Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. She always delivers a novel that evokes strong emotions and transports me to another place.
What a powerful read! I had to stop reading at various points to give myself time to absorb and process the events in the story. I was aware of the Vietnam War (teenager at the time), but this is my first exposure to the role of women there.

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors, so I was so excited to get an ARC copy of The Women which is her new book that is coming out in February 2024. As with a lot of her recent books, The Women deals with a very heavy topic, but Kristin Hannah brings the story and characters to life through her writing.
It's 1965. After her brother leaves to serve in Vietnam, Francis "Frankie" McGrath enlists in the Vietnam War to be an army nurse.
The first half of book is action packed as the reader is introduced to the other army nurses, doctors, and the non stop action of the hospital where they worked.
The story slows a bit when Frankie arrives back home to an America she doesn't recognize. Her parents don't acknowledge her service nor do fellow Americans. She goes through a very rough few years struggling with PTSD in a world where it is not fully recognized. No one was willing to help a women vet since there were "no women in Vietnam". When she eventually makes it through her struggles, she realizes the importance of her family and friends.
I absolutely loved the female friendship shown in this book. This was overall a heartbreaking story but an important one. I loved learning about the brave, strong women who served in Vietnam. Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

This is well-researched historical-fiction set primarily in the 1960’s, revolving around the war in Vietnam and the devastating as well as lasting tragic effects of war. Kudos to the author for a brutal and honest presentation of the facts that are often overlooked in history books, such as the American government was using “death as the success matrix” but was reporting low and unrealistic numbers for deaths on the American side. One strong point of this novel is its look at the lives that are emotionally damaged, sometimes beyond repair, even if it looks like a person has made it home in one piece. However, this is more than just a tale of war because the personal lives and loves are also seamlessly interwoven into the history of an infamous span of years.

Although told from the third-person point of view, the primary focus is on Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young registered nurse from a wealthy San Diego family, who shocks and angers her parents when she enlists as an Army Corps nurse. The pace and interest level of the book increases once Frankie is shipped out. Quickly, she learns that people involved in the war – the nurses as well as the male soldiers - “age in dog years.” There are a lot of good details to establish that era (Frankie must wear a tight girdle and hose under her crisp nurse’s uniform on the long flight to Southeast Asia), but there also are heart-wrenching details about the horrors of Agent Orange, rough amputations to save lives, and the sad poverty of local people whose lives really wouldn’t have changed much no matter who was in power in Vietnam. That is until other countries got involved in what was Vietnam’s civil war.

This book covers a lot of events both in North America and Vietnam: the divided opinions within the USA since the military system at that time still drafted young men, Bobby Kennedy’s 1968 assassination, the difficulty of adjusting to civilian life once back home, care and/or the lack of it from the V.A., and even the controversy surrounding the 1982 Vietnam Memorial, that glossy black wall of over 58,000 names. There were moments where I felt like the book should have ended rather than taking the story into another decade. However, there is value in seeing the end result of war trauma if people are going to learn from history. I wiped away tears many times on pages that followed a point at which I'd wondered if the book should have been brought to a close..

People who have lost friends or family in war – whether on the battlefield abroad or battling inner demons at home – will probably feel the strongest emotional connection to the characters in this story. This is good story-telling and powerful images; perhaps the strongest criticism is that our young female main character had the wealth of her Coronado Island, California, family to repeatedly fall back on for life-saving help. I think book clubs will have lively discussions with this novel. It was a worthwhile reading experience, and I have rounded my rating up to a 5.

Wow! What a journey! Kristin Hannah has a way of pulling you into some troubling times in history and keeping you there through her gift of storytelling. Even when I wanted to look away and put the book down, I couldn’t stop reading.
Normally, I would never pick a book about Vietnam to read, but I knew if Kristin Hannah wrote it, not only would I love the characters, I’d learn so much along the way.

My family is a Navy family. I was even a Navy officer wife. I had relatives that served in the Army during Vietnam and I still didn’t know much about the war. I definitely never thought about the women that served during that time. I do now! I’ll never think of it the same again. This is such a gripping story and heartbreaking time in our history.

Thank you to NetGalley for sharing this early copy with me. I am so grateful to have learned about the women of Vietnam.

Brilliant. Eerie. Accurate. Sometimes overpowering in its realness.

Having lived in the era this story takes place in, I can only say "Wow" to Kristin Hannah's newest novel. She captures the mood of the times. The fear flows through her pages. The tension of the times are spot on.

I don't want to touch on the plot because it's too good to spoil even part of it. Suffice it to say, this may be Ms. Hannah's best book yet . . . . and she has had some outstanding ones.

Thank you, Kristin, for capturing the full flavor of those decades.

An incredibly powerful and impactful story.

I’m struggling to form the right words to adequately describe the impact of what I just finished reading and to try to do justice to this incredible piece of work. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to receive an advance copy. Having ties to Coronado, I couldn’t wait to read this. However, I was not prepared for this heavy, heavy material. The first half was especially difficult for me to read. It’s very descriptive in regards to the traumas in a combat hospital. Not being born during in this era, everything was very eye-opening to me. I had never heard or learned about most of the things I read. I was discussing the book with my mother, who grew up in Coronado, and she reaffirmed everything the book described.

Very thought provoking. I think this is going to sit with me for a while.

THANK YOU NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration.

Powerful. Kristin Hannah has been writing stories of powerful women lately as she did with THE FOUR WINDS, THE NIGHTENGALE, THE GREAT ALONE and now with THE WOMEN. The story centers around nurse Frankie McGrath and her service in Viet Nam and what happens when she comes home. I was a child in this era but was aware of many of the concepts described by Hannah. From the music, movies and fashion of the time to Kennedy's assassination to the war protests it took me right back. It was, as they say, a turbulent time in America. We have all watched MASH but this really brings it home about the role of women in the war and at that time. I highly recommend this novel. You won't regret it.

Kristin Hannah's latest masterpiece, "The Women," is a riveting story about the horrors of the Vietnam War and the lasting effects the survivors had to shoulder when they came home. The story rattles with grief, despair, suffering and shame shown through the eyes of Frances (Frankie) McGrath.

The story unfolds in 1966 on Coronado Island, San Diego. Frankie's parents are holding a send-off party for Frankie's brother, Finley, who as a Naval Academy graduate has "...a cushy assignment aboard a ship." Frankie fears for her brother's safety in Vietnam, but the war is supposed to be over shortly with no bloodshed. That same night at her parents' house one of Finley's friends utters words that will change her life; "women can be heroes." These words will continue to resonate with her as she tries to figure out her place in the world.

Frankie becomes a nurse and then impulsively decides to join the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam to make a difference by saving lives and hopefully spending time with Finley for the remainder of his tour. Despite her parents' misgivings and lack of support, Frankie eventually flies out to Vietnam and is initially stationed at a evacuation hospital sixty miles from Saigon. For the next two years, Frankie witnesses the unimaginable horrors of the war as she eventually becomes a very skilled surgical nurse. Although she develops a lasting friendship with two other nurses, she also experiences love and heartache.

Upon returning home, Frankie realizes that the war veterans from Vietnam are treated with shame and distrust. Women, especially, are not recognized for their life-saving efforts as nurses. Most people do not even realize that women served in Vietnam and that they too are war veterans. As Frankie tries to carve out a semblance of a normal life, she suffers from PTSD which leads to nightmares, acute anxiety, alcoholism and drugs. As Frankie grapples with her heart-wrenching problems, she must eventually try to forge a new life for herself.

Kristin Hannah has once again created an epic story of courage and resilience in a formidable era of American history. This will educate many readers on the atrocities of the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of the survivors. Remember to keep your tissues handy. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I finished Kristin Hannah’s upcoming novel, The Women, a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. If you’ve loved Hannah’s recent books—and I think especially if you loved The Nightingale—I’m almost certain you will devour this entry into the “forgotten women of modern history” genre that she has become the queen of.

This book tells the story of Frankie, who becomes an Army nurse during Vietnam, following in her brother’s footsteps of volunteering for the war and desperate to make her father proud. Frankie comes from a long-line of veterans, and wants to become one of the heroes she has spent her whole life hearing about.

The first half of the novel takes place in Vietnam, and is a brutal look at the atrocities of war and what the men and women who worked at the field hospitals faced. At first, Frankie is unprepared and feels in over her head, but quickly the exploding world around her becomes the only thing she knows. This section of the book moves incredibly quickly—and at times it feels like it is moving SO quickly you don’t have time to become attached to the relationships she is forming. I do think, however, this was an intentional choice and helped show the reality of how blindingly fast things must have been at the time and how transient a lot of those relationships must have felt. 

The second half of the novel takes place when Frankie returns home, only to find the country she left drastically changed. She does not receive the heroes welcome she had always dreamed of, but rather a hostile environment that makes her feel ashamed of her service. She feels unwelcome even in the spaces made for veterans who make it clear to her they are specifically for “men who saw combat.” She is told repeatedly there “were no women in Vietnam,” leaving her and her fellow nurses alone in the struggle to rebuild their lives and deal with their trauma. 

It’s a heartbreaking story, but true-to-form it is told beautifully and powerfully. The quick pace makes it hard to put down once you start it, and the ending makes it hard to let go of even when it’s over. 

I think this is going to be a massive book when it comes out February 6. Put it on your calendars or go pre-order now!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy of this novel.

Kristin Hannah has truly taken her books to the next level. I read “The Four Winds” about a year ago and I still have a book hangover from that novel. Now she writes about Vietnam and a nurse who joins the war effort as a ARMY nurse. This tale takes you from the battlefields of Vietnam all the way to the experience of Vietnam vets returning to America. Hannah does her research and it shows on every page. While at times this book got a bit heavy, her strong characters pull you through. If you want to read something a bit more meaningful and learn some history along the way, definitely pick up this book.
5 stars ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

FIVE STARS!

Things to expect in this book:

-Heroic and brave protagonists
-Women's roles in the Vietnam War
-Mental Health representation
-Exemplary writing and character development

Thoughts

"Women can be heroes too"
This is my 17th book by Kristin Hannah and I say every time that she writes not only the best stories but has the best female protagonists. Frankie wants to make her family and her country proud by serving as a nurse during the Vietnam war. What Frankie sees, encounters, and experiences in her time in Vietnam changes her for the rest of her life. When she expects honor and pride, she is received with shame and dismissiveness from not only her country but her family for her service. The Women beautifully, poignantly, and bravely captures the nuances, the pain, and the bravery of the men and especially the women who served in this war.

I feel that this is by far Hannah's most mature novel to date. The content and the characters both detail difficult events and cover important and significant themes including female friendship, military service, and the cost of discovering one's self. As a mental health therapist, I was especially interested and impressed with the author's obvious research and time spent discussing and exploring post-traumatic stress disorder and the impact of trauma on survivors of war. While this is not something I have personally dealt with as an individual, my great uncle was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, so it felt extremely personal and cathartic to read about these experiences that some survivors cannot speak of. Hannah's courage in giving voice to those survivors is so evident.

While The Nightingale will always be my favorite of hers, this one is tied for me with Firefly Lane. Tully and Kate have a special place in my heart, but now Frankie has carved her way in. I am so honored to learn from her character and to gain a glimpse into the power and beauty that women can have on other's lives. This book releases in February of 2024 and I will be recommending it to everyone, but especially to those who lived through this era in American history.

Be aware of the trigger warnings, including violence, death, addiction, miscarriage, etc.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my advanced reader's copy! Be sure to look for this one as soon as it hits the shelves in 2024.

An absolute phenomenal historical fiction depicting the late 1960’s Vietnam War through the eyes of 21 year old Nurse Frankie McGrath serving as an Army combat nurse.

There are so many themes in this book that portrays the time period specifically women serving or supporting the Vietnam war. Their efforts were only appreciated by the soldiers who found themselves unfortunate enough to be in a military hospital or operating room.

Other themes were love, loss, PTSD, drug and alcohol addictions. This book hit all the marks of the time period and the after effects of such a devastating War on the previous, current, and future generations of Americans.

This book will stay with me for a long time, and I thank Ms. Hannah for writing it. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I will definitely be recommending this to all of my reading friends.

Having lived through this era including having a brother who died in Vietnam in 1969 and one my best friends from high school serving two tours of duty as an army nurse in-country, I came to this book with very high prerequisites.

I can report the actions, hypotheses and interpretations in the book all felt true-to-life. The story was incredibly emotional and while I tried to stay distanced from that sadness and anger, the ending did me in. That doesn't happen to me often.

Hannah is an incredible writer. She also did her research. There is a very good example of US government indoctrination in favor of the war in the mid-60's. There is also a great reflection of women's "place" in the US at the time ("Teacher. Nurse. Secretary. These were acceptable futures for a girl like her.") and some truths that still remain ("The world changes for men, Frances. For women, it stays pretty much the same,"). The author includes historical markers that occurred during the timeline of the story that I had forgotten about, once again bringing home an all-to-real feel to this fictional tale.

Great characters, great plotting, tough times and emotions. This should make a fantastic book club read. There is so much here to discuss.

Expectations met!

I thoroughly enjoy reading historical fiction, so this was a delightful opportunity to indulge into one of my favourite genres. I'd like to extend my gratitude to St. Martin’s for the chance to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I began "The Women," I was certain it would be an enjoyable read. I was enamoured by the seamless writing, the story's flow, and the language the author employed. I found myself deeply engrossed, almost wishing I could finish the entire book in one sitting, even though that was clearly unfeasible.
The narrative is weighty, laden with numerous triggers. Early on, I had a sense that the story would contain elements that would be heart-wrenching. The vivid descriptions and situations were so profound that I found myself pondering if the author had experienced such events firsthand.

Upon finishing, I felt enriched with newfound understanding and insights. This book will undoubtedly linger in my mind for years to come. I can assert with confidence that this is the best book I've read this year. If given the opportunity, I would urge you to read it. Though your heart may shatter multiple times throughout the narrative, the experience is unequivocally worthwhile.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Kristin Hannah and NetGalley for an eArc of this amazing book. This is the story of Frankie McGrath and The Women of the Vietnam war,

“Women can be heroes too.”

This is a powerful story of war, relationships, love, trauma, politics, resilience, endurance, empowerment and growth. The characters endure so much and this book leaves you with a new perspective and understanding of life for women before, during and after war. This story will stay with you long after you finish. This is one of Kristin Hannah’s best books yet!! Pre-order your copy now! 5 stars!

I LOVED The Women so much! Thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Kristin Hannah is one of my absolute favorite authors and I was so excited to read this prior to publication. The story of Frankie and her friends, Barb and Ethel, and their experiences as nurses in the Vietnam war were riveting. The first half of the book with descriptions of them actually "in country" were excellent and I flew thru the pages. The struggles of coming home after completing their tours there were heartbreaking. I was a young child during this time, so I don't remember how things were. I really appreciated the depth of Kristin's writing and learned a lot about that time in our country. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a great story with great writing!

YES. This is best Hannah book since the Nightingale… which still is the VERY best… but THE WOMEN tops the all the author’s previous books that I’ve read which includes Firefly Lane, The Nightingale, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds.

There are so many great things I could say about this book. I feel oddly comforted by the author’s writing. The story takes place during the Vietnam war and the next several years after, but I was sucked in after just 1 chapter. I do find that I especially love war stories, always seem to want to watch movies set during war time and that are full of action, while simultaneously teaching me about a time in history. This book was such an interesting take on what is not commonly known about the Vietnam war which is the women that served and the unspoken female experiences. It was clear that Hannah spent a lot of time and research into writing their story.

Strong female friendships (or family) is such a signature component in Kristin Hannah books and of course there is a big theme of this in THE WOMEN. For romance lovers, you will definitely find that here as well…. and it is swoon-worthy!

Lastly, there are a lot of references to the historical events, music, and even fashion during this time. I think this helped bring this time in history to life for the reader.

Overall I loved this book and felt like it was a stunning tribute to an entire generation of women who should never be forgotten.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my complimentary e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think I know where to begin.....Kristin Hannah transports us to Vietnam in the 1960's. Frankie enlists to follow her brother over to help fight the war. Before she gets on the plane to go over, her brother is killed in action. Frankie still honors her commitment and finds herself right in the middle of the war. Being a new nurse doesn't help Frankie's anxiety and all that the war throws at her. She has to learn on her feet, as the injured men come through the hospital doors. Frankie meets some of her best friends and the love of her life while helping save the casualties of war. Coming home wasn't any easier than landing in a foreign country that is at war. What should have been the best time, couldn't have been any harder than it was. No one could possibly understand Vietnam.

I can't explain how much I loved The Women by Kristin Hannah. I didn't want to read another historical fiction book, but I gave in and tried it because of Kristin Hannah's name and reputation. I loved The Nightingale she wrote a few years ago. I am so glad I did! Hannah transports you right inside the book and makes you feel like you are experiencing everything along side of the characters.
I will definitely be recommending The Women to others and will always be on the lookout for Hannah's other work. Special thanks to NetGalley, Kristin Hannah, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 BIG stars for me. Quite possibly my favorite book of the year!
#KristinHannah #NetGalley

Wow!!! What a read! Very intense... And a part of our history that was not known to me. I am so appreciative to receive an ARC from NetGalley. The main character, Frankie, trying to gain favor with her father and keep up her spirits in the Vietnam war in honor of her brother, a fallen hero of the war. As you navigate with Frankie her time in Vietnam to coming home to hate speech and disrespect from fellow Americans, you feel her pain, her struggles and eventually, her healing. I absolutely loved this story!

WOW WOW WOW! Kristin Hannah has done it again. I was so thrilled to gain access to THE WOMEN as a huge fan of Hannah's other works. Going into this, I did not know much about the Vietnam War -- and I loved how she informed the reader while telling the story. It has prompted me to do more research.

Let me tell you, you will sob your way through this entire book. Through all the twists and turns. All the highs and lows. Frankie is my girl. I loved her so much, especially her character development throughout the novel. This novel covers A LOT of ground! At times, I felt like the plot was a bit rushed just because there was so much that Hannah needed to cover, in an already long novel -- but I didn't mind.

GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS BOOK!! Thank you Netgalley for an advanced digital copy. I cannot stop thinking and talking about this one!