Once again, I was interested to find a historical fiction novel with a different point of view than others. This time, I learned about what it was like to be a nurse during WWII. Right off the bat, it was apparent that the author knew the subject matter.
The details of the main characters’ scenes in hospital and the various wards were plentiful. In some ways, they were the most interesting parts to me. The rest of the story was good, but I really felt the author’s voice coming through most clearly in the nursing scenes.
I liked the two main characters. I thought Mac and Jo were individuals and their personalities were distinct. Where they ended up working fit them well.
While I understand that the author had to have a twist for the plot, I’m not exactly sure how I feel about Mac’s injury and subsequent memory loss. It felt a little too contrived to me. But I liked how the women cared for and supported each other.
I did feel like there were also times where the author wasn’t sure where to go or what to have the characters doing. The story didn’t always feel linear, it sometimes wandered. That’s not a bad thing, but don’t expect a straight A to B plot.
Again, the scenes that were war- and/or nurse-centered were the strongest, and they’re ultimately what made me really enjoy this book. I like it when an author can imbue characters with realistic knowledge that makes them more human.
Author Bio:
A change in circumstance meant Kate Eastham made the shift from a career in nursing to being a carer for her partner. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ and inspired by an in-depth study of the origins of nursing, she wrote her first novel at the kitchen table. Miss Nightingale’s Nurses was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series. With her passion for history, Kate aims to make visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past. Her current historical fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture.
