This is only my second novel by Kristen Hannah, with my first being True Colors (which I loved!).

This novel follows Frankie, both during and after her two tours served in Vietnam as an Army Nurse. Frankie, who goes overseas young and optimistic returns home suffering, like many soldiers, from undiagnosed PTSD.

I liked this book and the ending was touching, but I do feel like at times it dragged on. I wish her time in Vietnam was a bit shorter, because I felt it was the same daily descriptions. I also felt that when she returned home, we saw similar repetition in the story. While I think the novel does a great job showing how difficult returning from war was to a country that didn't respect those who served, at times it was just too much for me.

I will still continue to read her back list because I know so many of her books come with great critical acclaim! This one just wasn't 100 percent for me!

Epic tale. Amazing female stories as per the usual with Kristin Hannah. As a child of the 70s I understood Frankie and her life. I’m loving the increase in historical fiction about this period of time, especially that of Vietnam and the war. Kudos to Kristin for increasing the awareness.

I really liked listening to this book, rather than reading it. As a fan of the TV show MASH, it was fascinating to connect the experiences of the nurses in The Women to things I'd learned previously. Frankie, the main character, was a complex and well written person. She went from debutante to the best Army nurse around, but in an authentic way that made me root for her; she worked hard and earned everything she got. I loved the relationship- during and after the war- between Frankie, Ethel, and Barb (her nurse roommates in Vietnam).

The only reason why I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of five is because of the (to me) repetitive, destructive nature of Frankie's relationship with Jamie. I understand that Frankie was unsupported (apart from her girlfriends) by everyone and suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, but her decisions to consistently fall into a relationship with Jamie seemed like too much. I am so glad she got to have a sort of redemption in the end- that was the perfect way for her to end up in life.

I absolutely LOVE Kristin Hannah and I will read absolutely anything she writes! Give me her grocery list and I'll drop everything I'm doing to read it!

As always, her characters are super fleshed out and developed, you truly feel like they are real and you are going through the book with them. The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars was because I really struggled with connecting with Frankie. Yes, she was a fully developed character, but one I didn't particularly enjoy. With that said though, while most of the time reading a book with a MC I didn't enjoy would ruin the book for me, Kristin Hannah is so talented that I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless of my dislike towards the MC.

I Love Kristen Hannah's historical fiction and I cannot wait to dive into her next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author, and it won't be my last. I loved how immersed I became in the story and read it in one sitting. I was 100% engaged from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I give it 5/5 stars.

This author is so incredibly popular and I can't believe I hadn't read their work before picking up this one. I thought it was extremely well done. Get the tissues ready because this was such an emotional ride. I loved the characters and how real and raw they were. This book broke my heart and it was exactly what I needed to get out of a reading slump. I would highly recommend it.

Kristin Hannah has written a powerful novel about the Vietnam War, the nurses who served, and what it was like for them when they returned home. There are very few historical fiction novels about the Vietnam War. As I was just a child during this time period, I did not know much about it. I knew that the Vietnam vets did not come home to fanfare and that it was very difficult for them. I did not know that the average American had no idea that women served over there. Having grown up watching the TV show, MASH, with nurses serving in the Korean War, I assumed that the American public knew that there were women serving in Vietnam. I was unaware that even the Veterans Administration didn’t acknowledge the women’s service and did not provide them with any help. War is horrific and the soldiers who served in Vietnam experienced the unthinkable. Many people do not think of the medical personnel and what they experienced. Their experiences were much worse than I imagined. Hannah’s novel is eye-opening! I learned so much.

The main character, Frankie, is a strong and courageous woman. When she returns home from Vietnam, she is broken and suffering from PTSD. She does not have a support system at home. This is the story of her time in Vietnam, but more importantly, it is the story of her struggles when she returns home. Hannah describes her experience in gritty detail. It is the story of friendship, courage, heartbreak, trauma, self-discovery, and resilience. It is a story that is a must-read about a time period in our history that is often overlooked in the area of historical fiction.

The Women is one of the best books that I have ever read! (Hannah’s earlier novel, The Nightingale, is also one of the best books that I have ever read.) It is sad. It is emotional. It stayed with me long after I read the last page. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure - this review/feedback only applies to the first 50% of the book. I cannot finish it. I missed the publication date because of the marketing boycott, so I checked the audiobook out from my library. It is very well written, with fleshed out characters, and details that immerse you in the narrative. It's brilliant. It's also so hard to read. I found myself sobbing more than once during the events of Frankie's service. I've reached the part where she comes home, and honestly, I can't handle any more angst. My heart hurts too much already.

In 1965, nursing student Frankie joins the US Army Nurse Corps in order to serve her country during the Vietnam War.

"Women can be heroes."

While working in Army hospitals in Vietnam, Frankie not only saves the lives of countless American men injured during battle but also builds strong friendships, both platonic and romantic. This heart wrenching story follows Frankie as she completes two tours in the Army before returning home only to find it difficult to assimilate to a quiet life at home. She especially struggles with these questions: (1) I served in Vietnam just like my brother Finley, so why is my father endlessly proud of his service but ashamed of mine? (2) What does it mean to be a woman? and (3) Why are the societal rules different for men and women?

"It wasn’t just physical wounds that soldiers would take home from Vietnam. From now on, all of them would have a deep understanding of both man’s cruelty and his heroism."

Since my father was drafted into the Vietnam War, this book was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year. While I was enthralled by the historical aspects of this novel as well as the unique circumstances of a female serving as a nurse, I could have done without some of the romantic complications towards the end of the story.

While this book was very good, The Great Alone (5 stars) remains my favorite book by this author followed by Winter Garden (5 stars), Home Front (5 stars) and The Nightingale (5 stars).

Location: Coronado Island, California; Vietnam; Kauai, Hawaii; Charlottesville, Virginia; Missoula, Montana

Kristin Hannah is an amazing author and consistently outdoes herself! Whenever I need a heavier historical well researched book I definitely search her books out. Can't wait to get hurt by the next one!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Kristin Hannah is the queen of historical fiction. This book has resonated with so many people. Loved discussing it with my mom, who was a nurse. Always well written, heartfelt, and impeccably researched.

This was EPIC! Frankie McGrath is a complex character who just reals you in with her innocence, selflessness and sacrifice and we follow her journey of growth and change. From losing a sibling in the Vietnam war, volunteering to join the Army Nurse Corps and overcoming all obstacles thrown at her (tragedies, love, war) to the 2nd part of the book... the aftermath. After surviving 2 tours, Frankie now faces the unwelcome return home, PTSD and emotional turmoil as well as deception.

I can't tell you how many times this book make me cry and really hope Frankie makes it.

Kristen Hannah always delivers, but this is her best yet.

Just when you think Kristin Hannah has written your favorite book ever she says hold my pen and publishes and even better book. She is by far my favorite author and recommend all her books to everyone!! This book is about the Vietnam war and the incredible women who served.

Many thanks to Kristin Hannah and St Martin’s press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I didn't know much about the Vietnam war or the involvement of women but I learned a lot, especially with what these women did day to day and the reception they came home it. Really enjoyed this book.

I was very grateful to receive a “Read Now” copy of this book. I held off reading it so that I could read it this month with my book club. Oh, how I wish I hadn’t waited. By far, this is the best book I have read in 2024. I have never read a book about Vietnam but I feel this captured the experiences so well. I had two uncles who fought in Vietnam and reading about these experiences, I am so much more thankful that they survived and came home to us. Wow. What a story.

It’s only February and I already know this will be one of my top books of the year and one of my favorites of all time. ❤️

I know this book was a labor of love for @kristinhannahauthor and my goodness did her due diligence pay off. This book was so emotional, powerful and had the most inspiring message.

One thing I love about @kristinhannahauthor writing is her ability to write such resilient female characters. In this novel, we follow Frankie’s story from her brave decision to enlist as a nurse in the army in the Vietnam war, to her adjusting to life as a civilian and all her hardships in between. Although I never went through what she went through, Kristin writes in a way that makes you feel so connected to her characters.

I learned so much while reading this book. I never knew how involved women were during the Vietnam war and how their pain and suffering was just as valid as those who served on the battle fields. Blow after blow Frankie endured so much and ultimately fought for the mental health of women during that time.

I truly can’t express how much I loved this book and how deeply it impacted me. I became educated, I cried, I was inspired and found myself in complete awe of Kristin’s talent.

Thank you so much @kristinhannahauthor @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻

I would probably have given this five stars, but I lose patience with characters who continue to do stupid, self-destructive things when they know better. Not to mention poor-little-rich girls who live off Daddy’s dime, taking all they’ve been given as an expectation. Having said all that, this was a powerful book and I’m glad I read it. 4 stars.

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing! One of the heaviest books I've read in years. It was hard to put down, but at times I just had to put it down and take a breather as the subject matter was so heavy and raw. Easy 5 stars!

One of the best novels of the year! We read this as a group and we were all speechless by the end. An incredibly powerful story with an incredible powerful narrative.

This was one of the most important books I've read this year. Being younger than the main characters in this book, but having an older brother who went to Vietnam and thankfully returned, I was drawn to this book to learn more about his experiences. It was eye opening to say the least. It was sad to read about how the women were treated during that period and not given the credit for their service like the soldiers. I have recommended this book to many people and my bookclub read it and loved it! This was an important story to tell and Kristin Hannah did it beautifully.