I will probably be the only person you hear from that didn't LOVE this book. My book club was 13-1. I love Kristin Hannah and have enjoyed every one of her books except I have to give "The Women" a solid "C." As a reader of a certain age, I grew up watching every episode of M*A*S*H - the novel felt like a complete rip-off of the TV show or the show "China Beach." Frankie's family is so stereotypical it was painful. I did appreciate the women's friendships, but believe only in fiction can your two best friends, that live a continent away, are able to be at your side in hours. Sorry, I stand alone.

One of the best story tellers of our time. Her writing keeps getting better. This was a time period that I had never read and the characters and her struggles will live in my head rent free.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

📱 THE WOMEN by @kristinhannahauthor
5 stars

Genre: historical fiction
Did I cry: does a bear shit in the woods
Published in 2024

💭: i don’t think there are enough words to accurately portray this book & how i felt about it. This was my 18th KH book & it has been so amazing to watch her continue to outdo herself with each succeeding novel she puts out. The way that she’s begun to use her talent to highlight overlooked portions of specific periods in history, this one being the women of the Vietnam War, specifically the nurses.

This book began tearing my heart to shreds at around 18% and only continued as the book went on. The characters are all so integral to the story. They’re complex and show true human nature especially at time of conflict — both on a global scale and on an individual level. I know I’m going to run out of space in this caption so just know that the characters, the setting, the writing, the plot, the pacing, everything was perfect. I have never had such visceral reactions to books before. I was so emotionally invested that the anxiety i was feeling caused me to have to put the book down at times. But that’s how you know a book is so good.

I had a tiny bit of beef with a part of the ending. I know why it was the way that it was but I almost wish for a slightly different version of events at the end of the book. But in retrospect, I’m glad that it was the way that it was & really hammered home the message of the book. If you haven’t, this book is an absolute must read.

This is a moving story about the women nurses in Viet Nam and the aftermath of what it was like to come home to a country that didn't recognize them as heroes often not even by other Viet Nam vets and the toll that took on them. They were expected to come home and act like nothing happened even though they also endured trauma like the men did. It was like watching one of the characters from "China Beach" come home and have to re-enter the regular world. Kristen Hannah has become one of my favorite authors I appreciate the research she did for this book. Parts of the book did feel a little melodramatic to me, especially when she returns from the war but it was still a great read that I highly recommend.

Love, love, love. Surprisingly my first Kristin Hannah book (though I have had all her historical fiction on my to-read list for quite a while) and I will absolutely be reading her others as soon as possible. The writing was so engrossing and the setting was very vivid, I never wanted to stop reading.

Every Kristin Hannah book is a masterpiece. Always so amazing. Strong female characters. Just beautiful! Thank you so much for this copy.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All I can say is this was an engaging and engrossing read. This book was powerful and emotional and gave me all of the feels. Kristin Hannah has crafted a well researched story that makes you think. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

Well my first Kristin Hannah book. It was good. Really long, but really good. Lots of historical facts. I am a nurse myself so it was really great to read about courageous women helping during the times of war.

Amazing. As someone who does not typically read Historical Fiction, I was hesitant to pick this up. However, once I did, I could not put it down. Beautifully written. Five stars!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Can Kristin Hannah write a bad book? I don't think so, honestly it's hard to give it a fair review because I'm so loyal to her. I don't have any complaints except that I have to wait for her next book

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital arc. The Viet Nam War made up the “soundtrack” of my high school and college years. Whether it was the scenes of battles, casualties, and destruction on the nightly news, the protests in the cities and on college campuses, the family arguments over the pros and cons of the war, or the family and friends who were drafted or enlisted, the soundtrack never stopped. One group that was quietly neglected stateside was the front line the nursing corp. Kristin Hannah brings the lives of three young nurses to life, both before they served, during their service, and after. They came from very different backgrounds, but their shared passion to save lives, and their subsequent emotional traumas, joined them for life. Although it is fiction, it is another missing piece in the history of those years, which was 1965-1975 for me. Do not hesitate to read this book. It may be Hannah's best.

I consider this Kristin Hannah at her absolute best. Emotionally gripping from the very beginning and also giving us a glimpse of history from a unique perspective. I appreciate the time and attention she puts into the details of the history every time. The Women is a must read.

This was another hit by Kristin Hannah. I was so interested to learn about women during the Vietnam War. I had no idea their role or poor treatment of those that contributed so much to the cause. I also really enjoyed the different time periods and parts of the book, it felt like multiple books in one and was a well-layered story.

I love all of Kristin Hannah’s books. This one was no different. Kristin Hannah knows how to tell a great story & get you all emotional.

I’m definitely in the minority when it comes to this book. First, I will say that I appreciated that the novel was something other than WW2. As always, Hannah’s writing was very good and she obviously did her research on this time in history.

I found that there was very little plot in this novel and even though the title is called “The Women”, it really only focused on the main character, who I was not a fan of. This book was also very long and repetitive. Every tragedy that could happen to someone, occurred in this novel, and it became a little too much for me. Honestly, it took me awhile to read this one because I had very little desire to continue. A highly anticipated read became one of my most disappointed reads this year.

I really enjoyed this book! Such an interesting topic that's not often written about, so I learned a ton in addition to enjoying myself. I do wish the author had defined some more terms or given a little more background for Vietnam War-era phrases like Charlie or Agent Orange, but it didn't detract from the book. I really liked the characters and their development, and the twists that kept coming. My only complaint was the "back from the dead" person at the end.... one, maybe - but two? Unbelievable... and I had so many questions... I wish that had just been laid to rest (literally and figuratively). I'll continue to look for more fascinating and engaging works from this talented author!

This book was very hyped up. I attended a speech by the author. I got a signed copy in addition to reading it here. I think all they hype made me have feelings of not wanting to read the book. It's good writing, and as much as I know that and like what I read, I can't get into it. I keep picking it up and putting it back down. I will finish it eventually. I know everyone that has read it has loved it. Perhaps I'm just feeling so much pressure to like it that I don't.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't say more positive things about this book.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a powerful historical novel that follows the journey of a young nurse, Frankie McGrath, who serves in the Vietnam War and faces the harsh realities of both war and the turbulent social climate of 1960s America. Known for her emotionally rich storytelling, Hannah delves into themes of courage, resilience, and the often-overlooked sacrifices of women in combat. Frankie’s character arc is compelling as she navigates trauma, loss, and her struggle to find her place in a world that doesn't fully understand her experience. While it may be intense and heavy at times, The Women offers a poignant tribute to the forgotten female heroes of history, making it an impactful read for fans of historical fiction with strong emotional depth.

This book was SO beautifully written. I’m not normally an emotional reader, but Ms. Hannah always seems to find a way to make me cry. Absolutely loved this story and even had my whole book club read it as well!