A gripping novel with a rare female perspective of the Vietnam War and a needed reminder that "women can be heroes." Heartbreaking, emotional and obviously written after much (and meticulous) research, Frances "Frankie" McGrath's story is completely engrossing.

I have already recommended this book to friends and will continue to do so, not only to those who are already Kristin Hannah fans, but also to those who may not have read any of her previous books.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this amazing book!

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I will be thinking about this one for a while.

The Women follows Frankie McGrath as she navigates becoming a nurse and then joining to Army Nurse Corps and shipping off to Vietnam in the late 1960s. Frankie spends two tours in Vietnam serving in evac hospitals before returning home to California to backlash from nearly everyone. Her parents won't even acknowledge she was in Vietnam, strangers spit on her, and there is no support from the VA for women. Frankie is lost and angry and trying to find herself again after doing what she thought was right by serving her country in a war that was not supported by the people.

Kristin Hannah makes magic when she writes. I felt every emotion possible while reading; happy, sad, angry just to name a few. I've yet to read a book by another author who is able to tell a story where the reader feels so transported to another time and place.

I learned so much from this book, too. I went in not knowing much about the Vietnam War and came out with very mixed emotions. Not having been alive when the war occurred, I don't have a first-hand perspective. The anger I feel towards the American government and the sorrow I feel towards the veterans and their families and the Vietnamese civilians...I didn't expect to feel those things while reading a historical fiction novel. It takes a gifted writer to make a reader feel while reading.

You should run, not walk, to pick this one up on release day.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

I have chosen to withhold my review of The Women by Kristin Hannah in accordance with the marketing boycott of reviewing and platforming titles published under St. Martin’s Press and associated imprints. As a company, St. Martin’s Press has yet to meaningfully acknowledge and address the harm caused by a marketing employee who perpetuated Islamophobic sentiments against those of Palestinian descent specifically, and has a documented history of discriminating against readers of Arab heritage in general. As a reader, I refuse to participate, even passively, in perpetuating harm against my fellow readers in an activity all should be able to enjoy.

Once action is taken by St. Martin’s Press as a company to address the harm caused and how they will be dedicated to a decisive plan of action to address needs for diversity, equity and inclusion, I will upload my review of The Women by Kristin Hannah.

The Women is a sweeping story of one woman’s journey in the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam, following her through harrowing experiences in country and her struggles at home after she returns from the war.

The book is divided into two parts, with Part One detailing Frankie’s experiences in Vietnam. This first half of the book is excellent and exceedingly well researched. Kristin Hannah has been delving into this topic for a long time and it shows. She paints a raw and immersive portrait of what it was like in the depths of the hell that was the Vietnam War. The imagery is gritty and powerful, and Frankie’s growth from a naïve, starry-eyed FNG to a mature, experienced surgical nurse is compelling. Frankie’s friendship with her fellow nurses Barb and Ethel is particularly well rendered.

Part Two details its own kind of hell when Frankie returns from the war and grapples with assimilating back into her civilian life. Although Hannah highlights many critical postwar difficulties, such as PTSD, trauma, and the disdain many Americans held toward the war and its veterans, ultimately this part of the book didn’t resonate as much with me. Hannah throws every imaginable trauma at her protagonist – just when you think Frankie has hit rock bottom and suffered enough, something even worse knocks her down. It was a little too melodramatic and soap opera-y for me, especially one particular plot point that is fairly unlikely the first time but becomes downright eye-rolling when it happens a second time (IYKYK). I would have preferred a deeper exploration of a smaller set of issues, but overall Frankie’s character arc is a good one.

All in all, this is a meaningful book about an important era we don’t see enough in historical fiction that highlights the bravery and heroism of the forgotten women who served their country in Vietnam. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

A new book by Kristin Hannah is always worth the wait. What I loved about this one is that it took things I had vague knowledge of in a history class sort of way- women were in Vietnam, those who were in Vietnam were treated terribly when they returned, a developing understanding of PTSD at that time- and made it feel deeply personal. The first part of the book focuses on Frankie's time in Vietnam and the connections she made alongside the absolute horrors she faced, but the rest focuses on what happens when she comes back a completely changed person. The story is incredibly immersive, and despite being nearly 500 pages I tore through this one and probably would have read more.

Kristen Hannah does it again! I was worried when I first started the book because the pacing felt so quick. It was like we met Francis, and then boom, she's in Vietnam. After sitting with the book for a few days, I realized that Hannah may have done that. She didn't know too much about the character before seeing how her time in Vietnam shaped her. I appreciated how we got to see Francis in Vietnam and how she coped with it afterward, and I especially loved the surprise and the end of the novel. I'm already counting down to the next book by her.

I can’t say enough about this book. It’s got great writing, plotting and fascinating characters.
Frankie McGrath was raised in a pro-military family in San Diego. Her brother went off to fight in Vietnam; she was supposed to stay home and marry well. She’s patriotic and wants to be on her father’s “hero” wall so she enlists to be an Army nurse. She’s told many times “there are no women in Vietnam” but she finds herself at an airbase completely out of her depth.
The war is like nothing she could imagine, and she and the other nurses work under indescribable conditions. She makes lifelong friends and romantic connections, but just as she was unprepared for Vietnam she’s equally unprepared for what she finds back home.
This is a powerful story of a country who’s torn over Vietnam and its aftermath, and how the veterans cope with life after the war. Frankie is told again and again that “there were no women in Vietnam” but she and her friends are living proof that women were definitely there.
I highly recommend this book, it’s already on my top 10 list of must reads. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I remember taking a history course about the Vietnam War in university. It covered everything from the causes, the war tactics and weaponry, the responses and reactions around the world, Cronkite, and the way the war ended. I can’t remember mention of a single woman’s involvement. (Which, let’s be honest, says a lot about the way that liberal arts education is handled at the hands of white men. Anyway…)

Hannah tackles this topic head on in her typical, heartbreaking style. The story of Frances (Frankie) McGrath enlists as a nurse in the war after losing her brother in combat. With only American propaganda to fuel her understanding, she has a real shock when thrust into the thick of things.

We follow along Frankie’s growth and character arc, through love and heart wrenching loss, detailing so many facets of this brutal war that had been swept under the rug and denied by media for far too long, and then of course, what it meant to return home as a veteran (the men formally recognized as such, and the women dismissed).

I thought this was a gorgeous tale, touching on so many themes: race, PTSD, addiction, advocacy, family (found or otherwise) and trauma.

Frankie’s brother has been killed in Vietnam. Frankie decides she is going to do something different than what her conservative parents want for her. She signs up for the Army Nurse Corps. She is immediately shipped to Vietnam. To say this experience changed her life is an understatement, it ruled her life for years to come.

Frankie’s experience in Vietnam is something I will think about for weeks…heck…months. Add that in with how she was treated after she got home, even by her family, no wonder she had trouble adjusting.

Well, February is starting off with a bang! And this book is the reason! It is so dang good! Hannah incorporates so much into this novel. The research, the strong characters, the fantastic writing, the setting…GEEZ! This is such an amazing read!

Julia Whelan is one of my all time favorite narrators and she nailed this book!

Need a novel which will have your emotions all over the place…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

With each new historical fiction novel she writes, I love Kristin Hannah even more! And this book was by far my favorite. If I could give this book ten stars I would! The story put me through the emotional wringer: from the gruesome wounds and lost soldiers Frankie saw as a nurse in the operating tents in Vietnam, often under attack herself, then the shocking reality of coming home to a changed America where the returning soldiers are blamed and even hated for a war they never wanted. Her struggles with PTSD were heartbreaking and hard to read. I thought the story was well researched and beautifully written, most of the story sad and heartbreaking but leaving the reader with a sense of hope at the end. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

This was definitely out of the norm for me but I absolutely loved it! It was so good and hooked me from page one! Must read

1966 Vietnam

Frankie, after graduating with a nursing degree, joined the army in order to serve in the Vietnam war. Her motivation was to follow her brother who was already serving a tour. Once Frankie arrived in Vietnam, the tour did not begin as planned, yet she was determined to make a difference. Because of the author’s detailed descriptions, it was easy to imagine the character's appearance. Each page held my attention and I needed to keep reading. I’ve read many of the author’s novels, all were well written and researched.

Frankie showed amazing bravery when faced with the war nobody wanted to fight. Everyday, the doctors and nurses faced soldiers' injuries, knowing that most young men would lose an arm or leg and eventually die. The hospital staff formed a pseudo family knowing the friendships were temporary. Together, the women forgot the soldiers and what could have been done to save the men’s lives. Not surprising, the memories followed Frankie home. Those memories followed her home in the form of nightmares. Frankie experienced one heartbreak after another. Moreover, she had a difficult time returning home from Vietnam. It’s no wonder that Vietnam Vets take their own lives or abuse drugs and alcohol. Frankie's life was like It's an Oreo cookie that exploded and Frankie was left to pick up the pieces.

I could not read the last 25% fast enough. I wanted to get to the ending just to see how Frankie”s life resolves.

A huge thank you Kristin Hannah, St. Martin’s Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and in exchange for an honest review.

I was very very apprehensive going into this book.

I have found, lately, that I really struggle with heavy storylines. The world, right now, feels heavy enough without my favorite downtim activity pulling me deeper under. So here I was, about to start a story about Vietnam of all things, and I was really very afraid I wasn't going to be able to finish it.

Color me surprised that, while The Women does not shy away from any of the ugliness of the war or the time period in which it took place, it somehow didn't feel that heavy. It felt serious and important, but not crushing.

The story itself felt like a fascinating glimpse into a time and a war that has never made much sense to me. I was gripped by Frankie's experiences - the horrors of war, and the pockets of impossible lightness that existed in the middle of it all. While sometimes Frankie wasn't likable, and many times her decisions frustrated me, I also think they held pretty true to what the experiences of a war vet (particularly the female vets) of that time. I actually didn't struggle to like Frankie at all. I felt like she was very flawed, but very human. Her story was surely not a "feel-good" one, but it was not without hope or redemption in the end. She felt real to me and I think that's what kept me glued to the pages, even when the pacing lagged a bit.

I also adored the strength and tenacity of female friendships in this book. If there's a love story that resonated, it was that one. I adored the bonds that were formed under the harshest of conditions, and the unshakeable unconditional love and friendship that resulted from it. These girls were beautiful, ferocious, and inspiring and I adored reading about their friendship.

The romance within was not quite as satisfying. While I didn't hate the ending, I also...didn't really know quite what to make of it. Something about it didn't sit right with me, which is at odds with the fact that it was basically the fairytale ending I had hoped for. Frankie also made some - several -questionable romantic decisions throughout the story. It didn't land the way I wanted it to, but I also appreciated that it was probably pretty true to character for someone who had experienced so much trauma and heartbreak. I didn't fault her for losing her way and I felt fully rewarded when she finally found it again.

In all - this was a story that felt important. It was compelling and fascinating (and sometimes heartbreaking and horrifying). There was a lot - a lot - going on in here, but having just turned the last page I find myself feeling a little lost and lonely without Frankie in my orbit. I'm a bit hung over, but overall happy with how everything played out. It's not for the faint of heart, but I enthusiastically recommend it!

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always memorable, and they make you feel all the feels. This book was no exception.
I don't generally love books about Vietnam, but I read it because of the author. This book sheds a great light on the women who served in Vietnam, and the harsh realities that they endured for serving our country.
I didn't love the main character's many romantic entanglements - how they started, and how they went down, and the sheer number for how many fell for her seemed questionable. I liked her friends, and had little patience for her parents and community. The ending was brilliant!
~Thank you to NetGalley and publisher

Kristin Hannah never disappoints. Beautifully written, emotional, captivating story set during the Vietnam War- War time experiences of the women who served. Heart-wrenching, visceral- haunting story that is definitely a memorable one. Great read!

An often forgotten fact - that women also served in the Vietnam War -- as nurses, taking care of sick and wounded soldiers, as well as locals, and in doing so seeing and experiencing some of the most horrific aspects of the war. The Women shares their story -- both the trauma of serving in Vietnam during the war and the trauma of returning home after serving overseas.

While a little long, I liked learning about this part of history through this story. A few details seemed a bit unrealistic (would a 20-year old wealthy girl run off to the army on a whim? in the late 1960s and 1970s would two single women from Virginia and Chicago travel to California on 1 day's notice to help a friend? multiple times??). But the book does give you a better sense of the experience the nurses had overseas and upon their re-entry back home. It is a moving tribute to these women - probably long overdue.

As with most of Kristin Hannah's books, I can definitely see this as a book club choice - with so many issues to discuss: family dynamics, the war itself and the politics related to it, how veterans are treated then & now, friendship, friendships crated under traumatic circumstances, etc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Kristin Hannah’s writing after reading Night Road in 2012, so last year after learning of its pending publication, The Woman instantly became my most anticipated read of 2024. It remained true to everything I’ve come to love about Hannah’s writing: themes of death, grief, love and hope are ever present, while emphasizing strength. And in the classic Hannah way, The Hobbit was referenced.

Emotions:
I somehow neglected to remember Hannah's expert writing skills and just how quickly she lures me into her story and plot, causing me to forget everything outside the book. I was transported, engrossed and tossed into the Vietnam War alongside Frankie, already shedding tears at 11%, 18% and 19% in. But 77% and 78%? Nothing prepared me for that. I bawled from 93% on.

Audiobook:
I often keep some anticipated books to read traditionally (without the audiobook in my ears), to sink into the way I did pre-Bookstagram; The Women is my exception. Hannah's unprecedented writing remained the same but with the added enhancement audiobook narration adds. This book ended up being my third in a row that Julia Whelan narrated, and somehow, she transforms herself like a chameleon with each book, each role taking her voice and tone to a different place. With this narration, it was not Whelan reciting Hannah's words, it was simply Frankie sharing about her life. The special appearance by Hannah was added enjoyment to my already amazing audiobook experience.

Stylistically:
The focus of this story was truly on Frankie’s time in Vietnam; the emphasis remained there with the utter horror depicted on page time and time again. Other aspects in Frankie’s life, although also dreadful, were skillfully edged around and instead remained in the shadows, allowing the true focus of Vietnam to become vivid in technicolour. There was a subtle shift as to how time was noted, showing Frankie’s character growth, however dismal at times. Each romantic chapter of Frankie's life had closure, but yet the ending was left optimistically open-ended.

The strength. The tenacity. The truth.

The Women.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This is the best book I read in a long time. One of my favorites of Kristin Hannah’s and I will definitely be recommending this one. This book has everything - heartbreak, hope, second chances and devastating war. Kristin writes beautiful stories and I always learn so much.

Thank you St Martin’s Press, Netgalley and author Kristin Hannah for approving me to have ARC of this book!

✍🏼 My Thoughts
POWERFUL & EMOTIONAL. Two words I can describe this amazing writing of the gifted Kristin Hannah. From start to finish, it pulled me instantly to the story and dwelled on the main character’s passion for what she does to fulfill her duty in service. It took me to her journey of dealing with her life post-war and navigating herself through it as she tries to make sense of it all. The author brought this character to life, and it made me read it as if I’m watching a movie or series.

I am attending her speak at Segerstrom tonight and I just can’t wait to hear her speak more about this new novel and her work as a writer. I almost forgot how I was blown away when I read The Great Alone and upon reading The Women, it left me with the exact same emotion. This book releases tomorrow, Feb 6th!

Yet another great delivery by Kristin Hannah. Her work always leaves me thinking more.

I would absolutely recommend this novel to everyone I know!