omen can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is one of the best books I read this year. The protagonist, Frances “Frankie” McGrath volunteers as a nurse during the Vietnam War. What makes this a stellar novel is the historic setting and realistic treatment of what it was like for women in Vietnam. Of course, Kristin Hannah’s writing is beautiful as well. Highly recommend!

One of my favorite things about Kristin Hannah is, she does her research! And The Women was another perfect example. This story was extremely well written, I loved the point of view coming from not only the Vietnam War, but focusing on the women's experience. As a reader, Hannah, gives you factual information, moments of deep thought and reflection. This was a perfect read for our store book club. And it really added to our conversation that we had a male who read the story as well for a different opinion. I thought Frankie really grew as a character and well developed as written.

Kristin Hannah's historical novels are always some of my favorites, and I was excited to read this one.

The book centers around Frankie, her experiences as a nurse during the Vietnam War, and her life afterward. As expected, there were times in the novel that were heart-warming and times that were sad and emotional. I always know that I have to save Hannah's books for times when I'm willing to be emotional annihilated, and this book is no exception.

If you're a fan of Hannah's or of historical fiction, this is one you don't want to miss!

Holy moly folks, I officially have a new favorite Kristin Hannah novel! The Women completely destroyed me and this is going to be a top favorite of all time as well as easily making my top 25 in 2025 list. I wish I hadn’t waited a year to read it, though part of me kept putting it off because I had a feeling I was going to love it, and it’s not like I can ever read it again fresh. It’s rare that I read historical fiction that isn’t focused on WWII, and it was refreshing to get a Vietnam War storyline for once. I was riveted to the book and after I started the audiobook, I didn’t put it down until I was done. Frankie’s story was one of courage and heartache and I found myself thinking hasn’t this poor girl been through enough? It hurts to know her story, despite being fictional, is a very real experience women had of the war.

I will forever be singing praises for the audiobook as well and I loved that Julia Whelan (the queen 👑 of audio narration) was the voice of our girl Frankie. It was also wonderful to have the author herself read the dedication as well as her author’s note and acknowledgements. Whelan perfectly expressed every emotion that was in this story and the author’s note made even more of an impact on me after finishing the book. The pacing was very steady though there was a lot more graphic description and action during the time Frankie was in Vietnam. I learned so much about the political climate during that time as well as the war itself, and I loved the mix of that with an epic story of love, family, friendship, and betrayal. Triggers should be checked prior to reading, but this would make an excellent book club pick, and I would love to see it onscreen someday!

Read this if you are looking for beautifully vivid writing, female strength in desperate times, and a dash of romance.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely breathtaking fabulous book. This is the first book in a long time where I truly lost myself. The outside world disappeared. Kristin Hannah has a way with words that paints a picture of where the story is taking place. To the point you feel like you’re the main character.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors, and she knocks it out of the park again with The Women! I could not put this book down, it was a complete page-turner... and I loved the ending!!

4.5 stars!
This is my first book by Kristin Hannah and for sure it will not be my last. I absolutely enjoyed this book. Its heartbreaking and the book is so written well to the point that I start feeling the emotions that draw the reader to continue

Kristin Hannah is truly great at weaving emotion into her stories!

Having read Hannah before, I did find this story to be a bit predictable on most of the main plot points. However, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t feel the tug on my heartstrings as she intended.

A story about the Vietnam War, and from a woman veteran’s perspective, The Women delves into the reaction the war received from civilians, and the even stronger reaction women veterans received from civilians. This story is full of anger, sadness, pride, and the struggle to cope with the after-effects of war.

Wonderfully done, as always. 4 stars

I enjoyed Hannah's books as each provides a strong female character (or characters) and a thoughtful storyline that always packs a punch at some point for that "moment" when something changes. This book followed that style, but on a topic I didn't know much about -- the female nurses in Vietnam. We meet a very likable character Frances “Frankie” McGrath and follow her story over 20 years. Have your kleenex ready as it does pull at your heart strings and emotions -- as all Hannah books do. Very readable and for any fans of Hannah's or who enjoy historical fiction, it's well worth it for the plot, but also to learn more about the unsung heroines of any war -- the nurses.

The Women by Kristin Hannah brings us to the Vietnam War, particularly to the women who served. As with other Kristin Hannah books, this one covers a lot of ground, incorporating a multitude of challenges and issued faced by these women - as women, as those who served in war, as survivors, and as veterans. Frankie is a memorable character telling a memorable story.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/03/the-women.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I really learned so much about the Vietnam war from this book and found it completely devastating in so many ways. I think the book was well researched and offered something unique. This was definitely a great read, however I struggled with the transition between the time leaving Vietnam and acclimating back in the states. I really felt that there was a lot there that was extraneous and it meandered a bit. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

It is no secret that I am a fan of Kristin Hannah’s work and I was really excited to get an advanced copy of The Women. This story depicts the Viet Nam War through the eyes of the women who signed up to serve as nurses. This is a story of war, love, feminism and how the world treated the veterans when they returned home with no supports. Ms. Hannah, you did it again! I can see why they are going to make this one into a movie - it will be great!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Kristin Hannah is an incredible story writer. The women was by far one of my favorite stories. This had a journey of friendship, romance, courage, strength, and finding yourself. Kristin's writing always makes you feel like you're inside the story and that's how I felt reading this. It shows the struggle women endured being in the military but also war. The PTSD flashbacks were such a vital part of Frankie finding herself after she returned from the war. It really takes friends to come together and help each other through tough times. The friendships shown in this book were everything I could want from Kristin's writing.

The Women is Kristin Hannah’s newest release about one woman’s experience as a member of the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War and after returning home. While that is the primary premise, the novel also covers Frankie’s life and friendships post-service.

At face value, I enjoyed The Women, and it wrecked me repeatedly. I was riveted, despite my initial skepticism, and the plot’s predictability. However, after finishing, the more I thought about the novel the more irritated I became.

I cried at least once before I was finished with the book’s first third. And there were a lot more tear to come. Thinking back, I started asking myself if some of the major plot points were necessary and realized that I felt emotionally manipulated by Kristin Hannah (and not in a positive way). While I would not quite categorize The Women as trauma porn, there are a lot of death and difficulties throughout the book, and I would argue that some of them are unnecessary and excessive.

For a book titled The Women, this novel really focuses on men. Sure, women were not in the jungle battling the Viet Cong, but I was not expecting a Vietnam War version of On the Western Front. The protagonist’s entire life revolves around men – her brother, her father, her surgeon, her love interests. Outside of her friends and family, she cares little about anything that is not centered on one or more men. The only part of the story that felt like it is centered on “the women” was how the Army Nurse Corps were treated after returning to the U.S., and there was very little text dedicated to this issue.

In fact, I did not learn much about the Vietnam War or its aftermath, despite it being The Women‘s central subject. Some major events are mentioned in passing, but Hannah did not give page space to explaining the war’s context. In addition, a large portion of the novel takes place after Frankie is discharged and catalogues the public’s growing discontent to the Vietnam War. Yet, the reasons for this opposition are never clearly specified or explored. I acknowledge that The Women is a piece of fiction and its intention is not to educate. However, the lack of this basic context made me repeatedly stop reading and ask questions.

In addition to these issues with the plot, I felt like the characters are gravely underdeveloped for a novel approaching on 500 pages. Frankie, the protagonist, is a blank canvas of a character. In some ways, this allows you to become Frankie and see yourself in her actions. But if this is not what you do, she is a boring character without real personal motivations. Moreover, the side characters in the The Women are similarly lacking in personalities, whether they are Frankie’s friends or lovers.

Overall, The Women is a long novel about a privileged white woman, her brief military service, and her tumultuous personal life. Although the title promises a book centered on women, it really focuses on one women’s orbit around men. If you love Kristin Hannah, I think you will read this book regardless of my opinion. But if you are unsure about reading The Women, I would recommend skipping it in favor of Dust Child.

Starts in the sixties so naive, expected to be a wife, then her brother dies n Vietnam and she becomes a nurse and enlists in the Army, goes to Vietnam and thrown into hell st an EVAC hospital. She becomes an excellent surgical nurse, but subject to trauma daily. Loves a doctor who dies (at the end he actually survived), A friend of her brother's then steps in and a great affair, and then home suffering from PTSD, but no one had a name for it and according to the VA there were no women combat veterans. These nurses were subjected to horror and mortar attacks and sheer exhaustion. Total meltdown, depression, therapy and then redemption. A story of survival, and recognition for their sacrifice. This is a good story, sort of lets down in the middle, but ends well.

I know I'm late in the game on this one; I read the book much later than most people I knew, because I'd forgotten I had the galley copy! But I am so, so glad I did. I was able to become immersed in the Vietnam War and to learn about it in ways I'd never had the opportunity to before. I loved Frankie's tragic story and her ability to come out the other side, WITHOUT needing it to be all about a man (ultimately, anyway!). While the post-war content kept me interested, though, it was the in-country content that kept me riveted. I wanted to hear more about what it was truly like for those in Nam -- I'd only ever really known about the protest side of the conflict. I appreciate Kristin Hannah's measured take on the zeitgeist of that era.

Another award worthy story by one of my favorite authors! I loved how this one drew me in early on. While I love all of her books, often the historical fiction ones take a little building to get me to connect (but when I do, those characters are invited to family Christmas dinner- they are such a part of me).

I would recommend making all of her books instant buys.

It has been a hot minute since I’ve picked up a historical fiction. I have seen this book all over the place for months. Last week, I had a patient at work who came in carrying The Women and she convinced me to finally pick it up. I actually started with the audio- I have a long commute to work. After about an hour and a half of listening during my morning and evening commute, I couldn’t wait for the next day to finish it. I stayed up waaaay too late that night completely engrossed in the story.

The storyline was incredibly gripping. Kristin Hannah writes beautifully and I was captivated by her descriptive storytelling.

As someone who works in healthcare, this one hit really close to home. While working on the front lines of a war is in no way comparable to working the front lines of a pandemic- the feelings in the aftermath are ones I can relate to. It was absolutely heart wrenching to read as Frankie struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and found no support. If you are a historical fiction fan, I would whole heartedly recommend this one.