I love reading books set in World War II probably because I have heard so much about life then from my parents. What set What We Did in the War apart from other books I have also enjoyed of this period in history is the fact that this book is a snapshot of social history.
Before the 2nd World War, a young woman was dictated to by society and her family with very little choice of her own. She could have a job suitable to her education and status but ultimately she was expected to marry and then stay at home.
When two young women meet in dramatic circumstances in the aftermath of a doodle bug attack it suddenly occurs to them that they could cast off their old life and identities and create new ones. After all no one knows that they haven’t been killed? Both have good reasons to escape their old life so on that day they are reborn as Mary and Pam, though they call themselves by the nicknames Cecil and Claude. How long can they keep up this pretence, especially as there is one particular person from one girls past who are seriously hunting for them? The time the girls are together has a profound effect on Mary and when Pam disappears months later she has good reason not to forget her and to search for her many years later.
This book has an unforgettable twist and made fascinating reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone enjoying books about this period in history. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Veronica Flowers118 1 follower

I really enjoyed this book. Set in WWII England's "doodlebug summer", we start off with two women in unhappy circumstances, who are complete stranger to one another, who barely escape death from a bombing. The book starts off as more of a survival story as their lives are thrown together and they try to get through. About halfway though, the book takes a turn and begins to focus more on the dynamics between the two women, leading us to a tense reunion years after the war ended. The writing is superb, the characters and story well developed. The end felt more jumbled and unsatisfactory to me- too much is left unsaid and unanswered, although there were subtle hints throughout. I find it interested to see how these two women are both imperfect and both have unique perspectives, making us realize our narrator is not always telling the story in a purely objective manner. I also really enjoyed being given a window into this time and place to gain a better understanding of what people endured at that point. Many people love military history; I prefer histories that focus on everyday people.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC. 1940s england wwii kirsty986 64

I love books set during the second World War so I knew I would enjoy this and it didn't disappoint.
The book is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters that i came to love.

The story follows Claude and Cecil who are both deeply unhappy and struggling with their lives. After a chance meeting when a bomb goes off and they narrowly escape death they are given the chance to leave with new identities and they grab it with both hands. They live together until they part ways and Cecil finds out that maybe their friendship wasn't what she thought it was.

I love dual timelines in books and this jumps from the 1944 war time to the 1950's following the war and I think that aspect of it worked really well and kept me engaged.
I would definitely recommend this book
Sian Powell52 1 follower

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be my last.

This is a book about 2 women who meet by chance during WW2 and are given an opportunity to start live over with new identities and take it.

They are affectionately called my Claude and Cecil and live together for a short time in Victor mansions in London. They strike up a friendship and Cecil believes they are getting on wonderfully but Claude has a secret journal that Cecil only finds after they have parted ways.

The book jumps around from the 1950s to War time and you follow the story well.

The women lose touch after so many months together but a 'chance' meeting in the 1950s sees them reunited but they both have a lot to say to each after this.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book
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What would you do if you could simply start over?

During a doodlebug bombing in London during WW2, 2 strangers are given exactly that opportunity.

Thrown together, they assume different identities to escape their past and end up living with one another but each with their own secrets.

What We Did in the War is a great insight into the period towards the end of the war. The characters are well developed and interesting (if not exactly able).1 Liz T192 5

I love reading books set in World War II probably because I have heard so much about life then from my parents. What set What We Did in the War apart from other books I have also enjoyed of this period in history is the fact that this book is a snapshot of social history.
Before the 2nd World War, a young woman was dictated to by society and her family with very little choice of her own. She could have a job suitable to her education and status but ultimately she was expected to marry and then stay at home.
When two young women meet in dramatic circumstances in the aftermath of a doodle bug attack it suddenly occurs to them that they could cast off their old life and identities and create new ones. After all no one knows that they haven’t been killed? Both have good reasons to escape their old life so on that day they are reborn as Mary and Pam, though they call themselves by the nicknames Cecil and Claude. How long can they keep up this pretence, especially as there is one particular person from one girls past who are seriously hunting for them? The time the girls are together has a profound effect on Mary and when Pam disappears months later she has good reason not to forget her and to search for her many years later.
This book has an unforgettable twist and made fascinating reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone enjoying books about this period in history. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Veronica Flowers129 1 follower

I really enjoyed this book. Set in WWII England's "doodlebug summer", we start off with two women in unhappy circumstances, who are complete stranger to one another, who barely escape death from a bombing. The book starts off as more of a survival story as their lives are thrown together and they try to get through. About halfway though, the book takes a turn and begins to focus more on the dynamics between the two women, leading us to a tense reunion years after the war ended. The writing is superb, the characters and story well developed. The end felt more jumbled and unsatisfactory to me- too much is left unsaid and unanswered, although there were subtle hints throughout. I find it interested to see how these two women are both imperfect and both have unique perspectives, making us realize our narrator is not always telling the story in a purely objective manner. I also really enjoyed being given a window into this time and place to gain a better understanding of what people endured at that point. Many people love military history; I prefer histories that focus on everyday people.

Thanks to the publisher for this ARC. 1940s england wwii Katy's Book Den31 3

I had the voice of Rebecca from the Hitchcock film in my head as I was reading this. The voices and the way the character of Cecil spoke felt really authentic of the times; that old English war time voice really came across. It took me a while to adapt but once I did it felt really genuine.

The first half of the book was enjoyable but it took off more in the second half when twists developed and and I felt more invested at that point.

This is the story of two women, both unhappy with their current circumstances and wanting change. When both individuals are thrown together during a bombing raid, they use it as an excuse to start a new life. We go back in time with this story as the character of Cecil gives us her version of events from during the war. But things are not as they seem...

This story involves complex characters, deceit, disturbing obsession, revenge, control and so much more. Some great twists in this novel. I loved the character of Floss. I can't say too much without giving the plot and twists away! An enjoyable read.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for sending me the book. This is my honest review. Alice300 16

In What We Did in the War, by Jennie Walters, two young women – Cecil and Claude (aka Fabia and Stella, or Mary and Pamela!) – find themselves together after narrowly escaping a doodlebug attack.

With their own handbags buried in the rubble, and in possession of the purse of another woman who wasn’t so lucky, they take the opportunity to assume new identities and escape their respective problems.

However, as the weeks go by, it becomes apparent not only that they have totally incompatible personalities and goals, but that each is hiding important information from the other. We know from the outset that tensions are going to reach boiling point – but when, and how?

I very much enjoyed What We Did in the War. Walters’ clear, concise prose, and the constant tension as you wait for the other shoe to drop, make it a pacey read that left me sufficient bandwidth to really think about the ins and outs of the two main characters.

And they gave me so much to think about! I was constantly adjusting my opinion of Cecil. I started off feeling sorry for her, then came to see her as kind of a party pooper and a bit up herself, then (without giving too much away) the extent to which she was an unreliable narrator was revealed and I became conflicted.

By the end of the book (by which point several years have passed), I found Cecil unhealthily – albeit compellingly – obsessive and self-aggrandising. She goes to disturbing lengths to reconnect with Claude in order to coax some expression of gratefulness and/or apology from her former friend, while failing to appreciate what she herself has achieved despite those whirlwind few months in 1944.

As for Claude, it’s hard to know what to think, as my impressions of her character are so heavily filtered through Cecil as the strong-voiced narrator. On the one hand, maybe Claude could be a bit more proactive, and be kinder to, and more honest with Cecil.

On the other, she’s not obliged to prostrate herself with thankfulness to Cecil – as Cecil clearly wants her to – for giving her consideration she didn’t actually ask for. It’s also arguable that some of Claude’s behaviour is mitigated by her personal situation, and that she could never live up to Cecil’s standards and expectations, which are high to begin with and inflated by the chance, dramatic nature of their meeting.

I was ultimately left with the question: do Cecil and Claude, respectively, come down more on the side of victim (in terms of both personal circumstances and a patriarchal society) or villain? It’s something I’m still grappling with (it’s complicated…), so this novel is sure to provoke some lively discussions if taken up by book clubs.

One thing that brings out the best in both of their characters, though, is resourceful ten-year-old waif Floss, who helps them to live under the radar. Both Cecil and Claude take Floss under their wings in their own ways, and she becomes a companion they treat as an equal. There were many times when I thought Cecil just wanted to be lauded as a good person while her true thoughts were far from selfless or kind, but her affection for Floss does come across as genuine.

I also d how effectively the author captures the mood and way of life in London towards the end of WWII. While confident of victory in the wake of D-Day, everyone’s grieving someone, and beyond fed up of shortages and disruption. Meanwhile, the continuation of, and innovation in bombing means there’s still an elevated possibility that a person with hopes and dreams can be there one moment and gone the next.

Accordingly, circumstances are ripe for people (not just Claude and Cecil) to form intense (but often ill-advised and/or transient) relationships based on being in the same place – where one or both otherwise wouldn’t have been – at the same time, or take advantage of the confusion. Incorporating a number of secondary characters, Walters explores some other ways these extraordinary circumstances could manifest, and the emotional and longer-term consequences.

What We Did in the War is tense and gripping, with engagingly complex characters. kirsty1,033 70

I love books set during the second World War so I knew I would enjoy this and it didn't disappoint.
The book is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters that i came to love.

The story follows Claude and Cecil who are both deeply unhappy and struggling with their lives. After a chance meeting when a bomb goes off and they narrowly escape death they are given the chance to leave with new identities and they grab it with both hands. They live together until they part ways and Cecil finds out that maybe their friendship wasn't what she thought it was.

I love dual timelines in books and this jumps from the 1944 war time to the 1950's following the war and I think that aspect of it worked really well and kept me engaged.
I would definitely recommend this book
Sian Powell56 1 follower

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be my last.

This is a book about 2 women who meet by chance during WW2 and are given an opportunity to start live over with new identities and take it.

They are affectionately called my Claude and Cecil and live together for a short time in Victor mansions in London. They strike up a friendship and Cecil believes they are getting on wonderfully but Claude has a secret journal that Cecil only finds after they have parted ways.

The book jumps around from the 1950s to War time and you follow the story well.

The women lose touch after so many months together but a 'chance' meeting in the 1950s sees them reunited but they both have a lot to say to each after this.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book
Autor del comentario:
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