I don’t think that it’s possible for Kristin not to write a good book. Some I like more than others. The Four Winds was not my fave. I found it overwhelmingly depressing. I realize the subject matter was going to do that, but, wow that story was in a dark hole and stayed there.

Now I’m sure you are wondering how this story about nurses in Vietnam can be anything but depressing. I hear you. But thankfully, Kristin found a way to make the story about so much more than the war. Yes- it definitely plays a huge part in this book- and there are depressing and sad times- but there is also friendship, camaraderie, self-discovery, grit, resolve, strength, family and hope.

There are tons of triggers including mental health struggles and substance abuse so be aware.

In traditional Kristin fashion, this book was not about flowery prose- it was about characters you grow to love (or hate) and root for. It was also about the treatment of Vietnam veterans when they returned home. And about the hugely forgotten role that women played in the war and how that was widely dismissed. There are not many books written about this part of history and so I really appreciated learning more about it. The truths are painful to read.

This book was eye-opening in many ways. I love how Kristin weaves her stories. I love that everything was not roses and candy. I love that consequences were real and not sugar coated. I love that the depictions of different relationships were honest and raw.

I think so many people will love this book. And it deserves attention. I highly recommend sitting with this one awhile. You’ll be glad you did! Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the physical and digital ARC to read and review.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a fictional account about the very real Vietnam War. Since I was born in ‘79, I didn’t know a whole lot about the Vietnam War. My dad had a draft number but thankfully his was high enough that he wasn’t called, otherwise I might not be here. This gritty and heartbreaking story follows Frankie through losing her brother in the war to her enlisting to go be a combat nurse and all of the heartache that she endured over in Vietnam and coming home to be hated here too. She does eventually find healing but I won’t ruin the ending. While this is a fictional story, it’s realistic enough to really feel for the characters and the real people behind them. This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

The Vietnam War is definitely a time period most Americans would rather forget. Unlike WWI or WWII where we can see ourselves as the heroes of the story - for this war, we were anything but. This realization extends both to the combat and the lack of support back "home". With this backdrop in mind, Kristin Hannah did a fantastic job of showcasing the patriotism felt by those who volunteered to go, the inadequacy of the battlefront plans, supplies, and flat out lies they endured, and the harshness bestowed on them by those opposing the war.

Our main character and only perspective is Frances "Frankie" McGrath. A newbie Nurse from a family of service members, including her own brother who is a Navy pilot. She enlists with the Army Nursing Corps (because she doesn't have enough training for the Air Force or Navy) and is shipped over. It's a baptism of fire as soon as she arrives - Bare-bones living, understaffing, learn-as-you-go training, and a deluge of wounded to care for constantly. Along the way she learns the ins and outs especially from fellow nurses Barb and Ethel, as well as surgeon Jamie who she shares an attraction with. Also in the mix is "Rye", a hometown boy who is also a pilot.

Only half of the book is about Frankie's tour of duty though - the other half is her return to California, dealing with anti-war sentiment, family and friends she has lost, PTSD, families of POWs, and the oft repeated phrase "there were no women in Vietnam", which puts up more than a few barriers to Frankie getting the help she needs.

Overall, I would say I learned a lot from this book, even from side topics that weren't central to the plot (Black Panthers, Agent Orange, My Lai, etc.). My main criticism would be that since Frankie is the only character whose head you're in - ALL the bad stuff pretty much has to happen to her and those close to her. If Barb and Ethel had had their perspectives noted (especially Barb as a Black Woman), it would have kept the reader from being constantly dragged down by Frankie's woes and crashes that other characters are constantly saving her from.

Ultimately I rate this book a 3.5

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC!

My first read of the year knocked it out of the park! This book is a beautiful, devastating, poignant, and moving tribute to the women who served in Vietnam. Kristin Hannah is the best historical fiction writer and I was completely immersed from start to finish. Big thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy - pub day is 2/6/24!

The Women

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kristin Hannah is such an amazing author, and her latest book fits right into her huge list of great stories. Per usual, her books highlight a new voice in a time period of history that is different from the stories you would have heard on the same topic.

Frankie signs up to do a tour in Vietnam as a nurse after watching her brother go off to war. The first half of the book shows of her struggles, the trauma that Vietnam war nurses witnessed, the friends she made, and the people she loved. When she gets back to the States, she struggles to adjust back into civilian life.

As always with Kristin Hannah’s books there are wonderful, real characters who are fully developed. I honestly learned so much about a time period I didn’t know a ton about through Frankie’s eyes. Definitely pick this one up when it comes out next month!

Thanks @netgalley for this eARC!

Once again Kirstin Hannah delivers spectacular historic fiction. Through the journey of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, Hannah shines a light on the experience of nurses who served in Vietnam but whose work was ignored or diminished. The story also covers what these women were put through upon returning home. Eye-opening and at times infuriating, this book tells a powerful story and honors the work these women did. A must-read.

I don't recall ever reading a novel set during the Vietnam war. I know for sure I haven't read one that focused on the women that served as nurses and the complete discarding they suffered from constantly being told there were no women in Vietnam. I enjoyed that the story introduced us to Frankie before the war, and let us get her full story by continuing on after the war, which is where a good portion of the book takes place. I thought the story being divided into before the war, during the war, and after the war gave us a full picture of Frankie. The Women focuses on Frankie and her life, but is a love letter to all women who served in the Vietnam war. Kristin Hannah said that she got the idea for this story when she was a younger author. I am so glad she waited until she was older and more mature in her writing to write this story because it was really well written. It is one of the best novels I have read in a long time. If you like historical fiction, you should definitely read The Women.

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

This story of Frankie McGraff , a young woman who goes to nursing school after high school. Her brother is drafted to serve in the Vietnam War making their father proud to put his picture on their wall of heroes at home. But when he is killed, Frankie signs up to serve as a nurse in the Army, much against her parents wishes. They feel nice girls work until they marry the "right" man. She hoped her father would put her picture on the wall of heroes before she shipped out.

Frankie ships off to Vietnam and is completely overwhelmed as a new nurse seeing the horrific wounds and casualties of war. But with her fellow nurses helping her, she quickly becomes a very good nurse and eventually a surgical nurse. This part of the book reminded me of the old TV show MASH, about a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in the Korean War. Frankie not only served one tour, but two tours in Vietnam before going home to face another kind of war - a country she didn't recognize. One where she was spit on and attacked when wearing her uniform. She was shocked and hurt and angry. Only her fellow nurses who were back fully understood her.

The story brought me back in time to the music (the Beatles, Bread and Tony Orlando's "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree"), the fashion (bell bottoms, hot pants, and gunny sack dresses), and hair styles (ironed hair straight with a center part). I remember wearing the silver cuff bracelet with the name of a POW on it to remind us to never forget these men. I was completely immersed in this book and this awful time in our nation's history. So many were cruel to those who were drafted and served in Vietnam; yet the war continued when back home with a war from their own countrymen as well as the war that went on their own head.

"Some women had worn love beads in the sixties; others had worn dog tags."

When 21 year old Frankie McGrath enlists in the Vietnam war to follow in her brother's footsteps, she makes a choice that will irrevocably alter the rest of her life.

Hannah is an absolute master when it comes to creating an immersive fictional world for her characters to reside in. <u>The Women</u> was no exception to her impeccable story-weaving abilities, however; this nearly 500 page book felt unnecessarily lengthy and encumbered by repetitive storylines. At times, I didn't know whether I wanted to hug or shake Frankie as her life slowly started to unravel. I appreciate that Hannah brought to light the very real troubles that many during this time faced-equal rights issues, PTSD, abortion rights, reproductive rights, veterans rights, etc.-but at times the ways in which these issues were brought up and addressed in the story all just felt very cyclical and repetitive which led to Frankie making the same mistakes time and time again. While I enjoyed this story overall, I do feel that it could have proven just as impactful while being 300 pages instead of nearly 500. For this reason, and because I just wasn't as drawn to the characters as I have found myself in Hannah's previous novels, I'd give this a solid 3 star rating

This book was profoundly sad, yet touching and memorable. I highly recommend it! Women's contributions to war are typically ignored and I love the questions and thoughts this book raises.I hate admitting that I know so little about the Vietnam War, but I really do. It just was so glossed over in my high school and college history courses. After reading The Women by Kristin Hannah, I am interested in learning more about this war that had a profound effect on so many people, including family members and neighbors.

Kristin Hannah's writing is superb, and using the character of Frankie, along with her friends (women AND men) I learned so much about the effects of combat in Vietnam and the horrors of war. Like any good historical fiction novel, this book blends fact with relatable characters to make you consider how people living in that time would have been affected by current events. It was heartbreaking to consider how Frankie's life was affected by her service in Vietnam. At the same time, I was awed by her friendships built during that period of her life and how they helped her survive very difficult times. Great book! It was hard for me to get immersed in another book after reading this one because it was just so good.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

“Women can be heroes.”

Marriage and motherhood. That was what was expected of women. Trained "to iron buttonholes to perfection, how to precisely fold a napkin, how to set an elegant table ."

“No fear, McGrath .”

“There were no women in Vietnam .”

Francis “Frankie” McGrath was very close to her brother Finley. He went away to war in Vietnam. She wanted to serve alongside him the best way she could. She joined the Army as a nurse and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. However, before she was sent to serve, her family received tragic news of Finley's death. Even though she wanted to change her mind, she had no choice but to go. So, Frankie takes on her commission.

Even before the news of Finley's death, Frankie's parents were not happy with her decision. In fact, her mother rebuked her. However, Frankie did go, and during those last years of the Vietnam War, Frankie gave everything she had. She not only tended to soldiers, but to the many who were orphaned during the war. But, that is only the first half of this stellar book…

This compelling read opened my eyes about the women that served during the Vietnam War. It was impossible not to relate to Frankie’s strength, vigor and sorrow. PTSD was real for those Vietnam Veterans, and Frankie was a perfect example of this.

On a personal note, I remember when my grandfather returned with the POWs held and tortured for years. He lived with us upon his return to the US and while in the eighth grade, I was able to do a current events based on his tragic experiences. It was because of these memories of my grandfather that I felt a very strong connection to this book.

Frankie’s experiences, while dealing with PTSD, but not recognized for her honorable service, were utterly heartbreaking and I was brought to tears more than once in this amazing book by Kristin Hannah. Her struggles grew day after day as she tried to adjust to civilian life. Addiction became her crutch. It was her method of coping, as she struggled to gain footing as her life went on. However, as a pillar of strength, Frankie truly impressed me, from the beginning of the book, through her challenging struggles, and as her life found fulfillment.

480 pages as an audiobook went in the blink of a eye. One of my favorite narrators, Julia Whelan, did a superb job with this book. Her narration made this winning book that much better. Kristin Hannah’s style of writing will make any reader feel every emotion Frankie feels, and this book made me feel at times that I was living Frankie’s story. Definitely my favorite book of January, and this just might end up my favorite read of 2024.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

An incredibly important story about the Viet Nam war told in a beautiful and poignant manner. Frankie is a debutant from a military family who wants to be respected. She becomes a nurse and joins the army to go to war and be near her brother. A lot happens, experiences that will change the trajectory of people’s lives. What I appreciated about this book is that I really felt I was living in the story, not just watching it pass before me. Yes, there are some predictable aspects, but others surprised me. I completely appreciated the experience. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

How dare you Kristin, how dare you make me cry like that multiple times 😭

THE WOMEN by KRISTIN HANNAH

Rating: 4.25🌟
Genre: historical fiction, women heroes, women veterans

Top Quotes:

💫 “It’s called lust Frankie, and it can rock your good-girl world.”

💫 “as frightened and angry and betrayed as she’d often felt by her government and the war, she’s also felt alive.”

💫 “The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.”

This is a beautifully written fiction story about a young new American nurse, Frankie, who becomes an army nurse in the time of the Vietnam war. The novel is divided into two parts. Part one: Frankie’s experience as an army nurse during a time where women weren’t heroes and “didn’t go to war”. Part two: focuses on her time after returning home. We witness Frankie’s experiences as an unseen veteran trying to navigate her life as an entirely new version of herself with the help of friendship and time. Let’s just say she spent a lot of time stumbling until finally starting to walk once again.

Have you ever watched M*A*S*H the sitcom? Part one played out in my head exactly like an episode but with the focus being on the women’s perspective. There’s action, trauma, medicine, romance/lust, friendships, grief and a whole lot more. I honestly have never ugly cried from a book before. This was a first. I can’t pinpoint on why but I imagine it has a lot to do with how well Kristin paints a picture with her words and makes you experience every emotion the characters feel.

Part two was even more heartbreaking if that’s possible and you have to read it to understand. All I can say is, the tears at the end, they were both sad and joyous.

I can’t speak on the accuracy of the novel but it certainly did its job of reminding us what the women endured during those times. It wasn’t only the men in combat who came home changed and fought to be heard.

Thank you kindly, @kristinhannahauthor & @netgalley for this Advanced Readers Copy! I highly recommend this novel 💕

How does this author do it? Every book I’ve read by her is just so touching and memorable. I remember the characters long after I’ve turned the last page. She creates characters you feel you know intimately and you have to remind yourself these people aren’t real! Come on, you do that too, right?

The Women is Hannah’s latest historical fiction novel set against a Vietnam War era backdrop. It’s dropping next month and will be everywhere for a while. Deservedly so. It’s a book about war, loyalty, courage, heroism, patriotism, female empowerment, and so much more.

Do not miss this one. It should be read far and wide. For the women who served in Vietnam.

Thank you NetGalley and StMartinsPress for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this one may be Kristin Hannah’s best one yet. It was very interesting to learn about the women involved as nurses in Vietnam and how they weren’t recognized as being there. The main character is so well drawn, and I really felt empathy for this character and all her trials. One of the best parts was the friendships that were made with the two other nurses that carried and sustained her after the war. I knew about the protests about the war and that the vets did not receive the hero’s welcome they deserved, but I didn’t realize how mean people were to them for being a part of it and how people really didn’t grasp the horror of what they had been through. This book really tugs at your heart, but it is so worth it and will keep you turning the pages to see what’s next. I read this book, but I have also heard that Julia Whelan does a remarkable job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

I am not sure where to start with a review for a book that told such a powerful story. This was an epic story of coming of age, friendship, and survival. Frankie joins the Army at 21 years old, broken after her brother’s death in Vietnam and her story just unfolds from there. Her friendship with Ethel and Barb is truly a beautiful sisterhood. My heart broke over and over for Frankie watching her struggle after coming home from the war and her attempt at finding her place in the world. Very heavy themes throughout but a profound story that needs to be told to bring awareness in a fictional way.

This was my first Kristen Hannah book and I truly don’t know why I waited so long. I’m not one for historical fiction but this drew me in immediately and never let me go. I think this a story that will stick with me for a very long time.

Another 5 star read from this author. The storytelling is chef’s kiss. Fmc is incredible and we are basically transported to active war Vietnam. I’m beyond excited that all of America is going to fall in love with women veterans.

Another banger from Hannah. Good God can this woman tell a story. I read Historical Fiction a LOT and truly love the genre for opening my eyes to things I don't always know a lot about. I have a lot of respect for the amount of research that has to go into something like this in order to make it true to the reality of what happened. Even more so for this story, I can imagine, as so much was hidden and lied about regarding the Vietnam war. I appreciate how Hannah included the darkness and the difficulty after coming home and didn't sugarcoat the truth of all the servicepeople had to deal with upon their return. I also appreciated the way the Civil Rights movement and adja ent turmoil in the States was not glossed over. A lot was tackled in this novel and I think it was done excellently.

Wow! I read this book in a day! I think this book might be her best book yet. It is by far my personal favorite, and I plan to buy a copy when it releases.

Frankie is a young, naive nurse who enlists in the Army to go to Vietnam. She wanted her father to be proud of her AND follow her beloved older brother. However, shortly after enlisting, her brother’s death is reported. It’s too late for her to change her mind, so off she goes for her year.

One year turns into a second year and second tour. Frankie finds two best friends, Barb and Ethel, and she loves for the first time in her life. But, her return isn’t a hero’s welcome either by strangers or her parents. She finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life.

This book is well researched and the characters are all well drawn. I cried some as I thought of the women who served despite everyone saying there were no women in Vietnam.

This was honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Kristin Hannah has never done me wrong and this feels like one of her very best. I was absolutely glued to the pages, transported in time to Vietnam, and emotional throughout. Frankie is a resilient character who goes through so much both in Vietnam and even more so when she comes back home. Her story was emotional for me and not something I will forget any time soon. I learned a lot about this war and the treatment of veterans.

I can’t say enough good things about this book and I cant wait for everyone to get to read it when it publishes.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.