⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Woman — long story short, they survived. They said “There were no women in ‘Nam.” And in this powerful story about resilience, strength and
badass women, you will go through a roller coaster of emotions. It has it all. Heart break, romance, loss, mental health. Kristin Hannah did wonderful with this book and I can’t wait for everyone to read this soon.

The Women by Kristin Hannah: I will admit it; I wasn't sure what to expect. I love some of earlier books, but have had a hard time with the last couple. I was unsure how I'd feel about this one, especially as it was such a sensitive subject as the Vietnam War. Let me just tell you: I loved it. I didn't want it to end. I was captivated from the start. It was completely well-done and it touched on all the hard subjects while still being very real and very human. A definite five stars. You won't want to miss this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and the audiobook publisher.

To know Kristin Hannah is to truly know pain. And man, she really brought the pain in this one. Approximately 100 times I thought ‘this girl just cannot catch a break.’ Every time you think Frankie finally hit rock bottom, KH would pull another sorrowful trick out of her sleeve. Completely heartbreaking read.

This book gave me a lot of complicated feelings. Sadness, anger, frustration, and not nearly enough happiness. Obviously a book centered around war and PTSD is obviously going to be sad, but I really wish we got to see Frankie experience more than just brief bouts of happiness. With that said, the sadness made for a very powerful read. Such an important time in history and I love that KH gave the women and their role in the Vietnam War a voice.

Another aspect I loved was the strong female friendships. Frankie truly built a great support system and the lengths they went to come through for each was so nice to read. And what’s a book about women, without the men. Damn did the men suck in this book!

Overall, I don’t think the writing is as strong as some of her other works but this was a great read and will be sure to delight KH fans and lovers of historical fiction. She truly transports you to the time and I think this is a book I’d read again. Highly recommend!

4.5

Thank you @stmartinspress for an ebook and also to @macmillan.audio for the audiobook! I absolutely recommend the audio narrated by the most amazing @justjuliawhelan
———
It’s books like these that remind me how lucky and privileged I am to be a bookstagrammer reading an early copy. As an immigrant to the USA, I have very rudimentary knowledge of the Vietnam war and this book was so educational, shocking and baffling about how the women contributed to saving soldiers’ lives and yet were completely ignored and even mistreated by their countrymen upon their return. My husband, a born and raised American, was also not privy to some of the content in this book.

Kudos to the author for accurately portraying the suffering from PTSD, a mental health condition that was not officially a diagnosis until much later. So when the women experienced PTSD, nobody was able to help professionally or even understand their condition. Without disclosing too much, I also enjoyed how the MC, Frankie, defied all types of resistance against women of her era and came out stronger in the end.

Finally, I also want to add how so many aspects of the war such as the government not providing accurate details of the war, is still applicable to this day which also makes the book utterly frightening to read…that so much remains unchanged from the sixties.

I absolutely cannot wait for people to read this book and give their inputs! Five glowing stars from me!

Seriously a fantastic book!! I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. Gut wrenching, lovely, thrilling, and so many more words to describe this book.

Breathtaking! This is a book I won’t soon forget as it touched me deeply. Fantastic story telling and well researched.

Kristin Hannah books have a track record for making me cry...so, when I saw this book was about a combat nurse (I'm a former RN) and about the Vietnam War (my late father fought in that war) I knew these connections were a recipe for tears. AND IT WAS.

This story impacted me so deeply on so many levels. I think many readers will feel this way. I appreciated the depth of the characters and the extensive research that Hannah did to create this historical fiction story. The main character was honorable, brave, and all the things that make a strong woman so inspiring. Not only did this book touch on the war, but it also addressed women equality and how society viewed and treated female heroes.

The Vietnam War was brutal and tragic and Hannah handled it with the tenderness a story about it deserves. My father felt the war was not one America should have been fighting and that our soldiers did not belong there, and the author shared this sentiment well through the feelings of her characters and how they reflect on the destruction around them and process the trauma that followed their service.

Also, Hannah really got the abundance of rats right. My dad had many harrowing stories about those critters...among other things as you can imagine a 19 year old boy drafted to fight two tours deep in the jungle would...

Overall, this is a novel I won't forget easily. It was expertly crafted and I have so much respect for Kristin Hannah and her work. I highly recommend this for fans of historical fiction or anyone wanting to learn more about the Vietnam War.

Wow Kristin Hannah. The way she tells stories blows me away. This book was an emotional roller coaster of a journey but I loved it and it got me interested in a topic that I wasn't particularly excited to read about. I appreciate the focus on the WOMEN that served in Vietnam and how they were forever changed by the war. Despite this being a fictional story, the topic was well researched and thoughtfully portrayed. It is hard to fathom the highs and lows of war and what our veterans went through - but I felt like I could glimpse it through Frankie's story. As a heroine Frankie was relatable, compassionate and tenacious. I could not believe how the veterans were treated after returning from war which this book certainly highlighted. SUCH a powerful story- 5 stars.

I also have to recognize the amazing work of Julia Whelan who narrated the audiobook and truly brought all of the characters to life.

The Women
Kristin Hannah

This was without a doubt my most anticipated 2024 release, and I am so grateful to SMP for my physical ARC and my digital ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for my ALC. ❤️ Thank you, #partners.

About: Frances "Frankie" McGrath is a brand new nurse, living on Coronado Island with her wealthy, conservative parents. At her brother Finley's goodbye party, (he's headed to 'Nam), a seed is planted by Finley's friend Rye, that "women can be heroes" too. Working an unsatisfying job changing bed pans and feeling that her life should have more purpose, Frankie makes the compulsive decision to enlist as well. Maybe she'll even get to see her brother! When she's turned away by other arms of the military, she eventually enlists with the Army Nurse Corps.

But things backfire when Frankie receives some devastating news, and much to her surprised disappointment, her parents are against her enlistment. Now she's off to war, illprepared for the atrocities that await her, and feeling completely alone. It's not long before Frankie is thrust into the center of conflict, working in surgery, seeing death and disfigurement around every corner. Forming friendships and companionship with her fellow servicemembers is the one thing that keeps her sane.

When Frankie returns home, she's faced not only with the complete erasure of her experiences by her fellow Americans (most don't even realize women were in Vietnam), but also the trauma she carries with her from what she witnessed. Spanning over a decade, readers take this journey with Frankie as she grapples with the aftermath of Vietnam. Dealing with a myraid of issues, but with a lack of resources (she's a woman, after all), Frankie suffers immensely, struggling to carve out a post-war life.

Thoughts: I remember a conversation with my bookclub a couple years ago about how many WWII books we'd read, and how we wished there were more historical fiction novels about other U.S.-involved wars. I personally mentioned Vietnam, and how much I craved this story. I even went on a deep dive seeking historical fiction set in Vietnam. It's slim pickins, friends. So when I heard that the brilliant Kristin Hannah had written this story, I gasped. This is the book. This is the one I was waiting for. It's just breathtaking.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for Hannah for tackling this topic with nuance, care, and grace. There was a time, while reading, that I doubted the direction she was heading. After all, the U.S.'s role in Vietnam was unethical, with literal war crimes committed, and I was hoping Hannah would touch on this. She does, and I was able to breathe. But in addition to the historical accuracy in which she portrays the Vietnam War itself, I sooo appreciate the way she writes about the aftermath, specifically as it impacted women. I knew very little about women's roles in the war - you just don't hear the stories - so learning that while women may not have been infantry, they were very much in conflict zones and they absolutely saw war. I love the inclusion of friendships and love interests, and the turmoil and growth within the McGrath family. I could go on forever, but I'll stop here, as nothing I say will do this book justice. This is without a doubt one of Hannah's very best and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Another great Kristin Hannah book.

She wrote a story on a subject I know very little about. It angered me throughout t6o see how our government treated veterans, especially women during this time. I'm gonna go out on a limb and says things are still unequal when it comes to the military.

While still historical fiction. Hannah writes with her signature prose, always optimistic, even when turbulent and sad. Frankie McGrath, decides to go to Vietnam to become a GI nurse, where she works endless hours watching people die in a war that should have never taken place to begin with. With no support from her family, who would rather see her stay home and be someone's wife, Frankie comes back a changed person, suffering from PTSD, with no real means of support.

It's a great story, and I already know it's going to be a polarizing 2024 read.

This was my first Kristin Hannah novel. I now understand the appeal. Within these pages I felt like I lived in this novel. I was in Vietnam with Frankie. I saw what she saw, I felt what she felt. I was gutted, wrecked, but I felt the hope that Frankie felt. This atmospheric novel, is the perfect text to grasp just how resilient the human spirit is. Despite all of the atrocities that Frankie witnesses, the loss she endures, and the heartbreak, she finds her way to a place where she can believe in herself and her own capibilities. Frankie is the quintessential feminist. I loved this novel, and though there were times when I audibly moaned, because "how many things can this one woman go through", I didn't want it to end.

A historical fiction masterpiece from Kristin Hannah.

Go ahead and add this one to your book club of February 2024. You’re going to want to read and discuss this one as soon as it comes out.

This story follows Frankie who joins the Army Nurse Corps after her brother ships out to serve in the Vietnam War. She quickly realizes that it may not have been what she expected at all. But she ends up find other women and friends and this story follows their story and their courage. A truly remarkable read.

The Women focuses on the story of Frankie McGrath, a nurse who served in the Vietnam War. Like some of Kristin Hannah’s other books, this story spans over years of the main characters life. The character development is excellent and I was heavily invested in Frankie’s story. Her journey was exciting, surprising, scary, rewarding, full of love, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I also loved the historically accurate timelines, locations, and details that were included. This story fulfills it’s purpose of being a well deserved and moving tribute to the women who served in the Vietnam War,

When Frances "Frankie McGrath's brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path when she hears that women can be heroes too. Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.

Every time I open up a Kristin Hannah novel I get so excited. I have loved all of her books. This story is all about the women, the nurses in the Vietnam War. I think this is the first book that actually is about the women in the Vietnam War. It's about the women who puts themselves in harms way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. It's an emotional story.

Frankie is so brave and strong and has dealt with so much death. Many of the women ended up with PTSD, flashbacks, and nightmares but they couldn't get the help that was needed like the men could.
I loved all of the characters. They were all done so well. I loved the women's friendship. They all had each other's backs. They all were a good support group with each other. This was such a great book.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.

Before diving into what worked and what didn’t, I’m going to lay it out clearly: if you liked Hannah’s previous three novels, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in "The Women." If you didn’t, you won’t find anything to convert you to fandom.

Even though I am a fan – she is an always read author – I’m growing weary of her trauma dumping. You don’t go into a story about a war expecting to feel good, but the depths of suffering Hannah put upon protagonist Frances “Frankie” McGrath reached new levels.

Much like in “The Four Winds,” our main character endures too much pain to be believable for a single person, and in many ways, it distracts from her main points: women are frequently overlooked heroes, and no one ever really leaves a war.

I say that more as a warning to readers than a recommendation to skip “The Women” – it’s definitely worth the time but temper your expectations. While this is in the lower echelon of novels I’ve read by the author, it’s still a solid effort. Hannah’s power as a wordsmith and master of weaving fact with fiction is nearly unparalleled in this genre.

Still, the shortcomings are difficult to ignore, but you can take these more as personal gripes. First, it's far too long with the last third dragging through a mess of repetitive plot points before gaining its footing. Second, there is hardly meaningful character development outside of Frankie. Third, the tonal inconsistencies are jarring.

I’m probably being harsher on the author than other writers, because I know she has it in her to deliver an all-engrossing, stellar read. While “The Women” had its moments, I was ready for it to end. With that said, I never considered giving up on it, because I knew Hannah would make the journey pay off for the reader – and she did with an understated, full circle ending.

This novel will undoubtedly stir difficult and complicated feelings for Boomer readers as she holds no punches documenting the backlash that returning American soldiers faced as the war grew in unpopularity. As a Millennial whose immediate family members were not drafted, it was a surprising and dark footnote.

While Hannah stated a few instances of fudging facts to fit her narrative, this is essentially a true to life recounting of various Vietnam War conflicts – both “in country” and on the homefront. It will anger, challenge and inform readers too young to live through this era, and it certainly piqued my interest to seek out additional perspectives, with several spotlighted in the author’s note.

I didn't love 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 but omg did Kristin Hannah redeem herself with 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝗪𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧. (PUB 02.02 Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC)

I love historical fiction. Specifically, I love historical fiction that is cleverly crafted, resiliently researched and compulsively readable. What I love in equal measure is that her books often focus on a lesser known chapter in history or a topic I know little to nothing about. Of course I know about the Vietnam War, but I was blindsided by the pivotal role women played in the conflict and how they were equally ignored.

This story packs a punch. It has what I've come to expect from Hannah-emotional and unapologetic writing that was immersive and vivid with characters that demonstrate strength, fortitude and vulnerability. I could almost hear the helicopters as my pulse started to race.

My dad was 22 when he served in Vietnam. It was impossible not to picture his face reflected in that of the characters. It hits close to home. I intentionally set it aside at Chapter 18 because I was so absorbed that I needed to take a step back to process and reflect. I appreciate how Hannah took a no holds approach to everything from battle to mental health (PTSD) both while in country and once back home. Unflinching and unforgettable.

FWIW: This is the 10th Kristin Hannah book I've read.

This book was just so good and opened my eyes to a piece of women's history that I previously knew nothing about. Kristin Hannah is a masterful writer and this story was so compelling and beautifully written.

This book wrecked me. There is no better author to write this story than the masterful Kristin Hannah. I'm not sure I can write a review that comes close to describing the feelings this book provoked in me. I received a copy of this book awhile ago and was hesitant to read it because I knew how amazing it was going to be and I wanted to savor that.

This one hits close to home as I'm a military wife and my husband was stationed in Coronado. The book addresses so many important issues and highlights just some of the issues faced during and after a war. I also love the perspective coming from females who served in Vietnam. I really enjoyed the friendship between Frankie, Barb, and Ethel. It is amazing the bond that experiencing trauma together can create. This book is a tribute to the women (and some men) who sacrificed for our country and were not recognized. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. Grab some tissues and pick this one up, you will not regret it!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Women can be heroes too."

Good Lawd! This book broke me. It. BROKE. Me! And I know that's absolutely nothing compared to the brokenness our soldiers experience after fighting in wars and coming back home. This story focuses on the women who fight for our country. And it's no surprise that even in the military the women always end up getting the short end of the stick.

Note: This is a very heavy read with a lot of trigger warnings, so be sure to do your research before diving in.

Sheltered good girl Frances “Frankie” McGrath decides on a different path for her life and impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps, following her brother to the Vietnam War. She was not prepared for the amount of chaos and destruction she was quickly thrown into, despite her lack of experience. But she was even less prepared for the lack of respect and recognition, lack of resources available and the political unease and hostility surrounding America upon her return in the 70's.

Only Kristin Hannah can write such a badass MC and draw you into this devastating yet beautiful story with such beautiful and well-researched storytelling. This book is emotional, heartbreaking and infuriating, but in true Hannah fashion, hope, grit and determination prevail. Phew... I need a drink!

I was incredibly fortunate to receive both an ARC and an ALC for this book. Needless to say, Julia Whelan knocks it out of the park with her narration yet again. It was superb!

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and the wonderful Kristin Hannah for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

And to "The missing. The forgotten. The brave. The women...." who selflessly serve in our military, Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

Kristin never fails to knock it out of the park when it comes to pulling you in and leaving you absolutely devastated and emotionally wrecked!
This is a beautiful story focused on the women of the Vietnam War, where many served as nurses, seeing things most can’t imagine. Much of this is told through the perspective of Frankie, who comes from a well-to-do San Diego family who takes prides in its heroes until it comes to her, joining the Army Nurse Corps. From falling in love to making lifelong friendships with the nurses working alongside her, she finds a purpose in being there for every soldier and civilian brought in. Upon chilly receptions returning home, Frankie and her colleagues, much like in real life, also dealt with people believing propaganda that there were no women in the Vietnam War, that they didn’t have PTSD or receive proper therapy after, resulting addictions, etc, not to mention the heartbreak of losing multiple loved ones in the war.
This was hard to read but so important and a story that will leave me thinking about it for a long time to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This comes out 2/6/24!