I loved this book. It grabbed me right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read much about the Vietnam war and this book really captured the time, both overseas and at home. I enjoyed the music references that were sprinkled throughout the book. Highly recommend!

KH did me dirty yet again- this book is DEPRESSING. I thought THE FOUR WINDS was bad enough but this one is right there with it.

I do think the subject materials was engaging given an often-ignored subject. An important/often brushed aside part of history was highlighted and delves into the tumultuous aftermath. However, the trauma just kept coming. I'm not saying it needs to be sunshine and rainbows but I felt like the whole book was "insert next traumatic event" quality. The writing wasn't particularly good either. It felt choppy, random, and I do not think that trauma was dealt with appropriately (despite the time period of mental health being ignored). Ugh. Probably 2.5 stars.

As she has done so many times before, the author creates remarkable characters and paints a backdrop so realistic that you feel you’re there to tell a story that needed to be told, digested, and appreciated.

This is a tricky one to review... I mean it's Kristin Hannah, so it's very good but it felt a bit clunky at times.

Whereas The Great Alone was a sweeping epic and The Four Winds was addictively turbulent, The Women is raw and discombobulating.

The general thrust of the story is that our young heroine joins the Army to serve as a combat nurse in the Vietnam war. She witnesses vast horrors, returns home with undiagnosed PTSD and has trouble reintegrating.

The writing is strong obviously but it feels like it's missing the finesse she usually brings. It's very possible this is intentional because of the subject matter but it's certainly noticeable.

It's difficult to watch Frankie go through trails and tribulations upon her return but again that might be the point. These veterans faced injustice upon their return and dealt with their trauma alone for far too long. Her story can be frustrating to read at times but challenges us to open our collective eyes.

Kristin Hannah has done it again! I didn't know I could love a main character as much as I loved Frankie. Her journey throughout the book was compelling and painful and so believable. The book was exciting and fast paced as well as frustrating at times because that's exactly how the world was at that time. Going through war and serving her country just to come back to people not believing that women were even in Vietnam was heartbreaking. The very real PTSD and trauma that isn't normally talked about, is front and center in Frankie's story. I will read it again once it comes out, and will recommend to everyone!

I loved this book. I was in grade school during most of the Vietnam War and remember a lot of these events, so it was really interesting to read it from Frankie's viewpoint. I couldn't put it down. It's sad but it captures the lack of "Welcome Home" that the Vietnam veterans received and I was fascinated to read from a female veteran. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to get deeply involved with the characters and learn a lot along the way.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

"There were no women in Vietnam."

That false refrain runs through THE WOMEN, and is a belief that, even today, far too many people hold. Most people are very familiar with the lack of acknowledgment, encouragement, support, and appreciation soldiers who served in Vietnam received; women who served received the least of all, with the veracity of their services and sacrifices often unknown and unspoken of.

This stunning novel is the latest example of excellence from Kristen Hannah, and it’s emotionally devastating. The book follows Frankie McGrath, a young society girl from California who readily joins the Army Nurse Corps serving in Vietnam. She arrives with the barest of training and insufficient expectations, thrown into a mass causality situation on her very first day. The hellish landscape is only brightened by the friendships that Frankie forms with her fellow nurses--relationships that will be her saving grace and sustenance long after their tours of duty overseas.

There is no shortage of loss and devastation in these pages. Loss of life, certainly, and also loss of ideals and innocence, trust, and self-worth. Frankie's journey is crippling--from being spat on when she appears in uniform arriving home and the ignorance from a family so ashamed of her service that they lied to everyone about the cause of her absence for two years. I needed to take a break now and then to catch my breath and dry my eyes as I followed Frankie's descent, stunned every time she fell to a new low after what I thought had to be rock bottom. Her redemption is hardwon, and her story, for all of the trauma and heartbreak, is ultimately lit with strength, courage, and resilience.

THE WOMEN is exceptional and unforgettable. Kristin Hannah just keeps getting better and better.

Don’t believe the lie if somebody insists that there were no women in Vietnam. They were there! They served their country, struggling with tragedies, PTSD, and casualties as well. But there was one crucial difference for them: they were never considered war heroes. Nobody applauded them for the sacrifices they made or awarded them medals. They didn't receive praise for their service, and when they attempted to speak about the psychologically consuming experiences they went through, they were silenced, as they weren't even recognized as veterans. This work is dedicated to the women who served their country both militarily and as civilian women stationed in Vietnam – heroines who need to be remembered, praised, and admired.

This time, Kristin Hannah takes us back to the mid-sixties, shortly after JFK was shot in Texas. The country's primary focus is battling communism, and in pursuit of this mission, numerous troops comprising young Americans are sent to Vietnam.

I highly recommend keeping some napkins, handkerchiefs, or tissues close by, as you'll need them during your reading experience. Another word of caution: don't plan anything extensive for your day, because once you start reading this book and tell yourself you'll only read a few pages before setting it down, that plan might not hold. From the moment you dive into Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s story, you'll become engrossed. It's almost as if you're under a spell – you won't be able to put it down. Her story will grip you, tearing at your heartstrings and evoking numerous tears, as you connect with her fears, heartbreaks, pains, anger, and frustrations. You can practically hear her internal screams and the words she's forced to bottle up because nobody wants to listen. She might be the most honest, poignant, tough, and resilient heroine the author has ever created. So, my advice is to clear your schedule, go with the flow, and allow the story to transport you to the jungles of Vietnam, where the echoing sound of helipads reverberates in your ears, and you find yourself in a hospital surrounded by young soldiers uttering their final messages to their loved ones.

The book commences at a house party on Coronado Island, celebrating Frankie’s brother's enlistment. Frankie decides to take a break in her father's study, where a "hero’s walk" is displayed, featuring photos of the family's men who served in various wars. Now, her brother will be added to this wall. But why can't she be included too? It's in this moment that she realizes her brother's best friend, Rye, is also hiding in the room, questioning her: why can't a woman be a hero as well? This question alters everything for Frankie and challenges the life plans her family has set out for her. They expect her to marry and have children, conforming to the norms of the early sixties. However, she decides that she, too, can be a hero, serving her country and making her family proud, just like her brother did. She applies to the Army Nurse Corps to follow in her brother's footsteps.

Her conservative and highly respected family doesn't support her decision, and when a tragic piece of news arrives unexpectedly, Frankie's life takes a sharp turn before she embarks on her earth-shattering journey.

Soon, she finds herself amidst chaos and destruction, realizing that as a young, innocent, and inexperienced woman, she's like a fish in a bottle tossed into a dangerous ocean teeming with sharks. Within a short span of time, she becomes terrified, numb, and exhausted, navigating days where her heart breaks as she witnesses soldiers younger than her brother losing their lives and civilians becoming expendable amidst the chaos. As Frankie edges closer to collapse, nearly drowning in sorrow, her friends Barb and Ethel extend a lifeline, offering enough emotional support to keep her from giving up.

The book takes us on a 20-year journey with Frankie, spanning two terms of her life as she struggles to save herself. She risks her life in the process, and upon her return, she realizes that she's not regarded as a war hero like the men who fought in combat. People avoid discussing the war, and even her own family treats her as though she's done something to embarrass them, something they'd rather not acknowledge. During the day, she's compelled to blend into the community, resuming where she left off before the war, while at night, she battles her nightmares and the clutches of PTSD. She comes to understand that she's not the proud, ideal girl her family wanted her to be and never can be. Eventually, she gives in.

Frankie's painful journey, marked by her substantial losses, her battles with addiction, and her anger toward those who betrayed and disrespected her, is portrayed with remarkable realism. You can feel her emotions; they're everywhere. You ache, you cry, you feel resentment, and you sigh. You experience every pain she carries as if it's a blow to your own face.

She's one of the women from the war whose stories need to be told, remembered, cherished, and respected. Will she overcome her inner demons? Will she learn to heal from her pain, forgive those who worsened her suffering, embrace her flaws, and confront her fears that she's afraid to share with others? Will she ultimately find the peace she's searching for? Read her story to uncover the answers.

I'm still recovering from the impact of this book. My heart is a whirlwind of different emotions. While some characters may seem fictional initially, as you delve into their stories, you'll develop an immediate connection that makes these characters a part of you, lingering in your life indefinitely. Frankie is one such character – unforgettable, courageous, vulnerable, tarnished but not broken, poignant, and dependable.

I believe this might be my favorite work by Kristin Hannah. After reading her closing note, I gained a deeper appreciation for the years of hard work she put into creating these vivid characters and crafting realistic descriptions of war zones, leading us on this unforgettable journey. This book will likely be one of the standout reads of 2024, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to read it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

My Review 🫧

📖 The Woman by Kristin Hannah

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

➡️ SWIPE FOR SYNOPSIS ➡️

Kristin Hannah does such a good job of tearing at your heart strings and tackling difficult subject matter and making it REAL.
While the first part of the book I was a little bored with the repetitive combat stuff- it was necessary backbuilding.
The second part of the book had me HOOKED and I ended up crying at the end
I loved how we watched the full character growth and decline of Frankie.
I love how Kristin Hannah really opens your eyes to topics and subject matter people don’t generally think of.

🩷 What I liked:
- The second part
- The character arc and building
- The subject matter in 2nd part

❌ What didn’t work for me:
- The beginning was really slow


Book 148 of 2023

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I don’t think I’ve ever written a review while still reeling from the emotions a book gave me but here we are. Let me just say I am unwell. But y’all asked for this review ASAP so here it is.

The Women follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s coming of age story in the 1960’s while the nation is divided by war and broken by politics.

First of all I am a Kristin Hannah super fan. Ever since I read The Nightingale in 2018 I have been obsessed by her carefully crafted character driven yet also plot driven stories. She has the perfect balance of both and The Women is no exception.

As a master storyteller Kristin Hannah transports you to the front lines of the Vietnam War. I very much appreciated this aspect because I know little of this time period. She spares no detail in her description of the war which is vital to understanding Frankie’s experience as one of the few women in Vietnam.

What I loved most about this book was the strong female friendship. This aspect was crucial to Frankie’s life as well as my own. I also identified with her service as a nurse. It takes a strong person to dedicate their lives to helping others. Bravo Kristin for repping us nurses! Throw in some love interests/family dynamics and you’ve got perfection.

While I loved this book don’t ask me where it ranks. 🤣 I’m still digesting and hope to figure that out soon. I hope you’ll check out The Women when it comes out in February 6, 2024.

Have you ever read a book that you couldn’t put down and that resonated with you so much you didn’t want it to end? “The Women” is that book for me. I loved the book.

The book is historical fiction during the Vietnam War. The protagonist, Frankie, is a woman, a nurse. The book covers the decision to join the army, life as a combat nurse, what it was like coming back to the States after serving time in the Vietnam war and dealing with mental issues. Hannah does a fantastic job showing the many issues of the times. I grew up during this era and perhaps that why I loved the book so much. It is factual and interesting. Well done!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. I am very grateful to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for this book. Many thanks! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The story takes place between 1966 and 1982 and it takes in a whole lot of history that I really was not totally knowledgeable about. Vietnam, civil rights, women's rights, hippies, anti-war activism and a whole lot more, made this a volatile era. Frankie born into a well of family on the coast of California looked to have it all. Until her brother volunteered to go to Vietnam, which opened up a whole new path when she too decided to enlist and put her new nursing skills to the test. Thrown into active service, Frankie realizes quickly that she was sent unprepared and unaware of what it would really be like, by a government that isn't being truthful about the conflict. With the help of two important friends Ethel and Barb, they begin a lifelong friendship that illustrates the importance of friendship to survive trauma.

It is really a story about surviving trauma and about the dismissed trauma of the women who served in Vietnam. Sent home to a country who didn't support them and who didn't want to listen, they were expected to continue on as if they were coming back from vacation. Not considered veterans and pushed away from the support of fellow soldiers, they had to deal with the memories on their own. Inevitably the grief and anger overflows into life and Frankie has to claw her way back to survive. I loved the characters, (all except Rye) flaws and all and I loved that they fought for Frankie all the way through. I think I will think about this one for awhile, and I am going to wonder what may come next for Frankie. Could there possibly be a sequel?

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview in exchange for my honest review.

This moved a bit more slowly than I expect for a Kristin Hannah book, but I think that's more on me not being in the right mood for a historical fiction when I picked this up. Even so, this book hooked me; I particularly loved the central female friendship and camaraderie and I was rooting for Frankie the whole time.

This book is also clearly very well-researched with many realistic details of what it might've been like to be a nurse in Vietnam and the traumas women dealt with after returning to the United States.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved every word. As a daughter of a career soldier, it was a fascinating look at what life was like during the Vietnam War in Vietnam. Empowering to women. Educational and Entertaining.

This is my first Kristin Hannah book. Amazing! It makes you feel so much. I had to stop reading at one point to take a break. I gasped. I just felt during the whole book. It isn’t my typical book I read and I can’t tell you why anymore. I will be reading more Hannah books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.

This is simply Kristin Hannah at her absolute best.

This is my 5th KH book this year , and although I haven’t loved everything I’ve written by her, this is one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. The Women follows the before, during, and after of Frankie McGrath’s service as a an Army corps nurse in Vietnam: the good, the bad, and everything in between. This story is one of the most beautiful depictions of female friendship I’ve ever read - Frankie’s friendships anchor her and her story. The Women is the perfect depiction of the times, with accuracy and honesty at novel’s forefront.

Although there were small points where I found the pacing could have been tweaked, this was, for me, the perfect story - riddled with hope and fear of what is to come.

Thank you endlessly to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy. I can’t wait for this story to be told to the masses.

❤️ I absolutely love Kristin Hannah. She has been one of my favorite authors for years. So when I got a hold of an ARC I was beyond excited.
“The Women” did not disappoint. Frankie heads to the Vietnam war in hopes of making her dad and brother proud, little did she know her life would be changed forever. This story follows Frankie through war as a nurse and then the homecoming and heartache of returning home to a country and parents that weren’t proud but disappointed. Women didn’t belong in war.

Kristin Hannah tells a beautifully written story about a tragic, dark time of our countries history. I knew only the stories my parents told me or the information in History books but this story of Frankie made me want to learn more. I’ve always had upmost respect for our service men, women and families but I closed this book in tears filled with sorrow and gratitude for all the sacrifices made for our freedoms.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don’t give this rating often but this book is a must read.
Release Day 2•6•24

#julesbookshelf #bookstagram #thewomen #kristinhannah #fivestars #mustread #arc #netgalley #womenheroes #stmartinspress

I have never read a book set during the Vietnam War, so I was able to learn quite a bit from this story. Frankie's journey through this book was far from easy. Hannah did an amazing job of describing everything. I felt what the characters felt, I could picture what they were seeing. I shed quite a few tears throughout the story. I have never read a book set during the Vietnam War, so I was able to learn quite a bit from this story. I especially appreciate how this book shows us a woman's perspective of what they endured during, and after the war.

I was invested in the title from its first announcement. My father served in Vietnam and rarely spoke about his time there and I was doubly interested because of its focus on the women who served.

I finished this book in one day. I was immediately invested in Frankie, her drive to make her parents proud and her want to save everyone, but forgetting about the need to save yourself first. The Women is heart wrenching and gives an emotional voice to the numerous women who served during a war that divided our country.

3.5 ⭐️. This book and The Four Winds just didn’t compare in my opinion to The Nightingale, The Great Alone, Home Front and several others of Kristin Hannah’s books. Don’t get me wrong Hannah’s books are always emotional and gut wrenching but these last two novels have been almost 500 pages of constant sadness and depressing material. Yes, I know war is depressing but this was just a lot with barely any hopeful, happy moments . First off Frankie got on my nerves (a lot). I tried to relate to her and feel for her, and at times I did but at other times it was just annoying the way her character acted and the choices she made. I like the bond Ethel, Barb and Frankie had. They were true friends that were always there for each other. I liked Jamie and wish things would have went differently with his character (especially early on in the book). Can’t say much without spoilers so I’ll leave it at that. Wasn’t a fan of Rye but I really liked Henry…I think he was my favorite character.

I will add that the details and descriptions were very impressive. The author really did her research. For my own preference, I would have liked less graphic details. An occasional “gory” description is necessary due to the subject matter but it was a bit too much for me. And if I’m being completely honest, I feel like this book could have been 150-200 pages shorter because it really seemed to drag at times.

So basically I was torn on what I should rate this one. I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. I would give 4 stars for the actual writing style (and knowledge of the Vietnam War) but 3 stars for the story itself. Maybe if every bad thing imaginable didn’t happen to Frankie, I could have settled on a solid 4 but overall it was a 3.5 (rounded down) for me. It doesn’t matter if I say I’d recommend it or not because let’s be honest, all Kristin Hannah fans (myself included) were definitely planning to read it once it was announced so go for it…you may feel completely different about it than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.