Best listen of the year. Best listen in a long time. But what do we really expect from Kristen Hannah? Great character development, great descriptive settings, excellent storyline. The pace was perfect. My only negative is that by the end it started to feel a little too much - too tragic - which made it less of a believable experience. How much trauma and tragedy and loss can one woman survive? But I still give the book 5 stars. Loved the narration - no complaints there. Would listen to this narrator again for sure! And a narrator can make or break an audiobook for me. This one made it!

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

Absolutely devastating in the best way. The Women is one of those books that lingers — not just because of what it says about war, loss, and resilience, but because of how it centers the kind of story we don’t tell often enough.

This is Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s story — a young woman who answers the call to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam, only to return to a country that wants to forget she was ever there. Her journey, both during the war and in the long, aching years after, is filled with heartbreak, anger, courage, and a raw honesty that just wrecked me. Kristin Hannah doesn’t hold back — the descriptions are vivid, the emotional beats hit hard, and the friendships between the women? Unforgettable.

It’s not always easy to read, but it is necessary. There’s a righteous fury beneath the surface, especially in how the narrative confronts the way female veterans were ignored, dismissed, and erased. Frankie’s evolution is powerful, and by the end, I felt like I’d walked every mile of it with her.

Bring tissues. And then go hug a nurse.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Kristin Hannah for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is available now.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not going to lie—this book is hard to get through. Not because the writing isn’t brilliant or the story isn’t captivating, but because the subject matter is some of the most emotionally difficult I’ve ever read—and I’m a grizzled WWII historical fiction girly.

The Women breaks your heart almost immediately, which, strangely enough, I appreciated. It sets the tone and signals early on what kind of story you’re about to experience. Frankie, a sheltered socialite from Coronado Island in California, loses her brother in the Vietnam War. After a conversation with his best friend and a lifetime of hero-worship instilled by her father, Frankie decides that women can be heroes too—and enlists as an Army nurse.

Frankie’s arrival in Vietnam is a brutal wake-up call. Naive but honorable, she is quickly grounded by the reality of war. Fortunately, two fellow nurses—Barb and Ethel—help her adjust and find her footing. The first part of the novel follows Frankie’s experiences in Vietnam, but this isn’t just a war story. It’s a story about survival, return, and the long, painful path to healing.

Coming home proves to be even harder than the war itself. PTSD wasn’t widely recognized at the time, so Frankie believes she’s losing her mind. She struggles to reintegrate into civilian life while also navigating the heartbreaking truth of being an “invisible” veteran. Time and time again, she’s told that her suffering isn’t real or doesn’t matter. But along the way, she finds people who do understand—and with their help, she begins the slow work of healing. Eventually, Frankie not only finds peace but also builds a space for other women veterans to heal, too.

The friendship between Frankie, Barb, and Ethel is the beating heart of this novel. These women drop everything when one of their own is in need. They don’t have all the answers, but they show up—and their love and loyalty help Frankie save herself.

This story is unlike anything I’ve read. Kristin Hannah continues to earn her reputation not just as an incredible writer and storyteller, but as someone who brings untold yet essential stories to life.

Ultimately, the most powerful love story in The Women isn’t romantic—it’s a love letter to women. To the women who go where they’re needed without recognition. To the women who build community, lift each other up, and quietly carry the world on their backs.

This book was devastating—I don’t think I went more than 50 pages without crying—but it was so, so worth it.

This audiobook has been sitting in my Netgalley account for over a year because I knew it was going to be an emotional listen. I finally picked it up this week and couldn't stop listening. Julia Whelan's narration of The Women is pitch perfect, and I will definitely be picking up more of Hannah's backlist soon.

What a ride!

As usual Kristin brings sweeping storytelling with a heavy dose of emotion. The pride and anger and forbidden love on display throughout this book was visceral.

I appreciated not only the book for the entertainment value, but I felt like I came away having learned more about a time period and conflict I don’t know much about.

Vivid settings, characters that put you through all the emotions and conflict both internal and external on display the entire time. Another fabulous offering from Kristin Hannah and perfectly narrated by Julia Whelan!

Holy moly folks, I officially have a new favorite Kristin Hannah novel! The Women completely destroyed me and this is going to be a top favorite of all time as well as easily making my top 25 in 2025 list. I wish I hadn’t waited a year to read it, though part of me kept putting it off because I had a feeling I was going to love it, and it’s not like I can ever read it again fresh. It’s rare that I read historical fiction that isn’t focused on WWII, and it was refreshing to get a Vietnam War storyline for once. I was riveted to the book and after I started the audiobook, I didn’t put it down until I was done. Frankie’s story was one of courage and heartache and I found myself thinking hasn’t this poor girl been through enough? It hurts to know her story, despite being fictional, is a very real experience women had of the war.

I will forever be singing praises for the audiobook as well and I loved that Julia Whelan (the queen 👑 of audio narration) was the voice of our girl Frankie. It was also wonderful to have the author herself read the dedication as well as her author’s note and acknowledgements. Whelan perfectly expressed every emotion that was in this story and the author’s note made even more of an impact on me after finishing the book. The pacing was very steady though there was a lot more graphic description and action during the time Frankie was in Vietnam. I learned so much about the political climate during that time as well as the war itself, and I loved the mix of that with an epic story of love, family, friendship, and betrayal. Triggers should be checked prior to reading, but this would make an excellent book club pick, and I would love to see it onscreen someday!

Read this if you are looking for beautifully vivid writing, female strength in desperate times, and a dash of romance.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one was fabulous. Bringing a new twist is perfect. It’s really telling! This was a raw account of how our society treated these men and women. How one women coped and moved on from what she thought was doing good!
5⭐️

This book was well written, relatable characters, thought provoking. Kristin Hannah did not disappoint. I would recommend this to our patron as new genre, as well as historical fiction fans.

Okay, okay. This will be a hard one, every one LOVES this book. It is compulsively readable.. but frankly… cheesy and in a lot of ways I found it exhausting.

Where credit is due- Hannah hit gold with the subject matter and topic of this book. There should be more historical fiction about the Vietnam war. There should be more historical fiction about women being soldiers or nurses or ANYTHING in active combat zones. Women can be (and have been) wartime heroes too!

But anyway, this specific story just doesn’t resonate with me emotionally. It’s a super cinematically written series of tragic clichés. And I understand it but I don’t feel it. Frankly, I’m just not convinced by the characters. Super close wartime friendships forged quickly in life and death scenarios exist, it’s just that this focuses so much more heavily on poorly constructed love at first sight romantic relationships. It feels like a missed opportunity. Over and over again we get stuck with a brooding man struck dumb by Frankie but whoops, he’s already married. Frankie’s a good girl so she won’t be the other woman but whoops, she’s already in love. I’m not going to say it’s not realistic or would never happen (obviously it does) but honestly. Every situation with these guys begins with them lying to Frankie and if I were her in those scenarios I’d be pissed. Some guy you just met makes a pass at you and forgets to mention he has a wife? Pass. End the relationship there and let’s get back to the rest of the story. A relationship being tragic does not equate it being romantic.

Now there’s definitely poignant moments and really strong emotional layers to this book. Sadly, there’s not a whole lot of driving plot beyond the romance. Frankie’s friendships with her nurses in arms are so compelling, I wish it was delved into more. Frankie’s struggles with PTSD are complex and beautifully visceral but it becomes an unfortunate side caddy to her toxic relationships with unavailable men, I wish it felt focal for more than the last 10% of the story. It’s disappointing to say the least when there was so much potential for more.

So yeah. I guess I’m that person who trashes everyone’s favorite book. I’m so sorry and I hope you loved this but I thought it was just alright.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a breathtaking tribute to the unsung heroines of the Vietnam War, delivering a deeply emotional and beautifully written story that lingers long after the final page. Known for her ability to craft strong, complex female characters, Hannah truly outdoes herself with this novel, giving voice to the brave women who served and the personal battles they faced both abroad and at home.

The story follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who volunteers to serve in Vietnam, only to be met with the brutal realities of war and the even harsher judgment upon returning home. Hannah’s portrayal of Frankie’s emotional journey is raw and authentic, capturing the loneliness, trauma, and resilience that define so many veterans’ experiences.

What makes The Women truly shine is its balance of historical depth and emotional storytelling. Hannah doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war or the painful aftermath, but she also highlights the strength of friendship, the courage to speak the truth, and the power of finding one’s voice in a world determined to silence it.

This is not just a war story—it’s a story about identity, sacrifice, and the long-overdue recognition of women who fought just as hard, but were too often forgotten. Poignant, powerful, and beautifully written, The Women is Kristin Hannah at her absolute best. An essential read that will both break your heart and inspire it.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
QUICK BITS
Women in war
Misogony
Friendship
Nurse in combat

REVIEW
I am a Kristin Hannah stan. Generally, I love everything she writes.

As a whole work, this book is no different.

It is such an important story to be told, there is so much nuance and insight that I think is important for everyone to read.

However, for me I just didn’t enjoy this one as much I have her others.

The writing, characters, and atmoshpere were superb as always. KH will always deliver on those fronts.

For me, however, I didn’t love the overall plot and pace of the story which in turn hurt my overall enjoyment.

I think indiviidually the time before the war, in the war, and return were important pieces to our chracters story as a whole. They set us up for the overall purpose of this book and what can happen when those who have not served are givien the resources or recognition they desparatley need.

But how those pieces came together just didn’t quite have the impact I am used to.

Would I reccomend this book to most readers? 1,000% yes!

Like I said the overall story and themes are stellar. Just overall, it was not one that came together fully for me.

RATINGS
8 Characters
7 Atmosphere
9 Writing Style
6 Plot
5 Pace
6 Intrigue
7 Enjoyment

TOTAL= 48/14= 3.43

3.50/5.00 Rounded Rating

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

3 stars

This will be contrary to many other opinions out there but I felt like this was all over the place. I love that Kristen Hannah takes on stories that deserve to be told but this one didn't resonate with me beyond the historical perspective. The PTSD portrayal was well done but the romantic elements were a little too insta-love for me to believe they were genuine. I really wanted to cheer for this one but I wasn't able to.

Oh @kristinhannahauthor - why do you do this to me? 😭 What a read! #TheWomen will definitely be one of my top reads of the year. I don’t have a physical copy and I regret not purchasing this beautiful UK edition when I visited @landrbookshop last month. I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic. OMG @justjuliawhelan, your narration was superb!! 🎯🤩 ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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First and foremost, Kristin Hannah can write her tail off. She knows how to tell a good darn story. From the moment I started listening to this audiobook, I was consumed. It takes some really good writing, especially when listening to a book, for the reader to feel the true essence of the setting and time period. Kristin Hannah nails this!! Not only do you get the feeling surrounding the war but you also see how little rights women had. There were also reflection points as I was reminded that we actually smoked cigarettes on planes and in hospitals.😏 My heart ached, I teared up, I was angry, I yelled at several of the characters and laughed a little. My emotions were all over the place but when the story ended I felt thankful. Thankful for women who time and time again show up and serve in many capacities!! ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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“There were no women in Vietnam.” Imagine serving as a U.S. combat nurse in the Vietnam War and coming home to a country who completely ignores your existence or service in the war. This is the story about the women, the combat nurses who served during the Vietnam War. Frankie, oh Frankie. I loved Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath’s vulnerability and spirit. She was human in every way possible. I yelled at her a couple of times. More than anything, I loved her friendship with Barb and Ethel. This story is so well crafted. I’m still in my feelings.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a stunning, emotional journey that I experienced through the audiobook format, and it was nothing short of captivating. Narrated beautifully, the voice acting perfectly brought to life the poignant and powerful story of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young woman who leaves behind her sheltered life in Southern California to serve as a nurse in the Vietnam War. The depth of emotion in the narrator's voice, paired with the rich narrative, made me feel as though I was living each moment alongside the characters.

The story itself, revolving around Frankie’s courage, growth, and the relationships she forms with fellow nurses and soldiers, was incredibly moving. Kristin Hannah’s mastery in crafting historical fiction is on full display here. Though I don’t typically gravitate toward historical fiction, this book left such a strong impression on me that it is now one of my all-time favorites. The audiobook allowed me to fully immerse myself in the trauma, hope, and ultimate healing of these extraordinary women, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating every chapter.

For anyone who loves a gripping, emotionally rich narrative with unforgettable characters, The Women is an audiobook that should not be missed. Kristin Hannah has done it again, and this is an absolute must-listen!

This book toook me on an emotional roller coaster, which is to be expected in any Kristin Hannah book.
I cried multiple times.
No notes. So good. All the stars.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s a beautifully written story that captures the strength, resilience, and camaraderie of women in a challenging time. The characters felt so real, and their struggles and triumphs left a lasting impact. The historical setting was vivid and immersive, pulling me into their world completely. It’s an empowering and heartfelt read that I couldn’t put down!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Goodreads Choice Awards Winner - Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction

Goodreads Choice Awards Final Round - Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction

Goodreads Choice Awards Opening Round - Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction

We all know the Goodreads Choice Awards are a popularity contest. As someone that went into this knowing I wouldn't like it, I'll try to keep this positive. To the person who said hate reads were out for 2025, fuck you, I'm always out.

When I search Libby for books about Vietnam, it is hard to find anything written by Vietnamese or Vietnamese diaspora writers. Most are written by bitter white men that served in the war, which in Vietnam is known as the American War.

Do I think another white person needed to write a Vietnam War book? No. Is it made slightly better by the fact that it is written by a woman about a woman? Maybe.

Take a peek at the five star reviews. Nearly all are from white women. That's fine. Read what you like. I certainly won't police that. But for me, this story is unnecessary. Frankie is one of the most unlikable characters I have ever read about. Do not @ me. I read plenty of books that I end up loving, where I hate most of the characters.

See my squabbles below. Play my little drinking game. Die of alcoholism. Frankie should've. While I'm being a Grammar Nazi, should've = should have. If I see one more person write should of, I will lose my shit.

🍜 Take a shot every time a white woman recommends this book
🍜 Take a shot every time Frankie says "in his language." It's not any language. It's Vietnamese, a language spoken by 85 million people.
🍜 Take a shot every time the narrator says Tết wrong
🍜 Take a shot every time Frankie feels like a poor little rich white girl
🍜 Take a shot every time a man says "there were no women in Vietnam"

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

I received this book for review a day before it was released, so I apologize for the delay.

I can never quite find the words to express how I feel after I finish a Kristin Hannah book. This one made me feel all of the emotions; anger, shock, sadness, happiness, hope. Thank you to the Women of 'Nam for your service. I'm thankful that you brave women were there and for all you did, and my heart breaks at not only what you went through, but the lack of America's recognition for your sacrifices.

Kristin Hannah is the best. This book was exceptional and provided so much perspective on what it was like for women to serve during the Vietnam War. Engaging story, fascinating characters, and hard to put down.