Reviews

No Better Time by Sheila Williams

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brooke_city's review

DNF. This was the 2nd book I picked up about Black women of the WAC. This one didn't work for me.

The story itself is interesting. But the timeline jumps around. It stops the action, like intrusive thoughts. [Instead of showing how/why they joined the WAC first. THEN, continue with them once they're stationed.]

If I may recommend, read Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders. Robin Miles narrates that audiobook.

Content Warnings

shannanh's review

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5.0

This is the third book I've enjoyed and read about the 6888, and It was just as good. This one offers a slightly different perspective on the women, but It stayed true to the story and was completely captivating. This story drew me in right from the beginning and I could not put it down. I read it in one sitting.. This was such an incredible, well written, engaging and enjoyable story. I will surely be putting this author on my list for future works as well as her blacklist. This was the first time I've read a book from this author, and after this it won't be my last.

martasbooktherapy's review

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Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

The tale of the women of the 6888th was interesting and informative - little is written about women from the U.S. and their roles in early wars, especially diverse women. Their travels throughout the U.S., U.K., and France are touched on in No Better Time, focusing on the camaraderie and sisterhood that got them through their inevitable challenges.

Parts of the story were really engaging and I found myself drawn in. However, other parts felt tangential or repetitive and the cast didn’t even make it to the war until more than halfway through the book. Good historical fiction, but I’d love to dive deeper into the actual war experiences.

dawnshaee's review

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informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

blackbookishbabe89's review

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

incunabula_and_intercourse's review

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informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A short, breezy, read, perfect for train rides and vacations.
I wasn't expecting the episodic nature, but it works here fairly well. I wish I got to see a bit more of the nitty-gritty of training and the mailroom, and it occasionally dipped into some "Clean Wehrmacht" tropes with the POWs, but otherwise it was a decent low-stakes character study. Romance also figures very little into this book, refreshingly enough; the overwhelming focus is that on the sisterhood between the 6888 and their determination to get the work done and have a good time where they could.
I had a good time and I got to learn a bit more about a very real and very impressive WW2 battalion. That counts as a win enough for me.