In her book The Women, Kristin Hannah has written another emotional historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a turbulent period in history, one that is not so prevalent in historical fiction writing. This book tells the story of Frankie McGrath, Army nurse during the Vietnam conflict, who faces difficult situations both during her time in Vietnam and in the years after she returns home as a veteran. Frankie's story demonstrates that "women can be heroes too."

Hannah divides Frankie's story into two parts. In Part 1, Frankie enlists in the Army as a nurse in order to follow her brother to Vietnam and to earn herself a spot on her father's "Heroes Wall." Most of the plot in this part of the book takes place in Vietnam where Frankie experiences the brutality of war up close. Though the experience takes a toll on Frankie's emotions and beliefs, it also introduces her to two other nurses, Barb and Ethel, who become her best friends and support system.

In Part 2, Frankie is back home in California struggling to integrate back into everyday life. The world has changed, and people do not treat her as she expected. Even her family does not acknowledge or value her service to her country, so Frankie has to figure out who she is beyond being an Army nurse.

The best part of this book is the female friendship between Frankie, Barb, and Ethel. Hannah writes female relationships so well. They become a found family that supports one another no matter the circumstances. Barb, especially, is always there to pick Frankie up when she stumbles, no questions asked. Hannah writes, "Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world run by men, you could count on women." So true!

There are many other aspects to praise in this book. The book is well-paced and easy to read with straightforward storytelling. I was thoroughly immersed in the settings and sped through chapters to see what would happen next. The historical context of the Vietnam conflict is highly engaging and interesting. I immediately wanted to research events referenced in the book. Frankie's experiences are vividly depicted and lead to some very emotional reading moments. Hannah's books always make me feel connected to the characters so that their hardships have a strong impact on me.

One thing I wish had been handled differently is the development of Frankie's romantic relationships. The relationships she engaged in while in Vietnam are too quickly developed without enough time taken to create an understanding of why these characters fall in love. I could not buy in to these romances because there wasn't enough foundation for them. Honestly, I feel that the book does not need romance in it at all. The story of Frankie, her family, and the women she befriends is enough in itself.

Would I recommend this book to other readers? Absolutely. It is informative, entertaining, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Another excellent book by a gifted writer!

Kristin Hannah is by far my favorite author of historical fiction. This novel about nurses during the Vietnam War is action-packed and really made the time period come alive for me. This is a must-read! I have already purchased multiple copies for my library.

Kristin Hannah has hit it out of the park again! I loved this book! I was immediately sucked in and didn’t want to put it down.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

The Women by Kristin Hannah

KH does it again! Along with my girl JW! If you’re not a diehard historical fiction fan, I highly recommend listening to Hannah’s books, narrated by Julia Whelan. You will feel like you are right in the middle of the action and you’ll feel all the feels. This 480 page book did not feel long at all!

First, let me say that it is obvious Hannah puts so much care into her writing. After reading this story I cannot even imagine all of the research it took to convey such a story during the Vietnam War.

In this one, we follow our FMC Frankie who signs up to be a nurse during the war at only 20 years old. You get to see war from a totally different perspective and wow, these women are HEROES. You also get an insight into life after war, the hardships these vets went through, and the fight inside them.

The Women had big themes of love, womanhood, and friendship and I was completely humbled while reading.

Read if you like:
-all the emotions
-nursing
-learning about the Vietnam War
-friendship and family
-sweet, messy romance
-well-researched stories with a lot of depth
-PTSD handled so delicately
-post-war struggles

This one published on 2/6 and I highly recommend the book and the audio! Thank you to netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the early copy. All thoughts are my own.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I love how Kristin Hannah can take me right into a situation that doing know anything about. She did that for me with this book. Her writing is masterful and she helped me understand the Vietnam war from a new perspective. There were a few parts of a book that felt jumpy but overall it was wonderful.

What a ride!

As usual Kristin brings sweeping storytelling with a heavy dose of emotion. The pride and anger and forbidden love on display throughout this book was visceral.

I appreciated not only the book for the entertainment value, but I felt like I came away having learned more about a time period and conflict I don’t know much about.

Vivid settings, characters that put you through all the emotions and conflict both internal and external on display the entire time. Another fabulous offering from Kristin Hannah.

Please be aware that this book has a lot of triggers.

I didn’t realize how little I knew about the Vietnam war until I read this book. Kristin Hannah did it again. I could not put down this book and read it in one day.

This is such an important story. The service of women during the Vietnam war is rarely spoken of. Their bravery and strength is incredible. Their stories need to be shared and this book does so beautifully.

This is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. It’s heartbreaking, emotional, and heroic. It highlights the strength of female friendships. The importance of helping and supporting one another, listening to each other, and being there in the big and small moments.

While the scenes set during the war were intense and brutal, it was the reception of the military when they came home that was so heartbreaking. Although this is a difficult read, it is well worth the time. Be prepared for a gripping, emotional read.

Frankie made many poor decisions, but in the context of the trauma she faced, they made sense. While my heart ached with each poor choice, I understood how she got caught in those choices. I wanted her to work through the trauma and find the joy she deserved.

This book contains scattered strong profanity, drug and alcohol use, and vague descriptions of intimacy

I'm really shocked to say that this is probably my least favorite Kristin Hannah book I've read. And that makes me so sad! Still a solid 4 star rating, but usually I come to Hannah's books knowing I'll fall in love with the characters, probably cry, and give it at least 4.5 stars. The Women just didn't do it for me!

But with that being said, I will say that I absolutely adored part one of this book. Frankie's time in Vietnam was fast-paced, emotional, interesting, and I never guessed what came next. Frankie's friendships with Ethel and Barb were the highlight of this book for me, and I loved seeing these friendships develop. Part one really reminded me why I love historical fiction.

Where this book lost me was in all of the topics it tried to take on. I think this is typical for Hannah, but the execution was lacking for me in this book. Part two felt so messy. Addiction, sexism, mental health, politics, and a few other very heavy topics I won't mention because they could be considered spoilers. I believe these issues can be woven together well (and I've seen it done many times in other books) but I don't think they were here. It just seemed chaotic and a bit all over the place. There were a few times when it felt like the book could have wrapped up, but then I'd turn a page and Frankie was encountering an even lower low than the previous chapter.

Perhaps my warm feelings for Frankie in part one contrasted with my disappointment in her in part two is what Hannah was trying to achieve -- showing how much the traumas of war can change a person.

This review is very critical, but I think that's because I hold my favorite author to a high standard! Despite the things that didn't work for me in The Women, I still think this is an important and worthwhile read.

Lastly, I'd recommend reviewing trigger warnings prior to picking this one up.

Mini Review

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣
by Kristin Hannah
480 pages
Book will be released February 6, 2024

Thank you to the author, @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

This was a good solid historical fiction read for me. The beginning of the novel was very strong and emotionally gripping. Frankie's return to the United States was well written and compelling. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#currentlyreading #historicalfictionbooks #historicalfiction #newbooks #thewomen #bookstagram #bookstareviewweek @bookstareviewweek @jm_bibliolater @mommaleighellensbooknook

I absolutely loved this book! Early on I actually didn't know what it was about and wasn't sure if I was going to get into the story, but I was fascinated by the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the 1960s-1970s time period.

Frankie McGrath has grown up looking at the "Wall of Heroes" in her Dad's office, and when the idea that women can be heroes too is planted in her mind, she decides to follow her brother to Vietnam as an Army Nurse.

Nothing could have prepared Frankie for being "in country", but she is brave and bold and excels as a nurse and develops lifelong friendships.

The really heartbreaking part of the story begins when Frankie returns home and struggles to adjust and continue on with life.

Kristin Hannah is a master at weaving the historical aspects into the story of a character who I alternately wanted to shake and then hug. I was glued to the pages and completely immersed in the story.

Definitely my favorite of KH's books and my favorite read of the year.

What can I say about this book that hasn’t been already said? Kristin Hannah’s latest novel #thewomen is an ode to not all just Vietnam War nurses, but all women who have served. As a veteran in the United States Air Force (1999-2004) I felt such an honor to read such a moving story about those who came before me.

We follow Frances “Frankie” McGrath in her journey to be a true hero, a world where being heroes was always left to the men….

After volunteering for the Army Nurse Corps, Frankie, green as can be is thrust into a mobile hospital unit in Vietnam. With hardly any experience her days are spent treating MASCAL patients. Working in a NICU, I sometimes am thrust into a need of urgency, but I just could not imagine what she and many other vet nurses were thrust into in the midst of utter chaos. Hannah’s depiction of the conditions in Vietnam camps through sight, smells, dust, music, and thwap thwap sounds of incoming helicopters will make you feel like you are right there along side Frankie.

The hardest parts of the novel were seeing how this brave women and men who arrived were treated upon their return. From harassment, being spat on, being frowned upon really upset me because so many gave their lives unnecessarily during this war and this was what was waiting for you should you survive.

I feel this book will resonate with all military members, nurses, doctors, women…basically everyone. The emotional roller coaster you are used to in Hannah’s writing is all here in this book. I felt all the feels, happiness…butterflies…stress…sadness…anger…pure emotions all the way through….

Thank you to @kristinhannahauthor for writing such an impactful novel for all to read. Thank you @netgalley for my advance readers’ copy. I picked this up last November and 30% in I told myself put it down, your book club needs to read this with you in Spring. I just couldn’t wait any longer. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Really enjoyed The Women by Kristin Hannah. If you’ve read any of her other books, then you won’t be surprised that this one too is full of heartbreaking experiences and worst case scenarios playing out.

That made the book somewhat predictable to me, but there was still a twist or two I didn’t see coming. So much research was clearly put into the experience for nurses serving in Vietnam and I absolutely want to learn more now about this part of history.

I. Am. Emotional.

I feel like I could talk a very long time about this book, but I’ll keep it brief. I loved everything about this book and it was hard for me to realize what was fiction and what wasn’t. I took a History of Vietnam War course in college and I don’t remember learning about the women at all. This was a tough war to learn about, but it should be discussed. I’m so glad this book brought light to the women that served in Vietnam.

This was a very coming of age story for Frankie and I loved her character. She was a young and naive rich girl who blossomed into a strong woman. She went through so many hardships and people not listening to her, but I’m happy she had a great support system of friends. That girl made me cry multiple times and the ending was just perfect. I’m so satisfied with everything. I will for sure be thinking about this book for a while and probably going to be in a slump.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

There has been a lot of buzz about The Women this month and it is well-deserved. I've only read one other book by Hannah: The Four Winds which is about the 1930s Dust Bowl.

This book is about a different era. I don't know a lot about the Vietnam War, though after watching Ken Burns's documentary on it I know a little more about it. Knowing how much research Hannah puts into her novels, I knew that The Women would increase my knowledge of the time period.

I grew up watching M*A*S*H (mostly in reruns) so the fact that this book features an Army Nurse was another big draw.

I loved Frankie from the start. She's coming of age during a very tumult time in American history. She's living between the life that she has been "trained" for - find a husband, have kids, attend luncheons at the country club, and fundraise for various causes - and the life that is just now becoming a possibility for women - an education, a career, deciding her own destiny. She wants the husband and wife but she also wants more - to make a difference in the world.

There were definitely some eye-opening moments during the novel. I have friends who are nurses and a big part of their degree was clinical training so it was interesting that Frankie got her RN but had no clinical training. Another interesting bit was the difference in training that Frankie would get if she had joined the Navy or the Air Force instead of the Army. The Army shipped nurses over to Vietnam with 6 weeks of basic training whereas the other branches required a year of state-side training. Underprepared is an understatement. She basically knew how to roll bandages and empty bed pans and she is dropped into an Evac hospital where men are missing limbs and there are only a handful of medical personnel. Talk about trial by fire.

The novel doesn't just tell of Frankie's time in-country but continues after she finishes two tours and returns home. When she left, the country was still supportive of the troops but by the time she returns, the tide had changed.

My heart was breaking knowing that so many men and women had gone through the same things as Frankie. I was also angry, particularly for the women who had served. I read a lot of WWII fiction and know that it took a while for women who served during that war to be recognized. But what really got me in The Women was learning how many of the men who served in-country denied that women were there too. I sort of understood civilians thinking that (because the government was covering up a lot of things about the war), but Frankie interacted with a lot of soldiers during her two years. She might not have held a gun, but with all the bombing the hospitals underwent I think you could say she was in combat.

There was a predictable plot thread that I didn't care much for. I saw how it was going to play out and while it probably did happen to people during that time, I thought it was a bit of unnecessary drama and heartache for Frankie.

Overall, this is a great novel, one I didn't want to put down. If you haven't read it yet, you need to put it at the top of your reading pile and read it now.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/02/the-women-by-kristin-hannah-review_0912260257.html

The saying that most affected Frankie's life is "women can be heroes". She is 20 years old and just graduated from nursing school. She grows up in paradise in a home with loving parents, a brother, ocean front on Coronado Island. Her first nursing job at the hospital doesn't give her much spark. In 1965 the world is in turmoil with the war in Vietnam. Her brother leaves to serve in the military there. Several months later, he meets his fate. Frankie enlists in the Army as they are the only ones who will take her. She serves in the Army Nurse Corps and is assigned to several MASH type units. Surgery is where she lands. She has several romantic relationships. Will she survive Vietnam? Will she have lasting effects of serving there?
Being a nurse, I can tell you that I have heard many stories from nurse friends who served in Vietnam. The stories are horrific. No one who served comes back the same person who left. This is a story that grips you from the beginning. It speaks to the struggles that many military returning experience. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. This is one of Kristen Hannah's best!

Say what you will...whether you believe we should have been in Vietnam or not, the people who sacrificed their mental health, their physical health, and even their lives deserved to have those sacrifices acknowledged, remembered, and respected. It was beyond bad for so many of the men who served and even worse for the women, because "there were no women in Vietnam". But that is so not true, and those women had even less support because of that mentality. This was an amazing read, but in the same breath it was very hard to read. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors and what people had to do to adapt and survive. My deepest everlalsting gratitude to anyone who has served. If ya'll were needing to count on me to do something like that, you'd sadly be living in a different world.

This was my most anticipated book of the year and it needs no introduction as it has been all over Bookstagram and I love seeing all the praise it deserves❤️.

This book has consumed my thoughts since finishing it. There are not many books that talk about the contributions of women to Vietnam and I thought the way Kristin Hannah not only talked about the war but also the aftermath was so very relevant. She was able to humanize it for us in a way I hadn’t seen before.

I loved Frankie and felt all of the emotion right along side her from fear to defiance to frustration and everything in between. How she was treated when she came home from the war was heartbreaking. Through all the tough parts though there was hope, love and lasting friendships which we have come to expect from this author.

🎧Once again Julia Whelan does a wonderful job of bringing the reader such an immersive experience via audiobook. Thanks to @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copy!

Kristin Hannah has done an amazing job again. The novel tells the story about the women vets during the Vietnam war. Not only was the imagery and scenes from the Vietnam heartbreaking and emotional but so was the aftermath. Hannah describes the emotions and characters in a way that make you feel all the pain with them. This was hard to put down. I loved it!

I'm sure many of you have heard of this author or this book. I've read all of her most recent historical fiction books (Winter Garden through to this one) and I think The Women closely ties with The Great Alone for top spot. It was such a good book. It was emotional and passionate and tear jerking but it was also special and lovely and there were so many moments of resiliency and strength. Frankie is an easy character to love, and even though I didn't agree with all of her decisions (but also can't judge her because of what she went through!), I really, really felt for her and thus felt for the other women who were OF COURSE in similar situations post-Vietnam war. It was eye-opening to consider the effects of this war on Veterans, particularly the women who were considerably less recognized and provided mental health aid after their return home. This book takes place over many years during the Vietnam war and afterwards and I found that approach to the story *so* fascinating and well done.

This book has some content warnings (what war book doesn't?) that I'll include in the comment section, but if you've read Kristin Hannah before you're probably prepared to have your heart broken just a little tiny bit but in THIS book I really found there was ultimately a hopeful ending and that made me smile through the tears. Just in case you needed to be assured of that if you've read her other recent works :)

5 easy stars for this book and I'm so glad I read it. Naturally, the audio narration was breathtaking and perfectly performed by @justjuliawhelan whose voice I hadn't listened to for months somehow!! :)

This picture is taken in our Veteran's Memorial hospital building in Halifax where I work and where some Veterans from various wars still reside. (Yes, I took a book picture at work and no, it wasn't embarrassing. lol)