This book has everything that I love in historical fiction - interesting setting and time, strong female protagonists, and a story I haven't heard told yet. I highly recommend this to any fan of historical fiction, strong female characters, or even someone who wants to learn more about what it was like for Nurses and Doctors during the Vietnam War.

The Women by Kristin Hannah was an incredible walk into Vietnam. The stories, the friendships, the horrific sacrifices that were made were painted on the page with such vivid imagery. Loved the characters and learned so much as I read. Highly recommend.
Full review and links coming soon.

The Women was a moving, female-empowering book that had me captivated the entire time. This book had extremely strong female friendships that showed up for the main character time and time again. In many wars including the Vietnam war, the role of women is highly underrepresented and it was inspiring and shocking to see the perspective.

4.5 stars

“There were no women in Vietnam.” As Kristin Hannah states in the Author’s Note to her magnificent new novel The Women, this sentiment – that no women served in Vietnam, despite numerous first-hand accounts of women who were there as nurses, medical personnel, news correspondents, volunteers, etc. -- was the prevailing one during a time period that saw a country torn apart by a senseless war that should never have happened in the first place. As someone born in the late 1970s, long after the war was over, I of course had to rely on history books to learn about the Vietnam War – books that I realize now were mostly lacking in detailed information. In fact, the mentions of the Vietnam War were always so brief to the point that I had no idea how bad things actually got in America: that there had been a period of “collective amnesia” spurred on by the government where even the mere mention of “Vietnam” was taboo; that Vietnam vets were shamefully mistreated by both the government and ordinary citizens to the point that many had to go into hiding and were even afraid to mention they had served; and most frustratingly, that women’s efforts in the war were rarely (if ever) acknowledged and their experiences were largely discounted – in being constantly told that “there were no women in Vietnam,” they were rendered invisible, forcibly forgotten and “disappeared” from history. With this novel, Hannah brings these women’s experiences to the forefront and once again, delivers a heart-wrenching, emotional story that provides more depth of insight into aspects of American history than many history books are able to do.

The woman at the center of the story is Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a nursing student from a wealthy, conservative family, who decides to follow her brother’s footsteps when he ships out to serve in Vietnam in 1965. At the age of 21, inexperienced and with barely any training, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and arrives in Vietnam without the faintest idea what she would be up against. Surrounded by devastation and destruction everywhere she turns, Frankie comes face-to-face with the atrocities of war on a daily basis and learns to survive amongst the chaos. In Vietnam, she meets two other nurses – Barb and Ethel – and together, they endure horrific violence, death, loss, and heartbreak mingled with moments of incredible courage, bravery, and hope. In circumstances where both life and death hang by a thread, the deep friendships that Frankie forms with those whom she works untiringly side-by-side every day, along with a strong belief in the good they are doing for the war effort, carry her through the darkest of days. But when Frankie and her friends return home to a country deeply divided, where tensions run high and the overwhelming sentiment is to forget the war ever happened, the women realize that what they endured in Vietnam was only the beginning of a long battle for justice — for themselves as well as for those who sacrificed life and limb for a country that doesn’t want to recognize their existence.

I will be honest in saying that this was a difficult read for me, but also one that I couldn’t put down (I finished this one in two sittings, as I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages, desperately wanting to find out what happens next). Hannah has proven time and time again that she definitely knows how to tell a gripping, atmospheric story with complex female characters who are deeply flawed, yet realistic and relatable in ways that you don’t see coming until you’re so immersed in their world that it’s too late to pull back. It wasn’t until I finished the book that, upon reflection, I realized that perhaps the book was a little longer than it needed to be and some scenes were a bit repetitive and maybe not really necessary. But overall, this was a well-thought-out, meticulously researched story, poignantly told in a way that, I felt, did justice to the history and complexity of the Vietnam War era. I especially appreciated Hannah’s Author Note where she talked about the decades-long process of how this novel came to be and I definitely feel she made the right choice to wait until she was ready to tackle this subject. In my opinion, she did a magnificent job!

Kristin Hannah has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors whose works are high on my “must-read” list (though admittedly, I still have many books in her extensive backlist that I need to get to at some point). While initially, I had felt bad about not getting to this one before publication date (I realize I missed it by a few days), I now know that I need not have worried, as Hannah’s work pretty much speaks for itself. I’m sure this will be one of the buzziest, most-read books of the year (and deservingly so in my opinion).

This was an amazing book! I loved it! What a rollercoaster of emotions. It's always tough to read about the Vietnam war with all the deaths. But to read about a female Army nurse in all the chaos was heart-rending. And then having to deal with PTSD when she got back home. The writing in this book was just flawless. The characters were realistic. This book is perfection and is easily one of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Kristin Hannah for an ARC of The Women in exchange of an honest review.

Another beautiful novel by Kristin Hannah. I was again swept up in the story and I highly recommend for any of her previous readers or for book clubs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

A tribute to the power of friendship and the bond developed in the harsh medical world of the Vietnam War forms the backdrop to Kristen Hannah’s novel The Women. Young, idealistic Frankie McGrath signs up to be an army nurse at the beginning of a war which will soon become unpopular in the United States. Totally unprepared for working as a surgical nurse, Frankie learns how to survive in the chaos of war and surgery. Her nursing team becomes her lifeline as she navigates the surgical hospitals, doctors, soldiers, family, and life back home in America. Delving into the sacrifices and traumas endured in the war and those endured upon returning to a country angry over that war, the writing evokes the times of the 1960’s and 1970’s reflecting the thinking, the pop culture, and the changing dynamics of political activism. A fascinating, emotionally difficult, but powerful book on the Vietnam War and the aftermath, focusing on the strength of women. Highly recommended!

This book ripped my heart out. I don’t cry when I read books but this had me practically sobbing. This was a powerful book and unique. I haven’t heard of many books set during Vietnam and especially not ones geared towards women. As a nurse and woman that has had many family serve our military, and had my own grandfather serve in Vietnam, this book hit home. Don’t skip this book. This is Hannah at her very best.

4.5 Stars. Frankie McGrath lived a sheltered life in an upper-middle-class home. Her parents felt that a woman's future should involve marriage and raising children. Her father had a wall of photos honouring male family members who had participated in various wars. This was his Wall of Heroes. At a gathering for her beloved brother, who was departing for Vietnam, her brother's friend told Frankie that women could be heroes, too. Her brother died in Vietnam, leaving the family shattered by grief. After training as a nurse, Frankie enlists in the Army Nurse Corps to go to the war zone and work with war casualties, save lives, and provide comfort for the dying. Her father is hostile regarding her choice, and her mother disapproves and worries about her safety.

When Frankie arrives in Vietnam, she realizes how unprepared she is for the chaos and carnage. She pushes through these doubts and concerns and becomes a much-admired and competent nurse, even performing surgeries. The sights, sounds, smells, gory injuries and deaths vividly immerse the readers in the place and time, with references to the music, culture, political division, assassinations, and turmoil back home. She faced fears, sorrow, heartbreak, exhaustion, anger and frustrations. Two close friends from the nursing unit helped give her emotional support when she became overwhelmed, and she bravely carried on her medical duties. The horrors she witnessed while working in the field hospital are compounded after she arrives home.

Her parents offer no acknowledgement or appreciation for a job well done. The public has essentially turned against the ongoing war and is far from welcoming returning veterans. Demonstrations and riots ensue, and Frankie is now hardened and disillusioned from her experiences. She suffers from PTSD and is abusing drugs and alcohol. Her two good friends are always willing to fly to Frankie and try to relieve her distress. Knowing she needs more psychological help, she is unable to receive support from Veterans Affairs, being told she was not involved in combat and there were no women in Vietnam.

I lived in Canada for half of the war. There was no direct participation as it was classified as a civil war. We received many draft dodgers from the USA. I was in Australia for half the war, and men were drafted for combat. I recall daily newscasts saying that winning the war was necessary to save the surrounding countries from the scourge of communism, the 'domino effect.' The news reported continuous success over the enemy, not the horrors of bombed villages or native civilian casualties. Napalm, Agent Orange, and intrusion into Cambodia were barely mentioned. Besides anti-war protests, it was a time of civil-rights demonstrations, with a country badly divided.

I was engrossed by the powerful depiction of women's role in the war and the lack of acknowledgement for their efforts. The picture of the hospital, with the sound of helicopters continuously bringing in the injured and dying and the research that went into the book should be applauded. The war's aftermath and the treatment of the veterans were disheartening, and the lack of help for the emotional wounds of the women was startingly absent. This was a vivid account of the era's history, highly emotional and informative. I wouldn't say I liked the sentimental soap opera of Frankie's romantic involvements. It seemed unrealistic that every man she met immediately fell in love with her, and these attachments often ended with tragic reports. The situation would worsen when everything appeared to be settling down for her.

I kept reading, wanting to know what the outcome would be for Frankie and other forgotten women. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this compelling ARC, which will be published on February 6.

My first five-star read of 2024, and I am admittedly (and weirdly proudly) stingy with that fifth star. As soon as I saw that it was on the horizon I knew I had to read it. And when I started seeing reviews pop up on social media, the vast majority were so good that I began to worry I'd be disappointed after so much hype, so I tried to ignore them and make sure I listened ASAP. I was not disappointed. With this book Kristin Hannah broke my heart, made me angry and nostalgic, she made me feel, and made me remember. I loved the main character, Frankie McGrath, with all her strengths and faults, and I loved the two women who helped her survive and eventually thrive, not only in the early months of her service in Vietnam, but in the difficult years after she returned home to a world she had difficulty understanding. So much of it isn't easy to read/hear - but it's most definitely important.
A little personal background that no doubt informs my feelings & opinions: The time period covered was my own "coming of age" era. Frankie McGrath, the woman whose journey represents all those women who served at that time, is only about 7 years older than me. But those seven years were important ones at the time. The year the POWs were released, 1973, was the year my husband graduated from college and received an Air Force commission, the year we married, the year he began his 24-year career as an Air Force pilot. We both wore POW bracelets in college and I still remember the name on my bracelet. In the early years of my husband's career, he served with several former POWs, as well as many other pilots who'd served in the war. I got to know their wives, as well as some nurses who'd no doubt served there. And yes, we heard some stories. So when Hannah says she did serious research, I believe her. It rings true for me.
My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Wow! One needs to collect themselves after reading this emotional roller coaster ride of a story. I was in middle school at the time of the Vietnam War and remembered watching the news and the death counts. Still to this day I think of my childhood friend whose brother never came home. My tears were flowing so many times for the loss of so many young men and women. Once again Kristin Hannah and her gift of weaving a story based on real life has written a must definitely read book.
The story surrounds Frankie as young woman wanting to help make a change in the world and enlists in the Army fresh out of nursing school. She volunteers for Vietnam where her brother and best friend already has lost his life. Totally shocked and not prepared for the hardships and madness of war, she learns and grows into a take charge woman in the OR. Finds her true calling and meets her 2 BBFs. After two tours of duty coming home wasn’t what she expected.
There are two parts of the story, her time in Vietnam and her return home to the unwelcome reception she received, along with all the veterans. Her struggles to fit in again when her country doesn’t support or believe in the war. I could write so much, but just read it! Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheWomen #KristenHannah

Frankie McGrath comes from a proud Navy family where the men always serve their country. When her brother goes to war, she decides to do her part as a nurse. What she discovers in Vietnam, and after she comes home, breaks her heart, but it will change who she is.

This is Hannah at her finest: strong women, trauma, and significant historical moments. I loved every moment of reading this book.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯."

I'm sure you've read lots of glowing reviews of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡 and it's every bit as good as people say.

The novel centers on Frankie McGrath, a privileged and naive 20-year-old who enlists as an Army nurse in Vietnam, how it changes her, and what life is like when she returns home to a country that not only wants to forget the war happened but also refuses to acknowledge the heroic contributions of the women who served.

I tore through the 480 pages, not able to get enough of Frankie's story even when it was breaking my heart. The way Kristin Hannah immerses the reader in the time, the places and her characters' experiences is unparalleled. This is not a book I'll soon forget, and one I encourage everyone to read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

The women is another outstanding book by Kristin Hannah. As a nurse myself, I loved following along in Frankies footsteps as an Army nurse serving in Vietnam. The history that the author details makes you feel as though you are right there along side the characters. Easily going to be one of my top books of 2024.

This book is an excellent read! It deals with the nurses that served during the Vietnam War. It's a well-researched book that is full of emotions and will stay with you long after you turn the last page. This book deserves more than 5 stars!
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love Kristin Hannah, however, I have struggled greatly with this book. I don't usually read physical copies of her books, but prefer to listen to audiobooks, so I think that's why I didn't enjoy it as much. I do plan to listen to the audiobook and give it a second chance. I think there are a ton of people who will love this book, and I absolutely will recommend it to patrons, but personally, I'm just not sure it was for me.

I love Kristen Hannah ‘s books however, I was a little bit reluctant to read this book in the beginning, because of the time period it was based in. The Vietnam war doesn’t typically catch my attention. I’m usually a World War II era fan, however, this book was incredible. It’s written into two parts. The first part is when the main character, Frankie, signs up for the Army to go serve as a nurse in the Vietnam War. Some of the scenes when she is working during traumas is a bit graphic, and very detailed, but accurate and necessary. It details all of the struggles that women faced during that time and how lowly they were viewed and portrayed as if they were unable to serve their country. The second part of the book is based after she completes her service and returns home. The struggle she goes through to come back to civilian life after the war and the complications that veterans face, especially women, after having served in a time where women weren’t considered important or having served in Vietnam at all. It’s a beautifully written book and I recommend that anyone and everyone read this book.

Frankie McGrath lived a privileged life on the golden shores of California’s Coronado Island. The Vietnam War felt as if it was a world away. When that sheltered life was shaken to its core and she enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps, her life would be forever altered.

Thrust into the harsh reality of a combat nurse in Vietnam, Frankie struggled to adapt to all that entailed. Wholly unprepared, she was unmoored and grasping for stability and normalcy where there was none to be had. The extreme situation meant bonds were forged quickly and she developed strong friendships with her fellow nurses, allowing them to lean on one another and hold each other up. There were other relationships formed as well, a flirtatious but ultimately platonic romance with a surgeon, and a passionate affair with a pilot. Both left lasting scars.

After her tour of duty, and her return to California, Frankie’s homecoming was decidedly underwhelming. Her parents were dismissive of her service, her attempts at seeking help were met with the same response – “there were no women in Vietnam” – and the country as a whole was divided and divisive. Frankie’s life spiraled as she tried to adapt to life after Vietnam. The latter portion of the book, as Frankie struggled to make peace with her experiences, provided an unflinching look at the issues faced by so many veterans upon their return from Vietnam. Brave, resilient, and courageous – and yet their sacrifices were not recognized and applauded, but instead swept under the rug, or even mocked and held in contempt.

While I was born during the Vietnam War era, I was still a child when the conflict ended, so for me it has always felt like history. Not something I had a personal connection to. Kristin Hannah changed that with The Women. This story is vividly detailed (gut wrenchingly so), with characters that virtually leapt off the page and took on a life of their own. I felt their optimism, their fear, their cynicism, and disillusionment. Hannah’s focus on the nurses in Vietnam – young women who exemplified patriotism and selfless heroism – provided another example of how women’s contributions in history are so often overlooked.

The Women was the first book I read in 2024 and it’s not hyperbole to say that I have no doubt it will be my top read of the year. It was powerful, impactful, heartbreaking and – ultimately – uplifting. And it was delivered in a way I’ve come to expect from Kristin Hannah – with realism, nuance, and heart. Utterly unforgettable.

I've never read anything by Kristin Hannah before, My father was a Vietnam Vet, USMC, serving 3 tours (Semper Fi, Daddy! I miss you so much.), so I was interested in reading The Women because of him. I was completely blown away. No exaggeration. This has got to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life, and I'm going on 59. I stayed up late into the night to finish it; and then it was hard to sleep, as the story kept battering around in my brain. My face is all puffy this morning and my eyes are dry, because I cried through 480 pages.

Twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath lives with her conservative parents and brother/best friend Finley in Southern California. In May of 1966, the McGraths are having a huge party as a send off to Fin, who has joined the Navy and is shipping out to Vietnam. When one of Fin's friends tells her, "Women can be heroes, too", Frankie decides she wants to do something to help the war effort, and joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow her brother's path. Frankie is totally unprepared for the reality of war. She goes from being a scared young lady to an experienced nurse, living in danger at all times and seeing broken men die despite the ones they are able to save. Frankie, now stronger, reups and serves another tour, this time in a much more dangerous location. When she returns stateside, she is shocked at the protests again the men - and women - returning from war. Families are divided, and protests are breaking out all over the nation. Even her family doesn't want to discuss her service. When Frankie decides that she needs help adjusting, she is reminded again and again that "women don't go to Vietnam". She battles horrible PTSD and hits rock bottom, and battles to regain herself despite the carnage and the public's disgust with those who served.

That little description of the story doesn't sound too brutal, does it? But it was horrifying and full of death, and the public's treatment of returning vets was horrible. However, the story was uplifting, as well. Frankie grows from a terrified young woman to a strong one, despite her terror. She develops wonderful friends with two other nurses: Ethel from Virginia, who wants to be veterinarian, and Barb, a Black woman from Georgia who has to fight not only war protestors but also racism. In the horror of war, Frankie also finds love. The first part of the book focuses on Frankie's service in Vietnam, where she finds out just how strong she could be. She went from being assigned to the Neuro ward, where the patients were unconscious and she didn't have a lot to do, to working with trauma surgeons in the worst of conditions. The second part deals with Frankie's homecoming, her treatment from friends, family, and war protestors, and her battle with PTSD. And it's a vicious battle. It was bad enough to have night terrors of being under fire, but it seemed even worse due to the opinions for the women who served. Most people didn't believe they were in Vietnam...even the VA! Though the women weren't involved in combat, they were dealing with the horrors of the broken men and boys who were. It was shameful how so many in the US treated those vets when they returned. Hate the war, but don't hate the heroes that served. What was especially heartbreaking was the treatment by her parents. Her mother didn't want to talk about Frankie's service; why not just go the club for lunch and be normal again? After serving in war, there is no normal. Her father especially angered me. In his home office he had a "Heroes Wall" for those in the family that served. Was her picture displayed with all the other heroes? No. That was one of the most devastating things to me. I loved Frankie's friendship with Barb and Ethel, and how they supported each other both at war and at home. Frankie also had romantic relationships, which were also colored by war and PTSD. Her battle with PTSD was hard to watch. Was Frankie always likable? No. But she had reasons for her actions, and I rooted for her the entire book. The ending was inspiring. The men and THE WOMEN who were disparaged after their homecoming were finally recognized for what they were: HEROES. This was a hard book to read, but worth the sobbing and heartache. I recommend this book to everyone.

And here's a little personal stuff to throw in, which colored my reaction to the story. My father was not drafted; he entered the United States Marine Corps when he graduated high school. Until the day he died in 2022, he was always a proud Marine. Some other women were also forgotten during this time: the women whose husbands were sent to Vietnam. My Dad had to leave my Mom with 2 little babies, with Mom not knowing whether her husband would ever make it back. As a matter of fact, when the Marines were getting on the ship to go to Vietnam, the wives were being told their husbands were NOT being sent there! I was born in 1965, so I wasn't really aware of what was going on. Dad didn't talk about Vietnam much. After returning home, he was sent to New Haven, CT as a recruiter. The war was still going on. What's in New Haven? Yale University. Lots of protestors. One thing he told me was that they used to yell at him asking how many babies he killed that day. (Gotta love my Dad; he'd say something like, "Only 10. I'm trying to cut down.") His service wasn't respected at that time. At one part in the story Frankie is helping raise money for the MIA/POWs, and she was selling bracelets with the names of POWs on them. We had those! I remember one of us got a letter from one of the men who got to come home. I don't know what happened to the others. Of course Dad didn't have the same experience in Vietnam as the women did, but it brought this book home to me. Read it.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: E-book

5🌟 - I loved it!

Thank you St. Martins Press for the gifted ARC!

No surprise here, I loved it! I am a huggggge Kristin Hannah fan and have read 19 of her books now!

What I love most about KH’s historical books are how much I learn from them! This is a sliver of history I really have never read about or really know much about at all. Of course I love getting a women’s perspective in the middle of the Vietnam war and seeing how nurses were treated and what they went through during that time.

Although this is a lengthy book, I devoured this one in less than 24 hours! I was so swept away in the story and all the characters.

A story of love, loss, found family, trauma, strong female protagonist, and mental health.