The story was about three nurses from different background who meet during WWII. The nurses become fast friends and, as with war, everything changes in a heartbeat. The horrors of war and hardship of what they had to endure while still remaining friends.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher and authors for the opportunity to listen to the audio.

One of my favorite genres of books is historical fiction. And when it is set during WWII, it is a big draw for me. This amazing story, while about WWII, focused on a different aspect than those I’ve typically read. This book was set in the Pacific conflict ... specifically the Philippines. It also dealt with the little known story of the military nurses who served during this time. Words cannot describe the horrors they endured and the evil they witnessed. However, the friendships that developed were cherished and helped them face another day. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the dedication the women displayed in such difficult circumstances, the strength of character, and their determination to survive. This is definitely one to put on your to-be-read list. It is heart wrenching but has you cheering them on hoping they will survive and be rescued.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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.

One of my favorite genres to read is historical fiction especially during the the time WWII was occuring. This book was great read. It takes place in the Philippines before Pearl Harbor is attacked to the end of the war. The book is written in dual pov and will definitely tug at your heart when reading it because of everything these women endured and overcame during the war. The narrator of the audiobook was amazing especially with the pronunciations of locations, names, and phrases. This book kept me wanting more until the very end and felt everything that these characters felt. This is perfect book about perseverance and resilience during the world's most difficult time. Definitely a book I want to purchase and use during my lectures.

When We Had Wings completely drew me in from the very first chapter. I’ll admit—I didn’t know much about this part of World War II history, especially the experiences of military nurses in the Philippines. This book opened my eyes and brought a deeply human side to a part of the war that’s not often talked about. As someone in the military myself, I felt a strong connection to the story and an even deeper respect for the real-life women who inspired it.

One of my favorite things was the structure. The chapters are written from multiple points of view and always note the date and location, which helped anchor me in the timeline and gave such a strong sense of place. The switching perspectives between the three women kept things engaging and made their individual struggles and growth feel personal.

The bond between these three women was the true heart of the novel. The friendship, strength, and loyalty they showed—especially under such brutal circumstances—was powerful and emotional. There was a touch of romance, but it never overshadowed the core theme of female friendship and survival, which I appreciated.

Beautifully written, well-researched, and emotionally resonant—this is historical fiction done right. Highly recommend for anyone who loves stories of courage, connection, and the untold sides of war.

When We Had Wings plunged readers into WWII history from the start.
It described the enemy's capture of the Philippines, as well as the captivity of American and Filipino nurses.

Eleanor, Penny, and Lita were three extremely brave and strong nurses.

Each woman had her own point of view and backstory.
Eleanor was trying to outrun her grief from home.
Penny held many secrets.
Lita felt like an outsider in a war tearing her country apart.

Their friendship is built on blood, loss, and mud. Every day, they are put to the test with trauma, anger, and unimaginable scenarios.

Their time as POWs was terrifying, but they were determined to endure whatever came their way. It was heartbreaking to read about their experiences with physical and mental suffering, illness, and starvation. Despite the above, there was resistance.

The women's bond was everything. It made the story for me.

really really enjoyed. Loved the friendship arc and learned a TON about what happened in the Philippines during WWII. I had no idea what happened over there, so many books cover Europe, the UK, the US, but not over in Asia. Great book

“As the first American female prisoners of war, you have a special place in the history books. But to have served four years as prisoners, in combat conditions, you have my respect as well.”

Three nurses, stationed in the Philippines right before the attack on Pearl Harbor, forms tentative friendship. They meet once a month and enjoy bonding and getting to know each other. But after the Phillippines is taken over by the Japanese and everything changes. They find themselves taken prisoner and separated and facing unbearable challenges. I’ve always been interested in World War II, but this is an area that I had never read much about. Everything they went through absolutely broke my heart. All 3 of the women were incredible strong and brave and saved so many lives. The Japanese that took over the Philippines were absolutely cruel and I don’t understand how anyone can treat other people that way. I do realize that this is not the only time in history atrocities were committed, but I’m focusing on this part of history at the moment. I did love the camaraderie between Lita, Penny, and Eleanor before they were separated. They also had incredible relationships with some of the other people they were captured with. The value of the relationships they formed helped each of them get through this horrific time and really made this book worth reading.

The audiobook of When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, who brings the story to life with her engaging performance. The novel follows three nurses—Eleanor, Penny, and Lita—stationed in the Philippines in 1941, whose lives are upended by the outbreak of World War II.

Listeners have praised the narration, noting that Maarleveld does an excellent job distinguishing the characters' voices, making it easy to follow the alternating perspectives. The story itself is a historical fiction novel inspired by the true experiences of the Angels of Bataan, the first female prisoners of war in WWII. It explores themes of resilience, friendship, and survival under dire conditions.

Three phenomenal authors join forces to tell the harrowing, yet inspiring, tale of the "Angels of Bataan." Three army/navy nurses all stationed in the Phillipines just before WW2 form a quick and unbreakable friendship. All 3 women, Lita, Penny & Eleanor, are imprisoned, becoming the first female POWs.

This unbearably terrifying story is somehow heart-warming and inspiring. The awful conditions, physical, mental & emotional, that these nurses were forced to endure is so tragic, but they find solace in their friendships. Even when they aren't together, even when they don't know if their friends are still alive, that soul-deep friendship fuels each of them to endure so much.

Kudos the the authors, the narrator, but most of all the original Angels of Bataan whose stories are an inspiration to all!

Thank you to netgalley and HarperMuse for allowing me to read, listen and review. This is absolutely a story that I will treasure for life!