Oh my stars. This book is a blockbuster. Another homerun from the author.

I cried more then I will ever admit while reading this book.
I felt all of the emotions as I was reading along with Barb, Ethel, and Frankie. Their journey in Vietnam as nurses and then coming home is the purpose of the book.

I learned about how the nurses, while not technically seeing combat, were just as affected as their male counter parts. How the women tried to get help for their PTSD and their struggles.

The author did a fantastic job portraying their personalities and how they each tried to get back into society after their tours in Vietnam.

The last 20 pages of the book, I bawled like a baby. THis book is an emotional roller coaster and I think that the author handled it with grace and grit. This book needed to be told.

This ARC had me often in tears but also at times smiling. What an amazing novel about a virtually forgotten part of those who served in Vietnam. Having gone to college with a woman who was a nurse there and came back to be an ER nurse I thought of her often thru this book & wonder what happened to her after she dropped out of the BS nursing program & moved to Chicago where after a few years we lost touch. Thank you for letting me read this ARC. Everyone should read this

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a salute to the women that were nurses in the Vietnam war.
She has written a a story in acknowledgement of their courage and commitment, While capturing the fear, love, courage and determination those women. Where coming home from over there was a constant struggle to find and keep their sanity at times. Especially when they were told by the government that no women served in Vietnam.
This novel makes me appreciative and grateful to these wonderful Women.

#TheWomen
#KristinHannah
#NetGalley

“ There are no women in Vietnam’

The Vietnam era, I remember the tail end of this when I was a child, not fully grasping all that was… However, this book opened my eyes, educated me, brought back some memories,
What a time for women, it was the beginning of a huge shift in women!

Francis McGrath a.k.a. Frankie has grown up with her family, supporting the military… Her father had a wall of heroes with pictures of every member of the family that had served, so it was no surprise when her brother enlisted, but it was a huge surprise when Nurse Frankie McGrath enlisted, at a time when it wasn’t “ the accepted female life path”, this was a time when women were supposed to marry, and have babies, and a career was only until they got their Mrs degree.

Vietnam changes Frankie, it strengthens her and it gives her purpose, when it’s told through her eyes, we the reader, get to learn so much about what went on there
Of course, Frankie goes through more when she returns home to a nation who regrets being in Vietnam, has no idea about what really goes on at Vietnam, and so
shuns the military who served. And Frankie is not the same, will never be the same.
We get the pre-war, Frankie, the war, Frankie, and the postwar Frankie

I’m a huge fan of this author, I always learn from her books, they are well researched, well developed, and definitely stories that stay with you forever.
Her books are always epic and this one is absolutely no exception!

I loved this engrossing novel. Frankie, a young nurse enlists in the Army straight after nursing school to heal from a death in the family. She's quickly assigned to a medical unit in Vietnam in the thick of the war zone. After two year long tours she returns home to the US hostile to the war and the soldiers who fought. With little support from her family and the VA who ignores the female vets entirely, she leans on her two best friends from her unit in Vietnam to build a new life.

One thing I know for sure is that there were definitely women in Vietnam! I did not know much about the Vietnam War prior to reading this illuminating novel by esteemed author, Kristin Hannah. The Women highlights the significant contributions and challenges faced by volunteer nurses during the war. It was understandably difficult to read at times as it did not gloss over the physical or emotional injuries and trauma that most experienced. The characters were well developed; main character, Frankie was relatable, and her friendships with Ethel and Barb were highlights for me, as well as, her oftentimes tenuous but realistic relationships with her parents. There were times when I felt the plot was too predictable and the messages repetitive, but the relatively lengthy book read easily, The last few chapters of this book were the best! I also enjoyed the many references to music in this book, it was an interesting backdrop to the setting…an accompanying playlist would be fun to have! I’d recommend this book!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first 1000 to snag this arc and I couldn’t wait to read it. I’ve loved Hannah’s past books including Four Winds and like that blockbuster of a book Hannah continues to cement her status as a master of accessible and heartfelt historical fiction. Here she digs deep into the life of Frankie, a privileged girl from California who signs up for the Vietnam War as a nurse to become a hero like her male relatives before her. Once there she realizes how incredibly naive she’s been and the horrors of war quickly unfold before her. Frankie builds her skills, forms friendships, finds love and loss and returns home to a world she barely knows. The war has not only torn apart Vietnam but the US is in turmoil with protests, an impeached president, race riots and vets coming home to a hostile country.

Even though this was 480 pages I flew through the book and couldn’t put it down. Hannah’s writing is so engaging and she captures the time period in its music, clothes, scents and sounds. The characters were indelible as were the soul crushing descriptions of war and post war. Hannah doesn’t shy away from graphic details and they are horrific and heartbreaking. Hannah also does an amazing job of showing and not telling; I loved how she addressed issues that still persist today but she is never heavy handed and let’s the reader draw their own conclusions about what to think. Overall a gem and I have no doubt this will be THE book of February and into 2024.

Fantastic story of nurses working in Vietnam during the war, and then struggling to find peace and help when they return home.

This book gripped me from the start and did not let go. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It was educational, frustrating and heartbreaking. It was well researched and so well written, and such an important story to tell.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Kristin Hannah’s upcoming release is a story dedicated to the American women who served overseas during the Vietnam War. It follows Frankie McGrath, a combat nurse, during the two terms she was stationed as well as the years following her return.

Kristin Hannah 100% succeeded in her goal of sharing heroic stories about women that have been too often forgotten or overlooked. I learned a lot while reading and was impressed by how Hannah did not shy away from any difficult subject matter, making the story feel more realistic than true fiction. She did a great job exposing the atrocities during the war as well as the struggles/ PTSD women faced when they returned home. I truly felt for Frankie and admired her bravery and resiliency. The cast of secondary characters added a lot of depth to the story and helped paint the full picture. I particularly loved fellow nurses Barb and Ethel, who stuck by Frankie’s side through everything.

Read if you like:
-Historical fiction
-Emotional reads
-Coming of age
-Learning about women’s involvement during Vietnam War
-Themes of family, friendship, loss and forgiveness

Thank you SMP for the ARC. Pub date: 2/6/24

I could not put this book down. It was so engrossing and beautiful. It talks about a time in our history that had brought a lot of shame but Kristin Hannah once again handles these issues with such care and compassion. I highly recommend this book!

Kristin Hannah absolutely never disappoints. I have never read a Vietnam War fiction story, and this was incredibly heartbreaking. I felt myself feeling so much anger for how the women of Vietnam were treated after serving their country, and I couldn’t help but think how so much needs to be done to better serve our veterans now. This book was beautiful and one I won’t soon forget.

Frances McGrath is a privileged young woman from Southern California whose beloved older brother Finley was killed in the early days of the Vietnam War after graduating from Annapolis. “Frankie”, a fresh registered nurse, decided to join the Army in order to be sent to Vietnam right away. Her nursing experiences are vividly portrayed as well as her relations with the servicemen. Upon returning home after two years, she found her parents were ashamed of her and she had recurring nightmares. Kristin Hannah has written a beautifully crafted account of Frankie’s journey to find meaning in her life. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC that is due to be published in February 2024.

Absolutely gorgeous. This was a fantastic work of historical fiction. I may have stayed up past by bedtime and read the whole thing. Absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking all at once. This is a masterpiece.

I was fortunate enough to score an advance copy of The Women this week. I read it at night, which wasn’t the smartest choice as I kept staying up past my bedtime to read a bit more! I was very excited for this story as it and others like it are exactly what I’ve been hoping to see more of in women’s historical fiction. I know that WW2 is a great backdrop for all the emotions and action a writer could want, and indeed The Nightingale is among the top books in that period, but I’ve been searching out books from different periods and different locations. I’ve read a number of books set in Vietnam from the Vietnamese perspective, both north and south, during this period. I remember watching China Beach as a teen, which was a different experience of women in Vietnam. There are so many stories to tell. Frankie McGrath’s story will stick with me for a long time. I found myself grappling with her choices and behaviors at times- in the beginning she felt almost too good, and I realized she didn’t know who she was yet, and later she drifted so far from herself, but wasn’t that a big part of the message in this book. War does things to the men and women who experience it. Few are left unscathed and unchanged. Through Frankie’s eyes, we witnessed some of the highs and lows for the nurses who served in Vietnam and what their experiences were when they returned home. It wasn’t easy for any of them, though some had a harder time adjusting than others. I’m sure similar stories will be told about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as more time elapses. The only people who stop experiencing the wars in which they served are the dead. The living will never forget. I’m glad Kristin Hannah wrote this story for The Women who *did* serve in Vietnam.
*Thanks to MacMillan and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

Reading The Women is an experience I won't forget. I took a Vietnam War history class at UCD and I forgot. I lived through the Vietnam war and I forgot. I wore a POW bracelet and I forgot. I stood with the choir as the last POWs landed at Travis AFB, singing our hearts out, and still I forgot. I will remember.

I read The Women and then I read it again. The book had me in tears and kept me hooked until the final page. The author has written a compelling story that has imprinted in my memory. I will never again forget the horrors. I was gagging through reading of injuries suffered by children in villages. I swear I could smell the infections. I could picture the gore of war. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I didn't want to stop them.

My tears continued to flow as Frankie began her journey as an army nurse. Being the only female was an eyeopener for her and me. Why weren't we taught about the female heroes of the Vietnam War? Travel conditions were lacking, down right horrid. It was just a tiny glimpse into the future. Life would never be the same after her first shift at the 36th Evac Hospital.

The Women follows Frankie's days and sleepless nights as she learns on the job to save soldiers while saying goodbye to others. I was sucked into a story that had me dealing with so many emotions, dreading the next page knowing it wouldn't be pretty. Knowing I would read it, devour it and remember.

Frankie's quiet times weren't really quiet. The parties, the games, the sports activities screamed of the struggles. The experiences of the days they endured had to be expressed or drowned in alcohol and marijuana. No matter what they did, they could never deal with all of the horrors they saw. I know I won't forget what they endured, especially after doing deep dive research into the nurses that served in the war.

Life doesn't get any easier for Frankie when she returns to a country that hates Vietnam vets. Her nights are riddled with nightmares. Her days are filled with the horrors she can't escape. There is no where for her to seek help. After all women were never in Vietnam.

The Women is a reminder of how so many people turned their backs on the Vietnam vet. The Women is a reminder that it was the dedicated female nurses that worked tirelessly to save as many soldiers as they could. The Women is the book everyone should read in order to remember that they should show respect to those that fight for our freedom.

This book is a MUST READ! I usually struggle a bit with historical fiction, but The Women gripped me from the first page and never let go. I was right beside Frankie through the highs and the lows - heart racing in some parts and breaking in others. I could not put this story down - so much so that I finished it in 1 day!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

I have read several of Kristin Hannah's books, so when her highly anticipated new book came out on NetGalley as a "Read Now," I had to add it to my list immediately. I also was so excited that it immediately jumped up to the top of my TBR list. True to form, I could not put this book down, and it had me ugly crying at the end. It's a beautiful and enthralling book.

I will say that you definitely have to be in the right mindset to read this book. It details Frankie's journey to become a nurse in the Vietnam War, and Kristin Hannah does not hold back on the details that a nurse would have seen during that time period. It also covers what happens to Frankie when she returns home from war and her difficulties with adjusting to "real life." I think everything was covered in a realistic, gracious way, and you really find yourself feeling as if you are standing beside Frankie throughout everything happening in her life.

It is not always an uplifting story, but that is the beauty of Kristin Hannah's books. Because she showcases the ugliness and brutality that life can hand us at times, she reminds us to appreciate the good and happy times and even the mundane ones. I highly recommend this book!

Fueled by idealism, patriotism and the concept that “women can be heroes, too”' newly minted twenty year old nurse Frankie McGrath enlists in the Army and is sent to Vietnam to proudly serve her country. Instead she finds a world she had no idea existed. With terrible precision, the horrors of combat are revealed. Napalm, body counts, horrific wounds and the cries of dying men fill Frankie’s days. The love, loss and terror she experiences will forever change her. She returns home to a country she no longer recognizes and is nearly destroyed by her inability to adjust.

Kristin Hannah has written the definitive novel of Vietnam and the 1960s. She pairs a young woman’s coming of age in an alien, dangerous country with the social and political upheaval of that decade, so painful to remember and so hard to forget. The Women is emotionally draining, heartbreaking and transcendent. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristin Hannah for this ARC.

3 1/2 stars rounded down. I was thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley as “The Great Alone” and “The Nightingale” were both phenomenal (and I’ve enjoyed other books by this author as well). This novel focuses on a fascinating and important piece of history: the American women who served in Vietnam. I learned a lot while reading this, and it’s obvious Kristin Hannah has done her homework. I appreciate the effort she put into shining a light on the heroism of these women and exposing the struggles they faced when returning home after their time in war.
With that said, I felt as if much of this read like an overwrought Danielle Steele story. The main character was a walking literary cliché who every man falls immediately in love with, and I felt like her entire personality was made of up plot points Hannah wanted to include in her novel. The same could be said for all of the characters; to me they felt more like caricatures only introduced to advance the story she wanted to tell rather than fleshed out people.
I did gasp at one point when a twist caught me off guard, but otherwise things played out in a fairly predictable manner. There was a second (nearly identical) twist at the ending that felt so far fetched it took me immediately out of the story.
Overall, I was interested in the subject matter and feel there are important lessons to be learned by reading this novel. I just wish as much effort had gone into characterization as obviously did into ensuring historical accuracy. A good read but not my favorite by this author.
Note: Because of the nature of its subject matter, this book contains graphic scenes of injuries and death. Additionally, substance abuse/addiction, suicide, child loss, and other sensitive topics are addressed.