a story that will have you cheering for these heroines as they navigate the darkest days of WWII with courage and grace. A truly inspiring read that reminds us of the extraordinary power of hope and friendship amid chaos.

A book based about the Angels of Bataan during WWII, a tragic but beautifully written story about the Military nurses. It was a heartfelt story of loss, survival, hope, love and friendships.
The narrator did an excellent job in narrating the book.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Harper Muse for the audiobook.

This audiobook was engaging from the start. However about a third of the way through, it was just lagging, and lost my interest. Sorry to say I haven't finished it. I may pick it back up at some point and I'll amend my review then.

Thank you netgalley for the prerelease audiobook.

I really enjoyed this story and the female friendship and connections made and maintained in the midst of war and dark times.

I had a bit of a hard time trying to remember which camp the characters were actually in while the chapters basically jumped back and forth with all three of them.

The ending was very gratifying. I especially lived how each found their own path after the war but connections brought them back to each other!

This was a great book, and my first WWII historical fiction. Following our 3 protagonists over there years of being POWs in the Philippines and all the struggles they went through was heartbreaking while also being quite hopeful. My only critique is that I don't feel like we really established their friendship before we got thrown into the war and they get separated. But the last 100 pages of the this book had me tearing up over and over again.

An engaging historical fiction read about the amazing women nurses in the Pacific theater of World War 2. I would recommend When We Had Wings to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and stories about strong women.

When We Had Wings

In listening to this audiobook, you really were able to connect with the characters. The Narrator did a good job to bring each character to life. The books pace was good and getting to know Eleanor, Lita and Penny through some of the most trials and tribulations of this era of their life.
As the three nurses travel through the war, they didn’t always have each other but they still had much Percervernce. Hearing them interact with the soldiers both broken and a danger to them as women. You find yourself deep within a world where your heart fights for them as fierce as themselves.
My love of WWII and my fellow Nurses that have paved the way for us today hold a special place in my heart. I will be recommending this to every Nurse and Historical Fiction lover and even those who are not! This is the two main reasons I picked this audiobook, and I am happy I did!

In this emotionally resonant and deeply researched novel, three authors come together to spotlight a powerful and often underrepresented chapter of World War II history—the story of the Angels of Bataan. Through the perspectives of Eleanor Windstrom, Penny Franklin, and Lita Capel, we follow the journey of three courageous nurses stationed in the South Pacific, who ultimately become among the first female prisoners of war.

The historical setting is immersive and meticulously rendered. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its inclusion of Lita, a Filipina nurse whose voice broadens the narrative beyond the traditional American viewpoint. Her storyline adds rich cultural depth and highlights the interconnectedness of those affected by war across national lines. The authors vividly portray the unimaginable conditions these women endure—scarcity, disease, trauma—while never losing sight of their bravery and humanity.

From a structural standpoint, the novel is ambitious. While the distinct voices of the three protagonists add scope, I found myself wishing for a tighter focus. The transitions between their narratives occasionally felt uneven, and the emotional bond between them didn’t fully resonate. Each storyline was strong individually—so much so, in fact, that this could have easily become a compelling trilogy, allowing each woman’s journey the space and attention it deserved.

As an audiobook, Saskia Maarleveld brings a strong performance, but the format struggles to carry the weight of the novel’s complexity. With so many characters and shifting perspectives, it became difficult at times to track the narrative flow. A full-cast production or dual narration might have better supported the ambitious storytelling.

Despite these structural challenges, this novel is a heartfelt and important tribute to the resilience of wartime nurses and the enduring strength of women in history. Its focus on the South Pacific and its commitment to including multiple cultural viewpoints make it stand out within the WWII fiction genre. While the audiobook has limitations, the print edition is highly recommended for readers who want to fully absorb the depth of each character’s experience.

What an intriguing and beautifully woven story crafted by three talented authors—Ariel Lawson, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner. While I initially found it challenging to separate the storylines of the three women, as the narrative unfolded, I became deeply connected to the characters. Their resilience and depth drew me in, and by the end, I didn’t want the story to end. Saskia Maarleveld’s narration added another layer of richness to the experience—she brought each character to life with nuance and emotion. A memorable listen from start to finish.

** Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Muse, Ariel Lawson, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner for an eARC copy of ‘When We Had Wings’.

Readers of historical fiction and especially WWII themed historical fiction will truly enjoy this novel based on fact. Opening in 1941 the reader is quickly immersed in the wartime on the Pacific and it was a welldone story about the nurses there on the front. I wasn't crazy wild for it as I felt some parts moved slow and were a bit repetitive but yet did advance the story of their imprisonment during that time. Three gifted writers crafted this one very well - enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Strong women and a different perspective on WWII. During the war many books and discussions surround the European front but often the war in the Pacific is overlooked. WWII historical fiction novel which is based on true events. This focuses in the Pacific with the war with Japan, the prison camps and the poor treatment. The story of Eleanor, Penny, and Lita had me feeling a gamut of emotions. There was joy and hope, despair and anger. I was all over the place. Our main characters are all nurses: Eleanor with the Navy, Penny in the Army, and Lita as a native Filipino. They meet in Manila and until Pearl Harbor are enjoying their assignments. The reality of war transforms them from nurses on assignment to nurses in combat and then to POWs. These nurses would later be dubbed “the Angels of Battan” in our history books, although their story has been left untold, until now. This novel brings it alive as well as the sounds, feel and impacts of war. I would recommend this novel and story. Thank you NetGalleythe authors and Harper Muse.

I chose this book because it had a some of my favorites. One of the authors, the narrator, the setting, and female-driven stories are some of my favorites. I was impressed with all of the incredible research done for this book. I'd expected a historical fiction with a close narrative, and was surprised that it read more like a narrative nonfiction.

When We Had Wings is a WWII Historical fiction novel following three nurses in Manila as they deal with the actions and consequences of war in the Pacific Theater. Overall, this is a very interesting and engaging read! It especially shines in its plot and the three main characters who each have a fantastic arc throughout the book. This book was also very well written and has a momentum to its plot that makes it a very fast read. Though I do think in many ways it is not much different than your standard WWII novel it stands out thanks in large part to its setting in Manila that is captured well throughout the novel. My only major criticism would be in the development and changing of relationships. I will say this might be a personal criticism of mine due to me being a character focused reader, rather than it being an objective criticism of the book. By this criticism I mean that because of the large time jumps we would jump from point A in a relationship to point B with not much on paper development of how we got from point A to point B. This made it slightly difficult to connect with and feel invested with the characters as much as I usually am. Despite this I really enjoyed my time with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a copy of this book!

A beautiful story of love, loss and resilience despite ut being a historical fiction of war time.

The story follows three nurses finding themselves in WWII, each coming to the war from different places and different reasons, but throughout finding solace in one another.

It was very interesting to read the point of view from the nurses and knowing it was based on true events and women. To learn about their experiences and conditions as nurses, then female prisoners of war, the violations of the Geneva Rules of War were sad, heartbreaking and yet so filled with hope.

The underlying theme throughout was the hope they carried, inspiring courageous women of the 1940s.

I appreciated the after the war, where and how they went on in their lives after being impacted by all they endured.

Thank you to the authors for their research and sharing the story of the Angels of Baatan.

I have to say I never knew that nurses had become prisoners of war. This book is amazing and I love how it shares the lives of the three nurses during their imprisonment. I can not imagine what it must have been like and to then be paraded around the US after as if they were waiting to be rescued. The fact they they endured the same as the males in those encampments should be talked about. The story is amazing and I love how it talks about their lives and the friendship and how some times that's all that can get you through this life. A great historical story about amazing women and men.

I enjoyed this book. I ready it after reading The Women by Kristen Hannah. So interesting to ready the POV of the women who served.

U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel are serving in the Philippines in 1941 and become fast friends. With the Japanese fight the United States to take control of the islands, the women are forced to work under combat conditions and eventually become among the first female prisoners of war in WWII. As they face conditions that don’t meet the Geneva Convention’s standards, each woman holds on to hope that she will make it through the war.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about what life was like for nurses in the Philippines during World War II. I loved the focus on the friendships the women had. Even if you are tired of WWII historical fiction, I highly recommend checking this book out! The only thing that would have made the audiobook better would be to have a different narrator for each of the three main characters; however, Saskia Maarleveld did a fantastic job with the audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

3.5/5 stars

The switching from character to character doesn't always line up. However, the story as a whole was fascinating and I loved the "new" aspect of World War II.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my gifted copy of When We Had Wings. This is a historical fiction novel written by three fantastic authors who come together to write one character each. I loved getting to know Eleanor, Penny and Lita through the multiple POVs provided. Their friendship and time working through WW2 and life was filled with challenges and emotions and it was exciting to read as their journey unfolded. This is one that everyone should read and I am recommending to everyone.