Once again Hannah delivers an emotional gut punch. But it never veers into melodrama and instead pulls the heartstrings just enough for me not to be annoyed. The atmosphere, the characters, the story, the message - they all shine here through excellent writing and pacing. I fell in love with this book and I hope you can too.

The are no words really to describe my thoughts adequately on this book.
I really wasn’t very educated in the Vietnam war, and I’m ashamed to admit that. This is why I love reading historical fiction, I learn so much through them.
Kristin Hannah never ceases to amaze me on her ability to really educate and bring out the emotions in you through the untold stories recreated in her work. I will never think about military the same again. I respected them and felt grateful for their service, but I now will have a deeper gratitude than even before. What these hero’s endured was heartbreaking, and despicable. I’m so thankful that this book was written and that some honor was brought back to them.
My rating would normally be 5 stars for a Hannah book, but I felt that the book dragged on too long. I also felt the character was just unable to catch a break ever and it just got to be too many negative things and almost unbelievable.
Other than that, bravo. What an incredible journey, and one everyone should read.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my honest review:

I rate this book 5 boxes of Kleenex 😭 Kristin Hannah is such a wonderful storyteller but did she have to make me cry so many times? Actually yes, I think she did - the story was a whirlpool of emotions, it was impossible not to get swept up in it. The Women is historical fiction at its best - a story that transport you fully into another era, teaches you, makes you experience things deeply and takes you on an unforgettable journey together with its main character.

I tend to avoid war stories - not such a surprising consequence of lived experience of war. So I carefully choose the ones I do read - and this one just whispered to me “I’ll be your 5 star reads!”. In addition to that I specialized in PTSD and knowing that so much of this story was centered around it I simply had to read it.

Of course I knew about the Vietnam War in broad strokes but through Frankie’s story, Kristin Hannah brought the USA of late 60s and early 70s alive for the reader. Choosing to tell the story through the lens of a very young nurse, she really highlighted the complexities of political climate and additional barriers women experienced after returning home. Most of it is not pretty though there are so many beautiful moments but all of it raw and vulnerable and messed up if you are anything like me, you will definitely want to keep those Kleenex close up.

Read this if:
✏️ you’re a fan of historical fiction
✏️ want to learn more about the Vietnam war
✏️ you love deeply emotional, beautiful told stories
✏️ you love stories of strong female friendships
✏️ you need a good cry
✏️ are ok with graphic depiction of war

Rumor has it that this will be Book of the Month pick for February and I most certainly highly recommend it!

A huge thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a deeply affecting account of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young, newly graduated nurse in 1965. Her brother heads off to fight in Vietnam, and Frankie decides to join the Army Nurse Corps to serve her country as well. What she finds there and what she experiences after she gets home are nothing like she could have anticipated.

Kristin Hannah has done it again. I became emotionally enmeshed with Frankie, Barb, Ethel, and everyone else in this story. This tale is not for the faint of heart. There are many vivid descriptions of war and its aftereffects. Hannah has obviously done a great deal of research to communicate the experiences of these heroic women.

I have no firsthand knowledge of Vietnam, and yet this book touched me deeply, made me angry, and made me very sad. It's not an easy read, but I think it's a vital one if a person wants to know more about what happened during and after the war.

I listened to this book as an audiobook narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. She captured every nuance of Frankie's fear, joy, pain, determination, and heartache. From the time Frankie steps foot into Vietnam as a very green new recruit until she visits the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial, her physical and emotional journeys are chronicled.

Again, this is such a fantastically written book. I was captivated from the beginning and now can't wait to recommend it to others looking for a richly detailed novel about a part of history that is often overlooked and ignored.

Kristin Hannah has done it again! The Women captures the reader from the very beginning. The descriptive scenes transport to another time, another place. And the character development creates a bond that leaves a feeling of personal knowledge of each person within the story. Reading Hannah’s writing leaves the reader with an in-depth, emotional connection to times and places never visited. Truly igniting growth in the understanding of the human spirit.

This was a highly anticipated book for me since I haven’t read much about the Viet Nam war, especially from a woman’s point of view.

I thought the author did a phenomenal job of taking the reader through the day-in-the-life of a young woman, named Frankie, who wanted to be a symbol of heroism during a turbulent era. When her brother was sent to Viet Nam, Frankie decided that she would do her part and enlist as an Army nurse. Frankie quickly learned that the medical setting during a war was nothing like what she learned in nursing school. With the support of fellow nurses, she found her calling as a trauma nurse but what she endured in Viet Nam will forever be a part of her.

When she returned home, the country had changed. At the start of the war, families were proud to have their sons serve their country but there was no recognition for the young women who also made great sacrifices for their country. Frankie set her mind to proving herself worthy but only her fellow peers valued her worth. Some went as far to say that women never served in Viet Nam!

This was an eye opening read that gave me vivid insight into the travesties that transpired both in Viet Nam and in the US with the way US Veterans were treated. The storyline and content was emotionally heavy yet extremely meaningful. 4.5 stars

I just reviewed The Women by Kristin Hannah. #KristinHannah #NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.

As always, KH does not disappoint. The raw emotions in this book... wow. While I won't be moving this title to my "favorites" shelf it's still a powerful story that needs to be read.

Once again Kristin Hannah gives us a book whose story needs to be told, and told again. As a high school student at the beginning of the Vietnam war, I watched my older brother and friends join the services or be taken up by the draft. While living through this and seeing it unfold in papers and on TV - this story about the unrecognized women who were in the war was unknown to me. I believe Ms. Hannah does a wonderful job unapologetically writing of the terrible circumstances of nurses in particular, as women who were in the thick of the battles, but yet told they "saw no action" and therefore were not really veterans when they returned. Focusing on a young woman, Frankie McGrath, who felt the need to join the services when her brother enlisted, and the topsy-turvy tumble that her life took because of that, was an insightful journey into the trip through the PTSD suffered by so many. Frankie's mantra of " women can be heroes", and her insecurity in feeling worthy of love and respect, had her constantly second-guessing her personal life - while she was aggressive in being the best she could be at nursing. The family dynamic with her parents was heartbreaking and then hopeful as her mother and father finally faced the reality of Frankie and the agony she faced on a daily basis upon her return. The journey of Frankie, being pulled along with the help of her best friends Barb and Ethel.... the men who both loved and wrecked her...and then facing her demons head-on before leading to a life of fulfillment, was an epic read and one to recommend to other readers. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #KristinHannah #TheWomen

Kristin Hannah is, in my estimation, the GOAT, and in The Women she has, yet again, written a book that will not only entertain and move readers to tears, but will educate them about a period in our history that is only recently being brought into the world of historical fiction. I think The Women is her best yet, which is saying a lot!

Set during the Vietnam War, The Women is the story of Frankie McGrath, who enlists in the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam during the height of the war. It is also the story of her return home to a country divided, and one that did not recognize the sacrifices of those that served. Part One of the novel depicts the life of medical personnel serving in a war zone, and it is harrowing and disturbing. Part Two, which tells of Frankie's transition back home after her two tours of duty, is even more disturbing, as it describes her personal struggles and the frustrating lack of empathy and assistance for Vietnam veterans, especially the women who served. Kristin Hannah's well-researched story tells an important perspective about a bleak time in American history.

I read this nearly 500 page book in less than a 24 hour period, I literally could not put it down, and did not want it to end. The segment that occurred in Vietnam was absolutely vivid, and brought to mind episodes of the Korean War based television series, MASH. A content warning--it is a bit gruesome at times, with descriptions of injuries and death that are understandably upsetting. It is a coming of age story of a young woman who goes to war innocent and naive, and returns two years later having seen and experienced the best and worst of humanity. It is also an emotional story of female friendships and the power we have to help other women survive difficult times. The Women will be the book that I am pushing on all my friends and family this year, it is an amazing read!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of The Women by Kristin Hannah. The opinions in this review are my own.

<b>We were there.
We are the women who went to war- the nurses of Vietnam - and many of us felt silenced at home. We lost who we were, who we wanted to be. </b>

A very thoughtful book that seems ages away but so prevalent today. Frankie McGrath's brother is going to Vietnam and her father has placed him on the wall of heroes in their home. The pride of serving your country for a noble cause was a celebration. However, when her brother was killed, Frankie knew she wanted to serve as well and taking the words of her brother's best friend, women can be heroes too, she signed up to be a nurse in the Army. Right away she is thrust into another world of destruction and she is hanging on for life. She is making good friends and finds love in the suffering only to loose it and find it again. It keeps her going and gives her hope. It is when Frankie comes home that she finds herself in another battle. She believed a lie and this lie is center to the plot and to her ultimate downfall and rise again. It is only recognizing the lie and there are many, that she can even begin to come out of her self-destruction.

As a reader, I think there will be many different takes on this book. Feminism, country, war, government, family, love and hope. My focus and realization was the lie. (ies). There were many that broke her mentally and physically. The progression from her optimism to her hopelessness, the struggle with her parents, her work, how the nation treated their war heroes (even today my own father will not watch a Jane Fonda movie), and her finding love, was heart breaking but redeeming. It is when she found purpose, the truth that she was able to go on. I highly recommend this read and I hope readers every where will find some truth in her story.

<i>A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I think this is my favorite kristen Hannah book so far!!! It is so good, but so emotional. This isn’t an easy weekend read. It will hurt, but you’ll be happy about it.

Possibly the best book i've ever read??? I read 100+ books a year, and maybe ONE of them is historical fiction, with the exception of Kristin Hannah. She has this remarkable ability to write character's emotions that invoke a visceral reaction from a reader, you literally can feel their pain and heartbreak. When i saw it was going to be a war theme, i was like meh, but was so beyond proven wrong once again by KH. I would read her grocery list.

4.75 raised to 5.

It’s 1966, Frankie is 21, saying goodbye to her brother who is heading to Vietnam. In his honor, she enlists as a nurse and sent to Vietnam with little training. She is totally unprepared and overwhelmed for what she will encounter. We follow Frankie and her fellow nurses as they deal with the trauma of war and the politically divided USA they return to.

Kristin Hannah did it again…she transported me to a place I’ve never been but at a time I can remember even though I was young. I read this book with a huge lump in my throat, my heart breaking for the brave women who served our country and the treatment they received when returning home. “There are no women in Vietnam, dear” is a statement that will resonate throughout this book. This is fast paced and will totally have you hooked from beginning to end. The characters are realistic, flawed. They will learn to acknowledge their fears and demons and fight them head on. My only negative is I would have like a backstory of the secondary characters, which were an important part of Frankie’s story. It left me thinking about them. This is an important story that needed to be told only the way Ms. Hannah can. I highly recommend this book, but as with any war story be prepared for graphic details, suicide, drug use and PTSD.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This book is incredible. Already one of my top reads of 2024, and maybe one of my favorite books ever. Kristin Hannah has absolutely done it again. I couldn’t put it down. I tried to keep a cry count just for fun, but I gave up because I cried so much in the last ~50 pages it was basically continuous sobbing 😅 like I cried so much I got a headache and even the acknowledgements made me cry lol! But for real, I felt wrung out like a washcloth by the time I finished. I’m excited for this to come to film, but I will need to bring about eight boxes of tissues with me to the theater!

It was so hard to read about what the men and women who served in Vietnam went through over there during the war, and what they went through over here when they came home (if they came home). It was very graphic at times, so I would recommend looking at trigger warnings before going in. I usually read WWII fiction (this is actually my first read about the Vietnam War), so it was crazy to me to read about the stark contrast between the two wars and how soldiers and veterans were treated by the US government and ordinary citizens during WWII vs. the Vietnam War. And how women were treated, belittled, and ignored for their contributions to the war was so sad as well. I didn’t realize the extent of the hostility, distaste, and resentment toward the Vietnam War and everyone involved in it. It was so eye-opening and heartbreaking.

I’ve already preordered my copy, and you should too! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read before pub day on February 6th!

Many, many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction novel by Kristin Hannah, perfectly narrated by Julia Whelan - 5 stars!

It's 1965 in sunny California, and Frances "Frankie" was raised by conservative parents to always do the right thing. Military service was always important to their family too, with her dad having a "hero's wall" in their home. Her brother was off to war and an off-hand comment by one of his friends that women could be heroes too spurs Frankie to enlist as an army nurse. In the blink of an eye, she's in Vietnam and totally out of her depth. Her two nurse friends, Barb and Ethel, keep each other going through the daily trauma. We follow Frankie throughout the war and on her return home, where suddenly she is anything but a hero.

I could not stop listening to this audiobook once I started and was totally engrossed in Frankie's story from start to finish. This is a visceral, emotional, thought-provoking, beautifully written and researched story. It's certainly a testament to all the women who served in the Vietnam War who were never acknowledged or supported. It's still so sad to think of all the veterans returning home from war who were ridiculed and hated, forced to battle their demons on their own. I loved the special bonds forged between the women and how they were always there for each other. For those of us growing up in those times (my dad was in Vietnam and I still have my POW bracelet), the book is full of nostalgia and transports you back to those turbulent times. I can't stop thinking about this book - Kristin Hannah has again created a masterpiece. Highly recommended - will be on every top 2024 book list for sure.

I mean, flat-out, if you enjoy wartime historical fiction, this is a must-read. I took my sweet time reading this story and am so glad I did - I feel so deeply connected and emotionally exhausted in the best way. Bravo to Kristin Hannah for bringing attention to the women who served in the Vietnam war, often forgotten or left out of the narrative, but who went through unimaginable hardships that deserve to be honored. Please check trigger warnings before reading but I can’t recommend this book enough!

WOW! WOW! WOW! I don't have many words for this book because I'm still processing it! It's only January but this will be one of the best books of the YEAR. Hannah crafted a heart wrenching story that completely immerses her readers in the setting. This will be my library's hot title b0ok club pick in March 2024!

"Maybe happy now, happy for a moment, is all we really get. Happy forever seems like a shitload to ask in a world on fire."

Maybe it’s just me but I cried for well over half of this book on and off from start to finish. I am a daughter of not one, but two veterans, and I have a young adult child getting ready for a first deployment and as a mother, it is heartbreaking to imagine the things people of the past saw during war times and even more so, were made to feel the way they felt after serving their country. This book is a bit of a heavy topic. Having made poor choices in my 20s myself. I could see how this could happen to a girl that endured what she did which to me makes the story believable.

“Maybe that was a fundamental truth: War looked one way for those who saw it from a safe distance. Close up, the view was different.”

In this story Frankie is an army nurse who struggled with the trauma of the Vietnam war, no one would even acknowledge that women had these struggles though, not even herself. She saw things no one should during the war, but she made a difference to those she could help and those she could not. On her return home things are not as she expected and the trauma and heartache just continues for her. The worst part is she has a waterfall of choices that she makes that just makes her life out of control. But thankfully she also has friends and people in her life that won’t give up on her.

This book is so beautifully written. It brings a light to a topic that isn’t talked enough about. And things may be changing now and improvements are being made to the way we treat veterans and handle PTSD, (even though it still is not enough) we still cannot deny the things that happened in the past, it is a piece of history and this was a great way to tell the story.

Wow.

Kristin Hannah is such a provocative writer or historical fiction. As someone who was not alive during the Vietnam War, I learned quite a bit while reading The Women. This novel painted such a vivid picture of a space other than "field combat", leaving me uncomfortable and emotional while I read. The raw treatment of the soldiers returning home, the constant brush off of the women of Nam, and the warfront hospital scenes unfolded in captivating layers.

Frankie was a character with an unbelievably nuanced personality and an incredible character development. However, if this novel had given us just Frankie as an Army Nurse, I don't think it would have packed the punch it did. Thankfully, we were gifted with her two best friends, Ethel and Barb, creating multiple views on the war, the soldiers, and returning home. The three together were a perfect package.

The relationships Frankie went through in the novel's entirety were painful -- not just romantic, but also familial and friendly. Honestly, I took away a star based on this element...I understand the path that the author took, but it took away a piece of the story that I needed.

I devoured this novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and MacMillan Audio for providing me with a digital/audio review copy of this novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book follows Frankie as she works as a nurse in the Vietnam War and her struggles following the war. Kristin Hannah does a wonderful job of putting you in the story with Frankie and her friends. You feel her frustration, sadness, anger, joy and grief. This is a must read in 2024.