The women of the Vietnam War have often been left out of the narrative and Kristin Hannah gives us the opportunity to get to know them through the eyes, and life of a nurse. As with other titles, Hannah, weaves a tale told over many years - and I always enjoy getting to know her characters through a long period of time. Wonderfully touching story.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Frances is almost done with school and is unsure what she wants to do with her life. She decides to enlist which doesn't go well with her family. She made lifelong friends during the horrors of war. When she came home she couldn't live the life her parents wanted. This book was well written.

Outstanding read! Kristin Hannah does it again. This time allowing the reader to experience an accurate picture of women in the Vietnam War, their coming home experience, suffering from PTSD, turning to drugs & alcohol to escape, falling in and failing at love, hitting bottom alone and fighting to recover and find peace for themselves. Kristin has the unique ability of sharing emotions with her readers through her writing...in this case fear, frustration, explosions, sudden losses, desperation, relief, loss, love, happiness, betrayal, etc. I highly recommend this as a total experience in addition to an outstanding read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.

Hannah's latest <i>The Women</i> reveals the heartache and trauma that military nurses experienced in the Vietnam War.

Frankie McGrath is a very young idealistic nurse from Coronado Beach California. She and her brother, Finley, had a lovely joyful childhood playing on the beach and surfing in the waves. Her brother graduated from Annapolis and is promptly sent to Vietnam. For the McGrath men, duty and service to country are honored and expected. Frankie is determined to do her part and enlists as an Army nurse.

Hannah excels at presenting Frankie's overwhelming introduction to Vietnam. Her initial naivete is quickly lost as the work, the violence, the fear and the blood become Frankie's world. Every day brings more experiences that challenge Frankie and her fellow nurses. Quickly they realize that the reality of the war is far different than the rosy outlook presented to the American people.

Great historical fiction.

Ahhhh the tears! Kristin Hannah has yet to write a book that hasn’t gotten the tears flowing. Grab a box of Kleenex for this one.

The first half of the book is jam packed with action that will keep you on your toes and hard to put down. Kristin Hannah has a way of writing that just creates such vivid images, full of raw emotions. This book is no exception.

The next half is slower, but full of the very real struggles that women endured after returning from Vietnam. Things I never knew and cannot imagine going through. Frankie attempted getting help so many times, but was turned away. No one seemed to understand that she needed help or that she couldn’t possible have any struggles because she wasn’t “a man in combat.”

The friendship, or maybe I should call it sisterhood, that the three women (Frankie, Barb, and Ethel) formed was an incredible bond. Nothing could break that. I can only strive to have a friendship with that strong of a bond. The kind where you drop whatever you are doing and show up. No matter what.

This book taught me so much about the war in Vietnam. What the women who serve our country go through. I love the awareness that this book has raised for me. KH has written another incredible book. Easily 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital reviewer’s copy in exchange for my candid thoughts.

Kristin Hannah has the ability to bring characters and stories to life and rip your heart out while she does it. There is a lot of sadness in The Women, but there is also a lot of hope. Frankie, a nurse in the Vietnam War works heroically through horrific situations during her two tours of duty. She comes home with PTSD, no appreciation from the community or her family, and an unbreakable bond with the other war nurses she worked with. They support each other through heartbreak and happiness, and everything in between. This book is a great example of the women's devotion to each other. I loved it. Thank you to NetGally and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

When I begin a Kristin Hannah book, I don't just read the book, I step into the world she has created and usually ignore everything else until I am done! I always look forward to this. Her newest book, The Women, was no different.
My dad was a Vietnam Vet who was drafted and then injured in combat. He had a hard time talking about what he saw and experienced during his time there. He passed away when I was a young teen, and I never felt like I got a full story of how it was for him. Reading this book gave me such an understanding and perspective that I have been unable to find anywhere else. That alone is enough for me to give this book the highest of ratings.
But there's more; the characters in this book are so well developed and believable. The courage and bravery and selflessness these women showed is highlighted and is a story not often told. The book is beautiful and I give it my highest of recommendations!

A wonderful coming of age tale set against the backdrop of the war in Vietnam. Kristin Hannah shows her skills again in this poignant, moving, thrilling, and deeply felt storyline.

The Women (out on 2/6/2024)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book deserves all of the hype it’ll get in Feb ‘24!

Frankie McGrath grew up on Coronado Island with a family that (seemingly) had it all — country clubs, access to the best schools, an annual Fourth of July party that was the talk of the town. When her beloved brother and best friend Finley goes to Vietnam to fight in the war, Frankie, who is studying nursing, feels compelled to follow in his footsteps. What follows is unlike anything Frankie could’ve ever imagined: she is thrown into the heart of the fighting as an Army combat nurse from day one. Readers follow Frankie through the war and its political and societal repercussions on America.

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down — it has action, twists, romance, and great pacing, but most of all, it transported me a time period not too far from our own that I had to know more about. Hearing about Frankie’s bravery on the front AND all of the injustices women vets back in America faced had me like 🥵😳😵🤬🤬 in succession. I’m sure everyone always says this, but it’s WILD to me this was only ~55-60 years ago. My mom was alive, and this was how society viewed and treated women?! Mind-blowing to me, and I’m so glad KH picked this topic for her next book.

I will say, I had one nit-pick in part 1 of the book - mostly because I wanted MORE! I felt like Frankie, Barb, and Ethel became besties super quickly and I wanted to see more play-by-plays of their blossoming relationship. But don’t worry - I see now that KH had a lotttt of time and topics to cover, and we do end up seeing loooots of ways Barb / Ethel / Frankie show up for each other later in the book.

This is type of story that combines the rigor of historical research with human stories and emotions. You read about these events in history books, but 1/ watching it unfold to one person’s life makes it so real, and 2/ we never hear got to hear about them from the female perspective. Highly recommend — and if you needed any more inspo to pick it up in Feb, s/o to my cutie book club who all got to read this early ARC & we are all LOVING it ❤️

Kristin Hannah has absolutely done it again. I devoured this book. This is one that I wish I could read again for the first time. The twists and turns, the emotions…All. The. Emotions. I smiled, i cried, i flashed back to patients from medical school. In true Hannah fashion, I could see the scenes, I could smell the smells, I could feel the desperation and despair. Frankie is a character that I will carry with me for years to come. The less glamorous side of war and medicine. The strength of women when we hold each other up. What a beautiful story. Now when is her next one coming??

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an Advanced Reader Copy of The Women by Kristin Hannah.

There is no one else on Earth that writes historical fiction like Kristin Hannah. Here I am, finishing The Women at nearly 5 a.m. and crying over this story.

The Women is about the combat nurses who served in the Vietnam War and came home to being treated like they were invisible. These women had no support and had to deal with the trauma of war on their own, while being told there were no women in Vietnam.

I forget I’m reading a book when it’s something by Kristin Hannah, and this one was no different. She draws you in and makes you feel like you’re in the story.

I think one of my favorite aspects of this book is that it doesn’t glorify or justify war. Instead it asks: What’s the point? How many lives lost are too many? When is enough enough? And my favorite question: Why is the government lying to us about it?

This emotional roller coaster releases February 6, 2024 and I highly recommend it.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review this amazing novel about the women who served in Vietnam. Kristin Hannah has brought this period of time to life through this book and it’s protagonist, Frankie. Through her amazing descriptions I was able to imagine this character’s experience as being my own from 60 years ago. I struggle to find the words to do this book justice. I simply couldn’t put it down, from the very beginning to the very end. I’ve never had a historical fiction novel, especially about a war, grip me so much to the point where I’m now depressed that there is nothing left to read. The book ended. Kristin Hannah has outdone herself and I see this book becoming a must read by everyone who’s ever experienced trauma, of any kind. Absolutely one of the best books I’ve read in a long long time. Do not miss out on this one!!! Start reading now! You won’t regret it!

This is a remarkable record of how women served in the hated war that took place in the 1960's in Vietnam. It was an era I lived through and when I picked up the book initially to start reading I backed away from it. I then corrected that action by carefully reading this moving book that effectively gives recognition to the women who nursed the casualties and managed to adjust to the hardships, weather and demands of the military they served. The author includes the added difficulties coming from disagreements and conflict of those who served in office in the US. There is conflict, blood, death, heroism and inspired service from a very special group of women. This is a very moving record of their challenges.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Frankie comes from a well-to-do family that places huge value on the honor of military service (for the men). Her plan is to go to nursing school and marry and have children, just like her mother taught her. After her beloved brother, Finley, dies in action in the war in Vietnam, she feels called to serve as well. She's is in for a rude awakening but quickly finds her footing with the help of two amazing women who become family. She becomes as kick ass nurse in the process.
After her service, she returns home but she expects to be treated like a hero. Instead ,she is met with shame and anger. He father doesn't consider her a hero and actually lied to everyone about where Frankie has been. Anytime Frankie reaches out for help, she's told that women didn't serve in the war. As she descends into darkness, her friends are her only constant. Frankie fights to find meaning and joy from a life and country she no longer recognizes.

Wonderful book! Frankie is a character that will stay with me for a while. She made me feel her joy, sadness, heartbreak and pain. I desperately wanted her to succeed and was satisfied with the ending we got! I love how her found family was always there for her. It was so lovely to read about women supporting each other through all! I highly recommend this book. I would not recommend reading it in the middle seat on a 3+ hr flight. 😭🤣

The Women. by Kristin Hannah is an emotional roller coaster and written with such passion you will not be able to put it down and will be wishing for it to never end. The story follows Frankie who lives an extremely comfortable life at the beach with her parents, all that changes when she makes a decision that will change her forever.
Frankie makes it her mission to go to nursing school so she can join the army and be with her brother in Vietnam. Nothing goes as planned and Frankie has a rude awakening when she has to face all the tragedy and strife the war brings. After her tour is up and she returns home, she realizes that her personal war has followed, bringing with it addiction, PTSD and a country that hated everything to do with the Vietnam war, including those who served.
I loved this novel, and it is my favorite I have read this year, it will stay with me forever. You will immediately bond with the characters, the story and experience many emotions. I strongly recommend this book along a with box of tissues. I give a big thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for this ARC.

5 huge stars for this wonderful novel.

The novel starts out in an upper-class, California family, with a girl named Frankie. She has recently graduated from nursing school and with her brother being sent to Vietnam, she feels compelled to join and Army and offer her nursing services (which her family is none too happy about). After being shipped to Vietnam, Frankie is quit literally put under fire and has to learn on the job quick!

Hannah vividly details the villages, hospitals, Quonsets and other locations in Vietnam so much that I felt like I was playing a movie in my head. As someone who was not born during Vietnam, I was shocked at so many of the horrors Frankie experienced in Vietnam and when she returned. The statement shoved down her throat that, "There were no women in Vietnam", made my heart hurt and I was so angry for all those who put their lives on the line only to be told they weren't there. My heart ached for the characters who were clearly experiencing PTSD (which was not an actual diagnosis at this time).

The characters are so lovable, but also incredibly flawed. I found myself rooting for everyone so much and was so upset when they made poor choices. This books explores PTSD, alcoholism, addiction, and more. The friendship between Frankie, Barb and Ethel was one of my favorite female friendships I’ve read about in a long time. I feel like their friendship was one of the few constants Frankie had in her life.

This story had me on a rollercoaster of emotions where I was happy and heartbroken all at the same time. Put this on your TBR, it's a good one. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Women" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. Finally! I just read so many books that I didn't really like. So, The Women... I actually really liked! I do like historical fiction and sometimes it can get boring, but not this book. It was so interesting and not overly war detailed that you would lose interest. You will laugh, cry, scream and you will want these characters to be your friends. It was overall excellent!

I never thought I would love a book just as much as my all time favorite book, "The Nightingale", but Kristin Hannah has done it again. "The Women" was an amazing historical fiction story that I think about daily even after I have finished reading it. I love that Kristin writes about strong women in all her books but this one will always have a special place in my heart.

This one was a slow start for me - I wasn't sure about it at first but then, wow, what a memorable, engaging story. It doesn't turn out the way you might expect! Plus, growing up in the late 70s and 80s, it was fun to notice the nostalgic pop culture references throughout, and I learned so much about what was happening in the world while I was too young to remember or understand the importance of what was going on.

Sometimes I forget how 'epic' Kristin Hannah's books can feel. I read a lot a lot of nonfiction so a longer, developed storyline can feel slow when you're generally used to 200-pagers. But, I like to break it up with fiction so I was delighted to get approved by Netgalley for this ARC and even happier that it was worth it; a memorable read.

Frankie McGrath lives on Coronado Island and the Viet Man War is going on. Her father keeps photos of those in the family who have served in war and her brother signs up to go. At her brother’s going away party his best friend Finley tells her women can be heroes as well as men. Frankie is not interested in marrying right now so she becomes a nurse and goes to Viet Nam herself. Barb and Ethel served with Frankie, showing her the ropes and encouraging her through dreadful surgeries. They also knew how to find ways to give her some relief from the war. I think this book is extremely important. There are books on men and the Viet Nam War but women and hospitals are not featured in a historical fiction book. So many people did not believe she was in Viet Nam and when she needed help returning home there was no support. The fun the troops had between harrowing experiences at the hospital were welcomed and showed the need for breaks from war. Frankie’s love interests were endearing. I liked how the book focused on war efforts at home while there was little help from most people. Great characters and wonderful book!