Kristin Hannah does it again. I devoured every single one of her books and this one is no different. Her writing is amazing … this might be my new favorite book she’s written.

Oh my.
I don't even have the words to describe how powerful and touching this book is.
My heart did leaps and dips constantly through this book. Not knowing to be happy or sad.
Touched on the truth of the Vietnam War
The parts of it you don't always hear about.
I could only imagine the author having these hard conversations with these nurses. Would be conversations you would never forget.
Heartfelt and powerful I loved everything about this book.
Kristin Hannah always has the greatest books.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Thank you for this ARC! I was thrilled to get to read Kristin Hannah's latest. I really loved the first part of the book that took place during the Vietnam War. I learned so much and the descriptions were vivid and devastating. The second half of the book dragged with the post-war story. Perhaps that is the point as the main character's life was sort of dragging...and falling apart. I suppose it was a very realistic telling of what life was like, but it was not as entertaining to read about. I do wish both of her loves didn't "come back from the dead", but I hope this means she got some happy ever after in her love life. Overall, I did enjoy this book and if you're a fan of historical fiction, you will, too.

Oh this book! I received an ARC for this book and as I am a big fan didn’t even read the blurb so was unprepared for the subject of the Vietnam War. Needless to say, I’m glad I was not pre prejudiced with any notions of a Vietnam War story. I tore through the book in less than 2 days, the story was so gripping and raw. The statement “There were no women in Vietnam” struck a chord with me.
The character of Frankie McGrath starts out as a young, unsure and patriotic woman, on the cusp of the rest of her life and looking for purpose and meaning. Following her journey from an impetuous moment (one that I can see so many youths making without ever imagining the consequences) through to her service and the aftermath of what that service represented. I was simultaneously crying, laughing, enraptured and rooting for her to figure things out.
Her best friends, bonded through gut wrenching circumstances of war, were a constant totem of support and love , which is the amazing thing I see in so many female relationships. I adored that they were always her backbone and always prepared to keep her moving forward.
I highly recommend this book, it is exceptional. Telling a story I have never heard before.

I am ecstatic to have access to an early e-edition ARC of this book. Kristin Hannah is one of my all time favorites and I cannot wait to dive in!
Now for the REVIEW!!!! - A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and Kristin Hannah for the early ARC for her next novel, The Women. I feel so privileged to get to read this so far in advance of release. and I could not put it down. I truly feel like Kristin Hannah researches so meticulously that all of her historical novels teach me so much. This time period, like The Great Alone, felt slightly more relevant to my own personal exeperiences and understandings of the Vietnam War. This is the first war that I remember specifically interacting with veterans whether it was patients of mine in hospice care that were dying of cancer from Agent Orange or I still remember an elementary school friend whose dad came home from Vietnam with no legs and would show us old pictures of his buddies. The first experience I had with the female experience was watching the show "China Beach" when I was younger. In this novel, Kristin Hannah is able to fully explore what the wartime experience was like in Vietnam and the aftermath of coming home fro the WOMEN who served. It was so heartbreaking to see how many times in the novel the protagonist, Frankie, was denied services or support as many refused to believe that women were a part of the war effort on the ground in Vietnam. I appreciated how the book was so cleanly broken up into her wartime experiences and her after-war re-entry back into the "real world". It was necessary to suspend disbelief at times related to the romantic components of the book but I don't feel like that took away from the important story that was being told and how so many vets, male or female, did not feel like there was a place for them when they returned. I strongly recommend checking this one out because females can be heroes too.

Thank you so much to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was thrilled to be able to read Kristin Hannah ‘s new book because she is an author who never disappoints and she surely hit it out of the park with her new offering. If I could give this book 10 stars , I would, that is how great that this book was to me. Kristin Hannah has a unique way of grabbing you from page 1 and doesn’t let go until the last sentence, and then you need to sit and reflect about what you just finished reading. The story of “ Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse from California who enlists in the army and is sent to Vietnam during the war in the 1960’s is a gut wrenching portrayal of her experiences during her two tours of duty there, and more gut wrenching is her life when she returns home. Frankie experienced the horror and terrifying experiences while in Vietnam, but her life when she returned was just as difficult if not more so when she fell from Grace, hit rock bottom and got her life together. The term PTSD was probably rarely in use then, but I believe it certainly applies to her experiences. I do not want to divulge too much of the story, but suffice to say this book is a page turner, I believe that all who served in Vietnam and in other conflicts in any capacity deserve our respect and gratitude.

Great book! I usually don't read books dealing with war but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try. Storyline follows Frankie (Frances) from her decision to volunteer for Vietnam, through her deployment, and the problems, lack of respect vets have/had after the war. Frankie's PTSD, miscarriage, wrong men to believe and love and her need to be alone all lead to her helping other women vets.

The Women" by Kristin Hannah is a truly immersive and captivating read that takes readers on a journey through the turbulent 1960s. This novel introduces us to Frankie McGrath, a young nursing student who decides to volunteer as a nurse during the Vietnam War. Hanna's storytelling is masterful, capturing both the personal growth of the main character and the larger political and social backdrop of the era.

Frankie's transformation from a sheltered young woman to a courageous and determined nurse is beautifully portrayed. The novel delves into her experiences on the battlefield, her encounters with fellow nurses, and the challenges she faces upon returning to a divided America.

The powerful message of the story, that "Women can be heroes, too," resonates throughout. Hannah skillfully brings to light the often forgotten sacrifices and contributions of women who have served their country. With exquisite prose and emotional depth, "The Women" is a moving portrayal of a generation marked by war, change, and resilience.

Kristin Hannah's storytelling prowess shines through, making this novel an unforgettable exploration of history, courage, and the enduring strength of women. "The Women" is a compelling, beautifully written narrative that will leave a lasting impact on its readers.

What a phenomenal book. I love most of what Kristin Hannah writes but this was on a whole new level of amazing. Even for her. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would.

Frances, “Frankie”, ships off to the Vietnam war as a nurse. She finds love and friendship and family but also, sadness and hopelessness. The heart break for one person throughout this book made me want to hug a fictional character like I never have before.

I feel like I grew up with Frankie. I started this book just as naive as she was. I knew very little about the Vietnam War, thought little about Vietnam Vets and what they faced during the war and when they came home. This book changed me. It opened doors I didn’t know were there. I cried, I smiled, I found humor in the darkness, but mostly, I cried. I googled so many things while reading, teaching myself about the war, about the women who received no recognition for their part in the war. I went into this book blind, because it’s Kristin Hannah, but I walked away with a wealth of knowledge I didn’t have before. And a heavier heart, honestly. Very few books destroy me like a Kristin Hannah book does. The research, empathy, heart, and soul that goes into each book is unparalleled. I wish I had spent more time talking with the people who wore Vietnam Vet hats when I worked with the public, because they deserve to be able to talk about their life altering experiences. You need to read this, and you need to read it now.

Blown away by how immersive Hanna’s storytelling was. This book is an experience while we follow main character Frankie, a young 21 year old who volunteers to be a nurse at the height of the Vietnam war. After someone tells her “Women can be heroes too” it changes her perspective and for her opens up a whole new world. This isn’t just another “War” book. We see her first day in country, we see her meet fellow nurses, find love and lust in the middle of a battlefield, unshakable events that Frankie doesn’t really know how to deal with, how you just “soldier on.” It shows how we find humor and light in even the darkest of times. This book stayed in my hands over the last 48, but the story will stay with me for a long long time. It reaffirms, “Women can be heroes,” And sometimes duty isn’t all it seems to be.

I can't imagine reading a Kristin Hannah novel and not thinking about it for a few days afterward. Probably why I've skipped some of her novels out of dear.

This story follows Frankie. She graduates from nursing school just as the Vietnam War heats up. Inspired by her brother, she enlists as an Army nurse and ships out. She thrives as best as she can given the trauma, and does more than she thinks just by being herself. The second half of the book is her transition home. Vietnam veterans came home expecting a hero's welcome and received just the opposite. Even her own family doesn't understand why she did what she did, or why she's doing the things she does when she gets home.

While all of this makes it seem like it may be a sad book, it isn't. Realistic, sure. But not sad. Highly recommend.

Thanks, NetGalley!

This book is going to be HUGE! Kristin Hannah is a powerhouse and truly masterful storyteller. I generally don't read historical fiction, but I always make an exception for Kristin Hannah's books!! Her books are always thoroughly researched, and it really shows. What I love about Kristin Hannah's writing is that she transports you into the story. I felt like I was right there along with Frankie.

Also - this is such an important topic!! I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say this: I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley. I have been anxiously awaiting this book for months and wow.. I am at a loss for words until I process this book further. Hannah has done it again!

Kristin Hannah does a fantastic job of researching and truly getting small, minute details correct in so many ways to invoke lots of emotion. This new book is another example of taking what we know and bringing the emotions to the forefront. The Women follows 'Frankie' through her time from young, naïve, innocent girl to a battle scarred vet learning to live in a world that no longer seems plausible to her. The ups and downs of war, and the aftermath of learning to live with the knowledge and situations you were forced to push through, you live through the moments of realization and understanding. So much of what we knew of vet life is hard to comprehend, and during the 70s and the Vietnam War a lot was not known to the world. I loved reading this book and getting a glimpse into the possibility of what life was like for all those that served at that time.

Kristin Hannah has the unique ability to yank your heart out after she's completely submerged you into her world. Unfortunately this didn't happen for me this time. The MC, Frankie, is naive beyond belief upon arrival to Vietnam and is stereotypically the instant love interest to multiple men. I dont feel like her 2 friends had alot of dimension either.

Ths story gets better once she's back home and we see a country that stops believing the lies from the government and start to speak up. With Frankie it's one thing after the other until she's completely shattered.

Hannah did a wonderful job researching this book and bringing yet another lesser known part of history to life. I just couldn't connect with it, but please give it a try for yourself!

This is a much anticipated book of 2024. This is a narrative about the Vietnam War. But, it is much more than that. It is a novel about the women who served there as military nurses. Women who risked their lives to save our soldiers as they fought an enemy they didn’t understand. These women were just as dedicated, just as loyal and just as brave as their male counterparts. They suffered the losses, endured the bombardments and worked nonstop to save the wounded.

They came home to a country torn apart by an unending war and to a disrespect they did not deserve. The story’s protagonist, Frankie, while seeking help for her emotional and mental problems from the Veterans Administration, is constantly told women were never in Vietnam.

This book touched every emotion I have, and some I did not know I had. Female veterans of Vietnam deserved more and following Frankie as she hits rock bottom and claws her way back up with resilience, courage and friendship, fills me with pride for all women.

Do not miss this one!

It’s hard to capture the depth and nuance of Kristin Hannah’s writing. This is the beautiful, heart wrenching and compelling story of Frankie McGrath, an Army nurse serving in Vietnam. It is the best historical fiction I have read to date.

Frankie is only 21 years old when she naively volunteers to go to Vietnam so she could see her brother who was already there. Before she ships out, her brother dies in combat. So not only does Frankie have to prepare herself for the trauma of being a war nurse, she has to do it while grieving. Frankie’s bunk mates, Ethel and Barb, help her acclimate to the rigors of the job and Frankie soon learns the skills needed to survive and thrive. Her years in Vietnam were both horrific and amazing.

When Frankie goes home after two tours of duty, she is shocked, angry and confused about the way she is treated. Strangers would yell at her and spit on her because they hated the war and felt she was a part of it. Her parents acted like she had only been on a long vacation.

Frankie’s post-war life was a disaster. She needed help and was unable to find it because she was a woman and women didn’t go to war. Thanks to Ethel and Barb, her two best friends from ‘Nam, and her parents, Frankie slowly found the care she needed. She learned about PTSD and how to maneuver through her dark memories and nightmares.

I learned a great deal about Vietnam and the cruelties that vets, mostly women vets, had to endure after their return home. I cannot say enough about the impact that this book has had on me. It is due to hit the shelves on February 6, 2024 and I highly recommend you grab a copy.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy of this 5-star book.

The Women was so personal to me because of my memories of the events that occurred at the time. My husband was wounded in December 1967 in Vietnam, the same day I received my college degree. I had not met him yet, we met five years later.

Soon after we married, he told me about being spat upon by a prominent person when she learned he had been in Vietnam. The same happened to our fictional character, Frankie, when she returned to the States.

While reading The Women, I was reminded of several people I knew who were in Vietnam…. My best friend’s brother, my first cousin who was a pilot, another friend’s sister-in-law who was a nurse in Vietnam. Hannah names people, places, songs, events that I recall.

But I digress. This was the first Kristin Hannah novel I enjoyed. (I read another one because of book club, but didn’t care for it.). At the end, I had tears in my eyes.

At the end of Hannah’s book, she mentioned several others about this era. I’m off to reserve them at the library.

Many many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.

The Women by Kristin Hannah
This story hit home with me. I recall sitting with my brother and his friends as they listened to the radio where they were drawing dates and if you date came up you were going to be drafted. Didn't realize what this all was about as I was only 12. This book opened my eyes to so much.
Story starts out with the party for her brother as he’s heading to fight a war in Vietnam. We soon learn of her social life and how it makes her think that she can help in her own way.
She becomes a combat nurse and is in the swing of things, in th emiddle of the war. She has two other besties, Ethel and ..... who bail her out from time to time. She has some romances but she meets her brothers best friend Rye there also. She knows he's NOT engaged.
As she extends her tour she does make it back after we learn how she was kept busy with the villages and men who came in wounded. Back in the US she was not treated as a returning veteran. Also she did not see combat she suffered what the soldier had experienced first hand.
Her life is a mess and she tries many different things, just not being herself. Her mother helps with pills but that doesn't work either. Through more difficult times for her she finally comes out of her misery with help and rehab and love how it all turns out. SO many secrets and she was just naive, to even see what was right in front of her.
Very hard book for me to read, had tears in my eyes at many times when I'd recall my brothers and his friends that didn't get to go there.
Received this review copy from St. Martins Press via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#KristinHannah #NetGalley.