I've read, and loved, many of Hannah's books. This one, however, was just "meh." I was surprised by all the cursing, which was unnecessary, when compared to prior books. Intimate scenes were also detailed more than I'm used to with this author. It dealt with war, so the blood and gore could be expected, yet the graphic details might surprise some readers. The pace was a bit uneven. Frankie seemed a bit superficial in how men always seemed to fall for her. It reminded me of romance stories I've read in the past. I do applaud Hannah for looking at female Vietnam veterans, as I don't think I've read anything else that did that.

Possible trigger warnings: PTSD, alcoholism, miscarriage, detailed/gory medical descriptions

Gah. I'm still thinking about Frankie McGrath and her story. Frankie, the main character of this beautiful novel, joins the Army as a nurse during the Vietnam War to make her father proud and to be near to her brother, also serving. I learned so much from her. Not only from her time in Vietnam, but also through her return to the states -- a long, heart-breaking, gut wrenching journey through rock bottom and back through a difficult recovery. The relationships in the novel are written so well, and prove to be so important to the characters, as is the norm for Hannah's novels. I loved the nod to the fashion and music of the late 60s and early to mid 70s. I also loved the setting on Coronado, as I lived on the island as a young Navy wife! This one will stay with me for a while; it's right up there as a favorite Kristin Hannah novel, just below The Nightingale.

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this beautifully written novel.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a heartbreaking novel about war, loss and what it means to be forgotten. It additionally offers hope in the most challenging situations and love from the lease likely sources.

Frankie is young and naive having grown up in a sheltered community in California. She attended catholic institutions through college and was always labeled the good girl. Frankie lived up to this reputation until she found herself in a Vietnam war zone where there was no relief from the destruction. After her brother Finley has shipped out to Vietnam, Frankie is determined to follow him. She is just shy of 21 when she enlists in the Army Nurse Corps; the only branch of the military that will take her to war without a long delay. Frankie served two tours with the thirty-sixth and seventy-first Evac hospitals.

When Frankie arrives in-country she is overwhelmed and shocked at what she finds. Nothing resembles what the US news stations are reporting. From mortar attacks to incoming wounded, Frankie learns to cope and survive in a world of death and deceit.

When Frankie returns to California it is a different world than the one she left. There is no fanfare to welcome her and the protesters spit on her and call her names. The betrayal of her parents hits Frankie the hardest and she has no one to turn to. She tries to get help twice from the VA for PTSD, nightmares, visions and drinking but they will not help. They insist there were no women in Vietnam. Frankie’s two loyal friends, Ethel and Barb, help her through the worst days and guide her toward a meaningful future.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. The Women sits at the top of the list of my favorites. As with all of Kristin’s books, have a box of Kleenex close.

A 5 star read. I absolutely loved it! Thank you NetGalley, Kristin Hannah and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of the book for an honest review.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. It's an amazing read with strong characters, a great storyline, and many feels. I feel proud to be a woman after reading this book.

This book!!! Frankie's older brother enlists in the Navy during the Vietnam war. Frankie is kinda a pampered rich girl. No one expects her to enlist to serve as a nurse.
Once in Vietnam this story actually feels like you are there with her and it's brutal. Then when she comes home she is not given a hero's welcome. She is spit on and her parents treat her as an embarrassment.

I gotta say this book was so damn good. It brought veterans reality's to life and it did it hard. The only reason I'm not screaming five stars is the romancey part wrapped up in a way that made my eye twitch. I now have that book hangover that happens when you read something wonderful and you are scared the next book will not hold up.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

This book. I don't even know what to say. It was SO good, and had me feeling all the feels. It is not for the faint of heart, to be sure, but is more than worth it! I have a relative who was a nurse on a Navy ship in Vietnam, so this story really hit home for me. It also brought back memories of the project I did in high school where I interviewed five Vietnam veterans to get their perspectives on the war and their experiences upon returning home. It was eye-opening for sure. This novel takes "eye-opening" to a whole new level. It is gripping, gritty, and dark in places, but there is hope there too. Do NOT miss this book!

I absolutely loved The Four Winds and I kept expecting this story to pull me in as that story did but it just didn't happen. I tip my hat to the theme of featuring female veterans but I could not stay invested.

"You were in Vietnam? There were no women in Vietnam, dear."

I learned so much throughout these pages. This book takes place partially in Vietnam, where Frances (Frankie) McGrath works as an army nurse. The other half deals with her reentry into the US post war, in a time when PTSD was not yet diagnosable, women were not recognized as war heroes (or much of anything really), and talking through your trauma and struggles was not socially acceptable. I can always count on Kristin Hannah for a well-researched novel.

Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read this book before it hits shelves next month.

Off to go dry my eyes and slap a five star rating on this read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and her newest book does not disappoint. I am grateful to have been able to learn more about nurses in Vietnam and I appreciate her shining a light on these historical heroes, as well as painting a picture of post-deployment life. I will say the first half of the book involves a lot of injuries and devastation that were difficult to read. While Hannah doesn’t mince words, it’s not gory only for the sake of embellishment either. While some of the twists and turns of Frankie’s life seemed slightly unbelievable, I really enjoyed following her throughout her life - I always love a book with a lengthy timeline. Highly recommend for fans of Kristin Hannah.

I couldn’t get through this with any excitement. Characters were cardboard, setting was stiff, and the plot is poorly developed. I really wanted to love this after The Nightingale. This one is just a big miss for me.

A Moving Story and An Extraordinary Main Character

SUMMARY
In 1965, when Frankie McGrath's brother left for Vietnam, she decided to join the Army Nurse Corps on impulse. However, upon arriving in Vietnam, she was taken aback by the chaos and destruction of the war. To survive, she had to quickly adapt to the bombs, blood, and battle to save the wounded.

When she returned home in 1969, the political situation surrounding the war had turned. She was spit on in the airport, and her parents were ashamed of her service. Frankie struggled to adjust and was desperately seeking help. Her only option was to reach out to those she had served with, as they were the only ones who could truly understand what she had gone through.

The Women is a one-person fictional account of what the women serving in Vietnam faced both during and after their service. Despite the horrors they met, the women stood strong and saved lives. They made a difference in the world and forever altered who they were and would become.

REVIEW
The Women is a compelling, thoughtful, and moving story by Kirsten Hannah. It follows the life of Frankie, an ordinary young woman who does extraordinary things during the Vietnam War. Hannah’s writing is full of details and vivid descriptions.

What stands out most is Frankie's character development. She starts as a naive and frightened young woman but gradually evolves into a strong and vocal supporter of women who served, but not without many bumps and bruises along the way. Particularly enjoyable was when Frankie had to take charge of the operating room and guide a new doctor in surgery during a bombing attack.

While reading about Frankie's treatment when she returned from Vietnam was difficult, it seems to be an honest portrayal of what many women experienced during that time. Sadly, women returning from war were often told by the government that “no women ever served in Vietnam,” which was a low point in our nation's history.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.


Publisher St. Martin's Press
Published February 6, 2024
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

True to her other novels, Kristin Hannah has wrote an emotionally captivating book that tugs on your heartstrings. Set in the 1960s and 70s during the Vietnam war and post war, the main character takes a path that would have frowned upon by most others her age.

The story touched on some heavy topics such as war, death faced during active battle, heartache, loss, and rediscovering civilian life after completing tours but this novel was written in a very respectful and insightful way. I enjoyed the view of wartime from a female nurse’s perspective and pondered how life must have been like for those women readjusting back to the states after their service.

My only criticism is some of the chapters felt repetitive with constant obstacle. The happy moments were so few and far between with the novel being so single focused around war, ptsd, politics, and activism. But it was well worth the read and the writing was very moving. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Thank you to NetGalley. St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS

Kristin Hannah monopolized one of my weekends AGAIN with this gripping, gut-wrenching, addictive story that was impossible to put down. I've never been more thankful to have an audiobook to accompany me all weekend because when I couldn't read it on my Kindle I was listening to it on the go!

The Women by Kristin Hannah tells the story of those brave women who volunteered in the Vietnam War. They were there and they served a pivotal role. Imagine giving up years of your life to volunteer in a war as a nurse and upon your return home people continue to stress that "there were no women in Vietnam!"

The story The Women is told in two parts. Lieutenant Frances McGrath recruits herself into the Army Nurse Corps after her brother, Finley heads off to war. The first part is about her experience in Vietnam and the second part is about her return to life in the US after she is done serving.

Friends, you will LOVE this story. It will stay with you and you will want to grab a copy on Feb. 6 when this book launches. It is beautifully written, you will need tissues and I also felt like you will learn a lot about these amazing women who served such a pivotal role.

I waffled over my rating on Hannah's newest historical novel, about a female combat nurse in the Vietnam War, but ultimately I was so enthralled with the story - and its historical importance/context - that I can't give it any fewer than five stars, as it is a completely compelling read that I tore through in a 24-hour span. Part I was 5+++ stars as we follow young, sheltered, idealistic Frances McGrath as she signs up to serve as a nurse in Vietnam. Her transformation, working in unthinkable conditions, into an incredible combat nurse and woman, is inspiring and heartfelt. Part II, which deals with Frankie's reentry into civilian life, is brutal. The hardships Hannah dealt her poor heroine felt akin to a soap opera at times, and yet... it all played in to the bigger story Hannah is telling in this book. The way women's stories have been erased from history, and from Vietnam in particular, and even by other Vietnam vets' denial of their service, is galling and infuriating. I love that Hannah shone a light on these amazing women, and I want to go out and read all of their stories and learn about them. This is a must-read even if some plot choices in Part II frustrated me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital review copy.

How do I even put into words how this book made me feel? It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me so invested. Kristin Hannah does an amazing job at writing these dark, intensely sad stories that you can’t put down despite the devastation and misery. Hannah didn’t shy away from gruesome details of being a wartime nurse, so be warned if you are squeamish. But she also brings a sense of hope and joy, of healing and moving forward. I learned a lot about a time in American History that we probably don’t talk about enough. (I also have a soft spot for this cover, as it reminds me of my favorite musical of all time: Miss Saigon.) I highly recommend this book if you even remotely enjoy historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this one! So, so good!

I'm sorry you have to wait until February for this, but go and put it on hold at your local library or pre-order a copy from your local independent bookstore RIGHT NOW. This is essential historical fiction - captivating characters, heartbreaking moments, impactful writing all set in a time in American history that hasn't shared the women's stories like this before.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have just finished reading The Women by Author Kristin Hannah.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favourite Author's, and once again she does not disappoint.

What an epic book that this author has written, about such an important time. She has done an incredible job writing a story about Vietnam, with such feelings, descriptions, and insight.

This is a subject that really needs to still be heard about.

She also talks about deep friendships, which we all know are so important in one's life.

Frances (Frankie) McGrath has grown up in Coronado California, as the story begins with a gathering at her parents home to send off her brother as he is preparing to leave for Vietnam.

Her words really paint a picture of the struggles of this time in American history.

I was born in the mid fifties, and as I read this book It brings me back to the music, rallies, struggles, and of course hearing of so many young lives lost.

As a Canadian I still recall friends wearing American Prisoner of war bracelets, and all the daily news that was so very graphic.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Kristin Hannah, and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy to read and review.
#netgalley
#stmartinspress
#kristinhannahauthor

Content Warning: violence, war, gruesome injuries, death, misogyny, drug use, cheating, PTSD

+ This is Kristin Hannah and she always blows me away. I love her research, I love how she writes historical fiction and the stories are not pretty. It’s real, it’s raw, and her characters go through trauma but I go on the journey with them – I stay with them and root for them to make it. In this book, she takes us to Vietnam. I was riveted from the moment I started the book and I finished it in one sitting even if it took me past midnight and made me sleep at 1am (which is rare for a book to do to me these days). It’s just really good storytelling and you know she took her time with this book.

+ Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a powerful character and I don’t mean that she is perfect. It’s 1966 and a women’s role in life is still to stay at home and take care of her husband and have kids. Frankie comes from a sheltered, affluent home, is getting a degree in Nursing but her brother gets sent to Vietnam and never comes home. She leaves behind her comfort zone, takes all her sheltered naivety to a foreign country to become a hero and her eyes gets blown wide open to to the horrors of war. And just when she’s found herself and what’s she’s good at – she comes home to a country that despises her for her service. She has a lot to overcome and it’s a journey that made me cry at the end.

+ This book is called The Women and Frankie is not the only woman in this book. She meets two others in Vietnam who become her best friends for life, Barb and Ethel. These three women kept one another alive – kept each other going in Vietnam and after they come home. This is a friendship that saves Frankie and a friendship that didn’t sugarcoat anything because they saw the worst of humanity together and survived. I love that all of them have a different path after Vietnam but they are there for one another no matter what. Another woman who has what doesn’t seem like a powerful role, is Frankie’s mother – but she grew up in a generation where women were told to shut up and not get involved. We see her try her best and that’s all some women could do back then.

+ Vietnam. This author takes us to Vietnam and I felt like I was there with Frankie. There is one crazy scene where Frankie gets moved to another mobile hospital but near enemy territory and heavy fighting just made me panic with her. It made me appreciate the mental strength that these men and women who served had to endure in what was literal hell. In a war that was a lost. When Frankie leaves Vietnam and comes back home she isn’t celebrated as a hero like WWII vets were – she was spat on. No one was proud of her, no one wanted to hear that she was there. We see her PTSD heighten when she comes back home but there is no help available to her because people claim there were no women in Vietnam – because the government was saying so in the media. No women! To almost give her life serving and then coming back home to be told she wasn’t there?! Oh my rage…the story touches on other issues going on in the USA at the time like the war protests, the Black Panther movement, race issues, gender issues and lack of trust in the government. 

~ I said Frankie wasn’t perfect and her weakness was that she was alone and longed for comfort and sadly her pick of guys wasn’t the best. But that only makes her human. So as much as I was rooting for the romance in this book – this is not that kind of story, it’s about more than that even though the men she did encounter in her story did shape her in one way or another.

My Thoughts:

It’s another 5 star Kristin Hannah book for me – she never disappoints me because she can grab my attention and heart. This story teaches you something, and it reminds you that women were there in Vietnam, and that the men and women came back broken. There was hardly any help for them and our Vets deserve more than that. It’s heartbreaking, it’s brutal, it’s gripping, and I wish I could post quotes from the book but I won’t because it’s an arc. I can’t wait to read her next book.

What an absolutely beautiful, heartwrenching story written by well-known author Kristin Hannah. It will be hard to get over this one.

The story is set during the Vietnam War and follows Frankie McGrath who has enlisted as a nurse in Vietnam while the war is going on. Fighting against the disapproval of her parents and society, she has made the hard decision to do this and make something of herself. While the book is over 450 pages, I found that it took no time at all for me to get through it quickly. The author paced the book perfectly, and packed it full of action. You will fall in love with the characters and they will become like your friends. You will laugh and cry reading this book - I did many times.

You can tell that the author has put a great deal into researching the Vietnam War, it was incredibly eye-opening and heartbreaking to hear the stories that the civilians and troops went through. I also feel that she captured perfectly what someone with PTSD might go through after living through something like that. Frankie struggled mentally throughout the book, trying to go back to her normal life, and the author allowed you to feel all of those emotions with her.

I would highly recommend this book if you're a fan of historical fiction, this is one you can't pass up and I've already been recommending it to other readers. I can't wait to read more of Kristin Hannah's work in the future.

Let me start by saying I did not really enjoy this book. Three stars is for the 20% she was on Vietnam only. I loved the perspective of a young sheltered girl finding her way as a combat nurse in Vietnam. We don’t learn enough about what happened there and it captured my attention. Unfortunately, the actual combat portion was only about 20-25% of the book, to its detriment. This is my first book by this author (after disliking the first 20 pages of The Nightingale so much I DNF) and this will also be my last Kristin Hannah book.

The writing was clunky and felt very “tell not show.” Many scenes cut off right when it got interesting, as if the author could only tease about a party or mass casualty but couldn’t, or didn’t want to, fully flesh out the characters and situations. It was like there was a list of trauma boxes that had to be checked, many unsuccessfully. I saw many plot twists (and wow do I use that term LOOSELY) coming, because there was no subtlety or nuance in the whole book. No meaningful internal dialogue from Frankie. Just moving from one situation to another with no emotional connection from the reader to any situation (except maybe Jamie, but I’m getting there).

I didn’t even feel a connection to Frankie. She was a vehicle for all the terrible things that happened to our veterans when they came home. She was a symbol for a generation, and she wasn’t even a great one, one that moved us and made us root for her. Her story moved from personal loss that was barely touched on, to war, to undiagnosed PTSD, and a rapid, almost immediate, downward spiral into alcohol, drugs, and depression. There is a miscarriage, more betrayal, lies, and we see Frankie slipping beneath the waves (figuratively and literally, way to hit us over the head there) of her own trauma, grief, and loss.

In addition to Frankie’s personal struggles, we have men falling in love with her every 50 pages. Why? No idea. Jamie the surgeon was my favorite and most palatable, but what the author saw fit to do with the men- Jamie, Rye, Henry was, frankly, bizarre. It was like a soap opera at times even when I could see things coming a mile away. And the end? I mean I was glad, but also WTF?

It felt like a great story told poorly. I think Kate Quinn would have handled the story masterfully, given the book’s vague similarity to The Rose Code. And we know she can write grief well, evidenced by Mab’s story. In The Women, Frankie’s grief felt….artificial. As if written by someone who hasn’t experienced deep and profound loss.

Good premise, poor execution, and clunky writing style and plot line. I’ll be seeking out other Vietnam stories but this isn’t it for me.