What do you think?
Rate this book
What We Did in the War
Can you ever let go of the past? Two women unhappy with their lives seize a chance to start over during a WWII bombing raid, in this dramatic and suspenseful novel.
London, 1944: As bombs start raining from the sky, two women rush out of a restaurant, leaving their possessions behind. Their chance meeting amid the chaos and destruction will have long-lasting consequences. Both beset by desperate problems, they take advantage of the wartime chaos to escape their humdrum lives and start again. .
Sticking together, the pair live under the radar, using a stolen ration book to feed themselves and relying on a street kid’s help to get by. Cecil eventually finds work, while glamorous, feckless Claude looks after the flat—or doesn’t. Gradually their friendship sours and resentment creeps in. Just as Cecil is wondering whether she should ever have trusted Claude in the first place, she makes a shocking discovery—one that will expose a web of secrets, lead to an act of violence, and set the two on separate and very different paths.
London, 1944: As bombs start raining from the sky, two women rush out of a restaurant, leaving their possessions behind. Their chance meeting amid the chaos and destruction will have long-lasting consequences. Both beset by desperate problems, they take advantage of the wartime chaos to escape their humdrum lives and start again. .
Sticking together, the pair live under the radar, using a stolen ration book to feed themselves and relying on a street kid’s help to get by. Cecil eventually finds work, while glamorous, feckless Claude looks after the flat—or doesn’t. Gradually their friendship sours and resentment creeps in. Just as Cecil is wondering whether she should ever have trusted Claude in the first place, she makes a shocking discovery—one that will expose a web of secrets, lead to an act of violence, and set the two on separate and very different paths.
276 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2024
30 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Walters
32 books31 followersJennie has always been interested in stories. She was constantly making them up as a child, studied English at university and worked in publishing before leaving to write books of her own. Author of the Swallowcliffe Hall series for young adults, she also writes historical fiction for adults under the name of Daisy Wood. Cecil and Claude, the heroines of 'What We Did in the War' first crept into her head during a Creative Writing MA at City University in London, and she has been rewriting their story ever since - approximately a hundred years. Now finally here it is: a true labour of love!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 8, 2024
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 likeable).
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 likeable).
June 4, 2024
Not sure what this is about.
February 24, 2024
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.
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.
March 4, 2024
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.
Thanks to the publisher for this ARC.
May 16, 2024
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 liked 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.
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 liked 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.
March 13, 2024
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
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
March 6, 2024
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 📚
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 📚
November 12, 2024
This is a different kind of World War II historical novel, and I've been thinking about it for days. It's set in London in 1944, when the city was being terrorized by diabolical German doodlebugs, only to be followed by the even more monstrous V2 rockets. I could feel the exhaustion of the Brits after five years of war and deprivation.
The story unfolds piece by piece as the reader learns about the lives of these two women who walk away from their previous lives after surviving a bombing. Given women's social and cultural restrictions in this era, I wonder how many women actually did this...I'll bet that many did. This is a historical novel and women's fiction with a twisty plot that keeps the reader guessing until the final page. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.
The story unfolds piece by piece as the reader learns about the lives of these two women who walk away from their previous lives after surviving a bombing. Given women's social and cultural restrictions in this era, I wonder how many women actually did this...I'll bet that many did. This is a historical novel and women's fiction with a twisty plot that keeps the reader guessing until the final page. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.
March 8, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read, I did find it a bit hard to get into, but once I did I was hooked.
The book was set in London in 1944 the girls Cecil and Claude meet after a bomb goes off in a London restaurant and they escape death. Cecil who is a land army girl who has lived in the country is most intrigued and frightened of the doodlebug bombs as she watches the sky. Claude is the complete opposite a very strange unlikely pair.
The book captures fantastically the London during the war and the story comes alive through the pages of the book.
The book was set in London in 1944 the girls Cecil and Claude meet after a bomb goes off in a London restaurant and they escape death. Cecil who is a land army girl who has lived in the country is most intrigued and frightened of the doodlebug bombs as she watches the sky. Claude is the complete opposite a very strange unlikely pair.
The book captures fantastically the London during the war and the story comes alive through the pages of the book.
March 11, 2024
Two young women are thrown together in London in 1944, surviving a doodlebug attack. They have introduced themselves as Claude and Cecil and both use the opportunity to escape their pasts.
Cecil had been to London for the day to visit her aunt’s solicitor discovering she has inherited her flat. Claude a diver with the ATS was driving an army officer.
Cecil invites Claude to stay with her until they decide what to do. They live a strange life in the flat for a few months until the past catches up with them.
Well written and very believable tale of reinventing to escape the past.
Cecil had been to London for the day to visit her aunt’s solicitor discovering she has inherited her flat. Claude a diver with the ATS was driving an army officer.
Cecil invites Claude to stay with her until they decide what to do. They live a strange life in the flat for a few months until the past catches up with them.
Well written and very believable tale of reinventing to escape the past.
March 15, 2024
This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. I look forward to seeing what is next for them. I found this book to be well written where the author used details to make the story realistic. I enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the story which makes it easy to read. There is great growth throughout the story with both the plot and the charcters. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story. An engaging story that kept me turning pages to the end. I really enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it.
December 26, 2025
This was an absolute no for me but I gave it a 2nd star for the effort. Nothing about this was realistic to WWII London. What had the promise of being an interesting story was a far-fetched psychological drama. The two main characters had more than just character flaws and there was no way to like them or even understand them. Just when I thought there might be a semblance of… something? a nonsensical bombshell appears and it just got crazier and worse from there. I give myself 4-stars for sticking with it until the end.
March 8, 2024
This book was a delight to read. There were unexpected twists and a lot of anxiety. The main character could have used a therapist…for good reason. Times were undeniably tough during WW2 and she had a lot of reason to be consumed by worry. I enjoyed the writing style and level detail. While there weren't many characters, for some reason, I did struggle keeping some of them straight….mainly two of the male characters. Overall, lovely read! And thank you for the opportunity to read.
March 13, 2024
This is my first book by this author but for sure won't be the last. The book tells the story of two women who by chance found each other sheltering after bombs start to fall down on London in 1944, what happens next is a story of bonding together by chance, circumstances and friendship, until that ends, leaving behind their past lives.
The book has quite a lot of twists, unexpected, the biggest at the end, that keeps you glued to the story.
The book has quite a lot of twists, unexpected, the biggest at the end, that keeps you glued to the story.
February 16, 2024
Two women are thrown together when the restaurant they are in gets bombed during WW2. Very unlikely to have been friends in any other circumstance they find themselves left with nothing when they flee the bomb site. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going it threw another twist. Well written characters and plots kept me turning pages right to the last one.
March 14, 2024
I enjoyed reading this story, like always when I have a chance to read something in this historical period. It is a window through which I can see what is happening with people, places, and the world. I liked the writing style of the author and the characters are well written so the story kept my attention while reading. I'm looking forward to reading something else by the author.
May 27, 2024
A slow burner that hooks you in
Cecil and Claude are two young women with secrets. These secrets are revealed slowly but expertly. It's also full of wartime intrigue, and no one is quite who they appear to be.
I devoured this book in one sitting. I loved the characters, in particular Floss. It also has some wonderful twists
Cecil and Claude are two young women with secrets. These secrets are revealed slowly but expertly. It's also full of wartime intrigue, and no one is quite who they appear to be.
I devoured this book in one sitting. I loved the characters, in particular Floss. It also has some wonderful twists
May 12, 2024
Brilliant book. Really enjoyable read and so well written
July 21, 2025
book review
When I started reading this, I had a hard time getting into it but it ended up becoming very interesting.
When I started reading this, I had a hard time getting into it but it ended up becoming very interesting.
September 14, 2025
I found this book hard to get into, but did we enjoy eventually
February 22, 2024
Wow! If you like a story set in war time london then this is definitely the book for you. The way the author keeps it such a mystery throughout the book is brilliant and I was still questioning at the end of the book. The characters you want to love are in someways smokescreens and it never stops giving.
March 7, 2024
Two women from different walks of life, who both were not happy with their lives, randomly came together when a bomb hits the restaurant they were both in. They remain together while both creating new lives for themselves in the process, however the web of lies that each creates just makes a mess of everything.
It was a quick and interesting read as opposed to the typical WWII stories, I thought anyway. But I could not, no matter how much I wanted to, like either of the characters. They were both miserable humans and I found myself completely not caring how either turned out. I felt more for the other people in their lives.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.
It was a quick and interesting read as opposed to the typical WWII stories, I thought anyway. But I could not, no matter how much I wanted to, like either of the characters. They were both miserable humans and I found myself completely not caring how either turned out. I felt more for the other people in their lives.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.
April 15, 2024
I am always keen to read war time stories as I don’t think you can ever know too much about what life was like during this period, and this book was no exception. So I was reading and enjoying this book, and I was quite impressed with its descriptions of what life was like for young ladies, particularly the ‘rules’ placed on single ladies about how they should behave, and one of the early scenes of a bomb strike was very descriptive and didn’t shy away from the reality, but then the book changed atmosphere and became a lot darker, and just like that this went from a good book to a brilliant book. Honestly, I didn’t see the plot twist coming, but the last third of the book was exceptional. I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to give any spoilers but this book would be great for a book club as the characters Claude and Cecil are perfect for further exploration and discussion.
June 4, 2024
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.
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.
March 1, 2024
This a gripping and fascinating story, which really brings to life the conditions and restrictions of the war years. Two young women are almost literally thrown together when they survive a doodlebug attack in London. They seize upon the chance to leave behind their past, Cecil more eagerly than Claude. The book describes their developing relationship almost totally from the point of view of Cecil. She is hardworking and resourceful, whereas Claude appears to be spoiled and lazy. But are things really as they seem, or is their a darker side to the narrator? Why does Claude seem so unwilling to rekindle their friendship after the war? The characters are skilfully, if one sidedly, drawn. What are the secrets from which Cecil is determined to hide? This novel kept me guessing and fully invested in the plot. Definitely recommended.
March 1, 2024
Cecil and Claude are “thrown together” seemingly by fate after the restaurant they’re eating in (separately) is bombed. Each has her own secrets and, as they come to light, these destroy an already tenuous friendship. They rely on the help of a “street kid” named Floss who helps them get by as doodlebugs fall all around London. Keeps you guessing right until the end and was very well written!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews