A Review of The Wartime Sisters by Lynda Cohen Loigman

 

Rating: ⅗ stars

Seemingly estranged from a young age, Ruth and Millie had never gotten along. For years they shared a room though it seemed they couldn’t get further apart. Ruth was sensible, smart, and plain. Three years older than her younger sister Millie, Ruth was always counted on to be the responsible one, the child that her mother overlooked. Born beautiful and even tempered, making her very likable, Millie’s family had high expectations for her. Though what she wanted the most as a child and an adult was the approval of her older sister. But it didn’t seem like that would be happening anytime soon. 

Reunited after five years apart, Millie comes to live with Ruth and her husband Arthur in Springfield, Massachusetts- at the armory. It’s a whole different world than Brooklyn but Millie is ready for a fresh start, ready to flee from her past and the secrets that haunt her. Though all is not as it seems, even her older sister has secrets of her own. Will the secrets bring the two sisters together or ultimately tear them apart?

**

To me, it was blaringly obvious that Ruth was jealous of her younger sister and had never grown out of it. She clearly resented her mother for favoring her younger sister over here and felt as if she was always overlooked. It was just so easy for Ruth to blame everything on Millie, even when she was trying to be helpful or just hadn’t done anything at all. With her pettiness, extreme dislike, and envy toward her younger sister, Ruth was the barrier in the relationship. She held her sister at an arm's length and even pushed the younger woman into what would later turn out to be an abusive relationship just to get away from her. 

Due to grief, Millie is pushed into the arms of charming Lenny. He seems to like her for who she truly is and not her looks. Even to the disapproval of her mother, father and older sister, Millie appreciates the way that Lenny makes her feel. Though, as she grows older her feelings start to change. It’s after she graduates high school that Millie is unsure of how she feels about her beau. Her mother had always made her future husband out to be a charming prince and Lenny was anything but that. Would she ever find the same kind of love, a man who appreciated her for who she was and treated her right? Would she ever gain the approval of her older sister?

After the funeral of their parents and a hasty wedding, Ruth does whatever she can to get away from Brooklyn and her younger sister. She’s ecstatic to start a new life and step out of the shadow of Millie. Though all changes when Millie comes to live with her. 

After five years of not seeing one another, Millie is nervous on how Ruth is going to receive her. They had never been close nor had they seen one another in over five years and when Millie needed her older sister more than anything, she abandoned her. A lot had happened in five years and Millie and her son Michael needed a new start- a safe place away from her husband who had disappeared months prior to her moving to Springfield. 

As the two sisters get to know one another, they step around each other, afraid of setting the other off. Though, it was really Ruth that would’ve been set off- especially considering the fact that she still held the same contentment and envy toward her younger sister as she had most of her life. Both sisters hope to reconcile with one another but is that possible?

The book wasn’t too bad. It was a quick read and I am grateful for that. It’s just what I needed- a palette refresher per say. It read very easily and was historical fiction but the lack of action disappointed me. I disliked Ruth the most, she was petty and envious and overall needed to grow up. The fact that she pushed her sister to marry a man who was no good and her mother and father nor herself approved to get the younger grieving woman out of the way was ridiculous to say the least. 

It was clear that Millie had been through some trauma but Ruth was too blinded with their past to realize that and actually help her sister when she moved in with her. Heck at one point, it even seems as if Millie’s friend has to convince the older sister to help Millie. Why would you have to be convinced to help your younger sister?

I don’t know. Like I said, it was a quick read and easy for me to imagine but Ruth’s character just ruined everything for me. There was no development as she grew older. I did quite enjoy the small tidbits of Lillian and Arietta’s point of views. They were nice and refreshing and I enjoyed them and how they were there for Millie when she was truly in trouble.

I didn’t hate the book but I didn’t love it. 

I read this book purely for pleasure and was not given this book in exchange for a review. I do not own this book, I checked it out at my public library. 

If you have anything that I should read or review, please let me know, I’m always looking for recommendations. I can be reached on my blog, twitter, or Goodreads!

As always, my review can be found on Goodreads here.