Book Summary and Reviews of When No One Else Will by Amanda Skenandore

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Joan_H

Emotional
I couldn’t put this book down. I loved how Mimi grew to be a strong independent thinker. I respected her character 10 fold by the end of the story.

Susan_Roberts

Emotional
This well written and well researched book is about an illegal abortion clinic in Chicago in the 1940s. It’s based on a real clinic of the time and most of the characters are based on real people. The book is thought provoking and even though it’s still a controversial subject, the author does a fantastic job of presenting the truth on both sides of the issue.

Mimi was trained as a nurse and is now the stay-at-home mom of two young children living with her husband and his mother in Chicago. Her husband had been a star baseball player but an injury ended his career. He keeps hoping for a comeback and refuses to look for any other type of work. She decides that she’ll have to go to work and even though she has training, hospitals are reluctant to hire married women because, of course, everyone at this time felt that women should stay at home with their families. After no luck finding a job, a friend tells her about a clinic that is hiring. When she finds out that the clinic performs illegal abortions, she doesn’t want to take the job because it goes against her religious beliefs. However, she soon realizes that she needs the job to keep her family from losing their home. As she becomes more involved and gets to know the women who are having abortions, she becomes much more understanding of their plight and their needs to end their pregnancies. As the police begin to crack down on illegal clinics, Mimi has to decide if it’s worth risking her family to keep her job and how far she’s willing to go to help women who are desperate for the clinic’s services.

This is a character driven book and it was interesting to see the way that Mimi changed throughout the book – from a stay-at-home mom to a woman willing to risk her freedom to help other women. From a woman who felt that she had no choices to a woman who realized that she had the freedom to help other women and that she was stronger than believed herself to be.

The author did an excellent job at presenting both sides of the controversial subject of abortion without coming down strong on one side of the other. This book is emotional, powerful and an honest look at an ethical dilemma that still faces many women today. It leaves the reader with a lot to think about on both sides of the abortion issue.

Susan_W

Powerful and timely
Didn’t receive the book until a few days ago but could not put it down. Historical fiction based on an actual case vividly portrays the people involved - both the reasons for women who seek an abortion AND those who provide their help. In 2026, whatever your position, you should read this book.

Linda_Z

A Thought-Provoking and Powerful Book
WOW! Amanda Skenandore, the Author of “When No One Else Will” has written a powerful, emotional, memorable and captivating, Historical Fiction Novel. The Genres for this novel are: Historical Fiction Novel, Medical Fiction, Sociology Reference, Family Fiction, Sisterhood, and Fiction. In this well-written and highly researched novel, Amanda Skenandore vividly describes the landscape, plot, and the dramatic characters. The characters can be described as complex, complicated, flawed, determined, each with his/her set of problems. The timeline for this novel is set in between 1939 and the 1940’s. This is based on a true story.

The female protagonist, Mimi Lukas is forced to look for work, when her husband Stan, a famous Baseball player gets a broken leg. In Chicago, in 1939, while Europe is facing the War, it is financially difficult to survive.. Mimi’s refrigerator is repossessed, and she worries about her home and food for her children and her mother-in-law. Mimi has been a nurse and tries to go back to her occupation. She is given the opportunity to work in a women’s clinic, where illegal procedures are done. The office is warm and clean, but there are always threats. Mimi feels that women’s healthcare is important, and is deeply concerned about the women or children that come there. There are lawmakers, such as the police, who are paid to look away. The patients are treated compassionately, but it is emphasized that whatever happens in the office stays in the office.

As the political climate changes, there is a greater chance and danger of closing clinics down, and the participants facing criminal charges and time in jail. Mimi has formed a sisterhood with other nurses and doctors, as well as the women who had no where to go, when they were in trouble. I appreciate how the author discusses the war for fair health justice for women, and the courage that the health care workers had. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable book to others.

jillg

compassion, Risk, and Impossible Choices
WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL
By Amanda Skenandore
Narrated by Nicole Poole

Inspired by the true story of an illegal women’s clinic at the center of a landmark trial in 1940s Chicago, this compelling and timely historical novel follows Mimi, a nurse and mother who risks everything to care for women with nowhere else to turn.

Mimi is a compassionate yet conflicted character, torn between her religious beliefs, financial struggles, the demands of a husband wallowing in self-pity, and her growing empathy for the desperate women seeking help at the clinic. As she becomes more deeply involved, she risks not only her nursing career and freedom, but also her reputation, personal safety, and the stability of her family life.

Amanda Skenandore handles a controversial subject with honesty, compassion, and emotional depth, exploring the impossible choices many women faced during that era. The story raises difficult moral questions while remaining deeply human and character-driven.

Nicole Poole’s narration adds warmth and emotional nuance to Mimi’s journey. Combining both audio and ebook made the experience especially immersive and impactful.

Amanda Skenandore blends historical detail with emotionally driven storytelling. The prose feels heartfelt and engaging, with a strong focus on character development and the ethical dilemmas Mimi faces. The pacing allows the emotional weight of the story to build naturally, making it both compelling and reflective.

“…we must know our past to fully understand our present, navigate what lies ahead and build a better future.”

I’ve read one other book by Skenandore and enjoyed it, and this too is a well-written and compelling story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Highbridge Audio | RB Media for the eARC and ALC.