One of the best books I've read in a long time. I haven't cried that much in ages. Wonderful read, beautifully written.

When I saw this title on NetGalley I got so excited! I LOVE Kristin Hannah's books and am over the moon happy that I received an ARC copy. Much thanks to the author and publisher for this treat.

Kristin Hannah has a knack of writing books that cling to your mind and worm their way inside your heart and this novel is no different. Pull out your box of tissues, in true Kristin Hannah fashion, the novel will tug on your heart strings with its heartbreaking, very real subject matter about the terrors of the Vietnam War -- both during active fighting time AND the life that faced soldiers and nurses once they returned home.

This book is a QUICK read. I struggled to put it down and when I wasn't reading, it was still heavily on my mind.

Frankie is one of the best MCs. Flawed, yet tough and inspiring. She makes poor choices in her suffering. The same way so many of us do when hurt. She finds her inner strength. She perseveres. She overcomes, but it isn't a pretty journey. It's gritty. Overwrought. Emotional and real. Her pain became my pain. In the deepest and most beautiful ways. The journey through Frankie's life -- from an immature, inexperienced nurse stepping off the plane in the middle of a foreign country and all her naïve expectations, to the jaded, PTSD traumatized, broken warrior who returns home and has to navigate her life free of support when she needs it most -- every step of the way, my heart was beating outside my chest. I loved Frankie to pieces.

In the author note, Kristin Hannah mentions how she has wanted to write this story about the Vietnam war for a long long time but felt unable to do so when she was younger. She felt she had to give herself time to gain experience and courage to write it. I am so glad that she did. The amount of research she did for this piece is insane. The emotions connect to the readers soul. I am still recovering from the impact of this story. Same as Hannah's other novels. Unforgettable and poignant, this might even be my favorite one of hers to date. And that's saying a lot considering how much I adore her others. If you enjoy Kristin Hannah novels, this one will not disappoint. Snatch it up when you get the chance. Standing ovation. Five stars easy.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the reading opportunity.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read The Women by Kristin Hannah which tells the story of a young combat nurse during her time in Vietnam as well as her journey afterwards. I give my honest opinion of the book in the following review.

I was immediately drawn to Kristin Hannah's newest book because I have always been fascinated with the Vietnam War time period. I am too young to remember the war. My father was of the age that he would have gone if it hadn't been for having a tumor removed from his leg as a young man. Instead, he stayed home to farm and start a family. He had friends that went and some experienced what is described in this book. Some had health issues for the rest of their lives due to Agent Orange and PTSD. Kristin Hannah's writing is excellent and the amount of research she did for this book is evident in the details and descriptions of Vietnam. The difficulties that Frankie experiences after coming home from her two tours was believable even though I don't want to believe that the vets were treated in such a horrifying way.

My favorite thing about The Women is the relationship between Frankie and her two nurse friends Ethel and Barb. What a bond they had. I didn't, however, appreciate the two twists near the end of the book. I can't say too much without spoiling. I had been hoping for a different, even happier twist that sadly didn't happen. All in all, this was an excellent book, and I will be re-reading at some point as well as recommending it to those who enjoy historical fiction of this time period.

Kristin Hannah captured the brutality of the Vietnam War so well in this book, and opened my eyes to what the nurses experienced over there. She set the scenes so vividly that I felt like I was there. It is obvious a tremendous amount of research went into crafting the scenes. Like all of her books, you grow to deeply care about all of the characters and are emotionally impacted to a point you can give up on getting anything else done until you finish the book.
While I enjoyed this one so much, it was a four star read instead of a five star read due to the adultery elements and the self-destructive tendencies of the main character. Also, the ending was not satisfying to me (particularly the scene where she runs into that certain someone from the war).
I admire the author for tackling such a difficult time period and showing us readers how much everyone sacrificed and what all they faced when they came back home. Her talent was up to the task for sure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

1965 Frances (Frankie) McGrath is a fresh out of high school attending all girls college as a nursing student when she chooses to defy her parents wishes and enlist in the Army Nurse Corps and follow her brother Finley to Vietnam.
As she leaves her life in Coronado Beach, California for the hot, humid war zone of Vietnam. Fresh out of boot camp Second Lieutenant McGrath: Frankie will make new friends and find familiar faces along the way that will provide a sense of comfort as she loses her innocence and gains skills. Frankie started as a night nurse for the neuro ward and worked her way until she becomes a surgical nurse for the Thirty Sixth Evac Hospital.
Frankie's journey through the MASCALS, bombings, the endless hours on shift until she goes home in 1969..going home was not easy for Frankie or any Vietnam Veteran, but to be told there were no women in Vietnam was just about more than Frankie could handle. How would Frankie cope post war in the civilian life again? Will she be able to utilize her nursing skills? Will her parents accept her? Almost makes being in the war easier than coming home.
I highly recommend this book !!! The women of the Vietnam War have been captured powerfully, and remarkably!!

“She’d gone to war a patriot and come home a pariah.”

Any book by Kristin Hannah is emotional, but this story really challenged me. The raw grief of a broken family, the violence of the war in Vietnam, the sad coping mechanisms used by young people ill-prepared for war and the lack of support when they returned home from it…all of it brought me to tears. But the resilience of love and its persistence in even the most tattered lives really encouraged me. I wouldn’t normally choose a book with so much language (or drinking or drugs or extra-marital sex), but I think it was necessary to show the depth of Frankie’s pain and climb to recovery. Her soul was plowed and harrowed thoroughly to achieve the eventual harvest that blessed so many. So often war is examined through the eyes of men - this is a wonderfully unique view from the perspective of The Women.

Book Review
The Women by Kristin Hannah

⚠️Triggers⚠️
PTSD
Drug abuse
Alcoholism
Miscarriage
Racism
Gender inequality/Sexism
LGBTQIA +

The Women
Frankie- determined to prove herself to her family and herself she finds her “calling” as a nurse
Barb
Ethel
The friendships these women built based on mutual trauma , survival and sacrifice were a lifeline that spanned decades.

The Men
Jamie
Rye
Henry
Finley
Arrogant, brash, brave, strong, adulterous, protective….. I found Frankie’s relationships with these men to be a brief moment in time/history that drove her personal story forward for the reader

Overall
A phenomenal read! I applaud KH for her dedication to remembering the role women played in the Vietnam war and the political and societal change that the war brought about.
Transparency
Truth
Accountability
Recognition
For all The Women who served


Thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my digital copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio ARC. She does it again! She is one of the most talented authors of our time. Well done!

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears the unexpected words, "women can be heroes, too, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, 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.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on the story of all women who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. Women whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has all too often been forgotten. A novel of searing insight and lyric beauty, The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation. I grew up during the Vietnam conflict, but had never read an historical fiction that took place there so this book was very enlightening. I am also a big fan of Kristin Hannah and have read several of her books and have several more on my TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this book.

Kristin Hannah has another winner with the story of the women who served as nurses in the Viet Nam War. Frankie McGrath signs up as an army
nurse to gain some recognition from her parents and follow her brother into war. Years later she would reflect on the trauma it brought her going into a war no one wanted. The description of the hate and neglect she felt after coming home tears at the heart. Her friendship with two other nurses kept her sane. We as a country messed up the return of these heroes and heroine s. We are finally recognizing that! Kristin Hannah has once again written a book that will remain in your mind long after you are finished turning the pages! Highly recommended!

If you want to cryyyyyy THIS is it!!!! Captured from start to finish you are drawn in and unable to put this down!! Loved being able to read a story with it centered around Vietnam!! Kristin Hannah executed beautifully the plot and characters.

Yes I cried, yes it earns ALL the stars, yes @kristinhannahauthor has written another epic story of true heroism and the aftermath of wartime memories both good and bad.
The Vietnam War is a piece of history that I am not as familiar with and had absolutely no idea the disdain for our soldiers returning home afterwards, let alone the women who served who were essentially forgotten…because there were “no women” in Vietnam.
We follow Frances McGrath, Frankie, through her nursing tour of duty, her friendships, relationships, and the fallout of trying to cope when returning home to a country that has no use for the war.

Such an incredible story and I’m so glad KH has given a voice to those women. An absolute must read when it is released in February 2024.
Thank you to @stmartinspress for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #kristinhannah

📣Mark my words..𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖶𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗇 will be the book of the year for 2024!! Holy hell. I am completely wrecked in this best way over this masterpiece. When I was approved for this advanced reading copy all other tasks/books were put on hold. “Hey kids, mama is gonna be MIA for a bit.” 😆

🚁I am ashamed to admit I knew very little about the Vietnam War. My Uncle was a fighter pilot during this time & was even shot down. He received numerous awards on his return home & while I always thought that was “cool” I never knew much more than that. Only Kristin Hannah(my fav author) could be the one to “force” me to learn more on this piece of history. I was so immersed in this story that I swear I could feel the sweat on my brow. I could smell the blood & mud. I could even hear the gunfire. Her writing is that captivating!

🪖This novel was about the Women from Vietnam. The nurses & more. These women were completely unacknowledged for their bravery & heroism. Even worse they were spat at or scorned when(& if) they returned home. If they needed help with depression or PTSD the resources for the men did not apply to them. It is not all depressing, I swear. Yes, you will cry your eyes out, scream out loud…even cringe at some points, but it also has so many heart melting(aka good) moments. My fav one being the power of true friendship. The resilience & courage of these women & the way they have each others backs….omg, YALLLL!! 💜

🏥I am forever changed. I am not sure I will ever stop thinking about this one. I can’t imagine the immense amount of research that had to go into these 480 pages. Mark your calendars for February 6th. That’s the publish date. Alllllll the stars for this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️x100

🚁My only regret after finishing this is I can’t hug my uncle after learning so much about Vietnam. He suffered hard with alcoholism & PTSD, but my sister and I never really understood why he was this way growing up. Now, I “know.” 💔 The picture in my image is of him. Swipe👉for more in his helicopter & an article too.. RIP, Joe Gammon &God Bless all of these women who are heroes too. “Women can be heroes.” That’s a big(& non spoiler) quote from this novel.
💜Thanks Net Galley, St Martins Press & Kristin Hannah for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital free ARC, I was so excited to read this book. WOW! Kristen Hannah does it again. Such powerful read that you won’t be able to put it down. This page-turner kept me riveted from the first to last page. Kristen Hannah fans will not be disappointed. This is a truly amazing story. It is a 5-star, must read, that you won't want to put down. This heart wrenching read will leave you emotionally recked. Make sure you have a box of tissues. I recommend it to all. Thank you for honoring these women and bringing their stories to light and thank you for the many hours of wonderful reading!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was beyond excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley on my birthday! Kristin Hannah never disappoints but this may have just taken the place of my favorite! I’m having trouble putting into words how incredible this book was. It pulls you in from page one. She had me crying, smiling, gasping…all the feels! I really liked the perspective of the women in the war, it was very eye opening. I learned a lot from reading this book. KH has a way of making the reader feel the emotions of the characters. The female friendship bond was amazing. I will be thinking about this book & the characters for a very long time.

Kristin Hannah's newest novel is amazing, heart-rending, hopeful and lived up to the high expectations I had when reading her latest novel. The Women is the story of Frances "Frankie" McGrath and her journey to becoming the hero she thinks her parents want her to be. Growing up wealthy and privileged in the 1960's, Frankie is expected to get her "MRS" in college, marry well and continue the McGrath line while her brother joins the military and has his picture hung on the McGrath wall of heroes. Instead, when her beloved brother is killed in Viet Nam, Frankie uses her shiny new nursing degree to enlist, having no idea what she is getting herself into. Arriving in a humid, muddy, bug and rat infested horror, Frankie is thrust in the midst of the war zone, expected to care for dying young men who have no idea what they're fighting for. With the help of her seasoned roommates, Frankie soon learns the ropes and is well on her way to becoming a dedicated and gifted army nurse. In spite of her reservations, she falls in love with the gifted neurosurgeon who is her supervisor. Sadly she must say a tearful goodbye when his tour is up and he returns home, She struggles through her remaining time, dealing with unimaginable injury and chaos, only to return home to shame, disgust and isolation. Hannah brings her trademark compassion and excellent writing to tell the story of the women who served in Viet Nam. Who sacrificed their lives to help the troops and saving many. Put The Women at the top of your TBR list. There is so much to offer for book clubs that discussion could take several meetings. Thanks so much to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC. This is a book that will stay with me forever!

Wow! Loved this book! Vietnam is a topic I haven’t read about very often. The story of these women is one that needed to be told! Highly recommend this read! It was well written and will keep you turning the pages!

At first, it took a minute to get into the story but it was well worth it. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and her books never disappoint. This was no exception. The ending was definitely unexpected and easily my favorite part. Very beautifully written and an easy recommendation for all.

I am a huge fan of Kristin Hannah’s work and have adored every book of hers that I have read. Her latest, “The Women “ is no exception and goes to the head of my favorites. Earlier this year, I read one of her back-list titles, “Home Front”, which is similar in topic and main character and I would recommend to anyone as a companion piece. That said, this book really hit me hard emotionally and is one that I will not forget, especially the MC, Frankie, a nurse serving in Nam and the trauma she sees and suffers. Not only were the service men of this controversial war forgotten, but even more so women like our heroine. As always, the historical aspects of this story are so important and well written. My sincere thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary DRC, it was very much my pleasure to review this title, which I can’t recommend highly enough, all the stars!

The second book by Kristin Hannah that I’ve had the pleasure of reading - and I can see many more in my future. She is an excellent author, that never fails to bring me to tears.

I learned so much about the Vietnam war through this book. I’ve always gravitated towards the Revolutionary War, French Revolution or WWII with my historical fiction choices, but I’m so glad I choose this one.

My extent of knowledge about Vietnam was that it was really bad, we lost. But still, to treat soldiers coming home like trash? Especially coming from people that didn’t even serve. The audacity. Even her own family being ashamed/embarrassed, lying about where she had been, the way they just brush her off and don’t want to listen to her…because “there are no women in Vietnam.” What do you call the nurses then??? Time and time again, Frankie couldn’t receive the help she needed and it was truly frustrating and devastating to read. I cried for her so many times, especially at the end with her fathers much awaited apology.

Quotes I Love(d)
•”Women can be heroes.”
•”It’s 1966. The whole world is changing.”
•”You think it’s glorious that your son goes to war and embarrassing when your daughter does.”
•”It takes guts to stand up and demand a change.”
•”Love in this screwed-up world is always worth celebrating.”

That surprise at the end…my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for approving me for this amazing work by Kristin Hannah. I look forward to reading more of her books!