Kristen Hannah is such a beautiful writer and always manages to weave together so many threads and relationships across time and hardship. I loved THE WOMEN, and the story of Frankie McGrath will stay with me for a long time. I loved how Hannah depicted the coming and going, always having to say “goodbye” in Vietnam. Yet, the connections she formed there helped shape her. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” accurately describes her time at war. Like everything in life, nothing is black and white. There is always good to be found within the bad.

I also really loved the contrast between Frankie’s life in Vietnam and back home in the US. Hannah perfectly captured the divisiveness of the late 60s and early 70s. The shift that Frankie experienced was palpable, and I felt it right along with her. As a child of parents who were a young, newly married couple during the war, I really appreciated this unique glimpse into life at war and home. Hannah has such a magical way of making history come alive. It was made even more powerful when told through a woman’s lens. Like most men who go to war, Frankie dreamed of being a hero and fighting for her country. More stories like this need to be told.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is the story of Frankie McGrath who joins the Army Nurse Corps in 1965 and ships off to Vietnam. This book tells her story for the next 20 years, both during the tumultuous 1960's to her PTSD and struggles after the war.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and am especially interested in the 1960's. I have not read a lot of historical fiction set during the Vietnam War.

Frankie is a strong, brave, but flawed protagonist. I appreciated the female friendships in this book, and the focus on women during this time period. This novel was heartbreaking at times, but such an experience. I recommend it for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in a woman's experience during the Vietnam War.

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah is an astonishing capture of women in the Vietnam war. The historical fiction follows Frankie, a young nursing student anxious to help people. She impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and discovers the chaos and destruction of war waiting for her.

"Women can be heroes, too."

As a huge Kristin Hannah fan, I had very high hopes for this one. And I was not disappointed one bit. Frankie’s character takes a chunk of your heart and doesn’t let go. Her character growth and emotional journey feels as real as my own. Her pain, both in the war and after returning home, felt personal. Every hardship she went through made me want to scream out loud for her. Frankie is tough, and honest, and kind, and wonderful. While Frankie may only be a character, she represents every woman who served or suffered during the war and received no recognition for it.

This book is not an “easy” read. Many of the events described are incredibly sad and hard to digest. Like many historical fictions set during wartime, I found myself desperately wishing for the story to be a fantasy, instead of a depiction of real life. There were many nights spent reading this book with tears in my eyes. The details incorporated within the story highlight how much research the author put into creating this book. The book is incredibly eye opening. I learned so many details that I was never taught in school.

My eyes are open. My heart hurts. I am left incredibly amazed once again by Kristin Hannah’s work.

I graduated from high school in 1970. My husband's number was high enough that he probably wouldn't have been drafted but he joined the Navy because he is part of a military family and when your country calls you respond. There seems to be so many books written about Europe in WW2 but this was the war I saw on TV.

I thought Frankie was a great character. She was strong and smart and was fortunate to have made such good friends in Barb and Ethel, two of her fellow nurses. I have always heard how beautiful Vietnam is but this wasn't the vacation Vietnam. It was either hot and dusty or wet and muddy. The scene where she is in Pleiku and they had the dust off that lasted for hours, the exhaustion, the devastating injuries was heartbreaking, the Tet offensive, and I had tears in my eyes.

I felt that her experience when she came home was tough, maybe some had it harder but I especially felt the rejection of her dad and I felt her PTSD in my very soul

I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

This was the best Kristin Hannah book to date!

It read like watching an episode of MASH, which made it really fast paced, and talk about the political chaos during that time period, and adjusting as a woman to re-entry into civilian life after serving a horrific tour in Vietnam.

Kristin Hannah is knowing for following the historical timeline, and with being in the middle of the Vietnam War, this book resonates with so many who have close stories or ties to those who were loved and lost. We all have had someone who didn't quite make it home, or if they did, they didn't do well with acclimating back into civilian society.

This is an important book by Kristin Hannah. Hopefully it will bring to light the forgotten women who served as nurses in Vietnam and the harrowing experiences they had both there and at home when they returned.

I didn’t think Kristin Hannah could top THE NIGHTINGALE. Her novels since have come close, but there was just something extra in it that’s hard to explain, that one thing that pushes it over the top. Enter THE WOMEN. I have had to sit with this one for a few days and I am still worried I won’t do it justice. I will say, as soon as I finished it, I called my sister (who read THE NIGHTINGALE after me and had the same reaction) and told her that she had to read THE WOMEN and that I cried, a lot. So, as others have said, you will need a box (or two) of tissues. You will need time to read THE WOMEN because putting it down will be physically painful. You will ugly cry, so make sure you are in a place where you are comfortable bawling your eyes out. This is not a bad thing, it is a testament to the emotions Hannah evokes in the reader with this story, and how utterly heartbreaking Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s journey is.
Frankie starts as an idealistic, pampered young woman, who starts her journey thinking it would be an adventure and give her a chance at a different life than the one set before her. When she hits Vietnam, she realizes that she had no clue, but luckily finds two close friends and a lasting friendship, as well as others to help her survive and grow. After the horrors, she returns home to a world that treats the soldiers horribly and finds that despite going through the same things as the soldiers and being an Army nurse, “there were no women in Vietnam” so she doesn’t qualify for the help she so obviously needs. Everything she endures is heartbreaking, including her parents’ embarrassment and denial that she was even there.
Hannah’s notes said she wanted to write this book for a long time, but waited until she could do it justice. The research and work she put into this novel shows in the outcome. THE WOMEN is well-written, well-researched, and a truly exceptional work. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#THEWOMEN #KRISTINHANNAH #STMARTINSPRESS #WOMENINVIETNAM #HISTORICALFICTION

This did not measure up to some of Hannah’s earlier works, in my opinion. Her ideas are always excellent, however the execution falls short. I would like to read a solid Kristin Hannah historical fiction novel without all the tropes and coincidences. Thank you for the galley.

Hands down my favorite Kristin Hannah book (and I’ve read them all). The story is incredible on its own, but best of all it brings to readers this often forgotten or unknown piece of history that is so important to learn and keep. I was born just after the Vietnam War ended, but growing up, my neighbors across the street lost their son who was a helicopter pilot shot down. His wife had been pregnant and I would play with his daughter when she visited her grandparents. This book opened my eyes and shed light on a part of history - specifically the forgotten women who served - in such an impactful way. I loved the television show M.A.S.H. which was set during the Korean War but in a similar type army hospital, and in my head as I was reading, I was comparing characters, the setting, the pace.
Frankie McGrath is such a strong character - despite everything she goes through - it is impossible not to cheer her on and cry with her every step she takes. The book is stunning but it is also graphic at times and not for the faint of heart. That is the point of course. Highly, highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this tremendous ARC which just released last week.

NetGalley ARC

I could not put this book down, I read most of it in one day!

This book is about the nurses of the Vietnam War. I feel like there hasn't been a lot of historical fiction about the Vietnam War, and I was definitely drawn to this topic.

The sheltered Frankie McGrath's one rebellion is a big one, joining the US Army as a field nurse. Though the field hospital is shocking at first, she quickly acclimates and finds purpose in nursing and bonding with fellow nurses Barb and Ethel. When Frankie returns after two years, she does not receive a warm welcome from her family or society.

The first half of the book focuses on Vietnam and the second is the return home. During her years in Vietnam, Frankie becomes aware that the government has not telling the full truth about the war. Fatalities are miscalculated, destruction of villages are swept under the rug. Once the truth is exposed, many American's turned against not just against the war, but those who returned.

I learned a lot about this complex time period. I am familiar with the protests against the war, and was aware of the disrespect shown to Vets. I did not realize how bad it was for returning vets, who were reviled. For Frankie and the other nurses, there is no help for them. The pubic perception is that there were no women in Vietnam, and even if the nurses were there, they didn't see combat. Frankie is clearly traumatized and experiencing PTSD but she has no support other than Barb and Ethel, who become her lifelines.

I found Frankie's story inspiring. She works so hard build a life for herself. She has many ups and downs (more downs) but perseveres.

THE WOMEN
rating: 5/5
genre: historical fiction

Kristin Hannah's 2024 release explores the often overlooked or marginalized stories of Vietnam War veterans, more specifically the US nurses who served their country overseas. Admittedly going into THE WOMEN I didn't know too much about the Vietnam war (even though I have family who served, which is extra embarrassing) and a lot of early readers expressed the same, so I would say this was a welcome new topic to explore. I had faith that KH would do this story justice, but it's hard to put into words just how. At the end all I can say is WOW. It feels wrong to say you enjoyed and loved a story filled with so much pain but truly... i did. I said this in my stories directly after finishing, but Hannah is a masterful story teller so even though the book is heavyyyy from cover to cover I absolutely devoured it.

Spanning almost a decade THE WOMEN follows Frankie McGrath from her home on Coronado Island to Vietnam as an army nurse and back again. Frankie's story in Vietnam is filled with growth, adaption, friendship, love, terror, joy, and pain but nothing could prepare Frankie for the America she returns to after deployment.

One of the reasons I love reading is because we are immersed into stories unlike our own. They're often thought provoking and grant us the ability to continue learning. THE WOMEN is a perfect example of this. I can't wait to read and learn more about this time period in US history and be able to converse more with those who experienced it first hand.

I feel very grateful to have received an advanced copy of The Women but unfortunately it was a miss for me.

I think Hannah excels at research in historical fiction but I've found her last book and this one included SO much research that it became overkill. In The Four Winds it was every bad thing that happened during the Dust Bowl happened to the family in her story. In The Women every bad aspect of the Vietnam War, whether it was in Vietnam or in the US, happened to the protagonist. At some point it becomes unbelievable and too cliche.

There is already tons of praise for this one so hopefully my humble opinion is the minority.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advanced digital galley.

Fantastic book! I really didn't expect any less. Kristin Hannah is such a great writer. You always feel that you are in the middle of what's happening, which this time is Vietnam and the aftermath. I found myself feeling so anxious at times. The medical tent scenes are heart-pounding and just terrifying. The sadness of coming home from Vietnam, especially for the women who served (there were no women in Nam).

Frankie McGrath is at the going away party for her brother Finley and his friend Rye, they are off to serve in Vietnam. Her father has a heroes wall with pictures of his family that has served our country when Rye tells her that women can be heroes too. Frankie has just gotten her nursing degree so she decides that moment to enlist. It all seems so naive when she gets there and is faced with the reality of saving lives, saying goodbye to young men who don't make it and being the last person they see. She is thrown right into having to do surgery on her own. She grows up fast. Frankie makes lifelong best friends. She falls in love while there too. It seems Rye is her true love and then he is shot down and presumed killed.

As bad as Vietnam was, coming home was not a joy either. Women weren't in Nam, so they say. Protests against the war are in full force and she is called a baby killer, murderer, spat on. This sends her in a long, slow spiral of pain and mental illness. A relationship gone bad pushes her over the edge.

You will find yourself on edge throughout the whole book. If you couldn't imagine the ravages of war before, you will find yourself wrapped up and sickened by it all. I have a friend who was a nurse in Vietnam and she had told me a few stories but now, to think of her dealing with what Frankie did, breaks my heart. My heart did break for Frankie.

Everyone should read this book and everything that Kristin Hannah writes. Perfection.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy for review.

This is a story about Frankie McGrath. She is a nurse that needs direction in her life. When a tragedy occurs in her family, she decides to join the military. The Vietnam War is going strong. She gets accepted to join the Army. The story is about her two tours in Vietnam and her return to the States after completing her tours.
The story is very heart wrenching and emotional.
The author lets us know what it was like to serve during this era. All who served deserve so much more then they received and to this day, not receiving.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars.

Took me forever to get through this one between a busy month and a slow start to the book, BUT it’s a beautifully written, well-researched piece of historical fiction and clearly written by Hannah with a labor of love and care.

It’s a powerful read, and though the major plot points are very predictable, the overall story hits you right in the heart nonetheless. I always love how Hannah’s books take you through a passage of time, and this was no exception - and it worked very well for this story, especially in terms of how she wrote about the Vietnam War and the after-effects on those who served. I honestly learned a lot, too, which I wasn’t expecting, but greatly appreciated.

Overall, a book I’m very glad to have read. Though I do believe it could have been cut down by about 100 pages (there was a LOT of filler — which is the main reason why I’m rounding down, as it was quite a slow read), it was still an incredibly written (and important, honestly) piece of historical fiction. Kristin Hannah does it again!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Kristin Hannah’s historical novels will no doubt love The Women. Her newest story centers around the Vietnam War and the nurses who gave of themselves, and how it affected their lives.

We see the different attitudes of civilians toward men and women participating in the war. Hannah graphically describes the suffering endured by both soldiers and those treating them and the political attitude toward the war. If felt on par with learning about the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl in her book The Four Winds.

We see Frankie McGrath’s brother being sent off to war with fanfare and the support of his family. In 1966 Frankie also decided to offer her services, so she joined and worked as a surgical nurse in Vietnam. While there she strikes up a lasting friendship with nurses Ethel and Barb. These characters, along with a Navy officer, her brother’s friend, and Farnkie’s parents, essentially make up the cast of characters.

As a civilian, I experienced many of the happenings of the war. However, I still learned a lot regarding the lives and treatment of nurses who served.

My Concerns
The depiction of the war in the first half of the book, set the scene for more to come, but it felt long and drawn out.

The second half moved quickly, but I didn’t feel emotionally involved with the characters or plot. And though I saw the kindness Frankie’s two nurse friends exhibited, I didn’t get a feel for who they were. They felt a little more one-dimensional.


Final Thoughts
This felt like a believable depiction of a family’s story regarding a very unpopular, complex war. While it was interesting and memorable, it wasn’t one of my favorite books by this author.

Should you read it? Absolutely. Once again, I’m in the minority. Most reviewers loved it.

I've really enjoyed Kristin Hannah's previous books, and The Women was no different! It took a little while for me to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down.

I absolutely loved the character of Frankie, who volunteered to become an Army combat nurse in Vietnam after her brother went to war. The story detailed both her time in Vietnam and her return to a very changed, very angry country. She struggled in both places and hit rock bottom numerous times, but her friends were there for her every step of the way. This book was so well written and engrossing that I read the entire 450+ thing in a day, and I can't wait to pass it on for others to read. A few parts were definitely a bit far fetched, but I thought the story of the women who served and were entirely forgotten by their country is so important and I'd highly, highly recommend this book. Can't wait to see what the author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I absolutely adored Kristin Hannah's newest book, The Women. It follows Frankie, a young woman who volunteers as a nurse in the Vietnam War after experiencing a personal tragedy. I think everyone can relate to Frankie at different times of the book, from her feelings of inadequacy when starting out as a nurse, to frustration about not being taken seriously, to feeling left out, to heartbreak when she discovers someone she thought she knew was lying to her. Hannah is a master of making major historical events highly personal, and The Women is no exception. Even though my grandfather served in Vietnam, I didn't know much about the war, because as Hannah astutely points out throughout the book, no one wanted to hear about the war when veterans returned home. I felt a new level of grief reading this book, in the best possible way.

If you are a Kristin Hannah fan, you will love this one! It was well written and had an interesting subject - the Vietnam War and PTSD. It did not get 5 stars from me because I found the romance aspect to be too predictable.

This book was a masterpiece. I loved the characters, and the story, and I LOVE that the author did so much research for this book. Kristin Hannah is such an amazing author, she never disappoints.