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sarahbeth621's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
khaynes75's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this historical fiction book about two American sisters who volunteer at the front during WWI. There aren't as many WWI books so it was nice to read about what life was like for the women working on the frontlines as ambulance drivers, nurses and doctor's assistants. The author does such a great job bringing what it was like on the front to vivid life. The conditions in the medical tents and the state the makeshift hospitals, as well as the primitiveness of the medical treatment was all described to great effect.
Told in alternating perspectives between the two sisters, Elise dreams of being an actual doctor, and her sister Ruth finds the freedom to be her true self far away from the strictures of heteronormative life in American society. Both sisters find romance on the front, Ruth with another woman ambulance driver and Elise with an army surgeon. Highly recommended for any historical fiction fans, especially those wanting to know more about the bravery and courage of women in WWI. Great on audio and perfect for fans of Band of Sisters or The woman on the front. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!
Told in alternating perspectives between the two sisters, Elise dreams of being an actual doctor, and her sister Ruth finds the freedom to be her true self far away from the strictures of heteronormative life in American society. Both sisters find romance on the front, Ruth with another woman ambulance driver and Elise with an army surgeon. Highly recommended for any historical fiction fans, especially those wanting to know more about the bravery and courage of women in WWI. Great on audio and perfect for fans of Band of Sisters or The woman on the front. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two sisters head to Belgium to give what they can to the efforts of World War I. One has an unfinished nursing degree with the hopes of becoming a doctor at a time where female doctors were few and far between. The younger sister has always tinkered with things from clocks to cars and after looking into the Ambulance Corps, Elise may have found just the right place for herself.
Switching back and forth between each sister's points of view, this book gave such a perspective on this war that is unlike anything else I have read. It was easy to know who was narrating the story and I loved that while they were stationed close they had their own lives and the reader received a full perspective from the battlefield to the hospitals near the front lines what life during the Great War would look like.
Two sisters head to Belgium to give what they can to the efforts of World War I. One has an unfinished nursing degree with the hopes of becoming a doctor at a time where female doctors were few and far between. The younger sister has always tinkered with things from clocks to cars and after looking into the Ambulance Corps, Elise may have found just the right place for herself.
Switching back and forth between each sister's points of view, this book gave such a perspective on this war that is unlike anything else I have read. It was easy to know who was narrating the story and I loved that while they were stationed close they had their own lives and the reader received a full perspective from the battlefield to the hospitals near the front lines what life during the Great War would look like.
kategci's review
3.0
Thank you to Bookbrowse.com and Harper Collins Publishers for an ARC of this novel in exchange for a fair review. A variation of this review has been submitted to Bookbrowse.com. Historical fiction about World War I gets short shrift compared to the large number of books written about World War II. This novel carves out a small section of the war to tell the story of two sisters who leave the comfort of their Baltimore home to join Britain's war effort as a nurse and an ambulance driver. They are sent to Ypres, Belgium and are immediately in the middle of some of the most gruesome parts of the war. This novel showed women leaving their homes, going to war and then having the ability to live different lives than their mothers. World War I opened up the possibilities for women to have careers and lives that did not include marriage and children.
illreadmyownway's review
5.0
This book was emotional and harrowing, and gave me insights into World War 1 that I had never had. A highly recommended read.
novelesque_life's review
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2021; Mira/HARLEQUIN
Sisters of the Great War was way better than I thought it would be. It is not like many of the WWI/II novels out there. While there is romance in the book, it is not the main element in the story. I really loved that it stayed in one timeline as I really fell into the story. The cover as pretty as it is, does not do the synopsis justice. This is about two sisters, who do not seem to fit in anywhere, and are often rejected by their stern father and grandfather. While Ruth is attending classes to be a nurse, she wants to do more by becoming a doctor, like her own father. While her father allowed her to learn at his side, due to societal norms, he tries to push her into becoming a nurse. He does it by cutting her confidence down. While Elise is left alone a bit more, she is also labeled as "less intelligent" and fixing cars is the only thing she can do. They want more then what they are allowed, so they decide to enlist in the war. I loved Feldman's realism of the time and that the characters were more than just archetypes playing the part. I just added Feldman's [b:Absalom's Daughters|26792275|Absalom's Daughters|Suzanne Feldman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444884904l/26792275._SY75_.jpg|46812672]!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2021; Mira/HARLEQUIN
Sisters of the Great War was way better than I thought it would be. It is not like many of the WWI/II novels out there. While there is romance in the book, it is not the main element in the story. I really loved that it stayed in one timeline as I really fell into the story. The cover as pretty as it is, does not do the synopsis justice. This is about two sisters, who do not seem to fit in anywhere, and are often rejected by their stern father and grandfather. While Ruth is attending classes to be a nurse, she wants to do more by becoming a doctor, like her own father. While her father allowed her to learn at his side, due to societal norms, he tries to push her into becoming a nurse. He does it by cutting her confidence down. While Elise is left alone a bit more, she is also labeled as "less intelligent" and fixing cars is the only thing she can do. They want more then what they are allowed, so they decide to enlist in the war. I loved Feldman's realism of the time and that the characters were more than just archetypes playing the part. I just added Feldman's [b:Absalom's Daughters|26792275|Absalom's Daughters|Suzanne Feldman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444884904l/26792275._SY75_.jpg|46812672]!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
catreader18's review
5.0
Wartime in Europe and two American women leave their home and join the war effort. This is their stories of being an ambulance driver through some of the worst conditions and being a nurse wanting to be a doctor. I loved the strength of both sisters. They both defy social norms to have the lives they want to have. This book focuses on the emotional side of the sisters. I loved their stories.
passionatereader78's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is an inspirational read. It will evoke many emotions. I love the writing style. I love that the chapters rotate between the sisters and you experience the war from both of their points of view. The sisters are inspiring in this book. Ruth wants to be a doctor but her father has repeatedly told her women are nurses and men are doctors. Elise is a great mechanic even if she is only allowed to work on her father's car. When John a family friend stops by on his way to deploy to France he enlightens Ruth. He tells her medical schools are accepting women to be trained to become doctors. Elise and Ruth's father becomes enraged at Ruth's ambition. The sisters decide to join John in France and help with the war efforts. Ruth believes she will be accepted to medical school if she can gain some experience in the war. Elise can be an ambulance driver and mechanic. The sisters believe they will be together and can protect each other. They don't realize how much destruction and pain the war will bring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Violence, Gun violence, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
karaklos's review
2.0
When I saw Sisters of the Great War, a WWI book in a sea of WWII books, I was immediately interested. Ruth and Elise, two American sisters decide to volunteer to serve in the war as a nurse and ambulance driver.
The girls are quickly thrown into the thick of things and immediately question whether they made the right decision. The descriptions of the battlefield hospitals, their living conditions, and the constant threat of being bombed were done quite well. The piling up of severed limbs and doctors making decisions on who to save and who to let go were extremely difficult to read. Much of the book contains rather grisly descriptions (which I guess is to be expected) but is not my cup of tea. I wanted to know more about the historical aspects of the time we were in and to see more relationship development within the medical unit.
As a nurse, Ruth is able to assist with surgeries and becomes adept at performing them on her own. I had a hard time believing she would be allowed to do this and that she was capable of it. I felt like we were told “Ruth is a capable surgeon now” without seeing how she got there. I needed to see her mind at work while she learned how to perform surgeries.
I do not generally enjoy romance in books unless they are well-developed and subtle. In this case, the two love stories were front and center to the story but were not developed very well. I had zero interest in either one.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The girls are quickly thrown into the thick of things and immediately question whether they made the right decision. The descriptions of the battlefield hospitals, their living conditions, and the constant threat of being bombed were done quite well. The piling up of severed limbs and doctors making decisions on who to save and who to let go were extremely difficult to read. Much of the book contains rather grisly descriptions (which I guess is to be expected) but is not my cup of tea. I wanted to know more about the historical aspects of the time we were in and to see more relationship development within the medical unit.
As a nurse, Ruth is able to assist with surgeries and becomes adept at performing them on her own. I had a hard time believing she would be allowed to do this and that she was capable of it. I felt like we were told “Ruth is a capable surgeon now” without seeing how she got there. I needed to see her mind at work while she learned how to perform surgeries.
I do not generally enjoy romance in books unless they are well-developed and subtle. In this case, the two love stories were front and center to the story but were not developed very well. I had zero interest in either one.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.