Another 5 star read from this author. The storytelling is chef’s kiss. Fmc is incredible and we are basically transported to active war Vietnam. I’m beyond excited that all of America is going to fall in love with women veterans.

Another banger from Hannah. Good God can this woman tell a story. I read Historical Fiction a LOT and truly love the genre for opening my eyes to things I don't always know a lot about. I have a lot of respect for the amount of research that has to go into something like this in order to make it true to the reality of what happened. Even more so for this story, I can imagine, as so much was hidden and lied about regarding the Vietnam war. I appreciate how Hannah included the darkness and the difficulty after coming home and didn't sugarcoat the truth of all the servicepeople had to deal with upon their return. I also appreciated the way the Civil Rights movement and adja ent turmoil in the States was not glossed over. A lot was tackled in this novel and I think it was done excellently.

Wow! I read this book in a day! I think this book might be her best book yet. It is by far my personal favorite, and I plan to buy a copy when it releases.

Frankie is a young, naive nurse who enlists in the Army to go to Vietnam. She wanted her father to be proud of her AND follow her beloved older brother. However, shortly after enlisting, her brother’s death is reported. It’s too late for her to change her mind, so off she goes for her year.

One year turns into a second year and second tour. Frankie finds two best friends, Barb and Ethel, and she loves for the first time in her life. But, her return isn’t a hero’s welcome either by strangers or her parents. She finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life.

This book is well researched and the characters are all well drawn. I cried some as I thought of the women who served despite everyone saying there were no women in Vietnam.

This was honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Kristin Hannah has never done me wrong and this feels like one of her very best. I was absolutely glued to the pages, transported in time to Vietnam, and emotional throughout. Frankie is a resilient character who goes through so much both in Vietnam and even more so when she comes back home. Her story was emotional for me and not something I will forget any time soon. I learned a lot about this war and the treatment of veterans.

I can’t say enough good things about this book and I cant wait for everyone to get to read it when it publishes.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fantastic! You'll laugh, cry; feel anger, and joy. This is a book with characters that I will remember for awhile to come. I loved the mentions of the songs from the time period also, because I grew up listening to those songs with my dad. This brought up issues surrounding Vietnam that I wasn't previously aware of, since I was born after that time period. I highly recommend this book, and will tell all my friends to read it too!

Easy 5 stars and a clear front runner for being a 2024 favorite!

This is one of those stories that will stay with you. If you’re someone who reads 100+ books a year and doesn’t remember a lot of them, I guarantee you won’t forget the story of Frankie McGrath.

I cried tears of sadness and tears of joy. This is a HUGE endorsement from my icy, cold heart that rarely sheds a tear from the books I read. I can’t remember a book where I’ve cried tears of joy.

That said, this book is brutal, graphic, and not for the faint of heart. Frankie McGrath was naive about the war when she landed in Vietnam, and I probably was as well before I opened this book.

My only criticism is that there are some big plot points that happen SO quickly in maybe the last quarter or so of the book. The first half is so well-developed, and then after that there’s some plot points that happen so quickly you might miss them if you accidentally skipped a page.

But even with that, this is still an easy 5 star read. Highly recommend anyone pick it up, even if you have no interest in historical fiction or the Vietnam War.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Frances “Frankie” McGrath has lived a sheltered life right up to when her beloved brother enlists with the Navy and heads to Vietnam. At his going away party, a close friend of her brother’s tells her that women can be heroes, too. She graduates early from college and, without telling her parents, enlists with the Army Nurse Corps. Needless to say, they are not very happy.

Frankie finds herself in a world she would never have been able to imagine. She grows and she becomes one of the best nurses serving. She forms lifelong relationships with two other nurses. She also finds love, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

The Women is packed with emotion, trauma, and a true depiction of how hard it was to be part of the Vietnam War and how hard it was to come home. This novel tells the story of unsung heroes, the women who served.

This is not a lighthearted novel. It’s graphic and hard to read at times. Also, I found myself not feeling immersed in the story at times. Kristin Hannah is a superb writer, and I loved the topic but did not enjoy this book as much as others that she has written.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

Hannah returns in excellent form with this harrowing and thorough look at the experience of women in the Vietnam War. The research present in this novel is extensive and clear and Hannah pays honest homage to the survivors and the lost men and women of this horrific part of American history.

While the book could have been trimmed, and the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly for a war epic-this is a modern classic and should be a must read for all Americans unfamiliar with this era of history.

1966-1982 Vietnam & California

If you know a Vietnam Veteran, you know this isn't going to be a roses and rainbows kind of story. The first half of the novel is about time in country and the second half about returning to the "world".

Frances "Frankie" McGrath comes from an affluent family. She's been raised to marry well and run her home and family with class. When a friend of Frankie's brother tells her women can be heroes too, that gets her mind started in a different direction than the expectations of her parents. She enlists in the Army to serve as a nurse. Frankie's intent is to serve in Vietnam.

I could feel the humidity and deplorable conditions in Vietnam. The author brought the time and location to life. There was humor too due to Frankie's lack of skill and knowledge.

It was the return to the United States that was perhaps more painful. Returning to a country that largely doesn't appreciate Vietnam soldiers and having to find a new path after serving in an intense setting was difficult. Very difficult for some.

Another well written novel that brings history to life. I hadn't really given thought to the women that served in Vietnam. Hats off to the author to bringing this to light.

A very easy 5 stars - The Women is a phenomenal book! Kristin Hannah takes us on an incredibly heart-wrenching journey throughout this book. You’ll laugh a little, you’ll cry a lot, and you’ll appreciate the theme of friendship, strength, and self-discovery that binds this story together.

Frankie McGrath is fresh out of nursing school in 1965 when her brother is shipped out with the Navy to serve in Vietnam so she joins the Army Nurse Corps to follow him. Leaving her luxurious Southern California life behind, she embarks on a journey she finds herself very unprepared to survive. With the help of her bunk mates - Ethel and Barb - Frankie learns the ropes and becomes an excellent combat nurse who helps to save the lives of countless soldiers and civilians. After two tours, Frankie heads home to find she’s even less prepared to survive a world that is very different from the one she left. Without the support of her two best friends, parents that are ashamed she served in the war, and a world that is protesting the war - Frankie finds herself lost and struggling to find a path forward.

This was a well researched and beautifully written book. It hooked me right away - fast paced and tough to put down. I also enjoyed the Vietnam War setting as it’s not written about as often as other points in time.

Thanks to #NetGalley, Kristin Hannah, and St Martin’s Press for the e-ARC of #TheWomen in exchange for an honest review.

"Women can be heroes too"

Frances "Frankie" McGrath joins the Army Nurse Corps and goes over to Vietnam to work as a nurse.She is so overwhelmed by the chaos of what she witnesses, the unexpected number of casualties that come as well as the trauma.
Watching Frankie grow stronger as she continues to learn the ropes to help in surgeries for the wounded men.
Love, anger, loss friendship with her roommates. So much heartache as she cares for the wounded.
When she does go home she has to deal with depression, alcoholism and struggle with PTSD. Many women had to deal with these as well as nightmares and flashbacks.
They did not get the help needed like the men did.
This was an emotional read as opening my eyes to what I never knew.
First book I have read about women in Vietnam and obviously seems it is something we were told very little about.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book

ALLL THE STARS for this gritty, gut wrenching, emotional, infuriating, but finally, hopeful story of an American Vietnam War nurse. This one just shot up to my favorite Kristin Hannah novel yet. READ IT! But be sure to have the kleenex on hand. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions. Thank you SO much to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for allowing me to read in return for an honest review. And thank you #KristinHannah for sharing your knowledge of the war through this story, I now am searching for more Vietnam fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
Frances “Frankie” McGrath lives in Southern California where she has a fairly sheltered life with wealthy conservative parents. But when her brother goes to war, Frankie decides to follow in his footsteps and become an army nurse. Part 1 of this novel is Frankie in Vietnam where she is fighting for her country.

Frankie’s real battle lies in part 2 of this novel when coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

Thoughts:
I love Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction novels because they open my eyes to topics I was unaware of.

Loved all the women in The Women and their dedication and commitment to each other.

Without giving too much away, The Women shows how hard it is coming home from war without the resources veterans need.

In true Kristin Hannah fashion, this novel is filled with emotion, heart, history and vivid characters that shine a light on this era.

I already know this is going to be one of my top books of 2024, highly recommended.


Kristin Hannah’s authors note is also so heartfelt and shows how sensitive she was with such an important yet difficult topic as war and PTSD.

I absolutely adored this book! Kristen Hannah never fails to disappoint and this book was no exception. I hope this book gets picked up for a tv series or movie. SO GOOD

Holy cow! A book has not hit me like this in a long time. I loved the women in the story, they were selfless, strong and brave and went through so much. I’ve never read about the Vietnam war before so I learned a lot, but this was an emotional roller coaster. An amazing story by an amazing author. Kristin Hannah keeps getting better!
Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the digital ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

At a going away party for her brother, who was recently drafted to Vietnam, Frankie McGrath learns that women can be heroes, too. Frankie decides to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps so that she can serve her country. What follows next is the ten-year+ story of a young woman who serves her country, falls in and out of love, and fights for veteran's rights. It is a story of love, loss, betrayal, addiction, and friendship.

Kristin Hannah knocks this one out of the park. Vietnam was an ugly war. Hannah does an excellent job of portraying the war and the lack of support many of our soldiers faced when coming home. I recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction or any of Kristin Hannah's previous novels. I am excited to see the impact this novel has on its readers once it's released.

I was thoroughly invested from start to finish. And fully sobbed for the last 50-75 pages - it hit me directly in the gut. I haven’t been jelling with historical fiction recently but Kristin Hannah knows EXACTLY how to hook a reader and I’ve loved almost everything I’ve heard from her. Definitely recommend.

Powerfully haunting, The Women by Kristin Hannah is historical history but it is still the history of many of us. I was in middle school with the war ending in the spring of my senior year of high school. Friends had family members who served and yes, they were men but I knew female nurses served too. It had never occurred to me that they were even more forgotten than the men. Here in the states, we knew how the men were treated when they came home being told ot to wear their uniforms off the base. This story brings that all up front and centered.

I also knew and have now seen the Vietnam War Memorial both in Washington and the one erected in my home state. At least they are now calling it a war. When I was young it was conveniently and shamefully called a “Conflict” by the government. No matter what it was called it di not change the fact that lives were sacrificed both in Vietnam and here at home. Those who served deserved better.

This is the story that needs to be told. After reading Ms. Hannah’s notes about the book, I understand why she had to wait until now. She has masterfully written a powerhouse of a story from one nurse’s perspective. It should be required reading today. It is certainly one I will never forget.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"There were no women in Vietnam" true or false?

Before reading this, if the above was a trivia night question, I would have likely said true but I stand corrected! This book chronicles how important "the women" were in the Vietnam War mostly through the eyes of Frankie, a nurse who volunteered to serve through the Army, and somewhat through the experiences of her fellow nurse friends she meets when she arrives.

I applaud the authors research as I believe she did a lot of due diligence in trying to get the emotions and feelings surrounding those who lived through this time period correct. My uncle served during Vietnam and my mom says he was a changed man when he came home. In his late 70's now, he's also experienced a lot of unexplained health conditions in the last 10-15 years of his life, which we now know may be the effects of agent orange. I felt like even though this is historical fiction, I learned a lot about the war, the feelings surrounding it and the sacrifices made and how that has contributed to feelings about the military and service even today.

My biggest complaint about this book was the romance side. Frankie is apparently a guy magnet because every man who says more than 3 sentences to her seems to fall for her. It was also slightly predictable which robbed me of an emotional connection because I knew things would circle back, not once but TWICE which seemed slightly ridiculous. I wish the author would have focused more and sooner on Frankie's PTSD and less on her outstanding ability to fall for unavailable men. It was frustrating that she just kept running into the same wall over and over again but that was part of the point. PTSD wasn't known then like it is now and women especially weren't treated and evaluated for depression like they are now.

Overall it was a powerful book that enlightens an era and time that not many talk about because it was so controversial. Glad the author is shedding the light on such important contributions.

DNF at 50%.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. I'm not sure why I grabbed this book as I did not enjoy the only other Hannah book I've read, The Four Winds, but everybody and their brother seems to love this author, so I thought I'd give her another try. The subject matter was different. I love historical fiction, but it seems like everyone concentrates on WWII. I was happy for the change.

I appreciate the attempt by Kristin Hannah to shed light on the women nurses who served in Vietnam and the shaft they got from society when they returned home. But I had issues with several things:

1. Frankie is the perfect, beautiful, all-American white girl who constantly has men falling at her feet. Not kidding you, every time a man was introduced into the story, I wondered when the two would hook up. It felt very Danielle Steel-like. As if her value as a human being could only be validated by being with a man.

2. The graphic medical content. I expected some but found myself skimming and skimming because I don't need detailed descriptions of horrible injuries and attempts to save lives. And it went on and on for a hundred pages.

3. The lazy way of using letters to weave 1960's events into the storyline. I don't know of anyone who summarized the evening news in letters to loved ones, but that's what the letters were like.

4. I really didn't get a feel for Vietnam the place, and Frankie's lack of interaction with the Vietnamese people the U.S. was allegedly fighting for.

Those are just a few of the things that bothered me, and in 2024 I've decided that I'm not going to force myself to finish books I'm not enjoying, even if I get them for free from the publisher. I realize I'm an Outlier and most everyone else will love this book, but I didn't.