No Better Time

by Sheila Williams

The acclaimed author of The Secret Women and Things Past Telling returns with an engrossing historical novel about a little known aspect of World War II—the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only Black WACs to serve overseas during the conflict.

In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Dorothy Thom, Spelman graduate, librarian and Francophile, joins the Women’s Army Corps wanting to do her part for the war effort. Longing for adventure, she has one question for the recruiter: “Do you think I’ll get to go abroad?”

As Dorothy and her sister WACs discover, life in the Army is an adventure filled with unexpected deprivations and culture shock. Women from all levels of society, secretaries, teachers, and sharecroppers, work together to navigate a military segregated by race and gender. At boot camp, the “colored girls” are separated for processing. At Ft. Riley, the women’s barracks are rustic and heated by coal-burning pot-bellied stoves while German POWs spend their incarceration in buildings with central heat and hot water.

In early 1945, Dorothy and eight hundred African American WACs cross the turbulent North Atlantic to their post in England. Their orders are to process the mail sent to GIs from their loved ones back home, an estimated 17 million pieces. The women arrive to find mail stockpiled for over two years in warehouses and airplane hangars, many pieces in poor condition, the names illegible.

In England and France, the WACs traverse a landscape of unimagined possibilities. With their outlooks changed forever, they return to the United States as the catalysts for change in America and build lives that transcend anything their ancestors ever dreamed of.

No Better Time illuminates a love of country and duty that has been overlooked until now.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Wwii Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2024

Reviews

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Williams has written a Novel that should have been written sooner rather than latter.

Based on actual events and characters during WW2, Ms. Williams has created fascinating and inspirational characters comprised of a newly created War Department, Women's Auxiliary Corps(WAC). And all the women are of color.

But hardships await these women once they enlist; not just their training, but the ever present surge of racism.

These women were trained to assist the nurses in the Army Hospitals, to assort millions of letters from the soldiers and their families to their proper destination. They were also trained to drive transports and Quartermaster duties.

'No Better Time' was a most inspirational novel.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a 3.75 if I could. The writing is a bit pedestrian, reminding me more of a young adult novel than adult historical fiction, but it's also quite readable. This is a fascinating topic, quite different from a lot of the current fiction set in world war II, mercifully free of the current trope of two women, one in the past , one contemporary. I would have liked more about the post war experiences of these women, rather than a quick wrap up of the rest of their lives. Still worth reading.

[Heidi Gorecki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️s. This is a hard one to rate because the facts were interesting but it was written more like a nonfiction book, not a fictional novel.

This is the 3rd book about the 6888th I’ve read and I liked the different perspective that dealt with the military bases holding WACs the 6888th started from, besides Ft Des Moines, which is what the other books were set in because Charity Adams was there. There were also more/different stories, more perspectives, and more facts that this book brought to light, and honestly did it in a really great way - but if it was a nonfiction book.

However, it was the proverbial tell rather than show - it walked you thru facts and events but didn’t get to a character level or let you see thru the characters’ eyes. It was more an education. So while I enjoyed the book, I didn’t care for the format having one foot in both worlds. I kind of wish it had just picked one and developed it as is.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

[RDH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC to review. I am a fan of some historical fiction, such as The Personal Librarian and The Other Einstein, so I had high hopes for this book, especially because of the subject matter. The women of WAC a part of history I had never heard about. I did look into the facts from which this book is inspired, and I was immediately intrigued. I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the two characters that were introduced. But unfortunately, the book started to fall a little flat, as there was no real plot or storyline. There didn't seem to be much of a plot, no arch, with a conclusion to which the reader was being led. It was just a series of events, with some facts, and places thrown in, and often the timeline was strange. I was also disappointed in the lack of background character development, lack of dialogue, and not enough focus on the actual work of the WAC's. When I read about 75% , if I had stopped, I wouldn't have missed anything. The ending was very uneventful. The writing is nice, but the reader is not taken on much of a journey.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads more as a series of vignettes of life during the war for Black American WACs than an actual novel. It's interesting in parts but often resorts to telling and there is a distinct lack of overarching plot or consistent story to link all the elements together. Because it's based on the author's cousin's experiences, there are plenty of historical details which helped keep me interested enough to finish.

Thank you to Amistad who kindly sent me an ARC for review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Sheila Williams shed light on a forgotten part of Black American history and the women who served during WWII in the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion. I'd never heard of this group of veterans and really enjoyed this insight into African American women's lives during the war. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of books like Sisters in arms by Kaia Alderson.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Better Time by Sheila Williams is an interesting book about the women who joined the army during WWII. The women faced racism, prejudice and sexism while serving in the Women Army's Corps during World War II. The 6888th were African American women who joined the Army to help the cause and did they help! Their huge task was to fix the logjam of mail and packages in Europe. They found a way to get the mail to the correct addresses through determination, perseverance, and hard work. I wish there was more depth into the characters. here's some book recommendations on the 6888th unit: Sisters in Arms by Kala Alderson and Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders.

Thanks to Sheila Williams, Amistad books and booksparks.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Amistad for allowing me to read and review No Better Time, A Novel of the Spirited Women of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion by Sheila Williams on NetGalley.

Published: 02/27/24

Stars 3.5

Not once in all the years I have read historical fiction and nonfiction, nor at anytime during my years in high school or University did I wonder how soldiers received their mail. No Better Time does not outline the procedures.

This short, fast, easy to read novel touches on the Women who enlisted and were assigned the duty. The difficulty comes when reading that as Women of Color in the Armed Services they were badly treated by others enlisted too. This was quite disturbing.

The women were unique and I loved their character.

I do recommend this to mature readers and for younger readers with guidance.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's unfortunate that the characters were better than the writing of this book.

[Michele Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about a group of women who were responsible for sorting a backlog of mail (some 2-3 years worth) for the military. This mountainous task was given to a group of Black women who had joined the Army for various reasons. They were quite a determined and often times, humorous group of women who supported each other through thick and thin. The book outlines the discrimination they received and it is remarkable how they rarely let it get them down. I did feel the story seemed a bit rushed at times and thus my rating of 4 vs. 5 stars. With that said, I admire the author and thank her for sharing their story with us. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Better Time by Sheila Williams is a WWII historical fiction. It's about women in the army and how they have developed this life-long friendship serving together. I really enjoyed this quick read. I thought the plot was engaging and enjoyed the writing style. The time changes helped me know when in time the events were taking place, which I thought was very useful. I liked how these women came together and were thrown into various different tasks. The postal service during the war wasn't something that I was entirely aware of what happened, so I did find this very educational as well and entertaining. I look forward to reading more by this author and can see myself reaching for this again to reread.

[Hannah Powless · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher.

I’d never heard of the 6888 central postal directory battalion, and I really enjoyed the historical timeline presented in this book. How the mail sent oversees found it’s way to the correct serviceman is something I hadn’t ever thought about. The characters and their lives were interesting and the storyline engaging. Reading about their time in training reminded me of reading Flygirl- fun to be immersed in the camaraderie and the unique environment.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love this. The way it was written was very basic. It seemed like a young adult novel to me. I actually stopped after I started it to see if I had picked up a YA by mistake. I found the story to be flat and boring. Some of the history was interesting, but I expect more history in a book about such a unique topic.

[Jennifer Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of historical fiction! I especially love reading about World War 2. History just fascinates me. No Better Time is a book about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only African American WAC’s to serve overseas in England and France. They were given the task of sorting mail that was supposed to be sent to soldiers. The ginormous pile of mail had been sitting for over 2 years, pieces were in poor condition and illegible, often soldiers had been stationed to different posts in the meantime, so they had to be relocated.

This story focuses on the lives of three women in particular. The book takes us from their time at home, giving us some background, to their boot camp and then overseas. I learned some new things about the war and never really thought about the “postal service” in war. Some of the tasks and experiences these women faced because of their race and gender were not easy. The bond that the women made during such difficult times is heartwarming.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I feel like it was very informative. It brought a new perspective of the war to my mind. The chapters weren’t too long and the book kept me engaged throughout. The characters fell a little flat for me, I didn’t really feel as though I got to know them enough, their passions. This felt more like a non-fiction book. I definitely recommend the book, especially if you want to learn more about a different subject in WWII.

Thank you to Booksparks, @amistad and the author for the opportunity to read this book. I was thrilled when I got my package in the mail, I love the little journal! My opinions are honest and my own!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad I watched a post about books to read in honor of Black History month which according to google ends today. I got 2 books from the library from that post. I knew nothing about the black women that served in WWII or that there had been a six triple eight central postal directory battalion. What an amazing thing those women did and I’m glad to learn more about that time period.

[Book.ishJulie · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Better Time by Sheila Williams is a World War II historical fiction focusing on the postal service unit of the 6888th Battalion.

With a motto of "no mail, low morale," the Women's Army Corps worked on sorting the backlog of mail during 1945 and 1946, helping enrich the lives of the military personnel serving overseas with a connection to home.

Williams based this novel primarily around the history of her cousin, Dorothy, and it was clearly a passion project! This story is told through vignettes of time, making it have a slight non-fiction feel, which adds to the level of history presented.

This is an eye-opening book, told from a perspective I had yet to read, or really consider. There is a powerful thread of racism and sexism throughout, along with a strong sense of community. It was a unique, informative, and enlightening story!

Thank you BookSparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting story. I had read a little about the 6888th, when it was referenced in others stories about WWII and I was very excited to see a whole book dedicated to this amazing unit of women.

I loved reading about Dorothy and her sister WACs. On a personal note, it was interesting to see one of the places my dad was stationed mentioned and to learn a little about its history.

The training and challenges these women faced was fascinating. Their determination to get the mail to each recipient was inspiring.

I wish there would have been more about what this unit did and the way they did it. I felt like so much of the book was taken up with their training and decision to enlist, along with the backstories of each woman before they enlisted, and there weren’t nearly enough stories of what happened when they got to their various locations, more of what happened through their eyes.

I still very much enjoyed this book and am so glad Sheila Williams chose to write a book focusing on this amazing group of women.

Thank you to BookSparks for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

[Gabriella Bishop-Schiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great subject matter but the writing and timeliness made it hard to follow. I loved learning about this history though!

[Adam Wilburn]

I enjoyed reading this book and learning about the women of the 6888.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually Rating: 3.25

[Maddie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ I learned a lot from this book and am thankful this story exists. Also, I wanted more. I wanted to hear more about how the women spent furlough, more about their interactions with other battalions and commands, more about their transition to life after the war. I agree with another reviewer that it reads more like YA. This would be great for a high school classroom.

[Frida ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting a lot more history in this and it ended up reading like a young adult novel. Any part of its History that actually was mentioned, didn’t quite tie into the story well enough and felt like facts just being stuck into the book.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Better Time by Sheila Williams was a great pick for the March #BookSparksBookClub.

This book is about a multi-ethnic battalion of women who served in the Central Postal Directory as part of the Women’s Army Corps.

As a big fan of historical, I was excited to read this book. I loved that it showcased an aspect of World War II that I hadn’t heard or read about before. This book definitely added a new perspective to my knowledge of the war.

Overall, this book was easy to read and highly engaging. I was surprised by how many different locations they trained and eventually served in. I really liked the characters and the friendship they found with the other WACs.

[Kellea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an okay book, not the most well written book. It was however, a great historical fiction depiction of the role Black women played in the U.S. military, specifically the Six Triple Eight unit. And I appreciate learning that the Negro WACs was a program that Mary McLeod Bethune proposed and had a big influence in.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first learned of the Six Triple Eight when I read Joshunda Sander's Women of the Post, which I loved. I was excited when I learned of No Better Time being released soon, hoping it would be as good. I needn't have worried because this book is outstanding. Much of the book focuses on what these Black women faced in the U.S. Army, which didn't want women in their ranks in the first place and definitely didn't want "colored" women. Their treatment was beyond disgraceful but these women were resilient. I was outraged by what I read. It was such a contrast to the way women were treated in the British military in World War II.

It is unimaginable now to think of U.S. servicemen in the European theatre receiving no mail from home for 2 years! In January 1945, the women of the #6888 were sent to Birmingham, England to set up a sorting system. Awaiting them was a 2-3 year backlog of letters & packages to sort, repackage, and then forward to wherever the men were currently serving. (The food in those packages from home, now moldy or worse, had also attracted rats.) The benefit of being overseas for these African-American women was there was no segregation and little racism from the locals. They did face racism from many of the white American servicemen in England, unfortunately. The women of the #6888 Postal Battalion will inspire you and make you proud. I highly recommend this excellent book to everyone and will definitely be buying a copy for myself.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Amistad for the opportunity to read the digital ARC. All opinions & the review are my own.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, @netgalley, for my gifted e-copy of “No Better Time” by Sheila Williams.

This historical fiction covers a unique WWII perspective, telling the story of two Women of Color who served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was a branch of the Women’s Army Core (WAC).) The battalion was tasked with the insurmountable task of sorting years’ worth of mail and making sure that letters were received.

I found the subject to be very fascinating, and I feel that this is a WWII story that has not yet been told in a novel. Unfortunately, though, this book did not read much like a novel. There is a lot of information and little dialogue comparatively. I found the writing to be a bit clunky, but I still enjoyed reading through and learning about something new in history. I had never heard of the 6888th Battalion before and am so glad that I know about this piece of WW2 history now! It was heartbreaking to read about the racism that these women endured and interesting to learn more about what different aspects of the WAC were like and the different kinds of circumstances that lead women to join.

I would definitely recommend this book to you if you are interested in WW2 or WAC history!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read about a group of Black women serving during WWII. It details their experiences enlisting, training, and eventually taking posts overseas to process backlogged mail. It also touches on the sexism and racism the women face being both Black and female in the US military. The characters navigate daily challenges through friendship, cunning, resourcefulness, and sense of humor (while still making time for some fun and adventure).

To me, this felt more like non-fiction than historical fiction. It's a very simple, straightforward, high level telling of events. It reads like an attempt to balance facts with entertainment, not an attempt to ignore facts for entertainment. I would recommend to those who like reading from lesser-known perspectives in history, or those who enjoy stories of found family.

[Sandra Judd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, and there were parts that were interesting, but the jumps back and forth in time and between character viewpoints made it hard to follow the story, and there was just not enough story there to keep my interest. I realize that this book was based on somewhat fragmentary stories of real-life experiences of one of the author's relatives, but a bit more artist's license was needed to really make this an absorbing read.

[Bookreporter.com Historical Fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO BETTER TIME is an important novel. You may think you know everything about World War II, but here comes Sheila Williams with another missing chapter of the full story.

The Black women who served with the Women’s Army Corps (commonly referring to themselves as WACs) during World War II were a distinctive group of enlisted females working overseas. Their contributions were imperative and progressive. They were among the first women who ever formally agreed to join the military and see actual time on the front. Williams was inspired by her cousin, who was a WAC. She took the stories of their brave and bold experiences, along with their deep abiding friendships, to produce a dramatic, compelling and heartwarming novel.

Leila Branch doesn’t know what she wants out of joining the WACs except a good steady paycheck. Her mother and toddler son need her to provide for them back home. No one thinks she should go this far to make a living, but she feels that she needs to embark on this journey and try to make it the best it can be. She finds kinship and camaraderie with the other women who have made a similar job choice. Among them are Dorothy Thom, who is a Spelman grad, a librarian and a lover of all things French. Between the two of them, there doesn’t appear to be any situation that they can’t manage to squeeze through. Even though the Army made a call for women to join the service, no one seems to know what to do with them. There are hundreds of them with skills and dedication to spare.

The women learn to deal with the basic training nightmares, not to mention the misogyny and racism created by the segregation of the volunteers. Williams makes this point very clearly when we see how even the German POWs are given better quarters and rations than the enlisted women. And this is before they hit the front lines in Europe.

When they finally make it to the European continent, their details are insane. They must process over 17 million pieces of mislabeled, misaddressed mail and packages that have been sent to the soldiers abroad. As culture shock settles in around them, they find the British people far more kind and inviting than their own communities back home. Their work brings further joy and closeness when the people to whom they are communicating about the mail and packages thank them for their diligence in trying to locate the rightful owners. The women find a sense of duty and belonging, and a new way of looking at themselves, their lives, their skills and their friendships as they manage to stay afloat in one of the most difficult workplaces in the world.

NO BETTER TIME takes no time at all introducing readers to the brave and virtuous females we meet here --- stand-ins for the real-life women who made history against all odds. It effectively calls out the Army’s inability to stem racism and misogyny, while also celebrating the ability of the women to dedicate themselves to each other and ensure their safety amidst the evil of the war around them.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano