I give this ALL the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wonderfully crafted book. I give it a standing ovation.
Frankie McGrath holds my heart. What a wonderful character. In typical Kristin Hannah fashion her naïve characters are hardened….with out being too hard. They still have compassion and empathy.
She is the best at writing friendships. That’s well known. But women’s friendships forged in war, a male war at that, are special. Kristin hit the nail on the head with Barb and Ethel.

This will THE book to read in 2024

I devoured this book and literally could not put it down. I was worried about liking it with Vietnam as it’s topic but she did a great job of getting you into it right away. There were definitely moments that made me an emotional wreck, like we expect from this author, but the romantic relationships never really worked for me. I love Frankie and her girls,Ethel and Barb. These relationships seemed real. Without giving anything away, the plot twists seem a bit of a stretch and the kicker is that it happens twice. Despite that, I still enjoyed all of it and love when you can binge a book. Kristin Hannah does it again, but would not be in ky top five of her books. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I have never felt so lucky to get an ARC before!

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of The Women by Kristin Hannah.

This is a Historical fiction novel. 5*; one unique aspect is it focuses on women.

Synopsis: "When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words, 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 and 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. The Women is the story of one woman who went 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 have all too often been forgotten. The missing. The forgotten. The brave… The women."

Described in part online as "an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics..." and I found this true.

Things I liked:
1. The writing style. I love Kristin Hannah. Her books are always excellent.
2. The genre; HF is one of my favorite genres, and I especially love US HF and books with a female MC.
3. I love a good book that can make me cry. If it makes me cry I call it book therapy and I do not often cry, so that pushes it up a notch for me.
4. Made me reflect on my mother, grandmother, and all the women before me.

Things I disliked (if you can call it that):
1. While it did make me tear up and cry a bit... it also made me want to scream. I was born after this conflict and it is hard to read how women were treated and to feel that pain... so that for me is necessary but infuriating too.
2. The time period being so close to my birth made it feel so much more real and I couldn't really say to my mind, This is a made-up story, because even if fiction, all this happened to someone; so beautifully painful. I am still going to recruit you readers into my pain, as we must share the beautiful pain of this book together.
3. I didn't fall in love with the characters until maybe page 100. This is not bad or good, but I think my tears started on page 106 of my eBook.

I want to share some sooo many quotes, but am so afraid of spoiling; do not read beyond this point unless you "might" get slight spoilers.....
"Women can be heroes.... the idea of it was like an earthquake, an upending of her sheltered view of the world."
"Back in the world, it had seemed important to be a good girl, to make her parents proud, but honestly, the horror she saw here every day made the rules of polite society seem unimportant."
"For as long as I'm in this godforsaken place, I'm with you."
"That is one thing this war had taught her; there was never enough time with the people who mattered."
"We were forgotten; all of us Vietnam vets, but the women most of all.:
"... silenced for too long, invisible for too many years."
"Thank you for finally remembering us."... It mattered: remembrance."

Major themes of loss, grief, remembrance or being seen, mental illness, parental expectations, etc. In summary ... just read it, you can't go wrong with Kristin Hannah, you have to take the heartbreak and pain with the beautiful parts of her writing that draw you in.

This is one of Kristin Hannah's best yet! I enjoyed this book thoroughly even though I cried throughout it. It has some tough topics but it was so well written and the details were so in depth. This book needed to be written. I can not say enough positive things about Kristin's writing! I will read everything she writes.

4.5 rounded up.
THIS BOOK! I loved this book! I loved the story, the setting, the sounds - and the magnificent way we see historical viewpoints repeating in current time. I was in awe at how many quotes rang through today. Overall this is a keeper. Frankie is a young impressionable nurse who is going to follow her brother to Vietnam and do her family of war heroes proud. That is not how it turns out of course. The story of The Women that served in Vietnam needs to be told more and loudly. Nurses are heroes to begin with in my book, but these nurses - just amazing what they did for their country. And they came home to be treated so poorly when they were true heroes.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early release copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Women will be available on 2/6/24. I predict this will be everywhere and only a matter of time before its optioned for the screen.

AMAZING! This might be my favourite Kristin Hannah book. I love these books that take the reader on a multi-year journey with the characters. The plot is so well developed and well researched, which is understandable after reading the closing note. The characters were so diverse with so much depth - I was easily able to connect to each character. This will definitely be one of the top books for 2024 and I encourage EVERYONE to read this. I would give this 10 stars if I could!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing less than you'd expect from this bestselling author (THE FOUR WINDS, THE NIGHTINGALE)! THE WOMEN is an emotional, intellectually rich page-turner exploring the United States Vietnam War (1955-75), written from the perspective of women who were there. Awarded five stars on Goodreads.

The Vietnam War is a complex and layered story to tell because there are so many aspects:

• Early anti-communism support for the war that slowly eroded away, 

• Continual increases in the number of soldiers drafted,

• The massive loss of life, 

• Growing mistrust in the information provided by the government, 

• Political divisions within families, 

• The shameful way we treated veterans upon their return, 

• Soldiers massacring Vietnamese civilians (Think My Lai) 

• The psychological and physical scars veterans permanently carried, 

• The difficulty veterans had getting help for PTSD and Agent Orange exposure, 

• Public demand for an accounting of all the prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIAs), 

• The growing and powerful public protest that ultimately forced the war's end.

Hannah weaves all of these into her novel. It's quite an impressive achievement. 

Despite many who still believe that no women went to Vietnam, Hannah focuses her story around Frances "Frankie" McGrath, an Army nurse, who specifically requests to serve in Vietnam, to be close to her beloved brother Finley.

It is through Frankie's eyes that we witness the carnage. There are the primitive conditions of the medical facilities. The relentless pace of treating horrific injuries with inadequate resources. Long shifts and continual fatigue. But also the intense support and bonding that connected those treating the casualties and how those feelings led to the deepest friendships and, in some instances, romances. And, of course, the grief of losing people close. 

THE WOMEN is a powerful, emotional and, at times, very difficult story to read. Also, hard to put down. Because it's historical fiction at its best. It takes each reader into a masterfully constructed story to help us better understand a challenging chapter in our history.

There were no women in Vietnam. That’s what Frances “Frankie” McGrath is told. But she knows differently because she was there.

Frankie is raised on Coronado Island, CA, home of Naval Base Coronado. She’s been taught that the men in her family go to war, fight for their country, and are memorialized on her homes “Heroes’ Wall.” Frankie is expected to finish nursing school then marry and raise children. But it’s 1966, the world is changing and Frankie sets out to prove women can be heroes, too.

This is a coming of age story. Frankie is very naive and immature when she arrives in Vietnam. She’s quickly thrown into the chaos of the hospital when she experiences her first mass casualty almost in day one of her being “in country.” She meets many diverse men and women throughout her two tours of duty in Vietnam.

After 2 years, Frankie returns to her home but she still has lots of growing to do. She’s met at the airport not with the heroes welcome of the past, but with the hostility of the public. At home, her parents don’t acknowledge her service, either. And her father refuses to put her picture up on the heroes wall.

This story is heartbreaking but it’s also heartwarming. I was overcome with joy for Frankie, then crushed with sorrow for her. I loved the female friendship at the heart of this novel.

This book took me through all the emotions. I laughed, I cried. I was overjoyed at times, and furious at others. I was an observer of Frankie’s life, while also being an active participant in the action of the story. I was transported to Vietnam and California and the late 1960s through 1982. I learned so much in these almost 500 pages, about the war in Vietnam, the politics of the time, the music and the culture.

I loved this book and recommend everyone read it!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-copy of #thewomen. And thank you to everyone @kristinhannahauthor for another beautifully written book!

The Women publishes February 6, 2024 but pre-order it now. You will not want to miss it!

Wow. I sit here with tears in my eyes trying to write this review 😭

I absolutely adored The Nightingale, and can confidently say the same about The Women.

This is an empowering, devastating, eye-opening, important novel. It follows Frankie McGrath, a young and naive 21 year old, that decides to enlist to be a nurse in the Vietnam war. It follows her war experiences and what life is like for her when she comes home.

Anyone that reads Kristin Hannah knows that she puts immense amounts of effort into her research before writing a novel. I felt equal amounts of honour and heartbreak to have the opportunity to read about vet’s experiences with combat and PTSD. The emphasis on women’s role in the war and how little recognition and post war support they received was angering.

I can’t recommend this novel enough. It comes out in February and it will be well worth the wait.

Thank you NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this and giving an honest review.

Frankie naively signs up to be a nurse in Vietnam, following her brother who signed up for a tour of duty. This decision changes her life (duh!). Hannah does a great job of showing through Frankie what it is like before, during, and after. Especially for the women, who WERE there.

I love a book that makes me feel and well, this one made me feel EVERYTHING. It's a coming of age novel set in the 1960s and it is the absolutely perfect mix of heartbreak, anger, strength, hope and resilience. This book had been racing through the pages and almost throwing my kindle across the room at certain points... (IYKYK)
 
Author Kristin Hannah hardly ever lets me down, but this book hit me harder than any book I have read in a really long time. Yes, it is a story of war but its focus is on the nurses who served in the Vietnam war and how it affected their lives...forever. The main character, Frankie, is completely unforgettable, and the nuanced look at life "after" was such an important reminder of why support for Veterans must be lifelong. 
 
Summarizing my feelings about this book has been a little lost for words but let's just say, this is one I won't forget and one you MUST add to your #2024Reading list. #TheWomen will be hitting bookstore shelves everywhere on February 76th, 2024. 
 
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

My only critique is that i wanted a few more chapters. The story was gripping and had me unable to put the book down from the very beginning.

The time period surrounding the Vietnam War was extremely volatile in America and Kristin Hannah does an excellent job of capturing the pride that comes from serving your country and shame when you come home without a heroes welcome. In all of my study of the time period, I had not spent much time focusing on the women who served and how much harder it was for them because of the stigma they carried. What a heart wrenching story, but one that ends with hope, honor and a country coming together finally to honor the sacrifice. May we never forget these stories!

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone I know when it publishes.

Oh my gosh….what a story! I’m not a big historical fiction reader and I know little about the Vietnam War, but it’s by Kristin Hannah….of course, I’m gonna read it! And it’s wonderful! I learned so much about the war and about the women who served. Mostly, I just loved the characters and the story. And, yes, I was crying at the end. A must read…moving, thought provoking, and just good.

The Women by Kristin Hannah is the most hearts wrenching novel I have read in some time. Having been a woman of military age married to a man of military age in the service during the Vietnam War years, the book resonates with me However, realizing what women that enlisted, served, and returned home to face was devastating. The descriptions of the war are mind-boggling and the effects on the veterans are enormous to realize. Even though fiction, the novel rings so true. Thank you Kristin for writing an exceptional emotional book.

Kristin Hannah knocks it out of the park again. This was my first historical fiction surrounding the Vietnam war and man, it wrecked my heart. She never ceases to make me feel every emotion across the spectrum. I felt every single one. The writing just transports you to another place and leaves you craving more. Frankie was nothing short of inspirational and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this.

I’m a big Kristin Hannah fan, but I’m let down by The Women and am bummed to be writing this review.

While I did enjoy the read, I have given Hannah’s other books a 5 star rating and I was anticipating this would turn out the same. Sadly, it didn’t.

I really liked reading about the Vietnam war, as I haven’t read a Histfic about it, so I’m happy to have received exposure to some education about this subject, and specifically the role the women played in the war.

The book tried to pack A LOT into under 500 pages, and missed the mark. I liked the end message, but many plot choices along the way were questionable and had me audibly saying “WHY” and “Oh sure, of course. Saw that coming!”.

My sincere thank you to Kristin Hannah, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reader copy. I was THRILLED, to be chosen to receive a copy.

Review will be posted on Goodreads, StoryGraph and Instagram at @readwiththewinters.

I was immediately captivated by Kristin Hannah's new book, The Women. I normally stay away from books that are set during wartime, but even though this book had the gritty backdrop of the Vietnam War I was captivated. I have read a few books by Hannah, and just listened to her on the podcast "Books Beach & Beyond" (Elin Hilderbrand's new pod, check it out!) and loved her story. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of The Women!

I feel very fortunate to receive an ARC of this book through Net Galley.

Kristin Hannah never fails me. She writes characters who are flawed, but I want to root for them anyways. Frankie definitely fit the bill here.

I was born in the 1986. My knowledge of Vietnam consists of what I saw in Forrest Gump and This is Us. I have never given it much headspace before reading this. But, Frankie’s story, a young Vietnam nurse who faces immense struggles during and after her time in the war, captivated me from the beginning. It was a beautiful story about mental health, sexism, racism and personal growth.

This book was not fast paced and felt a little drawn out to me at times, but it was all worth it in the end. I can’t recommend this one enough. I will be telling every person I know to read it when it comes out.

This book is phenomenal!!! I could not put it down. Hannah has surpassed her writing in this book focusing on women nurses in Vietnam and what they endured when they came home. I've read many true accounts about Vietnam, but this one, even though it's historical fiction, is in a class of it's own. The reader will experience Frankie’s story pre-Vietnam, in-country and post Vietnam. Truly a masterpiece!! Thank you for the advanced copy. I’m telling all my friends to look for this book in February.

liked The Women. The research was well done and the characters believable. I just think that the book would have been better if the whole "Rye" section was left out. Frankie's obsession with him got really annoying to me.