Does anyone else fall into Kristin Hannah’s trap and say her latest work is her best work? It can’t just be me. This moving novel has me saying it again and I will happily add it to the list of my favorites written by her. And Julia Whelan's emotional narrations have always been something that has drawn me to her work and I have nothing but the highest praise for her exceptional performance in the audiobook version of The Women.

Kristin’s historical fiction novel follows the life of Frankie McGrath, a twenty-year-old nursing student, and offers a unique viewpoint on the role of women serving in the Vietnam War. As the destruction of war is all around Frankie and the other nurses she served alongside, we see their challenges, sacrifices, and resilience. These women worked tirelessly to care for wounded soldiers amidst the chaos and horrors of war. The close, lifelong friendships Frankie builds while serving with fellow service members are integral upon her difficult re-entry into civilian life.

Kristin skillfully portrays the strength and courage of these women. Through Frankie’s experience, we read about the emotional toll those who served faced upon re-entering a country that was divided on their feelings toward the Vietnam War and, as Kristin states in her intro, didn’t care to hear about the services or experiences of service members.

Kristin sheds a light on and brings attention to the often overlooked contributions of women in wartime settings, providing a moving and powerful narrative that will resonate with readers and drives the point that women ARE heroes, too.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, St. Martin Press, for providing an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own.

Epic and beautiful and frustrating and sad. It was amazing- it was a tad long. But amazing.

Such a unique view on a way that’s written about a lot. I really enjoyed it and recommend it now

“The outside world could be breaking apart, but inside these walls, all was calm, quiet, cocktails. Maybe that was why people built walls; to look away, to ignore anything they didn’t want to see.”

It’s 1965 and the idealistic Frankie McGrath has just finished nursing school. Growing up, she’s longed to both make her mark on the world, and make her parents proud. Unfortunately, the two goals are often in conflict- her parents wanting her to settle down and get married, leaving the bravery to the men in the family, those who grace her father’s wall of honor.

Then the unthinkable happens and Frankie’s brother becomes a casualty of combat. Already resigned to follow her brother into Vietnam, the loss only further solidifies her decision. Her parents mortified and miffed, they beg Frankie to reconsider. But Frankie, nothing if not headstrong, decides to follow through with her commitment.

Upon arrival and bearing immediate witness to the cruelties of war, Frankie begins to question her decision. However, while in the trenches, there’s no time for regret, the new graduate receiving a crash course in care. As Frankie grows accustomed to her new normal, she struggles to reconcile the world she thought she knew with the world as she now knows it. Experiencing both love and loss, Frankie returns home a broken woman. But how can she begin to explain she’ll never forget what many won’t even acknowledge happened in the first place?

The Women is a beautifully written and moving depiction of the atrocities of the Vietnam war and its impactful aftermath. It’s an examination in the loss of innocence, trust, and one’s inability to move on. But what makes this historical account so unique is how it sheds light on all of this through a woman’s perspective which even in present day, is still rarely spoken of.

A hard read that’s not for the faint of heart, The Women is also an important book. It’s influenced by the real life unsung heroes whose journey has been brought to life through Kristin Hannah’s powerful storytelling, and a novel that’s not to be missed.

“Women can be heroes.”

You’re going to see a lot of brilliant reviews for this book and I’m really not sure what I can add to the mix. Kristin Hannah is a masterful storyteller so it’s no surprise this book is beautiful. It’s also very heavy from beginning to end and took me over a month to read.

Admittedly (embarrassingly?), I didn’t know much about the Vietnam War going into this. I learned so much reading this book but one of the best parts was the conversations it sparked with my relatives.

Finally, THE WOMEN made me really proud of my profession and the nurses who came before me.

🎧 Julia Whalen narrates this and in my mind, there’s really no better narrator. That being said, I actually read almost all of this book on my kindle. Audiobooks always hit me harder emotionally (I mean, listening to Julia read an Emily Henry book makes me emo) and there were big chunks of this that were really hard for me to listen to. Basically anytime I could think “those soldiers, they’re just kids” I was pausing the audio.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted audiobook and ebook. All opinions (and every emotion I felt while reading) are my own.

Wow! Just wow! This book is a fictional account of one woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam during the war, but it is really about all the women who served and were dismissed since they did not actually see “combat.” Of course, that is ridiculous since they saw the effects of combat firsthand, but these women were routinely dismissed as not really veterans of that war, and that is so sad. A lot more has come to light over the years about women serving in various roles during the war, but not much has been written about Vietnam, so it was good to read just what these women went through and continued to go through even after they returned home.
I do have to offer a content warning for sensitive readers in terms of the graphic detail about the wounds the nurses and doctors had to deal with in the hospitals. Also, the very end was a bit too pat, but overall, I liked this book a lot, and I hope more people start talking about and asking questions about the experiences of women in combat in the past and now.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
4.75/5.00

I feel just amazed, seeing how absolutely fantastic Kristen Hannah’s The Women is. This book takes a hard and unflinching look at the Vietnam war from a very unusual perspective. Army nurse Frankie McGrath, who sees the war, the heroism and the horrors as well as the homecoming and the trauma brought along. This was written fabulously and I still had to take a couple of days before reviewing this book to let it fully sink in and I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a while! I am glad I get to discuss it with my bookclub - it is definitely worthy of discussion.

I loved this book. Simple as that and can’t say it enough. It was heartbreaking, the author does not shy away from the gory and darker details of this war. She sheds light on the shame that veterans faced coming home from the war, given how controversial it became. How especially the women even faced being told there were no women in Vietnam - their sacrifices were not valued. This story was so moving and it taught me a lot.

The book itself I thought was paced so very well and Kristin Hannah’s propulsive writing kept me up at night to read on. The characters were endearing and I was rooting for their survival and perseverance - for them to fulfill their dreams. Things just had to turn around for them. There are a lot of tough subjects touched upon in this story if you are sensitive or fear you may be I’d recommend reading trigger warnings and allowing yourself breaks as needed to digest the contents. But, I also think this is an important book to read and I was left thinking, contemplating

Fans of Kristen Hannah will not be disappointed, this is a must read for 2024!

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah takes readers on an emotional roller coaster through the harrowing experiences of Frankie, a young nurse who volunteers in Vietnam. With its powerful storytelling and vivid descriptions, this novel delves deep into the horrors of war, the political complexities, and the lasting impact on the lives of those who returned. Hannah's writing style is nothing short of exceptional. Her ability to paint a vivid picture with words allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the story. The descriptive prose brings the settings to life, making it easy to visualize the war-torn landscapes and feel the characters' emotions. One of the standout aspects of "The Women" is its unflinching portrayal of the realities of war. Hannah does not shy away from depicting the horrors and atrocities that Frankie witnesses as a nurse in Vietnam. The author's attention to detail and her ability to capture the raw emotions of the characters make these scenes both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.
The aftermath of war and its impact on the lives of those who returned is a central theme in the novel. Hannah delves into the psychological and emotional struggles faced by Frankie and her fellow veterans as they try to reintegrate into society.
"The Women" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that leaves a lasting impression. Kristin Hannah's masterful storytelling and descriptive writing make it a compelling read. Through Frankie's perspective, readers are taken on a journey that explores the horrors of war, the political complexities, and the profound impact on the lives of those involved.

I mean…. It’s KH. OF COURSE I’m going to read this on my kindle. And also on audio. And also buy the physical book for my shelves. Thank you for being an author Miss Hannah. We don’t deserve you.

One of the best Kristin Hannah books I’ve read! Everyone needs to read this. Such a good and heartfelt book

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for an e-ARC for my honest review.

This was another powerful story by Kristin Hannah of women in the Vietnam War that had to be told. You feel everything that Frankie McGrath goes through as one of the nurses that served. She signs up as a new nurse to follow her brother there. Immediately upon arriving at her base camp, helicopters bring in severely injured. During her 2 years there, she goes from being totally unprepared for this chaos to doing surgical procedures when they were overwhelmed with casualties. The strong bond she makes with her roommates helps her survive when she returns home to an anti-war movement. When she tried to get help with the after-effects of war, she was told ‘women weren’t in Vietnam’.

This was very well written historical fiction. She did a lot of research, as noted at the end of the book.. It was an inspiring and emotional read. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning about the role women took in the Vietnam War.

I struggled with this one. This is an incredibly important story that needs to be told and shared but I found it way too long and felt I was constantly jerked back into a love story that ended traumatically.

There were some good twists that drew me back in, I switched to audio and I absolutely love Julia Whelan. Her voice is captivating and she does the different characters so well.

I’m not confident I would have finished this one if I didn’t have the audio version.

I’d recommend picking this one up, but I’d listen. It’s a long one with a few extra love affairs the book could have done without.

4.5 stars (@𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥) 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡 by Kristin Hannah was the very first 2024 book I read. It was back in October when I was in a bit of a reading rut and was desperately in need of a book I KNEW would work. I was right to turn to this important story that very much needed to be told. The Vietnam War era is a shameful one in our nation’s history for many reasons, not the least of which is the treatment of its veterans when they came home from war.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 is a story of one such veteran, Army nurse Frankie McGrath. She goes to Vietnam idealistic, naive and probably not for the best of reasons. War opens her eyes to the horrors people can inflict on one another, while her skill and heart open to the men she fights to save. She found her calling there. She loved it and she hated it.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 “𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦” 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦.”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The second part of the book deals with home and what Frankie and so many other Veterans faced when they returned. Of course, this story is fiction, but it’s fiction clearly well researched, firmly anchored in history. As a kid and later a teen, I remember much of what filled the news screen every night. Years later, I witnessed our country’s collective shame, not only for things that happened during that war, but for the cruel disrespect too often faced by the men and women who served. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I happened to be on a trip to Washington D.C. with my sister-in-law as I was finishing this book. We visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial while there. What poignant end caps for my reading experience with this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

*Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

I don't even think I have the words to adequately review this book. The Women is Kristin Hannah at her best. It's why I love historical fiction. I read it in less than 24 hours, and I honestly didn't want it to end.

I was excited to see that this book was set during the Vietnam War. So much of the HF I read is WW1/2, and I don't think I've read much, if anything, set during this time. Obviously I know about the war on a historical level, but to read an account (albeit, fictional, but still) brought it into a completely new light for me. The descriptions of Frankie's life in-country, both the social and military/medical aspects, fascinated me. The author dove deep into the main characters struggles not only during the war, but after as well, when PTSD was just becoming a recognized "thing". I didn't realize that so many people believed "there were no women in 'Nam" and I was furious for Frankie.

Speaking of furious, this book pulled out so many emotions as I was reading - more than any book has in a really long time.

Fan's of this author are going to love this book. Now, excuse me while I google more about the nurses in the war, and other books set during this period.

Easily the best book I've read yet this year. Kristin Hannah does not disappoint. She meticulously researched Vietnam and 1960/70s California to write this book, and it shows. It's truly a book that will educate you and break your heart.

My only complaint is that no one in 1968 was naming their children Kaylee and Braden. That took away from an otherwise well researched and executed book.

Wow! This book was sensational. I loved Frankie and the girls. Frankie was such a well developed and written character. I felt so much while I read this book. This book was a story that needed to be told and Kristin Hannah did a beautiful job. I think this is her best book yet!

I have loved so many books by Kristin Hannah, I was super excited to read this one!

I actually liked the second part of the book more, as Frankie developed more as a person and so much was covered, from Agent Orange, the Gold Star Mothers, Mother’s Little Helpers, and the discovery of PTSD.

Notable lines:

“I don’t drink, but I don’t judge, either. Over here it’s live and let live. Whatever gets you through the night.”

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

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

Another exception historical fiction that was both heartbreaking and hopeful from the best selling author Kristin Hannah. It follows the trials of a young nurse as she goes to war in Vietnam and the aftermath of her coming home. She is tested in relationships, lost in family and held together in friendships. This story follows the women in a time when men dominated the world and shows just how strong they could be.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

Kristin Hannah’s writing is a true gift to readers. It is always perfection and absolutely enthralling in every single way. Not a single word ever out of place.

The Women is shocking, heartbreaking and beautiful all in one. Some parts are absolutely brutal, you can picture the horrible circumstances the war brought.

I loved all of the medical parts and the learning more about the role of the nurses in Vietnam. Heroes.

In usual Kristin Hannah manner - be ready for the tears. I thought I was getting by with just a few teary eye moments and then she got me good - ugly cry, sobbing mess as usual.

I can’t recommend this one enough and it will be in my top reads of the year for sure.

The Women is a remarkable exploration of the complexities of female relationships, resilience, and the enduring strength that can be found in the bonds between women. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel is a remarkable portrayal of the sacrifices and challenges faced by women.

Frankie is searching for something and she hopes that by joining the war she can find it. Being young and dealing with so much it seems Frankie isn’t even sure she knows what shes looking for but she is ready to dive in and see what life has to offer. Hannah masterfully weaves Frankie’s past, present and future together, offering a full and thoughtful view of the war’s lasting impact, especially on women.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in Hannah’s ability to bring life to historical fiction, really drawing you in and capturing your interest with such strong characters. By the first few chapters I really felt like I knew these women and I was so invested in their stories. The focus of friendship, love, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of women is both touching and powerful. There are a few really interesting themes through out the the novel but my favourite was the friendships. As always, Hannah captures the spirit of female relationships, celebrating the strength that arises when women support and uplift each other.

The Women is not just a historical novel; it is a celebration of the resilience of the female spirit. Kristin Hannah has created another amazing and emotionally charged story that will stay with you long after the final page and confirm something that we thought all along, women can be heroes.

This book is destined for greatness…

#kristinhannah #thewomenbook #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #librarianreview #historicalfiction

A huge congratulations to @kristinhannahauthor on her new novel coming out soon! I am so thrilled I was picked to read this and my very first one at that. It’s impossible to forget and I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading.

A huge thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to review The Women.

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Goodreads: Nikki- Hedwig’s and Hopes