Scan barcode
kbarenthaler's review against another edition
4.0
A great historical fiction novel from a female’s point of view is always one of my favorites. The compassion, camaraderie, heartache, and pride these women felt compels readers into a similar state of emotional turmoil.
author2223's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Daisy Wilder is recruited to join a top secret program for the U.S. Military, the Women’s Air Raid Defense, to replace male soldiers who are increasingly being sent into war zones. The WARDs are responsible for guiding pilots and tracking unidentified planes in the Pacific, and many think that women will not be capable of such an important job, but Daisy is determined to prove herself.
Though I have been reading a lot of WWII historical fiction lately, it was all European based, so this was the first book I read set in the South Pacific and related to Pearl Harbor. I loved learning about the WARDs and it was really interesting how in depth this story went into the work the women were doing, taking the time to explain how radar works and how pilots were guided in the blacked out zones. It’s rare to see this level of detail in historical fiction novels and I enjoyed it a lot. The setting of Hawaii was well depicted, and certainly a change of pace from the gloomier backdrop of other such novels I’ve read recently.
Daisy was a marvelous heroine. Having dropped out of school following her father’s death to support the family, she has been a bit of a loner, preferring the company of the horses she cares for working on a ranch. But in joining the radar girls, finds a group of close friends and their bond is wonderfully portrayed as they help each other through love, loss and the horrors of war. This book showed very well how the war changed these women’s lives completely and the sacrifices they had to make in this time. Despite the entire story being from Daisy’s perspective, each of the characters’ stories were very well developed and so realistic that they’re easy to relate to.
This isn’t a very long book, so I felt like the story spent a disproportionate amount of time focusing on romance subplot and the mystery surrounding the missing horse. I’ll admit these, along with the various other incidents were interesting, and they made the story more realistic, but I was hoping for more of the book to be centered around Daisy’s work and overall, just a little more exciting.
However, this was a quick and enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to checking out more books set in this era, particularly around Pearl Harbor and Hawaii. I would definitely recommend this book for historical fiction fans!
Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Daisy Wilder is recruited to join a top secret program for the U.S. Military, the Women’s Air Raid Defense, to replace male soldiers who are increasingly being sent into war zones. The WARDs are responsible for guiding pilots and tracking unidentified planes in the Pacific, and many think that women will not be capable of such an important job, but Daisy is determined to prove herself.
Though I have been reading a lot of WWII historical fiction lately, it was all European based, so this was the first book I read set in the South Pacific and related to Pearl Harbor. I loved learning about the WARDs and it was really interesting how in depth this story went into the work the women were doing, taking the time to explain how radar works and how pilots were guided in the blacked out zones. It’s rare to see this level of detail in historical fiction novels and I enjoyed it a lot. The setting of Hawaii was well depicted, and certainly a change of pace from the gloomier backdrop of other such novels I’ve read recently.
Daisy was a marvelous heroine. Having dropped out of school following her father’s death to support the family, she has been a bit of a loner, preferring the company of the horses she cares for working on a ranch. But in joining the radar girls, finds a group of close friends and their bond is wonderfully portrayed as they help each other through love, loss and the horrors of war. This book showed very well how the war changed these women’s lives completely and the sacrifices they had to make in this time. Despite the entire story being from Daisy’s perspective, each of the characters’ stories were very well developed and so realistic that they’re easy to relate to.
This isn’t a very long book, so I felt like the story spent a disproportionate amount of time focusing on romance subplot and the mystery surrounding the missing horse. I’ll admit these, along with the various other incidents were interesting, and they made the story more realistic, but I was hoping for more of the book to be centered around Daisy’s work and overall, just a little more exciting.
However, this was a quick and enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to checking out more books set in this era, particularly around Pearl Harbor and Hawaii. I would definitely recommend this book for historical fiction fans!
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this historical novel set in Hawai'i. It begins the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, when Daisy, our heroine who works with horses on a local rich guy's ranch, sneaks one of the horses out for a ride. The horse is spooked when there is a dogfight over the water not far from the strand, and Daisy watches in helpless horror as a Japanese plane is destroyed, and the American fighter limps back to base.
Daisy volunteers to become a "radar girl" --a crucially important job that ordinarily strictly went to men. Of course the women have to overcome prejudice from guys on their own side, but they work hard, and prove themselves.
Meanwhile, there is love in the air for Daisy--and how her romance works out, the ins and outs of the radar job, and the personalities Ackerman developed were such a pleasure to read. I think the icing on the cake was the care she took to depict the overlapping cultures of Hawai'i, and how the whites, though in charge, do not in fact form the center of everyone's life. Ackerman is also sensitive to the terrible dilemma of Japanese-descendant Americans, who knew nothing of the impending attack, but were swept up and away anyway, in the vindictive (and frightened) American aftermath.
One of those reads I meant to pick up and enjoy for the space of a lunch and ended up reading from beginning to end, my own daily tasks shoved aside.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Daisy volunteers to become a "radar girl" --a crucially important job that ordinarily strictly went to men. Of course the women have to overcome prejudice from guys on their own side, but they work hard, and prove themselves.
Meanwhile, there is love in the air for Daisy--and how her romance works out, the ins and outs of the radar job, and the personalities Ackerman developed were such a pleasure to read. I think the icing on the cake was the care she took to depict the overlapping cultures of Hawai'i, and how the whites, though in charge, do not in fact form the center of everyone's life. Ackerman is also sensitive to the terrible dilemma of Japanese-descendant Americans, who knew nothing of the impending attack, but were swept up and away anyway, in the vindictive (and frightened) American aftermath.
One of those reads I meant to pick up and enjoy for the space of a lunch and ended up reading from beginning to end, my own daily tasks shoved aside.
Copy provided by NetGalley
smtriska's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lib_and_lynx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
skb163's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Alcoholism and Violence
ufstefgator's review against another edition
3.0
Did I enjoy it? Yes! But the end tied up so neatly, predictably and out of line with several character’s’ behavior up to that point that it spoiled the integrity of the book. I liked the main character and enjoyed the reading about the this piece of history. The author does a good job of describing the women’s work.
sarah_weav's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0