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Hearts at War
*WINNER - 2nd Place in 2023 Book Fest - Historical Romance*
Set against the backdrop of World War II, Betty and Tosh's childhood friendship in 1930s Southern California blooms into something more as they navigate the complexities of love, family, and societal expectations. Betty, a spirited tomboy from an established family, and Tosh, the son of Japanese farming immigrants, find themselves drawn to each other despite the disapproval of their families and society.
As they begin college, their relationship remains unresolved, and they go their separate ways. But the attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything. Tosh and his family are sent to an internment camp. Tosh decides to enlist in the military due to his love of his country despite his belief that his family’s internment and that of the thousands of others is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, inspired by Tosh's loyalty, Betty volunteers for the Women's Army Corps.
Tosh undergoes training for a top-secret military program as an interrogator and translator, while Betty becomes part of the Signal Corps. Fate reunites them in Brisbane, Australia, where they finally acknowledge their feelings and find hope for a future together. However, the harsh realities of war and life tear them apart once again.
Betty and Tosh will face challenges, including family disapproval and societal norms. Will they be able to find each other again and follow their hearts, even if it means defying expectations, or will external pressures keep them apart forever?
A poignant tale of love, courage, and resilience, this historical fiction novel transports readers to a tumultuous era where the battle for love is as fierce as the war waged on the battlefield.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, Betty and Tosh's childhood friendship in 1930s Southern California blooms into something more as they navigate the complexities of love, family, and societal expectations. Betty, a spirited tomboy from an established family, and Tosh, the son of Japanese farming immigrants, find themselves drawn to each other despite the disapproval of their families and society.
As they begin college, their relationship remains unresolved, and they go their separate ways. But the attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything. Tosh and his family are sent to an internment camp. Tosh decides to enlist in the military due to his love of his country despite his belief that his family’s internment and that of the thousands of others is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, inspired by Tosh's loyalty, Betty volunteers for the Women's Army Corps.
Tosh undergoes training for a top-secret military program as an interrogator and translator, while Betty becomes part of the Signal Corps. Fate reunites them in Brisbane, Australia, where they finally acknowledge their feelings and find hope for a future together. However, the harsh realities of war and life tear them apart once again.
Betty and Tosh will face challenges, including family disapproval and societal norms. Will they be able to find each other again and follow their hearts, even if it means defying expectations, or will external pressures keep them apart forever?
A poignant tale of love, courage, and resilience, this historical fiction novel transports readers to a tumultuous era where the battle for love is as fierce as the war waged on the battlefield.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2023
About the author
Christa Nonnemaker
4 books20 followersI have been a high school history teacher, a marketing coordinator, a tennis program coordinator and I currently write books and workbooks and volunteer at my local museum. My hobbies include reading, tennis, pickleball, mahjong, travel, golf, and hiking.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 4, 2026
Potentially offensive items: anti-ethnic, cultural sensitivity, racism, minor sexism, adult situations, premarital sex, implied adultery, offensive language, alcohol/smoking, violence, suicide, mature themes,
Hearts at War is a historical romance that attempts to tackle the anti-Asian racism prevalent, especially in California, in the 1930s and 40s. I want to see more romance books like this where the main characters are not British/American, so that was definitely an aspect of it I liked. I also felt the first romantic interaction between Tosh and Betty was well-written. Unfortunately, the racism was held at arms-length. I felt the author did a lot of research, but then wrote with a 21st-century view. Further, the “romance” is almost non-existent. The author focuses more on college life (with both characters at different colleges) or joining the military (with both characters mostly stationed apart) and gets some of these unnecessary descriptions wrong.
Primarily, I didn’t feel the book went far enough in exploring racial tensions. We start in an idyllic community where you have a few bullies who are racist and a mother who doesn’t want her daughter hanging around the Japanese-American kid next door. Betty’s father, however, is Atticus Finch transported to a few decades earlier and moved to the West Coast—even down to being a lawyer defending the victims of racist attacks. Looking at the reality is more bleak. Tosh would have just gained the right to attend a “white” school in California when we first meet him. There is no way Japanese-Americans would have been on the “school” baseball team—they would have had to play baseball in an Asian league. There is also no way all Betty’s friends would have been even half that accepting of Tosh—ironically, almost everyone in this book accepts the Japanese characters and Betty and Tosh’s relationship. All Germans, Italians, and Japanese had to turn in their cameras and radios, which I think is a pretty big thing that the book skipped. We get toned-down racism at its best—even to the point where history is distorted.
For example, Betty does basic training in the South and is shocked by the segregation. However, at the time, L.A., where Betty lives, only had “white” beaches (as well as other segregated spaces). Black people had to go to a small beach in Santa Monica that was set aside for them. It’s doubtful Betty and her friend would have gotten a smile for defiantly sitting in the “colored” section of the bus because “white” people could sit wherever they wanted. It is also doubtful a “colored” person would have sat in the front of the bus with Tosh—he would have risked a beating, a fine, jail time, and a potential lynching. Even more disturbing, Australia is presented as a non-racist utopia when aborigines were not citizens, could not vote, were permanently kept on reservations by armed guards (as opposed to the Japanese-Americans only staying in internment camps during the war), had to have cards giving them permission to move around, and the Australians built segregated entertainment centers so white and black American soldiers could continue to segregate.
For as much research as went into this, there were still issues. For example, very few women had driver’s licenses at this time, but Betty, who has never needed one, suddenly is driving. This book implies that the guards at the internment camps had their fingers on the triggers and guns constantly pointed at the detainees. That is unrealistic, and none of the visual evidence shows that—although the guards did carry weapons. There were 2,100 mixed families at internment camps, and most of those were white men with Asian women--this book says they were all the reverse.
Basic training is always the first thing you go through in the military—here it is done after language school or MOS training (although those in ROTC might have had basic training waived). It’s “Up, two, three, four…” and “ah-TEN-tion” —not “Stand-hut.” Here we have civilian mishearing of what is said. WWII basic was also easier than post-Korean War basic. WACS found their basic even easier physically. They had makeup training and were told to always keep their lipstick with them and look nice. There were also Japanese Officers, including Aiso—who was Lt. Col. and he was in charge of the language school, so it is inexplicable as to why Tosh is angry that there aren’t Japanese-American officers.
I rated this book based on the objective review matrix posted on my writing blog.
Hearts at War is a historical romance that attempts to tackle the anti-Asian racism prevalent, especially in California, in the 1930s and 40s. I want to see more romance books like this where the main characters are not British/American, so that was definitely an aspect of it I liked. I also felt the first romantic interaction between Tosh and Betty was well-written. Unfortunately, the racism was held at arms-length. I felt the author did a lot of research, but then wrote with a 21st-century view. Further, the “romance” is almost non-existent. The author focuses more on college life (with both characters at different colleges) or joining the military (with both characters mostly stationed apart) and gets some of these unnecessary descriptions wrong.
Primarily, I didn’t feel the book went far enough in exploring racial tensions. We start in an idyllic community where you have a few bullies who are racist and a mother who doesn’t want her daughter hanging around the Japanese-American kid next door. Betty’s father, however, is Atticus Finch transported to a few decades earlier and moved to the West Coast—even down to being a lawyer defending the victims of racist attacks. Looking at the reality is more bleak. Tosh would have just gained the right to attend a “white” school in California when we first meet him. There is no way Japanese-Americans would have been on the “school” baseball team—they would have had to play baseball in an Asian league. There is also no way all Betty’s friends would have been even half that accepting of Tosh—ironically, almost everyone in this book accepts the Japanese characters and Betty and Tosh’s relationship. All Germans, Italians, and Japanese had to turn in their cameras and radios, which I think is a pretty big thing that the book skipped. We get toned-down racism at its best—even to the point where history is distorted.
For example, Betty does basic training in the South and is shocked by the segregation. However, at the time, L.A., where Betty lives, only had “white” beaches (as well as other segregated spaces). Black people had to go to a small beach in Santa Monica that was set aside for them. It’s doubtful Betty and her friend would have gotten a smile for defiantly sitting in the “colored” section of the bus because “white” people could sit wherever they wanted. It is also doubtful a “colored” person would have sat in the front of the bus with Tosh—he would have risked a beating, a fine, jail time, and a potential lynching. Even more disturbing, Australia is presented as a non-racist utopia when aborigines were not citizens, could not vote, were permanently kept on reservations by armed guards (as opposed to the Japanese-Americans only staying in internment camps during the war), had to have cards giving them permission to move around, and the Australians built segregated entertainment centers so white and black American soldiers could continue to segregate.
For as much research as went into this, there were still issues. For example, very few women had driver’s licenses at this time, but Betty, who has never needed one, suddenly is driving. This book implies that the guards at the internment camps had their fingers on the triggers and guns constantly pointed at the detainees. That is unrealistic, and none of the visual evidence shows that—although the guards did carry weapons. There were 2,100 mixed families at internment camps, and most of those were white men with Asian women--this book says they were all the reverse.
Basic training is always the first thing you go through in the military—here it is done after language school or MOS training (although those in ROTC might have had basic training waived). It’s “Up, two, three, four…” and “ah-TEN-tion” —not “Stand-hut.” Here we have civilian mishearing of what is said. WWII basic was also easier than post-Korean War basic. WACS found their basic even easier physically. They had makeup training and were told to always keep their lipstick with them and look nice. There were also Japanese Officers, including Aiso—who was Lt. Col. and he was in charge of the language school, so it is inexplicable as to why Tosh is angry that there aren’t Japanese-American officers.
I rated this book based on the objective review matrix posted on my writing blog.
September 17, 2023
I enjoyed reading ‘Hearts at War’ very much. It was the kind of historical fiction that I find both demanding and interesting, but at the same time it was well drawn about the characters, their lives and their interactions with other characters. It covered a period of history, WW2, about which I wanted to learn more as well as a group of people, Japanese Americans during that war, about which I knew nothing.
The romantic aspects of the story were believable and done in a tactful and subtle fashion, such that I found I was rooting for Betty and Tosh throughout the novel. A couple of twists in the tale kept me turning the pages. I am not a prude at all but it was quite refreshing to find the author did not think it necessary to fling aspects of sexual behaviour into the face of the reader. While such writing is often included in a contemporary ‘romance novel’ it is usually too distracting away from what maybe a good plot, and therefore spoiling the plot.
The level of racism, from other people and even the central government plus in certain states of the USA, was shocking. It was good to find that Christa Nonnemaker did not shy away from including many examples of it in her novel. The internment camps for many loyal citizens of the USA who had non-white parentage came as a big surprise for me. This was just one example of the considerable background research that was done by the author. It all added to the authenticity that one hopes to see in a historical novel. The inclusion by Nonnemaker of the subject of Japanese-American internment during WW2, is something to be applauded by everyone.
While I can recommend this novel to any readers who enjoy a romantic story with important touches of harsh reality, there were some aspects that detracted a little from my enjoyment. Certain earlier conversations during the time when Betty and Tosh were still children came across as slightly unrealistic. They were both too formal and adult or lacked the inclusion of childish terms of familiarity. For example, I think a child is more likely to refer to their father as say, Pop, Poppa, Dad or Daddy, rather than Father. Of course similar terms can be found for their mother in childish conversations. I accept that it may be quite formal amongst other social classes and population groups; but that did not seem to me to apply here. There were some editing issues, typos and omissions here and there that could be corrected, since that may detract from this excellent novel.
The romantic aspects of the story were believable and done in a tactful and subtle fashion, such that I found I was rooting for Betty and Tosh throughout the novel. A couple of twists in the tale kept me turning the pages. I am not a prude at all but it was quite refreshing to find the author did not think it necessary to fling aspects of sexual behaviour into the face of the reader. While such writing is often included in a contemporary ‘romance novel’ it is usually too distracting away from what maybe a good plot, and therefore spoiling the plot.
The level of racism, from other people and even the central government plus in certain states of the USA, was shocking. It was good to find that Christa Nonnemaker did not shy away from including many examples of it in her novel. The internment camps for many loyal citizens of the USA who had non-white parentage came as a big surprise for me. This was just one example of the considerable background research that was done by the author. It all added to the authenticity that one hopes to see in a historical novel. The inclusion by Nonnemaker of the subject of Japanese-American internment during WW2, is something to be applauded by everyone.
While I can recommend this novel to any readers who enjoy a romantic story with important touches of harsh reality, there were some aspects that detracted a little from my enjoyment. Certain earlier conversations during the time when Betty and Tosh were still children came across as slightly unrealistic. They were both too formal and adult or lacked the inclusion of childish terms of familiarity. For example, I think a child is more likely to refer to their father as say, Pop, Poppa, Dad or Daddy, rather than Father. Of course similar terms can be found for their mother in childish conversations. I accept that it may be quite formal amongst other social classes and population groups; but that did not seem to me to apply here. There were some editing issues, typos and omissions here and there that could be corrected, since that may detract from this excellent novel.
November 8, 2023
A simple and sometimes cliché' love story before, during, and after World War II. The story stretches from the characters' childhood until they return from the war.
I like to read about many aspects behind the actual war, and it must have been a lot of work to research them. WWII's impact is felt everywhere, even by the generations born after that. My grandparents had a lot of tales about it, some of the most inspiring and terrifying ones.
The book centres around two characters' relationship, the war, and racism in many forms. I like that the author explores the variety of them, the three primary forms that still exist today: associations, colours, and genocide. What is sad about reading historical books or historical fiction for me is we have learned very little, have we?
In my opinion, the book can be tightened up a lot; there are a lot of unnecessary actions, explanations, and repeated information, like a small synopsis of things that happen only a few pages or a few chapters back. The dialogues feel clunky at times, almost indistinguishable between characters, as their personalities feel very similar, especially the parade of the main characters' friends. The exchanges also use 'names' all the time. I'm sure most readers can follow fine about who is talking because it feels weird reading 'Betty asked X this, Betty gestures, X replied, Betty was glad X did something, said Betty, X sighed, and so on'. It feels very stiff. The book seems to have two writing styles because when it's not dialogues, it flows better with using pronouns instead of names all the time. Sometimes, they are detailed descriptions of feelings and surroundings, while others are just unclear perceived expositions.
Having said that, overall, it's a slow and nice read. It's not boring as I learn many things and relate them to tales I know. The love story is heartwarming, and the title is very fitting.
I like to read about many aspects behind the actual war, and it must have been a lot of work to research them. WWII's impact is felt everywhere, even by the generations born after that. My grandparents had a lot of tales about it, some of the most inspiring and terrifying ones.
The book centres around two characters' relationship, the war, and racism in many forms. I like that the author explores the variety of them, the three primary forms that still exist today: associations, colours, and genocide. What is sad about reading historical books or historical fiction for me is we have learned very little, have we?
In my opinion, the book can be tightened up a lot; there are a lot of unnecessary actions, explanations, and repeated information, like a small synopsis of things that happen only a few pages or a few chapters back. The dialogues feel clunky at times, almost indistinguishable between characters, as their personalities feel very similar, especially the parade of the main characters' friends. The exchanges also use 'names' all the time. I'm sure most readers can follow fine about who is talking because it feels weird reading 'Betty asked X this, Betty gestures, X replied, Betty was glad X did something, said Betty, X sighed, and so on'. It feels very stiff. The book seems to have two writing styles because when it's not dialogues, it flows better with using pronouns instead of names all the time. Sometimes, they are detailed descriptions of feelings and surroundings, while others are just unclear perceived expositions.
Having said that, overall, it's a slow and nice read. It's not boring as I learn many things and relate them to tales I know. The love story is heartwarming, and the title is very fitting.
October 27, 2025
Christa Nonnemaker's Hearts at War is a compelling piece of historical fiction that skillfully blends a poignant wartime romance with an exploration of a painful chapter in American history: the Japanese-American internment during World War II. The novel centers on the relationship between Betty, a spirited young woman from an established Southern California family, and Tosh, the son of Japanese immigrant farmers. Their childhood friendship blossoms into a deeper connection despite the clear societal and familial opposition they face in the 1930s.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn with the attack on Pearl Harbor, which irrevocably changes both of their lives. Tosh and his family are swept up in the mass internment of Japanese Americans, a deeply unjust action that forms a crucial, researched backdrop to the story. Despite the shock and constitutional outrage of this experience, Tosh is driven by loyalty to the US and enlists in the military, joining a top-secret program as an interrogator and translator. Similarly, Betty's desire to serve leads her to volunteer for the Women's Army Corps.
The two protagonists' wartime service—Betty in the Signal Corps and Tosh in the Pacific theater—offers a refreshing look at the unsung roles of both women and Nisei soldiers during the conflict. Their paths cross again in Brisbane, Australia, a moment of rekindled hope where they finally affirm their deep-seated feelings for one another. However, the harsh realities of war, combined with persistent societal racism and family disapproval, continue to threaten their future.
Hearts at War is an engaging, meaningful story that successfully transports the reader to a tumultuous era of history, making a strong case for the power of love and perseverance in the face of profound adversity.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn with the attack on Pearl Harbor, which irrevocably changes both of their lives. Tosh and his family are swept up in the mass internment of Japanese Americans, a deeply unjust action that forms a crucial, researched backdrop to the story. Despite the shock and constitutional outrage of this experience, Tosh is driven by loyalty to the US and enlists in the military, joining a top-secret program as an interrogator and translator. Similarly, Betty's desire to serve leads her to volunteer for the Women's Army Corps.
The two protagonists' wartime service—Betty in the Signal Corps and Tosh in the Pacific theater—offers a refreshing look at the unsung roles of both women and Nisei soldiers during the conflict. Their paths cross again in Brisbane, Australia, a moment of rekindled hope where they finally affirm their deep-seated feelings for one another. However, the harsh realities of war, combined with persistent societal racism and family disapproval, continue to threaten their future.
Hearts at War is an engaging, meaningful story that successfully transports the reader to a tumultuous era of history, making a strong case for the power of love and perseverance in the face of profound adversity.
October 2, 2023
This is a great romance set during WWII in the US. The couple are a Japanese-American boy and an American girl, so they didn’t have an easy run. The book explores the attitudes towards interracial relationships at the time really well.
I found this book very easy to read. The characters seemed believable, and I got caught up with their trials and tribulations. It was fascinating to see things from a US perspective, as I was born in the UK and now live in Australia. I had no idea that anyone with Japanese heritage was sent to the Pacific, although it makes sense that the Signal Corps would have needed translators who spoke Japanese.
I loved the fact that they were both sent to Brisbane. I’ve visited General MacArthur’s offices there, where volunteers have put together a fantastic museum. They detail so much of the history and the social conditions of the time.
The one thing that didn’t ring true for me was the comment that the African-American and Japanese-American soldiers were treated as equals by the Australians. It’s a sad fact that a lot of Australians are highly racist, particularly in Queensland (the State where Brisbane is located). During WWII, there weren’t a lot of coloured people living in Australia. The White Australia policy began in 1901 and didn’t end until 1966, which made it almost impossible for anyone other than Caucasians to enter the country. It’s just possible that they were welcomed because of the threat from Japan, but I rather doubt it. Next week, Australians will be voting in a referendum on whether to recognise our First Nations people in the Constitution. If the polling is correct, a massive majority will reject it. It’s quite shameful.
I found this book very easy to read. The characters seemed believable, and I got caught up with their trials and tribulations. It was fascinating to see things from a US perspective, as I was born in the UK and now live in Australia. I had no idea that anyone with Japanese heritage was sent to the Pacific, although it makes sense that the Signal Corps would have needed translators who spoke Japanese.
I loved the fact that they were both sent to Brisbane. I’ve visited General MacArthur’s offices there, where volunteers have put together a fantastic museum. They detail so much of the history and the social conditions of the time.
The one thing that didn’t ring true for me was the comment that the African-American and Japanese-American soldiers were treated as equals by the Australians. It’s a sad fact that a lot of Australians are highly racist, particularly in Queensland (the State where Brisbane is located). During WWII, there weren’t a lot of coloured people living in Australia. The White Australia policy began in 1901 and didn’t end until 1966, which made it almost impossible for anyone other than Caucasians to enter the country. It’s just possible that they were welcomed because of the threat from Japan, but I rather doubt it. Next week, Australians will be voting in a referendum on whether to recognise our First Nations people in the Constitution. If the polling is correct, a massive majority will reject it. It’s quite shameful.
November 9, 2025
Betty and Tosh start as kids in 1930s Southern California, and the book never lets you forget that their feelings grow up alongside hard lines, including family expectations, local gossip, and then the blunt force of policy. The internment chapters and the Pacific postings feel carefully researched, but what stayed with me were the small human moments. Those moments gave the history a human pulse.
I appreciated that Tosh’s patriotism and doubt are allowed to coexist, and that Betty’s steadiness is more than random, as she learns, adapts, and chooses. They both make mistakes. They both carry guilt. At times the narration steps back to explain context a bit more than I needed, and a few scenes run long, but the breadth of the story, from Manzanar to Brisbane, benefits from that patience. What I took from the novel wasn’t just a romance under pressure, but a reminder about love, language, and work can be forms of loyalty, even when the world seems so small and rough. If you’re drawn to WWII stories that center the Pacific theater and the Japanese American experience, this one is worth your time.
I appreciated that Tosh’s patriotism and doubt are allowed to coexist, and that Betty’s steadiness is more than random, as she learns, adapts, and chooses. They both make mistakes. They both carry guilt. At times the narration steps back to explain context a bit more than I needed, and a few scenes run long, but the breadth of the story, from Manzanar to Brisbane, benefits from that patience. What I took from the novel wasn’t just a romance under pressure, but a reminder about love, language, and work can be forms of loyalty, even when the world seems so small and rough. If you’re drawn to WWII stories that center the Pacific theater and the Japanese American experience, this one is worth your time.
November 18, 2025
'Hearts at War' captures the period of the Second World War brilliantly with excellent research into a relatively unexplored aspect of history. Captured through the story of a privileged white American girl and an American-Japanese boy, the author delves into many of the views of the time. Sadly, inter-racial relationships were not always supported, and this is as much about those perceptions as the development of the love story itself. This is not a typical romance, but rather a story that would appeal to history buffs, with the romance serving as a vehicle for insight into the times. The author raises some important questions about time, and as readers, we cannot help but feel for the characters as they grapple with the war's impact, their feelings for each other, and the judgment of others regarding their relationship. There are parts of the book that opened my eyes to the very stoic attitude that seemed to be part of accepting life's challenges at that time. The amusement of doing latrine duty, for example, is typical of that generation, which just got on with it.
December 2, 2025
Hearts at War by Christa Nonnemaker is a moving and beautifully researched World War II romance that balances heartfelt character drama with an unflinching look at Japanese-American internment. Betty and Tosh’s relationship, beginning in childhood and tested by war, prejudice, and separation, feels authentic and emotionally grounded. Their chemistry grows naturally, and it’s impossible not to root for them as they navigate both personal longing and the unforgiving realities of the era.
Nonnemaker does an excellent job depicting the racism Tosh and his family face, as well as the difficult, often overlooked role of Nisei soldiers who served despite being treated as enemies at home. Betty’s journey in the Women’s Army Corps adds another compelling layer, highlighting the strength and sacrifices of women during wartime.
While some dialogue moments feel slightly formal, the story overall is engaging, heartfelt, and historically insightful. A poignant, hopeful, and deeply human wartime romance.
Nonnemaker does an excellent job depicting the racism Tosh and his family face, as well as the difficult, often overlooked role of Nisei soldiers who served despite being treated as enemies at home. Betty’s journey in the Women’s Army Corps adds another compelling layer, highlighting the strength and sacrifices of women during wartime.
While some dialogue moments feel slightly formal, the story overall is engaging, heartfelt, and historically insightful. A poignant, hopeful, and deeply human wartime romance.
September 22, 2023
Carefully researched and believable characters
I very much enjoyed this story of Betty and Tosh as they grow up in a world hurtling toward, and then enduring, war. The prose is easy to read, making this novel one that can be enjoyed in a few days. I love how the author has put a relationship between an American girl and a Japanese-American boy at the center of the story. It really highlights the human side (human cost, relationship strain) of political decisions made by nations.
WWII stories seem to be having a resurgence right now. This story is a great addition to the subgenre, particularly in light of its emphasis on the Pacific theater and the US history of Japanese internment. One of my uncles was stationed in Japan after fighting in WWII, partly because he spoke the language, so I loved the importance of language skills in this story.
Recommended.
I very much enjoyed this story of Betty and Tosh as they grow up in a world hurtling toward, and then enduring, war. The prose is easy to read, making this novel one that can be enjoyed in a few days. I love how the author has put a relationship between an American girl and a Japanese-American boy at the center of the story. It really highlights the human side (human cost, relationship strain) of political decisions made by nations.
WWII stories seem to be having a resurgence right now. This story is a great addition to the subgenre, particularly in light of its emphasis on the Pacific theater and the US history of Japanese internment. One of my uncles was stationed in Japan after fighting in WWII, partly because he spoke the language, so I loved the importance of language skills in this story.
Recommended.
November 23, 2023
On the surface, Hearts at War is an interracial love story between Tosh and Betty, but it’s way more than that. While reading this historical novel, I asked myself what makes a story memorable because this novel left a deep impression on me.
I didn’t like the repetitive style of writing or the excessive telling, though more often than not I was kept entertained. But most of all I was educated about subjects I knew little about, like the Japanese-American experience during WWII and life at the Manzanar internment camp, the Nisei contributions in the Pacific theater, and the Women Army Corps involvement in the war. I commend the author for the ridiculous amount of research that must have gone into writing this novel, and I recommend this heartwarming story to those wanting to explore a piece of history that’s often overlooked.
I didn’t like the repetitive style of writing or the excessive telling, though more often than not I was kept entertained. But most of all I was educated about subjects I knew little about, like the Japanese-American experience during WWII and life at the Manzanar internment camp, the Nisei contributions in the Pacific theater, and the Women Army Corps involvement in the war. I commend the author for the ridiculous amount of research that must have gone into writing this novel, and I recommend this heartwarming story to those wanting to explore a piece of history that’s often overlooked.
November 4, 2025
It takes place in World War II so you expect bbombs and fighting but there’s love too and lots of hurt hearts. Betty and Tosh are the two people you kind of root for but also they mess up and feel real. There’s racism and camps and things you didn’t know about and that made it feel important.
Some parts go too long—talking about old history, lots of background. Other parts hit you with big feelings and you forget the slow ones for a bit. Tosh has guilt and Betty has strength and you like them because they don’t just win easy. It isn’t perfect. Some lines are stiff, some details feel too small to matter, and I wished some scenes were shorter. But it stays with you. After reading I thought about what the characters lost and what they fought for. If you like historical romance with real stakes and a lot of heartache this book is worth your time.
Some parts go too long—talking about old history, lots of background. Other parts hit you with big feelings and you forget the slow ones for a bit. Tosh has guilt and Betty has strength and you like them because they don’t just win easy. It isn’t perfect. Some lines are stiff, some details feel too small to matter, and I wished some scenes were shorter. But it stays with you. After reading I thought about what the characters lost and what they fought for. If you like historical romance with real stakes and a lot of heartache this book is worth your time.
January 9, 2026
A well-researched and accurate depiction of life during WWII
Hearts at War is billed as a romance, but it’s really more of a fictional biography of the two main characters, Betty Campbell and Toshiro Takahara, over twenty years from 1929 to 1949. This is both its strength and its weakness. It’s exceedingly well-researched, and the minutiae of the characters’ lives seem accurately depicted, from their childhood in California, to their college years and military service, Betty in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) and Tosh as a Nisei in the US Army. The real weakness here is that the emphasis on the mundane sucks much of the emotion out of the story—the book is way too much longer than it needs to be and much of the activity described is inconsequential. There’s little of the excitement or suspense that would have been appropriate to a war story, and that made it a cumbersome read.
Hearts at War is billed as a romance, but it’s really more of a fictional biography of the two main characters, Betty Campbell and Toshiro Takahara, over twenty years from 1929 to 1949. This is both its strength and its weakness. It’s exceedingly well-researched, and the minutiae of the characters’ lives seem accurately depicted, from their childhood in California, to their college years and military service, Betty in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) and Tosh as a Nisei in the US Army. The real weakness here is that the emphasis on the mundane sucks much of the emotion out of the story—the book is way too much longer than it needs to be and much of the activity described is inconsequential. There’s little of the excitement or suspense that would have been appropriate to a war story, and that made it a cumbersome read.
August 17, 2023
This book is a quick read. The novel is romance and historical fiction, primarily based around WWII.
The main characters Betty and Tosh are likeable. And I was rooting for them. Many secondary characters embody different opinions and prejudices of the time.
I didn’t know much about Japanese internment camps during the war. I shook my head when reading about the deplorable conditions.
The author’s research is impressive, especially in the second half of the book when the main characters are in the Pacific theater: Betty is in the Woman Army Corps, and Tosh is a military linguist. Tension does build throughout the book: How is this going to end?
I would read another book written by this author.
The main characters Betty and Tosh are likeable. And I was rooting for them. Many secondary characters embody different opinions and prejudices of the time.
I didn’t know much about Japanese internment camps during the war. I shook my head when reading about the deplorable conditions.
The author’s research is impressive, especially in the second half of the book when the main characters are in the Pacific theater: Betty is in the Woman Army Corps, and Tosh is a military linguist. Tension does build throughout the book: How is this going to end?
I would read another book written by this author.
September 6, 2023
I think it is a pretty safe statement to say that Japanese internment and the overall topic of Japanese-Americans’ experiences during World War II is often a topic that gets swept under the rug, or overlooked. That’s why HEARTS AT WAR is so original and incredible.
This book is a powerful coming-of-age story that explores racial tensions and has a nice dose of romance. This book is well-researched and speaks of parts of history that I have heard of and not heard of.
I give this book 3.5 stars rounded up. My one complaint is that the characters sometimes did not seem realistic and thought too immaturely for their age.
Thank you Christa Nonnemaker for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This book is a powerful coming-of-age story that explores racial tensions and has a nice dose of romance. This book is well-researched and speaks of parts of history that I have heard of and not heard of.
I give this book 3.5 stars rounded up. My one complaint is that the characters sometimes did not seem realistic and thought too immaturely for their age.
Thank you Christa Nonnemaker for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own.
November 8, 2023
There are so many love stories or accounts of historical periods with romances thrown in to keep people interested. However Nonnemaker goes further and throws in the race issue, and it works.
I couldn't believe how racist people were back then. Betty is a white girl and Tosh the son of Japanese immigrants and this story outlines the journey they go through in school in the peaceful 1930s to internment camps and in the forces during the war. The details of the war and its effects on society are very well explained and the horror of internment camps illustrated in an excellent way, it had an effect on me as I read it.
I would recommend this book, as a great history lesson as well as a suspenseful, rather heavy, romance story.
I couldn't believe how racist people were back then. Betty is a white girl and Tosh the son of Japanese immigrants and this story outlines the journey they go through in school in the peaceful 1930s to internment camps and in the forces during the war. The details of the war and its effects on society are very well explained and the horror of internment camps illustrated in an excellent way, it had an effect on me as I read it.
I would recommend this book, as a great history lesson as well as a suspenseful, rather heavy, romance story.
December 26, 2025
Hearts at War is a beautifully written historical love story that unfolds slowly and thoughtfully over time.
Following Betty and Tosh from childhood into adulthood, the novel focuses on how love changes under the weight of family expectations, societal pressure, and war. The emotional connection between the characters feels natural and earned, built through small moments rather than grand gestures.
What stood out most to me was the restraint in the writing. The story trusts the reader and allows the emotional impact to build quietly. The historical setting is well researched and handled with care, adding real depth without overwhelming the personal story at its centre.
This is a tender, reflective read for anyone who enjoys character-driven historical fiction with heart.
Following Betty and Tosh from childhood into adulthood, the novel focuses on how love changes under the weight of family expectations, societal pressure, and war. The emotional connection between the characters feels natural and earned, built through small moments rather than grand gestures.
What stood out most to me was the restraint in the writing. The story trusts the reader and allows the emotional impact to build quietly. The historical setting is well researched and handled with care, adding real depth without overwhelming the personal story at its centre.
This is a tender, reflective read for anyone who enjoys character-driven historical fiction with heart.
August 24, 2023
This is a very carefully researched historical novel that takes place during WWII. Two classmates graduate from high school in California in 1939. One is Japanese American. the other white, and we see how their lives are changed during their war experiences particularly the incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps. Both Tosh and Betty join the Army and both end up serving in the Pacific Theater. Their friendship and romance are challenged from all sides.
This is the fourth book dealing with Manzanar that I have read this summer, and I have learned much from each one. It is still so shocking to me that we treated US citizens so cruelly.
This is the fourth book dealing with Manzanar that I have read this summer, and I have learned much from each one. It is still so shocking to me that we treated US citizens so cruelly.
December 11, 2025
The level of research that must have gone into this novel is amazing. The novel explored the friendship and budding romance of Betty and Toshiro, or Tosh. I liked their first meeting, and the friendship, romance, and struggles they faced. The interment camps of World War Two were a shameful part of history, and I am glad that this book explored the sad realities of what happened there. Both Betty and Tosh were likable and believable.
I did feel the writing was a bit awkward in places, and sometimes there was a lot of telling and exposition. But the message was good, and the characters likable.
I did feel the writing was a bit awkward in places, and sometimes there was a lot of telling and exposition. But the message was good, and the characters likable.
October 31, 2023
A Slow Burn Interracial Romance…
…told in snapshots across two decades of peace and war. One character is a well-off white girl, the other a Japanese immigrant. The story begins with them meeting as children in California prior to the second world war, then proceeds to chronicle their further encounters and challenges in school, internment camps, and the military.
While I did note some odd grammatical constructs and repetition, my main gripe with the story is the way it was ‘told’ rather than ‘shown,’ which made the characters come across as ‘flat,’ lacking in passion.
…told in snapshots across two decades of peace and war. One character is a well-off white girl, the other a Japanese immigrant. The story begins with them meeting as children in California prior to the second world war, then proceeds to chronicle their further encounters and challenges in school, internment camps, and the military.
While I did note some odd grammatical constructs and repetition, my main gripe with the story is the way it was ‘told’ rather than ‘shown,’ which made the characters come across as ‘flat,’ lacking in passion.
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