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.

I really enjoyed Kristen Hannah's The Women. I found the characters well developed and each with their own story within the book. I love historical fiction books because you get a great story but also learn something about the time period/country/person/subject the book is based on. I was born in 1967 so I grew up after the Vietnam War and really knew nothing about the women who served in it. I enjoyed the story and learned quite a bit. I found this book reminiscent of her earlier book Home Front in some ways (both having the main character being women who served in a war and coming home to deal with the very emotional and difficult aftermath). I would definitely recommend this book. I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I give very few books 5 stars. I have to have been really impressed and be left thinking about the book or characters for a long time after reading it.

“𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝; 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞.”

The Women does an excellent job at highlighting an often overlooked piece of history: women's role in the Vietnam War.

Kristin Hannah's story of Frankie, a young nurse joining the Vietnam War, has been decades in the making, with Hannah first conceiving it in 1997. I will admit that I know very little about the Vietnam War, so getting to read any book that broaches it helps broaden my knowledge. Now having learned about it from a white-woman American perspective, I want to explore more from other perspectives. Frankie is a sympathetic character who goes through A LOT; I loved the relationships between she and her two bunkmate-nurses Ethel and Barb, and surgeon-doctor Jamie. Ethel and Barb offer much needed levity and support to Frankie, while Jamie not only offers teaching and encouragement, but also love. Hannah captures the feeling of how truly unprepared many were for this war, especially in relation to their training; it was interesting to see the skills so many learned in the moment, but how those same skills were not valued once returning home. I assumed most of the book would take place during the war, but I shouldn't have been surprised, knowing that Hannah loves to create fully developed storylines for her characters, that the story focuses as much on the difficult return home post-service, as it does the war itself. There were places that I found the narrative to be a bit repetitive, and I wondered if it needed to be as long as it was to still tell an effective story. I appreciate the work that Kristin Hannah put into creating the story, and I hope that it encourages others to seek out more about this time in history.

The Women captures the tension and messiness of the Vietnam War, while rightly acknowledging the important roles women had. If you like learning about the Vietnam War, this historical fiction is a good starting point. Thank you to St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC!

I knew this was going to be an emotional read and I waited way too long to read it. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and also a go-to when I see her books. She is the only author that made me realize I could enjoy historical fiction too. The Women dives deep into the center of Vietnam, the start of treating PTSD, and further emergence of women’s rights. Social class, racism, and addiction are also other aspects intertwined is this emotional ride. One of my best reads of 2024.

Kristin Hannah’s The Women is a breathtaking and powerful novel that I simply could not put down. The story follows Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young nursing student in 1965 who dares to imagine a different future for herself after hearing the words, “Women can be heroes.” Raised in the sheltered, idyllic world of Southern California, Frankie is unaware of the horrors that lie ahead when she joins the Army Nurse Corps and heads to Vietnam.

The book takes us through the harrowing experiences of Frankie as she navigates the chaos and destruction of war, forming deep bonds with other nurses and soldiers. These friendships, as well as the hope and heartbreak that comes with them, made the story so deeply personal and moving.

But as much as this book is about war, it's also about coming home—coming back to a country that is divided and unsure how to honor its veterans. It is a poignant reminder of how women who served in Vietnam were often overlooked, despite their immense sacrifice. The characters, their bravery, and their journeys of self-discovery will stay with me long after finishing the book.

While I typically don’t gravitate toward historical fiction, Kristin Hannah is an auto-buy author for me. She has an incredible talent for weaving unforgettable characters and heartfelt stories that feel so real. The Women is no exception. It is a powerful testament to the strength of women, friendship, and the courage to do what’s right, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

This was my first Kristin Hannah book. It was an epic tale of a female nurse in Vietnam. I appreciated learning about how women served and supported the war efforts. The Vietnam War was controversial and I like that the author showed that side.

Frankie wasn't my favorite character. She was written as a person who got everything - all the men fell in love with her immediately, she had the best friends who always came through for her, and she was able to fall back into life (financially) after the war. In reality, that wasn't the case for many of the vets.

I was interested in learning more about Ethel and Barb. Barb in particular wasn't written honestly. Black people were not so widely accepted even during the war.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book. It kept my interest and gave me a better perspective of what my dad went through during his time in Vietnam. 3.5 rounded up.

This was great. I loved the story and the characters. I appreciated the journey of mental health and PTSD. Definitely a winner!!

Amazing. I felt like I was right there with her.
It was another’ subject I knew nothing about but sent me researching.

i was so excited to share this book with my grandmother. we took our time reading it together and it felt like a generational read. we really felt as though it bridged divides and we were so excited to be able to discuss it every week.

This book is beautifully written. The characters are very believable. The history seems very accurate as well. The book tended to drag some in the middle. I felt that it could have been shorter and a little less predictable but I am glad that I read it.

I finally read it! It was a tough read, yet I was totally captivated. I’ve definitely grown in my empathy for Vietnam vets and the women who served, and all who serve our country today. In addition to reading the book, I did also listen to the audio because of the narrator, Julia Whelan. 9/10

Beautiful, well written and absolutely amazing, as any KH book ever is. But, I need to personally stray away from historical fiction for awhile after reading one because they always make me so horribly sad!!!

This was easily one of my favorite books of 2024! The way Kristin Hannah can write is spectacular. You couldn’t help but love the main character and want to read this book as quickly as possible. All the stars for this one!

I loved this so much! Great mix of history, hope, feminism, romance, and heartbreak. This is a new favorite for me.

This book 100 percent lives up to all its praise and hype. You can tell how much care Kristin Hannah put into this story, and the stories of all the women who served in Vietnam. It does an incredble job at tackling topics like grief, PTSD, and addiction. Sadly, before reading this, I wasn't fully aware of these incredible women who served their country and were treated as invisible upon returning home, so this opened my eyes.

Kristin Hannah's writing has a way of fully immersing you into a world, and I could clearly imagine everything like a movie in my head. I like how she incorporated the mention of music and specific songs to reall put you into the time period.